Just as the phoenix was about to reveal its true form, a hand pressed gently on its head.
Yao Ranran explained calmly, "This is not a wild chicken. It is a phoenix."
Xiao Rong froze. "Boss… what did you just say it is?"
Yao Ranran repeated, "It is a phoenix."
Xiao Rong's gaze shifted to the proud bird with its head held high. Then, out of nowhere, he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahaha! A wild chicken dreaming of being a phoenix? Boss, is that just the name you've given this bird?"
"…." Yao Ranran suspected he had misunderstood completely.
Creak.
The door swung open.
Tang Xiangyin stood in the doorway, staring in astonishment at Yao Ranran and the phoenix in her arms.
"Xiang Yin…" Yao Ranran called softly.
Overjoyed, Tang Xiangyin ran over and stroked the phoenix's head. "Fairy Ranran, how did you know I've been learning how to stew chicken lately? This wild chicken's feathers are so pretty!"
Yao Ranran: "..."
Was no one going to recognize it as a phoenix?
"Ji ji ji!"
The phoenix pecked Tang Xiangyin angrily.
"Ah!" Tang Xiangyin let out a piercing scream that echoed through the entire inn.
At once, Yao Ranran saw a small, bright cut appear on Tang Xiangyin's fair hand. Her heart tightened, and she quickly pulled out a jade vial.
"Hurry, hurry, drip it here!"
Xiao Rong stopped laughing and looked at her in confusion. "Boss, why are you collecting Xiao Tang's blood in a bottle?"
After pecking Tang Xiangyin, the phoenix was set down on the ground.
It stretched its long neck and swallowed that single drop of blood.
In an instant, the blood coursed through its body, surging with rich spiritual power.
"Clang!"
The phoenix spread its dazzling wings, stunning everyone in the room.
Yao Ranran's pupils contracted. "Not good. We have to leave, right now!"
The phoenix was a divine beast. If word spread that it was here, countless cultivators would hunt them down. She had no desire to invite unnecessary disaster.
While Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin were still frozen in shock, Yao Ranran summoned her flying vessel, activated the teleportation staff, and swept all three of them aboard.
-
The Inn's Main Hall
"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper, did you hear that?" The waiter dropped his teapot with a clang and ran to the fat shopkeeper in panic.
"I heard it! That cry… it had to be a divine beast!" The fat shopkeeper's eyes bulged in disbelief.
Before they could even process what was happening, figures as swift as the wind smashed through the inn's doors and charged up to the third floor.
The fat shopkeeper and waiter were each grabbed by the throat and dragged away. In the blink of an eye, chaos engulfed the inn.
Wuxiang Sect Main Hall
Han Huijun frowned deeply as he read the message in his hand.
Yue Qingsu noticed his expression and asked, "Another matter from the Eastern Wilderness?"
Han Huijun's face darkened. He didn't answer Yue Qingsu, instead turning to the disciples below and barking, "Quick, summon Wu Changde and Hu Zhongcheng! At once!"
"And also call for Hall Master Sun. I have an important mission for him!"
Yue Qingsu set down his teacup. "Sect master, what has happened?"
Han Huijun crushed the slip of paper in his hand, his gaze heavy. "Suohong Tower's Tower Master Qin has sent word. She claims that Che Lingzhi has already awakened her spirit and escaped from the Eastern Wilderness!"
"That information may not be reliable. Suohong Tower is in a weak position. To win our support, Qin Lüsha would say anything." Yue Qingsu dismissed it. Qin Lüsha was shrewd and calculating. Her words were never to be taken at face value.
"That is why I want the two disciples who escorted Yao Ranran to be brought here," Han Huijun said gravely.
"And what do they have to do with this?" Yue Qingsu asked in puzzlement.
Han Huijun clenched his fists. "Qin Tower Master claims that Che Lingzhi is in Yao Ranran's hands!"
Yue Qingsu's teacup clattered to the floor, tea spilling across the table in jagged streaks.
"How could that be? Wasn't Yao Ranran locked in Gu Ling Mountain all this time?"
Han Huijun's face sank. "I do not know either. But since Qin Lüsha mentioned her name, it means there is something unusual at play."
"And besides…" Han Huijun suddenly remembered the mysterious woman who had been following Yao Ranran all along.
"And besides what?" Yue Qingsu pressed.
Han Huijun's face changed drastically. "Damn it! I should have realized sooner. The aura of that woman was definitely off!"
"Sect master…" Yue Qingsu wanted him to explain further.
But before he could, Han Huijun turned into a streak of light and flew out of Wuxiang Sect.
"Elder Yue… where is the sect master?"
Wu Changde and Hu Zhongcheng entered the hall with the sect disciples, bowing low. Only then did they realize the sect master's seat was empty.
Wiping away the spilled tea, Yue Qingsu said lightly, "The sect master went out to find a woman."
The Wuxiang Sect disciples: Was that really something they were allowed to hear?!
-
Gu Ling Mountain
Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin gaped at the majestic phoenix, their mouths wide in disbelief.
"The wild chicken really turned into a phoenix!"
"Boss, where in the world did you find this wild chicken… I mean, phoenix?!"
The phoenix flicked its splendid tail feathers with disdain, lifting its head proudly and refusing to look at them.
Yao Ranran stroked its smooth feathers and thought for a moment. "I didn't find it. It chose to follow me on its own."
"Ohh, so it's the one who clung to you first. Then what's it putting on airs for? I'm still Rong-yé!" Xiao Rong puffed up proudly, slapping his hand against the phoenix's leg.
"Clang!" Flames burned in the phoenix's eyes as it glared at him in fury.
Xiao Rong placed his hands on his hips and ducked behind Yao Ranran. "What? You think I'm afraid of you? By seniority, you should be calling me Rong-yé!"
"Then what about me? Xiao Rong, what should it call me?" Tang Xiangyin asked excitedly, eyes sparkling at the radiant phoenix.
Xiao Rong tilted his head and thought hard. "How about… Second Sister Tang?"
Tang Xiangyin shook her head furiously. "No, no, that sounds awful!"
"Then… Miss Tang?"
"That's even worse! That's what Village Chief Jiang calls me. It doesn't sound cool at all!"
"Then…" Xiao Rong scratched his head, clearly running out of ideas.
"There's no point worrying over what it should call you," Yao Ranran sighed, rubbing her forehead. "It cannot speak right now. It can't call you anything."
The two froze, staring at her. "The phoenix… can't speak human words?"
Yao Ranran nodded. "Yes. For now, it cannot talk."
"Then can it understand us?" Xiao Rong suddenly began to doubt the bird's intelligence.
Maybe its arrogance came from not even realizing how powerful it was.
The thought made him grin from ear to ear.
"Hehehe… so it's just a dumb bird!"