168 Enchanted Forest
Cong Xia cautiously said, "We will definitely go to Qinghai sooner or later, but we still know too little about it, and our current preparations are insufficient."
A look of surprise appeared on Oleg's face, and he seemed genuine. "Why don't you send multiple Natural Power Evolvers to go together? That way, there won't be any place that can be difficult for you."
Cong Xia replied, "You are oversimplifying Qinghai. Currently, it is like being trapped inside a barrier. Over a year has passed, and we have only heard of people entering without any news of anyone coming out. In such a situation, how can we dare to venture in? The losses would be catastrophic if the Natural Force Evolvers go in and can't come out."
Cong Xia hinted at something as he carefully observed Oleg's expression. Finally, he noticed a hint of surprise in Oleg's eyes. He wasn't sure if the Moscow government was so bold as to let Jacqueline enter Qinghai. Still, he hoped his words might have some deterrent effect if they hadn't officially entered yet.
He really didn't want to see Jacqueline enter Qinghai. Jacqueline was a precious Natural Force evolver with significant importance for the future of humanity. If she died in Qinghai, he would never know what kind of promising collaboration she and Cheng Tianbi could have had.
Moreover, as a Chinese person, he didn't want foreigners coveting their possessions. It was already improper for the Manzhoulian Puppet Jade to fall into the hands of the Mongolian government on the border. If it weren't for the complexities and entanglements, he and Cheng Tianbi would have dared to go and retrieve it themselves. Even if Jacqueline could come out of Qinghai, they wouldn't let her leave China with the Puppet Jade.
In any case, they didn't even have the confidence to come out unscathed from Qinghai, and it was likely that Jacqueline would go in and never return.
"So, you're saying that even you don't dare to go in now?" Oleg asked.
Cong Xia nodded solemnly, "That's right."
Oleg nodded thoughtfully and smiled, "It seems like that place is truly a terrifying one."
Cheng Tianbi said, "I hope you can pass on a message to the people from the Mongolian government. No matter where they obtained the Manzhoulian Puppet Jade, it is currently within Chinese territory, and we will come to take it sooner or later. I hope they are prepared for this." After saying this, Cheng Tianbi glanced at Ivan.
As the largest organization of mutants in the area, the Shadow must have a deep connection with the Puppet Jade. They established such a casino here, which meant they had received a considerable "reward," and this "reward" was what some people paid to come into contact with the Puppet Jade. The Shadow and the group of Mongolians who held the Puppet Jade must have a cooperative relationship.
Ivan chuckled but didn't respond.
Cong Xia looked at Cheng Tianbi, "Shall we go now?" It seemed like they had asked all they needed to ask. Although they wanted to wander around the city and inquire about more information, the Shadow would definitely send people to follow them. It didn't seem interesting to continue, so it would be better to go back.
Cheng Tianbi nodded.
The two stood up, and others followed suit. Oleg politely said, "If you wish, you can stay here for a few days. We will provide enough chips for your entertainment."
Cong Xia waved his hand, "Thank you, no need. By the way, how did you recognize us? Did you get our photos or... intelligence?"
Oleg smiled, "We receive the weekly reports from Xinhua News Agency a week later each time. Obtaining information about you is not difficult."
Cong Xia didn't expect them to be so concerned about the situation in Beijing. Oleg was right; they had devoted all their energy to domestic affairs and had little time to care about foreign matters. However, people outside were paying attention to them. This time when they returned to Beijing, he must report to his second uncle properly.
Oleg escorted them to the hotel entrance and bid them farewell politely.
The two walked back to the place where they had parted with Zhao Zixiang along the path they had taken last night.
Even though it was daytime, the streets remained cold and deserted. They hardly encountered anyone along the way until they arrived back under the big tree where they had parted with Zhao Zixiang.
Returning one day earlier than expected, as expected, Zhao Zixiang was not there. They decided to wait for a while.
They sat under the tree, and Cong Xia said, "The telegram from my second uncle was too brief. We can't determine if the Moscow government is preparing to send Jacqueline, or if she has already been sent, or maybe she has already gone. If she has indeed gone, I'm afraid she won't be able to come back."
Cheng Tianbi nodded, "We will go in sooner or later. Almost all the Puppet Jades scattered throughout China, except Qinghai and the South China Sea, have been recovered or are currently being recovered. There are no tasks related to the Puppet Jade rated above level A difficulty, which means that apart from Qinghai and the South China Sea, no place requires our intervention."
"That seems to be the case for now, but Qinghai..." Cong Xia smiled bitterly, "Others who went in couldn't come back. Can we come back? The situation in the South China Sea is also unclear. If we fail in Qinghai, we won't know how to deal with marine creatures."
