The mountains were thick with trees, making it difficult to see clearly even if they sent out a Swift Eagle. Since they were so close, they simply went over themselves.
Having learned their lesson earlier, however, neither approached rashly. Instead, they found a safe spot and lay on a slope to watch.
In the distance, a group of people fought as they retreated through the woods toward Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo.
This time, they were not rogue cultivators laying a trap to harm others. Fang Qianyuan and Sun Zhuo could clearly see several young people in matching clothing who also appeared to hail from a prestigious sect.
Pursuing them was a flock of peculiar monsters, neither quite birds nor quite beasts. They had beastlike claws growing from thick, sturdy wings studded with steel feathers. Each sweep of those wings sent the wind howling, scattering Gang Edges like blades of air.
"Disciples of the Mystic Sun Sect... Those pursuing them are Night Owl Beasts!" Sun Zhuo said to Fang Qianyuan after a moment's thought.
"There are quite a few of those monsters. How did they provoke them?" Fang Qianyuan asked in surprise.
"Look at what that person is holding," Sun Zhuo said, tilting his head.
Fang Qianyuan looked closely. Though they were some distance away, he could still see someone within the protective ring of Mystic Sun Sect disciples holding a fiery-red young beast no larger than a kitten.
The young beast seemed quite extraordinary. Even from so far away, he could make out what looked like a cloudlike glow of fire enveloping it.
"It really might be a mixed-blood descendant of a desolate beast! From the look of things, they must have found a pack and stolen one of its young!" Sun Zhuo grew greatly excited at the sight.