Invisible mental power brushed against the tree trunks, branches, leaves, and even the fallen leaves on the ground, carefully probing every corner.
A beast using concealment could perhaps remain hidden temporarily if it stayed calm and absolutely still, but the slightest movement would expose its whereabouts.
The beast hiding among the pine branches had intended to lurk under cover of night, never expecting to be detected by the spirit artifact.
At first, it still wanted to continue pretending, but when it sensed Liu Jialin and Zhang Xiao's gazes fixed on the pine tree—and faintly detected that probing mental power—it panicked completely.
It knew it had been exposed, and that staying any longer would only get it caught.
Unable to hold back any longer, it suddenly shot out from between the branches and fled into the distance in a panic.
The instant it escaped, the concealment technique covering its body completely dispersed, ending its disguise.
It was a huge bat, nearly a meter long, with a wingspan of two meters. Fine down covered its black wings, which gleamed dully beneath the moonlight.
As its wings beat, they stirred a rapid current of air carrying a fishy odor.
It was incredibly fast. After only a few wingbeats, it had flown more than ten meters and was about to vanish into the Night Scene.
However, the instant Liu Jialin noticed the spirit artifact flashing, she had already prepared to attack.
Without the slightest hesitation, she turned toward Zhang Xiao and held out her hand.
"Bow and arrows."
Zhang Xiao had been ready. She immediately drew a specially crafted spirit-artifact bow and arrow from the quiver on her back and handed it over with both hands.
Liu Jialin accepted the bow and arrow and quickly brushed her finger across the patterns on the bow.