After a grueling trek westward, Wu Zhao finally arrived at the main gate of the fence, where the magpies, Xiao Xi and Xiao Que, eagerly awaited her return.

“Did you get us the peaches?” they chirped in unison, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Wu Zhao exhaled, her exhaustion evident, but a faint smile crossed her lips. Reaching into her pocket, she produced the two peaches and extended them toward the magpies.

“I did. Here you go,” she said, her voice steady despite the fatigue.

But to Wu Zhao’s surprise, the magpies didn’t seem pleased after receiving the peaches.

“How in the world could you mistake these for peaches?!” Xiao Xi squawked indignantly.

“What a meanie, stealing these from Peng!” Xiao Que chimed in, their tone filled with reproach.

“Hah?” Wu Zhao blinked, her brows furrowing. “No matter how you look at it, these are peaches, aren’t they?” she protested, holding up the fruit for emphasis.

“You’re not just mannerless; you’re mean!” Xiao Que huffed, ruffling her feathers dramatically.

“Verily so!” Xiao Xi added, nodding vigorously in agreement.

Wu Zhao felt irritation bubbling up inside her, almost to the point of wanting to scream at the two magpies. However, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She glanced at the peaches in her hands, examining them closely. But no matter how much she looked, they seemed like perfectly ordinary peaches.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Xiao Que let out an exasperated sigh. “Hold them up high, toward the sun, and look again, you mannerless child!”

“Do it, you mannerless child!” Xiao Xi echoed, flapping his wings for emphasis.

Wu Zhao reluctantly raised the two peaches toward the sun, her face betraying just a hint of her lingering irritation. But as the sunlight filtered through the flesh of the fruits, she froze. Shadows swirled within each peach.

“Hah? Worms?” Wu Zhao thought, her brow furrowing. But the shapes seemed far too large. A realization struck her, widening her eyes. “Wait… don’t tell me… are these actually eggs?”

Her surprise did not go unnoticed. Xiao Que clacked her beak smugly. “Finally got through your mannerless skull that these aren’t peaches?”

Wu Zhao’s mouth opened, then closed. She was utterly speechless. She had actually mistaken eggs for peaches and stolen them from that fish bird.

“Oh, poor Peng! Got her eggs stolen—how sad she must be~” Xiao Xi said, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Yes, yes, poor Peng!” Xiao Que added, dramatically pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears from her eye. Her exaggerated gestures only made the mockery sting more.

Wu Zhao felt the vein on her forehead throb, barely holding back her irritation. “Damn you birds, are you playing me for a fool? Is this why you sent me after peaches?!” she thought, biting back her frustration. Despite her anger, a pang of guilt crept in—she had stolen the bird’s eggs.

“I must return these to Peng,” she finally said, her voice laced with determination.

“Yes, yes, you must!” Xiao Xi and Xiao Que chimed in unison, their mocking tones unwavering.

“And don’t forget—we still want peaches!” Xiao Que added with a smirk.

After trekking back to Peng’s garden, Wu Zhao spotted the majestic bird resting on the ground, its wings folded close, likely exhausted and regaining its strength.

Wu Zhao cautiously approached the gigantic bird, her steps deliberate and measured, fully aware of the risk that it might lash out or charge at her in retaliation for their earlier encounter.

Peng flared its massive wings, the air around it trembling with an unspoken threat. Its sharp, furious eyes locked onto Wu Zhao, clearly ready to attack.

“W-wait!” Wu Zhao shouted, raising her hands in a gesture of peace.

“I offer mine sincerest apologies for the affront I committed earlier,” she continued, her voice steady, carrying the weight of a queen seeking amends. “Permit me to atone for mine trespass.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Wu Zhao carefully brought forth the two eggs that bore the semblance of peaches, presenting them with a dignified gesture.

Peng’s fierce eyes locked onto her, and in an instant, the majestic bird’s body glowed with an ethereal light. As the radiance subsided, before Wu Zhao stood a tall woman with silver hair, clad in a flowing white robe, her presence as commanding as her earlier form.

“How dare you show your face to me once more!” Peng’s voice rang out, sharp and accusatory.

Wu Zhao’s gaze briefly flickered with surprise. “So Peng can transform as well? The magpies had such abilities too; I suppose this should not astonish me,” she mused silently, keeping her composure.

With a graceful bow, Wu Zhao spoke, her voice steady and regal. “I must extend mine deepest apologies for mine actions. I erred gravely in trespassing upon your sacred garden and in taking what was not mine to claim. It was, I assure you, a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, you say?” Peng’s eyes flared with anger, her voice trembling with indignation. “How dare you speak such audacious words!”

Wu Zhao straightened, meeting Peng’s fury with unwavering resolve. “Indeed, a grave misunderstanding, yet the blame lies wholly with me. I should never have acted with such heedlessness, and for this, I am filled with regret.”

Wu Zhao inclined her head slightly. “How can I make amends for my mistake and earn your forgiveness?”

Peng carefully took the eggs back, holding them close. After a moment, she asked, “Who put you up to this?”

Wu Zhao straightened, her tone calm but firm. “It was not my intention to harm you or your home. I came seeking peaches from your garden, as requested by the magpies. I mistakenly thought your eggs were the fruit they spoke of.”

Peng’s eyes narrowed, her frustration clear. “Those troublesome magpies again. They never fail to stir up trouble for me.”

“Those peaches were a gift from the Jade Empress herself,” Peng said, her tone sharp. “I would never part with them for those troublesome magpies!”

The Jade Empress? The queen of Wan Cheng? Wu Zhao’s thoughts raced. This bird is connected to such a powerful figure?

