The mercenary guild was in the process of being established, and Shen Feng received good news. Chang Haojie personally delivered it, finding Shen Feng while flying on a cloud. Chang Haojie excitedly told Shen Feng, "Brother-in-law, our new home is built! Come see it quickly, it's beautiful!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng was momentarily stunned. He realized that several months had passed since Chang Jianyi had planned the palace, and it was likely nearing completion and would be quite magnificent.
Although Chang Haojie was only eleven years old, he had become an esper. He flew in the sky daily, with others only able to look up at him. His sister had tasked him with observing the construction of the palace, which would be his future home. Therefore, Chang Haojie would visit the site whenever he was free. Upon receiving news of the palace's completion, he immediately rushed to inform Shen Feng.
"Chao Yan, let's go see our new home. Xiao Jie, this is your second sister, say hello," Shen Feng said with a smile.
Chang Haojie, without any hesitation, said to Chu Chao Yan, "Hello, Second Sister. Let's go together."
Chu Chao Yan had not yet emerged from the grief of losing her loved ones and was often melancholic. However, when Chang Haojie greeted her, she couldn't help but force a smile and say, "Alright, since the house is built, let's go take a look. It might help lift our spirits."
Chang Haojie summoned a larger cloud and patted the white cloud beside him. "Brother-in-law, Second Sister, please sit. I'll take you to see it and show you the scenery from the sky."
Chang Haojie was most proud of his ability to fly. He had learned to fly when he was only a first-tier esper, and now he had honed his skills to the point where he could carry people. He couldn't resist showing off a little.
Shen Feng playfully ruffled his brother-in-law's head and said with a smile, "Are you showing off? If I had brought a glider, I could fly too. Don't think flying is such a big deal. There are many talented people in the world, don't be too arrogant."
Chu Chao Yan smiled and said, "Don't discourage the child. Let's all sit and go. It's Xiao Jie's kind intention."
Shen Feng then led Chu Chao Yan onto the white cloud, and the three of them flew towards the mountain. The white cloud appeared soft, but as soon as they stepped on it, it felt firm. They were supported by the cloud, and although the speed was slow, there was no danger during the journey.
Chang Haojie was very invested in the move. Since his sister was not in the city, he had taken charge of overseeing the construction progress. As he flew Shen Feng and Chu Chao Yan into the sky, they immediately saw a cluster of buildings on the mountaintop. The summit, spanning eighty mu, housed a palace of distinctive architectural styles.
The reason for the palace's unique style was its dual design. The front half featured intricately carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, terraces, waterside corridors, and pavilions. The rear half was constructed of brick and stone, forming a sprawling castle with high towers, arched bridges, and fully installed stained-glass windows.
Chu Chao Yan looked at the two distinct architectural styles on the ground and was filled with delight, yet also a sense of indecision. Both styles appealed to her immensely. The traditional elements of dance pavilions, singing stages, and winding corridors evoked a sense of ancient charm. Walking through these structures, she felt an immediate embrace of history. On the other hand, the magnificent castle, with its opulent interiors, promised a life of luxury, akin to that of a princess in a fairy tale.
"Where will I live from now on? It's such a difficult choice," Chu Chao Yan murmured to herself.
Chang Haojie quickly replied, "There's no need to worry. Choose a pavilion or a grand hall in the traditional part, and then pick a room in the castle. You can live wherever you please."
Shen Feng nodded in agreement. "Xiao Jie is right. With our family, there are only four of us, and even if my parents come, there's plenty of space. You can live in as many rooms as you like. It'll prevent it from feeling too empty."
When planning the palace, Chang Jianyi had focused on grandeur and had not considered the exact number of people who would reside there. Consequently, even after its completion, the palace could only comfortably accommodate a few people. Including servants, it would be a few dozen at most, making such a vast area seem rather extravagant.
Chu Chao Yan suddenly looked at Shen Feng, frowning slightly. "I just wonder if someone might bring some strange women back from outside. After all, some people do like to have a full harem, don't you think?"
Shen Feng quickly patted his chest and said earnestly, "You need to have some faith in me. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's being devoted in relationships. I swear, I only like you and Senior Sister. Other women around me are like flowers I pass by without a second glance, partly for cultivation, partly for you." He quoted a line from a poem, a testament to how cornered he felt.
Chu Chao Yan nodded, reassured by Shen Feng's promise.
The main structure of the palace was complete, but the surrounding walls were still under construction. Over two thousand workers were busy building the palace walls, which were designed to accommodate people standing on them. In critical moments, they could gather there, making it difficult to breach for a while.
Seeing the walls, Shen Feng was reminded of a saying: "The strongest fortresses are often breached from within." He recalled similar situations in Rongcheng and Yandu, where impregnable defenses were ultimately compromised by chaos created within the city by zombies. He hoped that Yuzhou would never face such an attack.
Chang Haojie landed slowly, then led Shen Feng and Chu Chao Yan on a tour of the palace's interior. As they walked, he explained, "This open space in the garden is where my sister wants to transplant the mutated apple trees from Jiangyang. We'll have an endless supply of apples. Later, we'll build a swing under the apple trees, and we can relax there in our free time."
Moving further, Chang Haojie pointed to a high tower on the side of the castle. "I want to live on the highest floor of the tower. I won't have stairs built. I'll fly in to sleep every day, and the sun will be the first to shine on me, waking me up the fastest."
Shen Feng and Chu Chao Yan admired the palace's layout. The castle section was particularly captivating. While the Chinese-style architecture exuded tranquility, the Western-style castle was characterized by its robustness and splendor. The castle's interior was already carpeted, and all its structures were built from brick and stone, capable of withstanding numerous cannonballs.
