"You’re a bold one, little guy."
Yang Qi chuckled and reached out a finger, gently tapping its little head.
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush wasn’t afraid at all. Instead, it tilted its head, its black-bean eyes staring at Yang Qi as it let out a crisp chirp.
"What kind of beast are you?"
"Why do you walk on two legs?"
"You don’t seem to have any fur either..."
"You look different from all of us..."
Its questions came one after another, a chirpy stream full of childlike curiosity.
Yang Qi didn’t find it annoying. He would occasionally reply, but mostly he just smiled and listened, letting the little chatterbox prattle on.
After walking another few dozen meters, Yang Qi spotted a third albino animal on a low-hanging fruit tree up ahead.
The creature was about sixty to seventy centimeters long. It resembled a red panda, but with a longer tail, a body covered in fluffy, silver-white fur, and black patches around its eyes. It was happily munching on some unknown wild fruit.
Untamed Radiant Gold Blood Soul Beast detected. Host can bring it back to the sect to obtain contribution points.
’Radiant Gold Blood Soul Beast?’
’A Bear Raccoon!’
Yang Qi recognized it.
The Bear Raccoon, a Class I nationally protected animal, also known as the Panda Raccoon. Due to its varied diet, cute face, and ornamental value, it was highly prized, but its numbers in the wild were extremely low.
And this one before him was also an albino.
Yang Qi stopped and went no further.
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush, the albino Chinese alligator, the albino Bear Raccoon...
Without a doubt, the entire valley was a secret realm for albino animals, isolated from the rest of the world.
The creatures living here were likely all species that were rare, endangered, or even extinct in the outside world, and all of them had undergone albino mutations.
’This valley... it’s best to let it remain isolated.’
Yang Qi had made his decision.
Too much exploration, or even a rash attempt to "conquer and recruit," could very well shatter the fragile ecological balance here.
These albino animals had surely adapted to the miasma and the special magnetic field to survive and reproduce here. If they left, they might not be able to live well.
Besides, if such a wondrous place were exposed, attracting research institutions, poachers, or even curious tourists, it would spell disaster for them.
’Let them live here in peace.’
With that thought, Yang Qi turned and started walking back the way he came.
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush was still following Yang Qi, chattering non-stop, seemingly fascinated by this "strange Two-legged Beast."
It was only when they reached the area near the valley entrance, where the miasma began to thicken, that the Immortal Eight-Color Thrush stopped flying. It landed on a nearby branch and chirped twice at Yang Qi.
"Strange Two-legged Beast who smells nice, it’s dangerous outside."
"Oh?"
Yang Qi stopped, turned to look at it, and discreetly used the Basic Spirit Communication Technique to ask a question.
"How do you know it’s dangerous outside? Have you been out there?"
The Immortal Eight-Color Thrush froze for a moment, a clear look of surprise in its black-bean eyes before it responded.
"I’ve never been out."
"But everyone knows it’s dangerous outside."
"Mommy said so..."
Then, it suddenly realized something. The little bird hopped in shock, its feathers puffing out slightly.
"Nice-smelling Two-legged Beast, you can speak Bird?"
"How can you speak Bird?"
"Strange Two-legged Beast, you’re amazing! You can even speak Bird!"
...
Yang Qi was speechless.
He gave a slightly helpless smile and replied.
"Thank you for the warning. It is indeed dangerous outside, so you shouldn’t go out either."
"I’m going now. Goodbye."
’They know the outside is dangerous. It’s clearly a memory imprinted in the genes of the valley’s animals.’
Yang Qi mused, waved to the little white bird, then turned and strode toward the valley entrance.
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush was still reeling from the shock that a "Two-legged Beast could speak Bird." Seeing Yang Qi about to leave the valley, it fluttered its wings and chased after him, circling above his head and chirping a few times, as if reluctant to see him go.
In the end, however, it didn’t fly out of the valley. It turned back at the boundary and disappeared into the grayish-white miasma.
...
He exited the valley.
Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard, who were waiting outside, immediately ran up to him.
"WOOF WOOF!"
"Meow~"
"Master, what was it like inside?"
"Was it dangerous?"
"Was there anything good to eat?"
The furry kids chattered all at once, their concern and curiosity transmitted through their contract.
"It was fine, but it’s best not to go in."
Yang Qi rubbed the head of Leopard, who had nuzzled up to him. "That valley is its own self-contained world with a stable ecosystem. It’s best that we outsiders don’t disturb it."
"Woof~ So no good food, huh..."
"Then never mind."
Leopard whined with a hint of regret.
Meow~
Xiaojiu irritably leaped over and smacked him on the back of the head with a paw.
"All you think about is food!"
Whimper~
"I was just thinking of everyone."
Leopard lowered his head, looking wronged.
"Alright, alright."
Yang Qi stopped their roughhousing. "I’ve seen everything inside. Let’s go home."
"We’re going home!"
Leopard instantly perked up. He took the lead, rushing ahead and barking happily.
Bai Wan followed close behind, Hu Zi kept a steady pace, and Xiaojiu leaped lightly onto Yang Qi’s shoulder, bringing up the rear.
The group headed back the way they came.
Just as they passed the edge of the Ancient Goose Forest and stepped back into a regular, sun-drenched part of the woods—
The Mother Bell of the Mother-Child Unity Bell Yang Qi wore suddenly pulsed with a violent wave of emotion.
’It’s Ta Xue’s thoughts!’
Fear, anger, panic, despair... they crashed over him like a tsunami.
"Something’s happened to Ta Xue!"
Yang Qi’s expression changed drastically as he let out a sharp cry.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he took out the Divine Movement Talisman he had always kept ready but never used.
It was a Yellow Paper Talisman with Cinnabar Runes as red as blood, which now lit up as he infused it with Magical Power.
He quickly used the climbing rope he carried to strap Bai Wan to his back.