Just as Chu Li was about to land, he was suddenly surrounded by a flock of large birds. The wounds on his arms were clearly visible, blood flowing freely. With a sudden whoosh, the long spear in his hand was immediately knocked down by the fierce bird’s wing. Now he could neither ascend nor descend, and with no suitable weapon in hand, he found himself isolated and helpless, in a passive position. Qing Xia’s heart burned with anxiety, but no matter how she shouted, the birds paid no attention, focusing entirely on attacking Chu Li, surrounding the cliff face with their cries.
Suddenly, a giant bird fiercely grasped Chu Li’s waist garment, let out a sharp cry, and took flight with beating wings. Chu Li was instantly lifted up. Several other large birds swarmed around, all screeching as they prepared to fly away.
Qing Xia’s eyes turned red with rage. If he were carried away like this, where would there be any chance of survival? In her desperation, sweat poured down her face as she shouted loudly. The bamboo she was perched on could no longer support her and slowly began tilting to one side.
Seeing this, a flash of inspiration struck Qing Xia’s mind. The fierce bird’s body was not large, and carrying Chu Li made flight quite strenuous. Combined with Chu Li’s constant struggles, it was actually flying lower and lower, almost level with the bamboo. However, the other fierce birds surrounded them, continuously attacking Chu Li from the sides. If she waited any longer, Chu Li would surely be injured and lose strength, becoming prey for their slaughter.
Qing Xia quickly climbed to the highest point of the bamboo, embraced the tip, and suddenly exerted force downward. The bamboo bent to one side, and Qing Xia took advantage of the momentum to throw out her grappling hook, which landed with a bang on a large rock on the ground. Qing Xia seized the opportunity to pull on the hook, bending the bamboo more and more until it was almost touching the ground. At this moment, the fierce birds had already flown high. Qing Xia aimed carefully, and without time to think further, suddenly released the grappling hook. The bamboo instantly sprang back, and the enormous elastic force catapulted Qing Xia violently upward. In an instant, white clouds and colorful mists rushed past her eyes as her body soared above the giant birds, streaking toward the azure sky.
“Qing Xia!” Chu Li shouted loudly. As soon as his words fell, Qing Xia immediately dove down with tremendous momentum, unstoppable!
Having experienced countless high-altitude descents in her previous life, Qing Xia remained calm. In that split second, the pale, petite woman pressed her lips tightly together, her gaze deep and focused. Suddenly, she swung her shoulder, and the grappling hook came whistling through the air. With a thunderous scream, the cold, gleaming iron hook immediately pierced into a giant bird’s wing.
Qing Xia instantly grabbed the rope and climbed toward the flock. The massive downward force caused that bird to descend as well, becoming level with the fierce bird carrying Chu Li.
“Chu Li! Grab onto me!”
Qing Xia roared, flashed forward in a leap, and seized Chu Li’s arm. With a swing of her grappling hook, she tore away a large chunk of flesh from the bird she had hooked earlier, nearly ripping its wing apart. The large bird cried out mournfully and immediately plummeted.
All the birds screeched in unison, but fearing Qing Xia’s ferocity, they could only circle around the two people, none daring to approach. Qing Xia tightly gripped Chu Li’s arm, suddenly straightened up, and brought her dagger down on the claws of the fierce bird above that was grasping Chu Li’s waist!
In an instant, blood shot skyward with sharp, piercing cries. Qing Xia and Chu Li suddenly fell like two kites with broken strings!
With a splash, water erupted as countless streams poured into their mouths and noses. Clear shadows flickered, fish swam around them in the water, and their bodies sank downward. Under the tremendous impact, they quickly reached the bottom, their feet touching the soft, fine sand. Through the layers of water waves, they gazed at each other, and where their eyes met, both revealed the immense joy of surviving against all odds.
Qing Xia gestured upward with her hand. Chu Li nodded, and they released their tightly clasped arms, paddling vigorously as they swam desperately toward the surface.
With a splash, they broke through the water. Fresh air struck their faces as they clambered ashore in embarrassment. They saw blue skies and white clouds, emerald lakes and green grass. The flock of large birds in the sky was crying and fleeing in panic toward the distance. Distant mountains appeared like dark green paint, nearby scenery like a painting – everything seemed so unreal it didn’t feel like reality.
Suddenly, the sound of coughing up water rang out. Qing Xia looked down in great surprise to see the snow-white little beast she had tied around her waist. Its fur was completely wet, ears drooping, coughing with all its might.
Qing Xia and Chu Li looked at each other, joy of survival after calamity appearing on both their faces, their smiles gradually warming.
“Are you alright?” Qing Xia half-knelt and examined the wound on Chu Li’s arm. Earlier there had been no time to think, but now reflecting carefully, she realized how crazy her actions had been. If there had been even the slightest mistake, both of them would have perished.
“I’m fine.” Chu Li’s voice was low, carrying a trace of inexplicable hoarseness. Qing Xia looked up puzzledly, wanting to see where he was injured. But as soon as she raised her head, she was immediately enveloped in an embrace as firm as steel.
“Chu Li?” Qing Xia called out in surprise, struggling slightly. Seeing the arms confining her body dripping with blood, she said in panic, “You’re bleeding!”
“It doesn’t matter.” Chu Li’s voice was deep as he held Qing Xia’s body tightly, as if afraid she would vanish into thin air. Intense emotions surged in his chest, and those passionate words that almost seemed capable of bursting his heart nearly spilled forth, but his mouth seemed sealed shut, unable to utter a single word.
