Princess, she is the one who facilitated the extradition.

Gui Yao thought it was boasting.

In the past, when she was struck by lightning, it never transformed into a giant bird to protect her.

Mao Dan just took it as a beautiful dream and didn't argue with its owner.

Gui Yao threw off the covers and got up. "Your Highness, Qingqing is still on the roof. We need to hurry back."

Xiao Huaijin didn't want Gui Yao to see the courtyard still in such a state, so he carried a food box containing medicine and led them out of the mansion through a side gate.

The man and the bird happily returned to Xuanji Tower. Qingqing was still on the roof, perhaps tired from jumping, and was sitting on the roof talking to the void.

Gui Yao carried her back to bed, gave her medicine, and soon Qingqing woke up.

She rubbed her temples. "Girl, why am I so tired after sleeping?"

The man and the bird burst into laughter.

Gui Yao recounted the story of Qingqing dancing with the little man, adding, "Mao Dan isn't much better; it thinks it's a dragon and frantically flaps and spits out air."

Qingqing blushed and said, "I'm not eating mushrooms anymore."

Fortunately, he only embarrassed himself in front of the girl and Mao Dan.

At the same time, she was also curious, "Girl, aren't you poisoned?"

The girl ate more mushrooms than she did.

"Of course not."

Gui Yao remained calm and composed, saying, "I am the master of Xuanji Tower. These mere poisonous mushrooms are nothing to me."

Mao Dan sensed something was amiss. "Then why were we at Prince Jin's residence, and why did the prince prepare medicine for us to take back?"

The owner must have been poisoned as well.

This owner is so vain and loves to pretend! Humph!

"Oh dear, I was worried about you, so I went to the prince to ask for the antidote."

Gui Yao laughed it off and changed the subject, "Qingqing, is the prince's bracelet ready?"

She had to bribe the prince quickly so he wouldn't reveal her little secret, hehe.

Qingqing's attention was indeed diverted. "There's still a little bit left. Let's do it now."

Mao Dan then discovered something terrifying: "Master, my anklet is gone."

Perhaps due to the aftereffects of the poisonous mushrooms, it seemed rather listless today. It was only when its owner touched its wristband that it remembered to look down and admire its anklet.

Upon closer inspection, it was astonishing.

My baby is gone!

Gui Yao asked, "Could it have fallen when it was flapping in the air last night? Go check the backyard."

But Maodan and Qingqing searched the entire backyard and still couldn't find it.

Seeing that it was sad, Gui Yao also helped to search again, but still couldn't find it.

Mao Dan was dejected. "It's not at home, so it must have been lost on the way to the Prince's Mansion. Master, Mao Dan wants to find it."

Gui Yao thought for a moment, "Never mind, let Qingqing make another one."

Qingqing also comforted her, "I'll call you a better one than before."

The anklet was so small, and the journey from Xuanji Tower to Prince Jin's residence was so far, it would be extremely difficult to find it.

Mao Dan was reluctant to part with it, saying, "That was the first time my master gave me a diamond, and the first time Qingqing made jewelry for me."

Gui Yao didn't stop it and let it go.

On its way to Prince Jin's residence, it overheard some gossip: a giant bird had appeared in the sky above the capital the previous night, accompanied by thunder.

Some say it's the phoenix descending upon the world, bringing auspicious omens; others say it's a bird demon undergoing tribulation; still others say it's a deity inspecting the world, with wind and thunder being the deity's procession.

After hearing those words, Mao Dan looked bewildered, as they were somewhat similar to his own dream.

Its instinct was to go back to find Guiyao, but then it remembered the voices in its dream calling it to save its master.

Mao Dan flew to Prince Jin's residence.

In last night's dream, Xiao Huaijin and his guards were there; perhaps he knew what was really going on.

Xiao Huaijin was not surprised to see Mao Dan appear in front of him.

Last night, a sudden storm raged in Beijing. With the hairy egg being so large, it was bound to be seen by someone, and some people were bound to be curious.

The lanterns were lit and the Prince Jin's residence was taken out of the house. Since it was night and the view was not clear, no one suspected that the incident had occurred at the Prince Jin's residence.

But discussion is inevitable today; Mao Dan is always out and about, so it's only a matter of time before he hears the news.

It came alone and has not returned, which means it came with Guiyao on its back.

Xiao Huaijin didn't hide anything and told it the truth about last night.

"I know you have a secret you can't tell her, and I concealed what happened last night for the same reason you did."

Mao Dan was stunned. "No wonder those voices were so urgent last night..."

The master was already mentally and spiritually incomplete; if he were to make another sacrifice, he would truly be completely annihilated between heaven and earth.

After muttering these words, Mao Dan fell into a long silence, and then bowed deeply to Xiao Huaijin.

