For some unknown reason, the moment Little White Phoenix heard that Wang Zhaojun did not want to keep him by her side, a wave of inexplicable grievance welled up in his heart: "Sister said she would never abandon me!"
Wang Zhaojun waved a hand. "If you don't want to go back, then don't go back. I won't force you.From now on, you'll stay in Peach Blossom Village."
She figured that since she was providing him with good food and drink, and she hadn't kidnapped him herself, even if the Phoenix Clan came looking for her later, they would have no grounds to point fingers or lay blame.
Little White Phoenix nodded obediently. Knowing that Wang Zhaojun was not going to throw him out, he happily ran off to play.
Three months later.
Wang Zhaojun called Gongsun Li over.
"A-Li, I'm taking a trip to Tianyu. Little White Phoenix is in your care now. Don't let him go outside; he's so naive and easily tricked."
Gongsun Li pouted and protested with dissatisfaction, "Why isn't Sister Zhaojun taking him with her?"
"The people in Tianyu bear a lot of hostility toward me." Wang Zhaojun shrugged helplessly.
Gongsun Li could understand this. Immortal Wuling enjoyed immense prestige and popularity in the Heavenly Realm, and many various clans in Tianyu wanted to send their children to the Immortal Wuling's estate to study the Art of Sorcery. However, the Immortal only lectured at Jixia Academy, and Sister Zhaojun was the Immortal's sole disciple.
Wang Zhaojun walked out to the front courtyard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Little White Phoenix appeared by her side. His soft little hand grabbed her slender fingers, and his innocent eyes held a deep, unfathomable look that did not belong on a child: "Sister, where are you going?"
"You stay here and behave. I'll be back." Wang Zhaojun frowned delicately; she hadn't expected this little fellow to find out before she even stepped out the door.
"When?" Little White Phoenix asked again.
Wang Zhaojun did not answer. With a glance, she motioned for Gongsun Li nearby to take Little White Phoenix away, and then rode the wind into the sky.
Little White Phoenix stared longingly at the doorway, refusing to leave for a long time.
Gongsun Li patted him on the shoulder and said, "Stop looking. Sister Zhaojun won't be back for a while. Let's go."
He ignored Gongsun Li, staring at the entrance with a wronged expression as he bit his lip.
Seeing him looking like a lovesick maiden gazing into the distance, Gongsun Li grabbed him by the back of the collar, paying no mind to whether he was willing, and dragged him away by force.
"Don't hold onto me! Let me go!" He began to struggle endlessly, kicking his legs frantically in the air.
"If you don't behave, Sister Zhaojun might not come back at all." At Gongsun Li's breezy remark, he froze and didn't dare move another inch.
"Little White Phoenix, it's time for dinner." Gongsun Li brought out the dishes, setting up a lavish evening feast.
"Hmph." Little White Phoenix refused to pay her any mind.
"Are you going to eat or not?" Gongsun Li glared at him.
Little White Phoenix continued to ignore her: "Hmph."
Gongsun Li sighed. "If you misbehave, Sister Zhaojun might not come back. Eat if you want, don't if you don't. Anyway, I'm used to her not being around—I just worry certain someone isn't."
Little White Phoenix furrowed his pretty brows. With an unhappy, sullen expression, he obediently scooped a bowl of rice and glumly shoveled it into his mouth.
With Wang Zhaojun gone, Little White Phoenix had no appetite for food and couldn't sleep, tossing and turning in bed.
He got up, opened the window, and gazed at the silver crescent moon hanging in the night sky. He went inside to fetch paper and a brush, then pressed against the windowsill to write and draw.
He thought the moon was so pretty, he had to draw it for Sister to see. Once the moon was finished, it somehow felt too monotonous, so Little White Phoenix picked up his brush and drew the peach blossom tree in the courtyard. Tapping his chin, he decided it still looked too desolate, and earnestly added a beauty leaning against the peach blossom tree, cradling a dainty Little White Phoenix in her arms.
Though Little White Phoenix was just a little thing, the drawing he produced was startlingly lifelike, as if from the hand of a master. One would never guess it was casually scribbled by a child.
