Imperial Weight Chapter 9
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 9
Both Xingyi and the little phoenix froze for a moment.
The little phoenix was adorable, and since he could never transform into human form, remaining a round, plump little bird, though it would invite mockery if he went out, he was still well cared for by everyone in Fan Tian. Wuxin Ming King kept raising the little phoenix's salary again and again. The guardian who tended the five trees and six flowers before Buddha built nest after nest for him, and even allowed the little phoenix to hop onto his white-haired head to sleep—this old man with flowing beard and hair, thick and soft, was the little phoenix's preferred sleeping spot. Not to mention the carp spirits and other colleagues working in Fan Tian—they were all very kind to him.
In all of Fan Tian, only this Phoenix Ming Zun showed him no warmth. Every time he saw him, his face would be as cold as ice, and he never petted the little phoenix's feathers. When the little phoenix was even smaller, he had once seen Phoenix Ming Zun leading hundreds of birds in dance at dawn, the brilliant radiance of the Nine Heavens Phoenix Dance—one glimpse and it became unforgettable.
The little phoenix was very envious. Back then he was just a tiny ball, could only cling to a lotus flower in the pond, sitting in its center and sneaking peeks from within. As a result, Ming Zun noticed him immediately.
The little phoenix brazenly struck up conversation: "In the future, will I be able to be as slender and beautiful as you?"
Phoenix Ming Zun was still quite amiable back then, still a youth, just at the age when he'd newly arrived to take up his position in Fan Tian. He only smiled. "Of course. When I was small I was even shorter and fatter than you, and my plumage was much uglier than yours. In the future, you'll surely be even more beautiful than me."
From then on, the little phoenix idolized Phoenix Ming Zun, eagerly hoping every day that he could become as good-looking as him. However, the dozen or so Ming Zuns of Fan Tian were all very busy each day, and as a small plump bird with limited cultivation, he couldn't squeeze in to observe. Later, after descending to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation and returning, he had achieved Mahayana cultivation and could finally enter the Ming King Hall. Initially wanting to work under Phoenix Ming Zun, he brazenly went to recommend himself again.
But Phoenix Ming Zun rejected him. "I have no work for you to do here. At your tender age, studying well is what matters—what are you doing looking for work?"
The little phoenix could only waddle away dejectedly. Later he found work with Wuxin Ming King. Every time wages were distributed, the Ming Kings in the great hall would come pet him. The more reserved ones, even if they didn't pet him, would allow the little phoenix to perch on their heads for a bit. Only on this Phoenix Ming Zun's head had the little phoenix never successfully perched. Eventually he stopped trying and consciously skipped over him.
But deep down he still held some respect for Phoenix Ming Zun, because the first time they met, he'd praised his plumage as beautiful. If he didn't like him, so be it—the little phoenix was quite carefree about such things, unless someone bullied him directly. No one liked white-feathered phoenixes. Xingyi was the first, and he'd long since gotten used to it.
At this moment, gazing at Ming Zun's gentle eyes, the little phoenix felt all his soft feathers stand on end, puffing up into a large ball.
The golden-winged bird must have complained to Ming Zun, and Phoenix Ming Zun was here under some pretext to take him back!
These birds who relied on having guardians to throw their weight around were all no good!
The little phoenix immediately decided that if he encountered the golden-winged bird again next time, he'd beat him up once more.
Xingyi imperceptibly drew the little phoenix back toward himself. He didn't directly answer Phoenix Ming Zun's question, but instead lowered his head to stroke the little phoenix's small head. "It's not impossible, but phoenixes are such spiritual creatures that they naturally choose compatible masters. Ming Zun, why not ask whether this little phoenix is willing to return with you?"
"If he's willing, I won't stand in the way."
Phoenix Ming Zun smiled without speaking, looking toward the little phoenix.
The little phoenix let out a terrified "chirp" and immediately tried to burrow desperately into Xingyi's collar. Xingyi held down his collar with one hand while trying to grasp the wildly scrambling little phoenix with the other, his lips curving up slightly.
Phoenix Ming Zun nodded, his gaze meaningful. "It seems he likes me very much—look how happy he is."
Xingyi: "......"
Little phoenix: "......"
He'd been pretending all along that he couldn't speak human language, but in the end he'd still given himself away.
Xingyi caught the little phoenix and met the challenge head-on. "Be good, don't move yet. Are you willing to go back with Ming Zun? If you're willing, nod your head. If not, shake your head."
The little phoenix shook his head frantically.
Phoenix Ming Zun laughed, knowing that continuing to pester unreasonably wouldn't serve much purpose—Xingyi was absolutely determined not to let this little plump bird go. So he said with some regret. "Then I won't force him. Let it be."
Xingyi released the little phoenix, who seized the opportunity to burrow into his collar, clutching on tightly and refusing to come out. Xingyi tugged a few times without success, so he gave up.
The two of them moved to the garden and played several games of chess. Finally, Phoenix Ming Zun came to bid farewell, and pulled out a large wooden box from his sleeve, seemingly filled with something heavy. "Although I couldn't abduct your little phoenix, I still must give a meeting gift. This is the first time I've encountered such an adorable little bird—the contents of this box are for him."
The little phoenix poked his head out from Xingyi's collar, looking left and right, then flew down to perch on the edge of the box. He tapped it with his beak, unable to figure out what was inside.
Phoenix Ming Zun instructed. "This is a gift for you. You must open it yourself—not even the Emperor is allowed to look. Understand, little bird?"
The little phoenix shuddered, even his little wings stiffening, a wave of dread washing over him.
But Xingyi asked, "You and this little phoenix—are you well acquainted?"
Phoenix Ming Zun looked back with a smile. "You probably don't know this, but before this little bird came to find you, he was in my Fan Tian all along."
His words seemed loaded with implications, as if he knew some secret about the little phoenix that he hadn't revealed.
Then Phoenix Ming Zun said something else that also stunned the little phoenix. "By the way, I've also been to the mortal realm several times and encountered many interesting and amusing things. Next time I'll come tell you about them. Mortals are all quite foolish—willing to bend for love and affection. Even if the ending isn't good, they're unwilling to give up. Even if the other person no longer remembers them, they're unwilling to give up. But we phoenixes aren't like that. We phoenixes are the proudest race in the world. If there were such a worthless phoenix in my clan, I would certainly look down on him."
The little phoenix suddenly raised his head, meeting Ming Zun's gentle gaze, and in that instant understood everything.
So Phoenix Ming Zun had also descended to the mortal realm and knew about his past with Xingyi?
To think he'd guarded this secret so carefully for so long, thinking he could deceive heaven and cross the sea, never expecting that the first one to know would actually be Phoenix Ming Zun.
The worthless little phoenix crouched motionless, his small head lowered, seemingly studying the lock on the box very seriously. His crouch was perfectly round, perfectly professional.
Ming Zun's expression was inscrutable, still maintaining his usual amiable, composed appearance. Xingyi was about to press further when he saw Phoenix Ming Zun summon a gust of wind and vanish in an instant.
Xingyi frowned. "What was he talking about?"
The little phoenix chirped a few times, indicating he didn't know either.
He had a past, but he couldn't tell him about it.
