Chapter 34: The Big Bird

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Big Bird

After Xi Yunxui finished washing the little creature, she carefully lifted it from the basin and wrapped it in a clean towel.

The creature had complained throughout the entire process.

First, it complained about the temperature of the water.

Then it complained about the soap.

Then it complained that Xi Yunxui was rubbing its fur too hard.

Then it complained that she was rubbing too gently.

By the end of it, Xi Yunxui had stopped responding altogether.

She simply dried the little creature thoroughly, combed through its soft white fur with her fingers, and finally placed it on the bed.

The difference was astonishing.

Before the bath, its fur had been dusty, with bits of grass and tiny leaves clinging to its body. Its little legs had been stained from running through the mountain and climbing into Xi Yunxui’s basket.

Now, however, its fur was clean and fluffy.

Its two little horns were spotless.

Its golden eyes seemed even brighter against its white fur.

Xi Yunxui stepped back and looked at it critically.

Then she clapped her hands together.

"There."

She nodded with satisfaction.

"Now you really look like a revered god of the mountain."

There was a faint laugh in her voice.

King C immediately turned its head toward her.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui covered her mouth, trying not to laugh again.

"I said you look much better now."

"That is not what you said!"

The little creature puffed up its chest.

"You called me a revered god of the mountain!"

"Yes."

"Was that not obvious?"

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Obvious?"

"Yes!"

King C lifted one tiny hoof dramatically.

"I am a divine being! An exalted existence! A supreme creature whose name has been feared and respected throughout the mountain!"

Xi Yunxui looked at him.

Then she glanced at his tiny body.

Then at his freshly washed fur.

Then at his little hooves.

She couldn’t help herself.

A smile appeared on her face.

King C immediately became suspicious.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I didn’t say anything."

"You’re laughing at me!"

"No."

"You definitely are!"

Xi Yunxui turned away, but her shoulders shook slightly.

King C became furious.

"How dare you!"

He jumped onto the bed and raised one tiny paw toward her.

"I shall punish you for this insolence!"

Xi Yunxui turned around.

"How?"

King C froze.

His paw remained suspended in the air.

"I..."

He looked around.

Apparently, he had not thought that far ahead.

Xi Yunxui waited patiently.

King C cleared his throat.

"I will... curse your vegetables."

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

"My vegetables?"

"Yes!"

"What will happen to them?"

"They will..."

King C’s golden eyes darted around.

"They will become... extremely difficult to eat."

Xi Yunxui’s lips twitched.

"That’s your punishment?"

"Yes!"

"For me?"

"Yes!"

"You’re threatening to make my vegetables difficult to eat?"

King C nodded solemnly.

Xi Yunxui finally laughed.

King C stomped his little hoof.

"Stop laughing!"

Just then—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Both of them froze.

Xi Yunxui immediately turned toward the door.

King C’s expression changed as well.

For one brief moment, the majestic expression of the supposed mountain god disappeared.

He looked like a guilty little animal that had just been caught stealing food.

Xi Yunxui quickly picked him up.

"Stay quiet."

"I am a god. I do not need to—"

She placed one finger against his mouth.

"Quiet."

King C glared at her.

Another knock sounded.

"Xi Yunxui?"

It was Auntie Zhang.

Xi Yunxui immediately walked toward the door.

"Coming."

She opened it.

Auntie Zhang stood outside.

"I came to—"

Her words stopped.

Her eyes slowly moved past Xi Yunxui.

And landed on the little white creature sitting on the bed.

Auntie Zhang blinked.

Then blinked again.

"Xi Yunxui..."

"Yes, Auntie?"

"What is that?"

Xi Yunxui looked at King C.

King C looked at Auntie Zhang.

Auntie Zhang looked back at Xi Yunxui.

There was a long silence.

Xi Yunxui smiled awkwardly.

"This?"

"Yes. That."

Xi Yunxui quickly came up with the first explanation that entered her mind.

"My pet."

"Your pet?"

"Yes."

"When did you get a pet?"

Xi Yunxui calmly answered.

"I brought it from the village."

Auntie Zhang’s eyebrows rose.

"From the village?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui gently stroked King C’s head.

