I looked at the Vermilion Bird's wings on my back, shimmering with crimson light, gently stirring. Everyone was watching me. Old Eccentric walked over and quietly examined the wings on my back.
Vincent Swallow also came over, a look of astonished light flickering in the eyes behind his black mask.
"It does seem that with this thing, we can survive a little longer," Oddball Moe said. Just as I was about to tell everyone what the Vermilion Bird had told me, Vincent Swallow spoke up.
"Everyone take a feather and eat it. This is pure yang energy, condensed. It should be enough to keep us going." Vincent Swallow said, reaching his hand toward my wings. I felt a tickling sensation, then a sharp pain. I saw Vincent Swallow pluck a feather from my wing.
Everyone's eyes widened as they watched Vincent Swallow open his mouth and swallow the Vermilion Feather. The anxiety and restlessness on his face disappeared, replaced by a look of satisfaction.
"Let me! I'm starving," Tammy Blade said, charging at me with both hands reaching for the feathers. Suddenly, Vincent Swallow grabbed both of Tammy Blade's hands.
"What are you doing, Vincent Swallow?"
"You can't eat too much of this. Eating one will keep us from starving, but we'll still feel hungry and thirsty. If you eat too many, your body won't be able to handle the pure yang energy—it'll burn you up."
As a wave of sharp pain ran across my back, everyone ate a Vermilion Feather from my wings.
"Such a tiny piece, it's not enough at all."
Tammy Blade started to complain. Vincent Swallow glared at her, and she sat down.
"Listen, don't try anything funny. You damn bird, if you dare pull anything, I won't be polite. Before I die, I'll lock you up so you'll never get out."
Old Eccentric muttered to me. Suddenly, a ball of crimson flame lit up on my right shoulder, slowly shifting until it formed the head of the Vermilion Bird.
"Relax. I'm interested in this kid, after all. Heh, we're all in this together now—I won't screw you over."
I shot a glare at the Vermilion Bird beside me.
"Who's in this together with you? When we get out, I'm giving you back to Uncle Mo."
The Vermilion Bird burst into hearty laughter.
"Let's get out first, then we can discuss it slowly. Heh."
Tammy Blade seemed agitated, and Vincent Swallow even more so. Every few minutes, he'd stick out his tongue and lightly drip a bit of wine onto it from his flask.
"I say you two should take this chance to kick your bad habits now," Oddball Moe muttered softly.
"What's that?" Tammy Blade asked. Except for Old Ren, the other five looked confused. I smiled.
"Once we're out, you'll understand. Also, you—I remember now, you're the Vermilion Bird, right?" I turned to the worried Vermilion Bird and smiled.
"We'll remember too. The Vermilion Spirit has protected people from evil since ancient times." Vincent Swallow said, and the others nodded. Tammy Blade walked over.
"Even though our clan doesn't have the Four Saints, from today on, I remember you, Vermilion Bird."
"No need for you to remember me, hmph."
The Vermilion Bird looked embarrassed and turned its head away.
Oddball Moe, I'm counting on you. At least estimate the remaining area of this world, and in a few days, check how fast it's disappearing.
Vincent Swallow said, and Oddball Moe nodded. He raised his hand, and I suddenly felt something fasten around my waist.
"There are six of us—it's not precise, but let's go, everyone, in different directions."
My legs aren't in great shape, so I'm counting on you, Vermilion Bird." As I spoke, crimson wings spread from my back and I slowly rose into the air, flying north.
The others also quickly headed off in different directions.
In just two minutes, I reached the edge. Before me was darkness—I couldn't see anything. I flew forward, reaching out to touch the darkness. It felt like a hard wall. Then, with a thought, fire ignited in my right hand, and the Phoenix Blade appeared, accompanied by flames.
I raised the Phoenix Blade and struck at the darkness. With a roar, sparks flew; the flames surged in, vanishing without a trace, as if half of them were swallowed by the darkness.
"Try ramming it," I said. The Vermilion Bird nodded, then merged into my shoulder. Crimson flames erupted across my body, wrapping around me. I glowed red, three long Vermilion feathers fluttering.
I raised my claws to either side, my wings flapping. With a boom, fierce flames burst from my back as I turned into a fireball and charged into the darkness.
Still, there was no sound. I hovered at the edge of darkness, flames still burning on my body.
"Looks like it won't work. Let's go back," said the Vermilion Bird, its head reappearing on my right shoulder. I nodded, turned, and flew back to camp, wings stirring.
When I returned, everyone was already gathered at camp. Oddball Moe was holding out one hand, eyes closed, deep in thought. After a while, he opened his eyes.
"How big is this world now?"
"About twenty li across," Oddball Moe said. I did the math—about ten square kilometers.
"Almost. Night's coming soon. Starting tonight, we'll need to take turns keeping watch."
Vincent Swallow said, glancing repeatedly at the three trees Tammy Blade had eaten. My body was full of energy, but my stomach was still empty and my throat burned.
I looked at everyone; they must have felt the same as I did.
"By the way, how do you know it's almost night?"
"Hey, Qingyuan, think about it. They've all been here for at least a hundred years. Of course they'd know. It's always the same routine here."
The Vermilion Bird spoke. I responded. When Vincent Swallow said night was coming, we all went to sleep. After that, I felt nothing. I used to sense hot and cold, but now, nothing—my skin felt nothing from the outside world.
Even in this unchanging routine, I found myself feeling nostalgic.
"Sleep, Qingyuan. I'll keep watch." The Vermilion Bird's voice echoed in my mind, warm and reassuring as heat surged from within.
The next morning, Black Mask woke me up. I opened my eyes—the sky was still black, with the moon, stars, and the curtain of darkness all around.
"Get up, it's morning," Black Mask said. I sat up, still surrounded by that endless darkness.
The others had already gotten up. Tammy Blade was gnawing on a stick, her face full of frustration.
Oddball Moe was drawing lines in the dirt, his brow furrowed in concentration. Vincent Swallow sat off to the side, staring blankly into the darkness.
Old Eccentric and Old Ren were quietly discussing something, their voices low and tense.
The Vermilion Bird perched on my shoulder, its feathers ruffled, clearly still uneasy.
I felt a strange heaviness in the air, as if the world was even smaller than yesterday.
"How much did it shrink?" I asked Oddball Moe.
He shook his head, "Not much, but it's still shrinking. We should be careful."
"We need to ration our strength," Vincent Swallow said. "No more unnecessary movement."
Tammy Blade grunted in agreement, still chewing on her stick.
We sat in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
The oppressive feeling grew heavier, as if the darkness outside was pressing in.
"If this keeps up, will there be anything left?" Old Eccentric asked quietly.
No one answered. The silence felt endless.
The Vermilion Bird fluffed its feathers, then whispered, "I'll protect you as long as I can."
I nodded, grateful for its presence, even as hope grew thinner.
We waited, not knowing what the next night would bring.
The world was shrinking, and all we could do was endure.
I closed my eyes, trying to find comfort in the Vermilion Bird's warmth.
But the darkness outside never stopped pressing closer.