#2: The Phoenix Tribe (2)

At the Mao hour (5-7 AM), Yao Yin prepared breakfast, filling Bai Rong’s entire table, aiming for him to have no complaints once he woke. But she waited and waited, until the Si hour (9-11 AM), and he still didn’t get up. The breakfast was already stone cold. After reheating it for the fourth time, Yao Yin knocked on the door of Bai Rong’s bedroom. When there was no answer for a long time, she pushed her way in. She found Bai Rong sitting on the floor by the bed, disheveled and unkempt, muttering something unintelligible.

“You’re up, why didn’t you call me? Don’t sit on the floor, it’s so cold,” Yao Yin said, making a move to help him up.

“Qingshan?” Bai Rong saw Yao Yin, and a wild joy flashed in his unfocused eyes. His eyes held an unusually excited gleam, and he said anxiously, “Qingshan, you’re finally back! I’ve waited so long for you!” He spoke and cried simultaneously, occasionally pulling on Yao Yin’s clothes to wipe his nose.

“I’m not Qingshan! You’ve mistaken me for someone else!” Yao Yin said anxiously, unsure how to comfort him.

“Just let him cry,” Gu Yu said calmly, pushing aside the curtain and walking in. “He’s been mad for many years; he sees everyone as Qingshan.”

Yao Yin was puzzled: “Who is Qingshan?”

“The deceased clan leader’s wife, Zi Chen’s birth mother.”

“The clan leader was fine yesterday, why suddenly today...”

“He’s always been like this, sometimes mad, sometimes foolish. What you saw yesterday might not have been normal either. Alas, such a good phoenix body utterly wasted.”

“How can you speak like that? He’s still the Phoenix Clan leader!”

“What if he’s the clan leader? He’s still a madman. If it weren’t for marrying Zi Chen and bearing phoenix descendants, I wouldn’t have endured thousands of years of this idle vexation here.”

“You!” Yao Yin said, enraged upon hearing this. “Zi Chen won’t marry you!”

“Oh really? If he doesn’t marry me, will he marry you?” Gu Yu chuckled. “You’re just a little servant, what right do you have to speak to me like that?”

“La la la~ So many flowers, Qingshan loves flowers the most. I’ll take you to pick flowers~” Just as the two were clashing, Bai Rong suddenly took Yao Yin’s hand and led her out of the room.

The two arrived at the backyard. The backyard was originally a continuous flower bed, but with winter approaching, it was now desolate, with not a single tender green leaf in sight, let alone flowers. Bai Rong picked pile after pile of withered grass and threw them onto Yao Yin’s head. Yao Yin, covered in dust and ashes, couldn’t avoid them and teared up from the choking dust.

“I told you he was a madman, but you didn’t believe me,” Gu Yu leaned against the wall, laughing so hard she doubled over.

Days quickly passed. Three days later, as Bai Rong and Yao Yin were picking wild fruits at the foot of the mountain, a piercing bird cry ripped through the sky, breaking the long silence. Both looked up simultaneously and saw a vast expanse of crimson covering the sky, appearing and vanishing in an instant. But even though the crimson vanished quickly, the sky still seemed to retain a lingering red glow, like burning red lotuses.

“What was that?” Yao Yin asked in surprise.

“Phoenix returning to the nest,” Bai Rong’s usual foolishness gone, he looked at the sky thoughtfully and said, “Zi Chen must have awakened.”

“Zi Chen is awake?” Yao Yin was overjoyed, pulling Bai Rong and running towards the Phoenix Nest.

By this time, a considerable crowd had gathered in front of the Phoenix Nest. These were mostly members of the Sparrow Tribe, approximately two hundred people. Their ancestors had been servants contributed to the Phoenix Tribe many years ago, responsible for the Phoenix Tribe’s food, daily life, and all other necessities. Their descendants had also remained here, bringing a significant population to Fenghua Village.

Bai Rong led Yao Yin through the crowd to the outside of the nest. Yao Yin looked at the giant cave, glowing with fiery red light, and asked anxiously, “Can I go in and see Zi Chen?”

“Of course not,” Gu Yu, who had arrived upon hearing the commotion, said loudly. “This is the sacred land of the Phoenix Tribe; outsiders are not permitted to enter.” Gu Yu’s words poured cold water on Yao Yin, and she spoke as if she were already the mistress of the Phoenix Tribe.

Yao Yin simply said “Oh,” smoothing her hair with both hands, appearing somewhat constrained. She lowered her head and said, “Then please go in and check on him for me, and convey my regards.”

“Of course I can do that. Provided I can remember,” Gu Yu smiled, then took Bai Rong’s arm and began walking inwards.

When they reached the barrier, Bai Rong suddenly stopped. He softly detached himself from Gu Yu, smiling as he said, “The Phoenix Nest is the sacred land of my Phoenix Tribe. Outsiders are not permitted to enter. No matter how noble the Sparrow Tribe, they are still distant compared to the phoenixes. Please, Peacock Princess, wait outside with Yao Yin.” With that, he left Gu Yu and walked away on his own. Gu Yu was left dumbfounded, standing rooted to the spot.

Yao Yin let out a soft chuckle, looking at her and whispering, “So, you’re an outsider too, miss.”

“What are you laughing at? What’s so funny? Shut up!” Gu Yu stomped her feet in anger outside the Phoenix Nest. Yao Yin obediently closed her mouth, but instantly felt her mood improve.

“Mad old man, if it weren’t for Feng Yuan’s sake, I would have dismembered you long ago!”