Meiqiu was brought into the room, and Zhai Bairong studied him with curiosity. He did indeed notice that this bird seemed different from a common crow; the feathers on his head and tail were quite long, resembling a trailing train. Seeing that Meiqiu seemed displeased, Zhai Bairong added politely, "I jumped to a conclusion based on your color at first glance. Please, do not be offended."
Meiqiu hadn't expected Zhai Bairong to have such a good temperament, and he let out a couple of huffs. Once Nie Shiyun pulled the food out of his storage ring, his anger vanished instantly, and he began to wolf down his meal.
"He wasn't wrong, though. You really are half-crow," Nie Shiyun remarked.
"Mmph... mmph..." Meiqiu’s mouth was stuffed. Only after a loud gulp did he defend himself. "There is a difference between being half of something and being the whole thing!"
Zhai Bairong watched him closely, realizing by now that this spirit beast must possess an extraordinary lineage. Most spirit beasts owned by cultivators were merely spirit beasts—incapable of speech. Those who possessed human-like intelligence and could communicate fluently with cultivators were either high-level demonic cultivators capable of transformation, or the offspring of such beings. In either case, they would not easily submit to a contract with a human.
When Nie Shiyun told Zhai Bairong the bird's name, the latter was momentarily speechless. To think that a creature which clearly looked like a top-tier spirit beast had been given such a... grounded name.
"When did you acquire this spirit beast? I have never seen him before," Zhai Bairong said, looking toward Nie Shiyun.
Nie Shiyun replied, "I found him while I was living in Flower City. He was still an egg back then and only hatched recently."
"Only recently?" Zhai Bairong couldn't help but be surprised. In his experience, newly hatched spirit beasts were fragile and tiny, requiring slow feeding by parents or masters, taking at least a few years to take shape. The Meiqiu before him did not look like a hatchling; not only was he full of vitality and a voracious eater, but his voice was also particularly loud.
A spirit beast this rare might have been special even while still in the egg. Zhai Bairong no longer minded that Nie Shiyun had kept the matter to himself.
"Guess what my other half is?" Meiqiu asked triumphantly.
Zhai Bairong stared at him for a long while, guessing seriously, "With tail feathers this long, could it be..."
"Could it be...?" Meiqiu’s tone was brimming with pride.
"A golden pheasant?"
"..."
Zhai Bairong figured he had guessed wrong. Otherwise, the little thing before him wouldn't have looked so indignant, his feathers drooping as if he had wilted. Nie Shiyun couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter, earning a fierce glare from Meiqiu before the bird vanished on the spot.
"I guessed wrong, didn't I?" Zhai Bairong said, feeling a bit helpless.
Nie Shiyun’s little spirit pet had quite the temper; as soon as he was unhappy, he retreated into the spirit pet bag. He didn't even show Nie Shiyun much deference. Rather than a contracted pet, he seemed more like a child Nie Shiyun was raising. Zhai Bairong suddenly recalled the young demonic cultivator children who used to frequent the shop in Flower City and found some similarities, reaching a sudden realization. He had felt earlier that Nie Shiyun was quite popular with children, though it wasn't the typical respect a child has for an adult; it was something more mysterious.
Nie Shiyun laughed for a good while over Meiqiu being mistaken for a pheasant. Finally, he calmed down, took a sip of tea, and revealed the correct answer to Zhai Bairong.
This time, it was Zhai Bairong’s turn to need a moment to process. He had received various difficult-to-digest pieces of news from Nie Shiyun for two days straight. He thought he had become numb to it by now, yet he was still shocked.
"How is that possible? Phoenixes only exist in the Upper Realm. Legends say that ten thousand years ago, phoenixes occasionally appeared in the cultivation world, but for the last millennium..."
Nie Shiyun explained Meiqiu’s encounter and background in detail to Zhai Bairong. Meiqiu’s existence wasn't actually too dangerous; the existence of phoenixes had long since faded into legend, and few people in the world were familiar with their aura anymore. Just now, even when Meiqiu asked him directly, Zhai Bairong hadn't even considered phoenix blood, thinking he was just a uniquely-looking, high-grade spirit beast. Meiqiu hadn't inherited a single one of the phoenix's signature five-colored feathers; at this point, it was hard to say if that was a curse or a blessing.
