The bird of prey moved with incredible speed. In just two seconds, its sharp claws hooked into Ye Xi's back.
In just another second, the claws could slice through the rest of his body like tofu and disembowel him.
But the bird of prey went rigid and plunged from the sky.
Ye Xi couldn't dodge in time, and what felt like a mountain crashed into his back and brought him to the ground.
The bird of prey was too heavy, and Ye Xi felt a massive pain from his chest as he vomited blood. His consciousness immediately became rather fuzzy.
The bird of prey on his back was motionless.
Ye Xi understood. The blackbone grass's poison had finally worked.
This poisonous herb killed the moment it got into the blood, but the bird of prey had managed to struggle a little longer before finally succumbing.
Ye Xi dug his fingers into the earth and slowly climbed out from under the bird's body.
Black blood flowed along the beak and dripped to the ground.
Ye Xi panted for breath as he slowly crept forward, carefully avoiding the blood.
"Ye Xi! Ye Xi!!!" A shout came from far in the distance.
Ye Xi looked in the direction of the voice, but his vision was still blurry and indistinct.
A large number of black silhouettes rushed over and dragged him out from beneath the bird.
"Ye Xi, are you okay…" the garbled voice said into his ear, sounding like the speaker was underwater.
The chief half-hugged Ye Xi, but when he saw Ye Xi's pale complexion, bleeding orifices, and turbid eyes, he began to panic.
Ye Xi tried to focus his vision and opened his mouth, upon which a mouthful of blood rushed out. "You're here. Hurry… hurry and get to Uncle Bulrush."
The chief choked up, his heart aching as he hurriedly said, "Okay, okay! Say no more! Courage, you go!"
Almost all the Warriors of Mud Mountain had come out with their weapons.
When they heard the tale from the trial participant, they knew that Ye Xi and the others had probably encountered a pureblood fiendbeast, a fiendbeast that was equal to a Level 3 Warrior!
And Calm Bulrush was a Level 2 Warrior while Ye Xi was just an ordinary person that hadn't even passed the trial. How could they deal with a pureblood fiendbeast?!
When he heard the news, the chief felt like his heart was on fire. Not daring to waste a single moment, he rushed over with all the Warriors.
Ye Xi grabbed the chief's hand and shakily stood up.
The trial participant who was uninjured saw Ye Xi's wretched state and was filled with remorse. Weeping as he beat his head, he muttered, "Sorry… sorry, it was all because we led the fiendbeast over…"
"What did you say?!" Plate, Carving, and the other Warriors instantly scowled.
They had been in such a hurry that they had left before the trial participant had time to give the details.
Only now did they find out that the fiendbeast had been lured to Ye Xi's side by the two trial participants!
The Warriors coldly stared at him.
Every member of Mud Mountain knew of Ye Xi's significance! Without Ye Xi, they would still be starving and lacking for water! And there was also Calm Bulrush, who was the only Level 2 Warrior in the tribe besides the chief!
If they were both lost here, Mud Mountain would receive a major blow!
"Forget it; they didn't do it on purpose." Ye Xi caught on to what they were saying and explained.
When they noticed that Ye Xi's eyes were unfocused, the Warriors worriedly pulled on their hair, and they gruffly snorted as they looked around for something to vent their emotions on.
Seeing the deceased body of the giant bird, they began to savagely kick it.
Ye Xi didn't have time to worry about their emotional state. He was still frantic over Calm Bulrush—the sight of Calm Bulrush collapsed at the base of the tree covered in blood still lingered in his mind.
Was Calm Bulrush still alive…? Could he have died?
Ye Xi clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.
After waiting for a while, Ye Xi anxiously questioned the chief, "How is Uncle Bulrush? Did Uncle Courage come back?"
He had barely spoken when Courage and the others returned with Calm Bulrush.
The chief looked at Calm Bulrush's battered body and trembled. Saying nothing, he looked questioningly at Courage.
Courage nodded.
It was fine as long as he was alive. The chief let out a sigh of relief.
