Chapter 54

A completely unfamiliar emotion, like a tender bud breaking through the soil in early spring, quietly touched the heartstrings of Zhuohua, which had been silent for millennia. It was not pity, nor annoyance, but a kind of... a slight itch as if gently touched by pure affection.

She paused for a few seconds, then lightly tapped the screen with her fingertips, typing out a simple reply—the first time in her life, in a mortal's way:

**[You're welcome]**

Sent successfully.

In an ordinary room on the other side of a distant city, a girl holding her phone looked at the simple reply, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She covered her mouth tightly, and silent tears streamed down her face, landing on her phone screen. There was no screaming, no madness, only a profound and silent shock and happiness, as if gently responded to by a deity (the radiant being in her heart).

She was aware of the black cat's presence and her own abnormality after regaining consciousness, so she was absolutely certain that Zhuohua had helped her and the black cat.

From then on, she became the most special and steadfast member of Zhuohua's fan group—unassuming and unenthusiastic, yet like a rock, silently protecting her, becoming one of Zhuohua's shining stars in the world in her own way.

Just as Zhuohua finished replying to that private message and put down her phone, a sudden change occurred!

It didn't come from the outside, but from within herself!

The spatial artifact, which lay dormant deep within her consciousness and as vast and boundless as the primordial universe, suddenly trembled violently without warning! It was not a physical vibration, but a resonance at the level of laws, like a long-parched riverbed finally receiving the first drop of sweet rain, emitting a joyful hum originating from its source!

Zhuohua abruptly closed her eyes, her divine sense instantly sinking into the space that had been dilapidated and lifeless since she awoke.

The scene before her stirred up her unchanging state of mind!

The spatial barrier, which was originally fragmented and covered with dark cracks, is now healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Although it was only a very small area, just a few feet in radius, the newly formed barrier was as smooth as jade, flowing with a faint, vibrant white luster, which contrasted sharply with the still dead darkness around it!

The chaotic spiritual energy that was originally so thin as to be almost depleted in the space has become rich and active in this newly formed area, flowing like a stream thawing in early spring.

This was the tiny yet crucial "merit" feedback that the Heavenly Dao of this realm gave her after she dealt with that resentful black cat! This pure power became the first ray of dawn in repairing her natal space!

Right in the core area of ​​this newly revitalized space, deep within the ancient, frozen chaos, a faint yet powerful fluctuation, which even stirred Zhuohua's soul, beat out like a heart that had been dormant for billions of years, extremely slowly and with great difficulty!

Then, another one!

The fluctuation was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, yet it carried an incomparably familiar aura etched deep within Zhuohua's soul! It was... the aura that accompanied her in her final moments on the battlefield between gods and demons...

"Mmm... Chirp?"

A faint chirping sound, filled with drowsiness and the bewilderment of just waking up, like the clearest sound of jade colliding, suddenly rang out in this newly born space!

The voice was so faint it was like a hallucination, yet it struck Zhuohua's silent heart like a thunderclap!

In the kitchen, Lu Xiao was tending to the clay pot on the stove. The rich aroma of pork rib and corn soup filled the air. He carefully skimmed off the foam, then sprinkled in a pinch of salt, his movements focused and gentle. He remembered that Zhuo Hua seemed to have drunk a little extra last time, so this time he deliberately added more of her favorite sweet corn.

Suddenly, a faint yet peculiar "chirp?" sound, as if it were coming through thick walls and the sound of water, faintly reached his ears.

Lu Xiao paused, tilting his head to listen intently in confusion. A hallucination?

Then came another sound, slightly clearer, with a childish, questioning tone.

This time I definitely heard it right! The sound was coming from the direction of Zhuohua's room!

Lu Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned down the fire. He tiptoed to Zhuo Hua's half-open door, hesitated for a moment, and then gently pushed it open a crack to peek out.

The sight before him made him hold his breath instantly.

Zhuohua stood by the window with her back to the door. The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the glass, casting a soft, warm glow on her cool, aloof features. She lowered her head slightly, her outstretched palms facing upwards.

In her fair, jade-like palm, curled up a... fluffy, snow-white little thing!

The little creature was only the size of a palm, its feathers fluffy and soft like freshly fallen snow, without a single blemish. At this moment, it seemed to have just fully awakened from a long slumber, struggling to lift its round little head.

A pair of eyes, as clear as pure obsidian, were moist and filled with the innocent bewilderment of a newborn baby, as they curiously surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings and the person before them whose presence made them feel incredibly safe and familiar.

Its little head tilted, seemingly still unsure of its balance, and it softly rubbed against Zhuo Hua's cool fingertips, letting out a clearer, more dependent sound:

"Chirp?"