"Thank you for keeping this a secret, Your Highness."

Xiao Huaijin nodded. "The sacrifice failed, right?"

Mao Dan's eyes were wary. "Why does Your Highness ask such a question?"

Once it asked the question, it knew it had been tricked.

If it doesn't speak, Xiao Huaijin might not be able to confirm that the sacrifice happened to the master; if it does speak, it's tantamount to admitting it.

This man is as cunning as a fox.

Xiao Huaijin stroked the bristling feathers on Maodan's head. "She is my fiancée. I will not hurt her."

Mao Dan remained wary. His fiancée was a lie; it was about his master, and he dared not trust anyone.

Xiao Huaijin didn't mind and simply answered its previous question.

"Although I am not proficient in esoteric arts, I can roughly understand some of what she said."

To save her five thousand loyal guards, she made a deal with gods and demons; if successful, she would cease to exist.

After saying that, he unconsciously placed his fingers on his chest, feeling a dull ache.

How desperate Gui Yao must have been at that time, to be willing to sacrifice herself for anyone, whether a god or a demon, as long as they could save her.

Mao Dan lowered his head. "The transaction must be halfway done."

It also doesn't know the specific details.

Xiao Huaijin immediately realized the other meaning: "So, the five thousand loyal souls turned around and sacrificed themselves, resurrecting Gui Yao?"

That's why she possesses their martial arts skills, weapons, and even their faces.

"And you are the manifestation of those five thousand loyal souls, continuing to protect her in their place."

The secret has been guessed, and Mao Dan feels that there's no point in denying it, but the warning is there!

"Now that Your Highness is aware of this, please refrain from doing anything to harm your master. Otherwise, even if Mao Dan agrees, the five thousand loyal souls will not. Last night was proof of that."

The little bird spoke very bluntly, but it was with a heart full of love and concern for its master.

Despite being threatened, Xiao Huaijin remained calm and gentle, saying, "From now on, I will protect her with you."

Before Mao Dan could answer, he said, "The strange phenomenon last night must have been caused by evil spirits, and a divine bird descended to suppress them."

I observed the last place the divine bird went, and it seemed very much like the residence of Yang Bokang, the Imperial Censor. What do you think, Yulang?

The bird's eyes gleamed slightly.

That's a great idea.

This would both cover up the truth of last night and help the Qi family mother and daughter deal with the Yang family.

Helping the Qi family mother and daughter is helping the master, allowing the master to successfully collect the wish power.

And since the rumors were spreading so widely, it could hear them, and its gossipy owner could hear them too, to prevent the owner from overthinking...

Bird's eyes darted around, "Those messy rumors outside are all spread by the prince after he heard my dream, all to help my master."

Xiao Huaijin understood its intention and nodded its head, "Such a small head, yet it's filled with a lot of wicked thoughts."

Five thousand people sacrificed themselves to save her; this burden is too heavy, and it will become a shackle that binds her forever.

And since she disappeared and the sacrifice was not completed, how did she lose her five senses and seven emotions and six desires?

Mao Dan is unwaveringly loyal to Gui Yao, yet he conceals this secret, which is probably more than just the sacrifice of five thousand loyal souls.

Mao Dan, ever the arrogant one, replied, "Likewise."

The prince was no saint either.

Xiao Huaijin glanced at it and asked seriously, "Will you keep this from her forever?"

"Won't."

Mao Dan shook his head. "It can't be hidden. Five thousand female generals are still waiting for her to rescue them, but all of this is contingent on the master's soul being completely restored."

Xiao Huaijin lowered his eyes slightly and did not ask any further questions.

With five thousand female generals under her command, Gui Yao's identity must be extraordinary.

He inexplicably thought of the nobleman from the capital who rescued Pei Liu, and coincidentally, the name Gui Yao called out last night included Mo Ling.

Those five names must be generals of the Five-Colored Army.

Pei Liu's weapon is the Ink-Patterned Silk, which is in Gui Yao's hands. Perhaps the Ink-Patterned Silk she mentioned is the sister that Pei Xuan has been searching for.

Mao Dan was also lost in thought.

When it was transformed, the five thousand loyal souls gave it only a decree that it could not reveal to its master the power to bring him back to life.

It knew nothing else about its master, but after hearing Xiao Huaijin recount what happened last night, it vaguely guessed what had happened.

But it couldn't say it. Spreading its wings, it said, "Let's go, Your Highness, it's time for us to join forces."

Xiao Huaijin sighed, "Mao Dan, you can't just use words randomly."

The man and the bird reached an agreement, but neither of them mentioned the events of the previous night again.

Unbeknownst to them, Gui Yao followed Mao Dan out the door, also heard the rumors, and came to Wang Jin's residence...