Cheng Tianbi said in a serious tone, "So, we must come out alive from Qinghai."
"Tianbi, I have a hunch."
"What hunch?"
"There must be a Natural Power Evolver in Qinghai."
"That's very likely."
"Qinghai is the area most affected by the Cambrian energy, and the evolution of plants and animals is most severe there. Without super high-level mutants, it would be unreasonable."
Cheng Tianbi nodded, "If their guess is correct, there should be at least ten Natural Power Evolvers, so there should be at least one in Qinghai."
"I wonder what attributes they have and what abilities they possess. Fire and Earth elemental evolutionaries..."
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, "If there really are Natural Force Evolvers, could they have already perished during advancement?"
"Yeah." Cong Xia clicked his tongue, "The Cambrian energy in that place is much higher than in other areas, and their evolution speed should be faster than ours. They are likely to fail when they break through to the second stage."
The more Cong Xia thought about it, the more he felt that no survivors were coming out of Qinghai, but simply not many left. The weak ones starved, died of illness, or got eaten, while the strong ones died during advancement. How many humans could survive in such an environment?
Cheng Tianbi said, "Stop thinking about it. We'll know when we go in."
They waited from daytime until midnight, and Zhao Zixiang finally returned. He looked surprised to see them, "Hey, why did you come back so early? Wasn't the plan to meet tomorrow?"
"We found out the information we needed in advance. What about you?"
"I also got some information, but it's nothing significant. So, should we stay for one more day or head back?"
"Let's go back," Cheng Tianbi said. "There's no need to stay any longer."
"Okay," Zhao Zixiang said, starting to take off his clothes to transform.
Cong Xia chuckled, "You guys are quite troublesome."
Zhao Zixiang self-mockingly said, "Can't help it. Luckily, there are few women on the streets now, or it would be really embarrassing."
As Zhao Zixiang undressed, they got dressed. Having learned from their previous experience, they put on all their clothes and climbed onto Zhao Zixiang's back. The majestic Bald Eagle spread its enormous wings and carried them into the sky.
Four hours later, they returned to the sky above the Xiaoxing'an Forest. It was the darkest time before dawn, and the Shadow of the Devil Pine appeared particularly awe-inspiring in the pitch-black fog. They weren't worried about getting lost this time, and eventually, following the firelight, they found their campsite amidst the dense forest.
After landing, the guards approached with their guns raised, only lowering them when they recognized them.
Abu, who was sleeping, heard the commotion and slowly walked over, rubbing against Cong Xia affectionately while emitting tiny meowing sounds. Cong Xia looked up and noticed that Deng Xiao was sound asleep on Abu's back, and he hadn't woken up at all.
After they returned, it wasn't long before it became light outside, and everyone else woke up. Zhuang Yao, wearing Winnie the Pooh pajamas, came out of the tent and asked when he saw them, "How did it go?"
"Regarding the Wood Elemental Evolutionary, we managed to gather some information and got some unexpected surprises."
Zhuang Yao yawned and sat down by the campfire, "Tell me about it."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow, "Have you had enough sleep? Why don't you rest a bit more?"
"I'm fine; go ahead."
At that moment, Tang Tingzhi and the others also walked over. "You're back earlier than we expected," Tang Tingzhi said.
"Yeah, we ran into some people and got the information we needed in advance," Cong Xia recounted their experiences in Manzhouli in great detail.
After hearing the whole story, Zhuang Yao and Tang Tingzhi remained silent for a while, pondering.
Finally, Zhuang Yao spoke, "Why are they in such a hurry to go to Qinghai? Could they know something we don't?"
"Perhaps they only know that there are many Puppet Jades in Qinghai but are unaware of the dangers there," Cong Xia suggested.
Tang Tingzhi shook his head, "No, a place that gathers Brain Domain Evolvers can't be so reckless. Either the Moscow government or the Wood Elemental Evolver knows something due to her abilities."
"So, what should we do next?"
"Let's send intelligence personnel to the vicinity of Qinghai to investigate the movements of that group in case they have already entered the region."
Zhuang Yao mumbled, "What could possibly happen between two Natural Element Evolvers of the same attribute? How come she knows, but we don't?" He turned to Cong Xia, "You should find a way to seek answers."
Cong Xia nodded, "I will." He planned to search for relevant information inside the Ancient Jade. When it came to using the Cambrian energy, the Ancient Jade was more knowledgeable than anyone else, like a small encyclopedia. However, its content was vast and complex, requiring a significant effort to study. Recently, when he entered the Ancient Jade, he focused mostly on researching the methods to modify equipment and weapons, which proved to be very effective. Now, he needed to invest more effort into his evolution.
