Extra · Found a Little Phoenix (3)
Ever since they discovered yao creatures lurking in the city that day, Cen Xun finally set his worries aside. Each day, he accompanied Feng Ci through the streets, sightseeing while searching for traces of yao creatures.
And they really did manage to find quite a few that had slipped through the net.
Feng Ci’s accumulated merit was nearly complete, and their five days had reached the final day.
After today, Feng Ci would return to the Immortal Realm.
“Ah-Xun, why do you look unhappy?” Feng Ci rested his chin on one hand and tilted his head at him.
The two were currently seated across from one another in a private room at a theater. Bamboo curtains hung on both sides, shielding the small space so that only the two of them remained within.
On the distant stage, a huadan in full stage makeup sang in a clear, lingering voice.
Feng Ci had rarely even been allowed out of the house since childhood, much less seen anything like this. He had taken a liking to opera the very first time Cen Xun brought him here. Since he would soon be leaving, he had asked to come listen one more time.
Yet Cen Xun had been distracted all day, leaving Feng Ci with little interest in the performance either.
Cen Xun looked at the young man before him and sighed bitterly. “It’s nothing. It’s just... once the sun sets today, you’re leaving.”
“That’s right.” Feng Ci thought for a moment and seemed to understand. “Are you still worried about the yao creatures causing trouble?”
“...”
Feng Ci saw nothing strange about his conclusion and said seriously, “I remember Father once telling me that the Mortal Realm would go through a period of unrest in the future. It was one of the lingering consequences of the conflict between the Immortal and Demon Realms.”
Cen Xun froze. “Something like that happened?”
“Yes. I had only just been born at the time, so I don’t remember it clearly.” Feng Ci continued, “Father said many demons escaped from the Demon Realm back then, and quite a few fled directly into the Mortal Realm. Some hid among mortals to cultivate, while others left behind artifacts carrying demonic aura. If such things fell into the hands of people with ill intentions and were used for cultivation, trouble could easily follow.”
Cen Xun asked, “If the danger in the Mortal Realm hasn’t been resolved yet, why are you returning so soon?”
Feng Ci blinked. “Because... because it’s time to go back.”
“But...” Cen Xun lowered his eyes and said softly, “If you leave like this, who knows how many years will pass before you come back to the Mortal Realm? Won’t you miss this place? Won’t you miss... me?”
Feng Ci looked at him silently, seeming not to understand what he meant.
Cen Xun’s expression gradually fell. “I almost forgot. You only came to the mortal realm to eliminate yao creatures and earn merit. Everything that happened here was merely part of your task...”
“Ah-Xun...”
Cen Xun’s eyes reddened slightly. He stood up. “I... I’m going outside for some air.”
“Then I’ll go with you—”
Feng Ci had just begun to rise when Cen Xun said, “Stay here and wait for me. I... want to be alone for a while.”
Cen Xun left the private room without looking back. Feng Ci stared at his retreating figure and murmured in confusion, “Why did he suddenly get angry...”
The performance continued onstage. Five or six songs passed before Cen Xun finally returned.
Feng Ci immediately rose to meet him and took his hand. “Ah-Xun, I didn’t mean to make you angry. Don’t be angry with me, all right?”
Cen Xun lowered his gaze to their joined hands and smiled faintly. “I’m not angry. How could I ever be angry with you?”
Feng Ci paused.
Something instinctively felt wrong.
He looked up at Cen Xun and cautiously asked, “Ah-Xun, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I just suddenly figured things out.” Cen Xun turned his hand over and clasped Feng Ci’s. With a light push, he pressed Feng Ci back into his seat before leaning closer. “Little Phoenix, do you truly not know what I’m thinking?”
Feng Ci shrank back, the strange feeling in his heart growing stronger. “I-I don’t know. Let go of me first.”
“Let go?” Cen Xun’s voice dropped low, carrying a pressure Feng Ci had never heard from him before. “It wasn’t easy to finally catch this little phoenix. Why would I ever let you go? Never.”
Feng Ci’s gaze darkened.
He abruptly shoved Cen Xun away and drew his sword from the void. The blade pointed straight at Cen Xun’s throat.
“You’re not Ah-Xun. Who are you?”
“You noticed so quickly. As expected of an immortal.” Cen Xun showed no fear. Instead, he smiled. “But so what, little brat? Do you dare attack me?”
Feng Ci fell silent.
The smile in Cen Xun’s eyes deepened. “Why would your family let a child like you come out for training? Don’t think knowing a few sword techniques means you can handle everything. Over the past several days, I’ve sent plenty of subordinates to provoke you and learned your abilities inside and out. Your cultivation is extremely high, but you don’t actually know much spellcraft, do you?”
“...You can’t even tell when I’ve possessed another person. Much less know how to force me out of a mortal body.”
Feng Ci’s eyes flickered. “What do you want?”
