This was the first time Shen Gurong had heard Xi Guxing laugh so loudly.
The disciples had already dispersed. Xi Guxing led the expressionless Shen Gurong towards Jiuchun Mountain, connecting with his other senior brothers through spiritual sense while carrying the Azure Jade Essence.
“Second Senior Sister, there’s something…” Xi Guxing said, “Hmm? The Boundary Spirit Tablet? Oh, that little red bird was causing trouble again, but it’s fine now. Um, I have something to tell you, Eleventh Junior Brother accidentally absorbed the Phoenix’s spiritual energy into the spiritual vein…”
Second Senior Sister: “Hahahahahaha!”
Xi Guxing: “Fourth Junior Brother, you… what’s that sound over there? Making a scene again! Borrowing money? No, I won’t lend you money this time, and next time? Not next time either. Can you come back soon? There’s a good show to watch.”
Fourth Junior Brother: “Hahahahahaha!”
Xi Guxing: “Sixth Brother…”
Sixth Junior Brother: “Hahahahahaha!”
Shen Gurong: “…”
Shen Gurong looked utterly hopeless, wishing he could draw his sword and chop Xi Guxing in half.
He wanted to turn around and leave, but fearing he'd get lost, he reluctantly followed Xi Guxing.
Xi Guxing told the others about Shen Gurong's situation one by one. All his fellow disciples unanimously mocked Shen Gurong—if they weren't so far from Liren Peak, they would have rushed back to watch the show.
Shen Gurong thought expressionlessly: Judging from these senior brothers' reactions, Shen Feng Xue must be a person everyone dislikes, otherwise why would they all be so happy about his misfortune?
Xi Guxing escorted him to Fanjiang Residence, told him not to wander off, turned and went out, and a moment later dragged Lou Bugui back by the collar.
Lou Bugui, like a small animal being grabbed by the back of his collar, said woodenly, "Senior brother, senior brother, I really didn't teach them to recognize poisonous herbs, it's true, senior brother."
Xi Guxing quickly rushed to Fanjiang Residence, put Lou Bugui down, and said, "Eleventh Junior Brother's health is failing, come and take a look at him."
Lou Bugui reacted blankly for a moment before saying, "Ah, okay, Eleven is important."
The two entered Fanjiang Residence, and upon opening the door, they saw the bed curtains in the inner room were drawn back, the wind blowing open small gaps, revealing small bulges on the bed.
Xi Guxing was in an unprecedentedly good mood. He ripped open the bed curtains and said to Shen Gurong, who was hiding under the brocade quilt, "What are you hiding for? Get up, let Bugui take a look at you."
Shen Gurong was curled up under the quilt, neither speaking nor moving, clearly not wanting to come out.
Even someone as shameless as him felt embarrassed.
Seeing that he didn't move, Xi Guxing clicked his tongue, thinking that Shen Gurong, after going through a qi deviation, was becoming increasingly unrefined. If it were before, even as a bird, Shen Feng Xue would still have maintained that aloof, indifferent demeanor.
Xi Guxing didn't indulge him any longer and forcefully pulled the covers off him.
Shen Gurong closed his eyes and covered his ears, completely ignoring them.
Lou Bugui suddenly exclaimed, "Eleven, your hand..."
Shen Gurong was startled, glancing blankly at his hand, and noticed two faintly visible crimson phoenix feathers on the back of his hand.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong's fur practically stood on end. He abruptly sat up, almost jumping, and couldn't help but scream.
"Chirp!!"
Xi Guxing laughed wildly.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong yanked the quilt back up and buried himself in it like an ostrich.
Xi Guxing crossed his arms, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Do you intend to keep chirping like this for the rest of your life?"
Shen Gurong trembled slightly, reluctantly extending half of his pale wrist from under the covers, indicating that the examination would continue as it was.
Lou Bugui sat to the side, taking out a small cushion he always carried, and began to carefully examine his pulse.
Xi Guxing knew that Lou Bugui needed a quarter of an hour to examine his pulse, and a quarter of an hour for him to react, so he didn't wait idly.
