Chapter Sixty-One: The Chicken and the Phoenix

“The fool volunteered, so each of us pays our own,” Little White Bear hurriedly raised its paw in declaration.

“Even if you volunteered, you’re not allowed to call anyone a fool, and don’t ever call Mo Fei a fool again, or you’ll be in trouble.” After chastising Little White Bear, Yu Youwei turned to Ning Mo Fei, saying, “Don’t tell anyone that Little White Bear can talk, or it will die—so will Youwei.”

Ning Mo Fei’s face instantly turned as pale as paper, and he raised his hand in a vow, “I won’t tell, not even if I’m beaten to death.”

Seeing both person and bear raising their hands in the same manner, Yu Youwei almost burst out laughing, but was interrupted by the shrill cry of Chiyan. She then sensed a powerful presence approaching, only to retreat swiftly.

“That’s more than just a fifth-tier Firecloud Deer King! Just one call and it scares off high-tier beasts. You greedy coward, you claim to be a divine beast, but you’re not even as impressive as Chiyan?” Yu Youwei exclaimed in surprise.

“Bear Grandpa is speechless,” Little White Bear muttered, jumping down from the horse’s back and disappearing into the waist-high grass. Little Thunder Eagle transformed into a flash of lightning and followed.

Ignoring Little White Bear and its companion, Yu Youwei smiled and said, “Mo Fei, let Chiyan take us to catch some high-tier beast cubs. We should bring gifts if we’re visiting the Immortal Chen Sect.”

Chiyan seemed to understand human speech; before Ning Mo Fei could respond, it snorted loudly and dashed off, galloping like a ball of crimson flame flashing through towering ancient woods, its speed increasing, the wind slicing sharp as a blade.

Deep in the woods, the light grew dim. Once the excitement faded, Ning Mo Fei started to feel afraid, his eyes darting nervously, clutching Yu Youwei’s arm ever tighter.

“Afraid?”

“Not really,” he replied, though his heart said otherwise.

“It’s fine to admit it. If you’re scared, you’re scared.”

“Do you think I’m a coward, useless?” he asked, his face, sculpted like fine jade, blurred in the shifting shadows of the trees. Yu Youwei gazed at him, suddenly lost in thought. “All I desire is a quiet life, two people for a lifetime, not needing you to stand out in the crowd, only to treat me sincerely.”

“I don’t understand,” Ning Mo Fei whispered, biting his lower lip in shame.

“Haha, it’s alright if you don’t understand now. You’ll understand eventually.” Was she developing feelings for this fool? Yu Youwei laughed softly to herself. Perhaps it was Ning San’s provocation that stirred her desire to guide him.

Sensing the regret in her tone, Ning Mo Fei bit his lip harder and cried out anxiously, “I’ll listen to you, always listen to you.”

Whether it was his adorably shy gesture, his eager confession, or her wish to forget the sting brought by Ning San, Yu Youwei acted without hesitation, hooking her arms around his neck. Their lips and tongues entwined for a long time before they parted, breathless.

“Youwei, I want more,” Ning Mo Fei pleaded like a child begging for sweets, with a hint of timidity.

“You little demon!” Yu Youwei pinched his waist, sat upright, and found herself before a gigantic phoenix tree, its canopy spreading across several acres.

Chiyan stopped abruptly beneath the tree, and through the leaves, they could see a very large nest.

“There’s a chicken up there!” Ning Mo Fei heard the chirping, like baby chicks, and looked up to see a featherless chick poking out of the nest, shouting with delight.

Chiyan snorted, feeling a strong urge to ram its head against the tree. To have such a simple-minded master—how disgraceful!

Utterly humiliated by its pet, Ning Mo Fei’s face reddened like a boiled shrimp. Just looking at his expression, Yu Youwei guessed the situation and chuckled, “Then why don’t you climb up and catch the chick, Mo Fei? I’ll roast it for you.”

“Chiyan says it’s not a chick,” Ning Mo Fei replied honestly.

