Chapter 89: Secret Tunnel
After almost three hours of trekking down the winding stairs, Mingfeng finally led Anji off the main staircase to a path that seemed to lead to nowhere. According to the sect leader, this was a shortcut that was only used for emergencies. The shortcut was something Mingfeng discovered, and Anji should keep it a secret from everyone else.
"This secret tunnel was created by me and can be used to escape or hide if the Celestial Dragon Sect is ever under attack by enemies," he declared. "The only people who know about this are your mother and your older sister. I have not told your brothers about this secret tunnel yet because they have not come of age."
Blinking, Anji wondered why her father was telling her the secret. Like her brothers, she was not yet fifteen.
After hearing Anji’s concerns about learning the family’s secret tunnel before she was of age, Mingfeng shrugged. Of his four children, Anji was the most mature. Age was just a number. If Ruiting had not turned fifteen this year, he would have kept it from her a little longer, too. Even if Yihao turned fifteen, Mingfeng had second thoughts about revealing this secret tunnel to his troublemaking son. Knowing the hyperactive child’s personality, Yihao would abuse the tunnel to sneak out of the mountain more frequently.
"I said this trip was going to be a secret from even your mother, didn’t I?" he chuckled. "Besides, if I don’t tell you now, I might never have the chance to tell it to you. Your shifu told me to send you to the Mystical Qilin Sect after your sixth birthday. She said you’re not allowed to leave her sect until you complete her successor training. You might become an adult by the time you finish, and I might not be around to guide you anymore. Think of it as my selfish wish to give you the grand tour while I’m still the leader of this sect."
The grave undertone of her father’s voice and the image of his back created a deep impression on Anji. It was as if he was creating as many memories as he could with her before he bade farewell. Anji had no idea why her father had the impression she would not be returning once she left. Even if Anji married, the Celestial Dragon Sect would always still be her home. She wasn’t going to go away. Anji did not make a deal with the golden dragon to be sent away so easily.
"Anji’s going to finish the successor training before becoming an adult. Father is worrying too much."
The confident claim made Zhao Mingfeng laugh aloud. He stopped to turn around and squatted to pick his daughter up. Even if he said this was a training session so Anji could get used to walking more, the father just wanted to hold his little girl in his arms for now.
"Forgive father," he told her. "I’m going to hug you for the rest of the way until we reach the village. Do your best to remember this path because you’ll be leading the way back."