Inside the ancient castle.
Fatty and the Wolf King were sprawled on the ground, panting heavily, their eyes filled with lingering fear.
That was close! they thought. We almost ended up in that falcon's beak!
Lu Hong covered her mouth to suppress a giggle before teasing, "Fatty, who would've thought your chubby form could actually be useful?"
"What was that?"
"If you keep talking like that, don't blame Master Fatty for smacking your little bottom."
"It should be very... bouncy." Fatty's words trailed off into a lecherous grin.
Lu Hong scowled and promptly kicked him without a second thought.
"OUCH!"
Fatty yelped in pain, then leaped to his feet, rubbing his palms together as he fumed, "You little wench, today Master Fatty will show you what true manliness is!"
"Bring it on, if you dare." Lu Hong stood tall, thrusting her chest out confidently.
Fatty's face twitched. Doesn't this woman realize how majestic and alluring the twin peaks on her chest are?
Gulping, he waved his hand dismissively. "A true gentleman doesn't fight with women. I won't stoop to your level. Boss," he then turned his attention to Qin Feiyang, "tell me, how will you compensate me for my mental distress?"
Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes at him while carefully gauging the ancient castle's situation.
About fifty breaths later, he felt the sinking ancient castle suddenly halt. After listening intently for a while longer and hearing nothing but the falcon's distant shrieks, he exited the structure.
A dense forest spread out before him. Qin Feiyang quickly scanned his surroundings before ducking into a thicket, drawing Blue Snow, and cautiously standing guard.
More than a dozen fierce beasts cowered nearby, terrified by the falcon circling high above.
After some time, the falcon's agitation subsided, and it flew towards a colossal peak that soared over ten thousand feet into the sky. The fierce beasts in the forest let out a collective, unconscious sigh of relief.
Qin Feiyang felt a similar sense of relief. He gazed at the colossal peak, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. This is the first time I've seen such a falcon, he thought. It seems that in the Ruin Lands, not only has humanity developed a new civilization, but the fierce beasts are also evolving.
ROAR!
Two fierce beasts spotted him and charged.
Wielding Blue Snow, Qin Feiyang swiftly dispatched them and then, without a backward glance, ran towards the colossal peak. He encountered many fierce beasts along the way, but they were all at the Martial Ancestor level. For the current Qin Feiyang, no fierce beast below the War King realm could hope to bar his path.
Less than an hour later, he arrived at the foot of the mountain. He looked up at the summit, hesitated briefly, and then began to climb.
Atop the mountain stood a vibrant, ancient tree, and perched beneath it was the blood-red falcon.
Qin Feiyang hid behind a large boulder, peering at the falcon, his mind filled with indecision.
PHEW!
After a moment, he took a deep breath and stepped out from his hiding spot.
SCREECH!
The falcon immediately turned its vicious gaze upon him.
Qin Feiyang forced himself to remain calm. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "I've come to offer you a great Fortune."
The falcon stood up, a hint of confusion in its blood-red eyes.
"If you take me to King City, I'll reward you with a Beast Spirit Pill," Qin Feiyang stated. "If you don't know what a Beast Spirit Pill is, I can explain. It can unlock your Spiritual Wisdom, allowing you to communicate telepathically with anyone."
It was a five-day journey to King City from here, and who knew how many powerful fierce beasts lay in his path. Therefore, he had to find a creature capable of flight. This falcon was not only powerful but also fast—undoubtedly the best choice.
Upon hearing this, the falcon's blood-red eyes emitted an intimidating light.
A shiver ran down Qin Feiyang's spine, but he said coolly, "There's no need for threats. I managed to evade your pursuit in the sky earlier, and I can do so again now."
The falcon kept its intense gaze fixed on Qin Feiyang. Its piercing stare made Qin Feiyang uneasy.
Suddenly, the falcon nodded.
Overjoyed, Qin Feiyang grinned. "Wait here, I'll go get it for you."
WHOOSH!
In an instant, he vanished. He entered the ancient castle and said to Fatty and the Wolf King, "Quick, give me a Beast Spirit Pill!"
They had acquired a good number of Beast Spirit Pills when they looted the royal treasury, so there was no need to refine more.
Fatty retrieved a pill and handed it to Qin Feiyang. Qin Feiyang then exited the ancient castle again and tossed the Beast Spirit Pill to the falcon.
The falcon snapped its beak and swallowed the pill in one gulp.
Then, a look of utter confusion filled its eyes.
Qin Feiyang smiled. "Try speaking to me."
The falcon looked up at Qin Feiyang, seeming unsure how to speak.
"Who... are... you...?"
After a long moment, the falcon finally managed to stutter out the words, which resonated in Qin Feiyang's mind.
Startled, the falcon transmitted, "I can really talk?"
"I'm a man of my word," Qin Feiyang said with a grin.
"Humans are all deceitful!" the falcon transmitted, its blood-red eyes glaring at Qin Feiyang with a deep-seated hatred for humanity.
"Just as there are good and bad fierce beasts, so too are there good and bad humans. You can't paint everyone with the same brush," Qin Feiyang replied with a smile.
