Gu Xiaomai had already seen Jiang Chenan holding a whip, while Yumi raised a stick he had trained with, along with a makeshift net made from a bag. The two of them were gradually closing in on the chicken.
Earlier, worried that the chicken might really follow the “voice in its heart” and kill Jiang Chenan and Yumi, Gu Xiaomai had suggested that all three of them work together to surround and capture it. Surely three people couldn’t lose to a single chicken, right?
But its combat power—capable of snapping grass roots with a single wingbeat—left her somewhat uncertain.
At the same time, her earlier communication with it made her feel that the chicken wasn’t actually that aggressive. Gu Xiaomai began to worry that even if the three of them worked together, they might still fail to capture it and instead fully enrage it. Thinking back on her impulsiveness, she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.
At this moment, Gu Xiaomai just hoped the chicken would obediently leave. Otherwise, if the three of them and the chicken really ended up fighting, things would turn chaotic.
Completely immersed in its sadness—unable to become stronger and unable to go home to find its mother—the red-bellied golden pheasant completely ignored Gu Xiaomai’s suggestion that it leave.
Its sorrow was enormous. Without tasty water, nothing could comfort it at all!
【We don’t have it now, but once this woman masters cultivation techniques, won’t we have it then!】
【Mother White Rabbit said that humans used to keep pets. I guess this young master could reluctantly become this woman’s pet.】
【If we’re going to be family anyway, then I can drink tasty water whenever I want, right?】
【Mother White Rabbit also said humans like “hugging thighs.” As long as I cling to the right one, I can have everything!】
Having made up its mind, the red-bellied golden pheasant perked up and ran straight toward Gu Xiaomai, preparing to “hug a thigh.”
Gu Xiaomai: …
Those little calculations were practically crackling in the air. A chicken—how could it possibly have so many thoughts?
Gu Xiaomai kept backing away. She wasn’t particularly willing to let this “thigh” be hugged.
To Jiang Chenan and Yumi, who didn’t understand the situation, it looked like the red-bellied golden pheasant was about to attack Gu Xiaomai. The two of them, who had been cautiously approaching, immediately broke into a run.
Just as the red-bellied golden pheasant was about to latch onto Gu Xiaomai, Jiang Chenan’s whip struck first, interrupting its movement.
It turned its head, not even clearly seeing what had attacked it, when something above suddenly dropped down, trying to trap it in a net.
In the last split second, it escaped the makeshift net’s coverage and charged straight toward Yumi.
【If you want to catch me, be prepared to get hurt!】
Yumi’s stick was already moving so fast it left afterimages. Together with Jiang Chenan’s whip, they still couldn’t stop it.
Just as it was about to claw at Yumi’s neck, Jiang Chenan’s next whip strike would have inevitably injured Yumi as well. Gu Xiaomai quickly shouted, “Don’t hurt him!”
Both the red-bellied golden pheasant and Yumi mistakenly thought she was speaking to them, and both stopped at the same time.
That brief pause let Yumi breathe a sigh of relief.
If not for that shout from Little Xiaomai, he would’ve lost his life under the chicken’s claws—his throat would’ve been torn open!
The red-bellied golden pheasant was reluctant to stop. Mother White Rabbit had told it that anyone who tried to catch it should be beaten, and only run if it couldn’t win. Right now, it could win—so why stop?
But Mother White Rabbit had also said humans liked obedient pets. Since it had already decided to “hug a thigh” and become this woman’s pet, maybe it should behave a little better?
It looked at Gu Xiaomai.
“Gui—” Woman, why did you stop me?!
Gu Xiaomai was about to say, “This chicken…”
【Phoenix. I am a phoenix!】
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by the chicken’s thoughts.
Gu Xiaomai: …
“Ahem… Phoenix didn’t mean to harm me. It’s a kind and powerful beast.”
She deliberately emphasized the last two words, then shook her head at Jiang Chenan and Yumi, signaling that the three of them together still couldn’t handle this chicken.
