The Sea Guardian Chapter Thirteen: The Recluse Water Phoenix

A thunderous roar rolled in from beyond the Agula Mountains. Truly worthy of the Tiger King of the Fifth Rank. With a tiny scratch of her hand, Murfit plucked out a single hair, and he actually broke free of the hypnotic spell cast upon him by the beings from Earth and woke with a start. His tiger eyes fixed on Chu Xuan and Murfit, burning with murderous rage.

"Bad news, the big tiger's awake. This is no fun," Murfit shouted. Chu Xuan, meanwhile, was so frightened that she clutched his wrist tightly. Then he suddenly looked up at her and flashed an innocent smile, speaking in the bright, childlike voice peculiar to him: "Sister Xuan, hold on tight."

Before Chu Xuan could gather her wits, Murfit had yanked her into the air, and once again she found herself with her feet off the ground, traveling by flight. This time, at least, it was a little easier to bear than being clamped in a phoenix's beak.

Inside the Golden Castle, far from the exit, Selena only had time to cry out, "Oh no," before Fatil, whom Chu Xuan had ordered to stay and keep her company, rushed out. Inwardly, she muttered that this little sister was truly a born troublemaker; it would take some effort to mend their relations properly.

Fatil was anxious as well, sensing that something serious had happened. She hurriedly flew after Selena and asked, "Princess Selena, what happened?"

"Chu Xuan probably took Murfit and left here. I had wondered why she left you behind to keep me company." Regret welled in her heart. Just moments ago she had been too busy giving Chu Tian one instruction after another to think of this possibility. Only now did she realize that it had been the roar of Tiger King that warned her.

There was no doubt about it. During their time together, Selena had already come to understand fully that among those within the Golden Castle, the one person capable of provoking Tiger King's anger while still appearing calm was probably only Chu Xuan. And since Murfit had been nowhere in sight just now, those two were most likely gone.

The two of them ran all the way, when suddenly Fatil let out an "ouch." Selena stopped in puzzlement and looked at her. Fatil rubbed her head and said, "The master forgot to give me the magic image to be delivered to Lord Apache, and we forgot to show it to him too!"

Dizzy... Selena sighed, imitating White's usual gesture of pressing a hand to her forehead. When she lifted her head again, Tiger King was already standing before them, having resumed human form. His face was dark with anger, but because of Chu Tian's face he found it difficult to speak.

"Your Majesty Tiger King, I am truly sorry. My younger brother and sister are too fond of play..." Selena said, bowing to him in the manner of the nobility. Tiger King's expression eased somewhat. She went on, "I had thought of their temperament earlier, but I was busy arranging matters concerning Vladino's journey to the Agula Mountains and forgot. I am truly sorry."

Since she had said it so, Tiger King could only suppress his anger and say, "It is all right. I only hope Princess Selena can bring them back soon. After all, it is not reassuring to have children wandering outside."

Selena nodded perfunctorily. In her heart, she more or less understood where they had gone. Just as the group was about to turn back into the castle and each begin plotting their own plans, a phoenix's cry split the sky above the Golden Castle.

"The call of a Water Phoenix?!"

Selena, who kept a Water Phoenix as a pet, was instantly shocked. Tiger King was also stunned. How could there possibly be a phoenix clan within the Golden Castle?

A stately and elegant woman suddenly descended from the sky before them. She smiled kindly, then dipped a respectful bow toward Tiger King and said, "Your Majesty, I have dwelled in seclusion here for three thousand years without greeting you. I am truly sorry."

If Chu Xuan had been here, she would surely have said: If you are sorry, then you should have said so sooner.

But the one thinking this now was her pet Fatil. She cast a deeply disdainful glance at the woman, then turned her head away to stare at the sky. After all, aside from the Fire Phoenix and the Light Divine Phoenix, all phoenixes were under the jurisdiction of the Bode family, and it had nothing to do with her.

In truth, she was not very clear about the phoenix clan's precise divisions, especially the partition between the Fire Phoenix clan and the phoenix clan under the Bode family, which she understood only vaguely.

Though Fatil despised this woman inwardly, the woman's gaze, after passing over Tiger King, turned to her instead. Slowly walking toward her, she also bowed with courtesy and said, "You are Fatil, the head of the Dark Phoenix clan?"

Fatil frowned, her tone icy. "My identity has not yet been proclaimed to all the phoenixes of the continent. How do you know who I am?"

The woman merely smiled faintly and answered with a question of her own: "Within you lies the hidden divine power of the Dark Phoenix clan."

"Nonsense. I am the source of the Thunder Eagle." Fatil's disdain deepened, but all she received in return was the woman's gentle shake of the head.

The woman lightly raised the staff in her hand and, with startling speed, touched Fatil's brow. In a soft voice, she said, "Come with me. I intend to fulfill an old promise made long ago to one of your family's ancestors."