The Story of the Vermillion Bird

The Birth of Fire

Long ago, in the dawn of the world, the heavens and the earth had not yet taken their final forms. The deities looked down and noticed that something vital was missing from the south—warmth and light. Cold winds swept across the land, and all was cloaked in shadows. The Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, summoned the powerful deity of fire, Huo Jun, to create a creature that could bring warmth and vitality to the southern lands.

Huo Jun descended from the heavens, gathering the brightest flames from the sun and the hottest embers from the earth's core. In his hands, these elements intertwined until they formed a single, pulsing flame. Huo Jun then shaped this flame into a great bird, infusing it with life. Thus, the Vermillion Bird was born, its feathers aflame with shades of red, orange, and gold. It spread its wings and soared, illuminating the skies, casting a radiant warmth upon the earth below.

The Vermillion Bird, Zhuque, was a creature of both beauty and power. Wherever it flew, life sprang anew—plants budded, rivers flowed, and the people below thrived. The south became a paradise of warmth, growth, and prosperity, all under the watchful eye of the Vermillion Bird.

The Trials of Zhuque

As Zhuque spread its protective wings over the southern lands, it encountered the first of many trials that would test its loyalty and endurance. It was during one of the great harvest festivals that Zhuque sensed a disturbance—a dark energy lurking beneath the soil. Creatures of shadow, drawn to the warmth and life of Zhuque’s territory, began to emerge, threatening the balance of the land.

The first of these creatures was the Jiāoguài, a serpent spirit of envy and shadows. The Jiāoguài slithered through the southern valleys, poisoning the rivers and withering the crops. Villagers fell ill, and despair spread among them. Hearing their cries, Zhuque descended from the heavens, trailing embers in the night sky.

As Zhuque faced the Jiāoguài, the bird’s fiery feathers ignited the dark with blinding light, searing through the gloom. However, the Jiāoguài was cunning and fast, weaving around Zhuque’s attacks, avoiding its fiery talons. The serpent hissed, “Your light will burn out, Vermillion Bird. You are nothing but a flicker in the night.”

Summoning all its strength, Zhuque spread its wings wide, unleashing a burst of flame that scorched the serpent, turning it into ashes. With the Jiāoguài defeated, the balance was restored, and Zhuque once again soared over the villages below, bringing with it a renewed warmth.

But Zhuque’s victory came with a price. Each time it unleashed its flames to defeat darkness, its strength waned, and the flames that once danced brightly began to dim. Despite the risks, Zhuque knew it must protect the south, for its very existence was entwined with the land it guarded.

The Moonlit Covenant

One evening, as Zhuque perched atop a high cliff, recuperating from its recent battle, it sensed a powerful presence. A graceful, ethereal woman emerged from the mists, her robes shimmering like the moon itself. She was Chang’e, the moon goddess, who descended from her celestial palace to speak with the Vermillion Bird.

“You sacrifice much for this land,” she said softly, her gaze steady and compassionate. “But your light grows weaker with each trial. The darkness that challenges you is endless.”

Zhuque’s feathers glowed faintly in response, dim but resolute. “This land is my duty, and these people are my purpose. Without them, I am but an ember lost in the sky.”

Moved by Zhuque’s devotion, Chang’e extended her hand. “Then let me share some of my light with you. My moonlight shall become a shield, aiding you in your battles against the darkness.”

Zhuque bowed, accepting the blessing of the moon. From that day forward, when night fell and the stars glittered, the Vermillion Bird would draw strength from the moon’s gentle glow, replenishing its flames with each passing night. With Chang’e’s light as its ally, Zhuque grew stronger, and a new era of peace fell upon the southern lands.

The Siege of Shadows

Years passed, and the people of the south continued to thrive under Zhuque’s watchful protection. But as generations grew accustomed to prosperity, whispers of ancient, malevolent spirits began to spread. The southern lands were not without enemies, and the darkest of them was Hei’an, an ancient spirit of famine and decay who had lain dormant beneath the mountains for centuries.

Hei’an saw the flourishing lands and knew that Zhuque was responsible for the balance and prosperity. Consumed with envy and hatred, Hei’an awoke, sending his army of spirits to the villages. Crops withered in a single night, rivers turned black, and fear gripped the hearts of the people.

Zhuque, sensing the growing darkness, flew across the sky, trailing embers of light to reassure its people. It swooped down, facing Hei’an, who stood towering over the scorched earth, his form a mass of shadows.

“So, the little bird comes to protect its nest,” Hei’an sneered. “But can you, Zhuque, protect them all?”

Without hesitation, Zhuque launched itself at Hei’an, their battle igniting the sky in brilliant flashes. Fire clashed with shadow as the Vermillion Bird and Hei’an fought, their energies illuminating the night. Though Chang’e’s blessing strengthened it, Zhuque began to falter, for Hei’an’s darkness was vast and unrelenting.

In a desperate act of bravery, Zhuque plunged into Hei’an, its body engulfed in flames. Its fiery heart beat with an intensity that pushed back the shadows, engulfing Hei’an in an inferno. Finally, with a shuddering cry, Hei’an was defeated, reduced to cinders.

However, the victory was bittersweet. Zhuque, weakened from the fight, collapsed to the earth, its once-brilliant feathers now a dull ash.

The Rebirth

As the people gathered around the fallen Vermillion Bird, a silence fell over the land. Zhuque, who had sacrificed everything to protect them, lay lifeless. The people wept, for they feared they had lost their guardian.

Yet, as dawn approached, a miracle unfolded. From the ashes, a single ember glowed. The people gasped as the ember grew brighter, reigniting into a flame. The ashes began to swirl, and Zhuque emerged anew, its feathers blazing brighter than before, reborn from the fire.

The people knelt in awe, realizing that Zhuque’s spirit would always return, renewed and reborn from the flames. Zhuque rose into the sky, its call echoing across the land, a promise of eternal protection. From that day on, the people of the south celebrated the Vermillion Bird’s rebirth each year, lighting lanterns and setting fires to honor their guardian.

Eternal Guardian

Zhuque continued to watch over the south, but now it was revered not just as a guardian but as a symbol of resilience and hope. Its legend spread across the land, inspiring songs, stories, and festivals in its honor. In the temples, people would leave offerings, and scholars would write poems celebrating the Vermillion Bird’s beauty and bravery.

Whenever dark times came, the people would look to the sky, waiting for the flash of red wings, a reminder that their protector was always near. Zhuque had faced countless trials, each one only strengthening its resolve and deepening its bond with the land and its people.

Through storms, battles, and centuries, Zhuque remained a symbol of courage, eternally soaring above the land it had once saved and would protect for all time.

Epilogue: The Legend Lives On

Even today, the spirit of the Vermillion Bird remains woven into the hearts of the people. From the crimson banners that adorn homes to the firecrackers set off to ward away evil, the essence of Zhuque endures. The story of the Vermillion Bird is a testament to courage, sacrifice, and renewal—an unyielding spirit that continues to inspire and watch over the descendants of those it once protected.

Though no mortal eyes have seen the Vermillion Bird in centuries, the people believe that, in times of great need, it will once again rise from the ashes, its wings blazing, ready to protect the land it loves.