Junior Sister is skilled in subduing demons.

Chapter 213 Phoenix Sends a Message
Snowflakes continued to fall softly outside the central command tent, and Shen Anzhi's hands, gripping the hem of her clothes, were already damp with cold sweat. When she learned of Tuantuan's detailed plan to "kill the Monkey King" in the tent, her first reaction was to find Ge Wensong. Through their years of cultivation in the bamboo forest and their recent battles side by side, he had always been able to offer the safest advice when she was flustered.

But as soon as she turned the corner of the tent, the glaring crimson made her stop in her tracks.

In front of Ge Wensong's tent, a crimson phoenix folded its wings, the flames on its tail feathers flickering, melting the surrounding snow into tiny puddles.

That is the "Crimson Flame Spirit Phoenix" unique to Huangshan, which only appears when the sect encounters a particularly important event, and is rarely seen even by ordinary sect disciples.

Not far away, under an old cypress tree, Lingjizi was holding a yellowed letter, his knuckles white from the force. Ge Wensong stood opposite him, his black outer robe fluttering in the wind, his usually smiling face now etched with an unyielding solemnity.

"Wen Song?" An Zhi's voice was softer than snowflakes. She cautiously stepped forward, her gaze shifting between the phoenix and the letter. The ominous premonition in her heart grew stronger and stronger: "What... what's going on?"

Ge Wensong turned around, his eyes still revealing his emotions—anxiety, reluctance, and a hint of panic she had never seen before. His fingertips trembled slightly as he handed her the letter, the edges of which were crumpled: "An urgent letter from Huangshan, saying... saying the sect's barrier is acting strangely, and that I must return immediately."

Anzhi took the letter, his fingertips touching the cool silk paper. The handwriting was messy but powerful, each stroke carrying a sense of urgency: "The barrier on the southern slope of Huangshan has cracked, and demonic energy is leaking out. My beloved disciple Wensong, return quickly."

The inscription bears the personal seal of the Huangshan Sect Leader, and the red clay is not yet completely dry, indicating that it was written overnight.

She suddenly remembered that when they first met in the bamboo forest, Ge Wensong had said that Huangshan was where he grew up and that the sect leader had been training him as a personal disciple. Now that the sect was in trouble, he naturally could not sit idly by.

But the emptiness in her chest felt like it was filled with snow, making it hard to breathe. Anzhi unconsciously clenched the letter, her fingertips tracing the familiar handwriting. Countless images flashed through her mind: in the morning mist of the bamboo forest, he taught her to hold a sword, saying, "Swordsmanship must be steady, and the heart must be calm"; in the snow cave of the sacred mountain, he wrapped his only cloak around her, his nose turning red from the cold; at the pass of Longding Mountain, he stood in front of her, his sword flashing as he cleaved the incoming demonic arrows, saying, "Sister Anzhi, I'm here"... These moments were like branded marks on her heart. Although it had only been a short time, she had already grown accustomed to having such a sunny and open-minded young man by her side.

"Then...when are you leaving?" Anzhi's voice trembled without her even realizing it. She didn't dare to look up into Ge Wensong's eyes, afraid of seeing the reluctance in them, and even more afraid that she would be unable to resist asking him to stay.

“The Crimson Phoenix can travel overnight, I… I’ll pack my things and leave.” Ge Wensong’s voice lowered, his gaze falling on An Zhi’s earlobes, red from the cold. He suddenly remembered the blush that instantly rose on An Zhi’s earlobes when he accidentally brushed against them in the rime forest; he remembered how she panicked and couldn’t speak when she realized she was falling for him in the snow cave; he remembered how she would always secretly slip him the best piece of baked bread after every battle…

These images flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern. They were seemingly trivial matters, yet they weighed heavily on her heart, making it impossible for Ge Wensong to even utter the words "take care." An Zhi took a deep breath, abruptly raised her head, and blurted out everything about Tuantuan and Monkey Lao Biao, speaking so quickly as if afraid of being interrupted: "Tuantuan and Monkey Lao Biao wanted to kill the old Monkey King of Mount Emei. They said it was an entrepreneurial endeavor, but the old Monkey King is a manifestation of a spiritual vein, the guardian beast of Mount Emei. He's caused a huge disaster..." As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, the anxiety in her eyes impossible to conceal: "I'm afraid I can't stop Tuantuan, and I'm even more afraid..."

Ge Wensong, upon hearing this, was calmer than her. He gently patted Anzhi's shoulder, the warmth of his palm seeping through her clothes like a warm current dispelling the chill in her heart: "Don't panic. The old Monkey King has lived for over a thousand years. If he really wanted to kill Tuantuan and Monkey Cousin, they wouldn't have been able to leave Mount Emei." He paused, his gaze drifting towards Mount Shu, his tone knowing: "In my opinion, the old Monkey King showed mercy. Perhaps he wanted to teach the little monkey a lesson, to make him understand the weight of the spiritual vein beasts."

"But why did Old Monkey insist on killing it?" Anzhi frowned in confusion: "Tuanbao said that the old monkey king occupied the position but did nothing, and just hid in the monkey king cave all day long... Perhaps, perhaps it's more than that."

Ge Wensong's fingertips unconsciously stroked the hilt of the sword. He didn't speak, but his face was full of worry.

Anzhi said with a little anger, "That mischievous monkey has led Tuantuan astray, making it think this is starting a business, really..." After saying that, Anzhi looked at Ge Wensong again.

At this moment, Ge Wensong's thoughts drifted away involuntarily. He should be worried about Huangshan and packing his luggage, but what kept replaying in his mind were those days in the bamboo forest: the morning light filtering through the bamboo leaves and falling on Anzhi's hair, her serious expression as she practiced her sword, the two of them sitting in the courtyard of the old bamboo weaver eating baked flatbread and listening to the birdsong in the distance; her occasional tantrums, but always clumsily bandaging his wounds... These fragmented moments were like honey-coated candy, so sweet that he couldn't bear to let go.

“Sister Anzhi,” Ge Wensong suddenly grasped Anzhi’s hand, the calluses on his palm brushing against her fingertips, carrying a familiar warmth. “Don’t blame yourself too much for Tuantuan’s matter. Although it’s rebellious now, it still cares about you. As long as you talk to it nicely, it will definitely listen.” He paused, his voice becoming more serious. “Once I’ve finished dealing with things in Huangshan, I’ll come back to help you immediately. Then we’ll go to Emei Mountain together, catch that mischievous monkey, and teach it a good lesson.”

Anzhi nodded, but her eyes were a little hot. Looking at the determination in Ge Wensong's eyes, she suddenly remembered what the monk said when she was circumambulating the mountain: "Everything has its cause and effect." Perhaps their meeting was also a preordained destiny.

The wind whipped up the phoenix's flames, casting long shadows of the two figures. Snow continued to fall outside the tent, but she knew in her heart that some things, from this moment on, were different.

As Ge Wensong turned to pack his luggage, Anzhi stood there, looking at the crimson phoenix, and suddenly felt that its flames were no longer dazzling, but rather had a touch of warmth.

She touched the demon-slaying sword at her waist; the blade gleamed softly in the sunlight, as if comforting her.