"He was starting to feel lonely without me, so I brought him along."

King C’s eyes widened.

He looked at Xi Yunxui as if he couldn’t believe she had just used his feelings as an excuse.

But fortunately, he remained silent.

Auntie Zhang studied the little creature.

"He’s very cute."

King C immediately raised his chin proudly.

Of course.

Xi Yunxui almost laughed.

Auntie Zhang continued.

"Does he make a lot of noise?"

"No."

"Will he destroy things?"

"No."

"Will he interfere with your work?"

"No, Auntie."

Auntie Zhang nodded.

"Then it’s fine."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course. As long as he doesn’t destroy anything, make a mess, or get in the way of your work, you can keep him."

"Thank you, Auntie Zhang."

King C looked pleased.

He had apparently just received official permission to reside in the Huo household.

Xi Yunxui then remembered something.

"Auntie Zhang, did you need me for something?"

"Oh, yes."

Auntie Zhang’s expression became slightly more serious.

"Madam is currently away on a business trip."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"I understand."

"She urgently needs something where she is. It needs to be delivered to her as soon as possible."

Auntie Zhang looked at Xi Yunxui.

"She specifically asked that you take it to her."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes."

She glanced at King C.

The little creature immediately looked away, pretending not to be listening.

Xi Yunxui sighed internally.

It seemed that her peaceful evening had just become busy again.

---

Later That Night

Xi Yunxui stood completely still.

Her eyes were fixed on the enormous object in front of her.

She had seen many strange things since arriving in the modern world.

Cars.

Elevators.

Telephones.

Huge buildings.

Machines that could wash clothes by themselves.

But this...

This was different.

It was enormous.

White.

Smooth.

And shaped almost like some gigantic metal creature.

Xi Yunxui slowly stepped closer.

Her eyes widened.

"This..."

She swallowed.

"This is the airplane?"

Beside her, Huo Jingchen nodded.

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui stared at it.

She had heard the word before.

But hearing about something and actually standing in front of it were two completely different things.

The enormous aircraft towered over her.

Its body seemed almost impossibly large.

She slowly looked toward the entrance.

Then at Huo Jingchen.

Then back at the aircraft.

Her expression became increasingly serious.

Huo Jingchen noticed.

"What’s wrong?"

Xi Yunxui didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she slowly reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his suit.

Huo Jingchen looked down at her hand.

Then at her face.

She was genuinely nervous.

"Are we really going inside?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

"Inside?"

"Yes."

She looked at the aircraft again.

Her fingers tightened around his sleeve.

"But..."

She lowered her voice.

"Is the bird going to eat us?"

Huo Jingchen froze.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui pointed cautiously at the aircraft.

"It looks like an enormous bird."

There was silence.

Huo Jingchen stared at her.

Xi Yunxui continued in complete seriousness.

"It’s very large. And we’re supposed to enter through that opening."

She pointed toward the aircraft’s door.

"Are you certain it won’t close its mouth after we enter?"

Huo Jingchen’s expression remained blank.

But his eyes betrayed the faintest trace of confusion.

"It’s an airplane."

"I know."

"You don’t have to worry."

Xi Yunxui nodded slowly.

Then she looked at the airplane again.

"But has anyone actually confirmed that it doesn’t eat people?"

Huo Jingchen was silent for several seconds.

"No."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

Huo Jingchen immediately added,

"Because there is nothing to confirm."

"Oh."

She seemed reassured.

For approximately two seconds.

Then she asked,

"Does it have teeth?"

Huo Jingchen closed his eyes briefly.

"No."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"Good."

She continued holding onto his sleeve.

Huo Jingchen looked down at her hand again.

For some reason, he didn’t ask her to let go.

Instead, he calmly said,

"Come on."

Xi Yunxui hesitated.

Huo Jingchen started walking.

She followed.

But before stepping onto the aircraft, she turned around one last time and looked at the enormous machine.

Her expression was filled with solemn determination.

So this is how modern people travel.

She took a deep breath.

I hope I survive the journey.

Behind them, one of Huo Jingchen’s assistants quietly lowered his head, desperately trying not to laugh.

A/N: I’m also trying my best to hold my laugh.