
Li Wei turned the corner and the sight of the Village Square made him smile. There was something about the way that the Lantern Festival bustled with energy and excitement that lifted his spirits. As he made his way through the crowd, he noticed the vivid colors of the lights strewn about the merchant's stalls.
The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, enticing him to explore further. Li Wei's gaze was drawn to a group of children laughing and chasing each other around in a game of tag. Among the joyous chaos, Li Wei's eyes caught a flash of movement above the children. Perched on a nearby tree branch was a small, nondescript bird with glossy feathers that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Xiao Fei, I can't believe you left without me. I spent thirty minutes looking for you, and I wasn't able to finish all of my chores and now I'll have extra work tomorrow!" Li Wei exclaimed softly, a fond smile playing on his lips as he watched the bird. Xiao Fei flew down and perched himself on Li Wei's outstretched hand, chirping happily. Li Wei felt a strange warmth emanating from the bird, a sensation that he couldn't quite explain.
A year ago on his way to the Lantern Festival Li Wei had found this unassuming bird on the side of the road. It's wing had been injured, making Li Wei's heart ache with pity. Without a second thought, he carefully scooped up the wounded creature and brought it home. For weeks, Li Wei tended to the bird's injury, feeding it, nurturing it back to health. To his surprise, the bird stayed by his side even after it had made a full recovery, forming an unbreakable bond
Many children dreamed of bonding with Dragons, Kitsune, or Kirins, formidable spirit beasts capable of sharing their power and making cultivators out of common folk. However, Li Wei's family was not from a prestigious bloodline they were common villagers, and even though all of the story tellers told stories of cultivators that came from nothing and rose to defy the heavens, Li Wei knew that the sects had claimed all of the spirit beasts around and his chances of forming a bond with a powerful spirit beast were slim. Unless he had been willing to travel to unknown lands in the rare chance of finding such a spirit beast it wasn't going to happen. Yet, as Li Wei gazed into Xiao Fei's bright eyes, he had immense gratitude for this ordinary bird that had befriended him. Li Wei knew that you couldn't bond with an ordinary animal but it felt like there was a deeper connection between them, as if fate had brought them together for a reason.
As the Lantern Festival continued to shine with colorful lights and cheerful laughter, Li Wei and Xiao Fei wandered through the crowd, enjoying the lively atmosphere. The villagers greeted them warmly, merchants called out to them, inviting them to sample their wares, and children pointed excitedly at Xiao Fei asking him if the bird were a Spirit Beast.
"No, Xiao Fei isn't a spirit beast, he's just a bird that has taken a liking to me. I think its because I had some extra rice cakes from my mother when we first met." Li Wei chuckled at the children's curiosity, gently stroking Xiao Fei's feathers as he answered their questions. Despite his humble explanation, the children's eyes sparkled with awe and wonder at the sight of the bird who was so comfortable with Li Wei.
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the festival, Li Wei felt a sense of peace settling within him. The lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a soft, flickering light that illuminated the village square in a magical glow. Li Wei found himself drawn to the edge of the square, where a group of children were gathered around a storyteller, listening with rapt attention to tales of ancient heroes and legendary spirit beasts. Li Wei settled down on the grass, Xiao Fei perched on his shoulder, listening intently to the storyteller's words.
As the storyteller wove captivating tales of powerful cultivators and their spirit beasts, Li Wei couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart. Deep down, he yearned for an adventure of his own, to carve out his fate in the vast tapestry of the world, to prove that even an ordinary village boy like him could achieve greatness.
His attention was divided between the story teller and the lively crowds. While enjoying the festive ambiance, Li Wei was abruptly drawn to a less joyous scene involving a group of young cultivators
A few paces ahead, near a brightly decorated stall, a small child was cornered by these young tormentors, whose mocking laughter sliced through the festive spirit. The child, clearly out of his depth, tried feebly to dodge the jibes and shoves from the brazen youths.