She glanced at Peng, now pondering the possibilities. If they are indeed friends, perhaps I could leverage this connection. Using her as a bridge to the Jade Empress might aid my mission to secure alliances with Wan Cheng… but I must tread carefully.

Peng’s sharp eyes scanned Wu Zhao again, her expression shifting as a thought struck her. “Although… your robe does have a certain elegance to it,” she remarked. “I might be willing to part with one peach in exchange for it.”

Wu Zhao hesitated, glancing down at her robe. It was enchanted by Peng Xian and capable of protecting her from a certain level of magical attacks. Parting with it was no small sacrifice, but her mission to reach Feng and Huang took precedence. She sighed inwardly, weighing her options.

“Could you be persuaded to offer two peaches for my robe?” Wu Zhao asked cautiously, keeping her tone measured.

Peng’s face hardened. “No. I might have considered it had you not trampled through my garden, but as it stands, the deal is this: one peach for your robe, or nothing at all.”

After a moment’s thought, Wu Zhao nodded resolutely. She removed her outer robe, revealing the elegantly crafted white inner robe beneath, and extended the enchanted garment toward Peng.

Peng took the robe, her expression unreadable, and after inspecting it briefly, she reached into her sleeve. With a graceful motion, she withdrew a peach that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow. It brimmed with vitality and radiated an aura so vibrant that Wu Zhao could feel its energy even from a distance.

“Here,” Peng said, handing the peach over. “You’ve made your trade. Use it wisely.”

“Thank you for—” Wu Zhao began, but before she could complete her sentence, Peng turned away and, without a word, leapt gracefully into the pond, vanishing beneath its surface.

Wu Zhao stood there for a moment, the glowing peach in hand, feeling a mix of relief and unease. It seems her anger has not entirely subsided. I cannot blame her; I would feel the same if our roles were reversed.

She glanced down at the peach, its vibrant energy pulsating faintly in her palm, then at her attire—her inner robe, a simple white garment that contrasted starkly with the splendor of the enchanted robe she had just surrendered. This is far from ideal, but I must endure it for the sake of the journey ahead. I can only hope those troublesome magpies will be content with just one peach.

With a soft sigh, Wu Zhao adjusted the inner robe to maintain her composure, straightened her posture, and began her trek back to where the magpies awaited.

“She’s back!” Xiao Xi chirped as he caught sight of Wu Zhao approaching.

“How utterly scandalous! She walks about in her inner garment as if it were proper attire!” Xiao Que added, a mocking lilt in her voice.

“Verily so!” Xiao Xi echoed, clearly enjoying the moment.

Wu Zhao clenched her fists subtly, her expression maintaining its regal calm, though her thoughts simmered with irritation. Grrr…these birds are insufferable. I mustn’t let their childish antics provoke me. Steady, Wu Zhao, steady. A queen does not stoop to quarrel with birds.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and approached them with dignity. “I trust you have been eagerly awaiting mine return,” she said coolly, holding up the single peach.

“It’s a peach!” Xiao Xi exclaimed, hopping around excitedly.

“And where is the other one?” Xiao Que asked, her eyes narrowing.

“I could only acquire one,” Wu Zhao replied, her tone calm despite her frustration. “I traded my robe for it.”

“That sounds like your problem, not ours!” Xiao Que snapped. “We asked for two!”

“Verily so!” Xiao Xi chimed in.

Wu Zhao exhaled slowly, gripping the hem of her inner robe to steady herself. Calm down, Wu Zhao, calm down. Losing composure over these two will only amuse them further.

“This is no ordinary peach,” she explained, lifting the fruit slightly for emphasis. “It is a divine peach from the Jade Empress’s garden. Securing even one was a miracle. Surely you can share it by splitting it in half?”

Xiao Que paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Hmm, I suppose we could do that…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Xi darted forward, snatching the peach from Wu Zhao’s hand. “Finders keepers!” he shouted gleefully, flapping his wings as he took off.

“Hey! You feather-brained fool!” Xiao Que yelled, launching herself after him in pursuit.

Wu Zhao stood frozen, watching the chaotic scene unfold. “Am I truly wasting time on this nonsense?” she muttered, casting a longing glance at the wooden gate ahead.

Moments later, Xiao Que returned, clutching the peach in her beak. She landed gracefully and transformed into a young girl, holding the fruit smugly. “You may proceed upward now, scandalous girl,” she said before darting off with the peach.

Xiao Xi trailed behind, transforming into a boy as he chased after her. “Give it back! It’s my peach!” he wailed.

“These two are... special,” Wu Zhao sighed, shaking her head. She adjusted her robe and began her trek toward the mountain peak, eager to leave the peculiar magpies behind.

The scenery grew increasingly enchanting as Wu Zhao ascended. Vibrant flowers in every hue blanketed the path, and birds of strikingly diverse colors flitted about. Wu Zhao’s eyes widened in wonder as she took it all in. “I never imagined birds could display such a dazzling array of colors,” she mused, momentarily captivated by the breathtaking view.

As Wu Zhao finally reached the summit, her gaze fell upon an enormous nest, and within it rested two majestic birds. Their feathers shimmered with an ethereal brilliance, exuding an unmistakable divine aura. She took a closer look and furrowed her brow. “Is that... a tortoise shell? Are they nesting inside a gigantic tortoise shell?” Wu Zhao thought, her curiosity piqued by the unexpected detail.

One of the birds turned its sharp, piercing gaze toward Wu Zhao, its regal presence making her instinctively straighten her posture. The bird rose from its resting position, its massive wings partially unfurling as it spoke, its voice deep and commanding.

"Who are you? You do not seem entirely human," it said, scrutinizing her with an intensity that felt as though it could pierce through her very soul.