Encounter

Chapter 20: Encounter

The next morning at dawn.

The three set out.

Three palm-sized skylark birds stood on the shoulders of Lu Qingfeng and his siblings.

Lu Qingyu picked a yellow chestnut pill the size of a fingernail from the small cloth pouch at her waist and placed it in her palm.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

The skylark bird on her shoulder let out a joyful cry, swooped down to swallow the pill, its tiny face showing contentment, then returned to perch on Lu Qingyu's shoulder.

"Little Nine, be good."

Lu Qingyu teased the skylark bird, and even the tension of approaching the county town faded quite a bit.

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

Seeing their companion get a yellow chestnut pill to eat, the skylark birds on Lu Qingfeng's and Lu Qingshan's shoulders grew anxious, chirping noisily.

"Qingyu, skylark birds are this small. Giving it two yellow chestnut pills a day is enough. Don't keep feeding it—you're making Little Eight act up too!" Lu Qingshan complained, but he had no choice but to feed a yellow chestnut pill to 'Little Eight' on his shoulder.

"Little Nine works so hard. What's wrong with eating a little more?"

Lu Qingyu shot back, and Little Nine on her shoulder shook its head at Lu Qingshan in provocation.

Lu Qingfeng was long used to this and shook his head helplessly.

Months ago, during their escape, they had spotted a nest of skylark eggs and a dead adult skylark bird that had succumbed to poison in a tree.

Lu Qingyu brought the eggs back and carefully incubated them.

After Lu Qingfeng discovered this, a thought struck him, and he spent some time studying the art of beast taming in the "Primordial Wilderness." Though he barely scratched the surface, taming a few skylark birds was not difficult.

The nine skylark birds that hatched were raised by Lu Qingfeng on yellow chestnut pills infused with a trace of spiritual energy. They themselves had gained a sliver of intelligence, could understand human speech, and were quite lively.

[Pill: Yellow Chestnut Pill] [Grade: Low] [Derived Method: Five Strengthens] [Note: Bird feed, used to raise skylark birds]

In the deep mountains, they had initially suffered surprise attacks from wild beasts, accidentally wandered into the territories of ferocious animals, or been caught up by pursuers from the Returning Truth Sect. Even sleeping was uneasy.

But ever since they tamed the skylark birds, the situation had greatly improved.

Skylark birds were only palm-sized and had no combat ability. Their strengths lay in their speed and their understanding of human speech, making them most suitable for reconnaissance.

Whenever danger arose, the skylark birds would give the first warning, allowing the three to handle it calmly.

The crude map in Lu Qingfeng's hands had also been completed with the help of the skylark birds.

"Chirp!"

As the three traveled, one of the skylark birds scouting ahead turned back, traced a graceful arc through the air, and landed in front of Lu Qingfeng, shaking its little head.

Shaking its head meant there were no humans or large beasts ahead, and they could pass safely.

With the skylark birds scouting the path, Lu Qingfeng and his siblings avoided wild beasts and kept heading northeast.

After about ten-plus days.

Finally, a change came!

"Humans?" "Five of them?!"

Lu Qingfeng looked at the skylark bird chirping its report before him, his mind pausing.

"Big Brother, what do we do now?" Lu Qingshan asked.

"Go up and make contact, learn about the nearby situation. If they're from the Returning Truth Sect, kill them directly! If they're too strong, use the Earth Escape Talisman to flee."

[Talisman: Earth Escape Talisman] [Grade: Low] [Derived Method: Five Strengthens] [Description: Used for earth escape]

Boldly walking out of the mountains and entering a human settlement also carried risks. If they could glean some basic information from these five people, it would undoubtedly be safer.

With the Earth Escape Talisman in hand, they could advance or retreat as needed, and there shouldn't be too many problems.

"Have your talismans ready, in the most convenient spot." Lu Qingfeng looked at Qingshan and Qingyu, reminding them.

"Don't worry, Big Brother. They're ready!"

Lu Qingyu patted the spot at her waist in reply.

Lu Qingshan also nodded.

Once they were ready, the three followed the Skylark Bird's guidance toward the five ahead.

"We're already inside Lanjiang County, right?"

"Pretty much. Go around the mountain ahead, then keep heading east—that's the Lanjiang County border. Head north, and you're in Hengshan County."

In the forest, five men in coarse linen clothes, dressed like villagers, moved nimbly through the woods.

From their conversation, they seemed to be heading toward Hengshan County or Lanjiang County.

It was unclear what territory these two counties belonged to.

Suddenly.

The hooked-nose man at the lead, around thirty years old, raised his hand and said in a low voice, "Something's moving!"

The other four stopped at once, silent.

Before long.

Boom!

Boom, boom!

Boom, boom, boom!

A heavy footfall sounded, and the hooked-nose man, Yan Zhang, changed color, exclaiming, "Blind Bear!"

No other possibility but a Mountain Bear with that kind of step!

Yan Zhang held his breath.

"Chirp, chirp!"

A Skylark Bird called out from above, shattering the stillness.

Rumble!

The footsteps drew closer!

"Damn it!"

"Run!"

Yan Zhang cursed, kicked off a tree, and bolted. Mountain Bears had formidable defense and immense strength; even with a hidden blade and martial skill, he dared not face one head-on.

"Run!"

The other four were startled too. Seeing Yan Zhang flee, they followed, sprinting for their lives.

Whoever lagged behind would become the bear's meal!

Boom, boom, boom!

The noise came from behind. Yan Zhang glanced back and saw a black bear nearly three meters tall leaping several meters, charging straight at them.

Terrifying!

The five fled in panic!

Just then, three figures appeared ahead to the side—two youths and a girl of eleven or twelve.

This combination in the deep mountains was rather odd.

"Villagers from a nearby settlement?"

"Use them to distract the Blind Bear!"

Yan Zhang's mind raced, and he made a decision. He veered direction, charging straight at the three. The other four caught on and followed.

Lu Qingfeng looked at the five men running toward him and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worrying about how to get information about the territory from these five without cause, reluctant to use force. Now that they harbored malicious intent, he needn't hold back.

"Qingshan, Qingyu, protect yourselves."

Lu Qingfeng swept them with his Heavenly Eye Art and found their cultivation levels similar to the Returning Truth Sect's outer enforcement squad. The strongest, the hooked-nose middle-aged man, was only at the Fetal Respiration Realm Third Layer.

With his current strength, even if there were three to five times as many, he could take them down with ease.

"Alright!"

Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingyu responded, gripping Golden Light Talismans to guard against all threats.

Lu Qingfeng stood at the front, holding a gleaming Nine Ring Saber!

The Orthodox Level Azure Origin Sword Scripture, paired with the Five Strengthens-enhanced Cloak Saber Technique, was more than enough to handle these men who were afraid of a black bear.

"Kid! Get out of the way!"

Yan Zhang barreled forward, leading the black bear toward Lu Qingfeng's group. Not content with that, he bellowed and tried to charge straight through them.

Half a short blade gleamed coldly in his hand.

Murderous intent shrouded him!

Clearly.

This man had no regard for Lu Qingfeng and the others.

After all, they were just two youths and an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl—what could they possibly do?