Little Phoenix Is Not An Immortal Chapter 6
Translated by Luen Translations
Edited by Siren and Birdie
Chapter 6: Bird God King Zhao Hua (6)
The God Emperor’s decree was received that very night. It ordered Zhao Huajun to leave for Dong Yuan Yin Mountain to supervise the battle on his behalf. Early morning the next day, the sky had yet to light up when Zhao Huajun carried the sleepy and dazed Tian Zhen and set out with the escort of General Yue Zu as well as his 5,000 men and horses that he had brought along.
‘Being a bird was so good. You don’t have to work and you can sleep until you naturally wake up.’ Tian Zhen hugged her wings while rolling around as she dreamed.
The sound of hooves came in bits and pieces. Her body rocked to and fro…… seems like she is sitting in a carriage?
“What are you planning to do by bringing a crow?” A clear and sonorous voice rang.
‘Why always the same phrase? Can't y'all be a little more creative here?’ Tian Zhen was awakened by the provocation. Even if she had a better temperament, she still wouldn’t be able to stand these blows all the time one after the other. She quickly opened her eyes and angrily looked for the source of the voice.
Sitting across from her was a young heavenly official who was dressed like a common imperial bodyguard, but that distant attitude of his as he leaned against the wall was just like that of a vice-leader.
Looking at his appearance again, it wasn’t the least bit ordinary. Lofty eyebrows and a straight, high nose bridge, complete with an imposing air. His thin lips formed a smirk on his face, his gaze concealed a keen perceptiveness, and the golden band of jewelry at the center of his forehead further highlighted nobility.
“This is a little phoenix that has injured its bright feathers.” Zhao Huajun smiled as he lifted his hand and calmed Tian Zhen’s raised neck feathers without batting an eye.
That imperial bodyguard took note of that and in the end, gave out a “huh” sound. Full of interest, he sized her up. “It seems to be angry!”
“It has a bit of intelligence, that's all. How could it understand us? Or rather, how would it dare get angry in the presence of Your Majesty?” Zhao Huajun lowered his head to look at Tian Zhen. He restrained his laughter while comforting her, “It doesn’t matter whether or not you have bright feathers, little phoenix is still a little phoenix. In the future, there will be great growth.”
‘Your Majesty?’ Tian Zhen immediately flattened the feathers that had puffed up and immediately became docile.
‘So it turns out that His Majesty, the magnificent God Emperor, had disguised himself as an imperial bodyguard placed alongside Zhao Huajun and they would go inspect the subordinate’s work together. No wonder his entire person is filled with a pimp’s (王八) or more like a……tyrannical king’s (王霸) aura.
“Cousin really does love the common people like his own children.” The corner of the God Emperor’s mouth twitched.
“Everyone is Your Majesty’s subject. I, your servant, merely wish to help Your Majesty with your worries and burdens for you.”
“In that case,” The God Emperor straightened his posture and then took Tian Zhen into his arms from Zhao Huajun, “I also love and cherish my people.”
Surrounded by the deity’s aura, Tian Zhen began to tremble. ‘Although both are beautiful men, this revered god absolutely couldn’t be provoked. The crucial point is that if he were to pinch me to death right now, Zhao Huajun definitely wouldn’t be able to take revenge.’
“It’s frightened.” A dangerous glint flashed within the God Emperor’s eyes. He faintly said, “You say it doesn’t understand, but from what I can see, contrary to what you said, she understands quite a bit. Just now it definitely was angry at me. Right Zhao Huajun?”
Tian Zhen wanted to cry, but had no tears.
‘Where was I angry? If your Majesty says I’m a crow, then I’m a crow!’
Zhao Huajun laughed in spite of himself. “It has yet to even cultivate into human form. It’s merely a bit more clever. There’s no need for Your Majesty to frighten it.”
Discovering that the bird’s body was rigid, the God Emperor laughed heartily. “Interesting! Interesting!”
‘As expected, none of those who are emperors are virtuous nor benevolent.’ Tian Zhen took her head and stuffed it into her wing. ‘Interesting my ass! You’ve had enough fun right? Hurry up and return me!’
In the end, the God Emperor was the God Emperor. He wouldn’t waste too much energy on this small matter. He carelessly threw her back into Zhao Huajun’s arms and his tone became cold, “Originally, the Demon Realm was in decline. Who would have anticipated today’s situation? Him alone wasn’t enough, even his two sons came along again. Last time we fought up to Duo Ma River. This time it’ll be Dong Yuan Yin Mountain. I’m afraid that someday we’ll fight up to the imperial court.”
