115 Puppet Jade Part 2
The next day, after resting well, they continued on their journey. Abu, having rested for a night, was full of energy and ran at great speed. By the afternoon, they were less than a hundred kilometers away from Shijiazhuang, around the Xingtai area.
The weather today was exceptionally good, and the sun was shining. Zhuang Yao checked his watch and said, "We have four hours until nightfall. We must hunt for something before dark, or Abu won't have the energy tomorrow."
Li Fengyu suggested, "Let's split up and search. We've seen nothing along the way, and now that it's warmer, we might have better luck."
Zhuang Yao agreed, "Divide into three groups, with one person in each group having a keen sense of smell. I'll be in a group with Abu and Li Fengyu, Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao in another group, and Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia in the third group. Everyone carry a compass and search separately. I'll make a mark here, and before it gets dark, whether or not you find anything, everyone must come back."
"Okay."
The six of them, plus one cat, split into three groups and set off in different directions to search for prey.
In fact, the hunting abilities of Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia were the weakest. Both Abu and Deng Xiao had excellent noses and fast running abilities. Unfortunately, he and Cheng Tianbi couldn't be separated, otherwise, there might have been a better grouping plan.
They walked for three or four kilometers, with Cong Xia constantly enhancing his sense of smell, but they had no success. Occasionally, birds flew overhead, but they couldn't catch them, and even if they did, the size would be too small to feed Abu.
Having used the Road Bully all along, they hardly bothered about hunting before. Now, they truly understood the difficulty of hunting. No wonder ancient hunters could only catch one or two animals in a month, and yet, with so little prey, they could sustain their livelihood.
Hunting was indeed a challenging task, and the most difficult part was finding the prey. During warm weather, there were many mutant animals on the mountains, and they could be found with little effort. However, during winter, most of these animals hide away. Cong Xia couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for ordinary people to survive when there was hardly any wild grass to eat, and hunting was so tough in winter.
They had walked the entire afternoon, feeling frustrated and returning empty-handed.
When they reached the agreed meeting point, Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao had already come back with good news—they had hunted a wild boar that was enough for Abu and them to have a good meal together.
Cong Xia happily exclaimed, "That's great! Finally, we have something to eat. Oh, but where are Zhuang Yao and the others?"
"They're not back yet. We returned before dark, and we've been waiting for a while," Deng Xiao proudly touched his nose. "How about that? We did a great job. I found this wild boar, and I'm going to have the thigh for dinner."
"Sure, you can have the leg." Cong Xia chuckled. "Let's pick up some firewood and prepare, so when they come back, we can start cooking."
The four of them gathered some firewood and set up a grill. By now, it was completely dark, and half an hour had passed since Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia had returned. They were starting to feel worried.
"Why haven't they come back yet? Could they have gotten lost?"
"It's unlikely. With Abu here, how could they get lost?"
Cong Xia frowned. "Then why is it taking them so long?"
"I'm getting a little concerned. Let's go look for them. Tang Ge and I will search in opposite directions, and you two can stay here together. You won't be fast when tied together, so wait here," said Deng Xiao.
Cong Xia nodded. "Be careful."
Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao ran off in different directions.
Cong Xia anxiously gazed into the dark forest but couldn't see anything. He hoped that Zhuang Yao and the others were just delayed on the road, maybe struggling to find the right direction, maybe the prey they caught was too big and slowed them down, or...
However, for some reason, Cong Xia felt a shadowy feeling in his heart, and he felt uneasy.
The fear of something happening just before reaching Beijing plagued Cong Xia's mind.
However, Cheng Tianbi reassured him, firmly holding his shoulders and said, "Let's not panic. They won't encounter trouble so easily."
Cong Xia nodded, forcing himself to calm down.
Cheng Tianbi was right. They were not that vulnerable. Abu's combat prowess was undeniable, and Liu Fengyu was a formidable mutant. Moreover, they had Zhuang Yao, whose intellect was exceptional. No matter the situation, they would surely overcome it.
They anxiously waited for nearly an hour, and Cong Xia began to worry that something had indeed happened. It was unimaginable for them to be delayed for more than three hours past the agreed time.
Eventually, Deng Xiao returned, his face filled with disappointment and anxiety as Zhuang Yao and the others were still missing. He wanted to search for them again, but Cheng Tianbi stopped him.