Cheng Tianbi suggested, "Should we invite Wu Yu to Beijing? If we start the journey to Yunnan, it will take at least three months; if it's long, it could take six months."
Zhuang Yao pondered, "That's not appropriate. Wu Yu is getting close to Xu Ying now, but I doubt he will help Xu Ying. Moreover, he probably won't accept our invitation. It's better for us to go directly to Chongqing."
Cong Xia thoughtfully said, "Wu Yu is truly unpredictable. No one knows what he really wants."
Zhuang Yao gave a cold smile, "As long as he has a purpose, he will expose himself sooner or later. There's no need to rush to figure it out."
As the day fully dawned, the cooks prepared a big pot of food, and the others began to pack their belongings, preparing to leave.
After waking up, Liu Fengyu was intrigued by Cong Xia's description of the beautiful scenery in the sky and immediately begged Tang Yanqiu to take him flying to see it.
Tang Yanqiu was in the middle of his morning exercises and initially didn't want to indulge him. However, Liu Fengyu was insistent, and he couldn't refuse, so he spread his two enormous white wings and held Liu Fengyu's waist, carrying him up into the air.
Holding his bowl of food, Deng Xiao ran over, "Hey, take me with you..."
They quickly passed through the dense tree canopy, disappearing from the view of the others below.
While Cong Xia had seen the beauty of dusk that day, the two flying now witnessed the sunrise. As the first rays of sunlight spread across the lush world, the entire forest seemed to awaken.
Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "Indeed, it's so beautiful."
Tang Yanqiu nodded, "The scenery is truly spectacular."
"The Devil's Pine is so huge; it feels like half the sky is covered by it."
"Thankfully, we didn't engage in battle with it, or we might not have been able to leave this forest."
Liu Fengyu shuddered with lingering fear, "Kidding aside, I think we wouldn't have been able to leave. This entire forest seems to be under its control."
Tang Yanqiu flew to the top of a tree crown, intending to put Liu Fengyu down.
Liu Fengyu held onto his neck with both hands, "Why? I still want to fly over there."
"I'm not an avian Evolver; my flying ability is limited, and you are too heavy."
"Hey, aren't you strong? Your arms could handle it."
Tang Yanqiu sighed, "I use my wings for flying."
Liu Fengyu playfully said, "If you give me a kiss, I'll let you put me down, deal?"
Tang Yanqiu's face flushed, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"No nonsense; what's wrong with a little kiss? It won't hurt you." Liu Fengyu gazed at Tang Yanqiu's handsome face, and his heart started to race. Although he was an old antique, he still had some... charm.
Tang Yanqiu was a little embarrassed, "If you tease me again, I'll really throw you down."
"Go ahead, throw me then." Liu Fengyu was unafraid.
"You..." Tang Yanqiu grabbed his arm, tempted to toss him back onto the tree crown.
Liu Fengyu hugged Tang Yanqiu's neck tightly and kissed his attractive lips without hesitation, taking a deep breath.
Tang Yanqiu's eyes widened, his mind going blank.
The last time they kissed, he could excuse it as Liu Fengyu being drunk, but now? They had just woken up, as clear-headed as they could be.
He and Liu Fengyu... were actually kissing!
Tang Yanqiu felt his cheeks burn; the faint scent of perfume and the softness of Liu Fengyu's lips gave him a surreal feeling. He knew that Liu Fengyu was a playful and flirtatious person, and this kiss was likely nothing more than an unburdened act. He knew he should push the man away, but at that moment, his body froze.
Seeing Tang Yanqiu's hesitation, Liu Fengyu felt smug. "Why resist a good thing? If it's free, why not indulge?" He continued to taste those soft lips, even trying to slip his tongue inside.
Suddenly, Tang Yanqiu snapped out of it and forcefully pushed Liu Fengyu away. With the sudden shift in weight, Liu Fengyu lost his balance and fell heavily on the dense canopy below. Branches and leaves poked through his clothes, causing some pain. Instantly, anger surged within him.
Tang Yanqiu shouted in anger, "Stop taking advantage of me! If you're lonely, go find a woman, and don't mess around with me!"
Liu Fengyu was stunned for a moment, feeling even more irritated. "How the hell am I messing with you? Is kissing a big deal for you? Come on, not everyone reacts like you."
Tang Yanqiu was trembling with anger and stammered, "Your shameless actions may be commonplace for you, but not everyone is like that. If you try it again... I won't hold back!"
Liu Fengyu jumped up furiously, cursing, "You're just a hypocrite! Am I shameless? What can you do about it if I am? At least I'm not pretending like you, the young master who's been served by more than thirty maids at Tang Mansion for over twenty years. Don't act like I'm flirting with innocent girls. It's frightening."