He went back to practice his sword for a while, and when he leisurely returned, he heard Lou Bugui's "Ah."
Lou Bugui: "I've diagnosed it."
Shen Gurong had completely calmed down in those two quarters of an hour, and felt that there was nothing shameful about making a couple of chirping sounds. The most important thing now was whether the spiritual energy in his meridians would cause any major problems.
He threw back the covers and sat cross-legged, hurriedly asking upon hearing this, "How is it?"
Lou Bugui said, "There's demonic spiritual energy in the Shidi's spiritual vein."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Xi Guxing scolded him, "Nonsense! Didn't I tell you before we came? The important thing now is how to cure it."
Lou Bugui looked at him blankly, "The spiritual energy in the spiritual vein circulates day and night, and it will be completely replaced every so often. Just wait; there's no need for treatment."
It's common knowledge among cultivators of the Three Realms that the spiritual energy of spirit beasts is formed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. When fighting demon cultivators, one must avoid absorbing their spiritual energy into their spiritual veins, as there's a high chance of being assimilated into their demonic form.
Shen Gurong, however, not only didn't avoid it, but actively absorbed it into his spiritual veins.
Shen Gurong couldn't help but chirp, "Chirp chirp chirp?"
How long do I have to wait?
Xi Guxing: "Pfft."
Shen Gurong was so angry his fur stood on end: Sect Leader Xi, you've gone too far!!
But no matter how hard he tried to speak, all that came out was a string of phoenix chick cries.
Xi Guxing: "Hahaha!"
Lou Bugui, not knowing what Xi Guxing was laughing at, could only smile wryly to the side, playing the role of a beautiful flower.
Fortunately, Xi Guxing still had a shred of conscience. After enjoying Shen Gurong's rare display of embarrassment and anger, he slowly asked, "How long do we have to wait?"
Lou Bugui calculated: "About a month."
Upon hearing this, Shen Gurong felt as if struck by lightning.
Would he have to chirp for a whole month?!
No, that's not the point. Being able to only chirp like a chick is completely irrelevant. The important thing is, what will happen to the obvious phoenix demon cultivator characteristics appearing on his body?
Could it be that he'll eventually turn into a bird completely?!
Shen Gurong pointed to the feather on the back of his hand: "Will I keep growing feathers?"
Lou Bugui tilted his head in confusion: "Huh?"
Shen Gurong: "Feathers!!!"
Lou Bugui, probably finding it amusing, imitated him: "Qiuqiu."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Xi Guxing guessed randomly: "You mean, can I pluck these feathers?"
Shen Gurong glared at him.
Xi Guxing, failing to understand, casually pointed to the desk beside him: "Why don't you just write it down?"
Shen Gurong suddenly realized, hurriedly getting off the couch and rushing to the desk. Because of his movement, his slender hands unconsciously fluttered, like a bird flapping its wings.
He was completely unaware of his strange posture. He walked to the desk, wrote a line of words in a flowing, elegant style, and showed it to Lou Bugui.
Lou Bugui glanced at it carefully and said, "Eleven, Senior Brother doesn't recognize it."
Shen Gurong thought Lou Bugui had gone mad from testing poison and couldn't even recognize characters, so he quickly showed it to Xi Guxing.
Xi Guxing looked at it and pondered, "This seems to be the script of the demon race. I can't recognize it either."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong froze, staring at the flamboyant characters for a long time. Suddenly, he couldn't remember how to write human characters. Every time he tried to write, it was a jumbled mess of characters, yet he could still understand their meaning.
Shen Gurong's hand holding the paper was trembling. He was completely bewildered and couldn't recover for a long time.
Xi Guxing asked Lou Bugui, "Is the phoenix's spiritual power this domineering? He can even write demon characters in such a short time. If this continues, he'll probably be assimilated into a little red bird in three days."
Lou Bugui shook his head.
Xi Guxing raised an eyebrow: "Won't you be assimilated?"
Lou Bugui said, "No, it won't take that long."