Zhao Huajun said, “The War God has already trapped him. Be at ease, Your Majesty.”
“How could a god with no achievements trap him? It’s only because he’s momentarily willing to stop, that's all.” The God Emperor wasn’t a fool and exposed the truth himself. Helplessness penetrated within his cold laughter, “That year, if it wasn’t for the four ministries starting a rebellion and the imperial court entering a state of emergency, the previous emperor definitely wouldn’t have left him alone. Sure enough, he has now become a dangerous problem.”
Zhao Huajun said, “Could it be that there’s no way to reseal him?”
The God Emperor refused to respond.
Zhao Huajun muttered to himself, “Perhaps You Majesty could think it over with the Immortal Realm……”
“Guanhe Yuewu, that piece of trash, has usurped the throne within these years and each and every person in the Immortal Realm harbors disloyalty within their hearts. He naturally doesn't have time to attend to this. What kind of use would he be of?” The God Emperor lightly snorted. His rapid colloque suddenly slowed down, “I’ve heard that the previous crown prince, Guanhe Yuewei, is wandering about in a different realm and the Immortal Realm’s previous state officials are all secretly looking for him……”
Zhao Huajun knowingly smiled, “Your servant will dispatch people to investigate.”
The God Emperor nodded his head and sighed. “Now, only you can shoulder my worries and burdens.”
The Immortal Realm’s previous crown prince, Guanhe Yuewei, was rather famous for being a virtuous person back in those days. The truth behind his abdication was that the power of Guanhe Yuewu’s mother’s race was too great and ultimately, he seized the throne. Guanhe Yuewei fled outside the realm and although the old state officials had a mind to support him, they were helpless when Guanhe Yuewu dispatched a massive military force to guard the Immortal Realm’s gate. The power of the Immortal Emperor within Guanhe Yuewei’s body was henceforth sealed while Guanhe Yuewei disappeared. It was hard to imagine him ever returning. Supposing that they found him and reached an agreement with him, then helped him return to the Immortal Realm and seize the throne, at that time, the two realms would act together and perhaps jointly restrain the Demon Realm.
A heavenly horse’s unusual endurance couldn’t be compared with a normal horse’s. The troops traveled almost till noon when the latest news arrived. Yesterday, General Shi received instructions and left for Dong Yuan Yin Mountain to provide assistance. When the army passed through the Qing Feng Mountain Range, it encountered a surprise attack from a small portion of the demon army. Although there weren’t many casualties, the demon army’s action of open provocation within the God Realm greatly enraged the God Emperor. He then instructed Zhao Huajun to transmit an order that they would camp out at the Qing Feng Mountain Range tonight.
Regarding the detailed contents of this matter, Tian Zhen didn’t clearly hear them nor did she dare to express even the slightest bit of interest in order to prevent His Majesty the God Emperor from killing a bird out of anger. After getting off the carriage, Zhao Huajun took the chance to let her go off and play. Tian Zhen knew that they wanted to discuss important matters and so randomly strolled all over the place.
The moon seemed small within the vast night sky and the surroundings were hazy with a slight chill.
Due to her phoenix instincts getting the better of her, Tian Zhen flapped her wings and flew. She merely felt that her entire body was light and swift.
In contrast to its name, the Qing Feng Mountain Range was a desolate area. There were short and small hills all over the place and the vegetation was sparse. No wonder General Shi carelessly fell into a trap. No one would think of an ambush in this kind of a place. Of course, within the God Realm’s domain, the demon army also wouldn’t foolishly come a second time.
After changing from a person to a bird, her eyesight had also improved. From high up in the air, there seemed to be small bright light coming from underneath a canopy at the foot of the hill.
‘There are people living here?’ Tian Zhen couldn’t help being baffled. She thought this while gliding down to descent.
A very small luminous night pearl was emitting weak rays of light as it shone upon an old tree trunk and onto an injured person resting near it. That person was dressed in a celestial soldier’s uniform. The front piece was wretched half-open and the chest was drenched with crimson blood. It looked like his injuries weren’t light. At this moment, he happened to lower his head and painfully administered medicine onto his wound. There was still a sword stuck to the ground beside him.
‘Why do I feel like……he seems a bit familiar…….?’
Tian Zhen was just searching through her memories with great effort when unexpectedly, that small celestial soldier suddenly raised his head and directly looked at her. The cold light within his eyes flashed past and then died out as quickly as it came, as he exclaimed with astonishment, “Little phoenix?”
