After they'd chatted for a while over tea, the curious Hermione started asking about the Cultivation World and the Wizarding World.
Qing Yi and Yu Zhen had gone off for a romantic date, GGAD had agreed to stargaze together, and Master and Mistress were video-calling each other, so the task of answering fell to little Bing Huan.
Bing Huan: O_o
Hermione: o_O
"Umm, let me tell you about the divine beasts of the East."
"Okay!"
The phoenix was a divine beast with a long history in China. Compared to its immense power, the phoenix's spiritual significance was even more important to us.
The male had a crest, a gallbladder, and three tail feathers, and was called a Feng. The female had no crest and two tail feathers, and was called a Huang. Phoenixes only roosted in towering wutong trees.
Just as phoenixes only roosted in wutong trees, they also had only one mate in their entire lives. In China, the phoenix was a symbol of love, and more than two thousand years ago, someone had written "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate" on that very theme.
There was a beauty whose sight I'd never forget.
One day apart, and I longed for her like a madman.
The phoenix soared through the skies, seeking its mate across the four seas.
Alas, my fair lady was not behind the eastern wall.
I took up my zither in place of words, to express the feelings in my heart.
When will you accept me, and soothe my restless longing?
I hope our virtues will be a match, and we'll walk together hand in hand.
If we cannot fly together, I will perish.
Phoenix, phoenix, return to your homeland; roam the four seas in search of your mate.
You had no companion when the time was not yet right. Who could have guessed that today you would rise into this hall?
A lovely, virtuous maiden lives in her chamber. Though she is near, she is far away, and her absence torments me.
How might we entwine our necks like mandarin ducks? Why not soar together, side by side?
Huang, Huang, come and roost with me. Let us join together and be mates for all our lives.
Our feelings and intentions are in harmony. Who will know if we meet in the middle of the night?
May we spread our wings and fly high together. Do not let my longing bring me sorrow.
"Wow, I'm so jealous of phoenixes! Do you think I'll find someone like that someday?"
"Come on, you're only eight. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Tell me, tell me!"
Although his master had forbidden him from practicing divination, Bing Huan still knew a little about reading faces. He studied her carefully and saw that her marriage palace was full. He played along and said, "You'll definitely find someone. I promise."
"Really!" The little girl didn't yet understand what love and marriage meant, but she was unexpectedly happy.
"All right. I'm sorry, but our happy time together has to end." Dumbledore's voice came from behind them.
Bing Huan's heart sank. This wasn't his first time abroad, so he knew what lay ahead for someone who hadn't officially entered the Wizarding World.
The naive Hermione thought they were sending her home. "Are you leaving?"
"No, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "You'll need to cooperate while I erase your memories. The public can't know too much about wizards and cultivators yet."
At the mention of having her memories erased, the little girl panicked. "I won't tell anyone! You have to believe me. I... I won't say anything, I promise."
Bing Huan crouched down to comfort her. "Don't be afraid, Hermione."
"I really won't..."
"I know. Of course I believe you. But there are lots of bad people out there, and they want to know what you experienced tonight. You can't protect yourself yet, and I can't stay by your side all the time.
"So we have to make you temporarily forget what happened tonight. That way, those bad people won't target you."
Bing Huan stood and looked at Dumbledore.
"Old Dumbledore, Hermione'll be joining the Wizarding World in a couple of years anyway. Don't erase her memories. Just seal them."
Dumbledore was happy to do him this favor. He and Grindelwald rather liked Bing Huan. He was just a little mischievous, a little too free-spirited, a little disrespectful of his elders, a little impatient when he wasn't interested, a little too quick to get hands-on with everything, and a little too good at making desserts...
"Um... could I keep my memories of the phoenix?" Hermione tugged at Bing Huan's sleeve.
"Sure, I guess." Without a second thought, he completely disregarded how difficult the spell would be. "Our sect's publishing a revised edition of our new mythology collection next month. I'll have the people below me print extra copies and distribute them in England. Then there won't be any problem with where the story came from."
"The Ministry of Magic might object," Dumbledore said.
"Anyone who objects can come talk to me." Zhang Haotian approached from the other side.
"Master... you..."
Bing Huan turned to Dumbledore, his eyebrows nearly soaring off his forehead.
