Chapter 31 p2
The Heavenly Emperor shook his head. “I don’t know.” He had initially thought it was because of some major event, but there hadn’t been any significant changes in the Heavenly Mechanism. “The Celestial Mother and I are one, both manifestations of the Mandate of Heaven. She will be in charge of the Celestial Feather Ministry, the Four Seas Ministry, and the White Tiger Ministry. As for Danxue Mountain… be careful.”
Chang Li lowered her eyelids. “Thinking about it, Minister Feng’s actions might not be a bad thing. It might even motivate our lineages in Danxue Mountain to improve.”
That was exactly what the Heavenly Emperor wanted to hear. He smiled. “I’m glad you understand.” Although he had relinquished control of the feathered race, he didn’t want them to completely side with the Celestial Mother. As for the Four Seas Ministry and the White Tiger Ministry, he didn’t care much. Most of their members were wandering immortals who had little to do with the Heavenly Court, maintaining only a nominal relationship.
After leaving the Purple Empyrean Palace, Chang Li went to Danxue Mountain.
The place was filled with complaints and curses directed at Feng Chiyue and the Celestial Feather Ministry. Their resentment was even stronger than it had been a thousand years ago.
When she met with the elders, before she could even speak, they started clamoring, demanding that they get rid of Feng Chiyue. The Celestial Feather Ministry had been established for a thousand years. How could the rules be changed so easily? Why should they be changed? Chang Li listened to them with a cold expression, then said calmly, “The Celestial Feather Ministry is now under the Celestial Mother’s control. Whether you like it or not, it’s going to change. Instead of complaining, you should follow the announcement from the Celestial Feather Ministry.”
“The assessment is fair. Think about it. Feng Chiyue hasn’t favored any particular side, has she?”
It was true, but they had always been able to take what they wanted before. Now, with this new restriction, they no longer had the freedom to do as they pleased. How could they accept that?
“Didn’t you agree with us before, Fellow Daoist Nan Li, that we should drive Feng Chiyue out of the Celestial Feather Ministry? Why have you changed your mind?” the Swan Goose elder asked suddenly, his cold gaze fixed on Chang Li, as if looking at a traitor.
Chang Li ignored his icy tone. “Because it’s impossible,” she said calmly. Even when Ming Jian Su was gone and the Celestial Mother was in seclusion, they hadn’t been able to deal with Feng Chiyue. What made them think they could do it now? The Celestial Pivot Department had stopped investigating the deaths of Bi Feng and the others, but they should all know who was responsible. Whether they acted openly or secretly, they would only suffer losses. Why cling to their previous plan?
“The content of the previous assessment was mostly based on the history of the feathered race. It’s our history. Studying it wouldn’t hurt,” Chang Li said. She lowered her eyelids, recalling the past. Back then, the Phoenix Sovereign had always been engrossed in books and had held their lineage leaders and elders to strict standards. They had discussed the future of the feathered race together, but it had all come to an abrupt end a thousand years ago.
The assessment questions weren’t difficult, but very few, from both Danxue Mountain and Phoenix Mountain, could answer them. When had it started? They had even forgotten their own history. Her gaze fell upon the magnificent murals—within the lines and colors, if one looked closely, they could still find traces of the past. Back then, they hadn’t just depicted the history of the Vermilion Birds, Swan Geese, and Bifangs. They had depicted the rise of the feathered race, led by the Five Phoenixes and Three Feathers. But after the flames of calamity, everything had vanished. They had started to fear and loathe their own history.
“It’s all in the past. What’s the point of studying it? To make us, the traitors, reminisce about the Phoenix Sovereign?” the Bifang elder complained. As soon as he finished speaking, a chilling gaze pierced him like a sword. He felt as if he had been struck by a wave, his head spinning. His face paled, sweat beading on his forehead, his body trembling uncontrollably. Even after the oppressive aura subsided, he remained fearful, not daring to look up at Chang Li.
“If you’re unwilling to learn, there are plenty of others who are. For example, the Phoenixes, who have always been suppressed. Do you think they’ll miss this opportunity?” Chang Li said coldly.
She didn’t look at the other lineage leaders again, transforming into a streak of crimson fire and leaving Danxue Mountain without a trace of nostalgia. Just like the past that had been so easily discarded, once she had decided to let go, there was no need to look back.
—
In Dong’e Mountain.
Ming Jian Su received the Celestial Mother’s decree from the Heavenly Court. She was surprised, but then she dismissed it. With or without the decree, she would have supported Feng Chiyue. The decree simply made everything official. She stood up and walked to the window, hearing the clear, melodious sound of silver bells.
Feng Chiyue was sitting on the swing set under the peach tree, playing with the birds. She tossed small pieces of spiritual fruit onto the ground, and when the birds gathered around, she shook the bells, startling them and sending them scattering. But after several repetitions, the birds were no longer afraid. They flew back, chirping as they pecked at the fruit. Some even landed on Feng Chiyue’s shoulders, allowing her to stroke their plump, fluffy bellies.
