The Lazy Sovereign

Xu Tian stared at the massive bird circling above, its razor-sharp talons glinting in the sunlight. The creature let out another piercing cry, causing the villagers to scatter like startled chickens.

"Xu Tian!" Auntie Wu's voice rang out, her apron flapping as she ran for cover. "Don't just stand there! Do something!"

"Do something?" Xu Tian muttered, gripping his hoe tightly. "What does she expect me to do? Lecture it on farming techniques?"

Beside him, the mysterious stranger stood with arms crossed, watching the scene with an amused expression.

"You look like you're in a bit of a bind," the stranger remarked casually.

Xu Tian shot him a glare. "You think?"

The bird let out a shriek and dove toward the fields, its massive wings stirring up a gust of wind that knocked over baskets and sent loose straw flying.

"Alright, Plan C," Xu Tian muttered. "When in doubt… improvise!"

Gripping his hoe like a spear, Xu Tian darted into the open, waving it wildly.

"Hey, you overgrown pigeon!" he shouted. "Come get some!"

The bird screeched in response, its beady eyes locking onto him.

"That's right," Xu Tian continued, backing away slowly. "I'm the tastiest target here. You want me, not those boring villagers."

The stranger laughed. "Bold strategy. Let's see if it works."

Just as the bird swooped down, the stranger stepped forward, his carefree demeanor vanishing. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a gleaming talisman that shimmered with spiritual energy.

The talisman burst into flames, forming a fiery barrier between Xu Tian and the beast.

The bird screeched in surprise, flapping its wings furiously as it veered off course.

Xu Tian stared at the stranger, wide-eyed. "You could've done that sooner!"

The stranger shrugged. "I wanted to see how you'd handle it. Consider it a test."

"A test?" Xu Tian snapped. "Do I look like I need more tests in my life?"

As the bird regained its composure, a group of armored cultivators appeared at the edge of the village, their leader carrying a glowing staff.

"That beast belongs to us!" the leader shouted. "Step aside, or suffer the consequences!"

Xu Tian groaned. "Of course. Why wouldn't there be a group of self-righteous cultivators chasing it?"

The stranger leaned closer to Xu Tian, his voice low. "These guys don't look friendly. Let me guess—you're not on great terms with the local sects?"

Xu Tian sighed. "It's a long story. Let's just say they're not big fans of my existence."

The leader of the cultivators narrowed his eyes, his staff glowing ominously. "Hand over the bird, and we'll overlook your interference. Refuse, and we'll treat you as an enemy."

Xu Tian glanced at the massive bird, still circling above, and then at the armed cultivators. "Great. Stuck between a rock and a pigeon."

The stranger grinned, pulling out another talisman. "Well, Xu Tian, it looks like we're about to become fast friends. What do you say? Care for a little teamwork?"

Xu Tian groaned. "Teamwork? With you? Why do I feel like this is going to end badly?"

The bird let out another cry, and the cultivators began to advance, their weapons gleaming.

"Because it probably will," the stranger said cheerfully. "But hey, it'll be fun!"