“Your interference cost us our chance to impress Master Shi, and you’re going to pay for that!” the apparent leader said as he cornered the child.
Without a moment's hesitation, Li Wei felt a rush of protective instinct. He stepped decisively towards the group, his voice stern yet clear amidst the noise of the square. "Enough," he called out, his presence making the bullies turn in surprise. "There's no honor in bullying someone weaker than you."
The bullies, momentarily stunned by the interruption, quickly masked their surprise with defiance. The apparent leader, a tall boy with a sneer, stepped forward, sizing up Li Wei. "And who are you to tell us what to do? Just walk away, village boy, before you regret it."
Li Wei stood firm, his stance unyielding. "I won't stand by and watch this. Everyone is here to enjoy the festival, including him," he said, nodding towards the frightened child. "Let him go."
The standoff attracted the attention of nearby festival-goers, who paused to watch, their expressions mingled with concern and curiosity. The bullies, feeling the weight of the growing audience, hesitated. Their leader, his pride wounded, scoffed dismissively but signaled his group to back off. They released the child who, with a grateful glance at Li Wei, scurried away.
The young cultivators exchanged glances, a flicker of confusion crossing their faces as they realized Li Wei's unwavering determination. One of them, a burly youth with a sneer on his face, stepped forward and shoved Li Wei hard, causing him to stagger back.
A sizable crowd had gathered at this point, their murmurs filling the square as they watched the confrontation unfold. Li Wei steadied himself, his eyes meeting the bully's with a steely resolve.
"Well, if you're volunteering, perhaps we could trade pointers," The older youth leered, cracking his knuckles menacingly. As the child scampered away to safety, Li Wei took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Xiao Fei let out a soft chirp, a reassuring presence on his shoulder, as if urging him to stand strong.
The leader of the group lunged forward, aiming a punch at Li Wei's face. Li Wei leaned back, narrowly avoiding the blow, his instincts kicking in as he dodged another strike. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, his focus locked on his opponent as he moved with a surprising agility. The villagers gasped in awe, witnessing Li Wei's unexpected display of martial skill. Despite his lack of formal training, Li Wei moved with a grace and precision that seemed almost instinctual.
After dodging several blows, Li Wei attempted to deescalate the situation by stepping back and holding up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "This doesn't have to continue like this. We can settle our differences without resorting to violence," Li Wei spoke calmly, hoping to reason with the cultivators.
The leader of the bullies, his face twisted with anger and humiliation at being challenged by a mere village boy, scoffed, "My name is Zhang and my father is an Elder in the Red Flame Sect. Do you honestly think a lowly peasant like you can challenge us?"
"I just think that we can end this without anyone getting hurt," Li Wei responded, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. He could feel the eyes of the villagers watching, the weight of their expectations heavy upon him. Xiao Fei nuzzled against his cheek, a silent show of support that bolstered his resolve.
Zhang's eyes narrowed, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Fine then, let's see if you can handle a taste of true power!" With a swift motion, he drew a gleaming ornate sword from his belt, its blade reflecting the lantern light in a menacing glint. The villagers gasped in shock, as it was with many cultivators who perceived challenges to their authority that violence was their immediate response. Li Wei's heart raced as he watched the young master advance towards him, the cold steel of the sword glinting in the dim light.
Two of Zhang's companions grabbed Li Wei's arms, holding him firmly in place as Zhang approached, the malicious gleam in his eyes promising pain and humiliation. Li Wei struggled against their grip, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. His mind raced, searching for a way out of this dangerous situation. Just as all seemed lost, a brilliant light surrounded Li Wei. In an instant Li Wei was no longer wearing his commoner's clothes but was wearing white robes embroidered with golden flames that seemed to move and perched on his shoulder was no longer the unassuming ordinary bird, but a Celestial Phoenix of breathtaking beauty, its feathers shimmering with iridescent hues of scarlet and gold.
