Chapter Twenty-Four: The Phoenix's Pact

"You! Stop right there!"

Feng Ke'er had just dashed out of the lecture hall when a loud command rang out from behind her to the right. She stopped involuntarily and turned to look, only to see Senior Brother Jiang standing there with a group of over ten people, all glaring at her with furrowed brows.

They were all Qi-Refining disciples clad in white short robes trimmed with blue, each carrying a large bundle of firewood on their backs.

"Yes, I mean you!" Jiang Zhengtai threw his bundle of firewood to the ground, put his hands on his hips, and beckoned to her with a crooked finger. "Come here!"

The others, seeing through his intentions, began to jeer and laugh. "Jiang Yuan, that's not fair, bullying your junior sister like that."

"Senior Brother Jiang, are you trying to slack off?"

"Jiang Yuan, we've barely walked a few steps and you're already shirking?"

Jiang Yuan turned to shout at them, "So what? Did Uncle Liu say we have to deliver the firewood ourselves? Did he? Well?" He was extremely displeased; these guys were clearly doing this on purpose!

It wasn't as if they didn't know—he had just broken through to the late stage of Qi-Refining and needed to quietly consolidate his cultivation. How could he spare the time for menial chores? Besides, it was just delivering firewood—anyone could do it. Uncle Liu merely needed someone to bring the firewood, he didn't care who actually delivered it.

So it was all about finding a laborer, huh! Feng Ke'er breathed a sigh of relief, lowered her head, and walked over, respectfully saluting, "Greetings, Senior Brother." She then saluted the others as well, "Greetings, Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers."

This only caused the others to stir up even more of a commotion. "Jiang Yuan, don't bully those who are honest!"

"Little Junior Sister, don't pay him any mind!"

Jiang Yuan glared at them in annoyance. "I'm just well-liked, so Junior Sister is happy to deliver the firewood for me. Jealous, are you?" Then he turned back to Feng Ke'er and asked, "Aren't you, Junior Sister?"

Better to avoid trouble if possible, and besides, Jiang Yuan was a disciple of the Disciplinary Hall—how dare Feng Ke'er say 'no'? Silently cursing this brat, she kept her head down and repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes."

"Tch!" The rest, seeing they couldn't start any drama, were disappointed and continued on toward the dining hall, bundles of firewood on their backs.

"What are you standing there for?" Jiang Yuan kicked the pile of firewood at his feet. "Hurry and catch up! Don't keep Uncle Liu waiting!"

It was a massive bundle of firewood, neatly stacked, each log as thick as a bowl—surely several hundred pounds! She wondered whether she could even lift it.

Bracing herself, Ke'er stepped forward, knelt down, and grabbed the thick hemp rope binding the wood.

To her surprise, she found she could actually lift the enormous bundle!

Jiang Yuan watched coldly from the side, making no move to help. Ke'er seethed inwardly, gritted her teeth, summoned her strength, and hoisted the firewood onto her back. Rising was a struggle, her footing unsteady, and she staggered.

"Heh, you really are strong," Jiang Yuan commented, arms folded, humming in dissatisfaction. "What's your name? Which courtyard do you live in?" He was genuinely surprised—a little novice without spiritual power could actually carry such a huge bundle of firewood.

So, he hadn't even recognized her! The seaweed hair worked after all. Feng Ke'er kept her head down and stuttered deliberately, "I... Senior... Senior Brother..."

What rotten luck, he thought she had potential but she turned out to be a stutterer! Jiang Yuan waved her off in disgust. "Go, hurry and catch up before you get lost." Those others were definitely doing it on purpose, walking as if they had oil on their heels—within moments, they were a dozen yards ahead.

Ke'er bowed meekly with the firewood on her back and hurried to catch up.

Jiang Yuan scratched his head as he watched her go, thinking, She looks so familiar—where have I seen her before?

Once he saw Feng Ke'er catch up with the others, he muttered, "She runs fast enough," and finally returned to his courtyard to cultivate in peace.

Feng Ke'er followed the group, carrying the firewood to the supply courtyard behind the dining hall.

"It's already late morning—why are you just arriving? Lazy bunch! Stack the firewood neatly against the wall. No slacking, make it tidy!" A black-faced, middle-aged man in a yellow robe trimmed with blue stood in the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back, looking thoroughly displeased.

The group that had been joking moments ago suddenly fell silent, obediently following orders without a word.

The firewood on her back grew heavier and heavier for Feng Ke'er, and she lagged behind by more than ten meters. As she reached the gate of the supply yard, a slender, sharp-eyed youth in white ran from the kitchen to report, "Uncle Liu, the main kitchen needs firewood!"

The middle-aged man grunted, furrowing his brow. He pointed to her bundle. "That one. You, take the firewood straight to the main kitchen."

"Yes, sir."

Gritting her teeth, Feng Ke'er hoisted the firewood higher, her spirits lifted as she followed the white-robed youth. She cheered herself on silently: Hold on! Soon there will be food!

Experience told her that this trip wouldn't be in vain! After all, as the saying goes, no one lets the cooks go hungry.