Meiqiu had been fuming in the spatial dimension, but after a while, Nie Shiyun forcibly summoned him out. Meiqiu reappeared on the table with a stony face. Knowing his background, Zhai Bairong felt it was only natural for the little thing to have a bit of a temper. Normally, how could a divine beast ever deign to form a contract with a cultivator of this world? From that perspective, Nie Shiyun had certainly come out ahead. He was not stingy with his praise, expressing his awe to Meiqiu and, after asking for permission, carefully examining him from all sides.
*That’s more like it!* Meiqiu thought to himself. When Nie Shiyun found out he had phoenix blood, he hadn't been surprised at all—instead, he had the nerve to ask Meiqiu for money! Meiqiu finally felt the superiority of being treated with the care due to a divine beast. His displeased expression softened easily, replaced by an irrepressible smile.
"Alright, if you keep praising him, his beak will be pointing at the sky," Nie Shiyun couldn't help but say to Zhai Bairong. The hatchling's personality wasn't set yet; if he was constantly put on a pedestal, he would get a big head.
Meiqiu beamed and said, "Nie Shiyun, your partner is much more sensible than you! He knows how powerful this divine beast is."
"Cough, cough..." Hearing the term Meiqiu used, Zhai Bairong felt a bit awkward and cleared his throat.
Nie Shiyun felt Meiqiu had caused enough of a disturbance and stuffed his mouth with food. Meiqiu welcomed this, grabbing all the spirit food Nie Shiyun had bought to last several days in one go and retreating back into the space.
Food could only go into storage space, while spirit pets were supposed to go into spirit pet bags—two different dimensions. However, Zhai Bairong didn't notice anything amiss at first because his mind was currently filled with the word "partner."
"What did you tell him?" This was the first time Zhai Bairong had met Meiqiu, and he hadn't expected the bird to call him that already. He felt that Nie Shiyun must have introduced him, and the thought made him curious and secretly a little happy.
"I didn't say anything special, just the truth..."
Nie Shiyun thought to himself: *Bairong values his dignity; it's better not to tell him for now that Meiqiu can vaguely sense us making love from within the space...*
"Right. The Star-Moon Spirit Wood Sword you gave me... you were very thoughtful. I like it very much," Zhai Bairong suddenly remembered he hadn't thanked him yet and spoke up quickly.
"It was a bit late in coming. I'm glad you like it," Nie Shiyun asked with a smile. "Have you tried it?"
Zhai Bairong nodded. "I used it as soon as I checked it this morning. It feels even more exquisite in hand than it looks. I didn't even know when you collected those materials, or when you found the time to forge them? Even a single blade possesses extraordinary power, yet when used as a set, their power is further amplified. Earlier today..."
Nie Shiyun watched Zhai Bairong describe his feelings and insights upon using the swords with great animation. He rarely spoke so much in one breath; it seemed he truly loved them.
After speaking for a while, Zhai Bairong realized he was the only one talking while Nie Shiyun watched him with a smile, so he stopped.
"Apologies, I've been talking for so long. But I truly do like them. You put so much effort into them... yet I have nothing to give you in return."
"Are you being this polite with me again?" Nie Shiyun shook his head. "Using them with such care and telling me your thoughts and insights in such detail—that is the greatest reward for a blacksmith."
"But..."
Zhai Bairong wanted to say more, but Nie Shiyun pulled him over, and the two pressed close together intimately. Seeing Nie Shiyun’s expression, Zhai Bairong knew that saying any more thanks would only create distance. He swallowed his words, reached out to cup Nie Shiyun’s face, and gave him a light kiss on the lips.
Nie Shiyun felt the atmosphere was perfect and it was time to move things into the inner room. Unexpectedly, Zhai Bairong spoke again: "There is one more thing I wanted to ask you."
"Hmm?"
Zhai Bairong stared intently at Nie Shiyun and asked, "What was the deal with that half-human, half-beast youth this afternoon?"
"Oh," Nie Shiyun smiled mischievously. "Are you jealous?"
Zhai Bairong replied helplessly, "I am asking you a serious question."
Seeing that his expression was indeed normal, Nie Shiyun felt a bit of regret. Zhai Bairong saw through his mindset and said with a laugh, "After what you told me yesterday, I naturally trust you. What, are you dissatisfied that I *don't* suspect you?"
"Because you are usually so perceptive. I just miss the rare times when you were a bit foolish."
Without needing further explanation, Zhai Bairong knew Nie Shiyun was talking about the time he misunderstood the situation with Fellow Daoist Qi. He put on a mock-sour face, saying, "Just how long are you going to remember that?" while simultaneously preventing Nie Shiyun from continuing that line of conversation, urging him to get to the point.