Lu Xiao was completely stunned. What...is this? A bird? But its form...he had never seen anything like it before. It seemed to be shrouded in a faint, almost invisible, shimmering white halo, making it look unlike any ordinary creature.

Zhuohua seemed to sense the movement at the door and slowly turned around. The expression on her face was more complex than Lu Xiao had ever seen before.

Deep within those eyes, frozen for millennia, surged indescribable waves—an unbelievable joy, a longing that transcended time, a tremendous tremor of something lost and found, and even a trace of deeply buried, tragic sorrow belonging to the battlefield of gods and demons.

Her gaze met Lu Xiao's surprised look in mid-air. She looked at Lu Xiao, then looked down at the little creature in her palm, diligently preening its fur with its beak. Her voice, slightly hoarse but clearly audible to Lu Xiao, said:

"Hmm." She paused, her fingertips gently stroking the little creature's fluffy crest feathers, the gesture as precious as if touching a rare treasure. "Its name is Frostfeather."

Her gaze was distant, as if piercing through the space and time before her, returning to that chaotic battlefield where blood and fire intertwined: "Back then... on the battlefield of gods and demons, it shielded me... from the Demon Lord's God-Slaying Slash."

A seemingly casual sentence contains a tragic past that could change the very fabric of history.

Lu Xiao's heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand! He looked at the small, innocent, snow-white ball of fluff and couldn't imagine what kind of earth-shattering battle it had experienced, let alone how it could have blocked an attack powerful enough to kill a god for Zhuo Hua with such a tiny body!

Frostfeather seemed to have finally tidied itself up. It flapped its still somewhat immature little wings and wobbled as it flew up from Zhuohua's palm. It clumsily circled in the air, its obsidian-like eyes curiously landing on the human in the doorway who exuded a warm aura and bore Zhuohua's mark.

"Chirp?" It tilted its little head, seemingly assessing the situation.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Lu Xiao and Zhuo Hua, it fluttered over and landed lightly on Lu Xiao's shoulder without hesitation.

The small, warm weight that fell made Lu Xiao freeze, afraid to move, lest he disturb this fragile yet sacred little life.

Shuangling nuzzled Lu Xiao's neck affectionately with its fluffy little head, its movements natural and dependent, making a comfortable "purring" sound.

Lu Xiao's heart was instantly struck by an indescribable warmth, melting completely. He carefully and extremely slowly raised his hand, gently touching the fluffy back feathers of Frostfeather with his fingertips, feeling the incredible softness and warmth.

He looked at Zhuohua, his eyes shining with an astonishing light, a mixture of disbelief and elation, and a cautious search for confirmation: "It...it likes me?"

Zhuohua watched Shuangling comfortably preen her feathers on Lu Xiao's shoulder, and saw the pure, unadulterated tenderness and affection in Lu Xiao's eyes. Her frozen heart felt as if a warm current had been poured into it, and the ice melted away inch by inch. The corners of her lips, unusually and clearly, curved upwards into an incredibly gentle arc.

"Mmm." Her voice was soft, yet it landed on Lu Xiao's heart like a feather, carrying an unprecedented warmth. "Although its soul was damaged and its intelligence was just awakening, its instincts still remain. It senses..." She paused, her gaze lingering deep into Lu Xiao's eyes, "...that you bear the mark I left on you. It knows that you are...a very important person to me."

A very important person.

These four words, like the finest wine, instantly swelled Lu Xiao's heart to its fullest extent, an overwhelming sense of happiness almost overwhelming him. He was no longer a mortal who needed to look up to the gods; he had gained the approval of her most loyal companion, a approval that transcended life and death! This approval stirred his heart more than any sweet words.

"Shuangling..." Lu Xiao's voice was so gentle it could melt water. He carefully held the little guy on his shoulder, as if he were holding the most fragile treasure in the world. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I'll go get you the best!" His mind instantly flashed through the names of various spiritual grains and immortal herbs (although he might not be able to buy them), determined to feed this little hero until he was plump and healthy.

Shuangling seemed to understand his kindness, and contentedly rubbed her little head against his cheek, letting out a clear and soft response:

“Chiu~!”

The little paws even patted his shoulder, like they were kneading milk.

Lu Xiao's heart melted. He looked at Zhuohua, his eyes filled with undisguised joy and determination: "I'll go check on Tang, and get Shuangling something to eat! Spirit grains... uh, millet porridge should be good too? Or egg yolk?"

Watching his hurried yet careful figure rushing back to the kitchen with the little dumpling on his shoulder, and hearing the cheerful sounds of pots and pans clattering back into the kitchen, Zhuohua's smile deepened.

She walked to the window, her consciousness once again sinking into that newly created space. Shuangling's awakening was just the beginning.