The Little Peacock Raises a Snake (GL) Chapter 37

Qu Linyan had once said that when she went to Qixia Mountain to seize the life-saving spirit stone, the stone had been hidden inside a fox with low cultivation. Later, before leaving Soul-Wounding Valley, Qu Linyan had mentioned that fox again. She said that if she had guessed correctly, the well-protected fox should be the Fox King’s younger sister, the bird clan leader’s wife, and the demon realm’s Eldest Princess, Yuluo.
Fu Xiaoba was now extremely uneasy.
She had only wanted to come out and find something to eat. She happened to meet a fox whose cultivation was not much higher than her own and felt they could talk to each other, so she said a bit more. How could she have expected that this person was the very one Qu Linyan had offended before?
Even worse, she had chattered in front of this Eldest Princess for ages, mentioning Qu Linyan in all kinds of ways. That would have been enough. But she had just spoken a whole pile of bad words about Fu Zhuochen, and Fu Zhuochen had caught her in the act.
What even was this?
Fu Xiaoba was terrified. She felt her heart pounding and her hands shaking. Her little face stayed buried in her knees, and for a long time, she did not dare lift her head.
But even if she did not lift her head, what had to be faced still could not be avoided.
Fu Zhuochen reached out and grabbed her arm. With a little force, he pulled her up from the ground. She quickly straightened her body and stood stiffly, both hands behind her back. She could not stop trembling as she lowered her head and said, “Bro… Brother, long time no see.”
As soon as the words fell, her stomach gave an unhelpful growl.
Fu Zhuochen had been wearing a cold face. The scolding words had not yet left his mouth when that sound choked them back.
Fu Zhuochen said, “You… have not eaten?”
Fu Xiaoba nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Yuluo beside her. She squeezed the sour fruit in her hand, then shook her head. “I ate.”
No sooner had she spoken than her stomach growled again.
Fu Zhuochen was silent.
Fu Xiaoba said pitifully, “Actually, not much.”
Seeing this, Yuluo stood and patted her skirt. Smiling, she said, “Fu Zhuochen, your younger sister and I had a happy talk. She did not disrespect me. Do not blame her for this. It is getting late, so I should go back. She has kept me company on an empty stomach all this time. Hurry and take her to eat something.”
For a moment, Fu Xiaoba did not know how to respond. Her heart was uneasy. She looked at Yuluo, then looked up at Fu Zhuochen, and finally swallowed, not daring to speak.
“Little peacock.” Seeing Fu Xiaoba in a daze, Yuluo called to her. Only after Fu Xiaoba came back to herself did Yuluo smile and say, “You cannot tell other people what I told you tonight.”
After saying this, she waved to Fu Xiaoba and left first.
“So now you have secrets.” Fu Zhuochen said it flatly, released her arm, and turned away.
Fu Xiaoba froze, then quickly chased after him. “It is not really a secret. It is just, just…”
Fu Zhuochen lowered his eyes and glanced at her. “Just saying bad things about people behind their backs.”
“There were good things too, many good things. I… I was wrong…” Fu Xiaoba tightly clutched Fu Zhuochen’s sleeve and pitifully followed him all the way. She wrinkled his sleeve with her grip, but he still did not pay attention to her. Clearly, he was angry.
She simply did not know whether this anger was because she had spoken badly of him behind his back, or because she had not been willing to return with him and properly complete her trial.
Hundred Flowers Valley was the demon capital. Although it could not compare with the human world’s bustle, there were still demon markets built among the mountain forests.
Like a child who had done wrong, Fu Xiaoba followed Fu Zhuochen there, still thinking about how to apologize. Then she saw Fu Zhuochen buy two cakes from a street stall and hand them to her.
Fu Xiaoba had long been so hungry her chest nearly stuck to her back. As soon as she received them, she forgot about apologizing and happily took a big bite.
The cake’s skin was as thin as paper, and the outside was covered in white sesame seeds. It smelled sweet. When she bit down, a rich fragrance filled her mouth. The sweet, soft filling held crunchy bits of nuts. Before Fu Xiaoba had even swallowed, her mouth was already full of sweetness, and she praised it with unclear words. “What is this? It is so good!”
Fu Zhuochen said, “I do not know.”
