Phoenix and Phoenix Tree, A Future Promise

After drinking tea, Hermione, unable to contain her curiosity, began asking about the cultivation world and the wizarding world.

Since Qing Yi and Yu Zhen were going to spend time together, and GGAD had arranged to watch the moon together, while Master and his wife were on a video call, the responsibility of answering fell to young Bing Huan.

Bing Huan: O_o

Hermione: o_O

"Ummm, how about I tell you about Eastern divine beasts?"

"Okay!"

Phoenixes are an ancient divine beast race of Huaxia. Compared to their powerful strength, the Phoenix holds a more important spiritual significance for us.

The male is called Feng, with a phoenix crown, phoenix gall, and three tails. The female is called Huang, without a crown and with two tails. Phoenixes only inhabit tall Phoenix Trees.

Just as Phoenixes only inhabit Phoenix Trees, they will only have one mate in their lifetime. In our Huaxia, the Phoenix is also a symbol of love. Over two thousand years ago, someone wrote "Phoenix Seeks Phoenix" with this as the theme.

There is a beauty, whom I cannot forget upon seeing.

One day without her, I think of her as if mad.

The Phoenix flies soaring, seeking its Phoenix across the four seas.

Alas, the beloved lady is not on the east wall.

Let the zither speak for me, and write my heart's feelings.

On what day will you agree to see me, to comfort my wandering soul.

I wish to be matched in virtue, and hand in hand to go.

If I cannot fly with you, you will cause my ruin.

Phoenix, oh Phoenix, return to your homeland, roam the four seas seeking your Phoenix.

The time was not right, and I had no one to rely on, how could I have known today I would ascend this hall!

There is a beautiful, virtuous young lady in her chamber, the room is near, but the person is far, poisoning my heart.

By what fate shall we entwine our necks like mandarin ducks, and fly together in the sky!

Phoenix, oh Phoenix, come perch with me, and I will forever be your consort.

Our feelings are connected, our hearts in harmony, who knows who will accompany me in the middle of the night?

With both wings raised, we fly high, do not ignore my feelings, lest I be saddened.

"Wow~ I'm so envious of the Phoenix. Do you think I'll find a partner like that someday?"

"Come on~ You're only eight, what's the rush?"

"Tell me, tell me."

Although Master had forbidden him from learning divination arts, Bing Huan understood basic physiognomy. He carefully observed her, seeing her marriage palace was full. He then replied, "You will definitely find one, I guarantee it."

"Really!" The little girl didn't yet understand what love and marriage represented, but she was unexpectedly happy.

"Alright, although it's regrettable, our happy time together must end." Dumbledore's voice came from behind them.

Bing Huan's heart sank. It wasn't his first time abroad, and he naturally knew what people who hadn't officially interacted with the wizarding world would face next.

The naive Hermione thought they were sending her back. "Are you leaving?"

Dumbledore: "No, Miss Granger, you need me to perform a memory erasure on you. The public cannot know too much about wizards and cultivators yet."

Upon hearing that her memory was to be erased, the little girl panicked. "I won't tell anyone, you believe me, I... I won't say anything, really."

Bing Huan crouched down to comfort her. "Don't be scared, Hermione."

"I really won't..."

"I know, of course I believe you. But there are many bad people outside who want to know what you experienced tonight. You can't protect yourself yet, and I can't stay with you all the time for now.

So, we need to make you temporarily forget about tonight's events, so those bad people won't target you."

Bing Huan stood up and looked at Dumbledore.

"Old Deng, Hermione will join the wizarding world in a couple of years anyway, so don't erase it. Let's just seal her memory instead."

Dumbledore was happy to do him this favor. He and Grindelwald quite liked Bing Huan, despite him being a bit mischievous, a bit too lively, a bit too informal, a bit impatient when uninterested, a bit too hands-on with everything, and a bit too good at making desserts...

"Um... can I keep the memories about the Phoenix?" Hermione tugged on Bing Huan's sleeve.

"I suppose so." Bing Huan replied without considering the difficulty of the spell. "Next month, our sect is revising our collection of myths. I'll have my subordinates print an extra batch and distribute them in England. That way, there won't be any issues with the source."

"Won't the Ministry of Magic have an opinion about that?"

"If anyone has an opinion, tell them to come find me." Zhang Haotian walked over from the other side.

"Master... you"

Bing Huan turned to look at Dumbledore, his eyebrows nearly flying off his face.

