The Little Peacock Raises a Snake (GL) Chapter 38

A small accident happened during the little princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Fortunately, it had only been a false alarm. Yuyao successfully spread her wings and grew feathers, and the Fox King’s spirit jade had already accepted this young new master.
Fu Xiaoba’s collision had not hurt Yuyao. The Fox King was angry, but when he saw Qu Linyan and Fu Zhuochen both standing in front of that little demon, and saw that the little demon seemed to carry the heavenly realm’s phoenix clan bloodline, he guessed her identity was not simple. If he kept arguing, it would only bring more trouble. So he simply flung his sleeves and left, leaving the guests of every clan to stare at one another in the ruined hall.
Legend said there were five kinds of phoenix birds in the world, born in the heavenly realm: red Feng, blue Luan, yellow Yuanchu, purple Yuezhuo, and white Honghu.
Phoenix clan blood could make dead trees bloom again, heal the wounded, and bring the dead back to life. Countless demons and devils wanted to borrow it to go against fate, but no matter how much they sought it, they could not obtain it. From birth to death, most never saw it even once.
And now, such a bloodline had appeared in Hundred Flowers Valley, the demon capital, at the five-hundredth birthday feast of the fox clan’s princess.
Even more, it was inside a little peacock demon with very low cultivation.
It was common enough for immortals to descend to the mortal world for tribulations after ascension.
Everyone knew immortal gods were at their weakest during a tribulation and were also easy to control. Now that phoenix clan blood was hidden in such a weak little demon, many people developed crooked thoughts. But they had the thief’s heart without the thief’s courage.
After all, everyone had seen Qu Linyan and Fu Zhuochen protecting that little demon.
Everyone in the demon realm knew those two names. More than that, the Fox King’s furious palm strike just now would have left anyone else dead or crippled, yet the two of them had taken it head-on. Clearly, neither was someone easy to provoke. Anyone with a bit of sense would not throw themselves onto the blade right now.
The burning gazes around them were disgusting. Killing intent flashed through Qu Linyan’s eyes, but in the end, she held back and did not attack there. She only lifted Fu Xiaoba in both arms, turned with a dark face, and left.
There were many guests from every clan in the hall, yet for a moment, no one dared stop her.
Fu Zhuochen silently watched Qu Linyan leave. A fishy sweetness suddenly surged in his throat. He frowned, shut his eyes, and forced it down. His face seemed to turn a few shades paler.
He knew better than anyone that paper could not wrap fire. He just had not expected this day to come so fast.
*
Qu Linyan brought Fu Xiaoba back to the guest room, but Fu Xiaoba did not wake for a long time. Cold sweat kept breaking out on her skin, and her brows stayed tightly locked. Every bit of it made people worry and ache for her.
That night, Fu Zhuochen came without a sound, but he paced outside the room for a long time and never knocked.
After thinking for a moment, Qu Linyan finally said, “If you are worried, come in. I do not need anyone to help guard my door.”
The door was pushed open softly. The person who entered stood behind Qu Linyan and quietly looked at Fu Xiaoba, who lay on the bed with her brows tight. Worry showed in his eyes. “What happened to her?”
“A nightmare. The nightmare gave birth to an inner demon.” Qu Linyan’s gaze dodged slightly.
“What kind of nightmare would make her attack Princess Yuyao?” Fu Zhuochen frowned and pressed her, his tone somewhat sharp.
Lately, Fu Xiaoba had often had the same nightmare, but she had never been willing to tell Qu Linyan what kind of dream it was.
Even so, Qu Linyan still knew everything.
She had once asked Xiangsi to enter Fu Xiaoba’s dream and look around. Only then had she learned that, in the nightmare Fu Xiaoba repeated again and again, Qu Linyan had personally pushed Fu Xiaoba onto a high platform for a blood sacrifice.
At that time, Qu Linyan had felt more or less guilty about hiding Fu Xiaoba’s true identity from Xiangsi. To avoid making Xiangsi suspicious, she had not let Xiangsi look deeper into Fu Xiaoba’s dream. She had treated it as a small worry in Fu Xiaoba’s heart and thought only that if she treated Fu Xiaoba well enough, Fu Xiaoba would eventually put down her fear.
“A… a blood sacrifice dream.” After Qu Linyan said this, she closed her eyes. Her fingers unconsciously curled and clenched, her nails lightly digging into her skin. That tiny pain could not balance even half of her guilt.
If only she had not taken everything so much for granted. If only she had talked more with Fu Xiaoba. If only she had asked Xiangsi to help purify the dream. Or if she had only been a little more careful, she would have known the fox clan’s little princess would perform a Nirvana Ceremony in public on this trip. Then she could have used spiritual power to steady Fu Xiaoba’s inner breath before Fu Xiaoba was triggered.
But it was too late to think of any of that now.
Fu Zhuochen said, “Her identity cannot be hidden anymore.”
Qu Linyan said, “I know.”