The flower demon selling the cakes heard this and quickly smiled. “These are poria cakes. I learned them in the human world and added some flower honey I brewed myself. I promise one bite will sweeten you down to the heart. In all three realms, mine is the only shop like this. Handsome young man, do not only give them to the little beauty beside you. Try one yourself too. Maybe you will keep thinking about them from now on.”
“No need.” Fu Zhuochen turned and left after speaking. After taking several steps, he looked back and saw Fu Xiaoba had stopped in front of the cake stall, eating the one in her hand while looking at him with eager eyes.
“I do not have money.” Fu Xiaoba pouted and blinked. “Little Black also likes sweet things. Can I… can I take two back for her to taste?”
Fu Zhuochen was silent for a moment. Under Fu Xiaoba’s expectant gaze, he walked back and said to the flower demon owner, “Two more.”
“All right, I will make them now.” As the flower demon spoke, she winked at Fu Xiaoba. “How enviable. Someone treats you so well.”
That look seemed to misunderstand something, but before Fu Zhuochen could explain, Fu Xiaoba opened her arms and rushed over. She crashed into him so suddenly that he staggered. The next moment, both her feet left the ground, and she clung to him like a little sticky ball.
“I knew Brother was the best!”
Fu Xiaoba had now grown graceful and beautiful. She was no longer the ugly little peacock of the past. Although she and Fu Zhuochen were brother and sister, they did not share a trace of blood. In the end, men and women should keep distance.
Several gazes around them suddenly turned over. A flash of panic crossed Fu Zhuochen’s eyes. Then he frowned, took a deep breath, and said in a steady, low voice, “Get down.”
“Oh.” Fu Xiaoba jumped down from Fu Zhuochen. Seeing his cold face as he silently straightened his collar and sleeves, she held the half-eaten poria cake before him. “It really is good. Try some.”
“I do not like sweets.” After saying this, Fu Zhuochen turned his head elsewhere to calm himself. Only after Fu Xiaoba received Qu Linyan’s two portions from the flower demon did he say, “Do you remember where you are staying? I will take you back.”
“Mm, mm!” Fu Xiaoba pointed in one direction, then continued following behind Fu Zhuochen.
Fu Xiaoba had been able to eat a lot since childhood. As long as she was given enough food, she could keep eating from morning to night. Fu Zhuochen knew two thin cakes certainly would not fill her, so along the way, whenever he met something easy to carry and eat, he bought one for her.
Just like that, Fu Xiaoba ate as she walked. Whenever she found something tasty, she also wanted to buy one extra. By the time they returned to the lodging arranged for Qu Linyan by the fox clan, her belly was round from eating, and she was still carrying many foods in her hands.
Qu Linyan had only just returned. She had searched everywhere and not found Fu Xiaoba. The fox maids nearby had known nothing when asked, so Qu Linyan had grown anxious and was about to use a spirit-searching spell. Then she saw Fu Xiaoba holding piles of things and running toward her with little hops, while Fu Zhuochen followed behind.
“Little Black! I brought you lots of good food!” As Fu Xiaoba stuffed the food in her hands into Qu Linyan’s arms, she turned back and grabbed Fu Zhuochen’s sleeve just as he wanted to leave. Then she told Qu Linyan, “Brother paid for it.”
Fu Xiaoba had meant to tell Qu Linyan that Fu Zhuochen had bought these for her, hoping to use delicious food to ease the atmosphere between them, which always seemed as if one wanted the other dead the moment they met.
But Qu Linyan did not accept that at all. She immediately took out a small money pouch and sent it with magic through the air to Fu Zhuochen. “No need for change.”
“No need.” Fu Zhuochen pushed back with the back of his hand, and the money pouch returned before Qu Linyan.
Qu Linyan still wanted to be stubborn, but Fu Xiaoba gently poked her waist from the side. Only then did she take the money back and say with complicated feelings, “Thank… thank you for bringing Xiaoba back…”
Fu Zhuochen said, “I hope I will not see you letting her go hungry again.”
Qu Linyan was speechless for a moment. The bird clan leader still cared deeply about the earlier matter at Qixia Mountain. Although she had not said it clearly, she was very guarded against Qu Linyan. All night, she had tested Qu Linyan through their words again and again. Only after finally feeling assured did she let Qu Linyan leave. Otherwise, Qu Linyan would not have wanted to come back so late either.
