With a huge number of unrolled scrolls and a good memory, Ah Jun immediately remembered the origin of the birds. As mascots of the sacred beast of Zhuque County, they not only had all the abilities of the little parrot, but also had their own specialties.
Birds are clever and agile, and are the best partners for the excellent guardians of the Changsun family. The particularly excellent guardians can even become close friends with them, and the only partners to reach a spiritual contract.
So, for a stranger like Ah Jun, passing the current test is already good enough to be considered an excellent talent. After all, to become a partner of the bird, or even a close friend, only someone with pure blood and excellent talent like the little princess is qualified to compete.
As an outsider, hehe, dont get your hopes up! Although there have been a few outsiders like Ah Jun in Zhuque Countys history, they were few and far between...
So, whats the next step?
"Find... catch... be recognized until dawn!"
As Ah Jun stared blankly at the flock of birds circling above him, troubled, the Queens reluctant warning offered the child some guidance, though tinged with urgency. After all, while the sky still glowed with moonlight, the red moons position clearly indicated dawn was approaching.
The morning star... is faintly visible, it seems the time is very tight...
"What are you doing standing there, brother? Just grab one!"
—Ah? My poor brother, how could you not understand the Empresss words? Its not that simple. Without finding the one who truly resonates with you, theres no way to gain recognition. Forcing a melon wont make it sweet, do you understand?
Ajun was deeply moved by the Emperors concise advice. After all, this was a time of trial, not a game. He stared intently at the flock of birds, watching and watching, until he gradually felt a sense of dizziness...
Hmph, you clueless brats shouting about whos the only one whos got it! And you think this little beast is so easy to catch... That kid must be completely out of his mind!
Brother, Ill help you find it. More people, more power!
"You cheated... Mother?"
At first, the little princess just wanted to make fun of him, but she did not expect that the little fat boy, when he knew, would help the boy cheat--and even more frustrating, her mother did not stop him.
— Well, never mind, its no use anyway... You go ahead, Ill watch the play. Humph!
"Ouch, my God, Im dizzy!"
Shortly afterward, a commotion erupted. Xiao Xi, tormented by the princesss taunts and the queens helpless stare, was already pale-faced, her eyes darting around with bloodshot pupils. Then, her legs gave out, and she slumped to the ground, groaning in pain...
Given the circumstances, if Ning er were to intervene, she wouldnt be as timid and awkward as Xiao Xi. Yet as a saintly maiden, she couldnt and shouldn t act that way. Moreover, she understood that for Ah Jun, completing his trials was a personal matter, and offering help without authorization might backfire.
Yes, what is it?
As it turned out, Ning er was right--Ah Jun didnt need help from others, and he wouldnt want it, and now he seemed to have a goal.
"What a rare combination of consciousness and consciousness!"
Everyone looked at the sound and saw that in the flock of birds, there was a strange one, which was dancing gracefully, probably to attract attention...
—Well? Could it not bear it any longer, and begin to blossom on its own, exploding? Thats a good feeling!
At this moment, after thinking about the bird for a long time, Ah Jun decided that it must be the right bird. Then the child kicked his foot with force, leapt into the clouds, and in an instant leapt to the edge of the flock of birds, and then gently took off the bird he had reported.
"What! Impossible, how could it be caught so easily--oh... ha, how could it be it..."
Perhaps fools are truly blessed. Through the princesss envious gaze, the boy deftly caught the bird—landing steadily with delicate, gentle movements. The sparrow, seemingly content, nestled in Ah Juns palm for a peaceful rest. Yet the flock in the sky kept chirping incessantly, their voices blending into a chorus of celebration for Ah Jun or concern for their companions.
"Hmm, caught him... Besides, its still early. How could it be so simple!"
As the little princess said, catching her was only the first step, but getting her to accept her was even harder--because, as the girl herself had experienced, the feeling of being caught and released seven times was like being thrown away, and it was depressing...
--Look, the show is about to begin!
But how could Ah Jun know so much? Now, he felt that he had finally found the right one--well, finally, he could finish.
" groan!"
