The listless Little Phoenix didn’t have the slightest bit of energy it normally had, as it motionlessly laid in An Ying’s bosom. Sniffling and hiccuping every now and then. Each and every twitch on it’s little body, would cause the fluff to shake as well, making it look extremely pitiful.
A little while later, the Little Phoenix spoke up once more.
“There doesn’t seem to be any pain anymore……” The Little Phoenix turned and looked at it’s tail somewhat strangely, then asked: “What did you apply just now?”
An Ying didn’t answer the question, and only kissed the little face of the fledgling Phoenix in his arms: “It’s good that there’s no pain.”
Although there didn’t seems to be any changes in the wound on the surface, but the Little Phoenix magically, no longer felt even a bit of pain. Nonetheless, the heavenly law pays special attention to balance. Even the highest god-level cultivator is unable to completely dispel all injuries and illness with spiritual power. Regardless of how magnificent a medicinal pill is, it can only alleviate half of the pain, and will never be capable of making all the pain disappear like now.
“What kind of medicine is it?” The Little Phoenix couldn’t help but move it’s tail, “Why isn’t there even a bit of pain left?”
“Because I’m bearing the pain in your behalf, ah” An Ying smiled and said in a playful manner: “How can I be willing to let Tong Tong suffer from the pain. — Physical pain is always better than emotional pain, right?”
The Little Phoenix confusedly blinked it’s eyes, not understanding what An Ying meant. But since the wound no longer hurts, it began to be restless once more, twisting and turning in an attempt to get out of An Ying’s embrace.
“Be good, you can’t run around for these two days. You have to wait for the wound to completely heal, otherwise, the tail feathers won’t grow.”
Hearing this, the Little Phoenix suddenly recalled the image of a bald Phoenix once more. It no longer dared to move about due to sheer fright, and donned a very well-behaved appearance.
During this period of time, the Little Phoenix honestly stayed in An Ying’s embrace or shoulder. The other even brought it along when handling government affairs. An Ying simply pampers the Little Phoenix to the heavens, giving the Little Phoenix whatever it wants, and accompanying it with whatever it wants to do.
During reincarnation, An Ying never cared about the eyes of other people. Regardless of which reincarnation, the ordinary people would never be able to reach his brazeness, which recently became even more prominent. Everyone in the Fu Ying Palace knows how much the great Demon Emperor over indulges the Little Phoenix, with a behaviour of afraid to melt it when holding it in the mouth, and afraid to drop it when holding it in the hands. Especially the two personal demon servants, Lou Ling and Qian Xing, who have seen how An Ying coaxes the Little Phoenix more than once. The other’s humble attitude and gentle gaze can easily be seen through and need not be mentioned.
The Little Phoenix is also really charming, with how Lou Ling and Qian Xing wholeheartedly treats it. The details of care are not separated according to their size*, but the Little Phoenix can clearly perceive that their care is completely different from An Ying’s.
*equal treatment regardless of status
An Ying care is a man’s, which is passionate, and full of possessiveness. That is a man’s tolerance and indulgence towards the person he truly loves, with a masculine hormonal breath as well as a strong sense of territory.
On a very sunny afternoon, the Little Phoenix basks under the sun, while eating bamboo fruits taken from South China Sea, drinking liquan taken from the Northern Sea, and having the great Demon Emperor as a story teller next to it, simply made it extremely satisfied. It had also recently gained a round white snowball as a new toy, which can not only speak, but can also bicker with it, giving it much entertainment.
The great Demon Emperor was also full of satisfaction. Feeling that the former separation and longing, pain and torment seems to have been completely compensated, filling the whole world with brilliant sunshine.
Seven days later, the Little Phoenix’s wound has been completely healed. The tail feathers also grew new ones as said by An Ying, and seems to be even more beautiful-looking than before.
That large courtyard with flickering shadows of trees, and that thickest and most luxuriant Chinese parasol tree remained the same, but the fledgling Phoenix was no longer just that fat, round, and fluffy ball when it was born. The light yellow color on the corner of it’s mouth had slightly faded, while the feathers became even brighter. There was also a white snowball next to it, which follows it all around, had also magically grown a pair of eyes on it’s round surface.
The Little Phoenix hopped onto the highest branch. It raised it’s head and looked at the horizon, with it’s glittering and energetic light golden eyes. It then spread it’s wings, and unexpectedly flew above the branches, flying higher and farther towards the distant blue skies.
