Chapter 56 Su Ziqi II

　　—You were born with wings; you ought not to crawl upon the ground. If you can spread your wings, then learn to fly.

　　The nest of the little phoenix lay in a grove of enormous plane trees in the northwestern direction of the Nanyu Forest.

　　Su Ziqi piloted the flying craft; Gongkong acted as guide; they flew toward that grove of plane trees.

　　“Professor Dong said after returning from the last hunt that phoenixes like to eat Azure Dragons?” Su Ziqi, while piloting the motorcycle flying craft, conversed with Gongkong.

　　Both of them were learning each other’s language; sometimes the two spoke the common language of Mu Star, sometimes they suddenly switched to Chinese.

　　“Correct. Once a phoenix has eaten an Azure Dragon it becomes addicted; the toxin of the Azure Dragon accumulates inside the phoenix’s body and, upon reaching a certain degree, the phoenix will spontaneously combust and die.”

　　“In our Chinese vocabulary there is a term called ‘phoenix nirvana’ that speaks of precisely this situation. Then is our little phoenix not very pitiable—will it also end thus in the future?” Thinking that such a lovable little phoenix would in the future spontaneously combust and die, Su Ziqi could not help pitying it.

　　“Sister Ziqi, it will not. This phoenix is still very small; not only can it not eat an Azure Dragon—it would itself be eaten by an Azure Dragon. You know I understand the language of beasts; it listens to me very well. When it grows up I shall not let it eat Azure Dragons and it will not eat them.”

　　“Then what does the little phoenix mainly eat now?”

　　“It is an omnivorous animal. Ordinarily it eats the fruit of bamboo and wild fruits; sometimes it also eats the meat of large snakes for a change.”

　　“Where do the Azure Dragons live?”

　　“They nest in the lofty mountain ranges on the eastern side of our forest; upon the sheer cliffs there are huge caves.”

　　“Your planet is truly too miraculous—there are so many miraculous animals. No wonder Professor Dong runs into the forest every day and has forgotten to return home.”

　　“‘Forgotten to return home’—what does that mean?”

　　“It means he does not wish to go home and regards your Mu Star as home.”

　　“Sister Ziqi, I also hope you will forget to return home, regard this place as home, so that I can see you every day and be with you every day—how wonderful that would be.”

　　“Gongkong, I am older than you—I am your elder sister. You are the adoptive son of the Great Chieftain, young and of high status; you are fully qualified to find a girl of the clan younger and more beautiful than I and marry her.”

　　“Sister Ziqi, I simply like you. Is it wrong to like a person?”

　　“You are truly a straight man.” Although Su Ziqi said this with her mouth, her heart was as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

　　Su Ziqi piloted the motorcycle flying craft; while still some distance from the phoenix’s nest they already heard the piercing cry of the phoenix, then saw the little phoenix flying toward the craft as though welcoming them, circling around the craft.

　　Su Ziqi parked the craft upon a huge branch beside the phoenix’s nest. The little phoenix came beside the two of them, excitedly beating its wings and pressing its head before Gongkong for him to stroke.

　　This phoenix had grown much larger than when Su Ziqi had last seen it; the colors of its plumage were even more brilliant; under the sunlight it emitted dazzling sevencolored rays whose brilliant reflected light made it impossible for the eyes to look directly.

　　Su Ziqi also boldly tried stroking the phoenix’s feathers; its feathers were as smooth as if rubbed with oil.

　　Before the two of them the phoenix appeared especially gentle, from time to time uttering long cries as though meeting longlost kin.

　　“Gongkong, right now I wish to ride the little phoenix and soar through the sky.”

　　Ever since the previous time she had ridden the phoenix and soared through the sky Su Ziqi had continually savored that feeling.

　　Riding a phoenix and flying upon a motorcycle flying craft were completely different; riding a phoenix was a true feeling of flying through the sky.

　　“Sister Ziqi—no problem.”

　　The two of them mounted the phoenix and very quickly flew into the sky.

　　The phoenix’s rate of climb was very fast, rising rapidly like a rollercoaster; a ringing arose in Su Ziqi’s ears, a continuous roaring.

　　At first she was a little afraid of heights and dared not even open her eyes; only after the phoenix’s flight steadied did she open her eyes.

　　She looked down upon the forest, the high mountains and the rivers; this feeling of looking down upon the scenery from a height was too marvelous. The scenery before her eyes was like looking down upon a huge screen; the full expanse of green filled the eye without obstruction, making one feel so comfortable and at ease.

　　Looking upon this beautiful scenery Su Ziqi felt that the fatigue and pressure accumulated over so many days upon Mu Star vanished in an instant; her entire body and mind were released.

　　The phoenix flew southward.

　　Along the way Gongkong suddenly pointed to a place ahead and said: “Sister Ziqi, look! Sister Zheng Ya and their gathering party are advancing along a path in the forest ahead.”

　　“How is it I cannot see them?” Su Ziqi opened her eyes wide and looked downward; apart from the dense green trees below she could see nothing.

　　Gongkong sat behind Su Ziqi and secretly infused spiritual power into the celestial eye within Su Ziqi’s mind.

　　Suddenly Su Ziqi felt her vision instantly brighten a great deal; her eyesight advanced by leaps and bounds. Through the gaps in the dense leaves she seemed even able to see the ants upon the ground clearly.

　　“Ah—I see them!” Su Ziqi waved excitedly toward the ground.

　　“Sister Ziqi, we are very high above the ground—they cannot see you.”

　　“Gongkong, truly strange—how has my eyesight suddenly improved so much?”

　　“That must be the phoenix bestowing divine power upon you.” Gongkong said with a smile.

