Golden-Winged Peng

Gu Changge's voice had barely faded when a soft chirp suddenly came from a nearby bamboo branch.

The small black bird perched on the branch fluttered its wings. Its beady, black eyes rolled around twice, and its chirp actually carried an indescribable sense of mockery.

This was no ordinary titmouse.

The bird's true form was a Golden-Winged Great Peng, possessing the bloodline of an ancient divine beast. A single flap of its wings could sever a galaxy, and its sharp claws could tear apart the universe.

Even a Saint Realm cultivator wouldn't be able to withstand a single strike from its claws.

Five years ago, it had suffered severe injuries in a fight to the death. It fell from the sky and, as coincidence would have it, crashed right into a mud pit outside the mountain gate of the Azure Profound Sect.

Suddenly, it sensed a faint, mysterious aura emanating from the Purple Bamboo Peak that made its heart palpitate.

It originally wanted to sneak closer to investigate, but was caught barehanded by Gu Changge and was almost roasted over a fire.

To save its life, it acknowledged Gu Changge as its master.

Gu Changge had never been strict with it, and over time, a somewhat casual camaraderie had developed between them.

He had long wanted to let the bird go back. After all, with his current strength, even if they were separated by an endless distance, the restriction left in its divine soul could take its life in an instant.

But this Golden-Winged Great Peng stubbornly refused to leave. Where else could it find a better cultivation environment than here?

At this moment, it tilted its head, clearly having seen through Gu Changge's wicked sense of humor.

He was someone who could overturn the entire continent with a wave of his hand, yet he insisted on pretending to be an expert who had just entered the Core Condensation Realm in front of his disciple.

Gu Changge felt an itch of annoyance in his heart at its mockery. He turned his head, glared at the bamboo branch, and silently mouthed, "Chirp again and I will pluck your feathers."

The little black bird immediately reined in its amusement, fluttering up to a higher branch and pretending to preen its feathers.

Xiao Ruobai did not notice his master's strange behavior, assuming it was just the noisy chirping of an ordinary mountain bird.

His attention was entirely captivated by his master's words, "Mid-stage of the Core Condensation Realm."

In his eyes, the Core Condensation Realm was already an unattainable height. For his master to hide his strength so deeply was truly impressive.

"Master..."

He was just about to say something else when Gu Changge waved a hand to interrupt him.

"Alright, ignore that bird."

Gu Changge stood up from his bamboo chair and patted the wrinkles out of his robes.

"Go familiarize yourself with the environment first, and find some bamboo to build a hut. Tomorrow at dawn, I will teach you the method of cultivation."

Xiao Ruobai quickly complied, holding the spirit fruit as he turned and walked toward a clearing in the bamboo forest.

The bamboo hut Gu Changge currently lived in was built with his own hands when he first took over the Purple Bamboo Peak. Though not exquisite, it was comfortable enough to live in.

As for the more elegant bamboo pavilion on the peak, that was the residence of Daoist Zizhu before his death, which Gu Changge had always kept exactly as it was.

Usually, aside from cleaning it, he never allowed anyone near it.

Having grown accustomed to living alone all these years, he had never thought about preparing a place for anyone else to stay.

It seemed that if he ever took in another disciple in the future, he would have to put building houses on the agenda. He couldn't just have everyone build their own bamboo shacks; if word got out, it would make him look like a stingy master.

Watching his disciple's busy figure, Gu Changge glanced at the titmouse on the branch again, a helpless smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

This bird was getting more and more unruly.

He stretched lazily and turned back into his bamboo hut.

Early the next morning, before Gu Changge even opened his eyes, he was awakened by a rustling sound.

Rubbing his eyes, he walked out of the bamboo hut, only to see Xiao Ruobai squatting by the stream washing rice. A clay pot sat on a nearby stone stove, and curling smoke swirled in the morning light.

What surprised him even more was that the bamboo courtyard, which had been a mess last night, was now swept spotlessly clean. Purple bamboo leaves were piled into neat stacks, and the stone slabs by the stream had been washed until they gleamed.

Not far away, a new bamboo hut stood in the morning light. Although not as sturdy as the one he lived in, its edges and corners were sharp and distinct, clearly showing that a lot of effort had been put into it.