Tang Yanqiu's face turned red from anger. "How dare you think such nonsense! Tang Mansion and your entertainment circle are two completely different things. Don't you dare talk nonsense!"
Liu Fengyu taunted, "What's wrong? Are you still a virgin?"
Tang Yanqiu's face kept changing colors; it took him a while to muster a response, "I'm different from you!"
Liu Fengyu looked at Tang Yanqiu's vividly changing face and couldn't help but find it somewhat cute. His anger diminished a little, and he also reflected on his own actions. Maybe he had gone too far with his teasing. He sat down on the tree canopy, rolled his eyes, and said, "Alright, alright, I know you're different. I offended you, the pure and chaste virgin, Tang Daxia."
Tang Yanqiu wished he could shoot him dead with an arrow.
"Come on, I won't molest you anymore. Come over here, and let's watch the sunrise together, okay?" Liu Fengyu suggested, trying to make amends.
Tang Yanqiu turned away and stopped on a nearby treetop, assuming a posture of silent protest.
Liu Fengyu looked at his back and found it amusing, but at the same time, he felt a bit uneasy. After pondering for a while, he said, "Tang Yanqiu, what if I'm really interested in you?"
Tang Yanqiu sat cross-legged with a straight posture, not uttering a word.
"Look, there are few men in the world as handsome and tasteful as me. You won't find many, so why not just accept it?"
Tang Yanqiu remained unresponsive.
Liu Fengyu felt increasingly restless. He was not good at hiding things; he always said what was on his mind and acted on his desires. He treated everything this way, and his feelings for Tang Yanqiu were no exception. He really wanted to be with Tang Yanqiu. He stood up from the treetop and said, "Hey, I'm going to jump over there."
Tang Yanqiu turned around, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to jump over there. If you don't catch me, I might as well fall to my death." Though the forest was dense, there were gaps between the treetops, and jumping between them was possible. Before Tang Yanqiu could respond, Liu Fengyu had already leaped toward Tang Yanqiu's tree.
Tang Yanqiu suddenly flew up and caught Liu Fengyu. Liu Fengyu took advantage of the opportunity to wrap his arms around Tang Yanqiu's neck and laughed heartily, "See, you can't bear to let me die."
Tang Yanqiu scolded, "You're crazy!"
Liu Fengyu chuckled, "I'm serious. I really like you. It's strange, isn't it? My taste has sunk this low. Look, you can't have children anymore, so whether you choose a man or a woman, it doesn't matter. Why not consider me? I promise to give you the pleasure that a man should experience." Liu Fengyu smiled flirtatiously after finishing his words.
Tang Yanqiu's face turned even redder, and he stammered, "I... I'm not gay."
"It's okay if you're not. But you can try it."
"I don't want to try it. This isn't right."
"What's not right?"
"Men and men..."
"You see, Xia Xia and Cheng Tianbi are living quite well together."
"They are who they are, and as for me... I can't do it."
"How do you know you can't do it? What's holding you back? Are you unable to perform?"
Tang Yanqiu angrily retorted, "Stop talking nonsense!"
Liu Fengyu chuckled mischievously, "Whether you can or can't, we'll find out if we try on the bed." He blew a breath toward Tang Yanqiu's face.
Tang Yanqiu turned away, saying, "Liu Fengyu, you've gone too far." Though he threatened, the words that came out of his mouth sounded somewhat weak.
Liu Fengyu spoke ambiguously, "There are even more outrageous things I haven't mentioned. Be careful when you sleep at night; I might launch a surprise attack."
Tang Yanqiu glared at him, "If you dare to mess around, I will really take action."
Liu Fengyu raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to intimidate me?"
"You're just shameless!"
"And you're only realizing that now? The righteous and pure Tang hero, just submit to me, or else I'll go after your little sister."
"You jerk!"
Liu Fengyu burst into laughter.
As the two returned to the campsite, everything was packed and ready for departure.
Cong Xia glanced at them and asked, "Hey, Xiao Tang, are you running a fever? Your face looks flushed."
Tang Yanqiu's eyes dodged slightly, "No, it's nothing."
Liu Fengyu jokingly said, "Our heroic Tang can't handle the heat; that's all."
"The heat?" Cong Xia was puzzled, "But it's not hot now."
Deng Xiao followed Tang Yanqiu around, saying, "Tang ge, Tang ge, I want to go up to the sky too. Can you take me there?"
Tang Yanqiu was restless and ignored him, retreating to a quiet corner.
Deng Xiao sighed disappointedly.
Zhuang Yao said, "Let's go; time to leave."
Cong Xia glanced at the Devil's Pine Tree and suggested, "Let's say goodbye to the Devil's Pine Tree."
"If it comes out."
Cong Xia took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Mr. Pine Tree..."