Xi Guxing: "..."
Shen Gurong was utterly devastated, completely unable to accept the fact that he was about to turn into a bird.
Lou Bugui added, "But as long as we find Xue Manzhuang and get him to withdraw his spiritual power, it'll be fine."
Xi Guxing looked at Shen Gurong and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Can't I help him draw out his spiritual power?"
"Sure," Lou Bugui said seriously, "as long as you're not afraid of becoming a phoenix."
Xi Guxing: "..."
Xi Guxing, who was about to reach out to Shen Gurong's wrist to help him disperse his spiritual meridians, immediately withdrew his hand upon hearing this.
His own life was more important.
Shen Gurong was even more desperate.
Xi Guxing had never seen Shen Feng Xue so vulnerable and bewildered. He hesitated for a moment before coldly saying, "Xue Manzhuang was seriously injured by you; he shouldn't have gotten far. I'll bring him back as soon as possible."
Shen Gurong looked at him as if he were a savior, his eyes gleaming with hope: Senior Brother!
Xi Guxing's ears turned red, and he suddenly snapped angrily, "I told you not to act all cute with me!"
With that, he grabbed his sword and stormed off.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Taking advantage of Xi Guxing's confusion, Shen Gurong called out to his retreating figure, "Chirp chirp!"
Sect Leader!
Lou Bugui sat to the side, still trying to imitate Shen Gurong's voice, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get it right.
He raised his hand and shook Shen Gurong's sleeve, whispering, "Eleven, say it again."
Shen Gurong shut up, refusing to say it even if he killed him.
Lou Bugui sat opposite Shen Gurong, his hands supporting his chin, staring intently at him. His childlike eyes seemed to say, "Call again! Call again!"
Shen Gurong ignored him and instead drew a white crane for Lou Bugui to see.
His calligraphy and painting were learned from his private tutor; a few strokes were remarkably lifelike.
Lou Bugui tilted his head: "A crane?"
He imitated a crane's call a few times.
Shen Gurong waved his hand, gesturing for a while before finally making Lou Bugui understand.
Lou Bugui: "You want that white crane to recognize your calligraphy so it can communicate with us?"
Shen Gurong nodded.
"No." Lou Bugui's usually blank expression suddenly darkened. He casually crumpled the drawing, as if admonishing a child, "Eleven, he's a demon, don't trust him."
Shen Gurong was taken aback. Wasn't that white crane from Liren Peak?
Shen Gurong gestured: Why?
Seeing that he wouldn't listen, Lou Bugui grabbed his wrist tightly, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes: "Don't trust them! The demons can't be trusted! They have ill intentions! They want to harm you!"
Shen Gurong quickly tried to comfort him, but seeing that he was still extremely anxious, he could only chirp twice.
Lou Bugui was indeed easy to coax. Upon hearing the chirping of the baby bird he wanted to hear, he quickly flew away, happily tugging at Shen Gurong's hand like a child.
"Sing one more time."
Shen Gurong endured the humiliation and chirped, chirp, chirp, chirp.
Half a day later, Lou Bugui left, satisfied.
Exhausted, Shen Gurong slumped on the couch as if his bones had left no trace. Within moments, crimson feathers appeared on both his hands, sending chills down his spine.
After a long period of shock, he finally decided to ignore it and curled up under the brocade quilt to sleep.
Whatever, he couldn't change back anyway, so he'd leave it to Xi Guxing.
Night quietly fell, and the rain intensified, gently tapping on the slightly open wooden window.
After an unknown amount of time, the thin bed curtains beside the couch suddenly moved, as if something had crawled out from under the quilt.
A rustling sound followed, and a palm-sized red ball rolled down the bed curtains to the floor.
Shen Gurong, half-asleep, rolled a few times, slowly opened his eyes, and looked around.
"So sleepy." Shen Gurong kicked his paws, his mind still foggy. "I need to find a tree to sleep under."
He instinctively chirped twice, flapped his little wings, and floated off as if drunk to find a tree.
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