Feng Shui Chapter 108: The Black-Tailed Capuchin

If Chen Xiao could sense it, then Xi Yunqing had surely noticed as well. Soon, the group quietly shifted into a more defensive formation, guarding carefully against any sudden attacks from the surrounding area. Chen Xiao’s heart tightened with tension. In a place teeming with ferocious beasts, a careless clash between cultivators could easily draw in monsters, turning the fight into a disastrous mutual destruction.

However, the mysterious figure was indeed just as Shi Ming had said, watching from the shadows without any intention of revealing themselves. After moving cautiously for a while, the unsettling feeling of being watched suddenly vanished. Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the stranger had slipped away.

This unexpected incident made Chen Xiao even more alert about what lay ahead. If the enemy suddenly launched an ambush during their mission, it could become a deadly crisis.

After worrying for a bit, Chen Xiao reminded himself that both Xi Yunqing and Shi Ming seemed well-prepared, surely with solid strategies in place. With that thought, his mind eased somewhat.

They set out at dawn and only stopped to camp as evening approached. This was Chen Xiao’s first experience with such an intense forced march, there was no break for lunch at all. They literally ate on the move. When the others around him started pulling out food, Chen Xiao initially thought they had waited until noon to rest. It was only when Tong Nuonuo nudged him that he realized he needed to eat something too.

By the time they finally set up camp, Chen Xiao was pushed to his physical and mental limits. Fortunately, his previous two rigorous training sessions had prepared him well; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made it. This was no longer a matter of willpower, it was a battle of endurance. Only now did Chen Xiao truly understand why Du Rong had said that the overland route was no ordinary path. Not only was one year not enough, but even three or five years might not suffice to reach Hanshan City, assuming no battles occurred along the way.

That night, the three of them camped separately, keeping some distance between their group and Shi Ming’s. Both sides rested quietly without speaking.

The next morning, just as dawn barely broke, the group set off again. This time, it took less than an hour to reach their intended destination. Xi Yunqing called Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo over to his side. Shi Ming didn’t object, allowing the two to listen in on the upcoming plans.

Shi Ming’s team consisted of eighteen people, with a majority of high-level cultivators and the rest in the Foundation Establishment stage. It was a well-oiled team with clear divisions of labor. The higher-level cultivators would be led by three Foundation Establishment disciples to harvest the White Spirit Fruit. If they encountered any black-tailed capuchins, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators would form a defensive line while the higher-level fighters stayed out of it. Shi Ming assigned Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo to this group so they could work alongside the high-level cultivators.

The other group, previously acting as scouts, would maintain a perimeter to provide support and warning. If any cat beasts appeared, they would lead them away from the White Spirit Fruit forest. In case either group got separated, they would not wait for each other but instead return directly to the previous night’s campsite to regroup.

Hearing about the possibility of separation, Tong Nuonuo instantly became highly alert, clinging tightly to Chen Xiao for fear of getting lost again. This time, there would be no luck in meeting a hunter in the mountains, nor could they afford to linger in one spot hoping to be found.

Chen Xiao glanced worriedly at Tong Nuonuo’s tense face and patted his hand reassuringly. “Stick close, alright? If you do happen to lose me, don’t panic. Just follow anyone nearby and stay with them.”

Tong Nuonuo took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. “Understood.”

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xiao added, “If you do get separated from the group, make a smoke signal using dry grass, twigs, or leaves. If we see the smoke, your brother and I will come looking for you. But be careful, never light a fire at night for your own safety.”

Having a clear plan calmed Tong Nuonuo somewhat, easing the stiffness from his expression.

Once tasks were assigned, Shi Ming gave the order to split into two teams and begin preparations. Soon, Chen Xiao’s group moved stealthily, crouching low and using trees and bushes for cover as they approached the White Spirit Fruit forest. Shi Ming’s men were efficient and silent, moving quickly. Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo, being less practiced, gradually fell behind at the rear.

Before long, they reached the edge of the White Spirit Fruit forest.

The White Spirit trees grew tall and straight, with sturdy trunks. Their branches spread outward but weren’t densely packed, and the leaves were firm and upright, an ideal habitat for primates to climb and nest. The trees were heavy with fruit, each about the size of a walnut, tapering to a point at the top and round at the base. The fruit looked like figs but had pale white skin.

Though the forest covered a decent area, the trees competed for space, leaving wide gaps between them. The height of the trees meant they had to climb up to reach the fruit, adding difficulty and slowing their progress. Fortunately, as cultivators, climbing came easily to them.