After a while, Tang Yanqiu returned with Liu Fengyu.
They hurried to greet them, and Cong Xia noticed that Liu Fengyu's clothes were torn, indicating he had transformed. Moreover, his disheveled appearance and bloodshot eyes suggested that things had not gone well.
"Leng Ge! What happened?" Cong Xia asked worriedly.
Liu Fengyu looked extremely fatigued. He opened his mouth as if to speak but couldn't find the strength to utter any words.
Tang Yanqiu spoke with a grave expression, "Let me explain. I found him halfway, and he said that Zhuang Yao was swept away by a group of birds. Abu chased after them, but Liu Fengyu couldn't catch up with Abu and ended up getting lost."
Cong Xia was taken aback, "Zhuang Yao... taken away?"
Deng Xiao angrily punched a tree, his face showing deep concern.
Cheng Tianbi gave Liu Fengyu some water and said in a serious tone, "Tell us everything from the beginning."
Liu Fengyu caught his breath and said hoarsely, "We were chasing a deer when suddenly a large group of pigeons appeared in the sky, attacking us. They took Zhuang Yao away. I fell off Abu while he chased after them, and he quickly disappeared. I ran after them for a long time but couldn't catch up. Then I realized that the compass was with Zhuang Yao, and I got lost. That's when I encountered Tang Yanqiu..." He clenched his fists tightly, "It's my fault that Zhuang Yao was taken away. I..."
"Liu Ge!" Cong Xia firmly held his shoulder, looking earnestly at him. "This is not your fault. You did your best, but you have your limitations. We are grateful that you came back alive."
Liu Fengyu scratched his head, appearing burdened. Although Zhuang Yao never acted like a child, he was indeed a young boy. As an adult, Liu Fengyu couldn't help but assume a guardian role. Despite his lack of a sense of responsibility, he couldn't bear to see Zhuang Yao taken away right in front of him.
Liu Fengyu whispered, "He said for us not to bother about him and go directly to Beijing."
Deng Xiao exclaimed, "How is that possible? Aren't we companions? If we don't rescue him, how can we go to Beijing?"
Tang Yanqiu said, "When that group of pigeons took you guys away, they only captured Zhuang Yao without launching further attacks. It's evident that their objective was to abduct people. So, Zhuang Yao should still be safe now. We need to find a way to locate him."
Liu Fengyu said fiercely, "I'll turn all those pigeons into skeletons!"
Cong Xia nodded and said, "Xiao Deng is right. We must save him. Regardless of whether he's in danger or not, we can't let him fall into the hands of the enemy. He might be... " Cong Xia bit his lip, "he might have been taken because of his ability to impersonate me."
Though they had never been able to fully trust Zhuang Yao, the bond formed through life and death experiences made it hard for them to abandon a companion, especially a twelve-year-old child.
Cheng Tianbi said, "No matter what, we can't do anything tonight. We'll act at dawn."
Deng Xiao anxiously said, "Why are we waiting for dawn? Let's go with torches now."
Tang Yanqiu held his shoulder, "Xiao Deng, we should wait for dawn. It's too dark now, and our visibility will be compromised. We might end up wasting our efforts."
Cheng Tianbi said, "I meant waiting until dawn for Abu to return."
Liu Fengyu frowned, "Abu went to chase those pigeons. It won't come back."
"No, Abu will come back. It's smarter than we think. It will return and lead us to find Zhuang Yao."
Cong Xia nodded, "I also believe Abu will come back. No matter how fast it is, it can't catch up to the flying pigeons in the sky. When it realizes it can't keep up, it will come back to find us and help save Zhuang Yao."
Deng Xiao paced restlessly, eventually sitting down in dejection. Tang Yanqiu and Liu Fengyu looked grave, and while Cheng Tianbi wore an expressionless face, his eyes revealed deep concern. Cong Xia clenched his fists, trying to force herself to remain calm.
Watching the chubby wild boar in the distance, what should have been a joyful gathering of six people and a cat around a warm campfire, enjoying hot grilled meat, now felt desolate. Without Zhuang Yao's clear and tender voice offering various analyses, they felt uneasy. Without Abu's warm presence, how would they sleep tonight?
Cong Xia felt incredibly distressed.
