Xie Xuan Yu: Are We That Close?
The Academy Halls were quite a distance from Xie Xuan Yu’s small courtyard.
As the man and the parrot made their way through the woods, halfway there, a sudden gale swept through, and a thunderstorm broke out.
Xi Ling hid inside Xie Xuan Yu’s sleeve, still pondering the matter of the secret realm.
Clearly, from Xie Xuan Yu’s earlier words, it was evident he would never give up on this trial. This was a divine-level treasure, beneficial even to Spirit Cultivators who had attained Immortal Rank.
In the past, she and Xie Xuan Yu had clashed repeatedly over seizing precious artifacts, but this time was different.
She absolutely could not miss this treasure.
Yet she had to admit that the gap in their current strength was too vast.
Could she go and negotiate with Xie Xuan Yu, asking him to give her the treasure in exchange for something else?
As soon as this thought crossed her mind, the little parrot shivered.
She could never bring herself to do such a thing. Moreover, what reason would Xie Xuan Yu have to agree?
The little parrot furrowed her brow in frustration.
Lost in thought, she noticed the wind had eased considerably, and the outline of the courtyard appeared ahead.
Cat Master was crouched by the door, seemingly having waited for a long time.
“Boss, you’re finally back!”
Xi Ling eagerly flew out of Xie Xuan Yu’s sleeve, only to be drenched by the heavy rain the moment she emerged.
Xie Xuan Yu grabbed Xi Ling by the scruff of her neck, carried her inside, and tossed her onto the table, instructing Cat Master, “She’s soaked. Fetch a bowl of water to wash her.”
After saying this, Xie Xuan Yu went into the inner room.
Cat Master complied, quickly bringing a bowl of warm water and urging Xi Ling to come and bathe.
Xi Ling shook the rainwater from her feathers and walked over. Just as she was about to dip her claws into the water bowl, she suddenly turned to Wolong and Cat Master and said, “Don’t look.”
Wolong puffed out his cheeks. “Are you wearing clothes? What’s the difference from usual? And you won’t let us look?”
Tears still lingered in his eyes. Ever since Xi Ling flew out of the room during the day, he had been in a state of anxiety and fear, crying the entire day.
Wolong had never seen such a wicked little bird before—her words were venomous, and her actions were domineering.
Xi Ling retorted, “Whether I’m wearing clothes or not doesn’t matter—you’re not allowed to peek!”
With that, she shook the rainwater from her body, splashing it all over Wolong. Wolong scurried around in his cage before finally hiding in a corner, turning his back to her.
The little parrot snorted, hopped into the water bowl, and began scooping water to wash herself.
For little birds like them, a bowl of water was enough for a bath.
Xi Ling used her wet wings to wipe her crest, beak, and tail in turn, then rubbed her face with the tips of her wings. Once finished, she called for Cat Master to bring the Water Mirror Stone and place it in front of her, using the mirror to groom her beak.
“Cat Master, Cat Master, I’m done.”
The little parrot raised her wing, signaling Cat Master to wipe under her armpits.
Cat Master asked, “Why do you always sneak out?”
Xi Ling replied, “It’s fun outside.”
She wagged her tail from side to side, looking at herself in the Water Mirror Stone. After washing away the dust, the little parrot in the mirror didn’t seem so ugly anymore, and her mood lightened a bit. She couldn’t help but let out a cheerful “li-qiu” chirp.
Just then, someone emerged from the inner room.
The little parrot immediately flopped onto the table with a “thud.”
When Xie Xuan Yu came out, he saw the previously lively little parrot lying on the table, eyes tightly shut, claws pointing upward, as if she had fainted—like a mouse seeing a cat.
“Boss, she’s tricking you!” Wolong flapped his wings against the cage bars.
Xie Xuan Yu lowered his gaze slightly. “I know.”
Wolong waited for Xie Xuan Yu to reprimand the little Parrot, but after a long while, Xie Xuan Yu still hadn’t taken any action.
What next? Shouldn’t there be some reaction?
