At Xuan's words, everyone present turned to him in shock, the old senior included. Fu i most of all was surprised by this sudden developnt, as she'd just been ready to slaughter the phoenix the mont before—or, at least, try to anyway. As strong as she was, a phoenix using its full power was comparable if not stronger to that of a high-ranking Dragon's… but that's besides the point.
"This young friend here… you know this mythical creature?" The High Elf senior asked, words slow and dripping with cautiousness.
Xuan simply smiled and gave a nod, refusing to elaborate on it further. But judging from the calm, almost smug look on his face, it was clear what his relationship with the beast was.
"Impossible—how can a re Flowing Qi stage cultivator have bonded with a mythical creature like a Phoenix?!" Yang Tze yelled, not accepting the reality.
"Even if he sohow helped the phoenix out in the past, given these terrifying animals' pride, they would never allow a weak human to form a bond with them just because of that, instead giving a powerful item or sothing instead…" The Chen family heir said, shaking his head. "Unless…"
He shot a glance at Xuan, eyes calculating and deep in thought. 'Is this man actually so monstrous powerhouse, hidden in disguise?'
However, he quickly dismissed that thought. If that were the case, then the fight that broke out earlier would've ended much sooner. The man standing before him was no doubt just a normal Flowing Qi stage cultivator, with no particularly special qualities. But if that's the case, then… how did he explain this current phenonon?
The phoenix, startled at being called her own na which no one should've known, narrowed her eyes at Xuan.
"You are… no. This cannot be true. My master is not this weak… how dare you impersonate him?!"
Saying this, she moved to attack with a swirling orb of fire, but at that mont, Xuan suddenly lifted his hand, and removed the affect of his appearance changing artifact. All of a sudden, the eyes focused on him widened even further, as his true beauty was revealed. Even the phoenix paused for a brief mont, as she recognized the person standing before her.
"Impossible…"
She knew. She knew with just a glance that this was authentic. It was a beauty that no one could replicate, a handsoness no one could beat. Fu i and Zi Xiruo both found themselves utterly enchanted, and the forr could finally understand how her mother, the most beautiful and attractive woman in existence, was conquered by this man.
But after eting Xuan's gaze, the phoenix's eyes widened a bit as she understood her master's intentions, and she let out a low growl.
"You puny humans are lucky I have more important matters to deal with right now… begone from this place. If I find that you are still here when I return… you will all perish."
With that, the phoenix disappeared in a shimr of bright light, and faded from view. The onlookers, left stunned at how quickly it just ca and went, were dumbfounded.
"So… that was a bluff, huh?" Yang Tze muttered, directing his gaze at Xuan, who by now had activated his appearance changing artifact again as to not cause any n present to question their sexuality.
"Of course," Xuan replied. "I was hoping to trick it with my charm technique, but apparently that does not work on mythical creatures."
A lie, of course. Xuan's appearance was no charm technique. It was simply the result of thousands of years of careful refinent and temperant. But of course, having already been in denial of the truth, no matter how bullshit the excuse was, Yang Tze would accept that and go along with it in his heart. The sa applied to everyone else, with the exception of Fu i, Zi Xiruo, and—of course, the High Elf senior.
"… Well, we should most likely get moving," the senior said after a short silence, turning a blind eye to Xuan for the mont being. "If we are still here by the ti the phoenix returns from whatever task it has to do, we will be in quite the sticky situation."
The rest of the group all agreed. Of course, Xuan knew that he in particular would not actually be in any danger now that he had confird the phoenix's identity, but what lay at the bottom of this volcano was still a mystery to him—and a potential threat.
As the cultivators began making their way down, Xuan found himself near the back once more, with Fu i and Zi Xiruo walking on either side of him. The others were well up ahead, occasionally sending deaning glances back at the trio. A clear distinction between the two groups had been made… though if Xuan ever felt like it, he could break this separation easily by simply releasing the chira he had stored inside his Space Ring. That would cause so chaos for sure.
For now, though… it would seem he had to deal with two won who were a bit too clever for their own good.
"… If you want to say sothing, best say it now," Xuan said, not turning to et either of their gazes.
"That phoenix… do you really know her?" Zi Xiruo asked quietly. Of course. The question that Xuan expected.
"If I said yes, would you believe ?"
"Yes." An imdiate reply.
"… Hm. I see your opinion of is quite high."
"You are not a normal person, however much you try to appear as one," Zi Xiruo stated, folding her arms. "Not to ntion this… 'daughter' of yours. She is a true monster."
"I will choose to take that as a complint," Fu i said with a smile. "But that aside… father, are you mad at ?"
Her expression turned serious, and her tone dropped low. She looked like a schoolgirl ready to get scolded, sowhat terrified. But contrary to what she expected, Xuan shook his head.
"Why would I be?"
Of course, he wouldn't mind if she was a bit more restrained, but for the most part, everything she did today had ultimately led to a beneficial outco for him. There was no reason to scold her for it—and besides, he did want to build a proper relationship with Fu i. She was his daughter, after all.
Fu i's eyes lit up upon hearing Xuan's words, and she smiled.
"Will I have an opportunity to kill 'them'?"
The 'them' she was referring to was, of course, the other group. Xuan had wanted to get rid of them when the right ti ca anyway, so he smiled in response, and gave a brief nod.
Reviews
All reviews (0)