Why, when they were so close to Beijing, did such a sudden turn of events occur? Throughout their journey, they had never set foot on a smooth road. A moment's carelessness could land them in a ditch. But previously, no matter how dangerous it was, they were always together. This was the first time a companion had gone missing, and the uncertainty of life or death made it impossible for someone who hadn't experienced it to understand the anxiety they were feeling.
The group spent a restless night, waiting for Abu to return. They huddled around the dying campfire, each lost in their thoughts and worries about Zhuang Yao.
As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, hope rekindled in their hearts. They believed Abu would come back and lead them to rescue Zhuang Yao.
Cong Xia silently murmured in his heart, "Abu, you must come back and lead us to find your master."
Throughout the night, none of them slept. When the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, Cong Xia finally sensed a familiar energy fluctuation in the distance. He abruptly stood up and exclaimed, "It's Abu!"
Everyone turned their heads and indeed saw a giant white plush cat rushing toward them from afar.
"Abu!" Cong Xia hurriedly ran towards it.
Abu urgently skidded to a stop in front of them, frantically calling out to them, continuously patting the ground with its paws. Cong Xia then noticed that all of Abu's four paws were covered in blood, probably from running non-stop throughout the entire night.
"Abu, calm down!"
Normally obedient and well-behaved, Abu couldn't seem to comprehend any words at the moment. It pushed Cong Xia down to the ground, desperately trying to convey something.
Cheng Tianbi roared, "Abu!"
Abu's body trembled under the imposing aura of Cheng Tianbi. Finally, it calmed down a bit and let out a soft "meow," its tone mournful, as if crying. Its amethyst-like eyes were filled with anxiety and pain.
Cong Xia hugged Abu's bloody paws with a heartache, channeling attributeless energy into its body like opening a floodgate, repairing the cracked and bleeding wounds.
Cheng Tianbi dragged the wild boar over and patted Abu. "Eat it quickly; we need you to run fast."
Abu paced around in place for two circles, then finally tore into the thick skin of the wild boar, as if it were tearing apart the enemies who took Zhuang Yao.
With the quickest speed, it filled its stomach. One by one, the group climbed onto Abu's back. Cong Xia called out, "Abu, lead us to find Zhuang Yao!"
Abu let out a loud cry, then shot forward like an arrow.
115 Puppet Jade Part 2
The next day, after resting well, they continued on their journey. Abu, having rested for a night, was full of energy and ran at great speed. By the afternoon, they were less than a hundred kilometers away from Shijiazhuang, around the Xingtai area.
The weather today was exceptionally good, and the sun was shining. Zhuang Yao checked his watch and said, "We have four hours until nightfall. We must hunt for something before dark, or Abu won't have the energy tomorrow."
Li Fengyu suggested, "Let's split up and search. We've seen nothing along the way, and now that it's warmer, we might have better luck."
Zhuang Yao agreed, "Divide into three groups, with one person in each group having a keen sense of smell. I'll be in a group with Abu and Li Fengyu, Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao in another group, and Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia in the third group. Everyone carry a compass and search separately. I'll make a mark here, and before it gets dark, whether or not you find anything, everyone must come back."
"Okay."
The six of them, plus one cat, split into three groups and set off in different directions to search for prey.
In fact, the hunting abilities of Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia were the weakest. Both Abu and Deng Xiao had excellent noses and fast running abilities. Unfortunately, he and Cheng Tianbi couldn't be separated, otherwise, there might have been a better grouping plan.
They walked for three or four kilometers, with Cong Xia constantly enhancing his sense of smell, but they had no success. Occasionally, birds flew overhead, but they couldn't catch them, and even if they did, the size would be too small to feed Abu.
Having used the Road Bully all along, they hardly bothered about hunting before. Now, they truly understood the difficulty of hunting. No wonder ancient hunters could only catch one or two animals in a month, and yet, with so little prey, they could sustain their livelihood.
Hunting was indeed a challenging task, and the most difficult part was finding the prey. During warm weather, there were many mutant animals on the mountains, and they could be found with little effort. However, during winter, most of these animals hide away. Cong Xia couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for ordinary people to survive when there was hardly any wild grass to eat, and hunting was so tough in winter.
They had walked the entire afternoon, feeling frustrated and returning empty-handed.
When they reached the agreed meeting point, Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao had already come back with good news—they had hunted a wild boar that was enough for Abu and them to have a good meal together.
Cong Xia happily exclaimed, "That's great! Finally, we have something to eat. Oh, but where are Zhuang Yao and the others?"
