Chapter 22: The leads

As soon as Xialin got down from the tree, her horse came to her as if it already knows that its owner was about to leave the place. Xialin hurriedly climbed the horse and headed off towards the Fog Forest. After riding the horse for a while, she started to feel hungry, her stomach began to make the craziest and loudest sounds, unable to bear it any longer she scanned the area looking for a wild animal to hunt. As soon as her mind is set to hunt for some wild animal, her eyes immediately changed its colour to that of bluish shiny colour and began to scan the area.

The mythical beasts instinct inside her made her able to spot the exact location where a wild deer was eating the grass. Xialin immediately holds her horse reins and galloped towards the deer. She slowly climbed down from the horse and sneaked up to her prey. She then acted right in action at the exact detailed time. She immediately stroke the deer on the back of its head with her small sharp knife. The blow was so intense that it made the deer to die on spot. Xialin grinned at her successful hunt and carried the dead deer with both of her hands. She slowly put the deer on the back of her horse and tied it tightly then rode the horse towards a safe spot.

The safe spot was a place filled with big tall pine trees, where a small stream of water was running on the side. Upon arriving the place, Xialin climbed down from the horse and started to collect the dry twigs and leaves from the ground.

Soon afterwards she started the fire by rubbing the dry woods to each other. The fire was nicely burned. She then began to roast the deer. The deer was ready to eat after a while. Xialin sniffs the roasted deer, realising that it is well cooked, she started devouring the roasted deer bite by bite greedily, soon after she finished eating the whole roasted deer all by herself. The petite Xialin didn't eat much at home before but now she can consumed the whole deer all by herself. She ate as if she is been starving for a long time. After finishing up the whole deer she spoke to herself, "Woah.....! Feel so good now!"

Feeling energised after devouring the entire meat, she climbed up to the horse, smirked a bit and proclaimed in excitement, "Fog Forest! Here I come!"

She then galloped the horse at its fastest speed and was on her way towards the Fog Forest.

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On the Other side of the story...

Yutao and Xukai have finished their lunch and came out of the inn.

Yutao then recommended Xukai seriously, "Xukai, Let's head to a place. I believe I can get lead there"

Xukai bizarrely gazed at Yutao and heeded to his words, "Okay, Yutao ge. Let's go there"

Xukai followed Yutao's horse that went passed through the Black Market. He went near the Dark Forest and suddenly stopped at a spot! It was the Wooden House with a crescent black moon sign on it.

As Yutao stopped the horse there, Xukai too stopped the horse. Yutao then hurriedly climbed down from the horse and stared at the wooden house.

Xukai's followed his gazed and spoke up, "So, This is the Place?!"

Yutao replied in sober, "Your brother and I have arrived here before. This is the territory of the Eagle bandit's ally. I believe we can get a lead here!"

The two of them soon went inside the wooden House. As they went inside the house, they found the house all empty. The dead body of the sly woman was too already taken out by someone. Yutao and Xukai tossed over the area and searched the entire place.

As they scanned over the whole area, there wasn't even a single clue left. There was only the cooing sound of the pigeon. A white feather pigeon with black dots all over its body was eating the seeds beside the window. Since the situation has come to this, Yutao and Xukai decided to leave at an instant. Just as Yutao decided to leave the place, he smacked his foot to a small case, he slowly picked it up and observed it. Soon Yutao realised that it was a small lightweight messenger case. With an alarming looked in his eyes, Yutao promptly rushed towards the window and immediately grabbed the pigeon.

Xukai rushed to the scene and inquired in curiousness, "The messenger pigeon?!"

Yutao replied solemnly, "Yes indeed. The messenger pigeon. Quick... we need to follow it..once we release it!"

Yutao and Xukai immediately get on their horses. After that Yutao carefully releases the pigeon and make it to fly on the sky. They closely observed as the pigeon leaves the place. With it, they hurriedly holds the horse reins and gallops towards the direction of the pigeon.

The two of them galloped their horses at its fastest speed. The pigeon flew passed towards the Black market. It then suddenly stopped in front of a bird shop.

Yutao and Xukai, upon seeing the situation couldn't believe their eyes. They gazed at each other, acknowledging the situation and slowly climbed down from the horses. They kept their composure and acted normal. They then came forth to the bird shop.

The two went inside it. There they saw varieties of Caged bird putting on sell. It includes vultures, hawks, pigeons, parrots, owls. The two of them observed the place in keenness. As they were there observing the birds, the shopkeeper came out, thrilled upon seeing the customers, he spoke up delightfully, "Which bird would you like to buy? Young men?!"

Yutao turned back and expressed, "Ahh! You have quite a good collection over here. I don't know what to choose"

The Shopkeeper replied in consideration, "You can buy according to your likeness! Ahh...how about telling me the ones you prefer?!"

Taking the chances, Yutao retorted, "Then..... I prefer the ones that can send messages"

Hearing Yutao's words, The Shopkeeper suggested, "Then, how about taking a pigeon. Pigeons are the great messenger these days"

Yutao reacted as if he wants to purchase the pigeon, "Ohh...! Then I would love to have a pigeon!"

The shopkeeper smiled at it and responded in merriment, "Please, feel free to choose from the ones that are sell there"

Yutao acted skillfully and Xukai assisted him.

He went pacing back and forth in search of the Pigeon and acted discontented at seeing them.

He then turned to Xukai and spoke trickily, "Xukai, Look at this pigeon?! What do you think?!"

Xukai replied smirking, "This..... brother the colour is too dull! No one will be happy to receive if you send messages over this dull pigeon!"

Yutao responded to it coolly, "That's it... we think the same...hmm....these pigeons...the colour is too dull. My beloved won't like it if I send her messages over these pigeons"

Yutao then turned to the shopkeeper and inquired him in concerned, "Aren't there any pigeons left to choose?! I don't like these kinds. See, the colour is too dull!"

The shopkeeper rushed to him and brushed of his words, "Aishh...! Young men, these are the only pigeons that are left. I don't think, the colour matters that much! What truly matters is if the pigeon is healthy enough to carry the messages well!"

Yutao retorted to it smartly, "Ahh... Is that so?! But...I don't like these! I can't afford to make my beloved sad over my pigeon messenger!"

With it, the two of them took the chance and went passed through the cages of birds in search of a colourful pigeon. Meanwhile, they also closely observed the place as they dug further. Shortly, they noticed the big door that lies ahead.

As they walked nearer towards it, they heard the sound of the birds coming from inside!

The two of them acted natural at it and quickly came out from there.