"I don't know, maybe the flood submerged their habitat, forcing them to move to higher ground."
The group watched the Grey Treants leave; it was a rare sight.
Only Miss Beiji squatted by the campfire's embers, placing breakfast pancakes on still-hot stones, softening them with her hands, and then wrapping them up.
She distributed these pancakes to everyone, and Fang Hong was a bit surprised by how they came about. Upon asking, he learned that this girl prepared them herself in Patchiwa.
If Fang Hong didn't plan on taking her to Golande, she intended to rely on these provisions to cross the Old World's Ladder.
Although it sounded a bit fantastical, Fang Hong couldn't help but admire the girl's determination.
By the way, the Papalarian blushed like an apple when he received the pancake.
He stammered, saying to Miss Beiji: "Miss Beiji, if you're going to Golande, I'll go with you..."
"Because, because I promised your father to take good care of you."
Beiji listened silently, looked at him, and nodded.
Tianlan said humorously about this matter, noting that he saw the shadow of a certain Lord Captain in this foolish young man.
Fang Hong's face darkened upon hearing this, he had no such urgency between him and Hilveld.
But Miss Ship's Officer just chuckled quietly.
While checking their direction again with the Astrolabe, yesterday's storm didn't divert them too much. They could still proceed along the route set a day earlier.
At ten in the morning, they left the valley.
With changes in altitude, the surrounding vegetation showed noticeable changes.
The features of the rainforest gradually vanished, with twin-leaf laurel, oak trees, and an abundance of creeping plants and ferns occupying their vision.
Here, they encountered another type of creature, a migrating group of Feathered Dragons.
This was a branch of the Asuka Wingless Dragon; it appeared the flood was also driving them elsewhere.
Half an hour later, they also encountered the flood ahead.
The stream's water level surged, muddy water overflowed both banks, merging into streams flowing downstream, the sound deafening. With the road washed away by the mountain flood, the group had to find another path, zigzagging through the valley several times, delaying until afternoon to return to the main road.
The flood trapped some Feathered Dragons, making them Parker's targets.
In fact, when Papalarians first encountered these flamboyant creatures, they couldn't forget the feathers they bore.
Those colorful feathers were perfect for decorating his new sword sheath.
He had accidentally left his previous short sword in the inn during the great escape from Orlenze, thus announcing the retirement of the short curved blade he had used from Istania.
The new one was purchased in Patchiwa.
It is said to be a Magic Guided Conductor from the Xinsas Era, according to that Lizardman, it's almost certainly legendary.
Papalarians had two parts doubt and eight parts trust in this.
However, when the Feathered Dragon group appeared earlier, he dared not recklessly charge forward. As for fighting one-on-one, he might consider it.
Of course, his so-called one-on-one meant the opponent was alone.
Parker took out the Crossbow, looking eager to try.
Fang Hong glanced at this guy, not bothering to intervene, as if this guy succeeded, the group could have an extra dinner.
But unexpectedly, after Parker called the Papalarian over, shortly after did they start shouting excitedly.
Prompting everyone to look in that direction.
Only to see the two, seemingly having rolled in the mud, leading a Wingless Dragon before the group.
The Papalarian was like a miner from a coal mine, with almost only his eyes visible, rolling around.
Parker was slightly better, wiping his big, painted face with his short hands, showing a proud smile with his snowy white teeth.
The Big Cat People whistled, laughing dumbly: "I've never heard of catching Feathered Dragons like this before?"
Papalarians boasted: "That's because you've never seen a Feathered Dragon as big as this one. I heard the bigger and stronger they are, the healthier and more vibrant the feathers on their heads are; not to brag, but this one is definitely the leader of the group."
Reed laughed, "I think yours is not just a leader but also a Messenger Official."
"What?"
But before he could react, the Big Cat People walked over, grabbed a strap tied to the Feathered Dragon's tail, and pulled down a satchel from below.
Then Tianlan couldn't help but exclaim: "Parker, it seems you've caught a female Feathered Dragon; it doesn't have a crest!"
Everyone knows that only male Feathered Dragons have a vibrant crest for courting purposes; Parker opened his eyes wide, looking at the Feathered Dragon he caught with great effort.
Since it had rolled in the mud earlier, he hadn't noticed this issue, but now he realized that indeed his catch didn't have a crest.
He was incredibly shocked, appearing as still as a wooden chicken: "That's impossible!"
But Fang Hong, at the back of the group, looked at the two and couldn't tell who was sillier. He sighed and said:
"This is a male."
"But it's not a Feathered Dragon, it's an Asuka Wingless Dragon?"
He looked at the satchel in the Big Cat People's hand, "This is a messenger bag, commonly used to deliver urgent information. It's tied to the root of the Dragon Beast's tail because they usually can't reach it themselves, making it more secure."