Riding a White Crane, Then a Fire Luan

The Fire Luan had taken Li Zhengyuan's sword head-on. How could she dare act recklessly again? Knowing she was no match for him, even the magic treasure she kept at home had been taken away. She opened her mouth and spat out another stream of red smoke.

The smoke was vague and ethereal, drifting as though it existed and did not exist, flying straight at Li Zhengyuan. Seeing that she had run out of tricks, Li Zhengyuan had assumed the Fire Luan was merely using an illusion to hinder him so she could escape. He paid it no mind, casually sweeping his sleeve to raise a gust of clear wind that blew toward it.

A clear wind rose across the ground, yet it could not disperse the red smoke. Instead, it seemed to enrage it. The smoke charged onward without pause, rushing straight at Li Zhengyuan's face. Li Zhengyuan gathered his Pure Bright Nine-Yellow True Qi and formed it into a restriction before him.

When the smoke drifted over, it melted straight through the restriction without losing any momentum, suddenly enveloping Li Zhengyuan.

Li Zhengyuan probed it with his divine sense, intending to see through the smoke's origins. The instant his awareness touched it, there was a sharp snap. Pain lanced through Li Zhengyuan's Primordial Spirit, and his mind wavered. The Fire Luan seized the chance to attack, pecking at him again with her beak.

Fortunately, Li Zhengyuan had previously been struck by the Lost Soul Bell, which had injured his divine sense. Strangely enough, misfortune had become a blessing. He abruptly steadied his mind and used the Earth Book to capture the Fire Luan.

This time, Li Zhengyuan truly intended to kill. I wished to spare her life, yet she refuses to let this go.

He used the Earth Book to block her for a moment and slow her down, then struck with the Nine Autumn Sword, slashing at her claws. Seeing things turn bad, the Fire Luan spread her wings and tried to flee, but how could Li Zhengyuan spare her?

He stirred the universe beneath his feet and caught up with the Fire Luan in an instant. He laid down the Earth Book Formation and trapped her within. How could the Fire Luan possibly escape now?

He then drew the Lost Soul Bell from his Purple Abode, immobilizing the Fire Luan's Niwan Palace and sealing her Primordial Spirit. Raising the Nine Autumn Sword, he prepared to strike her down.

"Fellow Daoist, wait. For my sake, please spare her life for now, that she may be of use later. What do you say?" A voice suddenly came from afar. Upon hearing it from within the formation, the Fire Luan grew even more frenzied.

Li Zhengyuan looked up and saw a female immortal approaching. Fire Dao radiance vaguely surged around her, and her whole bearing was refined and elegant. He put away his sword and asked:

"Who are you?"

"Fellow Daoist, I am Vermilion Bird. I have come for my younger sister. My sister was discourteous and offended you," the newcomer replied.

Li Zhengyuan was startled to learn that she was Vermilion Bird. The Fire Luan was Vermilion Bird's younger sister? He also sensed an unfathomable and extraordinary aura from Vermilion Bird. Her abilities were likely no weaker than his own, while her dignified bearing and gentle attitude were utterly unlike the Fire Luan's love of slaughter.

Unwilling to yield ground, he spoke firmly: "This Fire Luan is far too vicious. I was merely passing through, yet she wanted to devour me. Seeing that she was no match for me, I had intended to let her go. But she attacked me again with that red smoke and injured my divine sense. She knows nothing of discipline. Fellow Daoist, you would do better to end her early."

"Fellow Daoist, you do not know the reason behind this. The Fire Luan and I were born from the same egg, both embodying the innate Fire Dao. Yet I was born first, breaking the egg and allowing its fire qi to escape. When I came into the world, I incurred killing karma. Since the Fire Luan remained in the egg, that karma was reckoned upon her head instead.

"Thus, she became filled with resentment and killing intent, embodying the fierceness of the Fire Dao. What she did to you today was indeed wrong. Why not let her serve as your mount for the time being? Fellow Daoist, you are merciful by nature, and you may help me discipline her."

Li Zhengyuan was delighted. A mount? Just days ago, he had been considering taking in a mount, and now someone had appeared to offer him one. Yet he modestly replied, "She is your younger sister, Fellow Daoist. How could she become my mount?"

"It is of no concern. She resents me, but she should not slaughter living beings. Now that she has offended you, she ought to serve as your mount for one cosmic cycle. Once that cycle has passed and her karma is repaid, I will return to discuss the matter."

Seeing Vermilion Bird's firm attitude, Li Zhengyuan no longer feigned modesty and accepted readily. "Then I shall take her as my mount. After one cosmic cycle, I will await Fellow Daoist's return."

The two continued conversing for a long while, completely ignoring the Fire Luan inside the formation. Li Zhengyuan knew Vermilion Bird meant to chastise the Fire Luan, so he paid her no heed.

"I see that your five qi within are incomplete, lacking a strand of fire qi. I wish to forge a good affinity with you. Why not use my Vermilion Bird fire aspect to cultivate a strand of fire qi? It shall rank among the innate and will not disgrace your other four qi."

Li Zhengyuan was even more delighted. There is such a good thing? "I would not dare. I traveled through the Southern Wastes precisely for the Undying Volcano, seeking a strand of fire qi. Now, through Fellow Daoist's compassion, my wish has been fulfilled. I am deeply grateful." As he spoke, he took out three Ginseng Fruits and presented them to Vermilion Bird.

The two discussed the Dao again. Nine hundred years later, Vermilion Bird prepared to depart. Before leaving, she had Li Zhengyuan lift the formation and release the Fire Luan. She then asked Li Zhengyuan for a red cord. That cord had been a life-bound magic treasure refined by the Fire Luan from the feathers atop her head. Vermilion Bird tied it around the Fire Luan's neck, knotted it, and handed her over to Li Zhengyuan as a mount.

When Li Zhengyuan asked what the red smoke was, Vermilion Bird refused to say. She merely smiled faintly and said that he would know in the future before departing.

Li Zhengyuan tugged the red cord, and the Fire Luan lowered herself. He immediately mounted her, patted the top of her head, and the Fire Luan rose into the air.

Wonderful, truly wonderful! Having a mount was far more comfortable than riding the clouds! He had ridden a white crane before, and now he rode a Fire Luan. What a carefree Daoist he was~

Leisurely, leisurely!