Chapter 366: Dark Cuisine, the Phoenix Bird Arrives!

A mysterious visitor arrived here, saw the remnants of time, knew of Fuxi's 'concern' for Nüwa, felt a myriad of emotions, and thus spoke.

In response.

Fuxi remained calm and unmoved.

What nonsense.

What fishing.

What conscience.

These words……are they about him?

Definitely not!

Since it's not, why bother with him?

Fuxi remained composed, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it leisurely.

The visitor also seemed all too clear——just what temperament this first-rate Ancient God Great Sage before them had, and the awkward relationship between those siblings, each wanting to be the head of the household, was no surprise to them regarding Fuxi's current demeanor; they merely shook their head slightly, stepped out from the shadow of the wall corner, a white robe fluttering, embroidered with splendid golden threads, outlining an imperial aura, bearing the majesty of a heavenly king who overlooks the universe and commands the eight wastes.

He approached Fuxi, casually pointed, and a table and chairs appeared; he sat down calmly, at the same height.

"Poor Nüwa."

In a faint sigh, the White-clothed Emperor took the teapot from Fuxi, poured himself a cup of tea, gently blew away the foam, and said, "Year after year, pressing the golden thread."

"In the end, yet being schemed against by a wicked elder brother, made to be a wedding dress for others."

"The key is……it seems we're about to fall into the same pit twice."

"Perhaps……more?"

The Emperor spoke lightly, with an inexplicable playfulness.

"How do you speak?"

This time, Fuxi did not remain silent……after all, this was already calling names directly.

Could not bear it, needed to utter a defense.

"Don't spout nonsense……we need to talk about reason."

From the void, he drew a delicate axe inscribed with the two characters "reason", placed it flat on the table; Fuxi's eyes shone bright, glowing intensely, very earnest.

"I have never deceived."

"Remarkable, sometimes the truth hasn't been fully spoken."

"As for fishing……that's even more ridiculous."

"Who doesn't know that without desire comes strength?"

Fuxi spoke with conviction: "Whether fishing or not, it's a matter of free will……you can say I'm fishing, but I can also say I'm not fishing, merely 'accidentally' revealing a flaw."

"But the fish really took the hook……it's solid proof that cannot be shaken off."

"Not greedy."

"No stray thoughts."

"Standing sheer a thousand ren, without desire comes strength!"

"With a pure, sincere good heart, walking the world openly and uprightly, with no shame before heaven and earth……no matter how others fish as masters, they cannot catch such a hero."

Fuxi has his own set of principles.

"Put differently……since the fish took the hook, due to greed and stray thoughts, one was ensnared."

"What's there to complain about then?"

"If one's skill is inferior, one must have the resolve to accept defeat."

"Of course."

"As for me, I will never engage in fishing or setting traps……I have always been an inadvertent mistake, forced to carry out proper defense."

"Do you understand?"

He patted the "Reason" Divine Axe on the table.

Instantly, the White-clothed Emperor wore a look of helplessness: "I understand, I understand, I understand……isn't understanding enough?"

"Understanding is enough."

Fuxi smiled satisfactorily.

Then, he shifted the topic.

"As for that conscience……"

"Hah."

Fuxi shook his head: "As an elder brother."

"Worrying over my sister's endeavors to that extent."

"Originally retired and living in leisure, indulging in mountains and waters, yet I had to come out of retirement to hold the rear for her."

"And not taking much pay, upon reaching the term, passing the danger period, still might be laid off……"

"You say……I've done this much white‑collar work, does that count as benevolence and righteousness fulfilled?"

"Let's talk reason."

"Can I still be said to lack conscience?"

Fuxi asked.

The Emperor pondered briefly, then gave a slight nod: "Yes, yes, yes, your conscience is huge."

"But, with that conscience driving you, burying those land mines……tsk, one day they'll explode—will your conscience ache?"

"As long as I'm not the first to strike, I won't feel pain." Fuxi answered slowly and deliberately.

Do not fire the first shot.

Conscience never aches.

This is Fuxi's will.

"Helping Nüwa's cause is my duty as an older brother, an obligation I cannot shirk."

"If she finally finds satisfaction in Pangu's victory and seeks no more... then all the contingencies I have buried will turn to nothing, vanish like smoke and clouds, and follow only her fate."

"But."

"If she oversteps."

"She harbors greedy thoughts, wanting to ask for more?"

"I can allow her challenge."