The white snowball couldn’t help call onto the Little Phoenix, with several hints of hidden anxiety in it’s voice. The Little Phoenix spread it’s wings under the blue sky, and flew one lap around the entire Palace before flying back. It then opened it’s beak towards the white snowball from the distance, and unexpectedly spit out a neither too big nor too small fireball.
The extremely fiery, bright and dazzling fireball shot towards the direction of the white snowball like a bullet. However, the white snowball remained in place without a scratch, and without any signs of being melted by the flame. A big hole was instead blasted on the lush leaves of the Chinese parasol tree, making it look very miserable.
The Little Phoenix blinked in novelty, then launched another attack at the white snowball. Worried that it would burn down the entire tree, the white snowball jumped to avoid it while shouting: “I’ve already said that I can never be burnt by your Phoenix fire, so why are you still doing this!”
Having just learned to use fire, the Little Phoenix is currently eager to try it, and since the other can never be burnt by fire, it can play even more to it’s heart’s content. In the next moment, another fireball was shot out, which flew straight towards the white snowball.
It’s accuracy was still satisfactory, as two of the three flames it shot hit it’s target. However, the last flame it shot didn’t hit the white snowball, but hit a man.
That strange man, who appeared out of nowhere from the empty space.
The man’s robe and the Little Phoenix’s feathers were both of red color. But unlike the fiery red of the Little Phoenix, his clothes was dark red, — Dark red, like the sea of blood in the Netherworld.
He is the master of the Netherworld, Kong Ming, who directly bypassed the barrier of the Demon Realm and the array formation of Fu Ying Palace to appear in front of the Little Phoenix. His gaze stayed at the Little Phoenix for a long time, before softly voicing out afterwards: “.…..Tong Tong.”
His magnetic voice is pleasant to the ears, and is as pleasant as his appearance, with grace that was integrated to the bones*. The Little Phoenix couldn’t help from flapping his wings and fly up to him, then inquisitively tilted it’s head to ask: “.……who are you? Why do you know my name?”
*so graceful that it looks natural
The Phoenix, is innately fond of good-looking people and things, and Kong Ming just happens to coincide to it’s aesthetic, just like An Ying. Even the robe he wears is much better than the black robe An Ying wears all the time. In addition to this, perhaps because of being surrounded by darkness all year round, Kong Ming’s skin is very white, making it very easy for people to feel close to. The form of the high-bridged nose and thin lips were quite aesthetic like a sculpture.
He is obviously the master of the Netherworld, but there wasn’t any bloody and gloomy feeling in Kong Ming’s body, but an unspeakably warm feeling instead. His temperament was even more unadulterated than those individuals in the Heavenly Realm, in addition to also having a trustworthy demeanor. He replied in a low voice: “My name is Kong Ming, ……we’ve known each other for a very, very long time already, reaching to thousands of years.”
Truth be told, in regards to the black robe An Ying always wears, this point is really slightly wronging him. His true form is originally black, so the transformed robe would naturally be in that color. Kong Ming’s dark red robe, in reality, is just pulling a wool over people’s eyes, as well as making the blood splashes in his body inconspicuous.
At this moment, the wronged great Demon Emperor is currently in the front hall dealing with unexpected guests from the Heavenly Realm, who are the True Lord, Ling Guang, who came together with the Director of Destinies, Si Ming, to welcome and bring the Little Phoenix back as decreed by the Celestial Emperor.
“Since the Lord god Phoenix has already been reborn, it is only appropriate for it to return to the Heavenly Realm. Is there any reason for it to stay in the Demon Realm?” The Director of Destinies, Si Ming, solemnly said: “The Lord god Phoenix grew up beside the Celestial Emperor since childhood, so, the elderly Celestial Emperor cares for him quite a lot. If the Demon Emperor strongly insist in keeping the Lord god, then don’t blame the Heavenly Realm for being rude.”
But An Ying stood tall and still, like a smooth and steady mountain, “Tong Tong is staying here with me in his own volition. If you don’t believe, you are free to go and ask Tong Tong himself.”
The Little Phoenix doesn’t have any memories now, and would naturally be more willing to follow An Ying, who pampers him. After having managed to deal with the old fogies of the Heavenly Realm, An Ying hurried over to the Little Phoenix’s side, but his expression abruptly changed the moment he spotted Kong Ming.