"They're not back yet. We returned before dark, and we've been waiting for a while," Deng Xiao proudly touched his nose. "How about that? We did a great job. I found this wild boar, and I'm going to have the thigh for dinner."
"Sure, you can have the leg." Cong Xia chuckled. "Let's pick up some firewood and prepare, so when they come back, we can start cooking."
The four of them gathered some firewood and set up a grill. By now, it was completely dark, and half an hour had passed since Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia had returned. They were starting to feel worried.
"Why haven't they come back yet? Could they have gotten lost?"
"It's unlikely. With Abu here, how could they get lost?"
Cong Xia frowned. "Then why is it taking them so long?"
"I'm getting a little concerned. Let's go look for them. Tang Ge and I will search in opposite directions, and you two can stay here together. You won't be fast when tied together, so wait here," said Deng Xiao.
Cong Xia nodded. "Be careful."
Tang Yanqiu and Deng Xiao ran off in different directions.
Cong Xia anxiously gazed into the dark forest but couldn't see anything. He hoped that Zhuang Yao and the others were just delayed on the road, maybe struggling to find the right direction, maybe the prey they caught was too big and slowed them down, or...
However, for some reason, Cong Xia felt a shadowy feeling in his heart, and he felt uneasy.
The fear of something happening just before reaching Beijing plagued Cong Xia's mind.
However, Cheng Tianbi reassured him, firmly holding his shoulders and said, "Let's not panic. They won't encounter trouble so easily."
Cong Xia nodded, forcing himself to calm down.
Cheng Tianbi was right. They were not that vulnerable. Abu's combat prowess was undeniable, and Liu Fengyu was a formidable mutant. Moreover, they had Zhuang Yao, whose intellect was exceptional. No matter the situation, they would surely overcome it.
They anxiously waited for nearly an hour, and Cong Xia began to worry that something had indeed happened. It was unimaginable for them to be delayed for more than three hours past the agreed time.
Eventually, Deng Xiao returned, his face filled with disappointment and anxiety as Zhuang Yao and the others were still missing. He wanted to search for them again, but Cheng Tianbi stopped him.
After a while, Tang Yanqiu returned with Liu Fengyu.
They hurried to greet them, and Cong Xia noticed that Liu Fengyu's clothes were torn, indicating he had transformed. Moreover, his disheveled appearance and bloodshot eyes suggested that things had not gone well.
"Leng Ge! What happened?" Cong Xia asked worriedly.
Liu Fengyu looked extremely fatigued. He opened his mouth as if to speak but couldn't find the strength to utter any words.
Tang Yanqiu spoke with a grave expression, "Let me explain. I found him halfway, and he said that Zhuang Yao was swept away by a group of birds. Abu chased after them, but Liu Fengyu couldn't catch up with Abu and ended up getting lost."
Cong Xia was taken aback, "Zhuang Yao... taken away?"
Deng Xiao angrily punched a tree, his face showing deep concern.
Cheng Tianbi gave Liu Fengyu some water and said in a serious tone, "Tell us everything from the beginning."
Liu Fengyu caught his breath and said hoarsely, "We were chasing a deer when suddenly a large group of pigeons appeared in the sky, attacking us. They took Zhuang Yao away. I fell off Abu while he chased after them, and he quickly disappeared. I ran after them for a long time but couldn't catch up. Then I realized that the compass was with Zhuang Yao, and I got lost. That's when I encountered Tang Yanqiu..." He clenched his fists tightly, "It's my fault that Zhuang Yao was taken away. I..."
"Liu Ge!" Cong Xia firmly held his shoulder, looking earnestly at him. "This is not your fault. You did your best, but you have your limitations. We are grateful that you came back alive."
Liu Fengyu scratched his head, appearing burdened. Although Zhuang Yao never acted like a child, he was indeed a young boy. As an adult, Liu Fengyu couldn't help but assume a guardian role. Despite his lack of a sense of responsibility, he couldn't bear to see Zhuang Yao taken away right in front of him.
Liu Fengyu whispered, "He said for us not to bother about him and go directly to Beijing."
Deng Xiao exclaimed, "How is that possible? Aren't we companions? If we don't rescue him, how can we go to Beijing?"