Amid the awkwardness, Fu Xiaoba bit her lip, lightly tugged Fu Zhuochen’s sleeve, and said, “I ate before coming. I just get hungry quickly…”
“If there is nothing else, I am leaving.” After Fu Zhuochen spoke, he looked at Fu Xiaoba. Fu Xiaoba shrank her neck, released the fingers tightly holding his sleeve, and lowered her head.
Fu Zhuochen left, and Fu Xiaoba’s mood became a little low.
Although Fu Zhuochen had never been very gentle to her before, at least he had not been cold like today the whole time.
Her choice back then seemed to have truly disappointed and angered him. That was why he had not come to the wedding. Now that he had come here, it was probably only to give face to the Fox King and the bird clan leader.
Qu Linyan said with lingering fear, “Xiaoba, where did you run off to? I came back and could not find you. You scared me to death.”
Fu Xiaoba shook her head. “I was just hungry, so I went out to look for food. I happened to meet Brother.”
“Are you full now?” Qu Linyan looked at Fu Xiaoba, and both her gaze and tone seemed a little sour.
Fu Xiaoba nodded and looked at Qu Linyan in confusion. “What is wrong, Little Black?”
Qu Linyan shook her head and brought Fu Xiaoba into the inner room. On the table were two bowls of wontons still giving off steam. She said, “When I came back, I thought you would surely be hungry, so I brought two bowls of wontons and planned to eat with you. But you had already eaten your fill with that fire… with your brother.”
She truly disliked a certain someone, but to consider Fu Xiaoba’s feelings, she barely managed to use a respectful title.
Hearing this, Fu Xiaoba quickly patted her belly, jumped to the table in a few steps, sat, picked up chopsticks, and said happily, “Hot wontons! They smell so good. Little Black is so thoughtful!”
Qu Linyan hurriedly sat beside her. “Do not force yourself.”
“I am not. I have two stomachs!” Fu Xiaoba held the chopsticks and giggled. “Brother’s is full. Little Black’s is still empty.”
Qu Linyan did not know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing Fu Xiaoba eat happily, she opened the food Fu Xiaoba had brought back and muttered, “What did you bring back?”
“Only today did I learn that the demon realm also has so many tasty things humans invented!” Fu Xiaoba leaned over to look. “This, this date paste walnut cake is so good. And this one, this poria cake. We did not eat it in the human world before. And this, and this thing called… called a baked flatbread. Try it. Try it…”
That night, Qu Linyan was coaxed by Fu Xiaoba into eating many things. She was so stuffed that even when she went to sleep, she felt bloated.
Before falling asleep, Fu Xiaoba mentioned Fu Zhuochen again.
She said, “Brother is still angry with me.”
Qu Linyan remembered Fu Xiaoba had once said that Fu Zhuochen had been entrusted by someone to care for her in order to protect her through her trial and help her ascend as an upper god. Fu Zhuochen had raised her for four hundred years, but she had failed his hopes and turned him into someone who broke his promise. It was natural that she felt guilty.
Fu Xiaoba was not someone who could hide her thoughts. Although it was only one small sigh, Qu Linyan understood it clearly. Even if Fu Xiaoba did not say it openly, she still cared that their love had not received even one word of blessing from Fu Zhuochen.
*
“I heard that today the Fox King will give his companion spirit treasure to the little princess, and the bird clan leader will also pass power to help her spread wings and grow feathers.”
“The little princess has been loved by thousands since childhood, and even her coming-of-age ceremony is so grand. It truly makes people envy her.”
“Exactly. When the eldest prince and second princess turned five hundred, the Fox King did not invite every clan…”
“Shh! Do not say that again. If the eldest prince and second princess hear, who knows what trouble it will cause!”
Princess Yuyao had been born with a pair of fleshy wings, but they had been as downy and featherless as a young bird’s, thin and unable to fly.
Now that Yuyao’s five hundredth birthday had arrived, everyone wanted to see whether this little fox princess with wings could truly spread them and soar. Hundred Flowers Valley was filled with gathering demons for a time, and everyone was talking. It was very lively.
Fu Xiaoba followed closely behind Qu Linyan and sat down. When she turned her head, she saw Fu Zhuochen far away and happily stood to wave at him. But she was very sure that in the instant Fu Zhuochen raised his eyes, he did meet her gaze. Still, he silently sat in a place very far from her and Qu Linyan.