"Then we'll see who is more skilled."

Fuxi smiled, "She won; from now on, she calls the shots at home."

"She lost?"

"Uh... I seem to have no way to deal with her either?"

"Who let me have only this sister?"

"We can't hurt her too much; if outsiders bully her, we must stand up for her..."

"Suddenly I realized... her rebellion is practically a no‑cost, high‑return business!"

Fuxi suddenly felt a sigh of emotion welling up.

"Losing keeps the status quo; winning makes her the head of the household."

"Under these terms, if it were him... he'd have to rebel too."

"No‑cost, high‑return? Not necessarily." The white‑clothed emperor mused, "If you emptied her little treasury till even the mice would weep... she'd be disheartened and bent over for a long time."

"Inflict a heavy blow to her will, wear down her rebellious thoughts, make her obedient... then push your own work onto her, making the tool‑Nüwa work overtime all night, calling it self‑improvement so she earns blessings for all eternity."

"Isn't that wonderful?"

Upon hearing those words,

Fuxi's eyes lit up, he nodded in agreement, "Exactly... I almost forgot about this."

"Working more, striving to work overtime, can also keep her from constantly having idle thoughts..."

"Your suggestion is not bad."

The white‑clothed emperor opened his mouth—

He was just making a casual suggestion.

You actually took it seriously?

However, after thinking it over, he didn't have much inclination to correct it.

The Honghuang universe continues to develop; there's much to do, and the work is too heavy.

"If we can drag a top‑level expert into this exhausting work... as long as it isn't him, it doesn't matter."

Nüwa... this is quite good, quite suitable.

"I think she's quite idle."

The emperor's thoughts drifted, "He often pops up in the Grand Luo Forum."

"Just popping up is fine."

"She even throws punches when she's not doing anything?"

"The key is, she can actually lead a bunch of close friends... with so many goddesses gathered, anyone who sees them is intimidated."

"Not good."

"Really not good."

"Better to let her work overtime to burn off her excess energy... that's the proper way!"

"This greatly advances her divine life."

"For me... that's also lots of benefits."

The emperor and Xihuang exchanged a glance; in a haze they each understood the other's general idea, reaching a strange mutual understanding, feeling a kinship.

Of course.

To uphold his justice, staying untainted by corruption... the emperor pondered, still wanting to hint indirectly at his criticism of Fuxi.

"Poxi Poxi... what was said earlier sounded so nice, a cook best matches a gourmet."

"But after all this... the gourmet might just break down."

"Expired ingredients."

"Substandard oil."

"Toxic cookware."

"Once the set is complete, I feel the gourmet could pick another tune to accompany the meal... tsk, I forgot you're also the top musician of Honghuang."

"By then, you'll play a suona piece to send her off."

The emperor smiled faintly.

Fuxi felt no shame at all; on the contrary, he laughed loudly.

"I say I'm a cook."

"But being a cook... there are differences, you know."

"Like me."

"I'm just of the 'Dark Cuisine' faction, specializing in trapping gourmets!"

"How? Not possible?"

"Of course it works..." the emperor clicked his tongue, "you just have to be careful."

"If you don't win in the end, one sweep will take away this gourmet Nüwa."

In the blink of an eye.

You're probably going to have to lie in bed.

Beside you, your sister had a virtuous and gentle look, saying—

Brother, it's time to get up and take your medicine.

Drink this bowl of medicine and you'll forget all the painful memories you've ever felt; then… let me beat you up again!

The Emperor imitated Nüwa's possible tone, saying what she might say.

Speaking halfway, he himself couldn't help but laugh, laughing nonstop.

Fuxi was also laughing.

But Fuxi laughed and laughed, then stopped, instead letting out a sigh.

After all, this happened to someone else, so it's naturally something to laugh about.

But what if it comes true for him?

The matter is exposed—a brutal beating—Meng Po Soup-induced amnesia—a brutal beating…

Going on like this, what face does he have to remain an elder in the family?

The dignity accumulated over countless ages is now utterly lost.

Tsk, there's a difficult-to-read scripture at home…

In the end, Fuxi could only sigh like this.

Life is not easy.

How much longer can his days as the head of the household last?

Enough, enough… let's not mention these sad things.

Fuxi waved his hand, as if to wipe away those worries, 'Honored guest, you don't come to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing… Today you've come to my place—what do you want to trade with me?'

Go on, say it.

If it suits my taste, we'll make a trade.

