Chapter Seven: Chasing the Sparrow

Under the influence of the "whirling dantian," not only did he feel no trace of fatigue, but by dawn his energy surged as if it were inexhaustible.

"My precious..." Pushing open the door, Lin Feng took a deep breath as the morning mist greeted him, hastily tidied himself, and set off along the mountain path.

Though the sky was not yet bright, the fork in the road leading in and out of the mountains was already bustling with noise. Many disciples from the Hundred Flowers Sect gathered around several stalls, loudly making their selections. This was a side business for the villagers of Xinghua Village nearby, exchanging homemade wine and dry rations for a few pieces of silver to supplement their incomes.

This time, they would likely stay in the mountains for several days. Lin Feng reached into his pocket, feeling for a few copper coins, but after a moment's thought, he put them back. Most of the herbs and stones he had collected over the years had been traded for sect contribution points; through frugality he had managed to save just these few coins, which he was reluctant to spend carelessly.

"Hey! Did you hear? Things have been lively at Phoenix Ridge these past two days. Luo Shangqing and his lot discovered an ancient cave there and are gathering people for a treasure hunt!" A sword-wielding disciple chomped on a meat bun, chatting amiably with his friend.

"When did you hear about that? Look over there—are they heading for Phoenix Ridge too?" a bald man whispered, pointing at a group hurrying along the mountain path.

Lin Feng paid it little mind; such events occurred no less than five or six times a year on Tianmen Peak. The Hundred Flowers Sect, with its legacy stretching back thousands of years, had produced countless eminent predecessors, many of whom delighted in hiding treasures for worthy successors to inherit. Of course, most ancient caves proved empty, either plundered, excavated, or occupied by fierce beasts, making these expeditions both time-consuming and perilous.

Just then, a group descending the mountain path caught Lin Feng’s eye. The team consisted entirely of female cultivators, each clad in white robes and red skirts, exuding heroic spirit. Every one of them carried a bundle and gripped a longsword, clearly well-prepared for the journey.

"Even she’s taking part," Lin Feng muttered, frowning. Among the outer sect disciples, apart from "Corpse Prince" Nangong Ke and "Ox Power God" Luo Shangqing, there was another renowned expert—Helian Ruxue, known as the "Asura Maiden." More than half the outer sect’s female disciples belonged to her faction, a testament to her formidable strength and means.

As Lin Feng pondered, the group disappeared down the path.

"Another battle is inevitable," he sighed, heading alone toward his intended destination.

The Late Maple Forest lay on a slope a dozen miles west of Tianmen Peak, regarded as a worthless wildwood by most. Only someone as observant as Lin Feng could appreciate its hidden value: the white-jade golden-winged finch was often found here. Ordinary folk thought such a small, unremarkable bird was less valuable than a duck, but in truth, its senses were exceptionally keen, especially drawn to rare fragrances. The sachet stored within its body was an ideal ingredient for crafting elixirs of miraculous scent and revival pills—and the scented beetle happened to be its favorite food.

The best way to catch such birds was with a celestial net, but Lin Feng was unwilling to waste contribution points, bringing only a bamboo strainer, intent on luring it the old-fashioned way.

It was late summer, early autumn; the Late Maple Forest was a riot of color, red and green leaves intermingling. Sunbeams filtered through the canopy, sparkling on dewdrops, a sight to behold.

Lin Feng chose a flat patch of ground, set up the strainer, tied a hemp string to a branch, and ran it behind an old maple tree. After testing the setup several times to his satisfaction, he took out a small porcelain bottle of scented beetles, uncorked it, and set it on the ground.

He quickly hid behind the old maple. Anxiety and tension lasted only a moment before a crisp "chiou chiou" birdsong echoed from deep in the forest.

A shifty little fellow perched on a treetop, cocked its head and listened for a while, then, feeling safe, spread its golden wings and arrowed down, snatching the porcelain bottle and preparing to dash off.

"Snap!" A sudden shadow covered it; the little bird panicked, shrieking frantically.

"Greedy thing!" Lin Feng darted out, holding down the strainer and lifting a corner.

The cunning finch fluttered and tried to escape through a gap. Alarmed, Lin Feng fumbled desperately, but when he looked again, his prize had flown!

Not only had it escaped, but it had whisked away the scented beetle as well!

Furious, Lin Feng hastily grabbed his things and chased after it with all his might.

The white-jade golden-winged finch seemed almost toying with him—or perhaps burdened by the porcelain bottle, it fluttered, stopped, and darted among the treetops just three yards high, never soaring out of reach.

Man and bird, hunter and hunted, vanished amid the maples in a blink.

He chased for half an hour; the finch remained lively, as if energized by a great tonic, gradually fleeing toward a distant, shadowy valley.

Two contribution points—Lin Feng was not about to let them go to waste. Without a second thought, he redoubled his pursuit.

The valley was dense with tangled vegetation, and dark thickets loomed with lurking menace. The calls of birds and insects grew sparse; only the finch’s clear "chiou chiou" rang out distinctly.

Searching for the thieving bird, Lin Feng gripped his three-pronged spear and advanced cautiously into the depths.

"Chiou chiou!" The finch’s joyful cry echoed from a cliff. Elated, Lin Feng looked up; the bird cocked its head, called twice, and in a flash, disappeared.

"Where did it go?" Lin Feng searched frantically. Upon careful inspection, he realized that above the cliff, hidden among the foliage, was a secret cavity—surely the bird’s nest.

Delighted, Lin Feng climbed the vine-draped rocks, parted the wisteria, and beheld a pitch-black cave.

Should he enter or not? As he hesitated, the finch’s triumphant call rang from within, spurring Lin Feng on—he couldn’t let this thief get the upper hand!

