Qi Xu flapped his leaden wings and flew toward the cliff. The night wind whistled past his ears, carrying the chill of the mountain forest, but it couldn't dispel the weariness churning beneath his eyelids.
I've been to so many places in the last five days that I could only squeeze in a short trip back home.
Little Eight safely passed through the dangerous period when it was too weak after birth, while Little Five and Little Six's flying abilities improved rapidly under the training of their mother, the Big Black Bird, whose injuries had also mostly healed.
Only the big black bird father... looked increasingly weak. On the first day Qi Xu left, he could still stand upright occasionally, but now... he could only lie there, his eyes devoid of any light.
Throughout the day, he spent more time in a daze than awake. Qi Xu returned without saying a word, quietly staying beside the big black bird father, silently watching it...
My mind is filled with the scene of the first time I met him.
With its incredibly cold and aloof gaze, it seems quite unapproachable, but... it quietly sheds its chilling aura and carefully picks up a red fruit. The fruit has a bright peel and a sweet, refreshing aroma; it's the freshest and sweetest kind.
Looking at you with anticipation.
Qi Xu felt that even if he left this treasure map secret realm, he would never forget this scene.
No matter how long they spent together, Qi Xu always regarded the big black bird dad and the big black bird mom as his parents.
Just then, the black bird father seemed to sense something. After a brief moment of clarity, Qi Xu's eyes lit up, and he immediately handed over the red berries he had painstakingly found.
The valley had been mostly destroyed by the sleeping behemoth; this single red fruit was something they'd snatched from the Stonefire Monkey tribe...
The big black bird father smiled, but couldn't bear to eat it.
"Baby's tired, baby's eating."
"Dad, you eat."
"Okay...I'll eat. I'm so lucky to have such an excellent and filial son. Dad believes you can lead all the tribes to successfully defeat the sleeping behemoth."
The big black bird father's voice was weak, but it was very powerful, instantly convincing Qi Xu that he had the ability to lead everyone to successfully defeat the sleeping giant beast.
The mother blackbird was already sobbing uncontrollably beside them. Red, Little Five, Little Six, and Little Eight, who didn't quite understand what was happening, were also obediently staying by her side. In fact, everyone had a premonition of what was going on, but there was nothing they could do.
The voice of the big black bird's father still carried a lingering warmth, but his eyelids had already begun to tremble uncontrollably, like withered leaves being stirred by the night wind.
It strained to raise its neck, its cloudy eyes fixed on the mother blackbird. A faint light suddenly appeared in its eyes, like a final burst of energy before death, or like it had finally let go of all its worries.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be with you until the end..."
It gently pecked at the red fruit that Qi Xu offered, and the sweet fragrance of the peel spread, but it couldn't keep it going for long.
A very soft whimper escaped its throat, as if saying goodbye, or perhaps giving instructions. Then, its raised neck drooped limply, resting on Qi Xu's wing, carrying the last trace of warmth.
Qi Xu's heart sank suddenly, as if struck by a boulder, and even his breath stopped for a moment.
For a moment, I couldn't even cry. I had finally managed to get the team back together, but then another person I wanted to protect left.
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