Chapter 284: Green with Envy (Fifth Update)

Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene.

That Azure Sparrow was Mu Qinghe's demonic beast; how could it suddenly fly toward Chu Liuyue?

Mu Qinghe rose abruptly

"Hong Yao! Do not harm anyone!"

But Hong Yao ignored him entirely, streaking through the air like a cyan line, charging straight toward Chu Liuyue!

Just as everyone was wondering how Chu Liuyue would deal with this trouble, they saw that tiny little ball suddenly pounce into her arms!

Its claws gripped the lapels of Chu Liuyue's chest tightly, its two small wings spread out to press closely against her body, and its round little head rubbed incessantly against her, seemingly filled with intense attachment and longing.

Chu Liuyue lowered her eyes, looking at Hong Yao sprawled in her arms, and her heart gave a violent thud!

Had Hong Yao recognized her?

But—how was that possible?!

Her current appearance was completely different from before; even Mu Qinghe hadn't noticed anything, so how could Hong Yao...

One had to know that it had always refused to be close to strangers. Sometimes, when it threw a tantrum, it wouldn't even give Mu Qinghe any face; it was arguably one of the most temperamental demonic beasts she had ever seen.

Chu Liuyue's heart suddenly began to race.

Regardless of whether Hong Yao had actually recognized her, this abnormal behavior would definitely arouse Mu Qinghe's suspicion!

She absolutely could not expose her identity at a time like this!

Just as Chu Liuyue was hesitating on what to do, a red shadow suddenly flashed before her eyes.

She looked up in astonishment, only to see Tuanzi with its two paws clenched together, staring ferociously at the Hong Yao in her arms.

In those eyes, it was almost as if flames were burning.

Chu Liuyue's heart sank.

In the next second, she saw Tuanzi grab Hong Yao by the wing and violently fling it away!

Hong Yao had been immersed in emotions of shock, joy, and disbelief, and had not sensed the approaching danger at all.

By the time it realized something was wrong, it had already been tossed away by Tuanzi!

Tuanzi rushed quickly to the front of Chu Liuyue, staring down Hong Yao like a predator, looking ready to pick a fight.

Hong Yao was so dazed from being thrown that its mind was a blur.

Once it finally managed to stabilize itself, it suddenly felt that something was wrong.

It lifted a wing to take a look and discovered to its shock that a tuft of its feathers had been plucked out!

Sensing something, it glanced at the ground and felt a deep sting from that clump of cyan feathers.

*Skree!*

Hong Yao let out a low cry and charged toward Tuanzi!

Tuanzi bared its teeth, its fangs cold and sharp, meeting the charge without backing down!

Seeing that the two were about to descend into a brawl, Chu Liuyue immediately intervened

"Tuanzi! Come back!"

However, the usually obedient Tuanzi was exceptionally willful at this moment; hearing Chu Liuyue's voice, it merely paused for a moment before charging forward again!

It couldn't lose at a time like this!

Suddenly, cyan flames erupted from Hong Yao's body!

The temperature within the entire Great Hall surged violently!

Everyone was horrified—this Azure Sparrow, which looked no larger than a palm, was actually this powerful!

Chu Liuyue grew even more anxious.

Although Hong Yao was only a Grade Seven, because of its special bloodline, its actual strength was enough to fight a Grade Eight demonic beast on equal terms!

How could Tuanzi be its match right now?

Mu Qinghe said coldly

"Hong Yao, if you dare to cause more trouble, return to the Water-Imprisonment Pavilion immediately!"

This sentence finally worked.

Hong Yao's body trembled, and the flames on its body quickly receded.

But it did not back down, remaining in a standoff with Tuanzi.

The two little ones glared at each other viciously, like arch-enemies.

Chu Liuyue frowned.

For some reason, this scene looked so familiar...

In the past, Hong Yao and...

"Hong Yao."

Mu Qinghe's voice remained unchanged, but it carried a few more degrees of chill than before.

Hong Yao knew that if it continued to make a scene, it might truly anger Mu Qinghe, so it could only turn around indignantly.

As it turned its head, it didn't forget to cast a lingering, reluctant glance at Chu Liuyue.

Tuanzi gave a huff, and only then did it retreat, jumping onto Chu Liuyue's shoulder.

Chu Liuyue gave it a warning look.

Knowing it had made a mistake, Tuanzi became extremely well-behaved, curling itself into a ball and rubbing against her cheek to appease her.

Feeling helpless, Chu Liuyue looked toward Mu Qinghe

"Vice General Mu, please forgive me. My demonic beast is still young and somewhat ignorant of the world—"

"It was Hong Yao who caused the trouble first."

Mu Qinghe had no intention of blaming her for this matter; he merely glanced at Hong Yao.

Hong Yao turned its head away defiantly, making it clear it would not admit its mistake.

Mu Qinghe paused, but said nothing more.

In reality, his mood at this moment was far from the calm he projected on the surface.

He understood Hong Yao's personality better than anyone.

Even with people it was familiar with, it wasn't necessarily very affectionate.

Toward strangers, it was either hostile or simply ignored them entirely.

Ever since that person died, its temper had become even more extreme; on ordinary days, it would even frequently ignore him.

But seeing Chu Liuyue today, why was it acting so strangely?

He had seen everything clearly just now.

Hong Yao's actions toward Chu Liuyue were extremely intimate and extremely dependent.

In all these years, he had only seen Hong Yao act this way in front of one person!

Could there really be something suspicious about Chu Liuyue?

An absurd thought flashed through his mind for a moment, but he immediately dismissed it.

Whether it was appearance, age, or anything else, Chu Liuyue truly shared almost no similarities with that person.

Besides, given the circumstances back then, how could that person have possibly survived?

Mu Qinghe felt as if he were standing in a thick fog, unable to see anything clearly.

"Hong Yao is not usually like this. Today, perhaps it simply feels a kinship with you."

Mu Qinghe's voice sounded somewhat ethereal.

As if letting out a sigh of relief, the corners of Chu Liuyue's mouth curled up slightly.

"As long as Vice General Mu does not hold a grudge."

Feeling somewhat conflicted, Mu Qinghe did not intend to stay any longer.

"Let us end it here for today."

It would be better if he went to investigate how Hong Yao's injury occurred.

Having said that, he turned to walk out.

As he passed in front of Rong Jin, he paused.

"There are indeed some places that are not meant for just any random piece of trash to visit."

Rong Jin's face was pale, but he could not utter a single word.

Only then did Mu Qinghe continue walking forward.

Hong Yao followed beside him, but it kept looking back every few steps, its beautiful red eyes filled with profound reluctance.

Watching this, Chu Liuyue felt a pang of bitterness in her heart and lowered her head.

Hong Yao had definitely recognized her.

Although she didn't know how it was possible,

She didn't know how to describe the feeling in her heart.

It was like bitterness, like grievance, yet it also carried a hint of joy and warmth.

So, even after her death, she was still being missed.

Unfortunately, given the current situation, she absolutely did not dare to acknowledge Hong Yao.

On the other side, Mu Qinghe refused the company of Emperor Jiawen and the others, walking out of the Great Hall alone.

Only when he reached a deserted area did he stop and look at Hong Yao.

"Speak. What is going on?"

(Completely screwed....jpg)

(End of Chapter)