Eternal Love Within A Smile - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Xu Manman slowly released her hold on Ning Xi and chuckled at Li Que, “Caring for the younger generation can hardly be called ‘running around with others.’ It seems that even though you’ve taken human form, you haven’t quite learned how to speak like one.”
Li Que glared at her angrily.
“I haven’t even settled the score with you for ditching me at the Mo Mansion yesterday, or for pushing me onto Lingzhi, or…” He paused, then added, “How did you know what a young Di Luan looks like? Don’t tell me it was Lianyue Daozun who told you…she didn’t even know my identity back then!”
“Oh, that…” Xu Manman said leisurely, “It was Tuntian Shenzun who told me.”
Li Que froze, half-doubting.
“I don’t believe you…”
“Before going to the Mo Mansion, I paid a visit to Tuntian Shenzun. During our chat, she mentioned that among the Four Divine Beasts, the Di Luan is the ugliest at birth. But since they’re also the most vain, they hide it away to avoid embarrassment.”
Li Que’s handsome face darkened at her words, but he had no retort…because it was true.
An adult Di Luan had resplendent plumage, radiant as the dawn, but their fledglings were hideous.
Freshly hatched, they resembled scrawny chicks, covered in sparse, grayish-black down.
As they grew, their feathers remained black, resembling crows.
Only after their primodial true feather emerged would they gradually shed their dark plumage, transforming into the kings of the bird race.
Young Di Luan never left the Radiant Vermillion, not just because they were weak, but also because their unsightly appearance would tarnish their dignity.
Li Que had only been seen in his fledgling form because he was forced to undergo rebirth after an attack.
Back then, Xu Manman, unaware of what a young Di Luan looked like, had naturally mistaken him for a little crow…
Proud and narcissistic, how could Li Que tolerate such mockery? He retorted indignantly, “Tuntian’s young look like rats, what right do they have to ridicule the Di Luan?”
Xu Manman chuckled.
“But Tuntian clan doesn’t care. They don’t hide it.”
Li Que was speechless, his face alternating between green and white.
Just then, a red figure swooped in from behind, landing on Li Que’s back.
A crisp voice rang out, “Li Que, you’re avoiding me again!”
Lingzhi pouted, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight grip.
Li Que pried her off, struggling free from her aggressive embrace.
Seemingly accustomed to his rejection, Lingzhi hopped down without a care.
Noticing his flushed, indignant expression, she raised her delicate brows and exclaimed, “Li Que, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you again?”
Xu Manman’s eyebrow twitched in amusement—the word “again” was quite telling…
“Lingzhi, how could anyone bully someone as capable as Li Que?” Xu Manman said with a smile.
Lingzhi thought for a moment, then beamed.
“You’re right.”
Li Que’s chest tightened with frustration, and he shot Xu Manman a glare.
Lingzhi scowled.
“Last time, Li Que was alone when the Blood Sect ambushed him, ganging up on him. Hmph! Those who dare harm the Di Luan will pay, no matter how far they flee!”
She then clung to Li Que’s arm, declaring possessively, “My man is mine to bully and only mine!”
Li Que tried to pull his arm back, but Lingzhi grinned.
“Of course, I’d never actually bully Li Que.”
With a heavy sigh, Li Que enunciated each word, “Lingzhi, I never agreed to this marriage.”
Lingzhi giggled.
“Your opinion doesn’t matter. Mine does.”
Li Que: “…”
Ning Xi leaned close to Xu Manman and whispered, “I heard the Di Luan have more females than males, with the women dominating. Seems true…”
Xu Manman sighed.
“I’m starting to think Li Que left the Radiant Vermilion alone just to escape her… She looks like such an innocent little girl, yet she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Lingzhi turned her head.
“What are you two saying?”
Xu Manman smiled.
“I said you two are a perfect match.”
Lingzhi shook her head seriously.
“It’s more like ‘talent meets beauty.’ Li Que is the most handsome among the male Di Luan.”
She paused, then added, “And the longest.”
Xu Manman: “…Hm.”
“Too bad his longest Primordial True Feather is gone,” Lingzhi lamented.
Xu Manman: “Oh, you meant feathers…”
Lingzhi blinked.
“What else would I mean?”
Xu Manman chuckled.
“Nothing.”
The linguistic and cognitive differences between humans and bird races were truly vast…
Xu Manman studied Li Que carefully and had to admit Lingzhi’s assessment was objectively accurate.
By bird standards, Li Que’s plumage was lush, his neck slender, and his feathers shimmered like the rosy dawn, radiant as the legendary fire phoenix chasing the sun.
By human standards, he was tall and poised, with sharp brows and starry eyes—the very image of the dashing young man from countless maidens’ dreams.
No wonder Lingzhi was so obsessed.
“A male without a Primordial True Feather can’t be a primary consort,” Lingzhi explained earnestly.
