After being poisoned by mushrooms, all the strange creatures became fascinated by me.

What is hovering above her head?

An eagle? Are there eagles that big?

Tang Li's heart pounded, and she slowly, very slowly, raised her head.

A giant eagle glides across the moon, each feather shimmering with light.

Everything before her eyes seemed like a bizarre illusion. Tang Li's wide eyes reflected both the endless sky and the tranquil lake. She wondered, what was descending from above—the light of the lake or the moonlight?

Was that giant bird migrating or flying?

For a moment, Tang Li was so shocked that she forgot her fear. Until the huge bird drew closer and closer, it gracefully folded its wings and landed leisurely in front of Tang Li.

A giant golden eagle, taller than an adult human.

Shaking its feathers, it tilted its head slightly and looked down at Tang Li.

Tang Li: Aa ...

Did you see that?! Did you see that, Mom?! What a big little bird!

The golden eagle glanced at Tang Li with its golden pupils, its expression disdainful and inexplicably carrying a hint of nonchalant contempt.

The more I look at it, the more familiar it seems; it's quite like an old friend.

Tang Li blurted out, "Are you a bird kept by King Zhou of Han?"

The golden eagle's fluffy face could actually conjure up a vivid expression of displeasure. It suddenly spread one wing and gently patted her, almost sending Tang Li flying.

Tang Li suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Is Han Zhou someone you're keeping?"

The golden eagle nodded in satisfaction.

Tang Li screamed silently in her heart. She tentatively reached out her hand to it: "Can I touch you... no, can you take me to your owner, your pet person?"

Is this possible? Could it be that Han Zhou foresaw a possible change in the sect tonight and specially sent the golden eagle here so that it could inform anyone who came? Tang Li tentatively asked the golden eagle, her heart filled with doubt.

But the enormous bird understood her request. It condescended to nod and raised a gleaming giant claw toward Tang Li.

But then I hesitated.

...What a weak little thing.

The eagle blinked, pondering with some distress.

Can she really hold onto her paws as tightly as her pet and fly high in the sky without being blown off by the gale?

Diao thought it wouldn't work.

This little human looked as fragile as a rabbit. The eagle imagined her falling from the sky with a "plop" and turning into a sticky pulp on the ground, or perhaps she managed to make it to her destination only to freeze into an ice block on its claws.

Even eagles find it troublesome.

The eagle smacked its lips in displeasure.

But seeing her admiring gaze and her flushed face, Diao reluctantly felt that he had been pleased.

Then it leisurely spread one of its wings.

Human, the sculptor allows you to come up.

It's covered in fine hairs.

One of the giant bird's wings drooped down, its tip barely touching the ground, landing right in front of Tang Li.

It resembles a gentle upward slope, ending at the broad back of a bird.

Tang Li held her breath: Was it what she thought? Would it allow her to climb onto its back?

As if sensing her thoughts, the golden eagle nimbly turned its neck and impatiently shook its head behind it.

You little brat, so slow and indecisive, so incredibly stupid.

Tang Li excitedly mentally gave a punch: Family, who understands? It loves me!

The person carefully climbed onto the eagle's back.

It spread its wings and soared into the sky.

Tang Li suddenly felt as if all her breath had been taken away, and the ground seemed to shrink smaller and smaller in her eyes.

This wasn't the first time Tang Li had come into contact with the sky without any barriers.

She fell from a great height, when the sky over the new world was breathtakingly blue, and the sunlight shone freely on every part of her body.

But if Gu Xiaoying told her what falling was, the golden eagle showed her what true flight was.

The already clear night sky of ancient times seemed even higher and wider, the moon shining brightly and generously, its white light seeming to take shape even from the wind. Beneath the night, the wings of a giant bird, like billowing sails, flew under the moon and traversed the wind.

Everything was like the most enchanting dream, enough to bring tears to the eyes of even the most hard-hearted person.

At that moment, Tang Li thought that even if she gained nothing in this instance, even if her martial arts skills were still mediocre when she left the instance, she would be willing to do all the work for the strange live streaming system for free just because of the warm body beneath her that was undulating like waves that brought her such a fantastic dream.

At first, Tang Li was too careful to hold the eagle's feathers tightly, but she soon discovered that those huge eagle feathers were at least tougher than her life.

"Where are we going?" Tang Li asked in a low voice, "I have urgent business! I need to find Han Zhou!"

Just then, the golden eagle suddenly swooped down—

The wind fills the restaurant.

"This name is not well chosen." Han Zhou glanced at the high-hanging plaque, his eyes indifferent.

Jun asked, and pulled out a folding fan from somewhere. He shook the fan and said with a smile, "A storm is brewing, but tonight there are no clouds or rain, so it's a fine night."

King Zhou of Han raised his eyes and looked at the sky, where he met the gaze of an innocent, full moon.

The deep blue sky remained clean and clear, without any swirling shadows.

Han Zhou withdrew his gaze and followed Jun Wenzhi across the threshold, casually asking, "Where are 'Sand's' wife and children? Are they hidden well?"

Jun Wenzhi chuckled, "Of course. Ah, speaking of his wife and children, I was quite surprised when I first saw them. Now that our Instructor Han is here, shall we go and see what's new?"

He turned his head slightly to look at Han Zhou's expression. "Aren't you curious about what kind of woman could make that 'Sand,' who can neither cry nor laugh, retire from the world of crime?"

The boy's eyes were deep, and the curve of his lips remained unchanged, making it impossible to discern whether it was curiosity or disgust. He simply gave an ambiguous laugh, as if he were just playing along, or perhaps he genuinely meant it: "Since you've sincerely invited me, and given this opportunity, I naturally should take a look."

When asked, he shook his head, feigning mystery: "I went to great lengths to capture this mysterious beauty from a remote and impoverished place. I can't just let you see her so easily."

"How about this," he tapped his palm with his folding fan, turned around and smiled, "there's still some time before midnight, and I've never experienced Coach Han's chess skills before. While we're waiting, how about we play a game?"

"If Coach Han wins, I'll take you to see that 'beauty' that even 'Sand' is longing for."