Qu wren woke up early the next day and started preparing for his travels. As per his father's journal, a human settlement was not far from the shores. It would take two days to reach there, though.
He packed up everything he brought back from his home and prepared for other things as well.
There was a huge tree that produced moss that was soft a feather. With difficulty, he was able to find it. He collected a small bunch to form a nest for the bird.
He wore another layer of clothes and stuffed the soft bedding inside the inside layer so that the bird would have all the warmth it needed.
All the while, the bird curiously watched him do all this.
Wren picked it up and placed it inside. "How is it?'
Feng Mian jumped on it a bit to test its durability. 'It's a good bed.'
Getting the affirmative chirp wren happily started the other preparation, food.
As of now he had two parcels of dried octopus but it won't be enough.
"I can catch some fish but.... it won't last that long....." he mumbled to himself as he walked towards the shores.
Bright sunlight gleamed onto his face, his pink hair flutter about in the wind, falling all over his face.
He found a random piece of kelp and tied his hair up in a messy ponytail. After all, he did not know how to manage his hair on shore... it was too difficult to keep it tamed.
Sighing, he roamed the shores searching for coconuts. The shoreline was filled with coconut tree filled with bunches of green coconuts hanging low.
He picked some up and tied them together.
"Now I have an emergency water source... all I need to search for is the bird's food,"
Feng Mian peaked out. 'He didn't have to.. I could have eaten that darn octopus to survive....'
But watching the man concentrating on chipping at the rotten wood, his red eyes slightly narrowed. 'Why is he being so nice... its making me so uncomfortable?..'
By noon, Qu wren found everything he needed and was ready to leave for his journey.
Taking one last look at the glimmering ocean, he smiled a bit. "Hachin, just wait for me.... I'm coming. I'll find you soon."
Hearing his speech, the little phoenix scoffed mentally. 'Is this person he is searching for that important? Geez, why did he run off leaving him alone then? wait.... are they a couple or something, is that why he is so desperate to find him?'
The bird's shiny red eyes peered at him intently.
"What is it?" wren gently patted its head.
"Chirp,"
"Food?" the bird shook its head and plunged back into his shirt.
Feng Mian clicked his tongue loudly. 'Fuck this. He won't understand me anyway... why am I even worried about this vermin. He is going to die by my hands soon anyway,'
With this resolve he went to a deep sleep, nuzzling into his warm chest.
And so the journey began.
Wren walked through the dense forest with difficulty. Everywhere he could sense a dangerous beast lurking, watching every one of his moves.
Clutching his dagger tight, he moved as slow and careful as he can.
Few beasts challenged him bravely, but they all got easily chopped off.
Feng Mian watched with his mouth open wide. 'Eh... how is this youngling so powerful? Wait, I think his bone age is just around hundred. How did he become a core building stage so early in his life?
Usually when a beast cultivates it takes at least three hundred years to attain the core building stage but this young oyster seems to have easily achieved it at just hundred.
Even he was not as talented. He broke through his core building stage at only hundred and fifty.
'He probably stumbled upon some spiritual elixir or spiritual stone horde?'
So many thoughts ran inside the little bird brain of his.
"Core building stage is really strong, don't you think, little birdie?" he mumbled to himself as he proceeded deeper into the forest.
Only small chirping sound escaped his mouth.
"It's all thanks to that fever.. he-he... even Hachin is powerful you know. In a few years he can definitely breakthrough to core building stage..." wren happily whispered as he sliced through the bushes in his way.
Feng Mian popped his head out and listened carefully to him. 'What fever? I have never heard of fever that increases your cultivation? What kind of magical fever is that? I want it too~'
Wren glanced down at the bird, which was chirping in a weird tone. He gently caressed its soft skin and kissed it as well. "so soft..."
"SQUEAK!!! CHIRP!!!!" the bird loudly shouted and borrowed back into his shirt.
"What's wrong? Hey are you hurt? Say something..." wren anxiously patted the bulge but the little thing refused to move or even speak to him.
"Did my stubble hurt you?" he caressed his chin but there was no stubble there, only silky smooth skin. "I don't even have stubble, then what made it squeak like that?"
Worried a little, he pulled the straps of his shirt apart and pulled the little nest out. The pink bird was huddled close inside with its head between its legs.
"Hey." he gently patted its head.
The bird flinched slightly and huddled even tighter.
"Did I scare you or... are you perhaps... shy?"
"SQUEAK!!!"