　　The phoenix had already flown out of the Nanyu Forest, crossed the Misty Mountains, and come to the southernmost end of the continent of Mu.

　　The terrain there varied greatly in undulation: continuous rolling plateaus, lofty mountain ranges, and also huge lakes and basins.

　　This was the territory of the Centaur Tribe, called the CleftHoof Plateau, connected with the southern part of the Nanyu Forest; around this continent lay several unnamed small islands.

　　When the phoenix saw a lake at the foot of a mountain it was very happy and gradually descended from the air. After Su Ziqi and Gongkong jumped from its back to the ground it excitedly ran alone to the lakeside to drink water.

　　Here they were at a windgap at the foot of the mountain; the cool summer breeze came, making one feel fresh and comfortable.

　　Su Ziqi and Gongkong took out the prepared maize buns and, making do with them as a midday meal, ate a little to fill their stomachs.

　　“It has been a long time since I saw so large a lake. Gongkong, I wish to swim in this lake.”

　　“Sister Ziqi, this place is called the CleftHoof Plateau and is the territory of the Centaur Clan. We have entered another race’s territory without authorization; better not linger too long lest we cause unnecessary disputes.”

　　“The Centaur Clan—are they the ones whose upper body is human and lower body horse?”

　　“Correct. The Centaur Clan has always been savage; better not disturb them. Moreover the water of the lake is rather cold and there may also be maneating fish. I know that around the CleftHoof Plateau there are several uninhabited islands that are undisturbed; upon the islands there are beaches—shall we go there to swim?”

　　“Good—then what are we waiting for? Let us set out at once.” Su Ziqi could already wait no longer.

　　“No problem.”

　　Gongkong whistled; the phoenix immediately returned to their side. They again mounted the phoenix and flew toward the western sky.

　　During the flight Su Ziqi continually looked downward and saw many Centaurs galloping upon the grasslands of the basin.

　　Since the previous time, from the high place of the seventh floor of the AzureDragon Inn of Wangqiu City, Su Ziqi had seen the BullHeads from afar, this was again a time upon this miraculous planet that she saw a strange race different from humans.

　　Gongkong, by means of remote viewing, observed that more than a dozen li from the coast there was a rather large island; upon the coast of the island there was a large beach. Therefore by intention he ordered the phoenix to fly there.

　　It was an extremely beautiful small island; the island was almost entirely covered with dense shrubs and mangrove forests.

　　On the western side of the island lay a semicircular beach about five kilometers long, like a jade belt floating between the green island and the blue sea. The sand surface was broad and gentle, the sand clean and soft; the seawater was azure and clear.

　　Su Ziqi stood barefoot upon the beach. Here, apart from the sound of the wind and the occasional cries of birds, everything was extraordinarily quiet—like a paradise beyond the world.

　　She casually scooped up a handful of sand and discovered that the sand here was fine as powder; after throwing the sand away her palm was completely clean, without any mud or dust remaining.

　　“This place is simply too beautiful! Gongkong—thank you so much for bringing me here.”

　　“Sister Ziqi, you should thank the little phoenix—it was the phoenix that guided us here.”

　　Su Ziqi told Gongkong to turn his back; she rapidly changed into her swimsuit and then, unable to wait, flung herself into the embrace of the sea.

　　The temperature of the seawater was moderate and very clear. The seawater sliding across her skin was like a cool breeze brushing the face—so refreshing.

　　She had already been thirsting for it. Upon Earth she had liked swimming; after work every day she would go swimming to relax. Since coming to this unknown planet she had not swum for several months.

　　The phoenix of its own accord sought food among the shrubs of the island.

　　Gongkong placed the leather case upon his back upon the ground; inside this leather case was the stone casket given him by Great Master Tianyouzi. Ever since learning that this stone casket was extremely important, whether eating or sleeping he always carried the leather case and never left it.

　　Gongkong removed his clothing and also jumped into the sea, frolicking with Su Ziqi in the water—yet the yellow headcloth wrapped about his head still remained in place.

　　Su Ziqi spread her limbs and floated upon her back upon the surface of the sea in the posture of the backstroke. The sky was blue without a wrinkle; the water was so clear that the fish seemed about to weep; everything was so peaceful and beautiful.

　　She turned her head in the water and saw that not far away Gongkong was still swimming with the yellow headcloth wrapped about his head; she could not help finding it amusing and thought to herself: do the men of the Gongyou Clan truly, as legend says, wear the yellow headcloth even when sleeping?

　　At that moment a wave of drowsiness came over Su Ziqi. Just as her upper and lower eyelids began to fight she suddenly felt the heaven and earth spinning; beneath the surface of the sea a powerful yet gentle force instantly lifted her from the water. When she next opened her eyes she found herself already lying flat upon the beach.

　　“What is this?” Su Ziqi thought to herself. Everything had happened so suddenly that when she tried to recall what exactly had just occurred her mind was empty and she remembered nothing at all.

　　Gongkong, who had originally been swimming in the sea, was now standing beside her at some unknown time. She discovered that Gongkong’s expression seemed wrong; he was staring fixedly at something in the sea.

　　Su Ziqi followed Gongkong’s gaze and saw a metal trident rapidly drifting through the seawater. This metal trident passed precisely through the position where she had just been floating on her back and planted itself straight into the sand at the edge of the shore.

　　“Gongkong—what exactly is going on?” Su Ziqi had still not recovered.

　　Gongkong’s expression had already returned to calm: “Sister Ziqi, we have encountered a little trouble. Yet rest assured—I shall handle it.”

　　With that Gongkong raised his voice and shouted loudly toward the direction of the seawater: “Damn it—you lowly sneaks who launch surprise attacks—hurry up and show yourselves!”