Fu Xiaoba pursed her lips and sat back down with a thump.
Qu Linyan leaned close to her ear and said softly, “Everyone’s seat is arranged in advance. It is not that he does not want to sit with you. This place has its own rules.”
Fu Xiaoba’s eyes brightened. “Really?”
Qu Linyan said, “Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”
Fu Xiaoba turned her head away, but the corner of her mouth could not stop lifting. “Did you not keep lying to me at the start?”
Qu Linyan smiled and shook her head. It was inconvenient to be too intimate with her under so many gazes, so she only smoothed the hair by Fu Xiaoba’s forehead and begged for mercy. “Do not keep remembering those old things. I turned away from evil long ago.”
Fu Xiaoba tilted her head and smiled without speaking.
Hundred Flowers Valley was truly lively today. Qu Linyan said that those who could enter the main hall of the royal palace today were mostly important figures in the demon realm, along with their family and followers. Fu Xiaoba was curious and kept looking around, studying every person who entered.
Seeing Fu Xiaoba’s eyes full of curiosity, Qu Linyan patiently introduced in a low voice the guests whose identities she could recognize.
Suddenly, there was movement outside the hall. Everyone rose to welcome the arrival.
Fu Xiaoba was lifted from her seat by Qu Linyan. Only after coming back to herself did she realize the Fox King had arrived, and she hurriedly looked toward the hall entrance.
“The Fox King’s natural talent has had no equal for thousands of years. I heard he cultivated nine tails when he was only thirteen hundred years old. His eldest son’s talent already counts as excellent, yet now, at sixteen hundred years old, he has only five tails.” Qu Linyan spoke softly by Fu Xiaoba’s ear. “It is not without reason that the demon realm’s clans submit to him.”
After speaking, she lightly pushed Fu Xiaoba and said with displeasure, “Your eyes are staring straight at him!”
Fu Xiaoba scratched her head. “I only did not expect the Fox King to look so young.”
Back in Wuyou Valley, she had known very little about matters outside the valley. These two days in Hundred Flowers Valley, she had heard many things she had never known before. For example, there was a legend that the Fox King had once been the most beautiful man in the demon realm. Although he was older now, time seemed to have favored him, leaving few marks behind and making him unforgettable at one glance.
Fu Xiaoba had not really believed those words.
Demons had a child spirit. As long as the child spirit did not scatter, their looks did not age. The child spirit would scatter after a demon gave birth to offspring.
If the Fox King had never had children, and his child spirit remained, then perhaps it would be possible for his face not to age. But his youngest daughter was already the same age as Fu Xiaoba. He had long lost that child spirit. Now that he was over five thousand years old, even if he was not an old man with a white beard, he should at least be an uncle with wrinkles, right?
But at this moment, she had to believe those rumors that had sounded exaggerated even when thinking with her toes.
There truly was such an unreasonable existence in the demon realm. He had endured heavenly tribulations once every hundred years and lived for over five thousand years, yet there were only a few fine lines at the corners of his eyes. They could not hide even a fraction of the grace that no words could fully describe.
As Fu Xiaoba thought this, she raised her eyes and happened to see the woman following behind the bird clan leader. Remembering what had happened last night, she could not help feeling guilty.
Seeing Fu Xiaoba staring at the bird clan leader’s wife, Qu Linyan could not hold back and said sourly, “The demon realm is so large, and there are many beautiful faces. Men, women, old, young, you like all of them when you see them. My heart does not feel good.”
“No, no… I do not!” Fu Xiaoba hurriedly denied it.
Seeing that everyone around them had sat down, Qu Linyan also sat with her arms folded and turned her head, clearly wearing an expression that said, Hurry and coax me.
“In my heart, Brother and Little Black are the best-looking,” Fu Xiaoba quickly flattered.
“I want to be compared with that fire… your brother,” Qu Linyan said, sneaking a glance at Fu Xiaoba.
Fu Xiaoba did not hesitate. She stepped forward, cupped Qu Linyan’s cheek, and kissed her with a smack. “Little Black is the best-looking. I like Little Black most!”
Someone nearby looked over strangely. Qu Linyan’s face reddened slightly, and she signaled Fu Xiaoba with her eyes to sit properly, but the corners of her mouth rose wildly on their own.
