Chapter 77: Return

“Little Brother, truly my foot injury can be healed?” Xiao Qing Feng’s eyes sparkled with hope. Such a tiny child should not be lame; his heart weighed heavily in sorrow, thus desiring recovery fervently. “Yes, when paired with some magical curatives, absolutely, we can heal you.” Little Rascal shifted his gaze towards the furred ball upon his shoulder.

The furry bundle had been in peaceful slumber, but twitched violently at his glances and hastily jumped onto an ancient tree nearby, eyes alert as he peered down.

“Fu Mao, please don’t be so reluctant. Qing Feng is in such a state, would you be unwilling to help him?” Little Rascal coaxed with a wave of his hands.

“Chi Chi!” the fur ball squealed, refusing to budge.

The venomous jaw of a malefic Jiao serpent had bitten Qing Feng; though the scar had mostly mended, it grotesquely resembled gnarled growth—a hideous blemish incongruent to his otherwise delicate features. It wasn’t actually a Jiao, more an especially malignant serpent, several meters in length, bearing a single horn sprouting atop its head—its very skin oozing fatal venom, death assured for anyone touched by it.

Qing Feng, bitten then, would’ve inevitably died but for the desperate actions of his grandfather, critically ill at the time himself—channeling spirit vitality to preserve Qing Feng’s life, eradicating the creeping toxin.

“Abominable! That such ruthless men could stoop so low on one just so small,” cried Little Rascal with the sagacious tone of a small elder, momentarily omitting his equally tender years. While speaking so, a tempest swirled over Western Valleys while a great quake gripped Shi Kingdom—bringing upon vast death and destruction. Curiously, said young hero, Little Rascal, bore no awareness that he himself had been at the eye of all those events, dwelling above such worries, forgetting them entirely.

“Little Brother, where does this course of action bring us?” asked Qing Feng gently.

“To our true ancestral lands. First, you recuperate, mend your body whole. As my powers ascend to greater might still—then, shall we venture forth to repair what lies Above.”

“Eh? Genuine ancestral soil?” Qing Feng widened his eyes.

“Iieh,” The Unicorn threw its head back with proud whinny—resplendent and lustrous scaled in silver white. It flew high beneath the children, galloping beyond cascades onwards the distant horizon.

Wilderness brims peril: this voyage promised bloody encounters, still Little Rascal, seasoned already through similar treacherous paths beforehand, faced it all with greater calm.

Henceforward, hearing tales of his Little Brother’s lone trek covering over a thrice-myriad miles within the Savage Expanse, Qing Feng let drop agape a youthful mouth, astonishment vivid.

Returning such news to Shi land would stir the ages!

“There! There!” called Qing Feng, awestruck anew amidst the deep wild mountains—a titanic roosting abode perched at mountaintop, dwarfing hills below.

A colossal nest crowned its peak; spanning vast lengths—a hundred meters broad; exhaled strange pressure pulsating with an unshakably mighty essence.

Distantly from afar: ominous plumage surged forth like storm clouds.

Wings spread stretched some hundreds of feet. Entire forms swirled darkly, shadow against sunlight, each feather metallic—radiant in terrifying sheen. A monstrous avian of lethal aura flew fast.

Amazement after bewilderment greeted Qing Feng on sight of monstrous life unseen hitherto deep within the untamed world.

“There, the plant!” cried Qing once past a strange ancient tree whose branches had moved independently—a fiery rhinoceros pierced and devoured, several meters long pierced on thorn branch, veins drained into the blood-thirsty bark of red-stained trunk.

“Terrifying, this domain of the Wilds—” cautioned Xiao softly, “for in these lands, diverse creatures strange arise, all manner threatening death upon carelessness. We people struggle hard, resisting the cruel laws of Nature to preserve life.

Journeying cautiously thereafter, the wanderers deft in bypassing countless peril zones beyond current prowess—their shadows fleeting through haunted mists where ominous beings stirred. Alarming indeed; even so many deadly encounters loomed inevitable across their route. Daily bloodshed followed; Little Rascal bled through battles—his journey awash with beastly sacrifice.

At last, after arduous pilgrimage past three-score and more days, both youths stood at the periphery of Stone Village—draped in patchwork skin-clothing stained in countless blood.

“Waaah, two wild men arrived!” shouted joyous children gathering near the aquamarine waters as blood-dripped silhouettes stepped closer.

“Wait! Dark and gleaming is the horned steed—it’s the Unicorn! Little Rascal has returned indeed!” recognized nearby children finally when drawing near the lake.

Little Rascal’s condition looked pitiful—entire Unicorn’s luster now blackened with dried gore streaking across previously glistening plates of white. Even Fu Mao looked similarly bloodstained—a testament to the numberless conflicts endured along peril roads.

“Welcome back, friend—we all worried so much,” came the shouts of joyful boys.

“So disheveled! Barely recognize you, Bu Dian!” They surrounded him, warm and affectionate regardless of his state.

