Baofeng County, Min Mountain, Insect Valley.
Autumn was deepening, yet the busy Gu Children coming and going still wore only thin clothes.
At that moment, a sharp-eyed Gu Child spotted a black bird above.
Its feathers were distinctly black and white. It was exceedingly nimble in flight, and far larger than an ordinary black bird.
"Caw..."
The black bird flapped its wings and descended from above Insect Valley toward a cave halfway up the eastern mountain slope.
Seeing it fly into the cave on the mountainside, the Gu Children whispered among themselves, all guessing that it had most likely come to deliver a message to the Valley Master.
"It's only a spirit monster, nothing remarkable. Get back to work." Beneath the mountain wall, a Big-Headed Gu Child barked out an order.
Under the thatched shed, the Gu Children in charge of mixing Medicinal Mud were about to resume their work when cries of alarm suddenly rang out from the valley entrance.
They turned to look and saw the Poisonous Miasma at the entrance slowly dispersing.
Several passing Gu Children stood there, apparently having already caught sight of those entering the valley.
Today was not the day for hunters to deliver prey. With the miasma now clearing, it meant the three senior brothers who had gone out had returned.
Before long, four figures passed through the miasma one after another, appearing before the Gu Children.
"It really is the three senior brothers returning—and a Medicine Slave too."
"Look at that man the Medicine Slave is carrying on his shoulder. What a sturdy build."
"That Gu on his body, shaped like a blade... could it be a Soldier Gu...?"
The Gu Children buzzed with discussion, mostly speculating about the identity of the man slung over the Medicine Slave's shoulder.
They were a