Cat Master jumped onto the table. “Don’t you understand why Fengchu is like this? It’s all because you keep bullying her, forcing her to run away! When Fengchu was first brought back, she was perfectly fine with the boss!”
Wolong’s face flushed red as he flapped his wings.
Cat Master walked over to Xi Ling, raised both paws, carefully picked her up, and placed her into another small cage.
Xi Ling’s body stiffened, her raised claws already sore and weak to the extreme. Only now did she slowly lower them.
Behind her came the sound of a cat and a person conversing.
“Boss, you didn’t rest at all last night, went out early this morning for class, and now you’re heading out again? The secret realm trial is in a few days—you should get some proper rest.”
“I’ll be leaving soon, but I’ll come back early tonight.”
Xi Ling pricked up her ears to listen, but she felt a scorching gaze fixed upon her. She immediately guessed who it was, feeling as if needles were pricking her back, her body tensing into a rigid line.
After a while, a rustling sound suddenly came from behind.
Xi Ling turned slightly, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye.
From this angle, she could only see the man standing tall and graceful by the table, but she couldn’t make out what he was doing.
Xi Ling wanted to lean in closer.
Wolong said, “What are you looking at!”
Xi Ling jolted and turned her back again.
Just then, the rustling behind her suddenly stopped. The person stood up, and footsteps approached.
He turned the cage around, and Xi Ling found herself staring directly into his eyes.
Xie Xuan Yu crouched down, his jade-white face pressed close to the cage bars, magnified before her eyes. The dim light cast shadows, accentuating his gaze.
“Once you’ve fully recovered, you can leave whenever you wish, Fengchu. I won’t interfere. But no matter what, you must heal your injuries first.”
He suddenly spoke these words, his voice gentle and clear. Even the name “Fengchu” sounded particularly pleasant coming from his lips, completely unlike the cold demeanor he displayed before the Academy crowd.
Xi Ling raised her eyes. On his upper eyelid rested a tiny black mole, so small that it was only visible when he half-closed his eyes at such close range, like a small butterfly resting there.
The flickering candlelight danced in his eyes, brightening and dimming. When he looked at you and spoke earnestly, there was a sudden sense of gentleness.
Xi Ling had never seen Xie Xuan Yu like this before.
A summer breeze slipped through the window cracks. Xi Ling’s heart wavered, and after a moment of daze, she immediately averted her gaze.
Then, the cage door opened, and a soft bundle was stuffed inside. The space in the cage suddenly shrank, forcing Xi Ling into a corner.
Xi Ling fluttered her wings and flew up, lowering her head to see what had been stuffed inside. Her eyes widened in surprise. Was he making this little blanket for her earlier by the table?
Xie Xuan Yu raised an eyebrow.
Wolong, in the cage beside her, clung to the bars. “What about mine? What about mine?”
Xie Xuan Yu stood up, picked up the sword from the nearby table, and hooked his mask with his thumb, his Adam’s apple moving slightly. “Cat Master, it’s going to rain tonight. Remember to bring in the plants I’m growing.”
Cat Master nodded in agreement.
Wolong craned his neck expectantly. “Boss, what about me?”
Xie Xuan Yu didn’t even glance at him. With a soft “poof,” his figure transformed into a wisp of green smoke and vanished from the room.
Wolong: “…”
He turned his head with a resentful look, seeing Xi Ling staring intently at the small blanket, and said, “What’s wrong? The boss is just that good—seeing you couldn’t sleep well, he made you a comfortable nest. If you don’t want to sleep in it, hand it over to me.”
“I really don’t want to sleep!” Xi Ling stammered, instinctively retorting.
She glanced at the small blanket again, snorted, and flew up to the perch in the cage.
Tell me, who in the world would sleep in a nest made by their archrival?
Why was Xie Xuan Yu so cold and distant toward the other fellow students at the Academy, yet so kind to the Cat Master and the little Parrot in private?
She looked down at the small blanket, tilting her chin arrogantly, and remained motionless for a long time.
But the expression he had when speaking to her earlier didn’t seem so unapproachable, did it?