“But this child here…who are you?” they turned, curious glancing toward Qin Fen newly noticed.

“This is Shi Qing Feng. From this day, he is your baby brother,” explained Bu Dian.

From near afar, elders, too, noticed commotion and surged toward their return. Shi Lin Hu, alongside venerable village elders, hurried breathless toward them.

An infant who dared cross all Wilds alone! A survivor of fifty-thousand mile trek—miracle! They marveled.

“Ah, my child…returning alive brings relief enough,” elder Shi Zhun’s steady composure trembled, long anxious for this homecoming.

Their quest’s severity made clear—though grown, trained, seasoned, even adult hunters often return as none left: Nine deaths in ten odds survived. And yet Little Rascal—returned!

Indeed—this trial endured—harkening brutal rites of young offspring by ancient terrible bestial kin like Qiu Long and Ya Zi alike—an ordeal not all hatchlings survived through.

Bu Dian not only emerged. But bore back another!

“Child,” trembled elders, “such an unfathomable feat—undoubtably wings soon will lift you high above all others!”

Long since had Shi village lore been dismissed as simple tale by newer villagers who’d forgot of ancient days grandeur: now again—his feat possibly might revive old legends.

“Bu Dian—has there been Ascendant progression?” asked reverently Elder Leader.

“Nay, but plan on entering profound meditation soon—I feel my advancement near. A bit further still,” he replied.

Nods of respect arose.

“A wondrous accomplishment—you fulfilled peril ancient trials,” intoned a whisper resonating around—all turned to see the holy Willow.

Stunned gasps and prostrations followed naturally from all. Meanwhile Qing watched bewilderedly.

Little Rascal turned oddly to stare—newly aware of change in the tree itself—burned bark now cracked off in slabs. From stem new swellings protruded—something stirring, preparing to emerge.

“Imminent, the period I slip into rest comes now—for an entire year,” the tree declared. All gasped inwardly.

“Oh Honoured Sage of the Willow! Shall all proceed well?” shakily implored elder.

“For My purpose—well indeed. Nonetheless, the people must watch closely—I shall protect little during this span. Pray guard your own vigilance,” warned the Sage.

Shock spread across every soul—an aching realization—that protection was about to temporarily cease. All unsettled once more—but solacing was this thought—few real threats remained locally, never any tragedies before.

Fearful but soothed, reassured elder Shi Fei Jang declared: “We coped fine previously during prior dormitory. Shall it truly change so much? Probably no great harm this time, too.”

“Bear this strength wisely,” confided Willow personally, directly: a final whispering benediction to Xiao alone.

And that instant—lustrous leaves flickering softly by moonlight dulled; Willow dimmed—drifting deep slumber, dark quiet enveloped.

“Plop! Plop!” the lovely lake gurgled cheerfully beside them, where a band of young rascals dove in jubilant waves.

Gleeful yells echoed from their carefree play, a floating celebration of liberation! Xiao dove unclothed into the crystal water—washed away his crimson burdened journey—while watching him upon the shore sat Qing enviously, he himself unable to swim.

“Come try—” waved arms urging: “We’ll show you how to float.”

Though reluctant—”Ah I cannot, I fear,” yet dragged down eventually, assisted, struggling for half a period, buoyed and coached until—in due course he swam free and easy too!

“Delightful here,” beamed Qing.

The azure lake harbored swimming scaly beauties beneath its surface; some glimmered like golden stars; they darted and leapt through dancing sunlight. Verdant grass edged all around while flocks multityred birds wandered nearby, tame and dazzling amidst flowing rays.

A unicorn herds danced alongside, pure in grace upon the grasses.

To Qing’s heart—it matched every cherished dream—a tranquil haven free from worldly care. Dwelling thus eternally? Bliss absolute! As dusk approached, from waters they climbed ashore—the little gang conspiratorial—furtive like; particularly Fu, the furry ball scouting cautiously through meadows.

“Watching their antics—what mischief?” Qing turned inquisitively questioning toward Shi Ho.

“Quietly—” hushed Xiao conspiratorially beside himself: “They plot secretly hunting bird egg—precious egg of Xiao Luan Bird—powerful vitality. However normally the clan Head prohibits—restricts.”

In a trice confirmation arrived—clamor erupts! The lakeshore erupts into chaotic commotion where a gang had unearthed heaps of multi-color patterned eggs hidden under brush!

Roasting upon flames crackled. From across lake came bellowing echo.

“Foolish brats! Again, I swear! Should such acts continue—the rare beautiful fauna all scare off!”

“Already known!” shouted joyously—teeth munching golden crisp Dragon whisker fish beside egg snacks sizzling—bliss unbounded!

“Beautiful this place is—I feel joyful!” exhaled Qing warmly—having many merry companions alongside countless amusing events ahead—an unparalleled joy in heart now swelling.

So much, in such heart, the gentle warmth of a home fulfilled.