Hu Shu watched everyone busily at work, silently cheering them on. Though they had already devised a response, the road ahead remained difficult. He turned to look beyond Shouyang Mountain, as if he could see the hidden dangers slowly closing in. Whether the Human Race could find a sliver of hope amid these countless hardships was still unknown.
According to the plan, a group of the Human Race's most alert and stealthy scouts carried the hopes of their entire race as they quietly headed for the territories of the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe. They knew how arduous and dangerous this mission was, and every step they took was as cautious as dancing on a blade's edge.
It was evening. The setting sun was blood-red, dyeing the forests a dark crimson. Dressed in dark clothes that blended into the mountain woods, the Human Race scouts used the cover of trees and rocks to quietly infiltrate the outskirts of the Chan Sect's territory. At their head was a nimble young man named A Feng. His eyes were sharp as torches, constantly alert to the slightest movement around them.
"Everyone, be careful. Try not to make any noise. If we're discovered, we're finished," A Feng reminded his companions in a low voice. They nodded slightly, their eyes filled with resolve.
They had barely approached a valley when they heard a series of footsteps. A Feng's heart tightened, and he signaled everyone to hide quickly. Through gaps in the grass, they saw a group of Chan Sect disciples patrolling slowly along the mountain path. The disciples wore Daoist robes, carried longswords, and looked highly vigilant.
"Did you hear? The Sect Master is planning something major. It seems he intends to join forces with other factions and completely eliminate the Human Race problem," one patrolling disciple said quietly.
"Hmph. The Human Race is nothing but a pack of ants. Why go to such lengths?" another disciple replied disdainfully.
A Feng was startled. He had not expected the Chan Sect to truly be plotting against the Human Race, much less intending to unite with other forces. He did not dare relax in the slightest, straining his ears to catch every word.
After the patrolling disciples had gone far away, A Feng and the others carefully emerged from their hiding place and continued deeper in. They arrived near a concealed cave and faintly heard voices speaking within. A Feng signaled for two companions to keep watch outside while he quietly approached the entrance.
"This time, after joining forces with the various factions, we must root out the Human Race completely. We absolutely cannot give them another chance to rise," a deep voice said.
"That's right. The Human Race has developed rapidly of late. If we don't restrain them, they will surely become a great threat in the future," another voice agreed.
A Feng secretly seethed. These people were so vicious that they wanted to wipe out the Human Race entirely. He suppressed his anger, carefully memorized their conversation, then quietly withdrew.
After leaving the Chan Sect's territory, A Feng and the others hurried without pause toward the Witch Tribe's territory. By then, night had fully fallen, and stars dotted the sky, but the scouts had no time to appreciate the beautiful view.
In a dense forest near the Witch Tribe's territory, they encountered Witch Tribe patrol soldiers once again. These soldiers were tall and powerfully built, radiating a savage air. Their beast-hide armor gleamed with a cold light beneath the moon.
A Feng and the others lay flat on the ground, scarcely daring to breathe. Suddenly, a breeze swept past, carrying a pungent stench of blood. It came from the Witch Tribe soldiers, mixed with the odor of wild beasts, and made them want to vomit.
"Did you hear? The Great Witches are gathering troops and preparing to launch a new round of attacks against the Human Race," a Witch Tribe soldier said in a deep, muffled voice.
"Haha, the Human Race is doomed this time. They're no match for our Witch Tribe at all," another soldier laughed wildly.
A Feng's heart sank. He had not expected the Witch Tribe to be making moves as well. The Human Race's situation was even more severe than he had imagined. He exchanged looks with his companions, and they decided to send this intelligence back as quickly as possible.
After a difficult journey, A Feng and the others finally set out on their return with the vital intelligence. Along the way, they did not dare stop for even a moment, afraid of losing precious time.
Back on Shouyang Mountain, Hu Shu was anxiously awaiting news. He paced back and forth before the Human Race's council hall, his heart filled with worry. Other important members of the Human Race had gathered there as well, their expressions grave.
"Hu Shu, do you think something might have happened to the scouts? Why aren't they back yet?" an elder asked anxiously.
"Don't worry. They are the finest warriors of our Human Race. They'll certainly complete the mission," Hu Shu said, though he was uncertain himself.
Just as everyone was beside themselves with anxiety, a Human Race sentry rushed in. "Lord Hu Shu, the scouts have returned!"
Hu Shu was overjoyed and hurried out to meet them. A Feng and the others looked exhausted, but excitement shone in their eyes.
"Lord Hu Shu, we have important intelligence!" A Feng said hurriedly, without even taking time to rest.
Hu Shu looked at A Feng and asked sternly, "Speak. What exactly did you discover?"
A Feng drew a deep breath and recounted in detail the intelligence they had gathered in the territories of the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe. Hu Shu's expression grew extremely grave after hearing it.
"I never expected the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe to be so ruthless, determined to drive our Human Race to extinction," Hu Shu said through gritted teeth.
"Lord Hu Shu, what do we do now?" Everyone turned their eyes toward Hu Shu.
Hu Shu pondered for a moment before saying, "Don't panic yet. We need to calm down and carefully discuss how to respond."
The new moves by the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe had made the Human Race's situation even more perilous. Could Hu Shu act in time based on this intelligence and avert the greater crisis that was about to descend?
Before you continue