There was nothing particularly special about the matter; Nie Shiyun really had met Du Zhi by chance at first. He told Zhai Bairong everything, from their first meeting in Flower City to buying the artifacts Du Zhi had made at the foot of the mountain. As Zhai Bairong listened, he nodded repeatedly, but a look of confusion slowly clouded his face as if he were pondering something.
"What is it? Did I not explain something clearly?"
Zhai Bairong hesitated. "I don't know if it's appropriate to ask... I just have some suspicions."
Nie Shiyun looked at him, puzzled.
"Today, when that cultivator named Du Zhi was lost on the mountainside, we happened to run into him. Duan Mingyu ran forward to help him, and the two began to chat. At that moment, I had a faint premonition... and from the reactions of Rong Lü and Xu Yehua, I think they felt it too," Zhai Bairong said, choosing his words carefully. "It was just like the feeling when I first met those two. Even though it was only a few words, I felt that Du Zhi was destined to be entangled with Duan Mingyu."
"Then you appeared and interrupted their conversation. After we left, that feeling vanished. Those two only felt a sense of relief, but it reminded me of past events. I felt... as if you had stepped in and severed something," Zhai Bairong said thoughtfully. "When you took the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover in that secret realm, was it a similar situation? Of course, this is just a baseless thought of mine. If it's inconvenient to say, you don't have to answer."
"You..." Nie Shiyun marveled. "Your thinking is far too meticulous."
"So, I guessed correctly?" Zhai Bairong had felt his suspicion was a bit far-fetched and perhaps overstepped a boundary. But having asked tentatively, Nie Shiyun did not deny it.
Since the conversation had reached this point, Nie Shiyun nodded openly. "Indeed. For certain reasons, I know some things that might happen in the future. However, because of my intervention, various situations have already changed significantly, so it's hard to say how things will turn out from here."
"So, you are intercepting opportunities that originally belonged to Duan Mingyu?"
"Correct. Though I have no personal grudge against him. It's just that in this life, I am destined... to be at odds with that man named Xu Yehua until the end. And since they are constantly tied together, I must be wary of them both."
With this, many of the questions in Zhai Bairong’s heart were resolved. Xu Yehua didn't seem to know the future, yet he was subconsciously very wary of Nie Shiyun, feeling that the other had taken things that should have been his. However, regarding the struggle for opportunities, Zhai Bairong didn't think Nie Shiyun was in the wrong. Even without the issue with Xu Yehua, which cultivator in the world wouldn't strike out to seize a chance if they caught a glimpse of heavenly secrets?
"In that case, me maintaining a superficial relationship with Duan Mingyu and the others can actually help you."
Nie Shiyun hadn't expected Zhai Bairong to consider his interests so without hesitation; he was deeply moved. However, as this was a serious matter, he wouldn't play polite. He immediately agreed, telling Zhai Bairong that if those people—especially Xu Yehua—made any moves, he must let him know. Zhai Bairong nodded, his heart filled with complex emotions. Originally, he had wanted to part ways with Duan Mingyu’s group and have nothing more to do with them, but he was forced to play along due to the constraints of his sect. Now he had another reason to maintain this status quo; it seemed he would have to keep acting this part.
"Speaking of which, Duan Mingyu also mentioned that back in the spring of last year, he suddenly woke up from a dream one night feeling a sense of loss, as if something was missing. Did you get some other good treasure then?"
Nie Shiyun didn't know about this. His first instinct was Meiqiu. But on second thought, that wasn't right; he had picked Meiqiu up on a snowy day. The Heavenly Dao didn't have network lag, so why would there be a reaction only in the spring?
Thinking back, spring was shortly before Zhai Bairong had returned. Nie Shiyun pondered if anything special had happened, then suddenly understood. He smiled and pulled Zhai Bairong close. "Indeed. I did snatch something big from him. Do you want to guess what it was?"
"There are so many spiritual treasures in the world, how am I supposed to guess?" Zhai Bairong felt Nie Shiyun was being difficult, while also wondering what could possibly make him so happy that he was beaming with joy.
Nie Shiyun didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned in for a kiss, saying, "The spring night is short, and you have to go back early in the morning," as he pulled him into the inner room. Knowing that Nie Shiyun was always like this—vague and playing the mystery man at the drop of a hat—Zhai Bairong was used to it and helplessly followed him.
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 46 | Intercepting Fate | Novela.app | Novela.app
