After Qin Feiyang and his companions had left, the Bear King also returned to his den but didn’t enter the cave. He stood outside, his expression incredibly respectful.
"Who is it?" a hoarse voice came from within the cave.
The Bear King replied respectfully, "My Lord, it was merely a few beasts that accidentally wandered in. I have already driven them away."
"Guard the outside well, and do not let any beasts disturb me."
"Otherwise, I will send you to hell to reunite with your child!"
The hoarse voice chillingly uttered these words before sinking into silence.
Outside the cave, the Bear King’s colossal body shuddered violently. He turned to look into the distance, his eyes brimming with sorrow and anger!
「Outside the canyon.」
Qin Feiyang stood atop a tall tree, gazing into the depths of the canyon, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Beneath him, both Shi Zheng and the Pavilion Master wore puzzled expressions.
The Bear King has saved me many times. I can’t ignore his situation; I have to find out what’s going on!
Gradually, resolution began to firm in Qin Feiyang’s eyes.
He jumped down, landing in front of Shi Zheng and the Pavilion Master, and said with a smile, "Please, you two head back to Black Bear City first. I have some matters to attend to."
The Pavilion Master nodded. He was only here to provide guidance. Since Qin Feiyang already knew the location of the Nine Suns Flower, there was indeed no need for him to stay.
"No way!" However, Shi Zheng shook his head without hesitation.
Qin Feiyang cupped his hands and said, "Elder, I know you’re concerned for me, but please believe me, I will be fine."
"No matter what you say, it’s out of the question!" Shi Zheng stated obstinately.
Qin Feiyang felt somewhat helpless.
Does this man not know how to compromise at all?
He pulled Shi Zheng aside and whispered, "Elder, you know I have an Ancient Fortress to hide in. Even if I face a War Emperor, I can guarantee my safety."
"Besides, I’m very familiar with Black Bear Mountain. There will definitely be no issues."
"Please, just wait for me in Black Bear City. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done."
Qin Feiyang pleaded as he looked at him.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Shi Zheng frowned.
"Some personal matters," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.
Shi Zheng sighed helplessly and nodded. "Alright, but you must be extremely careful. If anything happens to you, Elder Ji will surely flay me alive."
"Thank you, Elder," Qin Feiyang was overjoyed. It truly wasn’t an easy task to persuade this honest man.
Shi Zheng rolled his eyes at him, then turned and left with the Pavilion Master.
Actually, asking Shi Zheng to leave was also for Shi Zheng’s own safety. He had an unsettling premonition.
If a crisis were to occur, he could retreat into the Ancient Fortress, but Shi Zheng would be in danger.
Because the Wolf King was in the Ancient Fortress, he could not allow Shi Zheng to enter as well.
"Phew!"
Letting out a long breath, Qin Feiyang waved his hand, and the Wolf King appeared out of thin air.
As soon as it appeared, it asked, "What’s wrong with the black bear?"
"I’m not sure," Qin Feiyang shook his head and said firmly, "Let’s go and check it out. We can’t approach from the front. Let’s circle around to the back of the canyon and then decide."
"Alright," the Wolf King nodded.
The man and wolf, going all out, sprinted through the jungle. They did their best to avoid any fierce beasts along the way. Any venomous insects or other creatures that tried to ambush them were dealt with swiftly.
Even so, by the time they reached the back of the canyon, they were covered in wounds. However, due to their concern for the Bear King, they didn’t pay much attention to their injuries.
After taking some healing pills, the man and wolf looked up at the mountain peak in front of them.
The Wolf King chuckled slyly, "The Bear King’s den is on the other side of this mountain. Why don’t we just dig a tunnel through from here? We might even end up right in the Bear King’s treasure room."
Qin Feiyang’s face twitched.
Is this rascal really worried about the Bear King, or is he coveting the Bear King’s treasure room?
"Ahem!" The Wolf King coughed dryly, looking a little guilty. "Brother Wolf is a wolf of great loyalty and righteousness, don’t misunderstand."
"Who are you kidding!" Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes and began to quietly climb the mountain.
Several hundred breaths later, the two finally reached the peak. However, due to the dense foliage, they couldn’t see the situation in the canyon below.
Qin Feiyang swept his gaze around and pointed to a mountain peak on the left, saying, "Let’s go over there. We should be able to see the Bear King’s den from that spot."
After a few hundred more breaths, they arrived at the designated peak and hid in a patch of tall grass, observing the situation below.
Presently, they saw the Bear King sitting in front of his cave, looking completely dispirited.
The Wolf King said, "Something’s definitely wrong. Let’s go down and ask."
"Don’t rush," Qin Feiyang held it back and said in a deep voice, "I have a nagging feeling. Let’s observe the situation first."
Suddenly, he noticed a mound to the right of the cave entrance. It was several meters high and overgrown with weeds.
That’s odd!
He furrowed his brows and asked, "White-Eyed Wolf, was there such a mound here before?"
The Wolf King followed his gaze and shook its head. "Brother Wolf is extremely familiar with this place. I can tell you responsibly that it definitely wasn’t there before. Judging by the weeds, it must have been piled up in the last few months."
What on earth would the Bear King want such a mound for?
Qin Feiyang’s eyebrows knotted tightly.
The Wolf King sniffed hard at that moment. Its pupils abruptly contracted as it exclaimed in alarm, "There are people below!"
"People?" Qin Feiyang’s expression changed.
Could Shi Zheng have come back?
The Wolf King affirmed in a deep voice, "That’s right, there are three unfamiliar scents!"
