Chapter Twenty-Four: The Golden Eagle with Azure Eyes

In the twenty-fourth chapter, titled "The Golden Eagle with Blue Eyes," and the fourth chapter, "The Cold Moon Overwhelms the Blue Wilderness, Meeting the Demon Bird," time passed without notice. Ye Hua dreamt that he had returned home. Upon entering the house, he found that the willow tree in the yard had grown tall, its branches lush and full of leaves. The little yellow dog he had raised joyfully leaped out and circled around him. His parents, aware of his return, also came out to greet him. They had aged, their faces lined with wrinkles. Ye Hua exclaimed, "Father, Mother! I’m back!"

His parents approached, examining Ye Hua’s travel-worn appearance, tears streaming down their faces as they said, "Why did you take so long to come back? It has been five years! Although they say you are studying at Mount Wutai, your mother and I have worried about you day and night!" Ye Hua felt ashamed and sorrowful, replying, "Father, Mother, please don’t be sad. I’m back now!"

"Let’s go inside and talk. Oh, I forgot to introduce, Father, Mother, this is my senior sister, Ling Yun'er!" Turning around, Ye Hua was surprised to find Ling Yun'er beside him. He quickly said, wondering to himself, "How did I not notice her before?" Just then, Ling Yun'er laughed, saying, "Haha, I can’t go in, little junior brother. I must hurry to the Central Platform to find Senior Brother Xiao. Farewell!" With that, she prepared to leave.

Ye Hua urged, "Since you are here, why not stay a while? Is it really necessary to rush to the Central Platform?" Ling Yun'er ignored his plea, turned, and summoned her red silk, soaring into the sky! Seeing her depart, Ye Hua called out, "Senior sister, senior sister… don’t go! Senior sister…"

Feeling anxious, he suddenly woke up. Opening his eyes, he was startled to see a gigantic creature standing before him. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the roc, staring intently at him. Reflecting on the scene from his dream, he realized it had all been an illusion! His face flushed with embarrassment, and he felt a wave of shame wash over him.

Regaining his composure, he attempted to rise but was struck by dizziness, realizing he had exhausted his vital energy and blood; it would take a long time to recover! As he contemplated this, he stumbled, nearly falling. The roc swiftly extended its wings, catching him mid-fall.

Ye Hua smiled at the roc and said, "Thank you, brother eagle. It seems you have recovered completely; that is wonderful!" The roc tilted its head, studying Ye Hua with flickering eyes, seemingly puzzled by who he was and why he acted as he did. Seeing the roc's curious demeanor, Ye Hua smiled faintly, "What I did today was merely a small gesture. You may leave; I won’t force you into servitude! We need not meet again."

The roc hesitated, then stepped forward a few paces, intending to leave. Unexpectedly, it glanced back at Ye Hua, then turned around and slowly approached him again, circling him a few times while calling out twice.

Ye Hua, unsure of its intentions, asked, "Why don’t you leave, eagle brother? Do you have something else for me to do?" The roc shook its head, looking at Ye Hua, and tugged at his clothing with its beak, as if trying to pull him into the sky with it.

Ye Hua looked at the roc and asked, "Do you want to leave with me?" The roc nodded. After a moment's hesitation, Ye Hua said, "Alright then, let’s go together!"

Having decided, he reached for the red crow dagger and said to the roc, "Let’s go!" With a gesture, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light, soaring into the sky. The roc, seeing Ye Hua take flight, also spread its wings and ascended rapidly, flying ahead as swiftly as lightning, quickly catching up to him.

As Ye Hua rode his flying sword against the wind, he turned to see the roc flying alongside him, graceful and majestic. He couldn’t help but challenge, "Let’s see who is faster!" As soon as he finished speaking, he quickened his speed, merging with his sword, a purple rainbow piercing the sun, flying like a shooting star. The mountain wind whipped against his face like a blade, and he knew he was flying incredibly fast.

However, when he glanced back, the roc was silently following him, maintaining the same distance. Ye Hua couldn’t help but laugh bitterly; just as he was about to speak, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. The dagger flickered, and his vision darkened. His body suddenly plummeted downwards, and Ye Hua was alarmed, quickly channeling his inner energy, which cleared his mind and halted his fall.

Sweating with fright, he realized that his earlier flight had exhausted his energy. Coupled with the blood he had given to the roc, he had suffered great losses; he absolutely could not afford to expend more energy! The roc seemed to notice Ye Hua’s distress, swiftly gliding closer and calling out softly to him. Then, it folded its wings and descended beneath Ye Hua.

Taken aback, Ye Hua understood its intention and smiled wryly, "Do you want me… to ride on your back?" The roc nodded and called out twice. After a brief moment of hesitation, Ye Hua exclaimed, "Alright! Thank you, brother eagle!" He then settled himself onto the roc's back.

As soon as he did, the roc folded its wings and shot downwards like a bullet. After dropping several dozen feet, it flapped its wings and soared upwards, dancing through the air like a dragon, flying ahead at incredible speed. Its expansive wings spread wide, gliding smoothly as if sailing on calm waters. Below, mountains and rivers rushed past in reverse, its iron feathers cutting through the wind, while the soft down on its head barely stirred. It moved with such ease and grace that Ye Hua couldn’t help but be in awe; if the roc flew at full speed, it could probably cover miles in an instant. Even ten of him wouldn’t be a match!

Ye Hua said to the roc, "Brother eagle, I humbly admit defeat. I am no match for you!" The roc called out proudly a few times, as if to say that this was nothing. The two flew at extraordinary speeds, and within half an hour, they reached the skies above the Green Mountain Temple. Ye Hua turned to the roc and said, "Brother eagle, we have arrived!" After saying this, he steered his flying sword to hover in the air. The roc also slowed its flight, calling out to Ye Hua a few times. Ye Hua smiled slightly and said, "If fate allows, we shall meet again! Please take care!" The roc called out a few times in response, circling a few times before turning and gliding away into the distance, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ye Hua watched for a while, then slowly descended. He thought, "This blue-eyed golden eagle is truly a rare creature! If I see it again, I shall call it the blue-eyed golden eagle! Alas, I fear I will not see this golden eagle again!" He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh as he landed in the woods near the Green Mountain Temple.

Slowly walking back to the temple, Ye Hua entered and encountered a novice monk. He hadn’t heard that his senior brothers were looking for him. Upon returning to his room, he was fortunate not to run into them. If they discovered that his inner energy was depleted, they would surely be alarmed, and if they found out about his journey to the forbidden lake, it might cause trouble. It was better to keep things small and avoid complications.

Ye Hua settled in his room and took out the bag of rare herbs. Most of the spiritual medicines had already been consumed, leaving only a few healing potions, which he kept as they had little effect on his cultivation. Among them was a type called "Seven Treasures Pill," made from five rare medicinal ingredients. It was particularly effective for replenishing lost vitality.

Ye Hua took a few Seven Treasures Pills and began to meditate and cultivate.