How should he speak? How should he express his gratitude and his guilt toward her? Several days of companionship had finally made all suspicions and doubts vanish like smoke, but those cold words from before, those disgusted looks, those repeated doubts – how could he face them?
Qing Xia, let me hold you for a while! I cannot say anything, because it has always been me who hurt you again and again, suspected you, pushed you away from my embrace. It has always been me, repeatedly destroying my own foundations.
Strong winds stirred, thousands of mountains stood emerald green, and the sky was filled with colorful flowing clouds, magnificent and spectacular.
Qing Xia and Chu Li cleaned themselves by the life-saving small lake, and carrying the sneezing Da Huang, they slowly headed north.
As the clouds and mists dispersed and the blue sky became clear as if washed, the view within the ravine immediately became crystal clear. Looking around, the mountain ranges in the ravine were steep and distinct, with strange peaks standing upright, bright colors, and grotesque rocks. Various tropical plants were abundant – even with Qing Xia’s extensive knowledge and experience, she couldn’t recognize seventy or eighty percent of them. The lush forests, flowers, and grass seemed like emerald waves and jade mist. Various exotic flowers and rare plants were interspersed throughout, some bright red like rouge staining fog, some crimson like fire, resembling brocade clouds and mist. Brilliant light shone on each mountain peak, gorgeous and magnificent.
Following behind Da Huang, the two walked through the flat ravine, looking at the magnificent mountain peaks on both sides. Their hearts surged with feelings like countless giant waves, turbulent and rolling.
Separated by only a mountain range, the climate and temperature differed to such an extent – one side with howling cold winds, the other like the height of summer. Even Qing Xia, with all her knowledge, could not find a reasonable explanation for all this.
“Woof woof woof woof!” Just then, Da Huang suddenly barked loudly and dove into nearby bushes. Qing Xia and Chu Li were startled. After a moment, they saw the small white beast dragging out a western reindeer more than ten times its size, then running to Qing Xia’s feet, tongue out and tail wagging, looking like it wanted food.
However, Qing Xia and Chu Li were immediately stunned. Looking at the reindeer with extremely thick fur, they slowly frowned.
This type of reindeer was a herd animal from the White Deer Plains, cold-resistant and good at running. In winter, they were often conscripted by Xichuan’s army for grain transport. During this White Deer Plains hunt, almost all national armies had these animals. But how could such cold-climate animals survive in this swelteringly hot ravine?
Qing Xia frowned and said, “Chu Li, something’s not right.”
Chu Li nodded and said in a low voice, “Be careful.”
The three continued forward. Along the way, all manner of strange and exotic scenery was present, with birds and beasts they had never seen before. Fortunately, both had exceptional martial skills, and when occasionally some blind creature came to attack them, it would flee in embarrassment.
After walking for nearly two hours, a sea of flowers suddenly appeared before them. Qing Xia and Chu Li’s eyes showed even more confusion. After winding around for a while longer, they suddenly saw a lake with a pale green stone bridge spanning across it, its green bricks smooth and reflective as mirrors.
Only now did the two finally confirm that this place definitely had inhabitants. Then the iron-armed bronze figures in the mountain ravine earlier must have been created by the master here to guard against intruders.
The two immediately felt a surge of joy. If people really lived here, then there was hope of leaving this place.
They couldn’t help but quicken their pace. Da Huang led them through seven turns and eight bends. Suddenly, after rounding a mountain ravine, an enormous building appeared before their eyes.
“Ancient vicissitudes of Tianmu Plains, a hundred years of wind and rain in Penglai Valley.”
On two giant trees a hundred zhang high, two rows of bold cursive script were magnificently inscribed. The brushwork was bold and unrestrained, the momentum graceful, the style flamboyant. Standing in the corner and looking up at that enormous couplet, they immediately felt a sharp energy rushing toward them.
Giant blue birds circled in the sky above, surrounded by immortal mist, swallowing and exhaling rays of light. The cloudless sky stretched endlessly in fresh azure blue, reflecting thousands of miles of layered green trees and rolling waves of forest, displaying infinite worldly brilliance and sacred immortal energy.
So this deep ravine valley filled with exotic flowers was actually called Penglai Valley?
Qing Xia and Chu Li suppressed their inner amazement and slowly moved forward. A gentle breeze brushed their faces, hundreds of flowers bloomed together, layers of green peaks rose in succession, with flowers to pass through and willows to brush aside. All around them, divine birds and flying creatures were everywhere. Many birds already extinct on the continent could be found here, as if all the birds in the world had come here to nest, chirping and calling in great liveliness.
Everything around displayed magnificent colors. Rare and exotic beasts strolled among the vegetation, farming tools could be seen everywhere, and various strange and wonderful woodcrafts emerged endlessly. The two looked at each other and saw enormous shock and deep concern in each other’s eyes.
All things were silent except for the sharp cries of birds, yet not a single human figure could be seen.
After walking for another while, a magnificent and splendid main hall suddenly appeared before them. Qing Xia looked up and saw gold and jade brilliance everywhere, dazzlingly magnificent.
On the enormous door archway plaque carved from South Sea yellow rosewood, golden characters were inscribed: “Jade Belt Palace where Guests Gather in Joy, Hundred Birds Sing Together in Phoenix Cry Palace.”