"Utter nonsense!" Lu Tianyu instantly puffed up with defensive pride, a distinctly smug expression gracing his features. He leaned across the plain wooden table, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "There's a Sect completely dedicated to nothing but the Sword Path. They hold the undisputed crown for absolute destitution. Rumor has it their initiation training's first lesson is mandatory Qi Sublimation – specifically to bypass the need for food! We, at least, maintain this hall," he gestured around the bustling, if modest, dining area with pride. "They have no such provision. Until disciples achieve that state, they're left entirely to fend for themselves."
Gu Qingxi stared at him over her bowl of steamed rice. Shixiong, your tone carries entirely too much schadenfreude for comfort. And secondly… why is being the Second Poorest Sect a point of pride worthy of such delight?
After their first official meal at the Heaven's Chasm Peak Dining Hall – Lu Tianyu had indeed benefitted from her 'New Disciple Escort' privilege, securing himself a complimentary serving – they found a relatively quiet corner.
Without preamble, Lu Tianyu reached across and plopped the singular, slightly overcooked chicken leg from his portion into Gu Qingxi's bowl. She looked up, startled.
"You're far too thin, Shimei," he stated earnestly, a warm smile softening his usually energetic face. He'd questioned her age earlier, and her claim of seventeen hadn't rung true. She carried herself with maturity, but her slight frame screamed undernourishment reminiscent of someone years younger. Whatever hardships had shaped her past, he'd silently vowed to ensure her present was filled with care. "You need nourishment."
A genuine warmth bloomed in Gu Qingxi's chest. Without hesitation, she scooped a generous chunk of the slightly fatty braised pork belly from her own bowl and deposited it into Lu Tianyu's. "Then Shixiong must eat heartily too."
Lu Tianyu froze, staring at the pork piece nestled amidst his vegetables. His eyes, surprisingly, began to shimmer. He placed a hand over his chest, adopting an expression of profoundly moved, almost paternal benevolence. "Shimei…" his voice choked slightly, thick with emotion, "truly possesses the most considerate heart. Such a blessing..."
Gu Qingxi's chopsticks clattered momentarily against the edge of her bowl. That tone... are you my Martial Brother or suddenly adopting the role of my doting grandfather? Concern is appreciated, Shixiong, but we need to draw the line at father figure territory!
***
After the unexpectedly emotional meal, Lu Tianyu offered to fly her back to Zi Lin Peak. Gu Qingxi declined with a speed that bordered on panic. Her stomach, currently comfortably full, had zero desire to experience the nauseating disorientation of his signature high-velocity, aerobatic sword flight. Some experiences were best enjoyed on an empty stomach.
"Sensible," Lu Tianyu sighed, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his features. "I'll procure a Cloud Crane for your return. From tomorrow onwards, you'll ride one of Zi Lin's own cranes to the Hall of Triple Inquiry." He puffed out his chest, a hint of wistfulness underlying his words. "Much as I'd enjoy escorting you daily..."
Gu Qingxi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Why does 'lack of vomiting passenger' seem to genuinely disappoint you? Is there an unmet thrill-seeker hiding beneath that protective streak?
He escorted her to the designated aviary platform on Heaven's Chasm Peak. The main Peak's crane was magnificent: tall, dignified, its plumage a gleaming cascade of immaculate white and obsidian black. It emitted a soft, melodious call as it gracefully knelt, allowing Gu Qingxi to clamber onto its broad, cushioned back. With powerful beats of perfectly feathered wings, it ascended smoothly, carrying her swiftly and steadily towards the distant outline of Zi Lin.
Upon landing at Zi Lin's designated terrace, the noble crane bowed politely once Gu Qingxi dismounted, gave a final, elegant cry, and soared back towards its opulent home base.
"I'll fetch our Zi Lin avians," Lu Tianyu called cheerfully. "They'll be your transport until you achieve Foundation Establishment and master flight." He disappeared into the dense bamboo groves lining the peak.
A few moments later, he returned. Flanking him, shuffling with distinctly un-noble bearings, were two avian creatures.
Gu Qingxi stared. And stared some more. Silence stretched, thick with disbelief.
Cloud Cranes? These were Shoebill Storks!
Towering yet somehow awkwardly constructed, they possessed massive, blunt-ended bills resembling clunky wooden blocks. Their large eyes held a permanent expression of vacant intensity bordering on menace. Instead of pristine white, their plumage was a motley grey, matted and devoid of luster. It sat atop their hunched frames like ill-fitting sacks. They embodied the definition of 'endearingly homely' – a stark, comically jarring contrast to the celestial grace of Heaven's Chasm's mount.