Cen Xun looked at him calmly and said unhurriedly, “I want your immortal power.”
Not long afterward, a deafening crash sounded from the street.
The second-floor window of the theater shattered outward, and two figures leaped through it.
As the dust settled, Cen Xun rolled twice across the ground before barely managing to steady himself. Opposite him, Feng Ci landed lightly, his snow-white robes untouched by dust.
Feng Ci raised his sword toward Cen Xun and was about to advance when Cen Xun suddenly said, “Aren’t you worried about whether your friend lives or dies?”
“...” Feng Ci stopped.
Cen Xun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said leisurely, “You should listen to me, Little Phoenix. Hand over your immortal power obediently, and I’ll spare his life. Otherwise...”
He drew a dagger and lightly flicked a finger across the blade. Blood immediately welled from the cut.
Cen Xun raised his eyes toward Feng Ci. “I can’t say what might happen next.”
“Don’t move—” Feng Ci frowned tightly.
Suddenly, a voice sounded beside his ear.
“Little Phoenix...”
“Ah-Xun?”
Feng Ci looked up and saw the phoenix pendant around Cen Xun’s neck glowing faintly.
Cen Xun’s expression changed at once.
The phoenix pendant contained immortal power, allowing Cen Xun to briefly wrest control of his body back from the demon.
The man before him stiffened completely, as though his body no longer obeyed him.
Feng Ci looked at him thoughtfully until that familiar voice sounded again.
“...I don’t know when this evil thing will take control again. Don’t worry about me. Kill him with one strike and hurry away.”
“But...”
“Don’t waste time. I was wrong earlier. I shouldn’t have sulked at you.” Cen Xun’s voice came in broken bursts, as though every word took tremendous effort. “I just couldn’t bear to see you leave. I wasn’t angry with you. Don’t blame me.”
Feng Ci said awkwardly, “I... of course I don’t blame you.”
In the distance, Cen Xun smiled. His gaze softened and brightened slightly, returning to the familiar expression Feng Ci knew.
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s a pity our time together was so short. I really wish I could spend a little longer with you.”
“Ah-Xun...”
Cen Xun did not answer again.
He gave Feng Ci one final smile, then slowly raised the dagger and pointed the blade toward his own heart.
At that very moment, silver light flashed across the sky and struck Cen Xun squarely in the back.
The dagger clattered to the ground.
A black shadow was forcibly knocked from his body. Feng Ci flashed forward and cut the shadow in half with a single stroke.
Cen Xun staggered and fell into someone’s arms.
“Not bad, Fengzai. The plan to stall for time worked perfectly. Your timing was just right.”
A clear female voice sounded behind them.
“Stall... for time?” Cen Xun raised his head blankly and met Feng Ci’s gaze.
Feng Ci was shorter than Cen Xun and had some difficulty supporting him. He smiled. “It wasn’t me. It was Ah-Xun. Ah-Xun acted really well just now.”
Cen Xun looked even more bewildered. “I didn’t. I wasn’t acting...”
“Ah-Xun?” Ji Chu strode over in a few steps. When she saw how the two were holding one another, her brows immediately furrowed. “Why are you still hugging our Fengzai? Let go!”
She easily peeled Cen Xun away from Feng Ci and tossed him backward.
Cen Xun stumbled several steps before crashing into another person’s chest.
A handsome young man caught him and said with a smile, “Miss Ji said some unlucky fool had been possessed by a demon and her younger brother couldn’t handle it alone. So that was you, Ah-Xun?”
“...Cousin?”
Cen Xun looked at the young man supporting him, then at the siblings before him whose features clearly resembled one another. He was utterly confused.
“What exactly is going on?!”
☁
“...So when that demon appeared earlier, Little Phoenix already sent Miss Ji a message?”
The four of them sat upstairs in a teahouse drinking tea. Only now did Cen Xun finally understand what had happened.
“That’s right.” Feng Ci raised his wrist and showed him the spirit stone. “Our great-uncle gave these to us. My sister and I each have one. They can transmit messages across thousands of li.”
Ji Chu continued, “I met Daoist Qin Wan a few days ago, and we’ve been eliminating demons together since then. I was still in the mountains with Daoist Qin when Fengzai contacted me, so I could only tell him to delay things until we arrived.”
Qin Wan took a sip of tea and said with a smile, “Luckily Ah-Xun’s acting was convincing enough. Otherwise, this really might have been troublesome.”
“...” Cen Xun rubbed his forehead weakly. “I wasn’t acting. I really wasn’t...”
By Heaven and Earth, He had been so heroic just now, so ready to die a glorious death. How had everything somehow turned into this in the blink of an eye?
The group chatted and laughed until they finished their tea. At last, the sun sank below the horizon.
Once the sun had set, Feng Ci and Ji Chu would have to return to the Immortal Realm.
