Zhu Yinxiao and the other two were still drifting across the ocean.
When he revealed his true form, the Samadhi True Fire of the Vermilion Bird had incinerated all of Zhu Yinxiao’s clothes, meaning he couldn't shift back into human form unless he wanted to be stark naked. Wu Biyou and Chai Yanyan had plucked one of his vermilion feathers, tying one end to the screen-raft and the other around Zhu Yinxiao’s neck. The raft trailed behind the Vermilion Bird as the three of them drifted aimlessly over the waves.
It was incredibly boring. In the distance, the battle between Chai Shuxin and the silver dragon was spectacular, but no one dared get close enough to watch. Wu Biyou played games on his phone; there was no signal in the Realm of Water and Sky, so he was stuck with Snake. By the time his battery died, several hours had finally passed.
He stared at Zhu Yinxiao for a moment before suddenly saying, "I remember when I was a kid, you took me to the park to go boating."
Zhu Yinxiao was taken aback. Such words didn't sound like they belonged in the mouth of this chuunibyou teenager.
"There were many kinds of boats." Wu Biyou turned to Chai Yanyan, gesturing with his hands. "There were pedal boats, electric ones, and rubber rafts. One was a bamboo raft, but you didn't need a pole; there was a giant electric rubber duck attached to the front."
Chai Yanyan caught on and burst out laughing. "Doesn't that look exactly like us right now?" She pointed at Zhu Yinxiao. "He’s our rubber duck."
*I knew this brat wouldn't have anything nice to say,* Zhu Yinxiao thought. "Yeah, yeah. And back then, you were throwing a fit because you wanted to ride the roller coaster."
"But you didn't bring enough money," Wu Biyou countered. "In the end, you bought me a stupid-looking doll."
"Wasn't it cute and fluffy?" Zhu Yinxiao didn't see the problem. "You ended up falling asleep holding it, and you got drool all over the thing."
Wu Biyou scoffed. "Girly aesthetics."
Zhu Yinxiao swatted the boy into the water with a wing.
Wu Biyou wasn't much of a swimmer and thrashed around for a while. Chai Yanyan leaned over the edge. "Are you okay? Do you need a hand?"
"No!" Wu Biyou wiped his face through gritted teeth. Then, with a sudden reach, he grabbed Zhu Yinxiao’s tail feathers and forced his way up onto the Vermilion Bird’s back.
Zhu Yinxiao squawked, "Kid, are you trying to start a rebellion? Get down!"
"No." Wu Biyou was soaked to the bone, so he simply buried himself in the feathers. The Vermilion Bird’s body temperature was extremely warm, and it would dry the moisture in no time. No matter how much Zhu Yinxiao tried to shake him off, he wouldn't budge, clinging on like a stubborn flea.
Chai Yanyan watched enviously and looked at Zhu Yinxiao with puppy-dog eyes. "Great-Uncle, I want to go up too."
*They really are a bunch of little terrors,* Zhu Yinxiao thought.
Chai Yanyan also burrowed into the feathers and let out a comfortable sigh. "Great-Uncle, your feathers could be used to make a Simmons mattress."
Wu Biyou raised a hand and patted the Vermilion Bird’s neck. "Take us for a flight."
"Yay!" Chai Yanyan agreed enthusiastically. "Let's see you fly!"
Zhu Yinxiao: "...What is this, a toy airplane ride? Did you two even graduate from kindergarten?"
Wu Biyou replied righteously, "I did."
*Damn it, the kid actually did.* Zhu Yinxiao was speechless. "Fine, sit tight then. If you fall off, don't blame me."
The Vermilion Bird took flight, his heavy wings spreading against the wind as he soared straight into the sky.
A gentle breeze brushed past them amidst the drifting clouds. Chai Yanyan couldn't help but close her eyes, feeling as though she had returned to a spring afternoon, napping on a warm lawn.
Zhu Yinxiao circled in the air several times. Feeling it was enough, he asked, "Have you had your fun? I'm heading down if you're done."
There was no response. Zhu Yinxiao turned his head and saw that both children had fallen asleep.
After such a chaotic ordeal, they were indeed exhausted in both body and mind.
Wu Biyou was curled up in the feathers, with only his head peeking out. Zhu Yinxiao looked at his profile and thought about how cute he had been as a baby—how did he grow up to be so prickly?
The only thing that hadn't changed was the drooling. Zhu Yinxiao noticed the wet patch at the corner of the boy's mouth and considered tossing him off so he wouldn't soil his plumage.
But a second later, the boy rubbed his face against the feathers and muttered in his sleep.
"A fluffy roller coaster..."
About a few hours later, a clap of thunder echoed from the horizon. Amidst the lightning and thunder, a dragon roared. Then, a massive silver shadow fell from the sky, kicking up a colossal wave.
A blade was thrust through the dragon's eye, the light of the blade carving a circle that opened a massive hole in the socket. Drenched in blood, Chai Shuxin crawled out from the dragon's head.
He leaned against the dragon's horn and poked the scales with his Red-Licking Blade. The silver dragon didn't react. He let out a breath, confirming the creature was dead.
