Zanxing

Chapter 128 - Scene in the Painting (1)

Before it bloomed, they hadn't recognized it, but now it became clear that this flowering tree was exactly the same as the one in Gu Baiying's Xiaoyao Palace that blossomed in winter.

"Biyihua..."

"The lovebirds, when they don't compare, they don't fly; when they fly, they only drink and peck, never to be separated... even in death and rebirth, they must be together." Zanxing had only heard of the lovebirds; wealthy cultivators from Duzhou often went to the market to buy these birds at a high price to gift them to their marital partners for good luck. However, it was said that these birds were quite delicate and hard to raise. She wondered if those cultivators regretted their purchase if the birds died due to poor care.

Biyihua, as the name suggested, symbolized love. Zanxing asked Gu Baiying, "Master, your Biyihua in the hall is maintained by illusion, but this tree..." She looked up at the clusters of fiery blossoms in the tree crown. "Is it also an illusion?"

"It's not an illusion." Gu Baiying's gaze shifted slightly. "This tree is real."

"In this desolate wilderness, where there are no other trees, how could there be Biyihua? Did the owner of the thatched hut plant it?" Zanxing stroked her chin thoughtfully. "But why does this place seem so familiar to me?"

Gu Baiying remained silent. In the deep night, under the vast expanse of the wilderness, the two of them stood there looking up at the tree. The distant stone mountain faded into a vague silhouette, the world serene and quiet. In the darkness, only this tree shone brightly, like a magnificent dream that felt endless.

Unconsciously, Zanxing found herself entranced, feeling as if the entire tree of Biyihua was about to take flight, swaying and fluttering toward her face. Suddenly, Mimi let out a loud cry and dashed toward the tree. Zanxing jolted awake—not the Biyihua that was flying; something was truly moving on the tree!

"Martial Uncle," Zanxing called out, "what's up there?"

Gu Baiying swiftly swung his spear, the embroidered bone flashing like silver light as it shot toward the dense branches. In an instant, a flurry of petals and leaves fell, and Mimi's claws swiped at nothing but air, but the illumination talisman clearly revealed the head peeking out from the branches.

It was a... chicken?

When the chicken lowered its head, it caught sight of Zanxing and Gu Baiying. Perhaps because it was used to being in this remote wilderness, it was startled to suddenly see two strangers, turned around, and flew deeper into the tree crown. Gu Baiying narrowed his eyes and, with a forceful thrust, turned the embroidered bone gun and poked the chicken's rear.

The chicken squawked wildly and landed in Gu Baiying's hands. Mimi jumped down from the tree and looked at the chicken in Gu Baiying's grasp, eager to play. Zanxing also leaned in to see. The chicken blinked its small, black eyes, raising its head in a proud stance, as if it would rather die than yield.

There were also chickens in the Taiyan Sect, one called "General Youri" that crowed every morning without fail, shaking the ground and mountains with its cries. Zanxing remembered its beautiful, bright red feathers and golden crest. This chicken, however, looked quite shabby. Its comb was only half intact, its feathers were ragged and muddy, and its tail was completely bare, looking as if it had just been abused. With most of its feathers missing, the cold wind made the chicken's skin bristle with goosebumps.

Gu Baiying held its wings with one hand, resembling a butcher weighing a chicken at the market. This intimidating posture gradually subdued the once proud chicken, which even pecked gently at Gu Baiying's hand in a gesture of friendliness.

Zanxing sighed inwardly; the secret realm was indeed different, even a chicken could adapt to its circumstances.

Gu Baiying held the chicken and asked, puzzled, "How could there be a chicken here?"

"Is it possible that the owner of this thatched hut was originally a chicken?" Zanxing looked at its bare tail. "Or maybe someone cast a spell to turn the owner of the thatched hut into a chicken?"

Gu Baiying replied, "..."

He incredulously asked, "What strange things are you imagining?"

Indeed, this was a world of cultivation, not a magical realm. Just as Zanxing was about to respond, she suddenly noticed something beneath the chicken's meager feathers on its chest. She reached out and pulled it out, discovering it was a wooden plaque. The plaque was as wide as a pinky finger, narrow and long, tied around the chicken's neck with a piece of straw rope.

Three words were neatly written on it: Bai Qie Ji.

Zanxing: "..."

The elegant handwriting was identical to that of the poetry in the thatched hut. It was clearly written by the same person.

After thinking for a moment, Zanxing said, "If I'm not mistaken, this chicken should be the beloved pet of the owner of the thatched hut, but... how could anyone name their pet 'Bai Qie Ji'?"

"Is this a pet name? It's more like a menu item!"

As soon as Zanxing spoke the words "Bai Qie Ji," the chicken in Gu Baiying's hands seemed to be poked in some sensitive spot and started flapping wildly. One of its wings struck Gu Baiying's face, splattering mud all over him. Caught off guard, he loosened his grip, and the Bai Qie Ji let out a high-pitched squawk before fluttering off toward the thatched hut.

Mimi's eyes lit up, and she quickly chased after it.

Zanxing turned back to look at Gu Baiying.

He wiped the mud off his face and, seemingly unable to tolerate it any longer, gritted his teeth and said, "I'm going to kill this chicken!"

As the two rushed into the thatched hut, they were immediately met with the sight of shadows flapping and flying all around. Mimi seemed to really like this bald-tailed chicken; having previously ignored General Youri at Gufeng Mountain, she was now happily chasing after this chicken's backside.

The Bai Qie Ji, being cheeky, took advantage of its ability to fly, flitting to the beams one moment and jumping onto the wooden couch the next. Mimi, being somewhat overweight, couldn't keep up with the agile chicken and soon became exhausted, slowing down.

Zanxing: "..."

Seeing the chaotic scene, she could hardly bear to look.

Just as she had had enough of the chicken's antics and was about to intervene, she saw the Bai Qie Ji flap its wings and fly up to the beam in the inner room. It pecked at the wood leisurely, seemingly in provocation.

Mimi, initially too lazy to respond, or perhaps just too tired, remained motionless. After a few more pecks, her tail perked up, and she lunged at the chicken.

Zanxing sighed, already predicting the outcome.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, the hut erupted with a deafening noise, filling Zanxing's mouth with dust and shaking the entire structure.

Gu Baiying was stunned as well.

Mimi rolled away while clutching the chicken, and a chunk of the mud-packed red wall of the hut unexpectedly crumbled down, like a hollow wooden board being torn away, revealing what was inside.

The rising dust and debris formed a mist, and through it, a breathtaking woman could be seen standing beneath the tree. Her white skirt billowed in the wind, and her flowing black hair captivated the heart. With slender fingers, she played with flowers, and her eyes were filled with endless affection. A smile illuminated her face as she gazed at someone outside the picture.

It was a portrait of a beautiful woman hanging on the wall.