Blue Phoenix

by Tinalynge

  “She is curious about humans.” Hui Yue said hesitantly, as he led her towards the fire where he sat her down on a log. “Sit.” He ordered as though he spoke to a little girl or smaller animal, yet the snake-woman seemed not to mind his manner of speaking at all, and she curled her tail as she sat down on the log as told.

  Sha Yun had been living within the Magical Forest for multiple years, yet most mercenaries knew that they were to avoid the three clearings that belonged to the three beast sisters that enjoyed ambushing unsuspecting cultivators. Although it would be possible for some mercenaries to kill these sisters, the reward was really not worth it. Their strength was far above the rank of their beast cores, thus they had lived a fairly sheltered life.

  Sha Yun and her sisters were aware that they had human blood in their bodies, and this blood had gifted them with extraordinary intelligence compared to other beasts. Their intelligence also allowed for them to befriend the Saint ranked beast King of the forest, as he usually got bored without anyone to have a proper conversation with.

  Yet although their intelligence had grown, the three sisters had grown up relatively sheltered from humans causing their curiosity and mentality to be similar to that of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old young woman. A young woman who had never been outside of her own front door and knew nothing of the astonishing world which was waiting for her.

  Sha Yun was exactly like this. She was curious by nature and could not help but wonder what the humans were like. All her life she had been taught that they were the enemies of magical beasts, and that she ought to kill on sight because the humans would do the same. It was survival of the fittest in this Magical Forest.

  Yet, after living year by year believing this, Sha Yun suddenly experienced a strong young boy who was capable of appearing out of nowhere, and although he had defeated both her and her two sisters, he still allowed for them to leave with their dignity somewhat intact.

  Such a human was different, and Sha Yun could not help but wonder if the human world could be different as well. Suddenly the narrow world which contained the forest had opened itself in front of her. Although it meant subjugating herself to a human, Sha Yun already realised that her life had been in the hands of this young master, and he had allowed her to leave with her sisters. Based on this alone, Sha Yun’s dignity told her that she owed him her life.

  “Hello.” A voice suddenly rang out, dragging Sha Yun from her deep thoughts and she looked up, her silvery eyes locking onto the young man who was standing in front of her. Looking at him, Sha Yun could easily see that he was older than Hui Yue, and she remembered that he had been fighting with one of her sisters earlier. Yet right now he was sprouting a gentle smile and his only reaction to her silvery eyes was a raised eyebrow.

  “My name is Gao Yan.” The young man introduced himself. “I take it you do not speak human yet?” He asked, and Sha Yun could only nod in reply. She had never expected that this young man would welcome her like this.

  A low growling sound escaped her lips, and she tried copying the words which Gao Yan had said, though to no avail. A disappointed pout appeared on her face and her snake-tail started tapping the ground in displeasure.

  “Her name is Sha Yun.” Hui Yue said over his shoulder as he moved toward the river, getting some water before finding a place to wash. Fighting the magical beasts daily caused them to be covered in grime which would smell horrid after a short amount of time.

  The riverbanks were filled with the softest grass and a small slope lead down to the refreshing water. Jumping into this water Hui Yue shivered slightly as the drop in temperature was quite extreme, yet after few moments his body had gotten used to the chilled water. As it cleaned his skin,a satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes and allowed the stream to slowly sweep him down the river and past the campsite. The water soothed his taunt muscles and tired body.

  Suddenly a loud growl broke through the air causing the relaxed Hui Yue to instantly become alert, yet before he managed to see anything, a large shadow landed on top of him, and he felt something slither around his waist, dragging him against the stream.

  Looking down, Hui Yue saw that this slithering thing was a snake-tail, and a headache started knocking as he was reeled back to shore like a fish which had been caught.

  Knowing that there was no use in struggling, Hui Yue allowed the strong snake tail to drag him back and he sighed as his dripping wet body was pulled from the river and moved to sit on the soft grass next to a Sha Yun who had a loving expression within her eyes.

  Small growling and sneering sounds appeared from within the snake-woman’s throat as her claws had been withdrawn and her scaled fingers grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her face, worry evident within.

  ‘She is a good woman.’ Lan Feng commented from within the dantian cave. ‘You should mate with her and make small snake babies. I always wondered whether or not these mixed snake beasts has babies or eggs.’

  ‘I think I will pass.’ Hui Yue said quite quickly. “I’m fine.” He said out loud to allow Sha Yun to know that he had not suffered any accident in the water, and he made his way back to the riverside where he had left his clothes.

  Even now, the tail had not let go of his stomach and Hui Yue tried to make it vanish, yet Sha Yun did her very best to completely ignore him by still asserting enough strength to ensure that he could not forcefully remove the tail.

  “Sha Yun!” Hui Yue said indignant. “I can’t get my clothes on, remove your tail!” With a depressed and incredibly loud sigh, Hui Yue was finally set free, and he quickly slipped into his clothes before turning back and seeing Gao Yan laughing uncontrollably at the back of the camp. Sha Yun was seating in front of the fireplace and pouted as though Hui Yue had scolded her.

