Chapter 31: Escape

The dense woods formed a continuous canopy, nearly obscuring half the sky. Yet even so, one could occasionally glimpse, through the thick lattice of leaves, the swift passage of the Feathered Ones soaring overhead.

Above the forest, hundreds of Feathered Ones scattered across the sky, converging from all directions toward the center. They scanned the ground below ceaselessly, seemingly intent on locating some elusive figure within the woodland.

“Quenxi, be careful. The city guards of Feathered God City have mobilized, and the domesticated hounds will likely join the hunt as well!”

Beside Quenxi, the Blackbird chirped softly, speaking in hushed tones to Quenxi, who was concealed in the underbrush.

Quenxi nodded, his expression grave.

Though he had not faced such mortal peril in a hundred years, once thrust into this situation, the dormant memories within him were immediately awakened.

The Blackbird, revitalized by the lotus, had regained its vitality; now they were just as they had been a century ago, when they first embarked on their journey.

When the Feathered Shaman departed, Quenxi knew he intended to kill him. Thus, he fled at once, making for the coast.

Though Quenxi had rehearsed this scenario countless times in his mind over the past century, now that it was truly upon him, he felt an overwhelming pressure.

The guards of the ancestral homeland, though impressive in appearance, were largely inept. Their skills in reconnaissance were lacking, which allowed Quenxi to escape swiftly from the ancestral grounds.

What truly troubled him were the soldiers from Feathered God City.

This contingent of Feathered warriors, seasoned by countless battles, had led their people out of isolated valleys and spread across the northern continent. Through their valiant efforts, they established the first city-state of the Feathered Ones: Feathered God City.

Three thousand soldiers from Feathered God City constituted the true foundation of their race!

Quenxi drew a deep breath. His ears twitched, as if catching a noise from afar.

“What was that sound?”

A sense of foreboding rose within him. The Blackbird spread its wings amid the forest, exclaiming in surprise, “They’re hunting dogs! Run!”

Dozens of powerful grey wolves burst forth, streaking through the woods like shadows, racing at astonishing speed.

Wherever they passed, birds scattered in fright.

The Feathered soldiers who released the wolves flew overhead, sneering as they tried to keep pace with the pack, racing ahead.

“Commander, the pack seems to have picked up Quenxi’s trail and are pursuing him!”

A Feathered soldier addressed the commander, “But Quenxi is running swiftly. I worry the pack may not catch him.”

“Can’t catch him? No matter. Wear him down—don’t release the entire pack at once, rotate them every so often. I hear he’s from a hundred years ago; at his age, how much stamina can he have? We’ll exhaust him to death if nothing else!”

The commander flared his wings, gazing coolly at the forest below. “Send word to the other four directions—compress the space at once. Don’t let the Maker stop moving.”

These pursuers were intimately familiar with the terrain, and the chase lasted long—from sunrise to sunset—finally slowing as fatigue set in. Quenxi, sensing the pursuit had waned, also halted, choosing a safe branch. He drew a small wooden flask from his chest and quickly drank its contents.

“Hah…”

He gasped for air; sweat streamed down his face, his chest heaving.

This relentless running had left him utterly spent. If not for the increasing strength of the Great Shark’s power in his blood with age, he would have been captured and killed on the spot.

Howls echoed from the distance, growing ever more vexing for Quenxi.

Just then, a squad of Feathered Ones swept past, suddenly darting toward his hiding place.

Alarmed, Quenxi instinctively held his breath, gripping a dagger-like weapon tightly, eyes fixed on the figures hovering above—several Feathered Ones floating silently.

What was happening?

He was bewildered, but upon closer inspection, he realized they were Yunha, descendant of Yun Twenty-Nine, and several others from near Feathered God Lake.

He had spotted them, and they had seen him as well.

They made no sound, merely extending a hand to signal him.

Run west.

Understanding their gesture, Quenxi took a deep breath, nodded, and dashed westward.

The distant commander noticed, sensing something amiss. “Yunha, did you find anything?”

“No, nothing at all!” Yunha replied.

The commander was unconcerned at first, but then recalled Yunha hailed from Feathered God Lake and had proactively led his squad—perhaps a ruse.

“Something’s wrong. Detain Yunha’s squad and get to that spot!”

Yet when they arrived, Quenxi was already gone.

The commander folded his wings and landed, standing firmly upon a branch, his gaze cold as he surveyed the grass where a human shape had been pressed.

“Which way did Quenxi go?” he roared.

“I don’t know,” Yunha replied, shaking his head.

“Pursue in all four directions!”

“All squads from Feathered God Lake, cease action. Return home for the Feathered Shaman’s judgment!”

After his anger subsided, the commander took a deep breath, eyeing the hounds approaching. Hesitating a moment, he ordered the Feathered One behind him, “Go back to Feathered God City and fetch twenty Feathered God Fruits. Crush them, mix them with meat, and feed them to the pack.”

“Feathered God Fruits?” The subordinate was astonished. “Commander, those are the fruits of awakening, bestowed upon us by the Feathered God!”

The Feathered God Fruit was the original catalyst for the Feathered Ones’ intelligence.

“That was the fruit of a hundred years ago; its power is less now,” the commander said confidently. “Letting these dim-witted hounds gain some sense isn’t a bad thing. If they were clever, Quenxi would already be caught!”

“As for whether they might gain true wisdom—nonsense! Monkeys are smarter than they are, yet I’ve never seen a monkey speak.”

He scoffed, “Nor do these beasts have the protection of a Dog God or Wolf God. No need to worry. As long as they catch Quenxi, losing twenty fruits is nothing.”

“Yes!” The subordinate considered and found the logic sound, then set about the task.

As the Feathered Ones departed, a grey wolf in the pack suddenly raised its head and met the commander’s gaze, as if sharing a secret understanding.

“Owooo!”

The lead wolf howled alone, its voice tinged with excitement, though none knew its meaning.