He returned to the bedside, admiring his artwork with great satisfaction before hiding the painting beneath his pillow. No sooner had he tucked it in than he couldn't resist pulling it out for another look, and only then did he drift off to sleep with a happy smile.
When Wang Zhaojun arrived in the Heavenly Realm, still some distance from Tianyu, she was strolling leisurely through the market when a figure suddenly lunged straight toward her from ahead. Frowning slightly, she instinctively shifted aside to dodge, and the figure collapsed heavily to the ground right beside her.
The person was wearing a cinched long dress, with a mane of seaweed-smooth hair cascading down her back. She lay sprawled on the ground, face down and back up.
Staging a fall? Wang Zhaojun gave her a cool glance, having no intention of helping her up, and prepared to walk right past.
Because Little Fox had run too fast, Han Xin had no choice but to quicken his pace and catch up to Daji.
He never expected that upon catching up, this would be the scene awaiting him.
Wang Zhaojun stood serenely against the wind, while Daji lay sprawled on the ground looking wronged.
Daji picked herself up after the fall and wiped the dust off her face with the back of her hand. Feeling a burning sting in her palms, she glanced down, then quickly hid her hands behind her back the moment she realized Han Xin had arrived.
Without a second thought, Han Xin stepped forward and shoved Wang Zhaojun hard enough to send her stumbling back several paces. His voice was cold and biting: "If you have any dissatisfaction, take it out on me! Why pick on her?"
Wang Zhaojun looked at the man she had been longing for day and night. The corners of her lips twitched into a trace of a mocking, bitter sneer, a fleeting flash of desolation passing through her eyes as she said calmly, "What did I do?"
Gently helping Daji to her feet and shielding her behind him, Han Xin arched his brow slightly and spoke with utter indifference: "What did you do? You know damn well."
Wang Zhaojun narrowed her pretty eyes, a bitter, sarcastic smile playing on her lips: "Why don't you tell me, then—what did I do?"
"You hurt her, and I won't let you get away with it." Han Xin cast a cold glance at Wang Zhaojun, his voice as chilling as ice.
Hearing his cold, merciless words, Wang Zhaojun felt another wave of fleeting self-mockery wash over her, before her expression returned to composure: "You think I pushed her?"
Han Xin's lips parted slightly, as if to speak, when he was cut off by Wang Zhaojun's icy voice: "Lord Shaojun, spare us your baseless accusations."
Han Xin glared at Wang Zhaojun, his gaze steeped in unspeakable coldness: "It doesn't matter if you won't admit it. If there is a next time, I certainly won't spare you."
Daji hurried over to Han Xin, tugging at his sleeve, her voice soft and melodious: "Lord Shaojun, you've misunderstood. It has nothing to do with her—I was just being careless and tripped on my own."
Wang Zhaojun lifted her clear, pool-like eyes and gave a slight, chilly nod: "I don't need your hypocritical explanations."
The moment her voice fell, Han Xin turned and left with Daji, without even sparing Wang Zhaojun a single glance.
Wang Zhaojun watched his retreating figure as he walked further and further away, the self-mocking sneer at the corner of her mouth growing ever more pronounced. In his eyes, was she truly so despicable? She pressed a hand over her faintly aching left chest, an imperceptible trace of pain crossing her face.
"Zhaojun, someone like this isn't worth your grief."
Wang Zhaojun turned her head slightly to see a woman in a purple dress walking toward her with a graceful grace. Her hair was as dark as ink, and her beauty was peerless—it was her dearest confidante, Zixia. Unable to hold back the grievance in her heart any longer, she asked, "Zixia, why does he hate me so much? What on earth did I do wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong. He's simply blind." Zixia took Wang Zhaojun's hand to comfort her, adding with helpless exasperation: "Look at you—the proud senior disciple of Immortal Wuling, with countless immortals pursuing you without you batting an eye, yet you had to fall for him?"
"I don't know either. I just inexplicably fell for him." Wang Zhaojun forced a bitter smile, then softly added, "Probably because he's good-looking."
"There are plenty of good-looking people out there! One of them is bound to like you—don't waste your feelings on him!" Zixia choked on her words; Zhaojun had always been bold and fond of a pretty face.