  Looking at these different expressions, Hui Yue could not help but sigh, his headache increasing as he felt how he had just turned into the parent of quite a rebellious young child. At the same time struggling against Lan Feng’s temptations about creating small snake babies. It was obvious that the perverted bird within him was more than overwhelmed by his animalistic instincts for reproducing.

  Just as Hui Yue had managed to get dressed, he noticed that the Rong twins were making their way to the campsite both smeared in grime, but also sprouting satisfied smiles on their faces.

  As they returned to the campsite both looked slightly surprised upon seeing the large snake-woman who was sitting at their fire, yet Rong Xing acted as if nothing was wrong, walking over and greeting the woman in her politest way, not forgetting to introduce herself.

  Sha Yun tried to reply, yet sadness seeped into her eyes once more as all that exited her lips was small growling sounds.

  “Hui Yue!” Suddenly Rong Xing’s voice sounded through the air, and Hui Yue was surprised to see that the voice was angry. Looking up he noticed that the usually calm woman was walking towards him with long strides, her beautiful features twisted in anger, and before Hui Yue managed to react, a slap had been planted on his face.

  “How could you?!” She said with a low, but dangerous voice, yet just as she had struck Hui Yue a flash appeared, and Sha Yun stood between the two human youngsters, growling threateningly and her tail rattling as though she was preparing to attack.

  “Sha Yun step down.” Hui Yue said with a sigh, as he sat down on the grass and looked at his fuming friend. “What’s wrong?” He asked at the same time as Ma Kong returned.

  Ignoring the arrival of yet another friend, Rong Xing pointed at Sha Yun before she said through tightly clenched teeth “Look at Sha Yun! She kept her part of the deal and you still forced her to take the beast pledge!”

  Hearing this, Hui Yue could not help but laugh slightly desperately. How he wished that the beast pledge had never happened.

  “Calm down.” He insisted after finally stopping his laughter. “She was the one who initiated it, I am the victim here. What am I supposed to do with this woman, who is planning on following me?”

  Rong
Xing’s face was blank and surprise was growing on her face. Her brows slightly furrowed and the surprise changed to confusion. Hui Yue could not blame her, he himself would have had the same reaction, had anyone told him that a humanoid beast volunteered to create a beast pledge.

  “Oh my, a new beauty has joined us?” A voice sounded from behind, as Deng Wu picked up Sha Yun’s scaled hand and gently kissed the back, winking with his eyes and smiling wickedly at her.

  “Were my heart not already stolen by Rong Xing, then I am sure that I would have become your avid follower, oh my god your eyes are silver!”

  Chapter 62 - The Outside World

  * * *

  Chapter 62: The Outside World

  A big bonfire was roaring into the sky, illuminating the campsite in the dawn of night. The water was slowly floating down the river, allowing for a calming sounds to set a tranquil atmosphere.

  It was the final night that the youngsters and the snake-woman would be camping in the Magical Forest before all of them returned to the bustling city. Liquor and snacks had been found, and they spent their time comparing who had gotten the most beast cores, as well as who had gained the most progress in their cultivation.

  Deng Wu still had some trouble breaking into the realm of the Master rank, but even so, he was not dispirited at all. Instead he was playing around with Sha Yun, getting her drunk, before convincing her to dance around the bonfire together with him. Laughter rang out from everyone present as they enjoyed the sight of the attractive Sha Yun slithering around as she was dancing along with the less graceful Deng Wu, who had been drinking far too much.

  Two less thrilled individuals were standing at the edge of the campsite, one white the other blue. These two were Sha Yun’s sisters, and neither of them were happy with their elder sister’s decision to follow these unknown cultivators into the outside world. Especially aggravating was the fact that she had voluntarily started the beast pledge.

  Although these two female beasts had been hesitating at first, Hui Yue managed to coerce them into coming closer, by handing them medicinal pills. Although Hui Yue knew that these pills were important, he still felt as though it was more important to end their visit with a good relationship between himself and the stronger beasts from the Magical Forest. This could cause them to leave his family’s village alone, rather than venting their anger on his defenceless parents and friends.

  The night sky slowly dimmed and after hours of drinking, dancing, and chatting they finally broke up; they packed down their items and made ready to start making their way back to the village where they had left their mounts.

  Arriving in the village caused chaos as Sha Yun arrived with them, no one believed that she was truly friendly. As none of them were cultivators, none of them knew of a beast pledge.

  Seeing the fear and doubt in the villagers’ eyes, Hui Yue could not help but sigh. No matter what he said, he knew that the villagers would never accept the beast woman, even though she had turned into a very gentle, although slightly naïve, woman.

  “Let us change the plans then.” Hui Yue said with a sigh. “We have to start travelling towards Riluo City, but even if we make it there by today, the city gates will obviously be closed. Let us find one of the smaller cities on the way which has an inn.”

  Hearing this, the others nodded in unison. Although they had planned on staying in the village for a short while longer, it was obvious that Sha Yun caused too much fear, and it was unnecessary to cause any problems for the villagers, as they preferred that Sha Yun leave already.

