Little Phoenix Is Not An Immortal - Chapter 3

MARCH 20, 2016 ~ LUEN

Chapter 3: Secret of the Imperial Court (1)

A beautiful, heavenly sound and godly light illuminated everything. In the distance was a dazzling palace wall and I gazed at it from the air. The palace complex was so enormous that you couldn’t even hope to see its boundaries. Among the countless, tall buildings was one that had a glazed white tiled roof. It was beautiful and spectacular.

Outside the palace wall was the glittering Heavenly River. The river was broad and it was approximately 1,000 meters wide. The light of the water reflected the daylight and a long white bridge flew over the top of the river and through the palace gate in front of it as if it was a crouching rainbow with its high level of grandeur. Guards wearing golden armor and grasping pikes were spread out on both sides of the avenue. There was one every 20 steps with an awe-inspiring presence.

This was the imperial court? Tian Zhen stretched forward her head and looked around.

The fire phoenix steadily descended on the platform at the end of the bridge. There had been two attendants waiting on the platform early on. From a distance, they had spotted Zhao Huajun and had approached to welcome him and bowed in salutation.

Zhao Huajun carried Tian Zhen and walked down from the phoenix’s back, smiling: “The two heavenly officials have waited for a long time.”

The attendant with the slightly higher status smiled and said: “The emperor had little god wait here. There is no need for Zhao Huajun to go to the palace hall, the emperor is presently at the Constellation Platform.”

In the gap between his speaking, the other attendant approached and led the fire phoenix away.

Finished speaking, this attendant bowed and indicated his request for Zhao Huajun to walk in front. He himself followed half a step behind as he accompanied Zhao Huajun from the side and guided the way when necessary.

They followed the avenue and entered the palace gates. Within the enormous palace, groups traveled back and forth. Having turned from a person to a bird, everything she saw automatically seemed to have been enlarged by several sizes.

The tall flight of stairs, the tall coiling dragon pillar, and the expansive plaza. Heavenly land clearly wasn’t expensive. A hundred seats were built within the bright palace halls, looking imposing and dignified.

It was unknown how many bridges they crossed and how many winding corridors they turned until finally, the attendant unexpectedly led Zhao Huajun outside of another palace gate.

At the edge of the heavenly river was a tall platform that passed through the clouds.

“Go play by yourself.” Zhao Huajun put down Tian Zhen and instructed, “You cannot go far away.”

Bringing a bird to go see that “emperor” would be rather rude. Tian Zhen understood and walked a few steps and then spun around on the spot. She nodded her head to express that she understood.

Upon seeing this, the attendant at the side praised: “This crow is really smart!”

Crow? Tian Zhen raised her feathers.

Zhao Huajun couldn’t help smiling and said: “That is a small phoenix. There was an accident when she forced her own rebirth and so her feathers were injured.”

The attendant was embarrassed as he hurriedly said: “How could the crow race have this kind of noble air? So it turns out that it was actually from the king race.”

Noble air? Tian Zhen turned her head and looked over her gray-feathered body.

Zhao Huajun looked at her and pursed his lips. He turned around and ascended the stone stairs to the top of the platform.

The moment the Holy Father smiled, there would be endless rays of light. Tian Zhen stood at her original position and was reflecting on this when right at that moment, her ears heard a burst of clamorous hoof sounds.

The ear-splitting sound of the horse’s hooves rang both near and far. She stared and only saw smoke and dust flying on the avenue directly facing the river. Countless celestial soldiers were in orderly formations as they gallantly and valiantly rode chariots across the bridge, or walked, or rode heavenly horses. There were some who raised flags, carried swords, carried bows……she gazed for a long time and still couldn’t see the end.

Tian Zhen was crushed by that imposing manner and promptly ran to the opposite bank. She jumped on the railing at the end of the bridge and acted as a spectator.

“Wen Xi, can a youngster like you fight in a battle?”

“You can’t put it like that. If a female general were to come from the Demon Realm, I wouldn’t be able to fight her.”

…….