Resolutely, he slipped inside.

The cave was mossy but not slippery; at first he could only proceed in a crouch, but after a dozen yards, the space opened dramatically.

The gentle glow of his hairpin softly lit the cavern. The deeper he went, the more spacious it became, as if the entire mountain had been hollowed out.

There were no snakes or insects, and the ground was dry. Faint birdsong drifted from ahead. Lin Feng widened his eyes, stepping deeper into the unknown. The air was fresh, tinged with a subtle fragrance. Soon, the cave’s path grew twisted and hard to traverse, its winding course leading who-knew-where.

Who would have guessed such a hidden place concealed a world of its own? Lin Feng’s curiosity grew, and thoughts of the finch faded.

He pressed on for some time, and just as it seemed the path would never end, faint glimmers appeared in the darkness. The rhythmic drip of spring water sounded soothing in his mind.

Startled, Lin Feng tensed—memories of his night encounter with a demon python flashed before him. Could such a creature lurk here as well?

Looking closer, his fears proved unfounded. The light came not from a beast’s eyes but from sunlight filtering through the cave walls. The cavern before him, suddenly revealed like the moon emerging from clouds, expanded severalfold—a vast chamber spanning over ten yards.

The chamber connected to several side passages. Water droplets condensed on the ceiling, falling into a large clear pool. Beside that pool, bathed in sunlight, a few serrated grasses grew stubbornly, bearing clusters of pea-sized golden fruits, lustrous and radiant like jade.

"Are these... celestial fruits?" Lin Feng exclaimed, reaching out to pick them.

A monstrous howl erupted from a side passage, vicious and sharp.

Lin Feng instinctively gripped his three-pronged spear, his body trembling. So, there was indeed a demon lurking in these depths.

The ground shook violently, dirt and stone raining down. Lin Feng’s face turned pale as he fixed his gaze on the spot where the beast would appear.

A gust of fetid wind blasted him—out of the darkness charged a hulking beast, its crimson eyes locked on the intruder.

It had the body of a giant ape, covered in brown fur, crowned with white hair, fangs protruding, standing nearly twenty feet tall on two legs, exuding a terrifying presence.

"A mountain fiend!" Cold sweat broke out on Lin Feng’s back, his hair standing on end. Mountain fiends possessed boundless strength and savage ferocity, infamous among third-rank demon beasts for their bloodthirsty rage.

Such a beast was far beyond his ability to defeat. Yet the lure of the celestial fruit was equally great; eaten by ordinary people, it strengthened the body and lengthened life, while its use in alchemy was even more valuable.

Lin Feng retreated toward the way he came. The mountain fiend didn’t attack, but watched him warily, its angry roars subsiding. After a while, it glanced back toward the deeper passage, its expression flustered.

A commotion of footsteps echoed from another tunnel, mingled with shouts and cries. The mountain fiend’s face changed drastically; with a furious roar, it pounded its chest, bellowing wildly.

"This is bad! It’s gone berserk. The newcomers must be sect members—now they’ll be in for it. I’d better get out while I can." As Lin Feng calculated his escape, he noticed several gaping wounds on the fiend’s back, blood still oozing.

"It’s injured... Who could have wounded a mountain fiend? Perhaps I should wait and see." Lin Feng quietly retreated to a corner near an exit, ready to flee at the first sign of danger.

He had barely finished his calculations when the whole cave began to tremble violently, as if thousands of stampeding beasts thundered past.

Moments later, three more mountain fiends, equally massive, burst from the surrounding tunnels, brimming with rage. They snarled and conferred with the wounded fiend, like councilors at a meeting.

Lin Feng’s heart leapt to his throat. Heavens, this was the fiend’s lair! Had he known, he’d never have entered.

One of the fiends glanced back at him, and the air seemed to freeze.

Luckily, the wounded one called it away, and Lin Feng could finally breathe. The three newcomers vented their fury with howls, then all together leapt into the tunnel from which the voices came, causing the cave to shake again.

To face three mountain fiends at once—good luck, fellow disciples! Lin Feng sweated for those about to enter, but dared not move a muscle, half his body numb with fear.

The wounded fiend glanced at him, then shuffled to the pool, sat down heavily, scooped up a clump of mud, and smeared it on its back, sighing contentedly.

"Chiou chiou!" The thieving finch flew from a side tunnel and perched atop the fiend’s head, chattering excitedly. To Lin Feng’s surprise, the fiend turned to him again, snorting heavily, as if warning him to behave.

From the front cave came the clamor of battle—screams and roars so terrifying it seemed the entire mountain might collapse.

The finch cocked its head at Lin Feng, fluttered its wings, and alighted on his shoulder of its own accord.

Before long, the three bloodied fiends returned in defeat, apparently reporting to their "chief" by the pool. The four fiends howled in frustration, then vanished instantly, darting down other tunnels.

Opportunity always strikes so suddenly! Overjoyed, Lin Feng sprang up—only to collapse with a thud, his legs numb after so long without moving.

The finch flapped onto a rock, chirping as if mocking him.

"Hmph!" Lin Feng scrambled up, limped to the pool, uprooted the celestial fruit, and stuffed it into his pack.

After smoothing the earth with his foot, he crept back to his previous hiding place. The commotion outside was now clearly audible.

"Hurry, everyone, don’t let those mountain fiends escape!"

"Right, so many have died already. We can’t let them get away!"

"Luo, why aren’t your people going in?"

"Hmph! Why aren’t yours?"

Lin Feng chuckled to himself. They likely didn’t realize the fiends had already fled, yet none dared take the lead.

Soon, the group outside struck an agreement. To Lin Feng’s surprise, the first to enter was none other than the "Asura Maiden," Helian Ruxue!