"They... uh... have a certain character," Lu Tianyu offered weakly, misinterpreting her prolonged silence for disgust. He offered a sheepish grin. "But! They possess genuine intelligence! True spiritual awareness..." He trailed off as one of the storks – the one with a feather sticking out sideways – suddenly swiveled its massive head, fixing a beady eye on his waving hand. Its enormous bill snapped open with surprising speed, aiming directly for his forearm!
"Hey!" Lu Tianyu yelped, leaping backward with unexpected agility. "No biting!"
Intelligence confirmed, Gu Qingxi thought dryly, watching the stork settle back into its vacant pose. They understood the word 'ugly'.
"Do they have names?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
"Of course!" Lu Tianyu replied brightly, recovering from the near-amputation. He pointed vaguely. "That one's Fluff, this one's Dodo... Or is this one Dodo and that one Fluff?" He scratched his head, genuinely perplexed, squinting at the near-identical pair. "They look rather similar in their... uniqueness."
"What do they eat?" Gu Qingxi pressed on pragmatically. If these were her future chariots, understanding their fueling needs fell to her. Responsibility came with the territory.
"Oh, meat, fish... Pretty much anything digestible, I assume?" Lu Tianyu responded vaguely, gesturing towards the dense back slopes. "They're generally self-sufficient. Forage out there."
Gu Qingxi understood immediately. Of course. Poverty strikes again. The Zi Lin policy: semi-feral birds. That explained the dull, untidy feathers – nutrition by random chance was never a recipe for shine. These magnificent homely beasts were definitely victims of the Peak's legendary fiscal austerity.
"Shimei, rest early," Lu Tianyu urged, turning to leave. "Lessons commence tomorrow at the Hall of Triple Inquiry at dawn. Simply instruct Fluff or Dodo where you wish to go. They'll comply." He shot a pointed, warning look at the storks. "Be good! Deliver Shimei safely, and I promise fresh fish tomorrow!" His bribe was met with supreme indifference. The two birds stared blankly into the middle distance, radiating profound stupidity.
"Understood. Thank you, Shixiong," Gu Qingxi nodded.
Once Lu Tianyu's enthusiastic footsteps faded into the bamboo rustle, Gu Qingxi turned her full attention to the avian pair. She cleared her throat.
"Fluff?" she called tentatively.
Neither bird visibly reacted. However, her sharp eyes caught a minuscule flicker of acknowledgement – a fractional shift in the focus of the left-most bird's dark, pupil-less eye.
Ah-ha. Got you.
Gu Qingxi dug into her Spatial Bracelet. Its enchantment preserved items in perfect stasis, a vital asset for a discerning hoarder. Her fingers closed around cold, scaly flesh. She withdrew a giant, six-barbeled catfish, easily longer than her arm. Its scales shimmered with an unnatural iridescence, a remnant of the polluted waters she'd cleared months before. Using Thunder Seal talismans had electrocuted swathes of aggressive, mutated fish – prime protein sources she'd wisely kept for future... contingencies. Like bribing aesthetically challenged birds.
Fluff and Dodo shuffled back, emitting soft, startled squawks. Then, their vacant eyes locked onto the enormous fish. The sheer size of the offering seemed to penetrate their dullness. Their massive beaks began to emit eager, rapid click-clack sounds. Instinct overrode indifference. With surprising agility for their awkward frames, they lunged, tearing into the flesh with undeniable gusto.
As they devoured the bounty, something subtle shifted in their demeanor. When they finally lifted their heads, fish scales glinting around their beaks, their gaze upon Gu Qingxi was utterly transformed. The vacant stares were gone. In their place was a luminous mixture of pure avian adoration and profound respect. Never! Never in their scavenging lives had such bounty been bestowed! They'd always been relegated to scrabbling for grubs and tiny snails. This was a feast! This human goddess offered ambrosia!
Observing the complete shift in allegiance confirmed in their wide, now-intelligent eyes, Gu Qingxi relaxed. Mission accomplished. Her uniquely stylish, gloriously homely transportation service was now secured for the foreseeable future.
Later that night, after a welcome soak in the simple bamboo-enclosed hot spring (steam rose like ghostly fingers in the cool evening air), Gu Qingxi lay in the simple cot within her spare new room. The scent of pine from the newly dusted walls and the faint rustle of bamboo outside were soothing. She closed her eyes, not to sleep, but to focus inward. A mental whisper threaded its way through the quiet of her mind.
"Old Ancestor Wan Ling," she projected silently, "anything? Any flicker? Have you sensed its location yet?"