383: Chapter 384 Crane Fairy

"Woo... Brother, just take whatever you see; Zhenzhen is not a picky eater."

Ye Chen looked at her, so well-behaved that it made his heart ache, his heart softening into a puddle, and he reached out to stroke the top of her head:

"Alright then, Brother will go get some of the osmanthus cakes and candied fruits you love, and also a serving of the Jade Dining Hall's signature Spiritual Fish Soup, how does that sound?"

Ye Zhenzhen's eyes brightened, and she nodded vigorously: "Okay! Thank you, Brother!"

Ye Chen grinned, turned around, and strode out of the side hall.

Outside the hall, the mountain breeze blew gently, the sea of clouds in the distance surged, and the cries of flapping cranes echoed through the mountains.

He stood on the steps, tilted his head back, and shouted at the top of his lungs toward the top of the mountain: "Fairy Crane! Fairy Crane!"

His loud voice echoed through the mountains.

This Red Lotus Peak was never very lively; his Revered Master, Immortal Master Red Lotus, was rarely on the peak all year round, and the entire mountain only had him and Ye Zhenzhen as disciples.

Before Revered Master left, she had left her spiritual pet behind to look after them.

Before long, a clear, resonant cry came from above the mountain.

A streak of fiery red light swooped down from the clouds, accompanied by the whistling wind, and landed steadily on the open ground in front of Ye Chen.

It was an exceptionally magnificent white-feathered crane, its feathers as white as snow, shimmering with a soft luster in the sunlight; only the fiery red crown on its head was bright and eye-catching, as if a cluster of never-extinguishing flames were dancing there.

It was nearly twice the size of an ordinary crane; when its wings were folded, it was over a person's height, and when it stood straight, it was half a head taller than Ye Chen.

A pair of jet-black crane eyes glanced down at Ye Chen with an arrogant expression, its tail tip slightly upturned, perfectly embodying the attitude of "This Fairy is very busy."

It was none other than Revered Master's spiritual pet, Fairy Crane.

Seeing this, Ye Chen quickly cupped his hands and said with a flattering smile: "Fairy Crane, I need to go to the Jade Dining Hall to get a meal! Could I trouble you to give me a ride?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Crane first tilted its head in a leisurely manner, then used its beak to preen the snow-white feathers on its chest, before letting out a dissatisfied snort from its nostrils: "You brat, you always have so many things to do."

It paused, glanced sideways at Ye Chen, its tone carrying the air of an elder reprimanding a junior: "You are making this Fairy run out with you every single day. Tell me, how many times has this been? When your Revered Master was here, you were not this troublesome."

Ye Chen rubbed his hands together and chuckled: "Oh, Fairy Crane, you are magnanimous; I am currently in the growing phase, am I not? The spiritual meals from the Jade Dining Hall are of great benefit to my Cultivation; would it not be a pity to miss out?"

His eyes rolled, and he added: "Do not worry, once I reach a level of Cultivation where I can control a Flying Sword, I will not have to trouble you to accompany me every day."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Crane immediately raised its long, slender neck and scoffed: "No way. Revered Master said to look after you and little Zhenzhen well. You have just guided Qi into your body and can not even stand steadily on a Flying Sword; if you were to fall, this Fairy would have no way to answer to Revered Master."

It paused and added: "And then this Fairy would have to go fish you out, which is very troublesome."

Ye Chen nodded and bowed repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, Fairy Crane is right! Then... then is it the old rule this time?"

He stepped closer, lowered his voice, and revealed a "you know what I mean" expression on his face: "I will help you bring back an Eight-Treasure Duck from the Jade Dining Hall, the kind that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, slow-roasted with spiritual fire for three hours, and basted with honey three times. How about that?"

Fairy Crane's eyes clearly flickered.

It feigned calmness and turned its head away, its tone reserved: "Hmph, that thing is... just okay."

But Ye Chen noticed that while it said "just okay," it was secretly licking the corner of its beak.

And at the corner of its beak, a trace of crystalline luster was faintly gathering.

Ye Chen was prepared.

He was quick-witted and agile, pulling a palm-sized wooden bucket from his bosom and quickly catching that wisp of Immortal saliva that had not yet dripped down.

"Caught it, caught it!" Ye Chen chuckled, looking smug, "Fairy Crane, your Immortal saliva is good stuff; it must not be wasted!"

Fairy Crane realized it had fallen for this brat's trick again and was instantly furious with embarrassment, raising its wing as if to strike him: "You little brat! You are tricking this Fairy out of its Immortal saliva again!"

However, while it scolded him, its movements were not fierce; the wing was raised high, but when it fell, it only lightly patted the back of Ye Chen's head, with a force no heavier than a tickle.

Ye Chen shrunk his neck, grinning cheekily as he carefully put away the wooden bucket, muttering: "Fairy Crane, your Immortal saliva is a treasure; if used to irrigate the Spiritual Plant fields, they grow very fast; if used for bathing, the skin can become much smoother..."

He suddenly had an idea, looked up at Fairy Crane, his eyes burning: "By the way, Fairy Crane, do you know if your Immortal saliva, if made into spiritual ink for drawing talismans, would be more effective than ordinary spiritual ink?"

Fairy Crane was stunned by this sudden thought, tilted its head to think, then rolled its eyes in annoyance: "How would this Fairy know! I do not know how to draw talismans! Go figure it out yourself! Are you going or not? If you are, get up quickly; this Fairy is taking off!"

"Hehe, then I will try it later." Ye Chen beamed, tucked the bucket into his robe, turned around, and climbed onto Fairy Crane's back in a few quick movements, clutching its long, slender neck tightly.

"Fairy Crane, let's go!"

Fairy Crane shook its wings and muttered "stinky brat," but still flapped its wings and shot straight into the sky.

The wind whistled, and the clouds and mist streaked by on both sides.

The mountains of the Jinyang Sect spread out beneath their feet, with layers of peaks and ridges, dotted with palaces and pavilions, appearing and disappearing in the sea of clouds, like a fairyland.

Ye Chen lay on the crane's back, feeling the cool mountain breeze blowing against his face, watching the magnificent scenery flashing beneath his feet, his mood exceptionally relaxed.

He chattered all the way, his mouth hardly stopping: "Fairy Crane, what new dishes do you think the Jade Dining Hall will have today? That braised spiritual venison yesterday was especially delicious, it is a pity the portion was too small... Oh right, right, I also want to bring a portion of candied fruits for Zhenzhen; she has been working hard reading lately, she needs nourishment..."

Fairy Crane's ears hurt from his chatter, and it interrupted him irritably: "Shut up! If you keep making noise, this Fairy will throw you down!"

Ye Chen immediately shut his mouth.

But his irrepressible joy from successfully guiding Qi into his body still flowed out unreservedly from his shining eyes, from his uncontrollably upturned mouth, and from every single strand of his hair.

He lay on the crane's back, gazing at the majestic and magnificent palace on the main peak of the Jinyang Sect in the distance, thinking silently in his heart—Father, Mother, wait for me.

I will soon reach Foundation Establishment.

Soon, I will bring Zhenzhen home to see you.