"Master, you are awake?"

Hearing the movement, Xiao Ruobai turned his head. There was a bit of ash on his face, but his eyes were shining brightly.

"I saw that you didn't have much to eat here, so I went to the back mountain to gather some wild rice and boiled a pot of porridge."

Gu Changge raised an eyebrow and walked over to the stone stove.

The porridge in the clay pot was a sticky mess. The wild rice was boiled far too soft, almost turning into paste, and a burnt crust had formed on the surface—clearly, the heat had not been controlled well, and he had forgotten to add water halfway through.

"You are very thoughtful."

Stifling a laugh, he reached out to lift the pot's lid, but was hastily stopped by Xiao Ruobai.

"Wait a moment, Master! It might be a little burnt."

In truth, while guarding the stove, he had been thinking about his master teaching him cultivation today. In his distraction, he had overcooked the porridge.

He had secretly taken a taste just now, and the fresh fragrance of the wild rice had been completely masked by the burnt smell. It tasted like chewing on coal cinders, and he was currently worrying about how to explain this to his master.

How could Gu Changge not see his embarrassment? He deliberately teased him, "Oh? Is this a specially made burnt-aroma porridge?"

Xiao Ruobai stammered, "This disciple... this disciple isn't very good at controlling the fire."

Just as they were speaking, the little black bird on the branch suddenly swooped down. Its claws gripped the rim of the clay pot, and it stretched its neck to take a peck of the porridge.

The next second, as if it had been burned, it violently bounced away. Fluttering its wings, it flew onto Gu Changge's shoulder and chirped incessantly at him, its voice full of disgust.

"You little bird, you are actually a picky eater."

Gu Changge flicked its head, though a smile lingered in his eyes.

He turned to Xiao Ruobai and said, "Forget it, let's eat something else today."

With a flip of his wrist, a glistening skewer of beast meat flew out from his storage ring. It was perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, and even bore crystalline ice shards—it was actually the meat of a Snowfield Spirit Deer, which was extremely difficult to preserve.

Gu Changge then took out some dry branches and piled them on the ground. A wisp of flame flicked from his fingertip, igniting them. His movements were so skilled that he didn't look like a cultivator at all.

"Master, this is..." Xiao Ruobai was dumbfounded.

He had seen wild game being roasted before, but he had never seen anyone do it so meticulously. Even the angle at which the meat was turned revealed a sense of method and order.

Gu Changge didn't reply. He grabbed a handful of spices from who knows where and sprinkled them over the meat. Fat dripped into the fire, making a sizzling sound and sending up golden smoke. An appetizing aroma instantly filled the air, so much so that even the little black bird on the branch couldn't help but stretch its neck.

"Want a taste?"

A moment later, he handed over a skewer of venison that was roasted crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Xiao Ruobai took a careful bite. The meat was fresh, tender, and juicy. The rich flavor of the spices mixed with the sweet freshness of the spirit deer meat exploded on his tongue. It was more delicious than any mountain delicacy he had ever eaten.

"Master, your culinary skills..."

He was so amazed that he was speechless.

Gu Changge raised an eyebrow smugly. "I learned it in the mortal realm a long time ago. Didn't expect I hadn't forgotten it yet."

In reality, he had eaten at barbecue stalls so often in his past life that he had picked up a trick or two just from watching.

The little black bird hopped on his shoulder, chirping for food. Gu Changge rewarded it with a scrap piece. It caught the meat in its beak, flew to a bamboo branch, and began to gnaw on it happily.

Looking at his master's profile as he skillfully turned the roasting meat, Xiao Ruobai suddenly felt that this mysterious master of his seemed to harbor countless untold stories.

He looked down at the burnt porridge in the clay pot, then smelled the meaty aroma in the air, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve up.

Perhaps following his master would truly lead to a different kind of life.

Gu Changge gave him most of the roasted venison, keeping one skewer in his own mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, "Get to work after you finish eating."

Xiao Ruobai nodded vigorously, chewing on the roasted meat with large bites, his heart filled with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Watching his disciple wolf down the food, Gu Changge cast a glance at the little black bird feasting happily on a branch. Suddenly, he realized that this touch of earthly warmth on Purple Bamboo Peak wasn't so bad after all.