About a dozen people didn’t speak a word; they simply exchanged glances before dispersing to climb separate trees. Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo, however, didn’t follow suit. Instead, the two of them climbed up a sturdy white spirit fruit tree together. Chen Xiao moved deftly, wrapping his arms around the trunk and pushing with his legs and waist to climb quickly. Tong Nuonuo was a bit slower, burdened by the mechanical box on his back, but he climbed up without any mistakes.

By the time they reached halfway up, they encountered a thick tree trunk. Chen Xiao grabbed a branch and stepped onto the trunk, making his way into the canopy. They were now seven or eight meters off the ground. In his previous life, if Chen Xiao had walked that high without any safety measures, like on the second or third floor of a building, he would’ve been extremely nervous. But now, even if he fell accidentally, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Positioned on opposite sides, Chen Xiao and Tong Nuonuo began picking the ripe white spirit fruit within reach. The fruit was mature, one gentle tug and it came free from the branch. Holding one in his hand, Chen Xiao steadied himself and split it open. The skin was thin but tough, a pure white. Inside, the flesh was dense and firm, pale yellow in color. The core resembled the radiating red pattern of a kiwi.

The fruit looked delicious enough to make Chen Xiao’s mouth water, though when he sniffed it, there was a slight raw, unripe scent. Moving closer to Tong Nuonuo, he asked, “Can you eat this white spirit fruit?”

Tong Nuonuo hesitated. “I only know it’s used directly as medicine or as a cooking ingredient. Whether it can be eaten raw, I’m not sure.”

So it seemed they couldn’t just eat it fresh. Chen Xiao reluctantly gave up on the idea of trying it out of hand. After all, it was used in alchemy; who knew what side effects might arise? But then he thought, since this place was home to the black-tailed bat monkeys, maybe they lived here because of these white spirit fruits. If animals could eat them, humans probably could too...

Tong Nuonuo gently nudged him. “Let’s just pick them first, we can ask later.” Chen Xiao agreed, surely no one would complain if they pocketed a few to take back.

The two set about their work on opposite sides. Chen Xiao plucked the fruit and slipped them into his storage box, while Tong Nuonuo had to pull the fruit off and stuff them into his clothes. Around them, other cultivators did the same.

After about fifteen minutes, the intruders were discovered by the black-tailed bat monkeys. A sharp, piercing call rang out, and soon a large group of gray-furred, black-tailed creatures appeared.

Thanks to his sharp eyesight, Chen Xiao could make out their appearance from afar. They were slightly larger than macaques, with fox-like faces, long, pointed snouts, and beneath their arms, membranous wings like those of bats. Agile and quick, they leapt from branch to branch, gliding between distant trees. Though their wings were too thin and small to truly fly, the gliding distance was enough to give them a swift advantage.

With their presence revealed, Chen Xiao’s team stopped hiding. Three foundation-stage cultivators stepped forward to confront the bat monkeys, engaging them in battle. Chen Xiao stayed behind the front line, observing the fight. The bat monkeys were numerous and nimble; if they broke through the defense line, chaos would erupt in the rear.

After a quick glance, Chen Xiao turned back to hurriedly pick fruit. Sharp calls of the bat monkeys and the sound of foundation cultivators’ energy strikes echoed through the trees. He focused hard to ignore the noise and adjusted his position next to Tong Nuonuo so they could watch each other’s backs, significantly improving their safety.

Just as they were speeding up their work, a high, sharp whistle sounded. Chen Xiao recognized it immediately, it was the scout from Shi Ming’s team.

Tong Nuonuo’s face darkened. “The cat beasts are coming!”

The speed of their arrival caught everyone off guard. They’d only been picking for less than half an hour, and retreating now would waste all their effort. Everyone was reluctant to give up. Now, they could only rely on the scouts outside to lure the cat beasts away and buy them more time.

A roar, somewhere between a leopard and a lion, shook the ground. The white spirit fruit trees trembled as if struggling to withstand the force. Chen Xiao quickly grasped the trunk, worry filling his eyes as he stared toward the source of the sound.

Suddenly, someone shouted within the group, “Hurry up and pick, withdraw in half an hour!”

Half an hour was the maximum the outer team could hold off the cat beasts. Beyond that, the cat beasts would give up the chase, possibly turning back to attack the white spirit fruit forest directly.

While Chen Xiao and his companions anxiously continued gathering fruit, the front defense line suddenly erupted in chaos. The bat monkeys’ calls grew sharper. A large bat monkey with white-tipped fur appeared, Chen Xiao guessed it was the bat monkey king. The previously steady defense began to falter in the face of its presence.

Tong Nuonuo stopped picking and turned toward the commotion, his expression grave. “That bat monkey king is no ordinary beast. It’s probably a demon cultivator!”