As soon as he saw the carriage, the Vermilion Bird turned pale. He would not go in, no matter what. He would rather transform and carry Shen Yanxiao as he flew than to ride the carriage.
Lan Fengli went with them too. So, Shen Yanxiao grabbed Lan Fengli with her left arm, hugged the little Phoenix in her right arm, and sat on the Vermilion Bird’s back after he shifted. As they flew into the wind, she began to hum songs. They forged ahead toward the Lava Valley.
With the Vermilion Bird’s speed, they had arrived at their destination in less than a day.
The Vermilion Bird took his human form again. His heart bled as he looked at the territory that once belonged to him.
The two Phoenixes had occupied it, not to mention that his master had been the one to it away. He could not find a real home, even if he wanted to run away from home!
They walked into the scorching Lava Valley. The heat did not hurt any of them.
Finally, the little Phoenix had finished an entire dumpling. It crouched on the Vermilion Bird’s head, content, to have a rest. One would be surprised to learn that such a small bird would snore.
Nothing was changed in the Lava Valley. Shen Yanxiao and the others entered the cave without a hitch.
Not long afterward, they found the two Phoenixes sleeping soundly in the spacious cave.
The cave did not seem to be crowded, even with two huge Phoenixes there.
Shen Yanxiao looked at the two Phoenixes, who were still sound asleep. She did not know how to wake them up.
Luckily, the two Phoenixes gradually woke up after they sensed an unfamiliar presence. The next second, two balls of flaming red fire enveloped them. After the fire faded, they were in their human form.
“It has been a while since we last met.” The male Phoenix looked at the guests in the cave as the female Phoenix leaned against him. Her eyes were fixed on the little Phoenix on the Vermilion Bird’s head.
Shen Yanxiao was surprised. When she met the Phoenixes for the first time, she was in disguise. How did they recognize her?
“Mythical beasts can recognize other people by their aura. So, your disguise did not affect them.” Xiu’s voice echoed. He had answered Shen Yanxiao’s question with perfect timing.
“How do you like it here?” Shen Yanxiao smiled. That had saved her the trouble of self-introduction.
“Thank you very much for your help. This is a suitable habitat for us. We are grateful to have received a great deal of support from your family.” The male Phoenix extended his appreciation sincerely. Magical beasts enjoyed a quiet habitat.
“You are welcome. Consider it a small compensation to you.” Shen Yanxiao chuckled. She noticed the petite female Phoenix was staring at the little Phoenix on the Vermilion Bird’s head. Shen Yanxiao picked up the adorable slumbering little Phoenix, stepped forward, and handed it to her.
The female Phoenix looked at the sleeping child in her arms as tears brimmed in her eyes. However, a moment later, she looked up at Shen Yanxiao and the Vermilion Bird in confusion.
“Why hasn’t it de-feathered yet?”
“De-feather?” Shen Yanxiao was puzzled.
The male Phoenix explained, “At birth, a baby Phoenix would only have some fluff. But in a month, the fluff would gradually recede, and the real feathers would grow. It has been several months, but it looks like it still has the fluff. We are curious about that.”
Shen Yanxiao was startled; she did not know anything about that.