Fu Zhuochen wanted to blame her, but in the end, he understood that saying anything now was useless. So he no longer blamed Qu Linyan. “Even if you rely on the demon realm, the demon realm will not offend the heavenly realm for Xiaoba.”
Qu Linyan said, “I know that too.”
“On the way back last night, Xiaoba said you would take her traveling everywhere. But the phoenix clan bloodline has fallen into the lower world and has no immortal power. Every demon and devil clan is greedy. Once she leaves Hundred Flowers Valley, nowhere will be safe.”
Qu Linyan said, “I know all of that.”
Fu Zhuochen’s anger rose. “Then what are you planning to do?”
When Qu Linyan opened her eyes, her gaze was like a blade. “I will take her back to the flood dragon clan. I refuse to believe anyone would dare come to my clan’s territory to seize her.”
Fu Zhuochen frowned. “Are you so sure your clan will not hurt her? So sure they will not use her in a blood sacrifice for that sister of yours?”
“Who would dare!” Qu Linyan gritted her teeth, her eyes fierce and determined. “In the flood dragon clan, my word is law.”
No matter who it was, no one could touch even a hair of Fu Xiaoba under her eyes.
Fu Zhuochen was silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled bitterly. “I truly do not know whether I should trust you… This matter will reach the heavenly realm sooner or later. When that time comes, I fear your flood dragon clan will not be able to stop the heavenly soldiers and generals.”
“The devil clan. The devil clan absolutely does not fear the heavenly realm,” Qu Linyan said.
“Why would the devil clan act for you?”
“They will. Even if I must become a slave to devils, I will protect her.” As Qu Linyan spoke, she gently held Fu Xiaoba’s hand and pressed it slowly against her slightly cold cheek. Her eyes were full of resolve.
Fu Zhuochen lowered his eyes and looked at Fu Xiaoba for a long while. At last, he turned and walked to the door. In a low voice, he said, “Qu Linyan, I hope you do what you said today.”
“Fu Zhuochen.” Qu Linyan stood and called him back. After hesitating a moment, she said, “The Fox King’s palm strike carried killing intent. Are… are you hurt?”
Fu Zhuochen frowned and said coldly, “My matters do not need your concern.”
Qu Linyan’s feelings were complicated. “Actually, I wanted to ask, have you not always hoped she would go back with you, complete her tribulation properly, and ascend? Why have you changed your mind now?”
Fu Zhuochen did not turn around. He only drew in a breath without thinking, his tone faintly angry. “I simply cannot be bothered anymore. Do you really think I am that free?” After saying this, he quickly left.
“Saying one thing and meaning another.” Qu Linyan sighed softly and turned back to sit by Fu Xiaoba’s bed. She used her sleeve to gently wipe the sweat from Fu Xiaoba’s face, only to find a tear at the corner of her eye. For a moment, Qu Linyan was almost at a loss. “Xiaoba…”
Fu Xiaoba slowly opened her eyes, tears shining in them. “Did I do something wrong?”
“You heard everything…” Qu Linyan bit her lip and said, “No. He was clearly saying one thing and meaning another. You do not know this, but the Fox King wanted to kill you. It was your brother who struck first and dispersed eighty percent of the palm force…”
“I understand.” Fu Xiaoba said, “In the past, whenever I did something wrong, Brother was like this too. He would say he would not care about me anymore, but when the time came, he would still make tasty food for me… I can hear it, Little Black. Brother has already accepted you. He truly is willing to hand me over to you.”
As she spoke, she lightly bit her lower lip, but her lips still trembled.
After a few seconds of silence, Fu Xiaoba braced herself up with her hands and looked at Qu Linyan. “It was my fault. I was suspicious of everything. You clearly would even give up your life for me, but I still could not trust you. If not for that, I would not have caused such trouble…”
“No. It is not your fault.” Qu Linyan moved closer and gently pulled Fu Xiaoba into her arms. “I am the one who should say sorry. I cannot take you around everywhere anymore.”
“As long as I am with you, anywhere is fine.” As Fu Xiaoba spoke, she buried her face deep in Qu Linyan’s shoulder.
*
Three days had passed since the little princess’s birthday. They could not delay the return trip any longer.
Qu Linyan knew that many demons and devils now coveted the phoenix blood in Fu Xiaoba’s body. Only by returning to the flood dragon clan could Fu Xiaoba be considered safe, so they likely could not linger on the road.
But no matter how urgent it was, she still had to ask the devil clan for help.
As a demon, it was not convenient for her to let the fox and bird clans know she wanted to rely on the devil clan. Therefore, she could not trust the people in Hundred Flowers Valley.
By now, news that Fu Xiaoba carried phoenix blood had surely already returned to the flood dragon clan. Once Qu Linyan went back, the clan’s loyalty would not look good. There were even fewer people she could trust, and even Xiangsi’s attitude was still unknown.
Qu Linyan thought it over from every side. In the end, she decided to entrust the letter asking for help, along with the jade pendant Miss Shen had left that day, to Fu Zhuochen.
