Chapter 92 Celebrating Birthday "I'll help you kill the Immortal Bird, okay...
"Thank you." Phoenix politely picked up the amulet and looked at it carefully again. There was genuine appreciation in his voice: "I love it."
This is a small handmade magic tool. The carving technique is not good, so it should be the work of a beginner. The runes engraved on it have functions such as clearing the mind and positioning, and it is speculated that it is used as a talisman.
The price of the materials is not that high, the market price is about two to three thousand yuan, but the advantage is that the spiritual properties are compatible, the quality is also good, and it has been carefully selected.
...It seems a bit too cheap and out of place on a phoenix.
Wen Qingsheng swallowed nervously and promised earnestly: "I will give you something better next year."
There seemed to be a hint of surprise and confusion in Phoenix's gentle smile: "For me... birthdays are no longer something worth commemorating."
Wen Qingsheng looked a little uneasy. He crossed his arms and unconsciously grasped his sleeves tightly. His knuckles turned white from the force and the fabric was wrinkled by his grasp. He whispered, "I know."
Ning Changkong sighed helplessly, as if facing a student who could never be taught, full of frustration. At the same time, he couldn't help but soften his heart, feeling angry and amused.
He asked: "Why, Wen Qingsheng?"
He wanted to say that you should be smarter. Like Yan Xiaoling, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask, don't do things you shouldn't do, and maintain a social distance that won't make anyone feel awkward.
In this way, when they meet again in the future, Phoenix can still be their beloved senior, and they can still be his most favored juniors.
Wouldn't it be nice to have such a cool divine bird to back you up and support you?
I have no way and no place to participate in your life or your adventure anymore. So why not say goodbye here gracefully and let us forget each other?
He wanted to ask, what did Lin Jinsong do for you? He taught you for a week, saved your life, and gave you a gift. How come he became your premature deceased white moonlight?
Why am I so important to you?
Wen Qingsheng's shoulders slumped: "I don't want it, just like that..."
That's the end.
Which is crueler, a great youth adventure story ending in a sudden disaster or with the adults going their separate ways?
——Wen Qingsheng doesn’t like any of them.
If the easy campus life a year ago was just a dream, he also wanted to make this dream last longer.
He thought of the pot of succulents that he had carefully grown in front of his desk.
It's easy to give up, but as long as it's not over completely, maybe, maybe he can still save something.
Feng Huang looked at him with complicated eyes for a while, and finally sighed helplessly, opened his arms obediently, and let Wen Qingsheng hug him tightly.
Compared to Lin Jinsong, Feng Huang's physique is less youthful and far less slender than Lin Jinsong, and is closer to the body shape of an adult male.
Hugs are also much warmer.
Wen Qingsheng tightened his arms and cried, "Welcome back."
**
The moment Wen Qingsheng tried to persuade him to stay, Ning Changkong immediately understood what he meant.
Or maybe, I have too little, so I cherish even this little bit of true love to death.
He shouldn't be soft-hearted.
Ning Changkong let Wen Qingsheng hold him tightly, but his thoughts drifted far away.
Alas, why are the targets of the strategy missions all so hard-hearted and stubborn? But for this kind of mission, I am given such a loyal half-grown child?
Even Feng Qingwu would not waste precious materials on the sensory system of his alchemical body. Phoenix's system log showed that the pain part was forcibly modified at Baril's request.
On the night of Aura Resurrection, Phoenix attempted to connect with Destiny for the first time after successfully obtaining the Phoenix Heart.
Phoenix did successfully activate the evil energy sample that had been placed in the mortal world in advance as planned, but because it was forcibly carrying the incompatible Phoenix Heart, its mind was overloaded after a brief connection, and it fell into a state of "pseudo-death" that required Nirvana Fire to repair - this was also the state that Phoenix was in when Ning Changkong was first teleported to this body.
Baril was very dissatisfied with this efficiency and ordered Phoenix to solve the problem himself. According to Phoenix's own analysis, his consciousness was in a very unstable state due to "unknown reasons" - now it seems that it should be the forced brainwashing of the Demon Cube.
Taking all aspects into consideration, the most cost-effective solution is to install a simple pain module and use pain stimulation to prolong the consciousness time in extreme situations.
But only the pain module is loaded.
He does not feel his chest expand when he takes a deep breath, nor does he feel warmth when he is touched. Even if the other person's tears wet his clothes, he will not feel anything special.
Apart from the pain, he had no other feelings. In this obviously touching scene, Ning Changkong still couldn't help but feel detached, as if he was just a bystander.
He even uncontrollably missed Lin Jinsong's body, the body that was now abandoned in Phoenix's bedroom.
This situation was so critical that he had to take over the Phoenix's body himself and operate it manually.
Besides, it would be too troublesome to exchange the two bodies under Bai Xian's eyes, so it would be better to hand it over to the Phoenix from the beginning.
The alchemical liquid was hastily replaced with a new batch, and even some phoenix blood was mixed in to hide it from Bai Xian's eyes.
The evil spirit originally stored in the alchemical "blood" was not completely eliminated, but at least, the body of the phoenix no longer needed to forcibly seal the heart of the phoenix, and Ning Changkong no longer had to endure the pain that was so severe that it felt like his blood was boiling.
Instead, there is a dull pain coming from inside the body. This pain is long and lasting, making people feel numb.
Ning Changkong was almost grateful for this dull pain. This pain at least allowed him to still feel his own existence, and still prove that he was not just a lifeless shell.