“Only offspring hatched from an egg incubated with the Primordial True Feather can inherit the purest divine lineage. But I refused to let Li Que suffer, so I argued with Mother until she finally agreed to let me marry him with primary consort rites…on one condition.”
She gazed lovingly at Li Que.
“Li Que, our family must have divine descendants. Eventually, I’ll have to take another male with a True Feather to secure the Elder’s position. But my heart, and the primary consort title, will always be yours!”
Xu Manman feigned surprise.
“So the Primordial True Feather is that important? I know…” She glanced at Li Que, who was frantically signaling her with his eyes.
Lingzhi perked up.
“You know where it is?”
Seeing Li Que sweating bullets, Xu Manman paused before replying, “I know Daozun threw it away.”
Li Que exhaled in silent relief.
Lingzhi said angrily, “How outrageous! To just casually discard someone’s most precious possession!”
Xu Manman spoke earnestly, “Lingzhi, since it’s already lost, let it go. What matters now is taking revenge on the Blood Sect.”
Lingzhi nodded.
“You’re right. We Di Luan are clear in love and hate…gratitude and vengeance must be repaid! Li Que’s enemies are the enemies of our entire clan! That’s also why I came out to help Li Que get his revenge.”
“You’re truly the most devoted and righteous woman I’ve ever met!”
Xu Manman clasped Lingzhi’s hands, her face full of admiration.
“Ning Xi, since Lingzhi is willing to help, why don’t you brief her on the eastern district’s arrangements? The Di Luan rule the skies, so with her aid, the Blood Sect won’t even have wings to flee!”
Lingzhi preened.
“I am very strong!”
Ning Xi gave Xu Manman a meaningful glance, then smiled at Lingzhi.
“Then please follow me for a moment.”
Lingzhi cheerfully trailed after Ning Xi but turned back to call out to Li Que, “Be good and wait for me!”
Li Que wore the expression of a man who wished for death.
Only after Lingzhi had walked far enough away did Xu Manman take out the Primordial True Feather and hand it to Li Que with a playful smile.
“Since this is so important, I should return it to you.”
Li Que accepted the feather with mixed emotions, looking up at Xu Manman.
“Just now, I thought—”
“You thought I’d give the feather to Lingzhi?” Xu Manman chuckled.
“If I had, wouldn’t you have lost your last excuse to resist her forceful advances?”
Li Que’s expression darkened.
“Do you really think I’m so unreasonable, so incapable of distinguishing what’s important?”
Xu Manman patted his shoulder.
“I know you don’t want to be at Lingzhi’s mercy. This feather determines your fate, of course, I’d let you decide what to do with it.”
Earlier, she had sweet-talked Lingzhi to keep her happy, even if it annoyed Li Que.
But deep down, she knew those words were trivial—whereas the Primordial True Feather could alter Li Que’s destiny.
Naturally, she had to handle it carefully.
Li Que muttered, “Thank you.”
“It’s only right.”
Xu Manman replied, a little guiltily.
It was her fault for misunderstanding him all those years ago, for plucking his feather by mistake, leaving him unable to hold his head high among his kin…even denied the status of a primary consort.
Returning the feather now was the least she could do.
But Li Que, unaware of the truth, thought Xu Manman had finally grown a conscience.
His impression of her softened, and he let go of his usual sharp-edged hostility, revealing a gentler side.
Li Que said, “When you act like a decent person, you’re actually quite decent.”
Xu Manman laughed lightly.
“Is this how you spirits deliver backhanded compliments?”
Li Que frowned.
“I was praising you!”
“Well, it was certainly subtle praise.”
Xu Manman grinned.
“I’ll take it as a compliment… Little crow, you’re lucky it was me you met.”
Li Que blinked, confused.
“What do you mean?”
Xu Manman suppressed a smile as she looked at him.
She had encountered too many scheming, inscrutable people in her life and someone as transparent as Li Que was a rarity.
For someone like him, winning his heart was simple.
You didn’t need to be kind to him all the time.
On the contrary, if you kept teasing him until he grew accustomed to seeing you as the villain, then suddenly gave him a bit of kindness—he’d fall right into your hands.
Fortunately, Li Que had met her…Xu Manman considered herself a decent person, at least not the type who would actually sell him out.
“What I mean is, since you’ve called me ‘sister’ a few times, of course I can’t let you suffer. However Li Ying protects you, I’ll do the same,” Xu Manman said, gazing at Li Que with affectionate warmth.
Li Que shifted uncomfortably, shrugging off her hand from his shoulder, and turned his face away, mumbling, “Don’t flatter yourself. I only called you ‘sis’… because I was forced to.”
Xu Manman chuckled.
“Yes, yes, I forced you. Fine, I won’t force you anymore. Little crow, why don’t you like Lingzhi? Is there someone else you fancy? Want me to teach you how to charm a girl? I’m quite skilled in that department.”
There was a hint of atonement in her offer, but she was also genuinely trying to help.
“Of course you’re skilled…” Li Que narrowed his phoenix eyes at her, unimpressed.
