The two of them went to the market to buy fish and other ingredients, then returned to make fish soup.

Xie Liufeng was in the kitchen cooking, while Chu Xinghui, carrying the birdcage, followed him around, helping with various tasks. Every so often, he would compare the black bird to the various pots, bowls, and utensils to see which ones were compatible.

The black bird was so scared that it didn’t dare make a sound. It cowered in the cage, shivering at the sight of the boiling water so close by.

As Xie Liufeng simmered the fish and seasonings in the pot, he turned around and saw Chu Xinghui’s actions. He couldn’t help but chuckle: “What are you doing?”

Chu Xinghui suddenly realized his actions seemed a bit childish and quickly hid the birdcage behind him, pretending he hadn’t done anything. He put on a neutral expression and looked at him: “Nothing.”

It’s just that I wanted to add a dish.

Xie Liufeng continued to tease him, deliberately saying: “But I clearly saw…”

Chu Xinghui kept looking at him and emphasized again: “I didn’t do anything.”

Xie Liufeng smiled, his eyes curving: “Alright, then I must have seen it wrong.”

Chu Xinghui was satisfied, turned his head away, his ears tinged with red as he carried the birdcage out of the kitchen.

Xie Liufeng laughed behind him.

Chu Xinghui, feeling embarrassed, quickened his pace.

*

Although Xie Liufeng’s fishing skills were pitiful, he was quite adept at handling fish, and soon, a fragrant and flavorful fish soup was served at the table.

Chu Xinghui silently drank two more bowls.

The black bird, squatting in its cage, glared with its black bean-sized eyes at the two humans eating without sharing, its remaining feathers standing on end in anger.

After a while of furiously puffing up its feathers, seeing that no one was paying attention to it, the bird dejectedly slumped back down in the cage.

It thought about the immense journey it had endured, crossing mountains and rivers, only to return with the purpose of reclaiming its bird life—only to end up in a cage right upon its return. It couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.

After finishing their meal, Chu Xinghui and Xie Liufeng finally had time to deal with the dejected black bird, which was still slouched in the cage.

Seeing Chu Xinghui approach, the black bird finally remembered its purpose for returning. It crawled to the side of the cage and tried to poke its head out, pecking at Chu Xinghui’s clothes.

Chu Xinghui carefully rescued his clothes from the bird’s beak.

After all, the bird’s diet was notoriously picky, and no one knew if, after all this time, it had developed a new taste for clothes.

It was one thing for the bird to peck at other clothes, but the one Chu Xinghui was wearing was a gift from Xie Liufeng.

The black bird stubbornly continued trying to peck at his clothes.

Chu Xinghui tugged at it several times, then looked back at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng was standing there, hands tucked into his sleeves, enjoying the show. Meeting Chu Xinghui’s gaze, he put on an innocent expression: “What’s going on?”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He forcibly pulled Xie Liufeng over, stuffing Xie Liufeng’s sleeve into the black bird’s beak before retreating behind Xie Liufeng.

The black bird: “…”

This was something it dared not peck at. It immediately grew quiet, retreating to a corner of the cage.

Xie Liufeng pulled his sleeve back from the cage, helplessly laughing: “Hey, why are you making it my problem? It’s not me pecking at you.”

He was just watching for fun.

Chu Xinghui said nothing, silently watching him.

Xie Liufeng rubbed his head: “Alright, alright, I’ll deal with it.”

After thinking for a moment, he moved to open the birdcage.

The black bird, stunned that it was being let out so quickly, hesitantly extended one of its claws from the cage.

Seeing that neither of them was stopping it, the black bird cautiously scrambled out of the cage and, in a flash, flew up onto Chu Xinghui’s shoulder.

Chu Xinghui tried to shoo it off, but it wouldn’t budge. He turned back to Xie Liufeng: “You said you’d handle it.”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment, then gently reassured him: “Let’s wait and see.”

The black bird remained perched on Chu Xinghui’s shoulder for a while, then suddenly began pulling at Chu Xinghui’s clothes, trying to drag him in a certain direction.

Chu Xinghui was tugged forward by the bird for a couple of steps before he couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed the bird by its wings and stuffed it back into the cage.

It was just easier to keep the bird in the cage.

Xie Liufeng observed for a while and then roughly understood: “Oh, it must have found its true form.”

No wonder it seemed so lively when it returned.

The black bird fluffed up its tail feathers, puffed out its chest, and began strutting around with newfound pride.

Chu Xinghui frowned in confusion: “Its true form… is a bigger black bird?”

If that’s the case… If a small black bird was already annoying, having a bigger one would definitely be worse.

Xie Liufeng remained nonchalant, playing it cool: “It might be more useful than you think.”

Chu Xinghui glanced at the black bird. With such a “shining example,” he was finding it hard to expect much from its true form.

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment, then retrieved a jade slip engraved with a map from his storage bag, tossing it into the cage: “Fine, when you drag it along, we’ll mark the location directly on the map. We’ll get there before the flowers wilt.”

The black bird tilted its head, picked up the map, and examined the squiggly lines and symbols etched on it.