168 Enchanted Forest
Cong Xia cautiously said, "We will definitely go to Qinghai sooner or later, but we still know too little about it, and our current preparations are insufficient."
A look of surprise appeared on Oleg's face, and he seemed genuine. "Why don't you send multiple Natural Power Evolvers to go together? That way, there won't be any place that can be difficult for you."
Cong Xia replied, "You are oversimplifying Qinghai. Currently, it is like being trapped inside a barrier. Over a year has passed, and we have only heard of people entering without any news of anyone coming out. In such a situation, how can we dare to venture in? The losses would be catastrophic if the Natural Force Evolvers go in and can't come out."
Cong Xia hinted at something as he carefully observed Oleg's expression. Finally, he noticed a hint of surprise in Oleg's eyes. He wasn't sure if the Moscow government was so bold as to let Jacqueline enter Qinghai. Still, he hoped his words might have some deterrent effect if they hadn't officially entered yet.
He really didn't want to see Jacqueline enter Qinghai. Jacqueline was a precious Natural Force evolver with significant importance for the future of humanity. If she died in Qinghai, he would never know what kind of promising collaboration she and Cheng Tianbi could have had.
Moreover, as a Chinese person, he didn't want foreigners coveting their possessions. It was already improper for the Manzhoulian Puppet Jade to fall into the hands of the Mongolian government on the border. If it weren't for the complexities and entanglements, he and Cheng Tianbi would have dared to go and retrieve it themselves. Even if Jacqueline could come out of Qinghai, they wouldn't let her leave China with the Puppet Jade.
In any case, they didn't even have the confidence to come out unscathed from Qinghai, and it was likely that Jacqueline would go in and never return.
"So, you're saying that even you don't dare to go in now?" Oleg asked.
Cong Xia nodded solemnly, "That's right."
Oleg nodded thoughtfully and smiled, "It seems like that place is truly a terrifying one."
Cheng Tianbi said, "I hope you can pass on a message to the people from the Mongolian government. No matter where they obtained the Manzhoulian Puppet Jade, it is currently within Chinese territory, and we will come to take it sooner or later. I hope they are prepared for this." After saying this, Cheng Tianbi glanced at Ivan.
As the largest organization of mutants in the area, the Shadow must have a deep connection with the Puppet Jade. They established such a casino here, which meant they had received a considerable "reward," and this "reward" was what some people paid to come into contact with the Puppet Jade. The Shadow and the group of Mongolians who held the Puppet Jade must have a cooperative relationship.
Ivan chuckled but didn't respond.
Cong Xia looked at Cheng Tianbi, "Shall we go now?" It seemed like they had asked all they needed to ask. Although they wanted to wander around the city and inquire about more information, the Shadow would definitely send people to follow them. It didn't seem interesting to continue, so it would be better to go back.
Cheng Tianbi nodded.
The two stood up, and others followed suit. Oleg politely said, "If you wish, you can stay here for a few days. We will provide enough chips for your entertainment."
Cong Xia waved his hand, "Thank you, no need. By the way, how did you recognize us? Did you get our photos or... intelligence?"
Oleg smiled, "We receive the weekly reports from Xinhua News Agency a week later each time. Obtaining information about you is not difficult."
Cong Xia didn't expect them to be so concerned about the situation in Beijing. Oleg was right; they had devoted all their energy to domestic affairs and had little time to care about foreign matters. However, people outside were paying attention to them. This time when they returned to Beijing, he must report to his second uncle properly.
Oleg escorted them to the hotel entrance and bid them farewell politely.
The two walked back to the place where they had parted with Zhao Zixiang along the path they had taken last night.
Even though it was daytime, the streets remained cold and deserted. They hardly encountered anyone along the way until they arrived back under the big tree where they had parted with Zhao Zixiang.
Returning one day earlier than expected, as expected, Zhao Zixiang was not there. They decided to wait for a while.
They sat under the tree, and Cong Xia said, "The telegram from my second uncle was too brief. We can't determine if the Moscow government is preparing to send Jacqueline, or if she has already been sent, or maybe she has already gone. If she has indeed gone, I'm afraid she won't be able to come back."
Cheng Tianbi nodded, "We will go in sooner or later. Almost all the Puppet Jades scattered throughout China, except Qinghai and the South China Sea, have been recovered or are currently being recovered. There are no tasks related to the Puppet Jade rated above level A difficulty, which means that apart from Qinghai and the South China Sea, no place requires our intervention."
"That seems to be the case for now, but Qinghai..." Cong Xia smiled bitterly, "Others who went in couldn't come back. Can we come back? The situation in the South China Sea is also unclear. If we fail in Qinghai, we won't know how to deal with marine creatures."