That fellow could enter and leave the devil realm as he pleased. Though he always showed Qu Linyan a sour face, he was completely sincere toward Fu Xiaoba. She thought he would not ruin the matter.
“Miss Shen?” Fu Zhuochen looked at the envelope in his hand and frowned. “I do not know much about the devil realm, but I do know the devil clan has never had any high-ranking woman surnamed Shen. Clan Leader Qu, are you sure you have not made a mistake?”
Qu Linyan said, “You only need to take this jade to Yuntian City in the devil realm. Someone should report it for you when the time comes.”
Fu Zhuochen thought for a moment and said, “Do not tell me you trusted the wrong person.”
Doubt flashed through Qu Linyan’s eyes for an instant. But then she saw Fu Xiaoba resting her chin on her hand nearby and shaking her head. Fu Xiaoba said seriously, “No. Miss Shen would not lie to us. Little Black saved her life. A life-saving favor should be repaid like a spring overflowing.”
Fu Zhuochen glanced at Fu Xiaoba. “What do you understand?”
“I do not understand…” Fu Xiaoba lowered her head, looking terribly wronged.
That reaction blocked all of Fu Zhuochen’s anger in his throat. He looked at Fu Xiaoba and wanted to speak, then stopped for a long time. At last, he sighed softly, put away the envelope and jade pendant, and left one final sentence.
“Fu Xiaoba, you are a huge trouble. This is the last time. From now on, I will not care about your matters anymore.”
As soon as his voice fell, he had already left. Even his back seemed to carry a bit of finality.
Fu Xiaoba pouted. Qu Linyan was just about to comfort her when Fu Xiaoba’s lips curved slightly. “I do not believe him.”
Thinking carefully, Fu Zhuochen had not liked her much at first, had he? If he had not been entrusted by someone, why would he have picked up and raised a little trouble like her?
But even if it had begun as a promise to someone else, through those long years together, he really had slowly come to see her as family, right?
At the beginning, when she had just moved into Fu Zhuochen’s bamboo courtyard, she often made herself very dirty outside during the day. When she came back, the mud on her body always made the room a complete mess. Because of that, Fu Zhuochen had scolded her many times.
“Fu Xiaoba, you really never change no matter how many times I teach you. My patience is limited. This is the last time. If you do this again, do not come back.”
That was what he said, but in the end, he still heated warm water for her. After she finished bathing, he cleaned up the water she splashed all over the floor. Every time was the same.
Fu Xiaoba also remembered the first winter after she was picked up and raised. Back then, she was still a little demon who could not speak. Winter was too cold, so to keep warm, she had once gathered her courage and secretly crawled into Fu Zhuochen’s blanket in the middle of the night. Following the warmth, she leaned closer to him.
It felt very warm. Unfortunately, before her body had warmed up, Fu Zhuochen woke from his dream. His beautiful brows tightened, and he lifted a foot and kicked her off the bed. In a bad temper, he said, “Who allowed you to climb… climb onto my bed? No respect for elders, no rules at all! If there is a next time, get out!”
But when she huddled on the floor, wronged, trembling and crying, his heart softened after all. “If you want to sleep on the bed, fine. You must bathe every night and wait until your body is dry first.”
After that day, Fu Zhuochen let her sleep on the bed for several days. As for himself, he studied for a long time, then used his tail feather as a base and spiritual power to build her a small nest that was soft and warm.
That was exactly the kind of person he was. He never said anything pleasant, but he would do everything for her.
“In the end, it is only a small favor. Yuntian City is not far west of Hundred Flowers Valley, so it will not trouble him too much. Unlike us going back to the flood dragon clan. We have to travel south for quite a while.” Qu Linyan said, “This brother of yours is strange too. His words are harsher than anyone’s. Back in Wuzhou, he even declared he would kill me. I thought he was such a ruthless person. Now it seems he is only awkward with his mouth.”
After saying this, she touched Fu Xiaoba’s head. “Come on. We should go back too.”
“Mm!” Fu Xiaoba had just reached out to hook Qu Linyan’s arm when her hands caught nothing. Only a wave of black mist remained around her.
She narrowed her eyes and looked up. A black flood dragon hovered in the air and lowered its head toward her. “Xiaoba, come up. I will take you back.”
Fu Xiaoba’s eyes lit up. Her body leaped lightly onto the black flood dragon’s head, and she hugged its neck tightly. Excited, she said, “Little Black, do you know? We peacocks are not good at flying. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be like the other birds and fly up high to see the world!”
“Flood dragons do not fly slower than birds. If you like it, then after every trouble standing between you and me is solved, after A-Qing wakes, and after the flood dragon clan no longer needs me, I will take you flying to the ends of the world. We will see every corner of it.”
After Fu Xiaoba heard this, she could not help lying beside the black flood dragon’s ear and laughing. “You are making so many promises. Aren’t you afraid you cannot do them?”
The black flood dragon said seriously, “If I cannot, you can punish me however you like.”
She had said, I entrust this life of mine to you.
If you want me to live, I will not dare die. If you want me to die, I will not run.