I swept the Phoenix with the Onmyoji Shikigami

The beast seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but more of it was doting and kind. It shook its head gently, and its voice became somewhat honest.

"Baby used to play hide-and-seek with the stars, but the stars could never find me, so I always won."

At this point, the monster's tone became noticeably gentler, and it seemed to be lost in fond memories.

Xinghan sat on the giant beast's shoulder and could feel its emotions better.

"Then the stars told me that the loser must grant the winner a request or a wish."

Oh, it turns out that Xingxing is not just playing games with his friends.

It is purposeful.

Do you still remember? The distant stars are like the twinkle in your eyes.

The sound of the giant beast rang out in the silent night, so soft, like the spring breeze blowing through the wheat fields, or like the distant whale song in the deep sea, as fascinating as a snake. The sound seemed to have some kind of magic, and it drew Xinghan into a dreamlike state.

He seemed to be in a gorgeous peach blossom forest, with the pink petals swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a faint fragrance. The sun shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the peach blossom forest, forming mottled light and shadows. Xinghan felt as if he had merged into the peach blossom forest, breathing and dancing with them.

However, despite being in this beautiful place, Xinghan's heart was full of confusion. He tried hard to recall and find the fragment mentioned by the giant beast from the depths of his memory, but it was like a lighthouse in the fog, looming and unreachable.

He could only shake his head helplessly and responded softly: "I don't remember."

The beast's voice rang out again, as if it came from a distant valley, or from the depths of its heart.

The voice was a little teasing, but also a little expectant: "Really? Xingxing? You really don't remember the game of hide-and-seek we once played together?"

Xinghan was awakened by the sound and returned to reality from the fantasy of the peach blossom forest. He looked ahead with a sense of loss, as if he was looking for the lost memory. He tried hard to recall and finally remembered some scattered fragments.

He remembered that when he was still a child, he played hide-and-seek with his family under the dark but colorful starry sky. He remembered that he had made some childish wishes, such as wanting a pair of wings to fly, or wanting a star that would never go out. Although those wishes were childish, they were full of innocence and dreams.

He raised his head and looked at the distant starry sky, as if he could see the stars that had accompanied him through his childhood.

He took a deep breath and said softly:

"I think back to my childhood... Hiding was really fun back then. I wanted a pair of wings, or a star that would never go out."

The beast's voice sounded again, with a hint of relief: "Is it accomplished?"

“No.” Xinghan said with a nostalgic tone, “Those regrets have turned into stars under the distant night sky.”

The beast's voice was like a gentle woman's, "Those wishes may be difficult to achieve, but they are your most precious."

Xinghan smiled and nodded, feeling inexplicably moved, "Absolutely."

At this moment, a cute kitten seemed to appear in front of him, with soft fur and curiosity and mischief in its eyes, as if calling him, "Come on, let's play together."

The kitten jumped around his feet as if it was playing.

He gently stretched out his hand, as if wanting to touch the kitten, but his fingers passed through the illusory image and only touched the cool night breeze in the air.

Xinghan knew clearly that what he touched was the yearning and memories for innocence and joy in his heart.

"What about you? Have you won many times?" Xinghan stabilized himself and asked in a gentle voice.

The beast's eyes softened instantly, as if it was lost in distant memories. The corners of its mouth curled up slightly, outlining a warm smile with a hint of childish pride.

"Haha, of course!" the beast answered happily, "I have won as many victories as there are stars in the sky."

"Every time I win, the stars will tell me in the sweetest voice that I am the best baby. You know, the stars' eyes are always shining with admiration and love for me, making me feel like the most awesome person in the world."

"You... look very powerful."

The behemoth paused, as if lost in deeper memories.

“It’s really amazing.”

It continues:

"I remember one time, we met a particularly strong opponent. I was so scared that I would lose. But Xingxing held my hand tightly and gave me strength with her warm little hand. She told me that no matter what the result was, Xingxing would be by my side and face it together. At that moment, I felt unprecedented courage, and we finally defeated that opponent."

"Oh..." Xinghan was thinking, this only proves that the giant beast is really powerful, and it can't prove anything else.

The giant beast's eyes sparkled with a glittering light as it continued:

"Another time, the star said she wanted a beautiful garden. So I plucked up my courage, negotiated with the bad guys in the forest, and finally won a garden full of flowers and butterflies for the star. When the star saw the garden, she smiled so brightly that it seemed as if the whole world was brightened up."

Behemoth's answers were full of affection for the stars, and each example vividly portrayed their friendship and mutual support.

Xinghan listened to the giant beast's story and was moved by their friendship, but he was still very confused.

"Is it because it has turned from night to day? Or is it because you finally opened your eyes?" Xinghan asked with a pursed mouth and a frown.

"It's because of Xingxing, Xingxing!" The beast's voice was a little anxious, and it continued, "I still remember that one time we got lost in the mountains, surrounded by dark woods and the cries of unknown beasts. I was trembling with fear, but you held my hand tightly and told me not to be afraid, because you were by my side. Then we walked out of the darkness together. It was really scary, and it was all because of you, Xingxing."

"Oh..." Xinghan sighed, "What else?"

The beast paused, a mischievous gleam in his eyes: "Another time, we sneaked into a human village and wanted to taste the candy there. We were discovered and chased by a group of children. You pulled me, and we shuttled through the alleys of the village like the wind, with laughter and shouts intertwined. That was the happiest time of my life."

The beast's eyes became soft and deep: "Stars, no matter how many difficulties and challenges we encounter, our friendship will never be extinguished, just like this boundless night sky."

After hearing this, Xinghan frowned and thought, what kind of metaphors are these.

Sure enough, it is rare for a child of such a few years old to have some elegant words, and he probably learned them from that guy Xingxing.

There were twinkling stars in the giant beast's eyes, as if it had really seen the distant starry sky.

His voice was filled with childish excitement as he continued:

"Do you know, Star? Once we were playing hide-and-seek in the forest. I hid so well that even the leaves didn't move, but you found me right away! You laughed so happily and said I was a fool who couldn't hide. Then we laughed together, and our laughter echoed in the forest for a long time."

But suddenly, the beast's eyes dimmed, and his voice trembled:

"But the star...it's gone."