Why were these birds so carefree? Ming Jian Su felt a pang of jealousy and discreetly released a bit of her sword intent, scaring the birds away. Seeing this, she smiled happily.
“Elder Sister?” Feng Chiyue knew it was Ming Jian Su’s doing. She jumped off the swing and went to the window, looking at Ming Jian Su through the glass.
Under Feng Chiyue’s gaze, Ming Jian Su suddenly felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “I–”
“You what?” Feng Chiyue asked, blinking.
Seeing a bird peeking its head out from behind a branch, an idea struck Ming Jian Su. “I haven’t seen your true form yet,” she blurted out.
“You want to see it?” Feng Chiyue asked, smiling.
Ming Jian Su nodded. Wasn’t it obvious? She also wanted to get some phoenix feathers.
“Oh,” Feng Chiyue said, raising an eyebrow. “Then keep dreaming.” Although she was a Phoenix, for some reason, she didn’t like her true form. She preferred to remain in human form. She didn’t say anything else to Ming Jian Su, turning and walking away. She sat on the swing and pushed off with her toes, soaring through the air. The wind billowed her vibrant red robes, making her look like a blazing sun. A faint melody drifted through the air. Ming Jian Su couldn’t hear the lyrics clearly, but the scattered birds flew back, forming a flock that danced gracefully in the sky, following the rhythm of the song.
Ming Jian Su watched the “All Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix” dance with a gentle smile. After a long while, she remembered something important. She took out the Chaos Mirror, found Feng Yao’s name seal, and asked her a question.
“Do you keep records of all Nirvanas in your clan?”
In Phoenix Mountain, the reforms in the Celestial Feather Ministry were causing a stir. Feng Yao was debating whether to contact Feng Chiyue when she received Ming Jian Su’s message.
“Yes,” she replied cautiously.
“Do all Phoenixes undergo Nirvana under the care of their clan?” Ming Jian Su asked.
“Yes,” Feng Yao replied. There weren’t many in their clan who had achieved Nirvana. Seeing that there was no response for a while, she asked, “What’s wrong? Is Feng Chiyue about to undergo Nirvana? If so, please send her back to Phoenix Mountain.”
Ming Jian Su’s reply was quick this time. “No, she’s not.” Her junior sister had already undergone Nirvana once. She didn’t even know how old she was. Living in isolation, trapped in the Abyss of the Milky Way… it didn’t seem like she had a good relationship with the Phoenixes. Or perhaps, as she suspected, her junior sister was that person. But what had happened? Ming Jian Su frowned, pondering.
She took out the Celestial Feather Career Book and looked up the information about the Phoenix lineage. The Phoenix Sovereign’s name wasn’t there, as if it had been erased. However, there was a record of her junior sister. She stared at the three lonely characters “Feng Chiyue,” not listed under any lineage, as if she had appeared out of thin air. It was suspicious.
She didn’t know when the singing had stopped. Only the chirping of the birds filled the air. Ming Jian Su put away the Chaos Mirror and looked at Feng Chiyue on the swing, her gaze filled with tenderness. She thought to herself, no matter who she was before her Nirvana, her junior sister was hers now. No one could take her away!
In Phoenix Mountain.
Feng Yao was puzzled by Ming Jian Su’s two consecutive rejections. She took the Chaos Mirror and went to see the elders. Earlier, officials from the Celestial Pivot Department had come to ask about the deaths of Bi Feng and the others, saying that Danxue Mountain suspected they were involved. They hadn’t done it, of course. As for Feng Chiyue… they had initially thought it was impossible, but Ming Jian Su had returned at that time. Perhaps she had helped eliminate the witnesses? But Ming Jian Su was usually quite restrained.
There was only one possibility that could have driven her to such an extreme: Feng Chiyue was seriously injured! Feng Chiyue hadn’t gone to the Celestial Feather Ministry these past few days, and there were rumors on the Chaos Mirror that Ming Jian Su had resigned from many of her positions and was staying in Dong’e Mountain. Was she accompanying Feng Chiyue in her final moments? The more Feng Yao thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
“Why do you think she’s about to undergo Nirvana?” the Phoenix elder asked, not bothering to look at her.
Feng Yao: “…” Good question, but that was what her intuition told her. Feng Chiyue, the lazy good-for-nothing? No, there was definitely something wrong with her!
“These are the records of the feathered race preserved in our clan. Take a look,” the Phoenix elder said, taking out several jade slips and handing them to her.
Feng Yao wanted to turn and leave, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. She accepted the jade slips respectfully and then said, “Are the assessment questions based on the books in the Wen Qu Treasure Pavilion of the Heavenly Prosperity Department? They’ve revised the historical records many times.” Especially the “Fall of the Phoenix” pact a thousand years ago. However, she didn’t mention those provocative words in front of the elder.
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