40 Phoenix (1/2)
Peng Jipei walked up to the cave entrance alone. In his hand, he held a beautiful bamboo flute carved from exquisite ivory. The sound that came out after he brought it to his lips, however, could not be defined with the same elegance. Every third note was off. It was high, grating and was not too unlike the scraping noise of blade being sharpened mixed with the cries of a spoiled baby.
The flute, made with such a wonderful quality, broadcast this awful sound to Peng Jipei's surroundings. The animals fled from him, leaping out of their hiding places and rustling branches to the beat of the awful music. It was so loud and so terrible that Liu Sumeng was getting a headache just from listening. But he didn't dare press his ears closed, and simply observed the scene before him.
The cavern rumbled. The snow that encircled the entrance quickly melted and from the darkness a brilliant light emerged, shining all colors of the rainbow.
The phoenix was as terrifying as it was majestic. When it stood it was as tall as a man with fiery plumage draping its body. A myriad of colors shimmered when those feathers were touched by sunlight. It's head, delicate-looking upon a long peacock neck was adorned with a crown of plumes, red and gold.
”You,” a mighty voice bellowed from within its puffed out chest, not male, not female, ”who are you to deliver such dissonance upon my lands? What misfortune do you wish to receive?” It scolded as though talking to a child with hidden patience both wise and boundless.
Peng Jipei flashed his long dark lashes and smiled like a shy maiden. He lowered his flute and stroked his hair, ”Oh…was it that bad?”
The phoenix scrutinized him with its golden eyes. ”Little girl, are you deaf?” It sighed with a pitying tone.
Peng Jipei didn't react to being called a girl, ”Oh…maybe. Please forgive me, Great Phoenix, I didn't think it could be so terrible. I was just trying to play you a song. I heard that you like music.”
”I do,” the phoenix bristled, ”but what you played was far from music. It was just painful noise.”
”I'm sorry,” the way Peng Jipei trembled made him look even smaller in front of the giant phoenix. ”I'm not very good at many things, and I don't have any valuables on me neither. I only have this…” He took out a peach with a perfectly rounded bottom that met at a centered points. The peach was luscious and almost vibrant in color, pink with a touch of a soft creamy yellow. It was unnaturally large and without a single trace of imperfection.
The phoenix tried as it could to act disinterested but none missed the way it tilted its head and narrowed its gaze upon the mouth-watering delicacy in Peng Jipei's hand, ”What have you there, little girl?”
”A peach,” Peng Jipei tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear and batted his lashes some more.
”That is no ordinary peach,” the phoenix inched closer and Peng Jipei flinched from the tiny embers that flickered towards him, ”Let me have a look at it.”
”I'm giving it to you,” Peng Jipei declared and carefully stretched out his hand some more, ”As an apology…” He couldn't quite stop his body and voice from trembling.
The phoenix, intrigued, leaned down and pecked at the fruit, ”Very well then. I shall forgive you if you promise never to put a flute to your lips again.”
”I-I promise.”
”Good,” it opened its peak and Peng Jipei felt his entire body freeze and tense as he gazed down the long black tunnel down the phoenix's throat. The peach was plucked from his hands and panic seeped farther and farther into his pores, waiting to overflow. Peng Jipei was counting down the milliseconds before he could run for cover and save himself the maw and claws of this terrifying bird.
At first, the phoenix was pleased and even preened when the large fruit traveled down its long neck. Peng Jipei watched the bulge inch farther and farther down… it was going to be any second now.
The phoenix looked down upon him and for a moment was silent. Only when the fruit disappeared into its belly did it seem to realize that something was off. ”You…” it said, causing Peng Jipei's heart to stutter and freeze. ”Don't tell me…you're actually a man?”
”...” That wasn't the realization that Peng Jipei was waiting for. He laughed awkwardly and continued to card his fingers through his own hair, ”Yes…”
”...Why didn't you say anything?”
”...Uh,” Peng Jipei paused, ”I was afraid you might be embarrassed.”
”...”