Cheng Tianbi said in a serious tone, "So, we must come out alive from Qinghai."
"Tianbi, I have a hunch."
"What hunch?"
"There must be a Natural Power Evolver in Qinghai."
"That's very likely."
"Qinghai is the area most affected by the Cambrian energy, and the evolution of plants and animals is most severe there. Without super high-level mutants, it would be unreasonable."
Cheng Tianbi nodded, "If their guess is correct, there should be at least ten Natural Power Evolvers, so there should be at least one in Qinghai."
"I wonder what attributes they have and what abilities they possess. Fire and Earth elemental evolutionaries..."
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, "If there really are Natural Force Evolvers, could they have already perished during advancement?"
"Yeah." Cong Xia clicked his tongue, "The Cambrian energy in that place is much higher than in other areas, and their evolution speed should be faster than ours. They are likely to fail when they break through to the second stage."
The more Cong Xia thought about it, the more he felt that no survivors were coming out of Qinghai, but simply not many left. The weak ones starved, died of illness, or got eaten, while the strong ones died during advancement. How many humans could survive in such an environment?
Cheng Tianbi said, "Stop thinking about it. We'll know when we go in."
They waited from daytime until midnight, and Zhao Zixiang finally returned. He looked surprised to see them, "Hey, why did you come back so early? Wasn't the plan to meet tomorrow?"
"We found out the information we needed in advance. What about you?"
"I also got some information, but it's nothing significant. So, should we stay for one more day or head back?"
"Let's go back," Cheng Tianbi said. "There's no need to stay any longer."
"Okay," Zhao Zixiang said, starting to take off his clothes to transform.
Cong Xia chuckled, "You guys are quite troublesome."
Zhao Zixiang self-mockingly said, "Can't help it. Luckily, there are few women on the streets now, or it would be really embarrassing."
As Zhao Zixiang undressed, they got dressed. Having learned from their previous experience, they put on all their clothes and climbed onto Zhao Zixiang's back. The majestic Bald Eagle spread its enormous wings and carried them into the sky.
Four hours later, they returned to the sky above the Xiaoxing'an Forest. It was the darkest time before dawn, and the Shadow of the Devil Pine appeared particularly awe-inspiring in the pitch-black fog. They weren't worried about getting lost this time, and eventually, following the firelight, they found their campsite amidst the dense forest.
After landing, the guards approached with their guns raised, only lowering them when they recognized them.
Abu, who was sleeping, heard the commotion and slowly walked over, rubbing against Cong Xia affectionately while emitting tiny meowing sounds. Cong Xia looked up and noticed that Deng Xiao was sound asleep on Abu's back, and he hadn't woken up at all.
After they returned, it wasn't long before it became light outside, and everyone else woke up. Zhuang Yao, wearing Winnie the Pooh pajamas, came out of the tent and asked when he saw them, "How did it go?"
"Regarding the Wood Elemental Evolutionary, we managed to gather some information and got some unexpected surprises."
Zhuang Yao yawned and sat down by the campfire, "Tell me about it."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow, "Have you had enough sleep? Why don't you rest a bit more?"
"I'm fine; go ahead."
At that moment, Tang Tingzhi and the others also walked over. "You're back earlier than we expected," Tang Tingzhi said.
"Yeah, we ran into some people and got the information we needed in advance," Cong Xia recounted their experiences in Manzhouli in great detail.
After hearing the whole story, Zhuang Yao and Tang Tingzhi remained silent for a while, pondering.
Finally, Zhuang Yao spoke, "Why are they in such a hurry to go to Qinghai? Could they know something we don't?"
"Perhaps they only know that there are many Puppet Jades in Qinghai but are unaware of the dangers there," Cong Xia suggested.
Tang Tingzhi shook his head, "No, a place that gathers Brain Domain Evolvers can't be so reckless. Either the Moscow government or the Wood Elemental Evolver knows something due to her abilities."
"So, what should we do next?"
"Let's send intelligence personnel to the vicinity of Qinghai to investigate the movements of that group in case they have already entered the region."
Zhuang Yao mumbled, "What could possibly happen between two Natural Element Evolvers of the same attribute? How come she knows, but we don't?" He turned to Cong Xia, "You should find a way to seek answers."
Cong Xia nodded, "I will." He planned to search for relevant information inside the Ancient Jade. When it came to using the Cambrian energy, the Ancient Jade was more knowledgeable than anyone else, like a small encyclopedia. However, its content was vast and complex, requiring a significant effort to study. Recently, when he entered the Ancient Jade, he focused mostly on researching the methods to modify equipment and weapons, which proved to be very effective. Now, he needed to invest more effort into his evolution.