“Stop meddling with matchmaking. Lingzhi isn’t as simple as she seems.”
“Oh? You can actually recognize scheming now?” Xu Manman laughed.
“What did she do to you?”
“For the past century, I’ve been ostracized in my clan, openly and covertly. Countless malicious rumors targeted me, and Lingzhi was the only one who stood up for me,” Li Que said coldly.
Xu Manman blinked.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Those rumors? She was the one secretly spreading them. She wanted everyone to shun me, to ruin my reputation, so she could play the savior. She thought I’d have no choice but to submit to her. If Li Ying hadn’t exposed her, I’d still be fooled.”
Xu Manman was stunned.
She hadn’t known Lingzhi long, and the girl seemed sweet and harmless…who would’ve guessed she’d pull such tricks?
If it were just Li Que’s word, she might’ve doubted, but if Li Ying confirmed it, there was little room for misunderstanding.
“The Four Divine Beasts stand at the pinnacle of the divine races, ruling over countless clans. It may seem glorious, but each has its own struggles. To maintain the prestige of the divine bloodline, we’re forced to submit to so-called ‘clan rules’, even Li Ying is no exception.”
Li Que’s voice lowered, the brilliance in his phoenix eyes dimming slightly.
“She may be the Phoenix Sovereign, inheritor of the Nine Suns Li Fire, worshipped by eight thousand bird clans, but above her stands the Elder Council. Those are ancient beings who’ve undergone three rebirths—the makers and enforcers of our laws. Within the Di Luan clan, there’s a rigid hierarchy and strict codes, all to preserve the purity and continuation of the divine bloodline.”
The Four Divine Beasts had always been shrouded in mystery.
Xu Manman only knew the Tuntian clan well, and what Li Que was revealing were secrets of the Di Luan.
Perhaps it was because she already knew about their fledgling’s unsightly past, or perhaps her kindness had loosened his tongue.
“The Di Luan forbid intermarriage with other races. Only pureblood unions can produce stronger divine heirs. The purer the bloodline, the higher the status but also the heavier the constraints. Those with diluted bloodlines are treated as pawns. Li Ying was born under the rare omen of ‘Twin Suns in the Sky,’ her divine bloodline exceptionally potent. Even as a child, the Nine Suns Li Fire recognized her as its master. From birth, she was destined to be the Phoenix Sovereign. But once she came of age, the Elder Council began pressuring her to wed, to select a male Di Luan and produce heirs. Li Ying refused to yield and has resisted them for centuries.”
“Since they couldn’t force Li Ying, they turned to me…” Li Que laughed bitterly.
“Male Di Luan hold no reproductive authority, our status is low. Even if they call me ‘Young Master,’ it’s only out of respect for Li Ying. To the Elder Council, I’m just a pawn to control her. When Li Ying resisted, they made me suffer. All these years, she’s been searching for the one who plucked my Primordial True Feather, hoping to free me from their grasp. But when we learned Lianyue Daozun was dead, Li Ying immediately ordered me to ‘observe mourning’ for her, thinking she could use clan law to shield me from Lingzhi and the Council’s schemes. Yet they still won’t let go. This time, Lingzhi came not just for me, she also brought the Council’s decree: Li Ying must return within a year to wed.”
Xu Manman stared blankly.
“I don’t understand… How can the Phoenix Emperor, ruler of eight thousand bird clans, be treated like this? She’s no different from a breeding tool!”
“Li Ying doesn’t understand either. She says the glory of the Di Luan lies not in bloodline continuation, but in action. But the Elder Council disagrees. On one hand, they force the divine-blooded to reproduce; on the other, they mercilessly execute those who defy them. Even as the Phoenix Emperor, if Li Ying rebels, she’ll become an enemy of her own clan. Her pride won’t let her submit, so I often worry…”
Li Que trailed off, exhaling heavily.
Xu Manman was silent for a long moment before patting his shoulder with a wry smile.
“You should worry about yourself first. Li Ying is clever and decisive, she’ll find a way.”
Li Que shot her a sidelong glance.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Am I not clever or decisive?”
Xu Manman grinned.
“Hmm… What do you think?”
Li Que’s face reddened.
“Fine, I’m not as brilliant as Li Ying… but I can still figure something out.”
Xu Manman suddenly waved.
“Lingzhi! You’re back!”
Li Que’s feathers bristled, wings instinctively tensing to flee…until he saw Xu Manman’s teasing smirk.
He whipped around, only to find the courtyard empty.
“You—!” Li Que gritted his teeth, flushing with embarrassment.
“You lying trickster!”
Xu Manman chuckled.
“Little crow, the heavens gave you wings not for running away.”
Her words struck Li Que like a tolling bell, reverberating in his chest.
He stood frozen, mind buzzing, as if suddenly grasping something profound.
By the time he snapped out of it, Xu Manman was already striding away, leaving behind nothing but her carefree silhouette.
