Azure Awl Chicken

Killing Yu Zhe, Tian Erhu—Day Three.

The sky had yet to brighten, but Shen Xiuhan had already washed up.

On the bed, Shen Momo was curled into a tiny ball, sleeping soundly.

Madam Zheng was a light sleeper. She woke at the slightest sound and hurriedly threw on her clothes before sitting up:

"Eldest, why are you up so early today? I'll go start the fire in the kitchen and warm up some food for you to fill your stomach."

"Mother, don't trouble yourself."

Afraid of waking his sister, Shen Xiuhan lowered his voice and came up with an excuse:

"Yesterday, I passed by Shallowwater Bay and spotted something moving beneath the mudflat. I'm going early to try my luck and see if I can catch a couple of big fish."

Madam Zheng understood at once and cautioned him softly:

"The water's slippery. Be careful, and don't forget to bring the new basket."

"Got it."

He pushed open the firewood door.

Shen Xiuhan went to the kitchen, slung the new fish basket onto his back, and walked out of the fenced yard.

Of course, he wasn't going fishing. He was after the treasure beast in Great Mount Li.

Uncle Chen's words still rang in his ears, and Shen Xiuhan knew full well how dangerous the mountains were.

But in this world, no beast's claws or fangs were as poisonous as the unfathomable human heart.

Treasure beasts were ferocious, but they still fell far short of the pressure Ma Xianyang and Through-the-Back Martial Hall placed on him.

For now, Through-the-Back Martial Hall was locked in a fierce battle with the Bai clan and had no time to concern itself with him.

But that didn't mean Shen Xiuhan could rest easy.

The path of martial arts was like rowing against the current: advance, or perish.

Only by exhausting himself to seize qi and blood and strengthen his power could he preserve himself and protect his family in this world.

He was determined to go to Great Mount Li.

Of course, even a lion used all its strength to seize a rabbit.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Shen Xiuhan's thoughts stirred:

[Today's intelligence has been refreshed!]

[Intelligence ①: "Iron Bone Technique" originated from the branch of "Dragon-Elephant Radiant Prison-Suppressing Body," the secret body-tempering art of the Dragon Cavalry Army, one of the five armies of Qi Kingdom. It was secretly passed to his elder brother by Tian Ping'an, Tian Erhu's younger brother!]

[Tian Ping'an: Hundred-Man Commander of the Dragon Cavalry Army's Right Camp. A seasoned veteran of many battlefields. Tendon Tempering Realm.]

"..."

Shen Xiuhan's steps slowed, and his brows drew together slightly.

Yesterday, when he found the "Iron Bone Technique" in Tian Erhu's home, he had already sensed that something was amiss.

How could a local thug who hadn't even broken through Blood Tempering Realm possess a body-tempering art?

As expected.

This technique had a source.

"Tian Ping'an..."

"Heh. Fortunately, his surname isn't Chen. Otherwise, I'd have to flee Cangzhou overnight with my whole family in tow."

Shen Xiuhan mocked himself.

But I heard the Dragon Cavalry Army has been stationed in the east year-round, guarding the frontier, so there shouldn't be any trouble in the short term...

Still, a Tendon Tempering martial artist puts a great deal of pressure on me...

Shen Xiuhan sighed inwardly and committed this piece of intelligence firmly to memory.

[Intelligence ②: Ma Xianyang and Feng Xiaobao are certain that Yu Zhe and Tian Erhu fell at your hands! However, the two of them are wary of the consequences. They fear that killing you rashly would instead force you to hand Mei Shuangfeng the nonexistent "secret method for luring Treasure Fish" in exchange for her protection. Thus, they have decided to endure in silence and devote themselves fully to contending with the Bai clan.]

[Their withdrawal is merely a delaying tactic to lull you into complacency. The moment you lower your guard, they will strike with thunderous force and kill you without mercy!]

So they really do know...

Shen Xiuhan let out a cold laugh inwardly.

Back then, he had broken into Bright Force in front of more than thirty people from the outer compound. There was no way the news could be contained.

That was why Shen Xiuhan had never intended to hide it from the beginning.

