Chapter 23: Fainted at the Fog Forest!
Yutao then acted discontented at not finding a single pigeon to his liking.
Seeing him coming out, the shopkeeper rushed to him and asked him in eagerness, "So, Which pigeon shall I took out for you sir?"
Yutao gave a big sighed at it and acted displeased, "Tsk! These pigeons, the colour's too dull, I won't be able to buy it. I am afraid my beloved won't be happy seeing your pigeons"
Declaring those words Yutao paced his footsteps faster leaving the shop. Xukai too followed him from behind.
The shopkeeper not giving in came out running to catch up with Yutao and spoke convincingly, "Then...How about a parrot?! Your beloved can talk with it, in that way she won't be bored! It can speak our languages!"
Yutao didn't pay attention to his words neither did he turned back, instead, he went straight ahead from the shop.
Seeing at the sheepish behaviour of the shopkeeper, Xukai turned back to the shopkeeper and spoke up cockily, "Mister! You can have the parrot all for yourself, otherwise, you'll be too bored here! There isn't much customer around!"
Xukai grinned at his own cockiness and came out from and followed Yutao. The shopkeeper feeling pissed off by Xukai's words, stood there and murmured to himself, "Humph! What a rude Young men!"
As the shopkeeper stands there before the shop, feeling irritated, he saw the White pigeon with black dots, sitting around the corner picking the seeds from the ground. The shopkeeper quickly rushed towards it and exclaimed holding the pigeon, "You...! Why are you here?! Is there any message?!"
The shopkeeper take a quick look at the pigeon searching for the messenger box unable to find any, he murmured to himself, "That's strange!"
Since he didn't get any message, without thinking much he took the pigeon towards its cage and brought it inside the big hall and put it there.
Xukai and Yutao on the other side, grabbed their horses, climbed above it and trot from there.
On their way, Xukai asked Yutao in concerned, "Yutao ge, What shall we do now?!"
Yutao replied to it in solemn, "Xukai, Since this is the matter regarding the Eagle Bandit, I won't take any more risks. Let's head back for now. It's already dusk"
Xukai responded to it caringly, "As you wish, Yutao ge. But where are we heading to?!"
Yutao proclaimed at it, "To the General! We'll need his back up!"
Xukai replied smirking, "Alright!"
The two of them then command their horses by connecting leg aids with hand signals thereby making the horses to gallop at its fastest speed. Soon afterwards, they arrived at the General's mansion. They came down slowly from the horses and marched towards the General's mansion.
Arriving there, the General was delighted to see them that he reacted in enthusiasm, "Master Yutao, Xukai, welcome back! What brings you back here?!"
Yutao responded to it consciously, "Ahh... Xukai and I will be staying the night at your place. And...."
Yutao went closer to the General's ear and whispered, "I have got leads"
Stunned upon hearing his words, the General eyes was wide open.
He then exclaimed in awe, "That's good news! Let's discuss this over our meals!"
He then gave ordered to his men, "Prepare the most delicious meals and a good comfy bed for our esteemed guest Master Yutao and Xukai"
Heeding to his order, the men to prepare it.
The sun has gone down to sleep and the moon came back to its shift, the sky was dark and clear and the billion stars were twinkling in the night sky.
The General's house was filled with the aroma of various delicacies. Shortly after a while, the General came to call Yutao and Xukai for the dinner.
He spoke to them in enthusiasm, "Master Yutao, Xukai, The meal is ready. Please come to the dining!"
Yutao and Xukai heeding to his words went to the dining.
The General have already prepared a big grandiose meal for them. There were whole roasted chicken, pork, hot pot, wine. Seeing at all the delicious meals which laid before them, the two of them already felt contented. The General then spoke up warmly, "Master Yutao, Xukai please be seated"
The two of them thanked his warm welcome and seated there. With all the delicacies being served, the three of them begin to enjoy their food one after another. The quiet and eerie atmosphere of the General's Mansion was once again become lively and vibrant, filled with their laughter.
The General then asked in interest, "So, what's this lead about?!"
Yutao looked at the General in earnest and replied, "It's like this. I have caught the pigeon messenger of the Eagle Bandit and this messenger leads to a bird shop at the Black market. I believe they have several other pigeon messengers over there. We need to catch all of them at once"
The General replied to it calculatedly, "Then...how many men do you need?!"
Yutao replied firmly, "At least a hundred"
The General reacted at Yutao's words, "Eh?! But.. that's only a bird shop. Why do you need so many men for?!"
Yutao retorted smartly, "It's not that simple. I believe there are quite a lot of birds in that shop. If we are to get leads then we need as many men as the birds! And besides that, it's the Eagle bandit we are dealing with we can't afford to take risks"
The General became pondered over his words. He was lost in his thoughts.
Xukai insisted on noticing the General musing over it, "Ahh... come on. General, Don't be so stingy. What's there to ponder about?! Didn't we need to catch the Eagle bandit?!"
Convinced by Xukai's words, The General shooked his head and responded calculatedly, "Since this is the case then I'll lend you as many men as you need but on one condition. I am coming with you"
Upon hearing the General's words, Yutao and Xukai looked at each other and expressed in enthusiasm, "Of course, you are coming with us!"
The three of them feeling merry at their get together. They enjoyed the meals and talked to each other about various other things.
**********************************
On the other side of the story.....
Xialin had gone further and further away from the Dark Forest. With it, the surface became higher and higher. The night sky was clear and the moon was standing still. Xialin's eyes started to glow up even brighter as soon as she enters the Fog Forest.
The atmosphere inside the Fog Forest was overwhelming. The air inside the Forest suddenly became creepy. There were howling sounds of the wind and the place became so foggy that Xialin's glowing eyes were not able to see through it.
With her eyes becoming so foggy, her head became dizzy as well and there were different kinds of weird sound that was heard in between the thick clouds.
Shortly after, A foul-smelling green colour fog was lingering around her and her horse. Soon after that, her Horse bends down its front legs. Xialin unable to hold the smell any longer her head became too dizzy that she holds it down in uneasiness.
Soon, she falls off from her horse and lied there fainted on the ground.
With it, her horse too fall on sideways and lost its consciousness.