[Honghuang] The Little Bird I Found Turned Out to Be the Second Prince of the Phoenix Clan

(Gentle, wooden senior disciple × beautiful, haughty little peacock) At his master’s command, young Xuandu sealed away his memories and suppressed his cultivation to train his Daoist heart in the human realm. There, he found a little demon bird with underdeveloped wings and serious injuries. The little chick was a scruffy ball of fluff, but it had quite a temper. “Chirp! Chirp chirp chirp!!!” Damn it! Those two ugly birds dared to laugh at me! “Keep fussing and you’ll pull open your wound.” The little chick lifted its head from Xuandu’s palm. Seeing his face, it narrowed its beady eyes! “Chirp!” This human is handsome! After healing the little chick, Xuandu said, “Go on. From now on, if you meet someone stronger than you, remember that staying alive comes first.” Go? The little chick flopped down in Xuandu’s palm. Since you’re just barely good-looking enough for this bird, I’ll let you be my servant. Don’t you dare refuse, human! Seeing that the little chick had attached itself to him, Xuandu had no choice but to keep it by his side. But as time went on, he discovered just how fussy it was: it wouldn’t eat fruit unless it was the finest spirit fruit, and it wouldn’t drink water unless it was the finest spirit dew. Perched on Xuandu’s head, the little chick crowed smugly, “Chirp!” Only the best is good enough for me! Xuandu perfected his Daoist heart, and the seal on his memories lifted on its own. He brought the little chick back to the Eight Views Palace. The two of them enjoyed a leisurely life together. One day, Jin Feng, the eldest prince of the Phoenix Clan, came to visit. Pointing at the little chick in Xuandu’s arms, Jin Feng said, “Xuandu, could you return my second brother to me?” Xuandu: “?” The little chick he’d found was actually the second prince of the Phoenix Clan?! The little chick let out two disdainful chirps. “Chirp chirp!” Who’s this ugly guy dressed in gold? I don’t know him! I’m not going with him! Xuandu: “Chirp chirp, be good.” The little chick: “Chirp chirp chirp chirp!!!” You’re actually sending me away! I’m mad! After making a fuss, the little chick was eventually taken back to the Phoenix Clan by Jin Feng. Without the little chick by his side, Xuandu’s days were reduced to cultivation and sleep. One day, while Xuandu was meditating in the courtyard, a clear young voice rang in his ears, bright as jade beads falling onto a plate. “Xuandu!” Xuandu looked up. The next moment, Kong Xuan, dressed in green with tinkling jade ornaments and fragrant pendants hanging from his belt, his beautiful face radiant, threw himself into Xuandu’s arms. “How dare you abandon me!” Xuandu was surprised. “Chirp chirp?” Kong Xuan raised his chin haughtily and snorted. Xuandu took in his little bird again. But one morning, when he saw Kong Xuan lying on top of him, he found himself inexplicably lost in thought. Realizing something was wrong with him, Xuandu chose the simplest solution: avoidance. Unable to find Xuandu, who was hiding from him, Kong Xuan angrily returned to the Phoenix Clan. Jin Feng was happy to see his younger brother back, but the boy’s face was dark as ink, leaving him puzzled. What’s got the little tyrant so upset? Who’s annoyed him now? After coaxing his brother for a long while, Jin Feng finally learned what had happened. Looking at his sulking younger brother, he sighed and pointed out, “Second brother, do you really not understand why Xuandu is avoiding you?” Kong Xuan blinked. Looking at his beautiful younger brother, Jin Feng laid it out plainly. “Because you’ve fallen for Xuandu.” Once he learned why Xuandu was avoiding him, Kong Xuan rushed back to the Eight Views Palace and caught Xuandu hiding from him. The little peacock’s blue-green phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward, gleaming brightly. “Xuandu, I like you. Do you like me?” Reader’s Guide: 1. The story won’t cover much of the original Primordial World and Investiture of the Gods plotlines or cast. Some background details and place names will appear, but you can follow the story without knowing them. 2. There’s plenty of original plot and my own take on the timeline. Don’t overthink the details. 3. The little chick isn’t Kong Xuan in his true form. (Why the little peacock became a chick will be explained later. For now, he’s lost his memories and temporarily lost his magic for reasons I can’t spoil.) He’ll return to his true form later. 4. The two leads are the same age by my own setting: 20 by human reckoning and 3,000 by Primordial World reckoning. They’ll both be adults in body and mind when their romance develops. Theme: Through understanding and love, they grow together and change the fated bond between Xuandu and Kong Xuan