The ornate sword burnt to ash as it made contact with the radiant light emanating from Li Wei's transformed form, dispersing harmlessly into the air. Li Wei could not believe the celestial power flowing through him, his entire being suffused with a warm, comforting energy that filled him with courage and strength. Zhang and his cronies stumbled back in shock and awe, their faces pale with fear as they witnessed the transformation before them. The villagers gasped in amazement, their eyes wide with astonishment at the sight unfolding in front of them.
Li Wei looked up at Xiao Fei, the Celestial Phoenix perched on his shoulder, their eyes meeting in a silent yet profound understanding. With a newfound sense of purpose and unyielding determination, Li Wei took a step forward, his presence now exuding a radiant power that seemed to command the very elements around him.
"I am Li Wei, and I bear the power of the Celestial Phoenix and ask that you leave this village in peace," Li Wei's voice rang out with a commanding presence, his words laced with an otherworldly resonance that made the air quiver. The villagers watched in rapt attention, their awe palpable as they witnessed the transformation of the simple village boy into a being of celestial essence.
Zhang and his companions, their faces twisted in a mixture of fear and disbelief, took a step back, their arrogance now replaced with a deep-rooted sense of dread. The aura surrounding Li Wei was undeniably powerful, radiating a palpable energy that made even the bravest among them quiver in trepidation.
Without any discussion Zhang's cronies knew that they were no match for the celestial power that Li Wei now wielded. With a shared nod, they turned and fled, their fear propelling them away from the village square and into the shadows of the night. Zhang himself hesitated for a moment but with a look of contempt decided that it was not worth challenging the extraordinary being before him. With one last glare at Li Wei, he turned on his heel and followed his companions, vanishing into the darkness.
As the group from the Red Flame Sect ran off the power that had surrounded Li Wei faded, the golden flames on his robe subsiding into a gentle glow until ultimately he was again wearing his common clothes. The Celestial Phoenix on his shoulder transformed back into the ordinary bird, Xiao Fei, its eyes gleaming with pride and warmth. Li Wei stood there, still processing the extraordinary events that had just unfolded, his heart racing with a mixture of exhilaration and disbelief.
The crowd that had gathered around Li Wei erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers and exclamations filling the night air with jubilation and admiration. The village elder approached Li Wei, his eyes filled with awe and respect. "Young man, you have shown incredible courage and strength today. It seems that fate has chosen you to wield the power of the Celestial Phoenix," the Village Elder spoke, his voice filled with reverence.
Li Wei bowed respectfully to the elder, his heart swelling with a mix of humility and gratitude. "I am honored to have been chosen by the Celestial Phoenix. I will do my best to live up to this responsibility," he replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within him.
The elder nodded sagely, a smile of pride and wisdom on his weathered face. "Come, it seems like our village has an extra reason to celebrate tonight." As the villagers cheered and congratulated Li Wei, a sense of warmth and acceptance washed over him. He followed the elder through the jubilant crowd, his heart still racing with the incredible events that had transpired.
The rest of the festival went off without a hitch and once it was time each of the villagers lit their lantern and released it into the night sky. As the lanterns floated up into the night, casting a warm glow over the village, Li Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over him. The soft flickering light danced against his skin, casting gentle shadows that seemed to whisper of ancient mysteries and hidden potentials. Beside him, Xiao Fei chirped softly, a melodic sound that resonated with a sense of companionship and understanding. Li Wei glanced at the Celestial Phoenix, a deep sense of gratitude welling up within him.
"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the gift you've given me with this bond, but we're going to have to talk about how you pretended to be a normal bird for an entire year." Li Wei chuckled, his voice filled with a mixture of amusement and fondness. Xiao Fei tilted his head, the mischievous glint in his eyes unmistakable.
With a playful chirp, Xiao Fei ruffled his feathers, as if trying to look innocent. Li Wei couldn't help but laugh at the bird's antics.
"Let's get going, we have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow." With a sense of anticipation and determination, Li Wei and Xiao Fei set off into the night, their silhouettes illuminated by the soft glow of the lanterns floating above them.