At that moment, Jiang Chenan and Yumi weren’t listening to anything else.
Their minds were filled with one word: Phoenix.
They looked at the red-bellied golden pheasant differently now. So similar… truly similar!
The red-bellied golden pheasant, very pleased with their intense gazes, lifted its chest proudly and nodded its little head.
Yes. It was indeed a powerful and kind phoenix!
Thinking that Jiang Chenan and Yumi had understood her meaning, Gu Xiaomai introduced, “These two are my teammates. They just worried about me and thought you might hurt me, so they attacked you.”
With this explanation, the brief conflict between the three humans and the chicken temporarily came to an end.
After sending the red-bellied golden pheasant away, Gu Xiaomai turned around to find Jiang Chenan and Yumi still staring in its direction without blinking. Something felt off.
She asked quietly, “What are you two looking at so seriously?”
“The radiant, golden crown-like crest on its head, the imperial glow of its feathers shimmering in the sunlight, and that magnificent tail—just like the priest said. This is one of the sacred beasts of the Creation God Church: the phoenix!” Yumi exclaimed. “As expected of you, Little Xiaomai! You actually recognized it at a glance! Chenan and I didn’t, and we nearly injured it!”
Jiang Chenan nodded as well. It did indeed look like the phoenix depicted in the Creation God Church.
Gu Xiaomai was stunned.
Since when did Yumi become so articulate? All that advanced vocabulary… even metaphors?
But… what the heck is the Creation God Church?
A sacred beast phoenix? Shouldn’t it be a divine beast?
Before she could spiral further, she asked, “What is the Creation God Church?”
“You don’t know it?” Jiang Chenan asked. “Then how did you know about the phoenix?”
They only knew about it because someone once brought them into the Creation God Church.
In her past life, Gu Xiaomai had heard countless myths involving dragons and phoenixes. Of course she knew.
But she couldn’t say that. So she made something up casually. “I heard stories from adults, but I’ve never heard of the Creation God Church.”
Yumi and Jiang Chenan looked slightly envious. No one had ever told them stories before. Little Xiaomai must have a very loving family.
“The Creation God Church is a relatively new organization established by the base. They worship the Creator God and his beloved sacred beasts, the Azure Dragon and the Phoenix. These two sacred beasts walk the world on behalf of the Creator God, maintaining the stability of the world.”
After Yumi finished explaining, he added excitedly, “Doesn’t that mean what the priests and bishops said is true?!”
Gu Xiaomai asked curiously, “What did they say?”
Jiang Chenan replied, “That the Creator God will, at the right time, send down the Azure Dragon and Phoenix to resolve this broken, struggling, post-disaster era, and restore prosperity and peace.”
Gu Xiaomai: …
Hard to evaluate.
She didn’t believe that two beasts could fix everything—especially mythical ones. It sounded like obvious nonsense.
“Do you believe it?” she asked.
Both Jiang Chenan and Yumi nodded firmly.
They hadn’t believed it before—but now that the phoenix had appeared, how far could the Azure Dragon be?
Gu Xiaomai muttered, “If I said that wasn’t a phoenix, just a red-bellied golden pheasant, would you believe me?”
“No!” they said in unison, absolutely certain.
Gu Xiaomai facepalmed.
It was hopeless.
She never should’ve said it was a phoenix.
She was misleading the youth!
The topic couldn’t continue, so she dragged the two boys—still staring longingly in the direction the “phoenix” had gone—to search for purified plants.
“Chenan, Yumi, let’s not tell anyone we saw the phoenix.”
Yumi didn’t understand. “Why? If the Creation God Church finds out, they’ll definitely bring it back and take good care of it. It’s just a small beast in this wasteland—what if it gets hurt by reckless people or corrupted creatures?”
Why?
Because it’s not a phoenix at all.
But instead she said, “The Creation God Church hasn’t publicly announced the appearance of a sacred beast. Since it’s alone here, it must have some mission. It’s not appropriate for everyone to know. We can’t help it anyway, so let’s not disturb it.”
