Zhu Mingyan quickly backed away a few steps. Before Hongzhui could start cursing at her, she cut off their spiritual connection and used her spiritual power to keep Hongzhui in place.
With her hands clasped together, she apologized, “Sorry, sorry! I knew you would be angry, so I had no choice but to do this.”
Ning Qiubai, who had watched everything happen, was stunned. Just as she was about to comment, Zhu Mingyan grabbed her wrist.
“Qiubai, let’s go quickly. Seeing how energetic Hongzhui is, the Foundation Pill clearly works. Let’s go meet that spirit beast!”
“Oh… okay. Mingyan, slow down!” Ning Qiubai stumbled after her, occasionally looking back worriedly at Hongzhui. The fox was furious, letting out all kinds of sharp cries. Although she could not understand them, she could guess they were insults.
After running all the way to Buzhi Courtyard, Zhu Mingyan quickly told the guide disciple where they were going and then pulled Ning Qiubai onto a small flying boat.
Ning Qiubai finally caught her breath and asked, “You said you wanted me to see a spirit beast. What do you mean?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m bringing two spirit beasts into the secret realm this time. You haven’t met the second one yet, so I’m taking you to see it.”
“My goodness, Mingyan.” Ning Qiubai held her chest and looked at her with a complicated expression. “Did your personality change after getting seriously ill? You’ve really surprised me today. Not only did you trick Hongzhui, but you’ve actually raised another spirit beast.”
“People can change. After being sick, I figured out many things.” Zhu Mingyan smiled. “Do you think the new me is worse?”
“No, you’re much better than before,” Ning Qiubai sighed. “You know us alchemists spend all day locked in small rooms refining things. Most of us don’t have very good tempers. Honestly, seeing how you acted before made me uncomfortable.”
“You really let people bully you too much.”
“But you also know that my master and I don’t have much status in the sect. My master spends all day and night making pills and doesn’t care about these things. Besides, you never looked like you wanted to fight back yourself.”
“I understand, and I’ve never blamed you.” Zhu Mingyan patted her hand reassuringly. “Let’s stop talking about that. To be honest, I’ve only been training this spirit beast for one day.”
As they talked, they stepped off the flying boat.
Ning Qiubai looked surprised. “Only one day? And you dare take it into the secret realm?”
“Your cultivation is limited now, and your spirit fire…” she said worriedly.
“You don’t know this, but it can help me control my spirit fire.” Zhu Mingyan led the way. “Not only is it not afraid of fire, it actually eats the excess spirit fire that escapes from me. If I can train it properly, it might solve my spirit fire problem.”
Ning Qiubai nodded. “Then you should definitely try. If there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me.”
Soon, they arrived at the barrier surrounding Mingxi Forest and immediately saw Fuchuan waiting there.
When Fuchuan saw Zhu Mingyan, he excitedly ran circles around her legs before sitting down and staring at her with a resentful look.
“I may be late, but I still came, didn’t I?” Zhu Mingyan bent down and rubbed his head. Then she turned to Ning Qiubai and said, “This is the spirit beast I wanted you to meet.”
Ning Qiubai looked puzzled.
“This spirit beast looks familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”
“You’ve seen it?” Zhu Mingyan asked suspiciously. She had already wondered if Fuchuan had an owner. After all, she had checked carefully and found no beast contract on him. Could it be like her relationship with Hongzhui, where someone raised him but never formed a contract?
Ning Qiubai shook her head.
“I can’t remember. I just have a feeling I’ve seen it before. It probably isn’t important; otherwise, I would remember.”
“You said it can eat spirit fire. Let me see.”
“Sure. Watch.”
Zhu Mingyan immediately summoned a small Palm Flame and demonstrated.
Ning Qiubai was shocked. She made Zhu Mingyan repeat the demonstration several more times and then exclaimed that she wanted to take Fuchuan home to help with her alchemy furnace.
“He would be perfect as a furnace-guarding spirit beast! If I accidentally add too much fire, he can just eat the extra flames. I would never have to worry about controlling the temperature again!”
After thinking about it, she actually convinced herself.
“Maybe that’s why he seems familiar. My master might have mentioned a spirit beast like this during lessons before!”
Whether that was true or not, Fuchuan clearly did not like hearing it.
He visibly became irritated and loudly protested at Ning Qiubai.
Zhu Mingyan immediately shot Ning Qiubai a warning look, telling her to stop talking. Then she grabbed Fuchuan’s muzzle and scolded him sternly.
“And you! What are you being fierce for? Don’t cause trouble in front of me!”
Fuchuan whined a few times but did not struggle much. He obediently quieted down, though his golden eyes continued glaring angrily at Ning Qiubai.
Ning Qiubai was not offended. Instead, she looked impressed.
“You’ve really only trained this spirit beast for one day? He listens to you quite well.”
“Mingyan, I should head back. After delivering these spirit plants to my master, I still need to prepare for the secret realm.”
“We’ll meet at the secret realm entrance in a few days.”
“Alright.”
Zhu Mingyan nodded and escorted Ning Qiubai back to the flying boat. After checking the time, she returned to Mingxi Forest and spent another hour training Fuchuan before leaving.
Looking at the black furry ball that had followed her to the edge of the barrier, she could not resist. She spent quite a while petting him before finally running away as he barked after her.
In a cheerful mood, she laughed and shouted while running.
“Go back now! I’ll come see you again tomorrow!”
Fuchuan’s eyes sparkled.
As he sat there, his mind gradually became clearer.
He opened his mouth as if trying to say something, but no sound came out.
Only her words echoed in his mind.
She said, “I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”
…
The next morning, Zhu Mingyan got out of bed, tidied herself up, and headed for Chengying Peak. She walked straight into the Artifact Hall.
It was a rest day, so there were not many disciples around. Gu Zicheng was enjoying the rare peace and quietly checking inventory in a back room.
When he heard footsteps, he looked up and saw Zhu Mingyan leaning against the doorway.
A sudden sense of panic filled him.
She’s not really here to make me modify those collars, is she?
Zhu Mingyan noticed his expression and kindly asked,
“Senior Brother Gu, you don’t look very well. Are you unhappy to see me?”
“No, no, no! What are you saying, Junior Sister Zhu?” Gu Zicheng forced a smile. “May I ask why you’ve come today?”
Zhu Mingyan’s face suddenly turned cold.
She reached back and shut the room’s door. Then she walked toward him, shaking the collars in her hand.
“Senior Brother,” she said, “guess why I’m here.”