Dumbledore shook his head with a wry smile. "My boy, you really know how to give me a difficult problem." He then went to find Grindelwald to discuss the memory seal. Grindelwald listened to the whole request with the expression of a confused old man on the subway. "Are you kidding me? Seal away the whole event, but keep this story separate? Do you think I'm a turtle in a wishing well?"
After discussing it, they decided that Dumbledore would construct the seal, while Grindelwald protected Hermione's mind. The leader of the Daoist sect would watch from the sidelines. That was right: ten Dark Lords could show up and still get slapped twice before being sent on their way—and now they were working together to seal the memories of an eight-year-old girl.
While the others discussed the details, the two of them stayed by the fireplace and kept chatting. Knowing their time was almost up, the little girl looked unhappy.
"Thank you. You didn't just save me today—you also helped me get a memory seal."
"..."
"Did you know? I'm actually nine now. Today's my birthday."
Bing Huan checked the sky. It was already past midnight.
Hermione turned to look at Bing Huan. "This is the most special birthday I've ever had. When my memories come back, I'll come find you again.
"Oh, you're Chinese, and you travel around a lot. Umm, you might be hard to find, so I'll have to learn more geography, and..."
"You won't have to." Bing Huan looked at Hermione too, took off his necklace, and put it around her neck. "This is my protective charm. As long as you want me to, I'll be able to sense you. Happy birthday!"
"Fine! You gave me something you've already used as a gift."
"Then give it back."
"No! It's mine!" She clutched the protective charm in her hand, her eyes narrowing into crescents.
"Honestly, I have to be the bad guy." Grindelwald walked up to them. "All right, we really can't put this off any longer. We still have to notify her parents."
Grindelwald led Hermione away, and she looked back every few steps.
"When my memories come back, you have to come find me, okay?"
"Mm."
"Don't forget me, okay?"
"Mm."
"I'll get them back soon."
...The White Demon King's spell wasn't that easy to break.
"Bing Huan!"
He looked up. Hermione had already walked some distance away, but she shouted as loudly as she could.
"I'll grow up well and study magic hard, so you'll fall right into my hands someday~!!!" She then started gasping for breath where she stood. Everyone was stunned by the little girl's ambition.
Yu Zhen (ﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾂ: "How did this happen? They both misunderstood each other, but somehow it doesn't seem like a problem."
As if he'd made up his mind, Bing Huan ran over and flicked Hermione on the forehead. "You troublesome girl. Do you know what you're saying when you say that to a boy?"
Hermione covered her head. "Nope." (utterly unapologetic)
He pinched the girl's cheek and took out three pills. "Take these. And one more thing! Don't say stuff like that to other boys, got it?"
"Okay~"
"All right, off you go." He patted Hermione on the head. The little girl nodded, unaware that the boy's hand was glowing.
After she'd gone some distance, Yu Zhen came over. "A Beauty Pill, a Body Sculpting Pill, a Marrow Cleansing Pill, and a Mental Power Meditation Method—all high-grade goods from ancient ruins. Junior Brother, what a generous gift!"
Bing Huan jumped back as if someone had stepped on his tail. "W-what are you talking about? You said she'd be amazing in the future, so I'm just helping out the enemy. It's not like I'm afraid of having a rival."
"Is that so~? Then why give all those pills to a future witch?" O-o
"What if she gets seriously ill someday? This'll help her be healthier."
"And the Beauty Pill? So she'll be prettier?" o,O
"...Sister-in-law, Senior Brother's bullying me~" Seeing that he couldn't make up another excuse, Bing Huan could only summon Senior Sister Qing Yi to drag Yu Zhen away.
Fifteen minutes later, Dumbledore returned, carrying an unconscious Hermione.
Bing Huan knew that with both of them working together, Hermione couldn't possibly be hurt. She'd only been put to sleep so the memory loss would take effect. He stayed nearby and waited for her to wake up.
After a while, Grindelwald suddenly spoke. "Boy, go catch a few fish in the lake over there for a late-night snack. I'm a little hungry."
"But she's about to wake up."
Grindelwald was about to say something, but Dumbledore patted his hand. "It's all right, Gell. Let him go through it too."
Under someone's watchful gaze, Hermione woke up. "You're awake, girl. Are you feeling all right?"
But the familiar eyes held only fear of a stranger now.
"Who are you?"
"...Ah, nobody." After a few seconds of silence, Bing Huan got to his feet and headed toward the small lake in the distance. "Then, Old Grindelwald, I'll go catch you some fish."
Before you continue