Ye Tiancheng had also come to terms with it, realizing that there was no need to overthink things. Everything would eventually improve, and the current problems were merely temporary.
He also had another thought: to speed up the condensation of his true qi. Ye Tiancheng felt he had wasted too much time due to his true qi constantly dissipating, possibly from overuse.
"Little Fatty, I'm not planning to eat today. Please recharge the nutritional supplements Liu Lan-ying gave me earlier, and then I'll sleep. Help me contact Lin Xue. I want to see my disciple and discuss some very important matters with him in person. Make sure you notify him."
Little Fatty had always been obedient to Ye Tiancheng and would never defy him on such matters, so he readily agreed.
"Alright, it's settled then. Brother Ye, I'll recharge one nutritional supplement for you first to stave off hunger, and then I'll go notify your disciple. Don't worry, with me, Fatty, around, I won't let you fall into any trouble. I'll protect you, Big Brother, just like I'd protect a national treasure. You're my beloved giant panda."
"If you could also be a bit less greasy, that would be helping me. Alright, I need to go tend to things. Don't disturb me."
After consuming the nutritional supplement, Ye Tiancheng soon fell into a deep sleep. Even in his sleep, he could feel some chaotic true qi, mixed with a certain amount of black energy. It wouldn't be easy to transform all this energy into purity.
After a night of suffering, Ye Tiancheng finally woke up. The moment he awoke, he felt as if he had been reborn.
Every cell in his body felt as if it had been crushed and then reassembled. The sensation was indescribable, yet incredibly wondrous.
"Master, you're finally awake. Xiao Huangji and I have been waiting here for you for a long time."
Ye Tiancheng hadn't noticed earlier, but Lin Xue had already arrived, and Xiao Huangji was by his side. However, this Xiao Huangji looked no different from a common little yellow chick.
"Your phoenix used to look somewhat like a phoenix. Why has it turned into a little chick again? It has no trace of a phoenix's majesty."
Ye Tiancheng wasn't trying to change the subject; he simply hadn't recognized it at first glance and thought his disciple Lin Xue had found a little yellow chick somewhere.
"Master, how can you say that? It's all because you've consumed too much true qi recently, and your body is severely depleted. Xiao Huangji saved you; otherwise, why would it have turned itself into a little yellow chick? It could even become invisible before."
No wonder he felt like he had died and come back to life. It turned out the phoenix had helped. Ye Tiancheng felt quite fortunate that divine beasts always appeared to assist him in times of trouble.
"Then I must thank Xiao Huangji properly. I know your name is Linglong, little Linglong. Thank you. You saved me this time, and I will never forget your kindness. If I ever get the chance, I will repay you. I am not an ungrateful person, you can rest assured."
As Ye Tiancheng spoke, he gently stroked the little yellow chick's head. The little phoenix lay down obediently, its spiritual energy becoming very thin, as if it might fall asleep at any moment.
"Xiao Huangji must be really tired from saving me. Let her have a good sleep."
Ye Tiancheng was truly grateful. The creature had been cultivating well, only to expend so much spiritual energy to save him. How could Ye Tiancheng not understand the magnitude of this favor? How could he dare to disrespect such kindness?
"Master, you should refrain from using your true qi for now. Actually, I've also channeled a significant amount of true qi into you; otherwise, you wouldn't have recovered so quickly. You would have at least slept for three days and three nights before waking up."
Lin Xue felt quite helpless. Every time she saw Ye Tiancheng, he seemed to drain her completely. If Ye Tiancheng continued like this, without anyone to rescue him, trouble would be inevitable. Therefore, to live a good and smooth life, he needed to be a bit more low-key and not constantly think about saving others. The prerequisite for saving others was to be powerful oneself.
"I understand. You, my disciple, are more nagging than I, your master. From now on, I will listen to your opinions more on matters. I won't be so headstrong anymore; my body simply cannot take it."
Ye Tiancheng was speaking the honest truth. After exhausting his true qi on these occasions, his body required a long time to recuperate, and even then, the recovery wasn't optimal, and the speed of recovery was slowing down.
Ye Tiancheng had a lot of reserves before, so he didn't care how he acted. But now, he had to listen. If he continued to act this way, he would likely perish sooner or later.
"Alright, then I won't say any more. Xiao Huangji will stay with you. I have to go back and continue my cultivation."
"But I don't know what your little phoenix eats?"
"It has reached a new stage and doesn't eat any physical substance; it primarily absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Master, you don't need to worry. The reason I'm leaving Xiao Huangji here is for it to protect you."
So this was Lin Xue's thoughtful intention. Ye Tiancheng was quite touched. In the beginning, Ye Tiancheng had helped Lin Xue a little, but this disciple had done so much for him. Ye Tiancheng, the master, had become the one holding her back.