He laid it out plainly.

Hearing this, the White-clad Emperor's eyes glimmered; without further pleasantries, he nodded directly, 'Indeed, I have important matters to discuss with you.'

If this succeeds, it will benefit both of us.

Oh? Fuxi raised his eyebrows, 'Can it still be good for me?'

I know, my friend, you've already reached the pinnacle of life, love and career fulfilled… but isn't there still a hidden danger at home? The Emperor chuckled lightly, 'I might be able to help a bit.'

Speak. Fuxi was concise.

The Dragon Clan has been lively lately. The Emperor's smile unchanged, 'Even now he's even opened connections with the Human Clan's management circle, playing a hand as a Dragon Master Official.'

This is to become the patriarch of the totem system, even a great merger, great unification!

We have to admit, they have the capital… the Dragon Clan, the first tribe besides the Witch and Demon!

They have the qualification to control the situation to a certain extent.

This is acknowledged by all.

But… people still acknowledge it!

In the previous era, there was a tribe that could rival the Dragon Clan.

This tribe is……

The Emperor said this, stretching out a hand and pointing downward, 'In the Phoenix Nest Mountain beneath our feet resides the Phoenix Clan!'

Nowadays, there is already a Dragon Totem.

Why… can't there also be a Phoenix Totem?

The Emperor said with deep meaning.

You mean to let the Phoenix Clan also enter the fray, mix in a hand? Fuxi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes deep, 'Hmm, that does make some sense.'

As for the Phoenix Clan, they still have some foundation.

Unfortunately, that also depends on who you compare them to.

Fuxi said, shaking his head.

We must admit.

Although the Dragon Clan seems to have bad luck and is constantly being cut down,

Especially the Dragon Ancestor, who seems to die and come back to life, always someone eyeing his life.

And those who want to cut him down are all the top bigwigs, or a group joining forces.

But why is that?

It's precisely because the Dragon Clan is too strong!

Fuxi sighed.

He plays at great unification, makes myriad clans return to the dragon, as the ancestor of all aquatic clans within the universe.

The Dragon Clan actually draws blood from countless tribes, extracting their essence!

First spread the word, telling the world how wonderful the Dragon Clan is, guiding many races' spirits onto the path of dragon transformation.

Yet on the path of dragon transformation, calamities arise repeatedly, obstacles pile up—this is selection, this is trial.

Those who pass, becoming true dragons… each can be called a hero.

These heroes expanded the Dragon Clan's numbers; then through various marriages and reproduction, the next generation was born.

Both father and mother are outstanding, having killed their way out of the trial as heavenly talents; how could the education and growth of their offspring be any different?

Thus, again and again, the whole Dragon Clan is slowly progressing… even though there are no lack of lazy good-for-nothings, heroes are continually born, carving out a realm for themselves.

The Four Sea Dragon Kings, all talents forged in this manner, are first-rate masters of great supernatural powers.

Compared to that, the Phoenix Clan falls far short.

Of course, the phoenix also has its own strengths: nirvana rebirth, breaking the original shackles from flesh to spirit and seeing a brand‑new world. As time passes, deep accumulation makes it ever wiser and stronger—a case of late blooming, richly accumulated then suddenly released.

Fuxi commented while the white‑clad emperor listened quietly, 'Merely because the phoenix lineage is few and elite, it is far inferior to the dragon tribe in the contest of totems…… The dragon tribe can assimilate, can absorb and incorporate new blood in all kinds of ways, something the phoenix can never match.'

Phoenix Master Official?

Unrealistic, I have never even considered it.

You should know that as well.

Hmm, I understand.

The white‑clad emperor nodded, 'But…… isn't this just right?'

A top‑tier totem that can only support the core and must relinquish the base…… is surely ten thousand times superior to the dragon tribe's totem that wants everything, right?

We can use the Phoenix Clan as a raft, to gain a foothold in this tumult of totems.

Too bad, the Phoenix Clan has been lazy lately." Fuxi spread his hands, "Their little lives are very comfortable…… they drink only pure spring water, eat only bamboo seeds, roost only in paulownia trees, and don't want to get mixed up in too much right and wrong.

That's even better." The emperor's smile brightened, "I just need a banner…… they can be their mascot, and I'll borrow their sign.

When the phoenix bird arrives, it is recorded among birds.

Phoenix Master Official won't do.

Then…… what about the Bird Master?

(End of chapter)