Just as this foolish boy thought he had achieved success, the queen of the forest let out a hum. The bird perched in his palm suddenly stood up, flapping its wings as if charged with electricity, looking full of energy. It flew to Ah Juns face, dancing gracefully while observing this unwelcome guest.
Hello! Is that you? May I befriend you?
"Idiot... idiot... Chirp-chirp-chirp!"
Yet the boys wishful thinking led to a bizarre outcome. Though the bird was charming with colors matching Ah Juns taste, its mischievous nature became apparent. It began teasing the naive boy in its own playful language, and soon the distant flock joined in the commotion.
Ha ha, look, Brother Law, hes stunned... Ah, you! That kid actually dared to hit it—Hmm? Wait, whats going on?
Thus, Ah Juns tragic fate brought joy to the long-awaited little princess. The girl was amused by the scene, and her anger instantly eased. Little did she know that Ah Jun, the son of destiny, was no pushover.
Then, under the princesss intense gaze, the bird that had been teasing Ah Jun suddenly developed mysterious bumps on its head. Its cheerful expression turned to terror, and its sesame-sized eyes began to glisten with golden tears. This startled the princess, but her spirits were rekindled.
After all, she had grown up with these birds and, though not officially recognized, they all got along well. The one who teased Ah Jun was Hua Hua, a friend of the little princess, named after a rose. Though it wasnt her thing, they were close friends.
So, just now, Qiu Niao Hua Hua saw the little princess was in a bad mood and couldnt deal with the boy in front of her, so she couldnt bear it... Good sisters, be loyal!
Then it had an idea to bring joy to its friends—of course, based on Ah Juns embarrassment. Since it could do it, it had to take the blame, along with its siblings.
In that instant, the birds in the sky were all caught in the sudden attack and had to take the blame one by one, yet not a single one dared to utter a word. Then, Hua Hua was forced to bow down pitifully to apologize to Ah Jun, before returning to the group. Meanwhile, a uniquely charming yet dignified figure landed on Ah Juns shoulder.
"How did it get here?"
"Mother, what is that... You must stop it, how can you come here and cause trouble!"
"Ha? Whats that... Hey, Ning er, look at that bird—so round and plump it is, you cant even see its neck. Its so..."
"Shut up!"
— How funny... @#%&!
When confronted with this sudden anomaly, the distant crowd was left utterly stunned. The young princess, with an air of innocence and growing irritation, was about to report the incident. Yet, some found amusement in the situation—after all, she had helped her companions. Xiao Xi and Ning ers expressions instantly brightened.
However, the queen immediately stopped the immature words, and the referees eyes gradually changed from sharp to surprised, and his expression was serious and unhappy.
Xiao Xis description of that chivalrous bird companion was spot-on. When Ning er took a closer look, the expert perched on Ah Juns shoulder truly resembled a fluffy ball. Slightly larger than other sparrows, its snow-white plumage carried subtle gray streaks. The head and body blended seamlessly into a neckless silhouette, with adorable large eyes and a yellowish beak. Its entire fluffy body radiated cuteness that could make anyones heart melt.
To put it vividly, this birdwatcher is almost indistinguishable from the Northern Long-tailed Finch, that chubby little rice ball, except for its slightly shorter tail.
Of course, the childrens perception of this unexpected visitor stems from a childhood game—a strategy puzzle with battle sounds like Chiu... Bi... Ah! and 2D cartoon characters.
However, after receiving the help of the foreign aid, the boy Ah Juns full sense of expectation suddenly disappeared, and he looked dumb and speechless. Then, he quickly turned his head and looked at the newcomer.
The magic was in the very fact that the feather ball was watching the child too. They locked eyes—his smile awkward, yet tinged with unease and confusion. The other, however, frowned, shook his head, spread his wings, and let out a long sigh...
— Who is it... and what is it doing? Was it the one who attacked you just now? Who are you... Why did you do this? Youve offended them all now. Then what am I supposed to do?
The child did not understand the kindness of the visitor, after all, there is a generation gap. Ah Jun smiled bitterly and made a mistake, muttering his inner thoughts unconsciously.
As for the good-natured ball, it seemed to be in a bad mood after hearing this. It slapped its head, squinted its round eyes into two lines, and looked at the stupid boy beside it helplessly, feeling extremely depressed.