As a Level 2 Warrior, Calm Bulrush had a much stronger recovery ability. With the shaman's healing and the three-seven root's ability to stem bleeding, despite Calm Bulrush's wretched condition, he would be fine as long as he was promptly treated.
Ye Xi didn't hear them say anything, so he anxiously asked, "How is he?"
The chief comforted, "It's fine. Calm Bulrush doesn't have any major problems, but we can't stay here for long. Let's return to the tribe."
Several Warriors picked up the bird of prey while the chief personally carried Ye Xi on his back.
The group ran back to the tribe.
...
Everyone waited anxiously in the tribe clearing.
The shaman gripped his bone cane, his deep eyes staring into the jungle, devoid of emotion.
Pheasant Eye was crying, her hands trembling, as she hopefully asked Mink, "Mink… Ye Xi will be fine, right?"
That was a fiendbeast as powerful as a Level 3 Warrior. Could Ye Xi get back alive?
Mink frowned but said nothing.
Awl heard it and firmly declared, "Ye Xi will definitely be fine, and so will Uncle Bulrush." He spoke with such confidence that it was hard to say whether he was comforting the others or comforting himself.
But at this moment, the shaman suddenly stepped forward.
A moment later, the chief, Courage, and the other Warriors ran out of the jungle.
When they saw the blood-covered Ye Xi on the chief's back and the unconscious Calm Bulrush on Courage's back, the crowd gasped.
Their horrifying condition instantly made the shaman's eyes go wide.
The crowd instantly surrounded them.
"Ye Xi! Ye Xi, what's your condition?"
"Ye Xi, are you okay?"
On the chief's back, Ye Xi saw a bunch of hazy figures around him, and he heard faint sounds at his ear, so he immediately climbed off the chief's back.
His head was dizzy, and he immediately staggered upon touching the earth. The chief and the others rushed to support him.
Ye Xi worriedly looked back. Through his blurry vision, he saw Calm Bulrush surrounded by a large crowd, so he immediately said, "Everyone, don't surround Uncle Bulrush. This will make Uncle Bulrush…" He ran out of breath.
Before he could finish speaking, he felt his organs convulse in pain and a sweet sensation in his throat, and then he vomited blood.
Everyone shivered.
The chief said in a shaky voice, "We know… Please, don't talk right now."
The shaman asked Ye Xi, "What are you feeling right now?"
Ye Xi's organs convulsed in pain, and he felt like the entire world was spinning. He shook his head and forced himself to speak. "I'm fine! Shaman, please treat Uncle Bulrush first."
The shaman nodded and sternly said, "Good child, do not worry."
Calm Bulrush was covered in blood, and not one piece of skin on his body was whole. The sight of him made their hearts seize up, and they could easily imagine how horrifying the battle had been.
The shaman placed his hand on Calm Bulrush's heart and slowly began to send over his shaman power.
A tribe member took out ground three-seven root and sprinkled it on Calm Bulrush's skin. The flow of blood from the wounds gradually began to cease.
After a few moments, the shaman stood up. "He's fine now." Calm Bulrush's injuries seemed serious, but none of his organs had been damaged. He would just need to rest for a while to recover.
Everyone sighed in relief.
Ye Xi's ears were still buzzing, and the shaman did not speak very loudly, so he couldn't hear very well. He asked, "Is Uncle Bulrush okay?"
The chief immediately said loudly into his ear, "Relax! Calm Bulrush is fine! He will be as fit as a tiger in two days!"
Ye Xi finally relaxed.
It was fine as long as he was okay.
With this thought in mind, he felt fatigue suddenly overtaking his body.
The shaman placed a hand on Ye Xi's head.
Ye Xi felt a comforting warmth flowing into his head, easing his pains.
After a few moments, the shaman warmly said, "Sleep a little more for the next few days. This will help you recover. You will fully recover in about half a month."
"Yes, shaman."
After receiving the shaman's treatment, Ye Xi felt that much of his pain had been alleviated, and his vision was no longer as blurry. He was so tired, so drowsy…
Ye Xi refused the assistance of others, returned to his cave, and fell asleep.