It couldn’t understand the meaning of the map, so it tossed it to the bottom of the cage and curiously hopped around, testing it with its claws.

The jade slip was of good quality, and scratching it felt comfortable. The bird was satisfied.

Xie Liufeng: “…”

Well, it seemed a bit human-like, but it was illiterate.

Chu Xinghui glanced at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng fell silent for a moment before suggesting: “How about this? Let it drag you along instead.”

After all, it wasn’t like they couldn’t reach the destination that way.

Chu Xinghui: “…”

Xie Liufeng surrendered: “Fine, fine. I’ll take responsibility and teach it to read the map.”

The black bird flapped its wings and let out a clear, foolish chirp.

 

*

 

Elsewhere in Yongning City:

In a small courtyard in Yongning City, Yue Yao stood in a room filled with white candles. She formed a complex hand seal and finally pulled a faint, weak soul from the flame of one of the candles.

The half-transparent soul opened its eyes, revealing the face of Qin Yuwen.

Yue Yao watched the soul with great interest, exaggerating her praise: “No wonder you’re from the upper realm. Even after your soul was shattered, you managed to gather this remnant. Impressive.”

As Qin Yuwen’s memories slowly returned, he recognized the person in front of him and sneered: “Cultivator Yue, there’s no need for such pretenses. Given the state I’ve fallen into, I’m sure you’ve already expected this outcome, right?”

Yue Yao was unwilling to take the blame: “I did warn you at the time, Cultivator Qin, that the young Cultivator surnamed Chu has extraordinary luck. I could help you send him over, but if you dare to use anything from beyond this realm to harm him, be prepared for the backlash. You were the one who insisted it would be fine, and now look at the mess we’re in. You can’t blame me.”

Qin Yuwen didn’t want to argue over trivialities. His soul was only a faint remnant, and it couldn’t remain exposed for too long. His time was running out.

He directly asked: “Cultivator Yue, where’s the body you prepared for me?”

Yue Yao acted as if she had just remembered: “Of course, of course, it’s right here.”

She took a wooden box from the table, opened it, and showed Qin Yuwen the contents: “Cultivator Qin, take a look. How about this body?”

Inside the box lay a stiff, long-dead white-furred rat.

Qin Yuwen nearly lost control of his soul in anger: “This… This is the body you prepared?”

Yue Yao immediately defended herself: “Cultivator Qin, although you don’t need to ascend, I still have to ascend. Helping someone take over a body is a serious crime, and if I did that, I’d probably fail my tribulation. This Baiyue Rat is a naturally born beast, and its fate happens to align with Cultivator Qin’s. It has only just died at this critical point in time. Isn’t this the new body the heavens have given you?”

Seeing the soul’s expression grow darker, she showed a regretful smile: “Alright, fine, there are other suitable bodies of the newly dead. But I’m not sure if Cultivator Qin is willing to accept some… small changes.”

Qin Yuwen gritted his teeth and sneered: “Cultivator Yue, are you trying to deceive me with a rat? Is there a more unacceptable option?”

Yue Yao corrected him in disapproval: “The Baiyue Rat is no ordinary rat. It’s quite valuable. It’s worth twenty low-grade spirit stones more than regular rats.”

Seeing that Qin Yuwen was on the verge of exploding, Yue Yao finally relented: “Alright, Cultivator Qin, you can go behind that curtain. If you’re willing, you can temporarily attach yourself to that corpse over there.”

The soul snorted coldly and floated towards the curtain.

Yue Yao’s smile slowly faded, her eyes cold as she observed the movement behind the curtain.

Two quarters of an hour later, the curtain was pulled aside, and Qin Yuwen walked out from behind it.

Yue Yao looked him over for a moment and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She coughed lightly, using a fan to cover her face, and praised: “Ah, sister, your looks are so stunning! Truly like a beauty that can make fish sink and birds fall.”

Standing before her was a young girl, barely twenty-eight, short in stature.

Qin Yuwen’s face alternated between red and pale. In a weak voice, he demanded: “Cultivator Yue, was this deliberate?”

Hearing his voice, he couldn’t hold back anymore and was about to turn to leave.

However, as soon as Qin Yuwen took a step, he staggered and fell to the ground.

He tried to stand up again, only to find that his limbs were completely out of his control.

Qin Yuwen finally realized what had happened, his face darkening as he glared at Yue Yao: “Yue Yao, you tampered with this body!”

Yue Yao feigned surprise, her fan leisurely swaying in the air: “Oh, it’s only natural to use some methods to preserve a body. I didn’t expect that after Cultivator Qin attached to it, these small tricks would still have an effect. How embarrassing.”

She stepped forward, towering over him, and helped him up, speaking in a soothing voice: “Sister, don’t be angry. Too much anger will make you age faster.”

Qin Yuwen glared at her, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Yue Yao smiled gently, and with a soft “shh,” she added: “Don’t think about killing me. Our cooperation isn’t finished yet. You’ve been hiding your movements from the heavens for years, don’t you want to keep it that way?”

 

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