Chapter 7 A Bird Named Xiaohua

Fang Qinghui comforted Su Miaowen by gently stroking her hair and said with deep meaning:

“Wenwen, you just came back and don’t quite understand yet. When there’s a chance, Mom will talk to you about the things in our circle properly!”

A hint of compliance flashed in Su Miaowen’s eyes, and she obediently nodded and said, “Yes, Mom, I understand!”

However, although she said it out loud, in her heart, she couldn’t help but worry: “Mom won’t mix up Dad’s work troubles with the unlucky things she told Su Xiwan, right!”

On the other hand, Fang Qinghui really didn’t connect this matter with being unlucky. After all, she was not someone who believed in Feng Shui. She mentioned the Feng Shui master just now to comfort Su Miaowen.

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At the same time, Su Xiwan returned to the dormitory and as soon as she entered, she saw a dark shadow flying into her arms. Su Xiwan looked at the dirty little thing in her arms, then glanced at the open window, feeling helpless as she said:

“Xiaohua, did you run out again? How many times have I told you, if bad people catch you, they will kill you and make soup out of you!”

This bird called “Xiaohua” has a colorful plumage, and Su Xiwan is not sure what precious species it belongs to. She encountered Xiaohua during the summer vacation of her first year in high school when she went to the deep mountains to collect herbs.

At that time, while collecting herbs in the deep mountains, she accidentally found the injured Xiaohua. Its feet and wings were covered in wounds. Su Xiwan carefully bandaged its wounds, fearing that the beasts in the mountains would harm Xiaohua. So, Su Xiwan brought Xiaohua back to the capital.

However, when its injuries healed, Su Xiwan planned to release it back into the deep mountains. Unexpectedly, Xiaohua kept shaking its head, indicating that it didn’t want to leave Su Xiwan.

It was then that Su Xiwan was surprised to find that this bird seemed not to be an ordinary one. It seemed to understand her words. Later, Su Xiwan discovered another amazing ability of Xiaohua, that is, its flying speed seemed very fast.

Moreover, one time when she was making medicine, she found that a herb from the deep mountains was missing. She casually mentioned it, and Xiaohua flew out the window. In a short time, it returned with the herb she needed in its beak.

Every morning when she meditates, a faint spiritual energy flows around her, and Xiaohua would meditate with her, as if it were also cultivating.

Seeing Xiaohua clinging to her, not wanting to leave, Su Xiwan decided not to insist on sending it back. Due to its colorful feathers, Su Xiwan ignored Xiaohua’s resistance and gave it a name she thought was fitting: “Xiaohua.”

Since then, Su Xiwan, who had always been lonely, seemed to have a playmate. Xiaohua seemed more like a helper. When Su Xiwan needed herbs, Xiaohua would quickly find them for her.

Sometimes, Su Xiwuan was curious if Xiaohua could transform, moving quickly from one place to another. Otherwise, how could its speed be so fast!

Although Su Xiwan didn’t know the species of Xiaohua, she thought it should belong to the category of spiritual beasts. Before she learned metaphysics, she might not have thought so, but since she started learning metaphysics and had a hint of spiritual energy, she believed Xiaohua was a spiritual beast of a not-so-low level.

Most of the time, Xiaohua stayed in her rented room or space. Su Xiwan couldn’t enter this space herself, but she could put small things or creatures inside. The space was only a dozen square meters, not able to hold much, but for Su Xiwan, it was enough for her daily needs.

At this moment, Xiaohua stayed in Su Xiwan’s arms, behaving like a spoiled child, rubbing its head against Su Xiwan’s arm. Su Xiwan had to reach out and stroke Xiaohua’s feathers, saying gently:

“Missed me after just one day?”

Xiaohua seemed to understand her words, nodding repeatedly in response to Su Xiwan’s question. Amused by its cute behavior, Su Xiwan carried Xiaohua to the sofa, sat down slowly, and continued:

“Do you think I would believe that you had a great time sneaking out today, forgetting about my existence? Look at how dirty you are!”

Saying that, Su Xiwan raised her hand slightly, drew a cleaning symbol in the air, aimed it at Xiaohua, and in an instant, a golden light flashed, and Xiaohua’s body was refreshed.

Looking at its newly cleaned feathers, Xiaohua made a few plaintive sounds. Su Xiwan, who had lived with this little guy for so long, naturally understood its meaning. So, Su Xiwan smiled and promised:

“Tonight, I have to work overtime making pills and won’t have time to clean you. I’ll make sure you can bathe in your swimming pool next time!”

Xiaohua especially loved playing in the water. So, whenever its feathers got dirty, Su Xiwan would personally clean it if she had time. She even bought a small swimming pool specifically for it to play in.

After hearing Su Xiwan’s explanation, although Xiaohua felt a bit wronged, it sensibly rubbed against Su Xiwan, then obediently flew back to its little nest. It knew that Su Xiwan couldn’t be disturbed while making pills.

Seeing Xiaohua being so well-behaved, Su Xiwan smiled. After all, for the past two or three years, Xiaohua had been by her side. Xiaohua not only understood her words but also helped her in many ways. So gradually, Su Xiwan began to see Xiaohua as more important than the people in her own family. To Su Xiwan now, Xiaohua was like a close family member.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, Su Xiwan’s dorm was filled with the strong fragrance of various herbs. That night, she devoted herself to making pills. The technique of making pills was something she learned from her space. Over the past few years, Su Xiwan’s daily expenses had almost all come from selling these pills and talismans.

As the eastern sky began to lighten, with the sun about to rise, Su Xiwan paused her busy work on the pills and went to the balcony to prepare for meditation and cultivation.

The bustling city she lived in was surrounded by concrete and steel, and the spiritual energy was so thin that it was almost imperceptible. After staying up all night making pills, Su Xiwan felt that the spiritual energy she had accumulated in the past few days had almost been depleted. Therefore, she had to seize the time when the sun was rising and the spiritual energy was at its peak to barely cultivate some more.

When Xiaohua sensed Su Xiwan’s movements, it quickly came to her side. It stood next to Su Xiwan, mimicking her, “sitting” on the ground, raising its tiny head, closing its eyes tightly, as if it were also diligently absorbing the spiritual energy in the air.

When the sun fully leaped above the horizon, and the golden sunlight bathed the earth, Su Xiwan and Xiaohua slowly ended their cultivation. Su Xiwan made a simple breakfast and prepared some toast bread that Xiaohua loved to eat.

After school in the afternoon, Su Xiwan went to the coffee shop across from the school. As soon as she entered, she heard a clear voice:

“Wanwan, over here!”

Su Xiwuan followed the sound and saw Qiao Feiyan sitting in a corner, smiling at her with a wave. Su Xiwan’s lips curved involuntarily when she saw her friend. She slung her backpack and walked quickly towards the corner where Qiao Feiyan was sitting.

“Wanwan, I thought I was wrong when I saw you. I told you to dress like this. Your bangs and glasses before were so low-key! You’re much prettier now!” Qiao Feiyan couldn’t wait to start her “chatty mode” as soon as she saw Su Xiwan.

Su Xiwan sat opposite Qiao Feiyan, patiently listening to her friend’s endless chatter. She listened to her friend’s rambling with amusement and took two bottles of pills she had made yesterday from her backpack.

“Here, Yan Yan, please help me out!”

“What’s the trouble? Besides, I eat a lot of your pills, so I should get a commission!” Qiao Feiyan took the pills Su Xiwan handed her and carefully put them in her bag.