Several celestial soldiers riding on horses laughingly and playfully teased a small soldier. That small soldier seemed to not have heard as he merely lowered his head and didn’t speak.

There’s this kind of bullying the weak situation everywhere. Tian Zhen was just sympathizing with him when she heard the heavenly horse give a low neigh. That small soldier’s mount was suddenly startled and immediately following its scare, it raised its head and made two turns at its original position. It carried him directly into a forward dash and the celestial soldiers cried out in fear as they moved out of the way one after another. The procession was immediately thrown into disorder.

There was a “putong” sound and a splash sent droplets of water flying in all directions. The small soldier was unable to gain control and unexpectedly, both man and horse fell into the heavenly river!

Fortunately, all celestial soldiers have a little magic power. He adapted to the situation extremely quickly and the tip of his foot immediately touched the water as he jumped and landed back on the shore.

“This youngster rode his horse all the way into the river!”

“Born looking like a woman. What battle could you fight?!”

…….

Due to the close distance, Tian Zhen had clearly seen what had happened. It was clearly the several people beside him who had played a prank on him.

The procession was in disorder so a high ranking military officer rode his horse over and berated in a stern voice: “Who is making a disturbance?”

The several celestial soldiers who had been ridiculing the small soldier before all shut their mouths. No one dared to say anymore.

The river water by the shore wasn’t deep and barely submerged the horse’s stomach. That horse was still incessantly struggling due to its anger. The small soldier’s hands firmly pulled at the reins to prevent it from throwing him off. However, no matter what, he wasn’t able to drag him back nor could let go of his hold. Without any choice, he awkwardly replied: “Wen Xi was inattentive so the horse got startled and jumped into the heavenly river.”

“You again, trash!” The high ranking military officer struck his head with a whip, “Can’t do anything right yet makes everything worse!”

Wen Xi was silent and didn’t defend himself.

“All of you walk properly!” The high ranking military officer shouted his order in a loud voice and put the group back into order again. After that, he turned towards Wen Xi and cursed: “Useless thing. Hurry up and drag it back. The army is going to set out immediately. If I miss the chance to battle, I’ll seize and punish you!”

Wen Xi said ‘yes, yes’ in response and used all his strength to pull at the horse.

The situation had developed in an unexpected direction. It hadn’t occurred to her that he could tolerate things this much. The pity within Tian Zhen’s heart changed into respect. She carefully looked at his two eyes and discovered that this person was born extremely beautiful. A jade face, vermilion lips, and a pair of eyebrows slanting towards the temples. Even harder to come by was that although he had been plotted against and had been ridiculed by everyone, he didn’t carry the least bit of resentment. From beginning to end, there was a quiet and calm temperament between his eyebrows.

Seeing the army getting farther away and that horse still in the water and refusing to be pulled back, Tian Zhen felt anxious on his behalf. Hence, she spread her wings and flew over, wanting to give him a helping hand.

Wen Xi thought aloud: “A small phoenix?”

Good eyesight!

Tian Zhen put more energy into flapping her wings at the heavenly horse, herding it towards the shore.

In view of this ‘phoenix’ word, I’ve decided to help you!

Suddenly, that heavenly horse gave a wretched neigh and disappear right before her eyes. It had been pulled from the water by a great power.

Tian Zhen raised her head in puzzlement.

The horse had already returned to shore. Wen Xi was leisurely pulling the reins and smiling at her.

Tian Zhen’s mind was in shock.

This puny celestial soldier actually turned out to be a deeply hidden expert who simply hadn’t revealed himself!

His eyes were like autumn waters, deep and unmeasurable. Wen Xi softly said: “Many thanks little phoenix.”

Having been taught a lesson by Lu Xiaocan’s bloodletting, Tian Zhen would first consider her own safety——someone who would consent to suffer in silence definitely has a secret. If I were to let him find out that I understand everything, would he kill this bird to prevent the secret from leaking? As a result, she didn’t respond to his thanks and flapped her wings, returning to the end of the bridge.