Back in college, during the school anniversary, she'd volunteered two days at the canteen. In four years, those were the best, most delicious meals she'd ever had!

That morning's two millet rice balls and the vegetable-meat soup were nowhere near enough. After all this exertion, her stomach was practically caved in from hunger—she was nearly seeing stars! Hearing she could go to the kitchen, how could she not be happy?

But her hopes were dashed. At the fragrant kitchen steps stood four fully armed Qi-Refining disciples.

The white-robed youth stopped and pointed at the ground. "Junior Sister, the kitchen is off-limits to outsiders. Just leave the firewood here."

Ke'er swallowed her saliva, put down the bundle, and, seeing the young man seemed kind, decided to try her luck. "Senior Brother, is there any water? I went to cut firewood today and forgot my water pouch..." At least if she could get inside somehow!

The youth looked at the firewood, then at her, frowned, and replied, "You're a straightforward one. Fine, my shoulder's been acting up these days—why don't you take it inside yourself?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Feng Ke'er was overjoyed, bending to pick up the firewood again.

The youth ignored her and walked up the steps to whisper to the guard at the door.

That senior disciple glanced down at her, then looked away coldly without a word.

Well, at least he didn't object. The young man waved her in. "Junior Sister, come with me!"

Ke'er bowed quickly to the four "gatekeepers" and hurried after him, inwardly waving her fist in indignation: To hell with dignity for a bowl of rice! People live to eat—when you're hungry, you need to eat!

Just as she reached the kitchen door, a cloud of steam billowed out and momentarily blinded her, nearly tripping her on the threshold.

The white-robed youth caught her. "The millet rice is just cooked—the steam can be strong. First time in the kitchen, huh? You'll get used to it."

See, there are good people everywhere. This time, Feng Ke'er's thanks were sincere.

"No need to thank me," the youth replied, withdrawing his hand and pointing to a huge stove at the edge. "Just stack the firewood in front of that stove. My surname is Jiang—Jiang Yuan is my younger brother. He slacked off again and made you do his work, didn't he?"

So that was it. Feng Ke'er just grinned and set down the firewood at the stove.

"Hungry, aren't you? Here, take this," the youth whispered, handing her a cold millet rice ball. "The spirit grain rice balls are too much for you. The lunch batch isn't ready yet—this one's from breakfast. Eat it quickly by the water jar. You're not allowed to take food out, but you can sneak a bite over there."

As long as it filled her stomach, cold or not, it would do! Feng Ke'er took it with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang." In her heart, she thought: These two brothers were not only different in looks but in temperament too. The elder was much more amiable.

Just then, a shadowy figure loomed through the steam. Someone seemed to be approaching.

Senior Brother Jiang pointed to a large window inside and spoke loudly, "Junior Sister, the water jar is over there, with a ladle beside it. Go get some water yourself—I've got work to do."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Feng Ke'er tucked the cold rice ball into her sleeve and headed for the window.

Behind her, a stern voice rang out. "Jiang Fang, who is that?"

"Reporting, Senior Brother, she was sent by Uncle Liu to deliver firewood to the main kitchen," came Jiang Fang's crisp reply. "She said she was thirsty and went to get water."

The newcomer grunted an acknowledgment, then changed the subject. "Any more rice balls gone missing?"

"No," Jiang Fang replied.

"Good. But keep a close watch."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Ears pricked, Feng Ke'er pieced together the conversation—apparently, there had been thefts in the kitchen!

At that moment, someone inside shouted, "It's ready! Take it off the stove!"

Another pot of millet rice was done. "One, two, three—lift!" The kitchen erupted with voices and the clatter of feet.

A fresh wave of fragrant steam poured forth, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Feng Ke'er, finally at the water jar, seized the chance to pull the cold rice ball from her sleeve and prepared to eat. But suddenly, her foot caught on something; unprepared, she crashed face-first to the ground. The rice ball flew from her hand and vanished into the steam.

"Damn it," she muttered, frantically feeling around on the floor. If someone else found it, would it cause trouble for Jiang Fang?

But instead of the rice ball, her right hand landed on something soft and warm.

What on earth?

Feng Ke'er feared nothing—except for this sensation of touching a living creature! Goosebumps erupted all over her. She jerked her hand back in a flash, mouth wide open. "Ah—"

Suddenly, something flew over and blocked her mouth tightly.

Then a low, childish voice whispered in her ear, "Don't shout!"

The voice sounded so familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere before. Feng Ke'er froze.

In that instant, a streak of red flashed before her eyes, and a drop of scorching liquid landed on her brow. At the same time, the childish voice rang out again: "Feng Jiu, form the pact."

Then she felt a deep thud in her heart. In her mind, a fiery red bird spread its wings and slowly rose—well, it was just one showy, fire-covered bird! Instinct told her this must be Feng Jiu.

Then a clear, feminine voice sounded in her mind: "Master, this is an equality pact."

(Author: Begging for reviews, for votes, for clicks, for favorites. Tongtian Codex, Chapter 24—Fire Phoenix Pact, complete!)