Dense clouds gathered overhead, and moments later, a torrential rain began to pour.
Zhu Yinxiao heard the commotion from the other side and flew over hastily through the rain. He watched from a distance for a moment before tentatively calling out, "Brother?"
He wasn't sure if Chai Shuxin had calmed down yet. The killing intent hadn't dissipated; a single strike from the man could flip all three of them over.
A cough sounded through the rain, followed by a low, raspy voice: "I'm fine now. Come over."
Zhu Yinxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief and paddled over through the water. "Holy crap, Brother, you're not hurt, are you?" The amount of blood on him was terrifying.
"It's not my blood." Chai Shuxin shook his head. "Where are the other two?"
Zhu Yinxiao lifted a wing, revealing the two soundly sleeping youths. "Right here. This rain isn't clean; don't let them get soaked..."
Before he could finish, Chai Shuxin leaped onto his back and delivered a kick to each of them, sending the sleeping pair straight into the sea.
Zhu Yinxiao: "..."
The two were jolted awake by the water. Wu Biyou surfaced, ready to curse someone out, but as soon as he saw Chai Shuxin’s expressionless face, he swallowed his words and silently paddled behind Zhu Yinxiao.
"I'll make this quick." Chai Shuxin coughed. "Did you already send An Ping out?"
Zhu Yinxiao nodded. "Yes."
"How long until the next exit opens?"
"Soon." Zhu Yinxiao looked up at the sky. "Less than half an hour."
"We can't stay here long. After the silver dragon dies, its blood turns into rain. What's falling now is pure mercury," Chai Shuxin said. "In a moment, I'll help you hold the exit open and send them both through together."
He then looked at Chai Yanyan. "Once you're out, go to the City God Temple and find Huang Niu. He’s the manager of the Luocha family. Tell him that if the Yao Corporation pushes their luck any further, he is to kill Chai Puti immediately. Tell them it's the forty-ninth generation head cleaning house."
Chai Yanyan didn't dare speak; she could only nod.
Then, he handed the Red-Licking Blade to Wu Biyou. "Take this."
Wu Biyou looked up in disbelief, not daring to reach for it.
"Hold it tight." Chai Shuxin coughed a few more times and threw the blade directly at him. "Once you're out, go straight back to Fengdu. If anyone from the Ten Yama Kings or the Yin-Yang family tries to cause trouble, show them this blade."
He fell silent for a moment, then added, "If you have nothing else to do, remember to visit your father's grave."
The remark was somewhat cryptic, but Wu Biyou didn't dare ask more. He looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "What about the two of you?"
Zhu Yinxiao ruffled the boy's hair. "There's still a lot of cleanup to do. Your brother and I have to stay behind to hold things down. This was the Second Brother’s tower; if we leave it in this mess, he’d probably stew me in a pot the moment he found out."
Chai Shuxin interrupted Zhu Yinxiao. "He’s staying to mend the sky."
Chai Yanyan and Wu Biyou were both stunned. Zhu Yinxiao sighed. "Brother, you didn't have to be so blunt."
"I won't lie to you like Mu Gesheng does, but you must be prepared to accept the truth." Chai Shuxin pushed the Vermilion Bird’s head aside and spoke to the two youths. "The silver dragon was the spine supporting this entire Realm of Water and Sky. Now that it's dead, the space will gradually collapse and eventually crash into the human world. If that happens, the mortal realm will be overturned."
"In ancient times, Gonggong struck Mount Buzhou in his rage, causing the heavens to collapse. Nüwa cut the legs of a divine tortoise to support the four poles and refined five-colored stones to mend the sky. We are doing the same thing now."
Wu Biyou was dumbfounded. Chai Yanyan pressed, "How... how do you do that?"
"I will sever the dragon's bones into four sections to prop up the four poles. The remaining holes will be patched with Vermilion Bird feathers." Chai Shuxin looked at Zhu Yinxiao. "The feathers of one bird won't be enough. We'll need to call the rest of the Zhu family."
Zhu Yinxiao shook his head and sighed. "Yes, yes."
Wu Biyou hesitated for a long time before he couldn't help but ask, "Is it dangerous?"
Zhu Yinxiao gave a bitter smile. "Do you want the truth?"
"It is extremely dangerous," Chai Shuxin said. "After Nüwa mended the sky, her spirit was scattered. Once the Realm of Water and Sky is fully repaired, the Vermilion Bird may no longer exist in this world."
Wu Biyou was left speechless.
"Mu Gesheng shielded you from too much, just so you could remain a youth." Chai Shuxin glanced at him and said flatly, "Now that he's not here, it's time for you to grow up."
The two were thrown high into the air, passing through a long tunnel before finally tumbling out of an elevator.
The plates in the waiter's hands shattered across the floor. "Young... Young Master?"
Chai Yanyan stood up. "I have to return to the Yao family immediately. What are your plans?"
"I suggest you go to the City God Temple first." Wu Biyou clut
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Of Weddings and Wakes | Chapter 64 | Mending the Sky | Novela.app | Novela.app
