Chapter 321 - Divine Thunder Bird

The sun rose and sank. A day had passed, and Long Chen finally arrived at the patch of forest marked on the map. After four days and four nights of traveling at top speed, they still had two-thirds of the journey left to reach the Western Sea Kingdom in the west.

The trees were tall and densely packed in this forest. Long Chen could run even faster here, so he continued to carry Ling Xi. However, after being carried for a whole day, Ling Xi’s body was feeling very sore. Long Chen’s heart ached when she refused to tell him that she was not feeling well.

There were many demonic beasts lurking in the wild forests, so caves with beast nests were common. However, the beasts all ran for their lives the moment Xiaolang appeared. Therefore, Long Chen was able to take over a cave, and after cleaning the place up, he took out his blanket and cooking utensils.

“It’s getting late. We will rest here tonight, then continue tomorrow morning.” Long Chen held Ling Xi in his arms, wrapping her in blankets. It was spring, so the nights were very cold. This was the only way she would feel better.

Xiaolang had already collected firewood from outside. He lit them with his flames and soon, they had a fire within the cave, providing them with light and heat.

Long Chen moved a huge boulder to prevent the firelight from leaving the cave, though he left some space for air ventilation. The forest was so huge, it was almost borderless; he refused to believe that the imperial family could find him here after such careful preparation.

After all the preparations were done, Xiaolang lay at the entrance and cultivated while simultaneously being the lookout. Long Chen set up a mini kitchen using the wok, basin, bowls, and other utensils he had bought that morning. He had prepared everything a kitchen had to have.

It had been a long time since he had cooked.

The fire was lit, the vegetables were cut and stir-fried, and the meat was barbecued. After an hour, plates of delicious-smelling food were served.

While Long Chen was busy, Ling Xi was bundled up in blankets, only revealing her small head as she watched him cook. Her heart was warm as she watched him focus intently on food preparation. Every girl had dreamed at least once that they would be cared for like this, and Ling Xi was no exception.

Although they were running for their lives, the atmosphere he carefully created made Ling Xi wish that time would stop here forever. It was a warm and beautiful moment without worry for the future, and without their enemies after them.

But that was impossible. All beautiful moments would eventually pass.

Calling Xiaolang over to eat, the trio ate their dinner in silence. Since Long Chen had not cooked in a long time and this was a makeshift kitchen, the food was only mediocre. However, Ling Xi was very satisfied.

Although nothing dramatic happened, this was the happiest meal she ever had.

After dinner, it was time to sleep. Xiaolang did not want to disturb them, and he was very bored, so he went out of the cave to keep a lookout for the night. Most beasts would not dare approach with him guarding the cave.

It had been an exhausting day for Ling Xi, as they had been running nonstop. Soon after dinner, she gradually fell into a deep sleep in Long Chen’s arms. The extremely beautiful girl’s eyebrows were still slightly furrowed even in sleep; one could tell that she was very anxious for what the future held, yet she dared not show it in front of Long Chen. She was worried that he would worry about her.

Her lashes trembled in her sleep.

Long Chen sighed. This would be the most memorable time of his life, fleeing to avoid death. It was memorable not because the enemy was too powerful, but because he had Ling Xi by his side, as well as Xiaolang, his loyal brother who silently stood by him.

Xiaolang was a man of few words, and ever since he became a Sun Devouring Wolf, he had not communicated much with Long Chen. However, they did not need to converse, because Xiaolang would automatically do anything that required his help without complaint.

They shared this burden even during such devastating times. Long Chen knew that this was the sign of a true brother.

With his beloved and a brother who supported him by his side, he was content.

Night soon fell.

She had fair skin and delicate curves, and he could faintly see more skin peeking out of her collar. All of this made Long Chen very tempted, but he knew that Ling Xi was exhausted and severely sleep-deprived, so she could not be disturbed.

At midnight, she woke up in a daze. Her eyes half-open, she looked at him shyly and stuttered, “B-brother Chen, I-I want to go outside ...”

“Outside?” Long Chen naturally had not slept. He asked, confused, “It’s cold outside. Why do you want to go out?”

She didn’t speak. After hesitating for a long time, she said, “I ... I need to pee ...”

“Oh.” Long Chen grinned. “Silly girl, what is there to be shy about? I’ll take you outside.”

It was the wilderness, so Long Chen obviously would never let her out alone. After carrying her out of the cave, they found a random spot and he said to her, “Here is fine.”

Ling Xi didn’t move. Her neck was about to retract completely into her body.

“What is it?” Long Chen asked.

“Go away,” she said, blushing. She was embarrassed with Long Chen standing there. After becoming a normal person, Ling Xi could not avoid all these human problems.

“Oh, alright.” Long Chen walked ten-plus steps away and stood with his back to her. Smirking, he said, “Xiao Xi, are you still shy in front of me? I saw everything when you used the Profound Heavenly Jade Lotus.”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Ling Xi’s face and ears turned red when she recalled the awkwardness and embarrassment from that moment. If he ever talked about it again, she would get angry.

It was cold outside. It was better for them to quickly finish this business and return, so Long Chen shut his mouth. Soon, he heard water trickling. He recalled the time Ling Xi was reborn through the lotus. Picturing her body made his heartbeat quicken.

“I’m done.” Soon, Ling Xi came up to him. It was difficult for her to do this so close to a guy, so even now, her ears were red. “Brother Chen, why are you staring at me?” She panicked a little when she saw his intense stare. She could guess the intention in his burning gaze. It was as if he wanted to eat her up. Blushing, eyes swooning, she whispered, “Brother Chen ... No ...”

By this point, Long Chen was not able to hear her.

That was when a shrill bird call echoed across the skies, shaking the whole forest!

Long Chen, initially immersed in a drunken haze, woke up completely. He stopped touching her and held her to his chest.

He looked up.

Streaks of lightning appeared in the sky not far away, and a net made of lightning shot towards their direction. His eyes widened, and when he activated the Soul Swallowing Gaze, to his shock, he saw several cores within the lightning web. The bolts seemed to originate from the cores.

The cores looked like Divine Thunder Birds!

“This is bad! Those are Category Three Earth-tier Thunder Birds! If anyone could tame those birds as steeds, it’s the imperial family! They’re the only ones rich enough!” Long Chen said solemnly.

The enemy had finally caught up.

Xiaolang rushed over; his panicked look confirmed Long Chen’s suspicions!

The army sent by the imperial family was here, and Ling Xi too was fully awake now. “Xiaolang says that if the Thunder Birds are out, then they must be the commanders of the imperial guards! The imperial guards have seven commanders in total, and only the seventh commander can’t ride Thunder Birds. Since there are five in the sky right now, that means at least five commanders are here!” Ling Xi said in a panic.