Cheng Tianbi suggested, "Should we invite Wu Yu to Beijing? If we start the journey to Yunnan, it will take at least three months; if it's long, it could take six months."
Zhuang Yao pondered, "That's not appropriate. Wu Yu is getting close to Xu Ying now, but I doubt he will help Xu Ying. Moreover, he probably won't accept our invitation. It's better for us to go directly to Chongqing."
Cong Xia thoughtfully said, "Wu Yu is truly unpredictable. No one knows what he really wants."
Zhuang Yao gave a cold smile, "As long as he has a purpose, he will expose himself sooner or later. There's no need to rush to figure it out."
As the day fully dawned, the cooks prepared a big pot of food, and the others began to pack their belongings, preparing to leave.
After waking up, Liu Fengyu was intrigued by Cong Xia's description of the beautiful scenery in the sky and immediately begged Tang Yanqiu to take him flying to see it.
Tang Yanqiu was in the middle of his morning exercises and initially didn't want to indulge him. However, Liu Fengyu was insistent, and he couldn't refuse, so he spread his two enormous white wings and held Liu Fengyu's waist, carrying him up into the air.
Holding his bowl of food, Deng Xiao ran over, "Hey, take me with you..."
They quickly passed through the dense tree canopy, disappearing from the view of the others below.
While Cong Xia had seen the beauty of dusk that day, the two flying now witnessed the sunrise. As the first rays of sunlight spread across the lush world, the entire forest seemed to awaken.
Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "Indeed, it's so beautiful."
Tang Yanqiu nodded, "The scenery is truly spectacular."
"The Devil's Pine is so huge; it feels like half the sky is covered by it."
"Thankfully, we didn't engage in battle with it, or we might not have been able to leave this forest."
Liu Fengyu shuddered with lingering fear, "Kidding aside, I think we wouldn't have been able to leave. This entire forest seems to be under its control."
Tang Yanqiu flew to the top of a tree crown, intending to put Liu Fengyu down.
Liu Fengyu held onto his neck with both hands, "Why? I still want to fly over there."
"I'm not an avian Evolver; my flying ability is limited, and you are too heavy."
"Hey, aren't you strong? Your arms could handle it."
Tang Yanqiu sighed, "I use my wings for flying."
Liu Fengyu playfully said, "If you give me a kiss, I'll let you put me down, deal?"
Tang Yanqiu's face flushed, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"No nonsense; what's wrong with a little kiss? It won't hurt you." Liu Fengyu gazed at Tang Yanqiu's handsome face, and his heart started to race. Although he was an old antique, he still had some... charm.
Tang Yanqiu was a little embarrassed, "If you tease me again, I'll really throw you down."
"Go ahead, throw me then." Liu Fengyu was unafraid.
"You..." Tang Yanqiu grabbed his arm, tempted to toss him back onto the tree crown.
Liu Fengyu hugged Tang Yanqiu's neck tightly and kissed his attractive lips without hesitation, taking a deep breath.
Tang Yanqiu's eyes widened, his mind going blank.
The last time they kissed, he could excuse it as Liu Fengyu being drunk, but now? They had just woken up, as clear-headed as they could be.
He and Liu Fengyu... were actually kissing!
Tang Yanqiu felt his cheeks burn; the faint scent of perfume and the softness of Liu Fengyu's lips gave him a surreal feeling. He knew that Liu Fengyu was a playful and flirtatious person, and this kiss was likely nothing more than an unburdened act. He knew he should push the man away, but at that moment, his body froze.
Seeing Tang Yanqiu's hesitation, Liu Fengyu felt smug. "Why resist a good thing? If it's free, why not indulge?" He continued to taste those soft lips, even trying to slip his tongue inside.
Suddenly, Tang Yanqiu snapped out of it and forcefully pushed Liu Fengyu away. With the sudden shift in weight, Liu Fengyu lost his balance and fell heavily on the dense canopy below. Branches and leaves poked through his clothes, causing some pain. Instantly, anger surged within him.
Tang Yanqiu shouted in anger, "Stop taking advantage of me! If you're lonely, go find a woman, and don't mess around with me!"
Liu Fengyu was stunned for a moment, feeling even more irritated. "How the hell am I messing with you? Is kissing a big deal for you? Come on, not everyone reacts like you."
Tang Yanqiu was trembling with anger and stammered, "Your shameless actions may be commonplace for you, but not everyone is like that. If you try it again... I won't hold back!"
Liu Fengyu jumped up furiously, cursing, "You're just a hypocrite! Am I shameless? What can you do about it if I am? At least I'm not pretending like you, the young master who's been served by more than thirty maids at Tang Mansion for over twenty years. Don't act like I'm flirting with innocent girls. It's frightening."
