This voice?
It's the woman who was running away earlier!
What has she encountered?
My nerves instantly tensed up. The cry seemed to be coming from the foot of the nearby mountain, which was the territory of the Fierce Birds. Could it be that this woman, with nowhere else to go, stumbled into the Fierce Birds' nest and disturbed them!?
I couldn't afford to waste any more time. If the Fierce Birds were indeed disturbed, with their keen sense of smell, they would surely detect the scent of blood here.
At that point, everyone present, except for Zhuo Ya and myself who had the ability to protect ourselves, would become prey for the Fierce Birds!
"Run!"
I shouted to the people scattered around the campsite, grabbed Gulinina's hand, and ran in the opposite direction of the mountain's foot.
There was no other choice; it was a critical juncture.
I had originally intended to grab Zhuo Ya's hand, but then I reconsidered. Zhuo Ya was a natural warrior, her stamina on par with mine. If I held her, it would only hinder her.
Gulinina, on the other hand, looked so frail. If I didn't look out for her, she might very well become a meal for the Fierce Birds.
Gulinina didn't hesitate and obediently followed my pace. As we ran, I was surprised to find that despite Gulinina's delicate appearance, she didn't seem to exert herself at all while running.
Her breathing was steady, indicating she was someone who exercised regularly. Her every inhale and exhale followed proper breathing techniques.
The others, hearing my loud warning, were confused but saw my grave expression and instinctively started running as well. However, some of them still appeared hesitant, frantically stuffing food from their tents into their bags.
They clearly had no idea of the danger they were in!
I only took a cursory glance and didn't bother with them.
A skilled physician cannot save a heartless person. If they have no brains, no amount of persuasion will be effective.
We had only run about ten meters when we heard a massive beast leap from the woods where we had been standing. It opened its maw, its pale teeth flashing a cruel, cold glint under the moonlight. Its mismatched eyes were filled with amusement as it let out a earth-shattering roar towards our retreating backs, announcing its arrival!
I turned and saw it – it was a Fierce Bird!
In countless sleepless nights, this monster had appeared to me repeatedly.
And as it roared, I realized that this Fierce Bird seemed to be the same one I had repelled after the blizzard.
Although its deep throat had healed, a large hole could still be faintly seen, the very one made by Shangguan Yao's handgun!
I was inwardly shocked by the Fierce Bird's incredible resilience. I had assumed that after sustaining such severe injuries, it would have perished in the icy wilderness.
To think it had survived!
Zhuo Ya and I could take it down now. I calmly analyzed the situation, contemplating the possibility of killing it here.
Just as I was about to act, there was movement in the bushes behind it.
As the Fierce Bird emerged, the bushes behind it rustled again, and several other Fierce Birds of varying sizes also emerged. The largest was only slightly smaller than the first, while the smallest appeared somewhat immature but was still the size of a Tibetan Mastiff, its face bearing the same cruelty.
Damn it!
If it had been only the Fierce Bird we had repelled before, I would have made it understand what it means to have your fortunes reversed, and not to underestimate the young and poor!
But seeing that it had brought its entire family and so many Fierce Birds had appeared, my somewhat slowed pace suddenly quickened. We both have two legs; if I can't beat you, can't I at least outrun you!
The great leader once taught us the essence of guerrilla warfare: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we advance; when the enemy is tired, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.
This temporary retreat is just a brief concession. As long as we can survive, I will one day set the Fierce Birds' nest ablaze and scatter their ashes!
The later Fierce Birds had fresh bloodstains around their mouths, likely from the woman who had fled earlier.
With another roar from the largest Fierce Bird, the remaining ones seemed to receive a signal. Like tigers released from their cages, they charged towards the fleeing survivors.
Although these Fierce Birds were not fully grown, their natural hunting instincts made them formidable opponents for ordinary humans.
A woman who had been frantically stuffing food into her bag from her tent was so terrified by the sudden appearance of the Fierce Birds that she collapsed on the ground. She tried to crawl away, but her body was too weak.
One of the smallest Fierce Birds slowly approached her. Facing a creature exuding the aura of a top predator, the woman burst into tears and begged for mercy, her body trembling.
"Please don't kill me, I'll give you all the food I have..."
Before she could finish, the small Fierce Bird let out a sharp cry and bit off her head, its teeth making a crunching sound.
And this was merely the beginning of the hunt!