Hu Xiaotian had never expected such a turn of events either. Looking up, he saw a Giant Ballista mounted on the rocks opposite. The pirate stationed there had seen the Flying Owl trying to escape and promptly fired a bolt, striking his target dead on.
The Flying Owl that had come to the rescue let out a mournful cry. From above, it had clearly seen what was happening below. Grief and concern for its companion had robbed it of reason, and it plunged recklessly out of the sky.
Seeing the Flying Owl ambushed again, Hu Xiaotian decided he might as well see this through to the bitter end. He rushed forward and stabbed all six pirates preparing the Bird-Catching Net to death, then swiftly approached the Giant Ballista.
Luo Qianfu had focused all his attention on the Flying Owl overhead, completely unaware of the enemy lurking among his own men. "Get ready to cast the net!" he roared. He strode toward the fallen Flying Owl and pulled the spear from its wing. Looking skyward, he saw the other Flying Owl hurtling down at astonishing speed, falling like a black meteor.
A crooked streak of lightning slashed across the night sky, illuminating Luo Qianfu's hideous, savage face. In that flash, he raised the spear and viciously stabbed the Flying Owl again. The dying bird suddenly lifted its head and released a heartbroken wail.
The Flying Owl overhead answered with an anguished cry of fury. By then, Hu Xiaotian had slipped up to the Giant Ballista and saw that the shooter had already loaded another bolt and aimed at the bird in the sky.
"Whatever you do, don't kill it!" Luo Qianfu said. Before he had finished speaking, he drove the spear down again, making the Flying Owl wail once more. He