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Chapter 649: The Return of the Phoenix Celestial General (Part 2 of 2, with 6,000 words still owed)
Chapter 649: The Return of the Phoenix Celestial General (Part 2 of 2, with 6,000 words still owed)
Immortal Court, Imperial Stable.
Today, this place is unusually quiet. Outside the gate, where clouds of white mist swirl, few Immortals pass by, and some even seem to deliberately avoid it.
Occasionally, a few Immortals come to the Stable on official business, their faces devoid of expression, focused solely on their tasks. They lead the Immortal steeds and depart without delay.
The Stable Master and Deputy stand outside the hall, stealing glances inside at the majestic figure seated behind the desk. They sigh softly in unison as they avert their gazes.
They exchange a glance, both seeing the unease hidden in each other's eyes.
"We're done for."
Where it's quiet, it's bustling elsewhere.
Today, the liveliest place in the Immortal Court is undoubtedly the hall where the Phoenix Celestial General has returned.
Even without an official announcement, the stable hands have received news of his promotion to General, skipping two ranks, and now holding the Fourth Rank Leopard Seal. From this point on, his Immortal path shines brightly.
But this stable master, ignoring all advice, not only fails to prepare gifts, but also ignores this grand occasion, choosing instead to quietly sit in the hall, organizing various tasks.
A Fourth Rank Celestial General should be surrounded by congratulations, yet he sits alone, unmoved by the celebrations.
The Stable Master and Deputy sigh in unison, having never witnessed such a situation before. Now, they've opened their eyes to it, realizing that this virtuous Immortal is not only rigid but also intimidatingly aloof.
They wonder if things will change when Zileng returns and if this stable master will still be able to sit as calmly as he does now.
"..."
Qing Hua silently puts down her brush, arranging the books in order.
She, of course, hears the sighs outside the hall.
Zileng's connections in the Celestial Kingdom are indeed impressive. News of her forced confinement in the stable has spread, and many are already aware of it.
Today, the Phoenix General returns to the Immortal Court.
In the eyes of these people, this stable master has reached the peak of his career.
But in Qing Hua's eyes, there's not a hint of panic.
She slightly raises her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. As long as her master is safe, it seems nothing else matters.
Although Zileng's death may not completely solve the problem and might even bring greater trouble, Qing Hua only needs to follow orders and focus on her tasks.
It's similar to when she first saw the dragon stranded in the shallows in the Great Qianshan, poised to soar again in Shenzhou.
Immortal cranes soar like clouds, and peonies bloom like an ocean.
A golden corridor stretches across the sky, leading directly to the Immortal Hall.
Amidst the crowd of Immortals, a man clad in blue and white armor strides forward. His originally handsome face, now shrouded in indifference, takes on a hint of gloom.
Facing the flattering words, his eyes remain calm, unmoved by the slightest ripple.
The Immortals, however, show no signs of surprise.
It's well known that the Phoenix General is reclusive, and in the vast Immortal Court, he has no close friends, not even among his fellow disciples or master brothers.
In his palace, there are no servants or court ladies.
He seems born to serve the Immortal Court, a sharp blade without a shred of personal emotion.
To put it bluntly, these congratulating Immortals can't even fathom the preferences of this Celestial General.
Precisely because of this, he has earned the reputation of being "impartial."
The crowd enters the Immortal Hall, where palace ladies, sent by them, have already prepared exquisite delicacies and fine wines.
The Celestial Officials raise their wine cups, offering congratulations without restraint.
"..."
The Phoenix Celestial General sits in the main seat, yet he seems to be sitting in a secluded corner.
He drinks alone, as if the commotion around him has nothing to do with him, and the congratulations are for someone else.
"Azure Phoenix General."
Just then, a broad-shouldered man walked forward and drained the cup of immortal brew.
He was the master of the Lion-Tiger Beast, the Rainbow Thorn General.
"My good-for-nothing nephew and Zileng were close friends. When she descended to the mortal realm, I specifically asked my subordinates to send her off on their mounts. She couldn't stop praising you, General, so I'd like to toast you again."
The Rainbow Thorn General raised his cup once more, but the man before him looked at him properly for the first time: "The Bodhisattva's sermon ended many days ago, and she hasn't returned yet?"
"Well..." The Rainbow Thorn General hesitated, a smile appearing on his face. As expected, whether mortal or immortal, there are always things that matter.
"General, are you worried about a small conflict between the mortal court and the Bodhisattva that might implicate Zileng?"
He put down the wine cup: "You worry too much. It's not easy for her to descend to the mortal realm. She suffered some grievances not long ago, so I asked her to visit Hongze and check on my nephew. It's also a good opportunity for her to relax in her mortal homeland. She'll be back in at most ten days."
"Grievances?" The Azure Phoenix General slightly raised his head.
"Zileng was ordered to go to the mortal realm on your behalf, and she left in a hurry, forgetting to get a permit. The newly appointed Stablemaster locked her in the stable for quite some time." The Rainbow Thorn General smiled helplessly.
However, to his surprise, the Azure Phoenix General's face showed no change. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and said softly, "Following the rules isn't considered a grievance."
Upon hearing this, the Rainbow Thorn General clicked his tongue in his mind. The rumors were true; he was indeed a sharp sword of the Immortal Court.
Wanting to get along with such a person was indeed difficult.
Thinking of this, he smiled and finished the wine from earlier. He turned around and returned to his seat.
Amidst the clinking of cups and plates, the banquet finally came to an end.
The celestial officials rose one after another to take their leave.
The Azure Phoenix General had no intention of seeing them off. He stood up and returned to the depths of the palace, carrying a hint of alcohol on his breath. He removed his armor, leaving only a thin white robe, and sat in the dimly lit study.
In the quiet of the night, the slight intoxication on his face gradually faded as he attentively went through the pile of documents on the table.
Time passed, and he unconsciously reached out, but there was no hot tea to receive.
The Azure Phoenix General was taken aback. He clenched his five fingers slightly and then withdrew his hand, continuing to focus his thoughts on official duties.
Until the morning light revealed its glow.
He stretched his arm and reached for the cloak on the rack, but it was still an empty grasp.
The Azure Phoenix General glanced sideways at the empty rack, staring at it.
Suddenly, he felt a bit uneasy.
After a long contemplation, he slowly closed his eyes.
In a blink, nineteen days had passed.
This newly promoted great commander had not taken a single step out of the study.
Until the sky turned white once more.
He finally put down the documents, stood up, and walked out of the palace.
As an immortal general, the Azure Phoenix General didn't even have a messenger, yet he walked into another palace. Seeing the astonished Rainbow Thorn General, he asked bluntly, "Why hasn't she returned?"
"I... I don't know."
The Rainbow Thorn General's eyelids twitched. He had said it would be at most ten days, and the other party had chosen the nineteenth day. But with the separation between the immortal and mortal realms, how could he know what had delayed the two mounts?
"Help me investigate what happened on the day of the Bodhisattva's sermon."
The Azure Phoenix General nodded slightly and turned to leave the palace.
"Since you've asked, I'll certainly investigate carefully. But where are you going now?" The Rainbow Thorn General hurriedly stood up and accompanied him out of the palace.
The Azure Phoenix General gazed into the distance and said concisely, "The Imperial Stable."
When handling matters, he rarely looked for clues; he preferred to go straight to the heart of the matter and ask for the reason.
If someone was in trouble, especially when that person held a celestial edict and descended to the mortal realm, ordinary people wouldn't dare to harm them. But she still encountered trouble, so there must be a reason.
A conflict between the mortal court and the Bodhisattva was one reason.
Mutual grudges were another.
(End of Chapter)
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