“Whether it’s a chicken or a phoenix, it’s just a name. If you say it’s a chick, then it’s a chick, and we can roast it,” Yu Youwei said, her smile blooming like a flower. Yet Chiyan felt a surge of extreme danger, almost certain she was warning it.

The pride of the Firecloud Deer King flared in Chiyan, ready to deal with this insolent woman, but the divine beast White Bear’s aura swept in like a tide, forcing it to lower its lofty head and kneel on its forelegs.

“Youwei, Chiyan says it admits its mistake,” Ning Mo Fei said, puzzled, glancing from Chiyan to Yu Youwei, unsure what to say.

“Ask whatever you want.”

“Chiyan told me the nest above holds a phoenix, not a chicken. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, it is a phoenix. Hurry and bring it down; it’s getting late and we should head back,” Yu Youwei urged, without explaining in detail. She hoped he could remain innocent and happy. She pressed him to fetch the newly hatched phoenix from the nest, wrapped it in a fur robe, then had Chiyan lead them to collect some beast eggs before returning.

On the way back, Little White Bear and Little Thunder Eagle leapt onto Chiyan’s back again.

Galloping back to Cloudwild Peak, the violent and irritable Ning Zhongwu was stomping and cursing, “You lost those two? Are you all good for nothing? Go find them! If a single hair on their heads is hurt, I’ll skin you alive!”

“Second Brother!” Ning Mo Fei cried out joyfully, and before he finished, Chiyan had already rushed up to Ning Zhongwu. He jumped down and threw himself into his brother’s arms.

Hugging his precious little brother, Ning Zhongwu sized up the gracefully landing Yu Youwei and praised, “Well done, sister-in-law! To have the Firecloud Deer King as a beast pet, you truly have skills. Second Brother has coveted it for years, but you managed to steal it. I’m jealous!”

“It’s Mo Fei’s beast pet. Chiyan likes his innocence and follows him by choice. Jealous of me? It’s useless,” Yu Youwei replied with a gentle smile.

“By choice? Sister-in-law, are you fooling a three-year-old?”

“Otherwise, would the Firecloud Deer King obediently listen to Mo Fei? Even if I helped him subdue it, it could still turn on him. Even if I could skin it afterward, there’d still be no saving Mo Fei.”

“Listening to you, it sounds like you’re threatening the Firecloud Deer King,” Ning Zhongwu remarked thoughtfully, eyeing the beast and noting the fear in its gaze.

“Haha, you overestimate me, Second Brother. How could a mere novice in the Qi Refinement stage threaten a fifth-tier Firecloud Deer King?” Even though Ning Zhongwu, cunning as a fox, had hit the mark, Yu Youwei still denied it outright.

“It’s truly Mo Fei’s beast pet?” Ning Zhongwu asked, frowning deeply.

Ning Mo Fei protested childishly, “Second Brother, you’re so annoying! Why don’t you believe Youwei?”

“Second Brother just wants to be sure. If the Firecloud Deer King listens to you, then you don’t need to rush to the Immortal Chen Sect. Let it find a safe spot, and wait for Third Brother to bring the elders to pick you up—it’s safer that way.” Though he explained it to Ning Mo Fei, Ning Zhongwu’s eyes were on Yu Youwei, his tone inviting her opinion, making his soldiers wonder if they’d seen it wrong.

“That makes sense,” Yu Youwei nodded. Hiding in Cloudwild Marsh with Chiyan nearby, Mo Fei’s safety was indeed more secure.

“Settled then. Grandfather will come to see you both later as well.” With that, Ning Zhongwu pointed to the busy soldiers on the lawn and laughed, “Tonight, to welcome you, Second Brother is keeping all today’s catch for a barbecue feast.”

“Oh, I caught a chick too, we can roast it!” Ning Mo Fei grabbed the fur-wrapped baby phoenix from Yu Youwei’s arms and handed it to his brother.