  Sha Yun looked around her big silvery eyes filled with disdain, as she understood the situation perfectly well. Finally she started to understand that this outside world would be even more hostile than the Magical Forest from where she was born.

  “Don’t worry.” Hui Yue said with a low voice as he grabbed her hand, and dragged her towards an old shack which was located at the edge of the village itself. Having arrived at this house, Sha Yun’s eyes were filled with doubt and confusion as she could not understand the purpose for her to visit yet another home with prejudiced villagers.

  However, Hui Yue brought her there anyways. Even if it hurt her to be shunned, she was still a proud magical beast from within the Magical Forest. She stood straight, her face looking forward and in no way did she cower while thinking about the possibilities of insults that could be coming her way.

  Next to Sha Yun, Hui Yue smiled gently as he saw the strong look on her face and he nodded in approval before knocking on the door.

  “Come in.” A tired voice sounded out from within, and Hui Yue pushed the worn down wooden door open. He walked through first to announce who it was, after which he made sure to drag Sha Yun with him.

  “Hello mother.” He said politely as he looked at the beautiful woman who was currently seated in the kitchen, her stomach so big that Hui Yue would have thought that it might just explode, rather than give birth to a child.

  Hui Lifen narrowed her brows when she noticed that Hui Yue had brought a woman with a snake-body, yet no fear was shown on her face, only curiosity. After all, the one who had brought this strange woman was after all, her son, and Hui Lifen blindly trusted her son. He would never intentionally put her in danger.

  “Mother I would like to introduce you to Sha Yun.” Hui Yue stated, as he sat down in the chair next to his mother and gestured for the snake-woman to follow suit, which she did quickly. Although she appeared as though she was not the slightest bit nervous, as if the other’s opinion did not matter, Hui Yue noticed how the tip of her tail had started to slowly tap the floor, as to calm her down.

  “Sha Yun is a magical beast who has human blood in her veins. She is as intelligent as you and me, although she is not able to speak our language yet. She has made a pledge to follow me wherever I go and she will protect me.” Hearing this, Hui Lifen’s estimation of Sha Yun soared multiple times as she grabbed the hands of the snake-person and looked into those silvery eyes with her own brown ones.

  “Thank you.” Hui Lifen said, her voice trembling slightly. “I know that Little Yue has a lot of friends, but to know he has someone strong like you next to him makes me feel much more relaxed. Please, you have to look after him for me.”

  A smile appeared on Hui Yue’s face as he saw the relief which washed over his mother. He noticed how she had always been worried about her son leaving the village and fending for himself in the big world. Knowing that he had found friends was something which she had relished in, but after seeing the fight against the three beast sisters earlier, she had once again feared the world in which Hui Yue traversed.

  Now one of these beasts, the strongest of them even, had pledged that she would forever travel with Hui Yue and protect him. How could she not be happy?

  Hui Lifen had lived within this village all her life, and although Rong Liang and Bu Huang were

  both incredibly strong, she had never seen them fight and due to this the strongest person whom she could think of was Sha Yun. How could Hui Yue not be safe when he had such a fierce companion?

  Seeing the happy expression on Hui Lifen’s face, both Hui Yue and Sha Yun felt a great sense of relief. Hui Yue felt relief as he did not wish to cause his mother anymore worry when she was about to give birth to his sibling, and she needed all her energy on that rather than Hui Yue.

  Sha Yun was incredibly relieved to know that not all humans hated her. The feeling of a human whom she did not know who would grab her hands and even thank her was so abnormal that Sha Yun did not know what to do with herself. Still it left behind a lingering feeling within her heart. A small warmth, which caused her to feel great happiness.

  “We will have to leave now.” Hui Yue said regretfully as he stood up, and a hint of sadness appeared in the smile which Hui Lifen showed her son as she too stood up, walking her guests to the door.

  “Promise me to be careful.” She pleaded. “The life of a cultivator is long and dangerous. Death waits at every corner. I would rather have a
weak son who lives, than a strong one who died young.”

  Hearing this, Hui Yue could not help but smile sadly before he gave his mother a big hug and looked over the so familiar shack one last time. It was likely to be another year before he would be able to return to this poor village within the Magical Forest.

  Catching up with the others was no problem, as they all had waited at the pen they created. Everything was packed down and now the only thing they needed was Hui Yue and Sha Yun.

  While Hui Yue was riding on a magical horse, Sha Yun did not wish to ride on anything. Being unable to understand her, Hui Yue could only accept her declining, and instead he saw how she quickly followed them, while still elegantly moving as a snake on the ground. In situations like these, Hui Yue perfectly understood that Sha Yun was indeed a magical beast and not an average cultivator.

  The first villages Hui Yue and company travelled through, it was obvious that the villagers were deeply shocked to see the snake-like woman, who could run as quickly as magical horses and do it in such an elegant way. Any young boy or man who saw her curves twist as she moved would instantly stand still, mesmerized by the sight, and then stay there gaping until they had vanished into the distance.