A flicker of surprise appeared in the falcon's eyes. "Why are you going to King City?"
"To find someone," Qin Feiyang answered. "As long as you take me to King City, you can leave whenever you wish."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked, "May I ask how long you've been here?"
"About thirty to forty years," the falcon replied.
"That long?" Qin Feiyang was surprised. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a phantom image of the woman and asked, "Have you seen her?"
This was the main route to King City. If the Lion Headed Hawk's master truly went to King City, then perhaps this falcon has seen her, Qin Feiyang thought.
"It's her!" the falcon exclaimed in surprise.
Qin Feiyang's heart pounded. "Quick, tell me, where did she go?"
"The situation back then was very similar to today's," the falcon said. "I scared away her mount and even intended to eat her. But her strength was immense. Before her, I was like an ant."
Qin Feiyang recalled hearing similar words from the middle-aged man in Crouching Tiger City.
"Why didn't she kill you?" Qin Feiyang asked.
"She spared my life for the sake of an old companion," the falcon explained. "She also gave me many Qi Gathering Pills, and it was because of those pills that I was able to break through to the War King realm."
Qin Feiyang was somewhat surprised. I didn't expect this falcon and that woman to have such a history, he thought. As for that 'old companion,' it was undoubtedly the Lion Headed Hawk.
The falcon continued, "She stayed here for some time, and eventually, I was the one who took her to King City."
Qin Feiyang was overjoyed.
The falcon added, "Back then, she also left four words on this stone."
"Four words?" Qin Feiyang was stunned. Looking at the stone beside the falcon, he asked, "Can I see them?"
"No." The falcon scrutinized him. "All these years, I've regarded her as my benefactor. And you, human, you look like trouble. I can tell you mean her harm."
The falcon not only bluntly refused but also eyed him with undisguised contempt.
Qin Feiyang flushed with anger and retorted, "Where exactly do I look like a bad person?"
The falcon looked him up and down and stated seriously, "Everywhere."
Qin Feiyang seethed inwardly. I'll endure this! he thought. He produced the feather, saying, "This is a feather from the Lion Headed Hawk—her former companion. I was entrusted by the Lion Headed Hawk to come to the Ruin Lands to rescue her."
"Are you from the outside world?" the falcon asked, startled.
"Yes," Qin Feiyang nodded. "Your benefactor is also from the outside world."
The falcon lowered its head, its large blood-red eyes flickering with uncertainty.
After a long while, it raised its head to look at Qin Feiyang. "I can let you see the words, and I can take you to King City. But you must promise me one thing: when you leave the Ruin Lands, you must take me with you."
"This..." Qin Feiyang hesitated for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "To be honest, I'm not even sure I can leave the Ruin Lands myself."
"It doesn't matter if you're confident or not," the falcon said. "Just take me with you when you leave."
"Alright," Qin Feiyang nodded.
The falcon stepped aside.
Qin Feiyang walked up to the stone. Four large characters, each the size of a palm, immediately came into view. They bore traces of weathering, but he could still clearly see what was written.
—Father's Love is Like a Mountain!
Those were the four words. It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in Qin Feiyang's mind. His hands clenched into tight fists, his face contorting. Pain and hatred filled his eyes. A furious anger seethed and churned within him.
The falcon was startled. He was fine just a moment ago, it thought, watching Qin Feiyang with confusion. Why has he suddenly changed so drastically? Could these four words have something to do with him?
Gradually, Qin Feiyang calmed down. He didn't look at the four characters again.
For that woman to leave such words, Qin Feiyang mused, it means her coming to the Ruin Lands must be related to her father.
The falcon glanced at the four characters and asked, "Human youth, are you alright?"
Qin Feiyang shook his head and forced a smile. "Time is short. Let's set off!"
"Alright." The falcon assented. Carrying Qin Feiyang, it soared into the clouds, transforming into a streak of blood-red light and quickly vanishing over the horizon.
「King City!」
This ancient city lay in the center of the Ruin Lands. Its scale was almost comparable to Yan City, but it was far less prosperous.
Several days later, Qin Feiyang emerged from a forest, gazing at King City from a distance. The falcon had not accompanied him, instead hiding deep within the mountains. This was because in the Ruin Lands, fierce beasts were considered little more than food. Any fierce beast that came into human sight would be hunted down.
After observing for a moment, Qin Feiyang headed towards the city gate of King City.
The city walls showed no signs of decay. Like a gigantic black python, they coiled across the land, exuding a chilling aura. Everyone he encountered on the way was rushing, their expressions harried. It was as if, in their eyes, anyone other than themselves was superfluous. Many people were dressed in tattered sackcloth. Furthermore, disputes, killings, and plunder were commonplace. Onlookers were apathetic. All this indicated that life in King City was also exceedingly brutal.
There were no rules here; as long as your fist was strong enough, your word was law.
"Kid, halt!" Just as Qin Feiyang reached the city gate and was about to enter, the two guards stationed there suddenly shouted at him.
"Is there a problem?" Qin Feiyang stopped and turned to look at the two men, puzzled.
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