Beneath the castle were two underground levels, providing a refuge in times of danger and a place to store important items.
Chang Haojie was overjoyed. He knew this was his future home and had never imagined he would live in a castle. He had read many stories about castles, especially in Western fairy tales where princesses always resided in castles, awaiting their princes. Now, he would live in a castle, which felt like a dream.
Shen Feng pondered for a moment and decided to have a large study in the Chinese-style grand hall, filled with manga and video games. In addition to these, he wanted a comprehensive collection of novels, including both ancient and modern classics from China and abroad. He might not read them all, but their presence was a matter of prestige. He observed how many video bloggers had bookshelves filled with books in their background, perhaps without having read them, or simply as a display of wealth. However, to those unaware of the truth, it would undoubtedly inspire admiration, subconsciously associating the owner with great culture.
However, the palace needed a name. Chang Jianyi was still busy outside the city, so Shen Feng felt it inappropriate to name it without her. He decided to wait until Chang Jianyi returned to the city to decide on the palace's name. In the meantime, Shen Feng and the other two resided in the palace.
After half a month, Chang Jianyi returned to Yuzhou with the harvested crops from the farmlands, bringing ample provisions. Yuzhou's granaries were finally full. Meanwhile, Guo Pinming and Lu Xian returned to the city with four thousand soldiers after extinguishing a sufficient number of mutated beasts. Yang Chang was still in the northwestern mountains, pursuing a group of mutated beasts led by the Golden-haired Monkey. These intelligent mutated beasts were adept at controlling lower-level mutated beasts, and their swift elimination was crucial to prevent a major disaster.
Chang Jianyi was nearly six months pregnant, her belly visibly large. Upon seeing his senior sister return, Shen Feng rushed to support her. He wished she wouldn't have to walk at all, but he knew that was impossible, as Chang Jianyi herself was unwilling to be overly pampered.
"Don't be so nervous. I'm a fifth-tier esper now, not that fragile," Chang Jianyi said, smiling at Shen Feng's anxious demeanor.
Chu Chao Yan also became serious and stepped forward. "Sister, please be careful. This is Shen Feng's first child. If anything were to happen, it would be an irreparable regret."
The pregnant Chang Jianyi had become the center of the family's attention. Chang Haojie eagerly leaned in, placing his ear against her belly, trying to listen. "Is my little nephew healthy? I can't hear a heartbeat."
Shen Feng shook his head helplessly. "You're so ignorant. She's only five months along, it's too early to hear a heartbeat. You'll be able to hear it in a few months."
Chang Haojie chuckled awkwardly and then quickly asked, "Sister, please name our home quickly. We'll be living in the palace from now on, so it needs a name, right?"
Chang Jianyi looked at Shen Feng and then at Chu Chao Yan. "I had already thought of a name for the palace. How about Feng Yi Palace? What do you think?"
Shen Feng had no objections, believing any name would be suitable.
However, Chu Chao Yan detected a deeper meaning. The name Feng Yi Palace sounded pleasant and seemed to have a historical reference. Upon hearing it, she suddenly understood Chang Jianyi's intentions. The name clearly reflected a deliberate choice, using the homophone of Shen Feng's name, "Feng," and the character "Yi" from Chang Jianyi's name, combining them to form Feng Yi Palace.
Chu Chao Yan became eager and quickly said, "The name is nice, but it's a bit feminine. Shen Feng living in such a palace makes him seem less masculine. It's not good, not good at all."
"If you don't like it, you come up with a nice name," Chang Jianyi replied, slightly displeased.
Chu Chao Yan pondered for a moment and then said, "I think 'Chao Feng Dian' sounds very good. It refers to a descendant of the dragon and phoenix, signifying auspiciousness. What do you think?"
Chang Jianyi let out a cold laugh. Chu Chao Yan, too, was being clever by trying to combine Shen Feng's and her own names into a name. She was learning quickly.
Chang Jianyi looked at Shen Feng and asked, "Ah Feng, which name do you prefer? Decide quickly!"
Shen Feng felt the pressure. It seemed inappropriate to favor either one. After much thought, he decided to mediate and suggested, "How about Zhao Yi Palace? This name is perfect, as it incorporates both of your names, doesn't it?"
Shen Feng expected his suggestion to be supported, but to his surprise, both Chang Jianyi and Chu Chao Yan were dissatisfied.
Chu Chao Yan kept signaling Shen Feng with her eyes, while Chang Jianyi was more direct, telling Shen Feng, "Think carefully about what to name it. I don't want a vague answer!"
Shen Feng smiled awkwardly, thinking, "Are there no names that would satisfy all three of us?"
Suddenly, Shen Feng looked at the twelve-year-old Chang Haojie and quickly asked, "Xiao Jie, what do you think we should name it?"
Chang Haojie replied without hesitation, "Since many people call you Feng Shen, Brother-in-law, why not call it Feng Shen Palace? Doesn't that sound magnificent?"
Shen Feng immediately raised his hand in approval. "That's a great idea! My brother-in-law is so resourceful."
Chang Jianyi looked at her brother helplessly. Her meticulously chosen name had been ruined by her brother.
Chu Chao Yan, on the other hand, was indifferent. Naming it after Shen Feng's title was acceptable as long as Chang Jianyi wasn't flaunting their affection. She also quickly raised her hand in approval, and with three votes cast, Chang Jianyi's opposition was futile.
"Alright, then it's Feng Shen Palace. However, the small building where I'll live will be called Feng Yi Hall. You can't object to that, can you?" Chang Jianyi conceded reluctantly.
Chu Chao Yan also had her own ideas. She couldn't let Chang Jianyi have the upper hand in such a small matter and decided to find a way to name something herself.