Qin Feiyang sighed with relief. Three different scents meant it couldn’t be Shi Zheng. He grew wary and scanned the area below carefully.
But apart from the Bear King, I don’t see anyone else.
Could they be in the cave?
He found himself gazing towards the entrance of the cave but couldn’t see inside.
The man and wolf lay in the grass, motionless, waiting until nightfall.
As soon as darkness fell, a light appeared inside the cave! The Bear King had been outside the cave all day, so he couldn’t have been the one to light the fire.
"There really are people here!" Qin Feiyang muttered.
He lifted his head to look at the sky. The moon hung high, and the stars twinkled. Such a night should have brought a sense of peace. However, Qin Feiyang’s mind was filled with anxiety.
「In the middle of the night.」
"Beast, go fetch some firewood!" a cold voice suddenly shouted from within the cave.
That voice...
Qin Feiyang looked towards the cave, his eyes full of astonishment.
Brother Wolf pondered for a moment, then a low shout suddenly echoed telepathically in Qin Feiyang’s mind: "It’s Lin Chen!"
"That’s right!"
It’s him!
Qin Feiyang’s heart trembled, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
But then, his face turned pale again.
If Lin Chen is here, then Zuo An must be here as well!
Everyone had assumed that after Zuo An’s location was exposed and he stole the Elixir Fire from the Elixir Palace, he would surely flee far from Black Bear City, perhaps even leave Yan Province entirely.
That’s what I always thought too.
But unexpectedly, they were hiding right here in Black Bear Mountain!
It was true: the most dangerous place is often the safest. If not for the Nine Suns Flower, it’s likely no one would ever have discovered Zuo An, even if he hid here for a lifetime.
The Bear King fetched several dry branches and entered the cave. But he quickly came out again and stood guard outside.
Qin Feiyang glanced at the cave, then at the Bear King, before entering the Ancient Fortress with Brother Wolf.
Brother Wolf said anxiously, "Xiao Qinzi, what should we do? Zuo An is so strong; how can we rescue the Bear King? And Feng Cheng is probably in the cave too."
Qin Feiyang lowered his head in thought.
The Bear King’s body is too enormous to be brought into the Ancient Fortress.
The only solution is to make Zuo An leave Black Bear Mountain willingly.
But that seems impossible.
"Have you thought of a solution yet?"
"If the treasure room is ransacked by Zuo An, then everything will be ruined."
"Uh!"
"A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue..."
"Don’t misunderstand, Brother Wolf is genuinely concerned about the Bear King..."
In his anxiety, Brother Wolf had let it slip. Realizing his mistake, he quickly tried to backtrack. But no matter how he explained, Qin Feiyang wouldn’t believe him.
This White-Eyed Wolf is truly only concerned about the treasure room.
Brother Wolf said, "You have to believe Brother Wolf. Though Brother Wolf is concerned about the treasure room, he’s even more concerned about the Bear King."
"Oh, save it!" Qin Feiyang glared at him fiercely. After a moment of contemplation, a cold, sinister smile gradually formed on his lips.
Times have changed.
We now have the Image Crystal Stone, enough to capture them all!
With that thought, he took out the Image Crystal Stone and quickly activated it.
Soon, Fatty’s illusory figure appeared.
"Brother Jian, what are you up to? Have you found the Nine Suns Flower yet?" Fatty was half-lying on a chair, his legs crossed, looking relaxed and comfortable.
Qin Feiyang said, "Go find Elder Ji right away. Tell her I’ve discovered Zuo An’s whereabouts."
Fatty was so startled he tumbled off his chair. He hastily scrambled up, his eyes wide, and roared, "What did you say? You’ve found Zuo An?!"
"That’s correct!" Qin Feiyang nodded.
"Okay, okay, you wait! Master Fatty will go find Elder Ji right away!"
After Fatty deactivated the Image Crystal Stone, he rushed out of the pavilion in a great hurry.
Lu Hong stepped out of her room, stood on the balcony, and asked, "Fatty, what happened?"
"Zuo An has appeared!" Fatty shouted back without even turning his head.
Lu Hong’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She quickly leaped down and chased after Fatty.
「Law Enforcement Hall.」
Without knocking, Fatty burst directly into the beautiful woman’s private lounge.
"Hm?" The beautiful woman frowned and asked sharply, "What do you think you’re doing?"
Fatty said anxiously, "Elder, this is bad! Brother Jian has found Zuo An!"
"What?!" Elder Ji shot to her feet, appearing before Fatty in a single step, and asked in alarm and anger, "How is he now?"
"He seems to be unharmed," Fatty shook his head, still flustered.
Elder Ji said, "Quickly contact him! I need to ask him myself!"
"Okay!"
Fatty activated the Image Crystal Stone. As soon as Qin Feiyang’s illusion appeared, the beautiful woman hurriedly asked, "Where is Zuo An? Are you alright?"
Qin Feiyang shook his head and said, "Zuo An is in Black Bear Mountain. He hasn’t discovered me yet."
Meanwhile, the Wolf King hid in a corner to avoid being seen by the beautiful woman.
The beautiful woman breathed a sigh of relief, then instructed, "I’ll inform the Hall Master immediately. You must be extremely careful and don’t let him discover you. No matter what, we cannot let that old fox escape again! We’ll contact you again when we reach Black Bear City!"
"Alright," Qin Feiyang nodded.
He had just deactivated the Image Crystal Stone when—
SCREECH!
A clear, resonant eagle’s cry pierced the air, entering the Ancient Fortress.
"Hm?" The man and wolf exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise and suspicion.

Comments

Loading...