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Wu Ming's attempt to summon his beasts was met with silence; they lay completely spent, unresponsive, their vitality drained. He barely had time to process their exhaustion when a powerful blow struck him, slicing deep into his chest and scattering his remaining mana. He staggered back, coughing up blood that spilled down his chin and soaked the jade pendant resting against his collar.
Not far off, his eagle faltered mid-air, its connection to Wu Ming's soul resonating with his pain. The bird plummeted, skimming the riverbank before collapsing with a weary cry, dropping both itself and its cargo to the ground. Wu Chen, though shaken, scrambled to his feet and dashed over to the eagle, bending low to inspect it.
"Are you alright, little bird?" Wu Chen's voice trembled with concern as he lightly stroked the eagle's feathers. Hoping to revive it, he hurried to the river, cupping water in his small hands. Returning to the eagle, he carefully dripped water onto its beak, watching anxiously, willing it to recover.
Unbeknownst to Wu Chen, Wu Ming's severe injuries were draining the eagle's strength as well. Still determined, Wu Chen dashed back to the river, this time drinking a handful of water himself, and felt a surprising wave of energy surge through him. He returned to the eagle, carefully opening its beak to pour the water down its throat, hoping against hope it would wake.
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Meanwhile, as the enemy prepared another assault, Wu Ming's jade pendant burst with a blinding emerald light, enveloping him in a powerful glow that lit up the surroundings. The gang leader shielded his eyes, growling, "What's happening? Get that fool down already!"
His black bear and soldiers hesitated, their faces twisted in pain from the light. "Boss, we can't see a thing!" one soldier cried, backing away.
After a minute, the light dimmed, and as the attackers lowered their arms, they prepared to charge—only to find Wu Ming standing upright, all signs of his previous injuries miraculously gone. Wu Ming, bewildered by his sudden recovery, touched the jade pendant in disbelief. Realizing its dormant power, he summoned his beasts, who appeared revitalized, their strength fully restored.
The family heirloom, a legacy of the Wu clan, had activated in his moment of desperation, regenerating his mana and healing his wounds. Unaware of this inheritance's true power, Wu Ming now understood its worth. Without hesitation, he sent his beasts into action: his black python swiftly overpowered the soldiers and their minor-level beasts, while his tiger took down the black bear. Within moments, the battleground was littered with the wounded.
Wasting no time, Wu Ming rushed toward the riverbank, guided by his beasts' instinctive connection. When he arrived, he found Wu Chen dancing around the now-revived eagle, his joyful laughter filling the air. Wu Ming exhaled, relief flooding his face as he quietly approached. Spotting him, Wu Chen's eyes widened. "Brother Ming!" He raced over and hugged him tight, explaining in earnest how he had revived the eagle with "magic water." Wu Ming smiled at his innocence, ruffling his hair affectionately.
As night approached, the brothers continued their journey until the need for rest forced them to stop. Finding a secure spot, Wu Ming ignited a small fire and washed in a nearby stream before retrieving their meager provisions—some steamed buns and a small portion of rice and chicken. They shared the food in comfortable silence, enjoying a moment of peace before setting out again. Wu Ming directed his eagle, with its keen night vision, to guide them through the remaining stretch of forest. They rode through the night, determined to reach Windwillow Village.
By dawn, exhaustion weighed heavily on them, and even the eagle grew weary. Surrounded by dense forest, Wu Ming recognized the presence of low- to mid-level spirit beasts, making further travel risky without rest. He set a protective barrier and, spotting a secure clearing, guided the eagle down. They had finished their provisions, and with Wu Chen's tired form slumped nearby, Wu Ming knew he needed to find sustenance quickly.
Leaving Wu Chen within the barrier, Wu Ming moved out into the forest, releasing his aura as bait for nearby beasts. Soon, a few primary-level creatures appeared, drawn by his presence. Cautioning his python to avoid using its poison—he didn't want to taint their meal—he let his tiger handle the hunt. With swift precision, it brought down a large mud crab, perfect for their needs.
Returning swiftly, Wu Ming cleaned the crab, skewering pieces on sticks he fashioned from nearby branches. Over the fire, he roasted the meat, seasoning it with herbs he had gathered. When it was ready, he passed a piece to Wu Chen, who accepted it eagerly, his eyes shining with delight. They shared a rare laugh over the meal, savoring the roasted crab's rich flavor before packing up and continuing their journey with renewed energy.
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