Stranger Danger

“Chirp chirp!”

The Crimson Luan flapped its wings and chirped twice, loud and clear.

Somehow, Ye Qing could clearly hear the Crimson Luan’s delight and goodwill from its chirps.

The Crimson Luan flapped its wings and scattered its flames a little. Several birds then flew out of the flames, chirped as they circled around him, and landed on his shoulders.

“It’s you guys!”

Ye Qing recognized the birds immediately. They were the ones who woke him up with dew when he was unconscious earlier.

“So, it was you who saved me. Thank you very much, senior.”

Ye Qing saluted the Crimson Luan once more. At this point, it became clear that the birds were illusions conjured by the Crimson Luan before him. They were just so realistic that he wasn’t able to recognize their hidden flaws until now.

This also meant that the Crimson Luan had taken notice of him the moment he arrived in this realm.

The Crimson Luan let out another pair of happy chirps.

It was at this moment one bird leaped onto his arm and pecked the Nine Heavens on his wrist lightly. From time to time, it would look at him and chirped twice as if there was something inside his Nature’s Shell that interested him greatly.

“What do you want?” Ye Qing asked smilingly while giving it a pat on the head.

Then, he realized something and summoned the Radiant Tree branch. He asked, “Is this what you’re looking for?”

“Chirp chirp!”

“Chirp chirp!”

As soon as the birds saw the Radiant Tree branch, the rest of the birds jumped onto his hand or flew tiny circles around the branch, chirping excitedly.

The next moment, the birds transformed into wisps of flame and entered the Radiant Tree branch.

What was a dim and lightless branch before instantly became translucent and pure as if it had regained its vitality. The withered flower on the branch too became rejuvenated and bloomed like fire once more.

Not only that, Ye Qing could clearly sense the Radiant Tree branch was emitting waves of delight and excitement almost as if it was sentient.

“Chirp chip!”

Ye Qing was still admiring the branch when the Crimson Luan chirped twice and flapped its wings at him.

“Hmm?”

Ye Qing asked tentatively after taking a moment to decipher the Crimson Luan’s gesture, “Are you asking me… to sit on your back, senior?”

“Are you going to carry me up there?”

“Chirp chirp!”

The Crimson Luan nodded and chirped again, seemingly urging Ye Qing to get moving already.

“Thank you so much, senior!”

Ye Qing was delighted as a matter of course. He was just wondering how he should climb up the Radiant Tree to the Kunlun Ruins. Although he hadn’t sensed any danger from the Radiant Tree yet, he had a feeling that the climb up to the Kunlun Ruins would not be easy. He only needed to recall his experience with the Black Water and the Cyan Mountain to know that.

He never imagined that the Radiant Tree branch would draw the Crimson Luan to him, however. With its aid, he could easily reach the top of the Radiant Tree and enter the Kunlun Ruins.

Ye Qing did not pause even though a million thoughts were racing in his mind. He appeared on the Crimson Luan’s back in a flash.

“Please, senior!”

The Crimson Luan gave him a soft chirp, and it took off toward the top of the Radiant Tree.

The Crimson Luan reached the canopy in just the blink of an eye. Ye Qing immediately felt as if he had entered a world of cloudy fire where all he could see was pure, unblemished red. It was beautiful and fantastical.

At the same time, he noticed that many Crimson Luans were residing on the branches. Some were pecking away at the dew residing on the crimson flowers, and some were flying circles around a cluster of flowers as elegant as butterflies.

At first glance, there were dozens of them at least.

Ye Qing was extremely relieved that these Crimson Luans held no animosity toward him. Otherwise, not even a dozen hims would be a match for these Crimson Luans.

The Crimson Luan flew higher and higher until it finally landed on top of a dim, broken tree branch. This was unusual as this was the only branch that was broken and devoid of vitality.

Ye Qing was wondering what was going on when suddenly, the branch he was holding suddenly flew out of his hand and flew toward the broken stump.

Could it be? Is this the stump where the ancestors of East Kunlun and West Kunlun had obtained their branch?

The thought flashed in Ye Qing’s mind, but something wasn’t right. The stump was the size of a millstone, whereas the Radiant Tree branch was only as big as a human finger. Just looking at the sheer difference in size, the branch could not possibly come from this stump.

Ye Qing was quickly proven wrong, however. As soon as the Radiant Tree branch landed on the stump, purple qi bubbled, and fire flowed into it. The Radiant Tree branch immediately became connected to the stump.

Ye Qing’s eyes widened as he watched the big, dead branch gradually regained its vitality and became smooth and bright like the other branches. At the same time, the Radiant Tree branch that was only the size of a human finger began swelling at an accelerated rate. It kept growing until it became as thick as the stump it was attached to. At the same time, thin shoots of green leaves and red flowers grew out of its body.

The blink of an eye later, the broken branch looked exactly the same as the other branches of the Radiant Tree. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never know that there was once a broken, dead branch at this spot.

“Huh. It really was taken from this branch!”

Ye Qing was amazed to say the least. No wonder they called the Radiant Tree a divine tree. This was a divine feat for sure.

“Chirp chirp!”

“Chirp chirp!”

“Chirp chirp!”

It was at this moment the Crimson Luans flooded in from every direction and chirped incessantly. The noise wasn’t unpleasant, however. On the contrary, it was melodious and delightful like a song.

As the Crimson Luans chirped, the red flowers of the Radiant Tree shone brightly and swayed gently. For a moment, the “clouds” vibrated, and the “fire” danced. It was a scene straight out of a fantasy.

Ye Qing could not help but share in the Crimson Luans’ sentiment and felt happy as well.

A short while later, the Crimson Luans stopped chirping. The Crimson Luan who carried Ye Qing then chirped a few times.

“You’re welcome. It’s only right,” Ye Qing replied because he could sense a hint of gratitude from the Crimson Luan’s chirps.

The Crimson Luan stretched out its wings once more, and Ye Qing got the hint immediately. Once his footing was steady, the Crimson Luan leaped off the branch and soared into the sky once more.

It wasn’t the only one. The rest of the Crimson Luans followed suit and flew alongside them.

It was an experience Ye Qing did not think he would forget anytime soon.

When the Crimson Luans finally reached the top of the Radiant Tree, the world of red abruptly changed into a sea of clouds.

Standing at the peak of the world in the middle of the sea of clouds was a Heavens’ Gate.

The Heavens’ Gate was tall and massive. It almost spanned from one end of the horizon to another, and it was overflowing with mystery and antiquity.

“The Kunlun Ruins…”

Ye Qing’s eyes widened in amazement and excitement as he stared at the magnificent gate. Even his fingers were trembling a little.

“Chirp!”

“Chirp chirp!”

The Crimson Luan carrying Ye Qing let out a long chirp, and the Crimson Luans at the back followed suit. They crossed their wings in front of themselves as if saluting the giant gate.

Then, the Crimson Luan carrying Ye Qing flew toward the Heavens’ Gate while everyone else stayed behind.