Seeing that she didn’t have the least bit of cultivation and merely an ordinary spirit bird, as expected, Wen Xi didn’t have his guard up around her. Regarding the moment of sentience she had shown, don’t know what he thought of, but afterwards he simply turned around, got on the horse, and chased after the army.

Tian Zhen followed him with her eyes until he disappeared and then jumped down from the bridge’s railing. She casually strolled around within the vicinity and unexpectedly reaped quite a bit. For example: a certain god and a certain goddess were in love, a certain god in charge of the treasury had embezzled a number of gifts, also, a certain imperial concubine wanted to get poison to harm another imperial concubine who was pregnant…….

This world isn’t very peaceful. There are many secrets that only a bird can discover! Tian Zhen used her claw to support her head.

For the sake of this small life, I need to act as a non-talkative bird.

Guessing that it was about time, Tian Zhen walked back along the big bridge. Very quickly, she heard someone speaking up ahead.

“Then it’s decided. Zhen¹ will give out an imperial decree at a later time.”

The voice was very young. There was familiarity in its air although there was an even greater amount of dignity.

Tian Zhen promptly stopped and raised her eyes to look. She only saw Zhao Huajun and a man standing at the bottom of the Constellation Platform. Several attendants respectfully stood several meters away. That man had a golden robe and jade belt and he had a tall stature. Due to his back facing this side, she couldn’t see his appearance. The words just now had come from his mouth. Since he had called himself “zhen,” there was no need to guess his identity.

Zhao Huajun said: “Your Majesty, please reconsider.”

“Biaoxiong², your journey must have been exhausting. You should go get some rest and leave tomorrow.” The God Emperor interrupted him. He patted his shoulder and said while smiling: “Right now besides biaoxiong, not a single one of these useless workers can help me with my worries and difficulties. You can’t avoid it anymore. In a little while, my brother-in-law will come to pay his respects to you.”

Finished speaking, he naturally took along his several attendants and entered the palace gates. There was only Zhao Huajun and the attendant who had guided them before left.

The attendant smiled and said: “His Majesty has already made his decision. Zhao Huajun please come this way.”

Zhao Huajun had no other choice and called to the side: “Little phoenix?”

Hearing the gentle call, Tian Zhen gave a cry and customarily walked over at a quick pace.

Seeing her two legs running on the ground, Zhao Huajun couldn’t help smiling as he lifted her up in his arms: “If I were to let you stay in that heavenly chicken flock again, I’m afraid that you’ll forget even how to fly.”

The attendant gestured for him to enter the palace gates and said while walking: “This time Zhao Huajun is going to Dong Yuan Yin Mountain to supervise and direct the battle so it’s easy to understand that His Majesty is worried.”

Zhao Huajun said: “Having the War God personally guarding me, there’s no need for His Majesty to be worried. He only commanded me to take a look at the progress of the battle and placate the three armies, that’s all.”

The attendant sighed and whispered: “I won’t hide it from Zhao Huajun. The Demon God’s power is no small matter. The War God can only set up a spell and trap him within it. If this battle is to be victorious, Zhao Huajun must personally appear.”

Zhao Huajun frowned and said: “A nameless saint speaking nonsense. How could you take it seriously?”

The attendant said: “When there is disorder, calm the disorder. When there is no disorder, disorder will be created. The servant is no longer a servant and leaves. These words have all already come true. His changing sides and going to the Demon Realm was destined by  Heaven’s Will. This matter has to be dealt with by the Bird God race. If Zhao Huajun had been there the previous couple of times, wouldn’t we have won?”

Zhao Huajun gave a bitter laugh.

Another person coming to your realm and killing several ten thousands of your celestial soldiers and then, without the slightest injury, withdrawing his troops and leaving, this is called you swimming? It was nothing more than deceiving others and deceiving oneself.

The Demon God has started a rebellion? Tian Zhen was able to hear the general idea.

Should be right. If there are Gods, then there definitely have to be Demons. Otherwise, what else would you give these celestial soldiers to train with to raise their levels?