The four of them walked together to the city gates. Ji Chu waved to the other two. “Daoist Qin, Little Ah-Xun, we’re leaving now!”
Qin Wan nodded. “Until we meet again.”
Feng Ci looked at Cen Xun and said softly, “Ah-Xun, I’m leaving.”
“...” Cen Xun did not answer.
Instead, he suddenly stepped forward and pulled Feng Ci aside.
“Little Phoenix, I need to tell you something.” Cen Xun placed both hands on Feng Ci’s shoulders and spoke as though he had finally made up his mind.
Feng Ci said, “Go ahead.”
“I-I...” Cen Xun looked extremely nervous. He swallowed, then said earnestly, “I’ll come find you. You have to wait for me!”
Feng Ci blinked. “Find me?”
“Yes. In the Immortal Realm. I’ll go to the Immortal Realm to find you. Will you wait for me?”
Feng Ci gazed into his serious eyes and smiled softly. “All right. I’ll wait for you.”
The final sliver of sunlight vanished beyond the distant mountaintops.
The siblings rose into the clouds. The scenery of the Mortal Realm gradually disappeared beneath the mist, yet Feng Ci continued looking back toward Yanbeicheng, seemingly lost in thought.
Ji Chu looked at him and asked solemnly, “Fengzai.”
“What?”
“Nothing strange happened between you and that Cen Xun, did it?”
Feng Ci did not understand. “...What counts as something strange?”
Ji Chu said, “You know, the sort of thing that happens in all those mortal storybooks!”
Feng Ci became even more confused. “I’ve never read any storybooks...”
“You’ve never read them?” Ji Chu’s attention was instantly diverted. “I’ll find some for you when we get home. I’ve hidden tons of them. But you can’t tell Papa or Father. This is our secret!”
“Okay. I won’t tell them.”
“I’m telling you, those storybooks are really fun. There are so many stories in them...”
The siblings’ voices gradually faded into the darkening clouds.
Far above the Nine Heavens, the Immortal Realm remained bathed in sunlight.
☁
Two hundred years later.
Time passed easily in the Immortal Realm, yet Fengchiqi seemed almost unchanged.
Two bursts of spiritual power collided beside the lake and scattered outward. Feng Ci retreated several steps before barely steadying himself.
Across from him, Ji Chu flicked the long whip in her hand and smiled. “Fengzai, you lost again. Your punishment is making dinner tonight!”
Feng Ci put away his sword and obediently replied, “Got it. I’ll go make it.”
Not far away, Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi reclined side by side on a bamboo couch.
Feng Qi pinched Ji Chaoyun’s cheek. “Your son lost again.”
“...” Ji Chaoyun glared at him. “That’s because you keep teaching Longzai those little tricks. Fengzai is too honest. He falls for them every time.”
“So what? Winning is what matters.” Feng Qi smiled mischievously. “Then about the wager we made earlier...”
Ji Chaoyun’s ears inexplicably heated. He glanced toward the two children in the distance and hurriedly shoved Feng Qi away. “We’ll talk about it tonight!”
Feng Ci went to the kitchen first to prepare dinner, while Ji Chu returned to Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi.
Just then, an immortal attendant hurried over.
“Divine Lord, there is a wandering immortal outside requesting an audience. He says... he says he has come to see the Young Master.”
“Looking for Fengzai?” Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun exchanged a glance, both immediately looking as though they were facing a formidable enemy.
Ji Chaoyun frowned. “Does Fengzai usually know any wandering mmortals? Longzai, do you know?”
Ji Chu shook her head. “I don’t.”
Feng Qi ordered, “Have him wait in the front hall. We’ll be there shortly.”
Ji Chu immediately raised her hand. “I’m coming too!”
In the front hall of Fengchiqi, a man dressed in Daoist robes stood awkwardly before the hall with his back toward the entrance, making his appearance impossible to see.
Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, he turned around excitedly.
“Little Phoenix—”
Ji Chaoyun, Feng Qi, and Ji Chu stood shoulder to shoulder outside the hall, staring at him suspiciously.
“Little. Phoenix?” Feng Qi folded his arms across his chest and raised a brow. “That’s rather affectionate, isn’t it?”
Cen Xun, who had only just successfully ascended: “...”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Why the double update? Because I was three thousand characters short of my ranking requirement, orz.
And that’s the end of the little ones’ story. For those worried about Fengzai being stolen away, don’t worry. Those two are even more worried than you are 【?】
Next extra will be about the Divine Realm.
IsitRo: Mushu voice DISHONOR! Dishonor on your whole family! 😭 I DID NOT ASK FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!! Who asked for this?! WHO?! Not me!!! 😭😭
WHERE 👏 ARE 👏 MY 👏 FIFTEEN 👏 YEARS 👏 OF 👏 CHILD 👏 REARING 👏
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