In order to catch a fox, the Little Phoenix was very obedient. When An Ying made him lower himself in the thicket and stay still, he obediently lowered himself and stayed still. Only a pair of big eyes could be seen secretly looking around. After some time pa.s.sed, he couldn’t help but whisper an inquiry: “……An Ying, An Ying. Have you already caught a little fox?”
“I didn’t,” An Ying carried another animal in his hand, “But I caught a Siberian weasel, and it bears quite a resemblance to a fox.”
The Little Phoenix has never seen a fox before either. Hearing An Ying say that it bears quite a resemblance, he hastily rushed over to take a look. It looks really cute with it’s furry body and round head. However, not knowing whether that Siberian weasel was too nervous or scared, it unexpectedly let out a fart, when the Little Phoenix was about to reach out to touch it.
An incessantly strange foul smell instantly spread, heavily a.s.sailing the Little Phoenix’s senses. He reacted in the next second, and swiftly retreated to quite a distance. He even retched on a tree, and was no longer willing to give another glance at the Siberian weasel.
An Ying immediately let go off the Siberian weasel, then swiftly went to the Little Phoenix’s side, and gently patted him on the back. The Little Phoenix felt extremely aggrieved, and slightly sneezed a few times because of the freezing temperature, “It’s too stinky, I don’t want to look for a little fox anymore……”
“Okay.”
Obtaining the wish of dispelling the youth’s idea of raising a fox, An Ying very promptly uttered this ‘okay’.
“Let’s go back to the inn. It’s so cold in the mountains.”
“Okay.”
“Carry me on your back.”
“Okay.”
An Ying knelt down with his back to the Little Phoenix, the Little Phoenix immediately climbed on his back. A short time later, the Little Phoenix abruptly patted his shoulder along the way and said: “Stop for a bit, I saw a little mouse!”
“A mouse can’t be a pet,” An Ying didn’t stop according to the other’s instruction, “We can’t catch that.”
But the Little Phoenix struggled and flailed around on An Ying’s back, “But I want to take a look at that little mouse!”
An Ying had no choice but to let him down. The Little Phoenix swiftly rushed over to the left side of the huge tree, and very carefully picked a gray kit from the ground. Taking a closer look, An Ying discovered that this was a newly born squirrel, without any fur growing on it’s very tiny body, with a very ugly appearance, and absolutely poses no threat to him at all.
He probed it with his Spiritual power, upon not sensing any demon breath in this little squirrel, he clarified: “This is a squirrel, not a mouse. It will have a very fluffy and big tail after growing up.”
“A fluffy tail just like the little fox?”
“Um.”
“Then I choose to raise it as a pet.”
The Little Phoenix personal preferences has always been very strange. Before, it picked up a black serpent, and now, it was a bald squirrel. After having returned to the inn, An Ying had made the bed and poured warm water on that side, while he continued to stare at the little squirrel in his hand.
“It’s already late. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Oh.”
The Little Phoenix said in response, but still didn’t take any action. He merely stretched out his left hand and placed it on An Ying’s st.u.r.dy shoulder. An Ying subsequently placed his arm around the youth’s back, and his other hand around the other’s bent legs, then skillfully picked the person up and placed the other on the bed.
He didn’t know what was going on either, but he had somehow inexplicably activated the skill in serving another on the Little Phoenix. The Little Phoenix, who was used to being served didn’t give a glance either, and merely waited for him to serve. Thus, An Ying helped the Little Phoenix remove the outer garments first, then remove the jade hairpin on his head, before wringing the towel to help him clean his hands and face.
If this were someone else, they may either feel humiliated or be filled with indignation. But for An Ying, these were all done in his own volition. He wasn’t being forced by anyone, nor had he ever cared about other people’s thoughts. Thus, he did this with great calmness and willingness.
The Little Phoenix’s new pet was still unable to eat nuts on it’s own, and needs to be fed with milk. The little fellow had quite an appet.i.te, and drank until it’s belly became round in no time at all. The Little Phoenix gently prodded the little squirrel’s belly, and happily decided: “It will be called Dumpling.”
He fed the little squirrel in his arms, while An Ying also fed him in his arms. An Ying placed the Little Phoenix in his arm with one hand, while the other hand, spooned the congee, egg and viand, before slowly bringing it to his lips.
“What do you think?” The Little Phoenix swallowed the food, then turned his head to ask: “Isn’t this name good?”
With this turn, his soft lips brushed against An Ying’s chin. An Ying’s heart immediately shook for a moment. He somewhat dazedly looked at the face of the youth in his arms, before subconsciously giving a reply: “.…..um, good.”
His eyes were beautiful, his lips were beautiful, even his entire body was infinitely beautiful.
All the things he says, were naturally good as well.
Because the Little Phoenix wanted to watch the excitement, they then stayed in the Human Realm from the lunar year to the New Year’s Eve. On the night of New Year’s Eve, the entire capital was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with the strong festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year. Red Spring Festival couplets were pasted everywhere, children carrying lanterns ran from house to house to ask for sweets, there was also an enthusiastic and lively marching band with banners, gongs and drums pa.s.sing through the streets.
Truth be told, the Demon Realm also has a festival similar to that during the New Year’s Eve, but An Ying didn’t have anyone with him. Although his foster father taught him a cultivation method, but he didn’t live with him. After having spent so many New Year’s festival without anyone, he obviously should’ve already gotten used to it. But seeing the family reunions of other people, still made him feel a slight sense of loss. But now, looking at the smiling expression of the Little Phoenix in front of him, made him feel that everything in the past was nothing.
There are thousand kinds of happiness in this world, and being able to obtain one of them was already considered as lucky. An Ying supposed, he had the greatest luck for having already obtained one.
The Little Phoenix, who indulge in pleasure and forgot about home and duty, still didn’t want to return to the Heavenly Realm even after the New Year had pa.s.sed, and also wants to follow An Ying to play in the Demon Realm. However, Qing Luan unexpectedly came over to find him at this moment, saying that he had been ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to immediately call him back.
The Heavenly Emperor has always been indulgent to the Little Phoenix. So long as he doesn’t go out of the line too much, he will not interfere with his behaviour, no matter how much he plays around. So, such an eager summon at this moment appears somewhat strange. Thus, after having confirmed that the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress were fine and healthy, the Little Phoenix shook his head and dismissed Qing Luan.
Qing Luan glanced at the Soaring Serpent, who had already changed into human form, and concernedly whispered an advise to the Little Phoenix: “Master, he is a demon, and is different from us. You need to keep your distance from him……”
At this time, as the Little Phoenix was following An Ying to the Demon Realm, the Little Phoenix looked at An Ying then tightly clasped his hand, and couldn’t help from voicing out: “What’s the difference between the beings in the Heavenly Realm and Demon Realm?”
An Ying didn’t answer, but only queried: “Tired? Want me to carry you on my back?”
The Little Phoenix nodded, and readily followed the good suggestion by climbing on An Ying’s back. After entering the Demon Realm, An Ying changed into his original form, then spread his two pairs of wings, and flew towards the Demon Valley, the place where he lives.
Perhaps his back was too wide and comfortable, that when they reached their destination, the Little Phoenix had unconsciously fallen asleep already. An Ying very carefully lowered the youth from his back, and said in a low voice: “I don’t know the difference between the beings of the Heavenly Realm and Demon Realm either.”
He gently brushed the hair on the youth’s forehead soon after, “……but I know that you’re different from me.”
An Ying lowered his head, and placed a kiss on the center of the youth’s forehead, with gentleness like a warm ocean that has gone through a period of coldness, “Your existence is a thousand times more beautiful than mine.”