Tang Yanqiu's face turned red from anger. "How dare you think such nonsense! Tang Mansion and your entertainment circle are two completely different things. Don't you dare talk nonsense!"
Liu Fengyu taunted, "What's wrong? Are you still a virgin?"
Tang Yanqiu's face kept changing colors; it took him a while to muster a response, "I'm different from you!"
Liu Fengyu looked at Tang Yanqiu's vividly changing face and couldn't help but find it somewhat cute. His anger diminished a little, and he also reflected on his own actions. Maybe he had gone too far with his teasing. He sat down on the tree canopy, rolled his eyes, and said, "Alright, alright, I know you're different. I offended you, the pure and chaste virgin, Tang Daxia."
Tang Yanqiu wished he could shoot him dead with an arrow.
"Come on, I won't molest you anymore. Come over here, and let's watch the sunrise together, okay?" Liu Fengyu suggested, trying to make amends.
Tang Yanqiu turned away and stopped on a nearby treetop, assuming a posture of silent protest.
Liu Fengyu looked at his back and found it amusing, but at the same time, he felt a bit uneasy. After pondering for a while, he said, "Tang Yanqiu, what if I'm really interested in you?"
Tang Yanqiu sat cross-legged with a straight posture, not uttering a word.
"Look, there are few men in the world as handsome and tasteful as me. You won't find many, so why not just accept it?"
Tang Yanqiu remained unresponsive.
Liu Fengyu felt increasingly restless. He was not good at hiding things; he always said what was on his mind and acted on his desires. He treated everything this way, and his feelings for Tang Yanqiu were no exception. He really wanted to be with Tang Yanqiu. He stood up from the treetop and said, "Hey, I'm going to jump over there."
Tang Yanqiu turned around, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to jump over there. If you don't catch me, I might as well fall to my death." Though the forest was dense, there were gaps between the treetops, and jumping between them was possible. Before Tang Yanqiu could respond, Liu Fengyu had already leaped toward Tang Yanqiu's tree.
Tang Yanqiu suddenly flew up and caught Liu Fengyu. Liu Fengyu took advantage of the opportunity to wrap his arms around Tang Yanqiu's neck and laughed heartily, "See, you can't bear to let me die."
Tang Yanqiu scolded, "You're crazy!"
Liu Fengyu chuckled, "I'm serious. I really like you. It's strange, isn't it? My taste has sunk this low. Look, you can't have children anymore, so whether you choose a man or a woman, it doesn't matter. Why not consider me? I promise to give you the pleasure that a man should experience." Liu Fengyu smiled flirtatiously after finishing his words.
Tang Yanqiu's face turned even redder, and he stammered, "I... I'm not gay."
"It's okay if you're not. But you can try it."
"I don't want to try it. This isn't right."
"What's not right?"
"Men and men..."
"You see, Xia Xia and Cheng Tianbi are living quite well together."
"They are who they are, and as for me... I can't do it."
"How do you know you can't do it? What's holding you back? Are you unable to perform?"
Tang Yanqiu angrily retorted, "Stop talking nonsense!"
Liu Fengyu chuckled mischievously, "Whether you can or can't, we'll find out if we try on the bed." He blew a breath toward Tang Yanqiu's face.
Tang Yanqiu turned away, saying, "Liu Fengyu, you've gone too far." Though he threatened, the words that came out of his mouth sounded somewhat weak.
Liu Fengyu spoke ambiguously, "There are even more outrageous things I haven't mentioned. Be careful when you sleep at night; I might launch a surprise attack."
Tang Yanqiu glared at him, "If you dare to mess around, I will really take action."
Liu Fengyu raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to intimidate me?"
"You're just shameless!"
"And you're only realizing that now? The righteous and pure Tang hero, just submit to me, or else I'll go after your little sister."
"You jerk!"
Liu Fengyu burst into laughter.
As the two returned to the campsite, everything was packed and ready for departure.
Cong Xia glanced at them and asked, "Hey, Xiao Tang, are you running a fever? Your face looks flushed."
Tang Yanqiu's eyes dodged slightly, "No, it's nothing."
Liu Fengyu jokingly said, "Our heroic Tang can't handle the heat; that's all."
"The heat?" Cong Xia was puzzled, "But it's not hot now."
Deng Xiao followed Tang Yanqiu around, saying, "Tang ge, Tang ge, I want to go up to the sky too. Can you take me there?"
Tang Yanqiu was restless and ignored him, retreating to a quiet corner.
Deng Xiao sighed disappointedly.
Zhuang Yao said, "Let's go; time to leave."
Cong Xia glanced at the Devil's Pine Tree and suggested, "Let's say goodbye to the Devil's Pine Tree."
"If it comes out."
Cong Xia took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Mr. Pine Tree..."