That elegant face was slightly pale, but that calm temperament hadn’t changed in the least.
‘It was him!’
Tian Zhen was pleasantly surprised. Recalling how he silently endured other people’s bullying and his deeply concealed abilities, she was on alert again—— ‘Although this beautiful man doesn’t seem like a bad person, in consideration of my safety, it would be safer if I continue to pretend as a clueless bird.’
As a result, she stood atop a distant rock and tilted her head while looking at him.
Sure enough, Wen Xi relaxed his guard and then weakly leaned against the tree trunk with his eyes closed.
Originally, he had followed the army and proceeded towards Dong Yuan Yin Mountain, but who would have thought that they would be ambushed by the Demon Realm’s little king when they were passing through the Qing Feng Mountain Range. He had received a serious injury and moreover, he had once again seen an unexpected person and so he had to hide. As a result, he was left behind by himself. Hearing sounds of activity from the other side of the mountain, it seemed like there was an army stationed there. Then, there came this little phoenix. So it must definitely be the Bird God King, Zhao Huajun, passing through here on imperial orders to go supervise the battle.
Thinking up till here, he opened his eyes and faintly smiled at Tian Zhen, saying, “Little phoenix, you and I have met twice now. It seems like there’s fate between us.”
‘There’s fate, there’s fate.’ Tian Zhen flapped her wings.
“The human world says that phoenixes bring good luck. What kind of luck did you bring me?” Wen Xi stared at her for a long time and softly said, “If it was really like that, then you would have already come to my side.”
Tian Zhen inwardly gave a sigh. ‘So it turns out that when people fall into a predicament, even gods will believe in superstitions. I’m just a bird passing through here. I don’t even know what kind of luck I have.’
Persevering for so many years and now with the addition of this serious injury, it generated a trace of depression in him. The moment he said those words, Wen Xi reacted. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. ‘What could a phoenix that doesn’t have the slightest bit of cultivation possibly know?’ He moved his line of sight away and raised his head towards the starry night sky.
In this kind of situation, it was necessary to give encouragement to the injured person. Thinking this, Tian Zhen flew to his side and then landed right next to him.
Wen Xi swiftly lowered his head.
His deep, profound eyes gradually shone and became brighter and brighter until at the very end, it seemed to be shining rays of light everywhere. Apart from amazement, happiness, incredulity, and resoluteness, there was also a vague……arrogance?
It was a deep emotion that remained only for a moment, and by the time Tian Zhen had returned to her senses and looked carefully, that gaze had once again resumed its original gentle calmness. It seemed like all that she had seen just now were merely illusions.
Wen Xi reached out his hands and held her face to face. “You……can really understand what I’m saying?”
‘Shoot!’ The handsome face suddenly enlarged. Tian Zhen’s head got dizzy and her nose heated up.
‘I have not seen one who loves virtue as much as one loves beauty. This has confirmed Confucius’s famous saying. I, Tian Zhen, have contributed to this study. Other people bleed from their noses, I’m bleeding from both my nose and beak at the same time!’
“Little phoenix, you……” The handsome face suddenly had a happy expression.
Tian Zhen lowered her head in puzzlement and was immediately dumbfounded by the scene before her eyes——her phoenix blood was dripping onto his chest. The hideous wound squirmed and new flesh regenerated over it. The wound gradually pulled together and healed…….
In a short moment, the scar had already lightened by quite a lot. It looked like it had healed for the most part.
The blood of the Bird God race’s phoenix was originally a cure-all medicine so Wen Xi didn’t find it strange. He slowly tidied up his clothes and stood up. He smiled at her while holding her in his hands. “Good little phoenix. From now on, I will definitely treat you fairly.”
‘I……I’ll just regard it as a voluntary blood donation. How much did I lose?’ Tian Zhen’s heart hurt and she promptly turned towards the sky to staunch the bleeding. ‘Alright, in the future, it’ll be enough as long as you send some blood-enriching nourishment. I’m in need of blood.’
Right at that moment——
“Hey, there’s still someone alive over here!”
Hearing the yell, Wen Xi’s complexion changed a great deal. He hugged Tian Zhen as he changed into a flash of wind and escaped in the direction of Zhao Huajun’s camp. Unfortunately, his magic power clearly wasn’t higher than the other person’s. He had yet to escape very far before he was struck to the ground by a red light.
“Gray phoenix!”
That laughter was loud and familiar. All of the feathers on Tian Zhen’s body rose up.
‘We’re doomed!’
