While the principle was sound, Lin Feng still found it difficult to accept that after all his hard work uncovering the secrets of the stone tablet, the item would ultimately go to the Shen family.
"Xiao Huang, would you like to follow me from now on? Come, let me hold you!"
Lin Feng offered the little chick a disarming smile.
The chick paid him no mind, enjoying the comfort of Shen Xinyue's palm.
"Lin Feng, that name 'Xiao Huang' is too unpleasant."
Shen Xinyue frowned in distaste. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the golden chick, "How about I call you Xiao Guai from now on?"
"Ji ji!"
Seemingly pleased with the name, the little creature rubbed its head against Shen Xinyue's palm.
"Alright, then your name is Xiao Guai from now on."
Shen Xinyue doted on Xiao Guai.
"You little rascal, if I don't show you some toughness, you really aren't afraid of me!"
Lin Feng grew impatient. He moved with lightning speed, reaching out to grab Xiao Guai.
Ji ji!
Startled, Xiao Guai flapped its golden wings and actually flew up from Shen Xinyue's palm.
It glared at Lin Feng, opened its beak, and spat out a stream of flame.
"What's this? A lighter?"
Lin Feng found it amusing. The little thing could breathe fire, though the flame was quite small, like a lighter.
As if sensing Lin Feng's disdain, Xiao Guai rolled its eyes. With a beat of its wings, the flame grew thicker, resembling a flamethrower, nearly singeing Lin Feng's hair.
Shen Xinyue and Shen Yunfei were both startled by this sight.
"As expected of an ancient divine beast, so powerful!"
Shen Yunfei exclaimed, having previously thought phoenixes were merely mythical creatures.
Now, seeing a phoenix chick before him, Shen Yunfei felt his life had been worthwhile.
"Lin Feng, don't be harsh on it, it's scared!"
Shen Xinyue, seeing the standoff between man and chick, beckoned to Xiao Guai.
Xiao Guai gave Lin Feng a final roll of its eyes before obediently landing in Shen Xinyue's palm.
"You little thing, you dare glare at me? If it weren't for me, would you even be out?"
Feeling wronged, Lin Feng sneered, "And you call yourself a phoenix with that appearance? I think you're just a common chicken!"
In truth, Xiao Guai looked much like a normal chick, the only difference being the subtle reddish hues mixed within its golden feathers.
However, its wings were not yet fully developed, so this wasn't very obvious.
"Dad, is Xiao Guai really a phoenix chick? Do phoenixes look like this when they're young?"
Shen Xinyue also had her doubts.
In her imagination, phoenixes were supposed to be majestic and awe-inspiring, much like dragons in legends, massive in size and capable of controlling the seas and rivers!
"It should be! Perhaps it will look better when it grows up!"
"Xinyue, this is a fated opportunity bestowed upon you by our Shen family's ancestors. You must take good care of this phoenix chick. Our Shen family's future depends on it!"
Shen Yunfei admonished her earnestly.
"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Xiao Guai!"
Shen Xinyue nodded resolutely. Regardless of what Xiao Guai truly was, its sheer cuteness had already won her over.
"Are you two, father and daughter, putting on a show for me? Does this thing belong to you? It came from me; it's just being temporarily kept by young Miss Shen."
Lin Feng emphasized this point, unwilling to let the Shen family reap undeserved benefits.
"Dad, let's not talk about this for now. What happened with your sudden poisoning?"
Shen Xinyue finally remembered, asking with a grave expression.
"Someone is targeting our Shen family. I will investigate this matter. Regardless, we are greatly indebted to you, young friend Lin Feng."
Shen Yunfei gave Lin Feng a grateful look.
"Don't thank me. Saving you was just a transaction, and the outcome of the transaction wasn't ideal!"
The mention of it still infuriated Lin Feng.
"Alright, don't feel so wronged. My dad has already promised me to you, so what do you have to complain about? I'm the one who's at a disadvantage!"
Shen Xinyue tugged at Lin Feng's sleeve, a smug smile playing on her lips.
After this incident, she had genuinely fallen for Lin Feng.
If Lin Feng hadn't intervened, her father would have been done for.
Lin Feng had saved her and her father; such a man was worth her lifelong devotion.
Most importantly, Shen Xinyue felt a sense of security with Lin Feng.
It was as if Lin Feng was capable of anything; no matter how great the danger, as long as Lin Feng was present, she felt that nothing was insurmountable.
This sense of security was something she only felt with Lin Feng.
"That's true. Then you shall serve me tonight."
Lin Feng smiled, saying this directly in front of Shen Yunfei.
Hearing this, Shen Yunfei's expression immediately darkened.
A daughter was a father's little lover from a past life, and to have Lin Feng openly declare he would sleep with his daughter brought forth a complex mix of emotions.
There was a touch of sorrow, a hint of loss.
"Dad, Lin Feng is just joking. You don't know him; he's a good person at heart, just usually not serious."
Shen Xinyue explained shyly.
"I wasn't joking. Now that your father is fine, it's time for us to leave."
Lin Feng, not wanting to waste further words, called to Shen Xinyue and prepared to depart.
"Wait, I'll accompany you to Qingcheng. I need to see an old friend."
"After this brush with death, I've made up my mind. I want to rectify some regrets from my past life!"
Shen Yunfei's face showed a touch of melancholy.
On the verge of death, his mind had been filled with his first love, Xue Jingru.
Now that he had survived this ordeal, he intended to visit Xue Jingru and, if possible, rekindle their relationship in his later years.
Lin Feng and Shen Xinyue were unaware of Shen Yunfei's intentions to seek out his first love.
They didn't think much of it.
Thus, aboard Shen Yunfei's private jet, the group embarked on their journey back.