Tang Yanqiu said, "When that group of pigeons took you guys away, they only captured Zhuang Yao without launching further attacks. It's evident that their objective was to abduct people. So, Zhuang Yao should still be safe now. We need to find a way to locate him."
Liu Fengyu said fiercely, "I'll turn all those pigeons into skeletons!"
Cong Xia nodded and said, "Xiao Deng is right. We must save him. Regardless of whether he's in danger or not, we can't let him fall into the hands of the enemy. He might be... " Cong Xia bit his lip, "he might have been taken because of his ability to impersonate me."
Though they had never been able to fully trust Zhuang Yao, the bond formed through life and death experiences made it hard for them to abandon a companion, especially a twelve-year-old child.
Cheng Tianbi said, "No matter what, we can't do anything tonight. We'll act at dawn."
Deng Xiao anxiously said, "Why are we waiting for dawn? Let's go with torches now."
Tang Yanqiu held his shoulder, "Xiao Deng, we should wait for dawn. It's too dark now, and our visibility will be compromised. We might end up wasting our efforts."
Cheng Tianbi said, "I meant waiting until dawn for Abu to return."
Liu Fengyu frowned, "Abu went to chase those pigeons. It won't come back."
"No, Abu will come back. It's smarter than we think. It will return and lead us to find Zhuang Yao."
Cong Xia nodded, "I also believe Abu will come back. No matter how fast it is, it can't catch up to the flying pigeons in the sky. When it realizes it can't keep up, it will come back to find us and help save Zhuang Yao."
Deng Xiao paced restlessly, eventually sitting down in dejection. Tang Yanqiu and Liu Fengyu looked grave, and while Cheng Tianbi wore an expressionless face, his eyes revealed deep concern. Cong Xia clenched his fists, trying to force herself to remain calm.
Watching the chubby wild boar in the distance, what should have been a joyful gathering of six people and a cat around a warm campfire, enjoying hot grilled meat, now felt desolate. Without Zhuang Yao's clear and tender voice offering various analyses, they felt uneasy. Without Abu's warm presence, how would they sleep tonight?
Cong Xia felt incredibly distressed.
Why, when they were so close to Beijing, did such a sudden turn of events occur? Throughout their journey, they had never set foot on a smooth road. A moment's carelessness could land them in a ditch. But previously, no matter how dangerous it was, they were always together. This was the first time a companion had gone missing, and the uncertainty of life or death made it impossible for someone who hadn't experienced it to understand the anxiety they were feeling.
The group spent a restless night, waiting for Abu to return. They huddled around the dying campfire, each lost in their thoughts and worries about Zhuang Yao.
As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, hope rekindled in their hearts. They believed Abu would come back and lead them to rescue Zhuang Yao.
Cong Xia silently murmured in his heart, "Abu, you must come back and lead us to find your master."
Throughout the night, none of them slept. When the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, Cong Xia finally sensed a familiar energy fluctuation in the distance. He abruptly stood up and exclaimed, "It's Abu!"
Everyone turned their heads and indeed saw a giant white plush cat rushing toward them from afar.
"Abu!" Cong Xia hurriedly ran towards it.
Abu urgently skidded to a stop in front of them, frantically calling out to them, continuously patting the ground with its paws. Cong Xia then noticed that all of Abu's four paws were covered in blood, probably from running non-stop throughout the entire night.
"Abu, calm down!"
Normally obedient and well-behaved, Abu couldn't seem to comprehend any words at the moment. It pushed Cong Xia down to the ground, desperately trying to convey something.
Cheng Tianbi roared, "Abu!"
Abu's body trembled under the imposing aura of Cheng Tianbi. Finally, it calmed down a bit and let out a soft "meow," its tone mournful, as if crying. Its amethyst-like eyes were filled with anxiety and pain.
Cong Xia hugged Abu's bloody paws with a heartache, channeling attributeless energy into its body like opening a floodgate, repairing the cracked and bleeding wounds.
Cheng Tianbi dragged the wild boar over and patted Abu. "Eat it quickly; we need you to run fast."
Abu paced around in place for two circles, then finally tore into the thick skin of the wild boar, as if it were tearing apart the enemies who took Zhuang Yao.
With the quickest speed, it filled its stomach. One by one, the group climbed onto Abu's back. Cong Xia called out, "Abu, lead us to find Zhuang Yao!"
Abu let out a loud cry, then shot forward like an arrow.
