Zhang Qiling possessed no skill in taming birds, but he was adept at hunting them.
Every single one of the *chishe* that peeked out furtively from the surrounding bushes was dragged out and subjected to a set of Zhang-style massage techniques.
Most of the *chishe* were unruly and disrespectful. After receiving a free massage, they cursed and fled with their tails between their legs without paying. In the end, only one submissive and exemplary *chishe* remained, trembling on the ground, offering to perform for them to repay the massage fee.
In reality, they didn't need that many bird mounts. After all, despite their good intentions, both Fatty and Wu Tianzhen were self-aware enough to know they were utterly incapable of controlling a fierce and cunning *chishe* in the sky.
Aside from the skilled and courageous Zhang Qiling, if either of them were to ride one, and the *chishe* decided to act maliciously mid-flight, they would likely meet their demise.
Thus, amidst the "tearful farewells" of Fatty and Wu Tianzhen, Zhang Qiling executed a clean flip, kneeling on the *chishe*'s back. He then wrapped the grappling hook rope around its neck and flew away.
"Xiao Ge—come back soon—"
Wu Tianzhen cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted, but Zhang Qiling had already taken the bird and vanished without a trace, unable to hear him.
Fatty, however, did not shout. He propped his chin in his hand, pondered for a moment, and suddenly felt something was amiss.
"I don't know why," he muttered. "Fatty feels like he's sending his son off to college right now?"
"Is that reasonable?"
"Ew~" Wu Tianzhen said disdainfully. "You really think Xiao Ge is your son? How conceited can you be?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong?!" Fatty was displeased.
"Can't I even fantasize about it? If I had such an awesome kid in the future, Fatty would walk with his chest puffed out everywhere! The stray dogs at the doorstep wouldn't know about my situation if I hadn't informed them in time!"
Wu Tianzhen was momentarily speechless. Although it was said that brothers often vied to be each other's father, he usually only said it in jest and had never truly intended to commit such a disrespectful act.
While feeling that it was preposterous, he also genuinely admired Fatty as a role model for fearlessness. He remained silent for a moment, nodding his head heavily, and then gave Fatty a reverent round of applause.
Just then, his expression froze as he remembered something important.
"Um, Fatty..." he said hesitantly. "Do you think Xiao Ge will come back after this trip?"
"He's not just going to run away like this, is he???"
Fatty: ...!
"Xiao Ge!! Xiao Ge!!!!"
The two of them yelled at the top of their lungs on the ground, their voices hoarse with deep affection and tinged with regret.
—
The chaotic scene on the ground, after being filtered by a layer of aerial vines and cleansed by a layer of mist, was reduced to less than ten percent of its original state.
Zhang Qiling held the rope in one hand, while the other held the Black Gold Ancient Sword, pressing it lightly against the *chishe*'s neck to threaten it with its life, forcing it to fly steadily and obediently.
Looking down from the sky, the scenery of the mountains was even more shocking.
The overlapping branches almost enveloped the entire mountain, making the entire area appear as if it were sealed within a "cocoon" of green vegetation from afar.
Under these circumstances, it became exceptionally difficult to pinpoint areas with stronger strange powers. Zhang Qiling continuously changed the *chishe*'s flight direction, trying to get a clearer view below.
Just then, as he adjusted their direction once more, the *chishe* suddenly let out a high-pitched scream!
Screaming and flapping its wings backward, it refused to move forward any further, regardless of the Black Gold Ancient Sword's threat!
Zhang Qiling seemed to sense something and looked up. Before him was Snowman Peak.
Lush trees covered the mountainside, making the entire peak resemble a bloated humanoid figure covered in green tumors, seemingly no different from other peaks.
However, for the usually fearless *chishe* to be so terrified, there must be something extraordinary within.
No matter what, the *chishe* refused to land nearby. After some thought, Zhang Qiling decided to return first and then make a decision.
The journey back was smooth, but the closer Zhang Qiling got to the starting point, the more he felt something was wrong.
...Why did he seem to faintly hear Wu Tianzhen and Fatty calling his name?
The voices didn't sound like they were calling for help in danger; they just sounded like they were simply calling him, with a mournful tone that made him feel as if he hadn't gone to investigate the situation with a *chishe*, but had "ascended to the heavens."
With this doubt, he accelerated his landing. As soon as he appeared before Fatty and Wu Tianzhen, they stopped shouting.
Zhang Qiling: ...?
"It's nothing!" Fatty, sensing Zhang Qiling's confusion, but finding it strange to admit they suspected Zhang Qiling might never return, opened his mouth wide and started to fabricate a story.
"We were just bored here, so we decided to practice our voices and shout a bit!"
"Look at Fatty now, doesn't my voice sound much more robust!"
Listening to Fatty's hoarse voice, Zhang Qiling found it increasingly absurd. Of course, the most absurd thing was why they were shouting his name to practice their voices.
"It's for warding off evil!" Wu Tianzhen, as if possessing telepathy, instantly understood Zhang Qiling's point of confusion and covered for Fatty, saying, "Look, we're in this desolate wilderness, it's so unsafe. So we thought, shouting your name might ward off evil, right? Hahahaha..."
Zhang Qiling: ...Fine.
As usual, he didn't press further, but for some reason, he felt excluded.
With this sense of loss, his tone of voice couldn't help but become a little colder.
"At Snowman Peak."
After speaking, he turned and removed the grappling hook rope from the *chishe*'s neck, signaling the bird to leave on its own.
However, the *chishe* acted as if it was very reluctant to leave Zhang Qiling, affectionately rubbing its long neck against his calf, as if it had been conquered by Zhang Qiling's overwhelming aura.
Seeing at a glance that this *chishe* intended to infiltrate their ranks as a spy and summon its kin and the humanoid monster trees that night, Zhang Qiling's already poor mood worsened.
The Black Gold Ancient Sword was drawn with a fierce slash, grazing the *chishe*'s skull!
Upon seeing this brutality, the *chishe* lost all sense of collective sacrifice. It squawked and scrambled away like a goose seeing a cleaver.
With a sharp *zing*, Zhang Qiling sheathed his sword, found his direction, and strode away.
Wu Tianzhen and Fatty, left behind: ...Oh no!