Soon, many fox maids with fox ears and swaying tails brought dishes to every seat. Fu Xiaoba’s eyes lit up, and she buried her head to eat. Though no one had ever starved her, she ate like a little hungry ghost, no longer listening to or watching anything around her.
Suddenly, everyone fell silent.
In the center of the hall, a platform made of layered spiritual power gathered. A small red fox leaped onto it from below. Spiritual power surged around her and wrapped her heavily in an instant.
The bird clan leader stood, formed hand seals with both hands, and wind rose around the platform, carrying sharp black feathers like blades, as if they would swallow that weak body whole.
The little fox crouched on the platform where spiritual power had gathered. With eyes tightly shut, she faced the violent wind and feather blades and opened those thin, featherless wings. The powerful spiritual power tore at her from all sides. She worked hard to fight it, like a young bird leaping from a mountaintop and struggling to flap its wings in the wild wind.
Her expression was painful. Behind her, those downy wings actually grew red feathers, one by one. When the wings first filled out, her cry sounded like a wild goose. She spread her wings in the air, bright and dazzling.
Fu Xiaoba raised her head while eating. She was so shocked her mouth could not close, and her eyes were full of awe.
She saw a piece of fox jade fall from the air into the black feather array swept by violent wind. A dazzling red light shone from it, and every black feather was lit on fire in an instant.
Fire. Fire everywhere. It swallowed the little fox completely.
The little fox’s body, like a phoenix reborn from flames, cried painfully in the raging fire carried by the wind. Yet she also changed into the most graceful human shape.
“No, do not…” Fu Xiaoba began trembling uncontrollably.
Qu Linyan frowned and tightly held the back of her hand.
Fu Xiaoba instinctively wanted to hide, but she found she could not break free at all.
So hot, so burning… so painful…
In a daze, it seemed that vines had pierced deeply into her heart.
“Do not… please…”
A woman in white, her lips pale, lay motionless on that high platform with her eyes closed.
I am sorry. I need the blood from your heart. In the next life, I will make it up to you.
But… I cannot go back… I have no next life.
A voice cried in her ear.
It was her own voice, crying again and again, Save me. Save me…
Suddenly, everyone saw the little demon beside Qu Linyan scream and stand. She shoved Qu Linyan away hard. Like a moth, as if gone mad, she rushed toward the half-open air circled by flames. Her movement was so fast she did not seem like a little demon who had cultivated for only five hundred years. She slammed hard into the woman in the red flames, knocking her off the platform.
Almost at the same time, the Fox King sent a palm strike through the air. Spiritual force like a sea of fire and blood waves covered the sky and surged toward that little demon.
In that instant, a fiery red peacock tail opened between heaven and earth. The black flood dragon also roared in the air, black smoke and blood mist curling around her body as she tightly protected the weak little demon behind her.
Three streams of spiritual power collided fiercely, and even heaven and earth seemed to tremble.
The blinding spiritual light slowly faded. Everyone saw that tables and chairs all around had been overturned by the shockwave, and food had spilled everywhere.
Looking around at the guests, the quick-reacting ones withdrew their body-protecting spiritual power in stunned silence, at a loss as they looked at one another. Those slower to react had been knocked to the ground and cried out in pain.
Most people first cared about the fox clan’s little princess. Only Fu Zhuochen, blood at the corner of his mouth, silently looked at Qu Linyan sitting on the floor. He watched her draw Fu Xiaoba into her arms and use her scarred fingers to gently brush that slightly pale cheek, as if her own soul had not yet settled.
The little princess’s elder sister was the first to step forward and help her up, her eyes full of worry. “Are you all right?”
“No… I am fine.” Yuyao shook her head and raised her eyes to Fu Xiaoba, her gaze a little blank. No matter how she thought, she could not understand when she had offended this little demon, or why Fu Xiaoba had embarrassed her in front of everyone like this.
Fu Xiaoba suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Qu Linyan anxiously reached to wipe it, but the many wounds on her hand began healing faster in that instant.
Fu Zhuochen instinctively wanted to step forward and block the sight. Qu Linyan was also startled and quickly hid her hand inside her sleeve. But in the end, she could not hide it from so many eyes.
After a stretch of silence, someone pointed with a trembling finger.
“That is… the phoenix clan?”