Dumbledore smiled wryly and shook his head. "Child, you really know how to give me a difficult time." He then went to find Grindelwald to discuss the memory sealing. Grindelwald listened to the entire request with an expression of an old man on the subway. "Are you kidding me? Seal the entire event, and specifically extract this story? Do you think I'm a turtle in a wishing well?"

After discussion, it was decided that Dumbledore would construct the seal, Grindelwald would protect Hermione's mind, and the leader of the Daoist Sect would watch from the side. Yes, a lineup where even ten Dark Lords would get slapped twice before leaving, was now cooperating to seal the memories of an eight-year-old girl.

While they were still discussing the specifics, the two continued to chat by the fireplace. As it neared the end, the little girl didn't look very happy.

"Thank you. Not only did you save me today, but you also helped me buy time for the seal."

"..."

"You know, I'm actually nine years old now. Today is my birthday."

Bing Huan looked at the sky; it was already past midnight.

The date was September 19, 1988.

Hermione turned to look at Bing Huan. "This is the most special birthday I've ever had. When my memories return, I'll come find you to play again.

Oh, you're from Huaxia, and you travel around a lot. Hmm, it might be a bit hard to find you. I'll have to study geography more, and also..."

"You won't," Bing Huan said, also looking at Hermione. He took off his necklace and placed it around Hermione's neck. "This is my protective charm. As long as you wish it, I'll be able to sense you. Happy birthday!"

"Okay! You're giving me something you've used as a gift."

"Then you give it back to me."

"No! It's mine!" After saying that, she clutched the charm in her hand, her eyes narrowing into crescents.

"Tsk, I have to be the bad guy again," Grindelwald walked up to the two of them. "Alright, we really can't delay any longer. I still need to notify her parents."

Hermione was led away by Grindelwald, looking back repeatedly.

"When my memories return, you have to come find me, okay?"

"Mhm."

"Don't forget me, okay?"

"Mhm."

"I'll recover very quickly."

...The curse of the White Devil, it wasn't that easy to break.

"Bing Huan!"

Looking up, Hermione, who had already walked far away, shouted forcefully.

"I'll grow up well, study magic well, and make you fall into my hands!!!" After saying that, she started panting on the spot. The few people were stunned by the little girl's ambition.

Yu Zhen (ﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾂ: "How did this happen? They both misunderstood, but it seems like there's no problem."

As if having made a decision, Bing Huan ran over and flicked Hermione on the forehead. "You're not making things easy for me, girl. Do you know what it means to say something like that to a boy?"

Hermione rubbed her forehead. "I don't know." (Righteously)

He pinched the girl's cheek and took out three pills. "Take these. And! Don't say things like that to other boys, understand?"

"Ooooh~"

"Alright, go on." He patted Hermione's head. The little girl nodded, but didn't notice the young man's hand glowing.

After the girl had walked a good distance away, Yu Zhen leaned in. "A Beauty Pill, a Body Sculpting Pill, a Marrow Cleansing Pill, and a Mental Power Meditation Method. And they're all high-grade items from an ancient ruin. Junior disciple, that's quite a generous gift."

Bing Huan jumped away as if his tail had been stepped on. "Wh-what are you talking about? You said she'll be very powerful in the future, so I'm just helping the enemy, alright? I'm not someone who's afraid of having rivals."

"Is that so~ Then why did you give those pills to a future wizard?" O-o

"What if she gets seriously ill halfway? Let her grow up healthier."

"And the Beauty Pill? To become prettier?" o,O

"...Sister Qing Yi, Senior Disciple is bullying me~" Seeing that he couldn't come up with any more excuses, Bing Huan could only resort to bringing up Senior Disciple Qing Yi to drag Yu Zhen away.

A quarter of an hour later, Dumbledore returned, carrying a unconscious Hermione.

Bing knew that these two working together wouldn't hurt Hermione. The unconsciousness was just to accommodate her missing memories. So he stayed by her side, waiting for her to wake up.

After a while, Grindelwald suddenly spoke. "Kid, go catch a few fish from the lake nearby for a late-night snack. I'm a bit hungry."

"But she's about to wake up."

Grindelwald was about to say something else, but Dumbledore patted his hand. "Forget it, Gell. Let him experience it."

Under someone's gaze, Hermione woke up. "You're awake, girl. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

However, in her familiar eyes, there was now only fear of the stranger.

"Who are you?"

"...Ah~ No one." After a few seconds of silence, Bing Huan stood up and walked towards the small lake not far away. "Old Ge, I'm going to catch fish for you."