That thought resurfaced in her mind: So, should she try to negotiate terms with Xie Xuan Yu to exchange for the healing Magical Treasure?
The trial was only a few days away, and the situation was urgent. She couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer—she had to make a decision quickly.
The little Parrot furrowed her brow in deep thought.
Outside the window, the rain suddenly grew heavier. The Cat Master brought in a few potted plants, and a cold wind carrying fine rain drifted in from outside. Chills swept over her in waves, and the little Parrot shivered, hugging her wings.
So cold.
Her feathers were also dampened by the rain, clinging wetly to her body as the cold seeped into her skin.
Xi Ling’s gaze fell on the small blanket. After a long while, she finally flew down from the perch and burrowed into the blanket.
All night, the gentle rain tapped against the window. Even in her dreams, Xi Ling was thinking about the trial. When she woke the next day, the room was silent, with sunlight casting flower shadows onto the birdcage.
She crawled out of the blanket and asked Wolong, only to learn that the Cat Master and Xie Xuan Yu had already left for school.
Wolong replied while eating birdseed, “The boss made this before he left.”
Xi Ling had no time to eat. After thinking all night, she had made up her mind.
Time was tight—she had to hurry to the Academy.
As soon as Wolong looked up, he saw Xi Ling about to fly away. Treating it as a grave threat, he flew up after her: “Where are you going!”
But the little Parrot shook her feathers and, with a “whoosh,” vanished. Wolong tried to chase her but was struck back by the barrier outside the courtyard, nearly crashing to the ground.
It was past the hour of Si, and the morning class had already begun.
Beyond the rolling mountains lay a layer of a protective barrier. This was the area the Academy had designated for disciples to practice their spiritual archery lessons.
At that very moment, in the dense forest, two furtive figures crouched beneath waist-high grass, whispering like chirping birds.
“Xi Ling, are you really going to find Xie Xuan Yu?”
“Yes, I have something to say to him. I need you to help me call him out. He’s in the forest with the other disciples for spiritual archery class.”
“Then go tell him yourself. Why call me?”
As Xi Zhao finished speaking and was about to stand up, Xi Ling pulled him back into the grass.
Dappled light filtered through the forest, making her eyes gleam brightly: “Don’t go. You have to come with me. Xie Xuan Yu is surrounded by boys. If I go alone to call him out, wouldn’t that attract too much attention?”
Xi Zhao laughed in response: “Then should I go? Come on, everyone knows I’m your cousin. If I call Xie Xuan Yu out for no reason, they’ll all know you have something to say to him.”
Xi Ling gritted her teeth: “So, are you going to help or not?”
Xi Zhao narrowed his eyes.
A moment later, two heads peeked out from behind a tree branch.
Xi Zhao said, “Let’s split up and search.”
Xi Ling replied, “No, let’s not split up.”
Xi Zhao grew impatient: “Alright, if you see Xie Xuan Yu, send me your location with the jade slip, and I’ll instantly teleport to your side to help you call him out, okay?”
Only after hearing this did Xi Ling feel satisfied, a sweet dimple appearing on her cheek. “Okay.”
Honestly, so hard to please.
The two soon split up to search separately. Xi Ling moved swiftly through the forest, occasionally spotting groups of boys practicing with spirit bows.
Although the disciples studied under different masters, some classes were still mixed, such as today’s spirit bow lesson.
Xi Ling walked and paused intermittently, listening carefully to her surroundings. Agile and sharp-eared, she darted through the woods, teleporting so quickly that ordinary disciples couldn’t even notice her.
But after circling around, she still couldn’t find any trace of Xie Xuan Yu.
“The important thing is to get the healing magical treasure.”
Xi Ling comforted herself inwardly as she searched.
“Besides, it’s not like I’m chickening out before the fight. I’m smart—I know how to assess the situation, understand the advantages of both sides, and act accordingly.”
She knew very well what mattered more: face, or the tangible gains in the end.
The sun was nearing its zenith, growing increasingly intense.
Xi Ling lifted her sleeve to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead, then turned to find she had returned to a part of the forest she’d visited earlier—she had circled right back.