Jiang Chenan and Yumi nodded, thinking it made sense.
Gu Xiaomai sighed in relief.
Then she asked, “Did you smell anything on me?”
Jiang Chenan: “Sweat?”
Yumi: “Body odor?”
Gu Xiaomai froze.
Body odor?!
She quickly sniffed herself. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t exactly “smelly” either.
But neither of them had noticed anything unusual—so how had that chicken noticed it?
What exactly was that “special water smell”?
Is it something only that chicken can smell… or can all animals smell it?
If it’s the latter, isn’t she in danger?
While she was thinking, the red-bellied golden pheasant’s voice drifted from behind:
【Mother White Rabbit said humans are very cunning—especially beautiful women. Very, very cunning!】
【I’d better keep an eye on this woman myself!】
Gu Xiaomai called Jiang Chenan and Yumi away under an excuse.
“Come out.”
The red-bellied golden pheasant looked around, confused.
“Stop looking. I mean you.”
Its dark blue eyes rolled.
【How did this woman find me?! I was hiding so well!】
【What does she want with me?】
【Could she already have mastered cultivation and is about to give me tasty water?!】
That thought made it instantly leap out in excitement.
“Gui—gui—” Woman, are you going to give me tasty water now?
“I don’t have it yet. When I return and master cultivation techniques, I will,” Gu Xiaomai replied.
“Gui—gui—” Fine! Of course you don’t have as much talent as me. Otherwise how could I be a phoenix?
Gu Xiaomai didn’t understand, but she could tell from its smug expression that it was boasting again.
This chicken was seriously full of itself.
“I won’t tell anyone about the tasty water,” she negotiated.
【This woman is stupid? Of course I won’t tell anyone—it’s not beneficial to me!】
“Gui—gui—” I won’t say anything. You shouldn’t either!
Gu Xiaomai smiled in satisfaction.
“Gui—gui—” And hurry up and learn cultivation! If you don’t give me tasty water, I’ll… I’ll make sure no one can go up the mountain to find those tasty grasses!
Seeing her still smiling, it added:
“Gui—gui—” I’ll even kill one person for each I see!
Gu Xiaomai’s smile froze.
What?!
How did this suddenly escalate to murder?!
They were just talking fine a moment ago!
【Did Mother White Rabbit’s intimidation trick not work on her?】
【Then will temptation work?】
【Fine, let’s try temptation first. If it works, I just need to exchange those tasty grasses they’re all looking for for tasty water.】
【Then I won’t even need to suffer being her pet. Haha… I’m so smart!】
“Gui—gui—” Next time you go up the mountain, I’ll use the tasty grass you all collect to trade for tasty water. I can find a lot of it, so you won’t lose out!
Although she didn’t fully understand, Gu Xiaomai quickly nodded.
This deal was practically heaven-sent.
If she didn’t agree, she’d be letting down her entire transmigration experience.
The deal between one human and one chicken was reached, and both sides were satisfied.
Gu Xiaomai returned to Jiang Chenan and Yumi, while the red-bellied golden pheasant continued following her.
By the time they returned down the mountain, it was already the agreed time.
Because they started late and the chicken caused delays, they collected fewer purified plants than the previous day.
After inspection by Jiao Yang, both Jiang Chenan and Yumi received fewer supplies as well.
They weren’t too disappointed. Instead, they were excited—the appearance of the “phoenix” gave them a huge boost of confidence. This disastrous era would soon come to an end.
If Gu Xiaomai knew what they were thinking, she would’ve definitely smacked them back to reality.
And maybe herself too—for saying things she shouldn’t have said.
…
The next morning, Gu Xiaomai woke up feeling refreshed, as if her energy had been fully restored.
After practicing Tai Chi, she returned to the tent area and saw Mi Tang squatting in the field where corn had been planted.
She walked over and asked curiously:
“Captain Mi, what are you doing?”