"Alright, I promise you, I will take good care of your little phoenix. You should go back and cultivate properly. I feel so bad about delaying your progress repeatedly."
Ye Tiancheng, who had always been very assertive, now became considerably gentler. It was known that women were most susceptible to such gestures. Lin Xue initially had a slight complaint, but later, all her complaints vanished. She felt honored to be able to do something for Ye Tiancheng, at least she didn't have to watch him suffer and be sad while she could do nothing.
After Lin Xue left, Little Fatty returned and saw a little chick sleeping soundly in the cat's bed.
"This little chick is sleeping quite soundly."
Little Fatty just took a glance and then covered it with the cushion. To Little Fatty, such spiritual little creatures were particularly cute to look at, and they didn't have the usual smell of ordinary chicks.
"That's a phoenix, my disciple's divine beast. It became like this to save me. Let it rest and recuperate here properly. If it weren't for this phoenix, I might have already passed on."
Speaking of this, Ye Tiancheng truly had many emotions. However, the past was the past, and he had to focus on becoming stronger, not wallowing in self-pity and trapping himself in a downward spiral.
"Then we must take good care of it. I was just about to prepare dinner; perhaps I should make it something delicious."
"Lin Xue said that this little phoenix doesn't eat grains anymore, so you don't need to prepare anything for it. Just cook as usual."
Since Ye Tiancheng had said so, Little Fatty no longer insisted and obediently tied on his apron to start cooking.
Ye Tiancheng took this opportunity to take another short nap. For Ye Tiancheng now, the fastest way to recover was sleep, and it was also the simplest method.
When he regained a little consciousness, he smelled the aroma of food. Ye Tiancheng was overjoyed because waiting for Little Fatty to return from work and cook for him was the happiest part of his day. Little Fatty's cooking was simply delicious.
Ye Tiancheng saw Little Fatty arranging bowls and chopsticks on the table and knew he had to hurry a bit, no longer able to dawdle, lest he waste Little Fatty's effort in cooking for him.
"Brother Ye, our coordination is truly flawless. You wake up immediately after I finish cooking; you give me so much face. That's perfect. You can eat now. I made spicy chicken and your favorite braised pork trotters, which are much tastier than what Liu Lan-ying made. Try them."
Ye Tiancheng was awakened by the aroma and quickly went to eat. Before he had even taken a few bites, the little phoenix chirped, making sounds like a chick.
"Brother Ye, what's wrong with this little phoenix? Could it also want to eat?"
"Then let's give it something to eat. Xiao Xue said it doesn't eat, but perhaps the little phoenix wants to."
Little Fatty tried to pick up the little phoenix, but it seemed unwilling, flapping its little wings and trying to escape.
"I am your master's master. Let me feed you."
Ye Tiancheng, using the identity of Lin Xue's master, successfully fed the little phoenix. The little phoenix ate quite eagerly. Despite its small size, it was magical how the food disappeared, and it ate heartily.
"Brother Ye, don't just focus on feeding the little phoenix; remember to eat yourself too."
Little Fatty was concerned about Ye Tiancheng. Just as he finished speaking, he heard the doorbell ring. He quickly went to open the door and saw Su Muxian.
"Miss Su, why are you here?"
"Is it inconvenient to meet?" Su Muxian asked as she entered, the sound of her high heels on the floor quite noticeable. "It smells quite fragrant. Are you eating? I haven't eaten either, so I'll have a bite."
Su Muxian glanced at Ye Tiancheng and saw him feeding a chicken, even placing it on the dining table. Such behavior was quite unseemly, but Su Muxian said nothing, her gaze merely indifferent.
"Su Muxian, are you here to tell me something?"
"Can't I simply come over to eat with you? I'm hungry and don't want to talk; I just want to eat."
Little Fatty, being very observant, served a bowl of plain white rice. Su Muxian took the rice and began to eat without looking up, nodding as she ate.
"It's indeed delicious, quite good."
"If you like it, then eat more."
Even after compensating Su Muxian with a hundred million, Ye Tiancheng still felt a sense of guilt upon meeting her again. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so eager to have her eat more, which might have made him feel a little better.
"I will eat more. You are so kind to a little chick, yet so heartless to people."
Ye Tiancheng didn't know how to respond to Su Muxian. It was clear that Su Muxian was jealous of a little chick. He couldn't fathom the depth of her heart, like a needle sunk in the sea, making her truly unfathomable.
"Fine, I'll listen to you."
The meal was quite awkward. Ye Tiancheng remained silent, and Su Muxian said nothing. Fatty, standing beside them, felt even more awkward to say anything. He had wanted to suggest buying some drinks, but Ye Tiancheng ruthlessly thwarted his plan.
"Aren't there drinks in the refrigerator? If there are, just drink them. There's no need to go out and buy more."
With Ye Tiancheng's words, Fatty's last glimmer of hope was extinguished.