Is he wearing it a little too tight?
When Ning Changkong was hesitating whether to gently push Wen Qingsheng away, Wen Qingsheng had already let him go. Ning Changkong looked down and found that the front of his clothes was soaked with tears.
Wen Qingsheng wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, sniffed, and then suddenly asked: "So, February 28th, is it your real birthday?"
Ning Changkong never expected that he would suddenly return to the previous topic. He was stunned for a moment before answering: "Yes, but——"
Wen Qingsheng quickly interrupted him: "How old are you this year?"
Ning Changkong was choked: "I——"
How do I edit this?
Taking advantage of Ning Changkong's moment of daze, Wen Qingsheng patted him on the shoulder and said in a serious tone, "Then let's say he's eighteen years old. At most there's a mistake of... a few hundred years, which is not a big deal."
Phoenix stared at him for a while with a resentful look, as if silently expressing his helplessness and protest. But in the end, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, revealing the first real smile from the heart today.
The smile did not come from the descendant of a high-and-mighty divine bird, nor from a strange and easy-going senior, nor from old friends who would eventually forget each other and become strangers.
But like an ordinary college student.
Wen Qingsheng couldn't help laughing. He said, "Call me Brother Qingsheng."
"Forget about this," Ning Changkong waved his hand in disdain, "It's too embarrassing."
It should be okay to be a little soft-hearted for a moment, Ning Changkong thought randomly.
I wonder if Phoenix will be able to fit his behavioral data after he leaves... Well, this doesn't feel good either.
If it really doesn't work, just fake your death again, and then let Phoenix pretend to have lost his memory, so that they can have something to think about...
Forget it, let's not think too far ahead. He is in good health now, but his focus of work is not here anymore. He can probably hold on for a while, and then, things will work out.
The two of them had already reached the kitchen door. The layout of the kitchen had not changed much compared to the summer vacation.
Ning Changkong opened the refrigerator and checked the leftovers inside. While tightening his sleeves, he casually chatted with Wen Qingsheng about what dishes would be better to cook.
This scene was just like countless ordinary afternoons in the past when they flew out of the teaching building of Longyuan Academy with swords, discussing what to eat for lunch as they flew.
Wen Qingsheng naturally took over the work in the kitchen and began to sharpen the knife, preparing to cut and prepare vegetables, his movements skillful and smooth.
Amid the rhythmic sound of knife sharpening, he suddenly spoke in a calm tone:
"By the way, it was Phoenix who killed you on the night of the Lantern Festival, right?"
Since it is said that the memory was lost after Nirvana, it means that the Phoenix did die once.
If there is death, there must be a murderer.
"——I'll help you get revenge, okay?"
September 17, the first year of the Reiki Restoration, Longyuan Academy, the familiar group study room.
Su Yunyao left.
Wen Qingsheng looked around anxiously, hoping to get some response from the dazed Gu Minghui and the thoughtful Yan Xiaoling.
Finally, Gu Minghui broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of excitement: "I understand."
"During the summer vacation, I went to ask Master and Mingqi about the truth of the Lantern Festival."
"They said that on that night, the two thieves seen in the Land of Ten Thousand Soldiers - Li Bo and Phoenix - broke into the Phoenix's former residence."
He paused, recalling the thrilling experience: "You still remember when we were taking the final exam, the phoenix came to hunt us down."
"He said he wanted to kill the dragon and the phoenix."
The three of them exchanged glances.
The long-standing question finally has an answer.
——Who should they draw their swords against to seek revenge?
At the same time, a strange feeling of joy and relief rose in Gu Minghui's heart:
Fortunately, fortunately it was not because of him that Lin Jinsong was exposed.
The first year of the spiritual recovery, the evening of September 21st, Jinwu Garden.
Wen Qingsheng's words were like a knife cutting through the calm water surface, bringing the problems hidden underwater to the surface.
Ning Changkong stood there quietly, he could hear the sound of the Nirvana Fire in his body, which pumped the alchemical liquid that kept this body running to all parts of his body. The irritating pain from inside his body seemed to suddenly intensify, tormenting his spirit.
Calm, calm, he has no hormone structure...his emotions should not cause any physical reaction.
Besides, it's not a big deal. As long as he acts carefully, there's no reason for "Phoenix" to appear in front of the protagonists again.
Ning Changkong spoke in a calm voice: "This is something that we adults should handle. Qingsheng——"
"You said the same thing to Gu Minghui at first." Wen Qingsheng quickly followed up with a rare aggressive tone, "Did you tell him later?"
Ning Changkong explained helplessly: "This is because we are afraid that he might have wild thoughts and unstable mind, but we don't really expect him to do anything."
Wen Qingsheng replied as a matter of course: "Then you should leave me a reminder to motivate me to practice hard. Anyway, I can't kill the immortal bird in a short time."
Ning Changkong turned on the tap and watched the water rush over the leaves mechanically: "...Don't be impulsive, and don't do anything stupid."
"Of course not." Wen Qingsheng answered naturally and began to thaw the meat to be roasted. "Then I'll take this as your agreement?"
"I didn't agree with you making enemies and running out to get yourself killed—" Ning Changkong tried to resist.
"Imaginary enemy, just imaginary enemy." Wen Qingsheng insisted.
"Okay." Feng Huang said this with a sigh. He lowered his head and began to wash the vegetables, his voice drowned out by the sound of running water: "Just consider it my consent."
He really, really shouldn't be soft-hearted.