129. The Guardian’s Warm Embrace

The Great Phoenix kissed the little phoenix on the cheek before reluctantly handing her over to Baili Tianchang.

Baili Tianchang opened her arms and gathered the little phoenix into her embrace. She whispered to the little one, "Little Phoenix, let’s say goodbye to your mother together."

Listening to Baili Tianchang’s instruction, the little phoenix tilted her head, offered a sweet smile, and chirped, "Goodbye, Mother," in a dulcet tone.

Once she had spoken, the little phoenix urged Baili Tianchang, "Let’s go, let’s go! Let's hurry out to play. I know of so many fun things!"

The little phoenix felt not a trace of sorrow. She did not even comprehend that today, right at this moment, she was to be separated from her mother.

"Phoenix King, we are leaving. Take care of yourself."

Baili Tianchang gently patted the little phoenix and, after bidding the Great Phoenix farewell, turned and walked away with the little one in her arms.

Leaving the Divine Phoenix clan proved to be remarkably smooth. As if there were no obstacles at all, Baili Tianchang had only taken a few steps before she realized that everything before her had changed.

She and the little phoenix had already left the territory of the Divine Phoenix clan. At that very moment, a figure flashed before her eyes, and the next instant, she was swept into a warm embrace.

Before she could even react, the uniquely charming voice of Nalan Djiu echoed beside her ear. "My little fairy, did you have a pleasant talk with the Great Phoenix?"

"Very pleasant. The Phoenix King was very kind to me. I have taken her little phoenix away; she must be very heartbroken. I feel so guilty toward her."

"My little fairy, do not feel guilty. All of this is the little phoenix’s destiny. Have you not noticed? You and the little phoenix did not perform any ceremony to forge a contract this time, did you?"

Nalan Djiu held Baili Tianchang close, comforting her with immense tenderness.

"You are right. Little Phoenix and I never forged a contract. Yet, the Phoenix King said that we had already formed an equal contract."

Only then did Baili Tianchang realize this. Furthermore, she suddenly became aware that she could now understand everything the little phoenix said to her.

"I do not know when the equal contract between you and the little phoenix was forged, either. But it is true—you have indeed forged one."

Nalan Djiu did not know much about Baili Tianchang’s past. Even if he had intended to inquire, Baili Tianchang had lived such an ordinary life during those fifteen years that there was truly nothing to uncover.

Nalan Djiu genuinely did not know when Baili Tianchang had forged an equal contract with this little phoenix. He had originally intended only to find a Divine Phoenix or a Divine Dragon to serve as her beast companion. He never imagined that, by sheer coincidence, he had helped her recover a beast companion that had belonged to her all along.

He had essentially helped Baili Tianchang find her own creature. Having repeatedly promised to help her subdue a beast companion, he felt he had technically failed to keep his word.

Thinking of this, a sense of guilt stirred in Nalan Djiu’s heart. He wanted every word he spoke to his little fairy to be fulfilled, to be realized down to the very last detail.

Then again, he had truly not expected that his little fairy, despite lacking cultivation, had long ago subdued a little Divine Phoenix as her own beast companion.