Feng Hua San Shi (Fifty-Six)

Lin Hao Tian and the Strange Beast stared at each other, neither willing to look away. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he actually saw a hint of mockery on the creature's face. Lin Hao Tian was no fool. He guessed that the creature had pretended to be asleep to lure him over. This thing might truly have gained sentience. Otherwise, how could it be so clever?

The Strange Beast made no further move. It simply stared at Lin Hao Tian. Yet the longer it remained motionless, the more nervous Lin Hao Tian became, because he had no idea what he should do next.

After the two sides remained locked in a standoff for quite some time, Lin Hao Tian realized that the Strange Beast was only watching him and had no intention of acting. His courage gradually returned. Although he kept his eyes on the creature, his right hand slowly reached toward the bundle on the horse's corpse, afraid that any large movement would provoke an overreaction from the beast before him.

However, the Strange Beast merely stared at him. Though its eyes flicked toward Lin Hao Tian's hand as it reached for the bundle, it made no move, as if it did not care in the slightest whether Lin Hao Tian took the bundle.

At last, Lin Hao Tian's hand closed around the bundle, and he slowly removed it from the saddle. He completed the entire process with extreme caution. Once the bundle was in his hands, Lin Hao Tian let out a sigh of relief. Afterward, he and the Strange Beast continued staring at each other for the time it took half an incense stick to burn. Neither moved during that time, as if they were two statues.

In the end, Lin Hao Tian could not