In the thirty-sixth year of Tianxing, the villainous Demon Venerable was about to ignite a war between the immortals and demons that would last ten thousand years and bring about the end of the world.
System: “Young man, complete the main quest and defeat the Demon Venerable. The countless heroes of the immortal-demon world will become your stepping stones to the top!”
Ming Yan: “TD.”
Ming Yan turned down the System’s flashy advertisement, stayed far away from the main quest, and joined an obscure, run-down sect. He even picked up a little sparrow as a spirit pet, spending his days drinking tea and tending to his bird.
The only downside was…
Ming Yan pinched the tip of the bird’s wing. The bird: coldly drew away.
Ming Yan rubbed its fluffy belly. The bird: gave him a death glare.
Ming Yan kissed the little bird’s head. The bird: “…”
The bird flew up and tried to eat him.
Ming Yan ran around clutching his head. “Aaaah!”
-
A forced romance really isn’t sweet. But the bird’s soul was damaged, and it would surely die if released into the wild as it was.
They had been master and pet, after all. So, on the night the little sparrow took human form, Ming Yan willingly straddled him and took out the only dual-cultivation technique that could repair his soul.
The other man’s sharp, rebellious features were full of disbelief. Even the blood-red mole at the corner of his eye looked vividly alive.
Ming Yan, bewitched, thought: What a bargain. I’ve made a fortune.
They kept at it for forty-nine days. Once the little bird’s soul had healed, Ming Yan took him out into the wilderness and dissolved their master-pet contract.
For the first time, the bird took the initiative and caught his sleeve in its beak.
Ming Yan paused in surprise, pulled his sleeve free, and smiled. “You’re free now.”
He turned and left, eager to return to the sect and find a new spirit pet. He didn’t see the little bird behind him, its hollow black eyes fixed on him.
-
In the blink of an eye, the war between the immortals and demons began.
It was said that the Demon Venerable had emerged from seclusion three days earlier and reorganized the demonic sects. Those who submitted joined his ranks; those who resisted were slaughtered. With ruthless efficiency, he had rallied a million demonic cultivators in just three days.
Ming Yan mingled with the immortal sects’ forces, munching on seeds and petting his spirit pet as he listened with great interest. After all, a nobody like him could only serve as background scenery on the battlefield. He was even less likely to come into contact with the Demon Venerable.
-
On the day of the great battle, no one expected the Demon Venerable, who had never shown his face, to appear on the battlefield in person.
Was this a declaration of war, a show of force, or a display of his determination to keep fighting until the immortal sects were wiped out?
The young elites of the immortal sects stood ready, gripping their weapons and preparing to give their lives for the Dao.
The wind blew the Demon Venerable’s hair aside, revealing his stern brows, rebellious eyes, and the blood-red mole at the corner of his eye.
The people of the immortal sects: “…”
The wind died down, and the clouds grew still.
Every cultivator who had ever seen Ming Yan and his bird turned around in unison. Their eyes blazed as they stared at the junior fellow disciple who loved to blend in with ordinary people and pretend to be one of them.
Whoa, how is that someone we know?
Ming Yan, who had been secretly snacking on seeds, looked up. Across the ranks of cultivators and countless demonic banners, he met the Demon Venerable’s dark, dangerous, burning gaze.
Ming Yan: Huh, this guy looks a lot like the human form of the bird I abandoned.
Ming Yan: Huh.
Ming Yan: “…”
Whoa.
[Notes]
1. Dangerous, unhinged, proud bird gong × a shou who’s hard to sum up for now, but is playful, adorable, and powerful
2. A sweet, satisfying, lighthearted comedy with no angst. Not a serious historical fantasy, and it uses modern jokes. Romance isn’t the only focus: plot and career make up at least half the story.
3. Disclaimer: Spirit pets in the cultivation world are completely different from modern pets. Please don’t confuse the two. In real life, we firmly oppose capturing wild animals or abandoning pets.
Theme: You can always set sail on a new journey
