The Phoenix-Slaying Blade was a majestic ancient divine weapon. Having accompanied Li Ye in numerous campaigns, it had been recorded in the chronicles of the Nine Heavens. Ordinary immortals would keep at least eighty feet away upon seeing it, fearing the murderous energy surrounding it.
Other divine weapons with consciousness in the Nine Heavens all revered it. The Phoenix-Slaying Blade was quite proud of this and would move through the immortal market with beautiful divine fire burning on its surface, its movements arrogant and domineering, sparks flying everywhere.
Then it was patted on its blade by a seven or eight-year-old child: “Hold this for me.”
The flames instantly extinguished. The Phoenix-Slaying Blade emitted blue smoke, snorted coldly, and reluctantly accepted the bamboo tube Xiao Hei handed to it.
Next came pillows, small blankets, little stools, oil-paper umbrellas, all clattering as they piled up on it.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade hummed with anger—it was an ancient divine weapon, not an ox-drawn cart!
Xiao Hei still had tears hanging on his face. Hearing the humming sound, he gave it a pitiful look, his expression suggesting he had suffered an immense grievance, and now had to deal with this troublemaker on top of everything, filled with sorrow.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade froze in midair.
Today, the little prince was in a foul mood. He had talked back to Immortal Er’er—just a few angry words—and was immediately picked up by Li Ye and thrown back to his palace chamber, told to reflect on his behavior behind closed doors. The little prince had reached the age of rebellion, and without a second thought, climbed out the window, intending to run away from home.x
…
…
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade had been watching with amusement when it was grabbed and taken out of the Heavenly Gate.
If only it could speak. If it could open its mouth, it would tell the little prince not to defy Supreme Lord Li Ye—it wouldn’t work. Even his son couldn’t succeed. With those little arms and legs, where could he possibly run? Wherever he went, Li Ye would have people watching him. When caught and brought back, the punishment would only be more severe.
Thinking this, the Phoenix-Slaying Blade looked around, wondering which unfortunate soul would be assigned to watch the little prince. This kind of thankless task…
“Blade spirit,” Li Ye’s voice sounded in its mind.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade stiffened, instinctively wanting to fly toward him, but then heard Li Ye continue: “Keep a close eye on the little prince. Keep him alive.”
“…” Great, it had fallen on its head.
Dutifully accepting the items the little prince handed over, the Phoenix-Slaying Blade silently recited: When heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on someone, it will first exercise their mind and will, exhaust their muscles and bones…
Wait, even a wardrobe needs to be bought?
Xiao Hei, tears still in his eyes, used magic to lift a newly purchased pear wood wardrobe and placed it on the Phoenix-Slaying Blade.
Bang! The blade was pressed to the ground.
Slightly startled, he crouched down, very kindly shrank the wardrobe, stuffed it into his bundle, then placed it back on the blade: “All set, let’s go.”
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade nearly cried. It could kill immortals and Buddhas, but it wasn’t suited for this heavy labor. Couldn’t he show some respect for a divine weapon? It didn’t even need to be oiled and polished, just not tormented.
Unable to express its anger, the Phoenix-Slaying Blade followed the little prince, humming down from the Nine Heavens.
The mortal world was in autumn harvest, quite lively. The little prince loved excitement, going wherever there were crowds. His immortal bones had a delicious scent, and soon attracted various demons and monsters lurking in the shadows.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade noticed this, and when a wisp of demonic energy floated over, divine fire suddenly ignited on its blade.
This fire didn’t burn mortal objects, only chased the surrounding demons and burned through their souls, scaring the little demons into fleeing. There were, however, powerful greater demons who deployed magic formations to resist for a while, still licking their lips with intent to approach.
The little prince was staring at tanghulu (sugar-coated haws) on a straw bundle, drooling. The Phoenix-Slaying Blade glanced at him, placed silver coins in his hand, and hummed twice.
“You have urgent business?” the little prince waved his hand. “Then I’ll wait for you here.”
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade slowly retreated, like an ordinary sword, discreetly hugging the corner of the street, gradually moving into the alley where the greater demon was hiding.
Then, with scorching divine fire and a sharp blade soul, it completely devoured the greater demon before it could strike.
The firelight illuminated half the sky for an instant, then quickly returned to normal, so fast that pedestrians on the street thought their eyes had played tricks on them.
Emerging from the alley, the Phoenix-Slaying Blade once again became an ordinary sword, obediently moving back to the little prince’s side.
Then its body was adorned with a straw bundle full of tanghulu.
Phoenix-Slaying Blade: “…”
“As a dignified ancient divine weapon, reduced to being tormented daily by a little milk-drinking child, don’t you feel oppressed?” A voice, full of demonic qualities, sounded in its consciousness.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade glanced around but didn’t respond.
The voice giggled: “You should be in the hands of someone powerful, devouring souls and blood. Now you’re no different from a load-carrying donkey. Why not join us instead? We can let you shine again.”
Xiao Hei, biting on tanghulu, suddenly looked in a particular direction.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade came to its senses and followed its gaze to see a decent inn ahead.
The little prince finally wanted to rest. The Phoenix-Slaying Blade secretly sighed with relief and quickly guided him to the inn.
The innkeeper was a beautiful woman. Seeing a child come to stay, she wasn’t surprised but kindly pinched Xiao Hei’s cheek: “Little brother, would you like an upper room or a common bed?”
Xiao Hei bit off the last half of his tanghulu, dusted off his hands, and then firmly gripped the Phoenix-Slaying Blade’s hilt.
Before the Phoenix-Slaying Blade could react, its divine fire was released, and its blade, sharp as snow, was instantly at the innkeeper’s throat.
The innkeeper reacted extremely quickly. She closed the door, leaped away, and crouched on a dining table in the hall, fox tails emerging one by one.
“You’re so young, why so fierce?” she pouted. “It wasn’t me who was harassing you earlier; it was the Yellow Immortal staying in the celestial room upstairs. Running a business isn’t easy. If anything gets damaged here, you’ll have to pay compensation.”
Xiao Hei examined this woman and saw that her blood barrier wasn’t heavy, though her cultivation was substantial, leaving him somewhat hesitant. The woman laughed coquettishly, got down from the table, retracted her tails, and said while holding a fan: “Come, I’ll show you the way.”
She turned and walked upstairs, complaining as she went: “The celestial room earns me quite a bit of silver each night. Once this guest leaves, my income will decrease. Why don’t you hit harder later, so I can collect compensation for tables and chairs?”
Xiao Hei listened in confusion, nodded, and went into the room to find the loose-tongued Yellow Immortal.
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade had always thought the little prince was still a milk-drinking child, but when this child took action, he was as merciless as Supreme Lord Li Ye. Without giving the other party a chance to speak, one slash of the blade sent firelight piercing through the carved window.
After finishing, he asked in his childish voice: “Does this blood taste good?”
The Phoenix-Slaying Blade smacked its lips and reluctantly nodded.
So he laughed, put it away, and left the room, looking up at the seductive innkeeper at the door.
“How many days will the little prince stay?” the innkeeper covered her face with a fan and smiled. “My Lamplit Inn is the best lodging place around here, with attentive service and fair treatment for all.”