As it happened, Yu Zhe and Tian Erhu had come to his door to threaten him. He had simply struck first and dealt with those two obtrusive informants.

That risky move had instead worked out by accident, winning him a chance to catch his breath.

Because what he lacked most right now was time.

[Intelligence ③: Great Mount Li contains numerous treasure beasts, and demon beasts roam its depths. Under pressure from the "Blue-Eyed Wind Wolf," the "Azure Awl Chicken" was driven to the outskirts of Great Mount Li. Last night, another Azure Awl Chicken arrived to guard three unhatched "treasure-beast spirit eggs" in its nest!]

Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up when he saw this intelligence, but his brows soon furrowed deeply.

How had another one appeared out of thin air?

There had clearly been only one the night before...

Could it be that when the Blue-Eyed Wind Wolf pursued them, the male had stayed behind to cover the female's escape while she fled in panic with the spirit eggs in her beak, only for the two of them to reunite on the outskirts after escaping danger?

Shen Xiuhan's expression shifted as all manner of wild guesses raced through his mind.

This sudden change had indeed disrupted his plans.

He might be able to fight one Azure Awl Chicken.

But two... What if he couldn't beat them?

Shen Xiuhan rapidly weighed the pros and cons.

Should I... simply turn back to the martial hall, ask Master for help, or bring Second Senior Brother Xu Chuan into the mountains to hunt them down together?

No, no rush!

I'll sneak over first, figure out the situation, and decide afterward!

Since this Azure Awl Chicken had been driven here, it probably wasn't all that strong.

Even if he truly couldn't defeat it, with his current strength, escaping should still be no problem.

The two beasts had to protect their eggs. Surely they wouldn't dare pursue him relentlessly.

The vast mountains of Great Mount Li stretched across the horizon like an ancient beast draped in frost and snow.

Carrying a fishing rod in one hand and a fish basket slung across his shoulder, Shen Xiuhan walked seven or eight li before reaching the foot of the mountain.

Not far away, a scattered fishing settlement called West Qi Village lay in a wind-sheltered hollow.

The waters here were abundant, and the village bordered the fertile waters of Cloudwater Lake.

Looking out, bamboo rafts and sampans were moored along the near shore, and from time to time, one or two black-canopied boats could be glimpsed.

It was obvious that the people of West Qi Village lived far more prosperous lives than those of Little Mirror Bay.

The sky had just brightened. The morning mist was thick, and the surroundings were so quiet that only the wind could be heard. Not a single villager who had risen early was out and about.

Using the woods for cover, Shen Xiuhan plunged into Great Mount Li.

After roughly a quarter hour of walking, he crossed two snow-covered mounds and stopped before a fork in the road choked with dead grass and brambles.

After sweeping his gaze to either side, he reached back and parted the chest-high dead grass before stepping onto the rocky path on the right.

Another quarter hour passed.

Shen Xiuhan stopped before a jagged stretch of uneven stones.

Found it!

At the end of his line of sight,

two pale-golden clusters of light, one large and one small, nestled together in a pile of dead grass without making a sound.

Shen Xiuhan lowered his body, casually pried up several stones, and crept closer while holding his breath.

But before he could get near—

Flap-flap-flap!

A powerful burst of wingbeats exploded through the air!

The larger cluster of light in the dead grass shot straight into the sky.

Shen Xiuhan finally saw what the Azure Awl Chicken looked like.

It was a full size larger than an ordinary farm chicken, its entire body covered in blue feathers.

Its crest stood high, and as its sharp beak opened and closed, a pair of dark-yellow vertical pupils stared down at him from above.

The most striking feature was the completely mutated bundle of tail feathers.

Dozens of blue tail feathers, each more than a foot long and razor-sharp, drew together like a bundle of inverted blue awls, gleaming with a metallic chill in the morning light.

But Shen Xiuhan's eyes locked onto the Azure Awl Chicken's left wing.

The blue feathers there were disordered, and a hint of dark red showed through.

"This is... injured?"

Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up, and his heart settled!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Before he could think further, the Azure Awl Chicken attacked first.

Four or five awl-like tail feathers sliced through the air in blue streaks and shot toward Shen Xiuhan!