As everyone knows, the Heavenly Realm is a place above the skies, towering high above the ethereal clouds. The Little Phoenix subconsciously raised it’s head to look at the sky above, and happened to see the vast and magnificent eventide sky. The freely drifting stretch of clouds were both like numerous hibiscus flowers and fluffy wings. Weaving a gorgeous brocade over half of the sky under the rays of the setting sun.
Seeing such a sight also gave the Little Phoenix an urge to spread it’s wings and fly. Deep down, it felt that it was born to fly in the Nine Heavens, do as it pleases, free and easy, and to never be constrained by anything.
The Phoenix* flies together, spreading their wings and soaring in the skies*. No one in this world can bring up a Phoenix, just like no one in this world can hold the sun.
*Phoenix is made up of the word: Feng and Huang: female and male fire bird
**Chinese idiom
The Little Phoenix just looked at the sky and asked: “……you mean, I originally live in the Heavenly Realm?”
“That’s right,” Qing Luan responded without delay: “You were born in the Heavenly Realm, and also grew up in the Heavenly Realm. You are the righteous son of the Heavenly Emperor. The prince of the Heavenly Realm. Moreover, the entire Four Realms must respectfully address You as the Venerable Lord G.o.d Phoenix……”
The Little Phoenix reborn in Nirvana is still in it’s infancy after all, and cannot accept so much information in just a short time. But hearing Qing Luan speak of the Heavenly Realm, an unspeakable sense of belonging appeared in it’s heart. Nonetheless, everything in the Demon Realm gave it an incredibly comfortable and familiar feeling as well. This made the Little Phoenix, who is in the age of keen exploration, incredibly skeptical and have a strong thirst of knowledge.
In the end, the Little Phoenix didn’t follow Qing Luan to the Heavenly Realm, nor stay in the Demon Realm, but headed off to the Netherworld instead.
Kong Ming once again appeared in front of the Little Phoenix out of thin air, still dressed in dark red Chang Pao as before, in addition to that naturally graceful demeanor just like before. But there also seemed to be something different about him. Even his eyes became clearer, as if a fog had been lifted. He then called out in an incredibly gentle and soft, as well as low voice: “……Tong Tong.”
A fog truly seemed to have been lifted in Kong Ming. Because he had already figured out the answer to that question before, and had obtained unprecedented clarity at this stage.
— Can you distinguish between the feelings of love, possessiveness, like and unwillingness?
Quite a lot of people were unable to do so, and even felt that there was no need to make a clear distinction. People are such strange creatures. They dislike being deceived by others, but are fine with deceiving themselves, and would rather remain confused and unclear even until death, in order to be able to have a very serene life. However, this issue also isn’t that complicated, just because the matters of love is different from all other things.
Possessiveness makes people unscrupulous, while love teaches restraint; Like can be given to a lot of people and things, but love is unique and unmatched; Unwillingness is just a momentary flame, while love is an eternal and inextinguishable flame. All the things in this world can be confused. Only love can never be confused. This aspect can only be understood when you truly fall in love.
Kong Ming used to have a crazy possessiveness and strong unwillingness, and had also mistakenly thought that his feelings for the Little Phoenix was just of like. But having lost the other for nearly a thousand of years, made his feelings towards him grow deeper and become more deep-rooted with the pa.s.sage of time. No one can replace the Little Phoenix in his heart. His disposition, appearance and smile is unique. Even his look of anger, voice when he calls his name, is also very adorable and completely unlike others. So special that there has never been anyone similar to him in any way in this very long life of his. — To him, he is unique and unparalleled.
Seeing the Phoenix that has been reborn in Nirvana at this very moment, although Kong Ming still had a possessive desire and sense of unwillingness deep inside, but he also knows that he made a mistake because of this possessive desire and unwillingness. Despite knowing full well that his persistence might still not result to anything, but the thought of turning back never crossed his mind. On the contrary, he went a step further and extended his hand to the Little Phoenix: “Tong Tong, follow me to the Netherworld, I can help you find the answer to all your doubts.”
In the Netherworld, the Forgotten River can make people forget, while the Remembrance can restore all the person’s past memories. After having crossed the narrow Tongming Bridge, one could see the vast and boundless district of the Netherworld up ahead.
Beauty and ugliness exists in every place, like in the Heavenly Realm, the same goes for the Netherworld as well. Thus, the horrifying scenes the Little Phoenix envisioned was nowhere to be found, but a scene of calm and serenity instead. The gently swaying vast stretch sea of pure white flowers up ahead was even more beautiful that it exclaimed in admiration.
“So beautiful! What kind of flower is this?”
The pale golden eyes of the Little Phoenix reflecting the white flowers shone even brighter. He even bowed down to take a whiff of the flower’s fragrance. Kong Ming didn’t stop the Little Phoenix’s actions, and merely said in response: “It’s a spider lily.”
It’s floral fragrance can evoke memories of past lives, whether it be of a human, demon, or even an immortal and devil. Although the flower before them really isn’t the red variant of spider lily that shows the way to the Yellow Springs. But the white variant, representing eternal longing and a desperate love.
The Little Phoenix never held Kong Ming’s hand in the end, but pulled onto his robe instead, and followed him through the the beautiful sea of flowers with novelty and curiosity. At the same time in the Demon Realm, the white s...o...b..ll hastily reported to An Ying about the matter of the Little Phoenix slipping out the Palace. However An Ying didn’t have the slightest change of expression, nor did he even set forth to look, but merely nodded in reply: “……Um. I see.”
Seated at the left side of the hall to discuss about official business, the wolf demon, Zhu Mo, one of the demon clans who knows of about that event in the past, couldn’t help but voice out: “Why isn’t the Emperor in a hurry to bring the Lord G.o.d Phoenix back?”
An Ying stood up unhurriedly, but merely went to the window at the side, “Frankly speaking, I’ve already known when Tong Tong left before.”
This is his Fu Ying Palace, where each and every move in the palace is under his grasp. If he didn’t want to, the Little Phoenix still wouldn’t be able to leave even if the barrier had been broken.
“Phoenix’s detests being restrained by nature, and cannot be restrained either.” An Ying said in a very weak tone. But a look of indulgence would inevitably appear in his eyes whenever he mentions his sweetheart, “In accordance to Tong Tong’s temper, the more he isn’t allowed to go out, the more he will think of ways and means to leave.”