Just as she picked up the jade slip to send a message to Xi Zhao, a strong gust of wind swept through.
Xi Ling turned her gaze, stray hairs brushing her face, as a sharp whistling sound drew near—an arrow flying straight toward her.
“Whoosh!”
The arrow barely grazed her ear before embedding itself deeply into the tree trunk behind her, its fletching still quivering.
The wind rustled the leaves, and Xi Ling’s stray hair fell against her cheek. She looked up, peering through the gaps between the dense trees, and spotted a tall, slender figure in the distance, bow in hand.
His eyes, bathed in the summer light, were slightly upturned at the corners—bright and captivating. At that moment, his brow was slightly furrowed, clearly not expecting to see her here.
The gazes of the others followed, filled with surprise.
“Xi Ling?”
“Isn’t that the little princess of the Phoenix Bird Clan? What’s she doing here?”
“Earlier, a figure flashed through the woods—I thought it was a wild animal. That was close; I almost shot her.”
Leaning against the rough tree trunk, Xi Ling felt the intense stares of the crowd, cold sweat trickling down her back. Her hands, hidden behind her, were far less composed than her expression as she rapidly tapped on the jade slip.
“Xi Zhao, brother, come quickly!”
She saw several men standing behind Xie Xuan Yu, arms crossed, their eyes hostile. Xi Ling recognized them all—Xie Xuan Yu’s so-called “friends.”
The rest were other disciples from the same grade at the Academy.
Xie Xuan Yu remained unmoved. As the tall figure turned to leave, Xi Ling quickly spoke up, her voice clear and melodious.
“Xie Xuan Yu, stop right there.”
Silence fell for a moment, followed by a wave of commotion.
It turned out all the disciples from the spirit bow class had gathered, aware of the animosity between the two, and were now eagerly stirring up trouble.
Xi Ling had anticipated this scene and tried her best to maintain a calm expression. “I have something to say to you. Come here for a moment.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Xuan Yu indeed turned around.
Xi Ling’s heart pounded like a drum as she waited for him to speak.
But then, his thin lips parted slightly, and he slowly uttered a few words.
“Are we… that close?”
Xi Ling: “…”
This was a blatant insult to Xi Ling. As soon as the words left his mouth, it was like cold water splashing into a hot pan—a cacophony of murmurs erupted.
“How can you be so clueless? This is Xi Ling we’re talking about!”
“Come on, the Phoenix Bird Clan princess invites you to meet—what’s the big deal? What’s the big deal? A stunning beauty takes the initiative to approach you, and you’re going to snub her?”
Xi Ling’s fingertips trembled as she haughtily lifted her chin.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the woods behind them. Everyone turned to look.
Xi Zhao arrived late, using instant teleportation to appear beside Xi Ling, leaning against a tree trunk as he gasped for breath.
Xi Ling struggled to suppress her simmering anger and shot him a meaningful glance, urging him to negotiate with Xie Xuan Yu.
Xi Zhao: “Understood.”
He stepped forward, his gaze blazing as if trying to pierce through the person before him.
Xi Zhao had overheard everything through the communication jade slip.
He scoffed, cleared his throat, and declared, “Xie Xuan Yu, listen up! What my sister means is, if you’re entering the secret realm, she’s entering too, and she absolutely won’t go easy on you. The top spot in this trial will undoubtedly belong to my sister, Xi Ling!”
“Do. You. Hear. Me?”
Each word was enunciated with forceful clarity.
Xi Ling’s eyes widened in shock: ? When did she ever mean that?
She wanted to explain but hadn’t even opened her mouth when Xie Xuan Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. “Is that so?”
The summer light and shadows, as he approached, gradually illuminated his features.
He stopped right in front of her. Those captivating eyes reflected her face, and his breath brushed against her cheek like a feather. Xi Ling’s world fell silent.
In the next moment, he raised his hand and yanked out the feathered arrow by her ear with force.
His eyes suddenly turned icy cold.
“Then try to take it from me. I’ll be watching.”
The arrow trembled, letting out a sharp “clang” that echoed for a long time.