Chapter 42 – Counterplan (1/2)

Chapter 42 - Counterplan

The spying-crow silently transformed into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated in the air along with the whirling wind.

Back in the Cold Stream Valley, Ji Hao leaped from the ground, darted up to Qing Fu, put his mouth near her ear, preventing others to overhear them, and whispered what he saw through the spying-crow’s eyes in the river valley.

Qin Fu was recovering the energy of the badly injured Fire Crow Clan’s warriors with her cyan coloured ‘Thorns of Life and Death’ needle.

When she heard what had transpired in the river valley, she stopped healing and slowly stood up, while massaging her waist. Her eyes shimmered with a profound cold light.

“Hao, go get your Abba; we have some work to do,” said Qing Fu.

The sun slowly moved across the sky and went under, behind the hills in the west.

The sky was adorned by countless little stars.

Multicoloured starlight, formed a smoke-like glow, visible to human eyes, and descended from the sky. Countless creatures, living in the jungle, raised their heads and absorbed the power contained in the starlight.

Now and then, loud and imposing roars reverberated from the depths of the valley.

Ji Hao was sitting on the branch of a tall, majestic tree. Next to him was a girl, who sat on the back of a red leopard. This was none other than his friend Heng Luo, a nymph, also known as the “goddess” of the forest. She was carefully spreading poisonous liquid onto hundreds of long arrows.

A jade jar, the size of a human head, was placed in her lap. The jar contained a light-cyan, crystal-clear, poisonous liquid, which emitted a dim herbal smell. Under the starlight, some tiny spell symbols emerged from the surface of the liquid, twisting like little snakes. It caused a beautiful glow to flash across the liquid, disappearing quickly.

“Hao, I thought your Amma only knew how to save people! I never knew that she could make such powerful poison!”

While speaking, Hong Luo dipped a leaf into the liquid and dripped a drop down.

The drop of poison fell on on the jade-like shoulder of Stone, who was standing under the tree. The poison burned a hole through his shoulders, while emitting a faint, cyan smoke, instantly.

“Booze…,” growled Stone annoyed.

He pressed his stone-made hand onto a huge rock, which crumbled into dust. Next up, he pressed it back on his damaged shoulder. The hole, created by the poison drop, healed instantly, without leaving as so much as a scratch.

Treeman lifted his enormous head, while a rustling sound could be heard coming from his trunk. It seemed as if he was trying to say something, but no one was able to understand him. Finally one of his branches bended, without breaking, and dipped into the jar. The branch contained a drop of the poison and moved towards a huge hole in the tree, which basically functioned as Treeman’s mouth.

Strands of black smoke, along with a sizzling sound rose from within Treeman’s mouth. He began to tremble in pain and the few leafs hanging on his branches, drooped. He glanced at the jar, his eyes filled with reverence, and muttered: “Qing Fu...Magusreists...woman...scary!”

Suddenly the branches and leaves above Ji Hao began to shake. A nearly thirty foot tall, muscular ape, jumped down heavily. His entire body was covered with black fur and in his hand he held a huge wooden stick.

The ape pointed at Ji Hao, grinned and mumbled: “Hao… You kid… booze… I… stronger… I want double of stone’s booze… Hao… I won’t go crazy drunk this time… You…got to give me more!”

Mr.Crow quietly landed on Ji Hao’s shoulder and cawed gently. Ji Hao waved his hands and said in a resolute tone: “Of Course, as long as you guys help me get rid of my enemies, I‘ll supply the best booze and grilled meat, as much as you want!”

“Mr.Crow, thanks.” He then patted Mr.Crow and said in a low voice.

Mr. Crow had spent the whole day traveling across the forest, bringing the strong non-human friends of Ji Hao to him. Heng Luo, Stone, and Treeman, were all strong creatures, even stronger than ordinary Senior Magi like Ji Ying and Ji Lang. If they didn’t have that much strength, it would have been impossible for them to beat Jiang Yao so hard, a couple months ago.