Chapter 1094: A Close Call

Niu Youdao asked, "I hear that after Crow Generals transform into human form, they resemble the people whose spirits they carried in life?"

Ao Feng hesitated. "That's true. The three Crow Generals look somewhat familiar after transforming. I should have seen them when they were alive. They seem to have been people from Tianmo Sacred Land, but I never dealt with them. I don't know who they were and can't name them."

Niu Youdao immediately became excited. "Do you remember what the three Crow Generals look like in human form?"

Ao Feng did not understand. "I have some impression. So what if I remember? Don't tell me you plan to go around asking people. No, what exactly are you asking this for?"

Niu Youdao wanted to strengthen his confidence, or rather, since he knew Ao Feng had little choice but to go along, he wanted to give the man more nerve to act. He answered frankly, "I have a way to get past the Crow Generals."

Ao Feng was astonished. "You have a way?"

He was genuinely surprised. He had not expected Niu Youdao's preparations to have already reached this stage.

Niu Youdao waved a hand, not explaining further for now. He quickly slipped out of their hiding place and surveyed the surrounding area.

He was somewhat hesitant about whether to do what he had in mind immediately.

Once Wuliang Garden brought the fire under control and dealt with the immediate danger, there was no possibility it would simply pretend nothing had happened. A large-scale search would inevitably follow. The safest course was naturally to withdraw at once.

But taking one extra step now would save considerable trouble later.

The problem was whether they had enough time. He did not want Wuliang Garden's people catching them.

He had spent too long talking to stabilize Ao Feng and had already delayed somewhat.

Ao Feng had no idea what he was planning. He followed out of the hiding place, and seeing Niu Youdao scan the surroundings, he too glanced around.

The mountains and waters before him unexpectedly stirred emotion in his heart.

Wuliang Garden controlled its people very strictly. Normally he had almost no opportunity to come outside. He had never imagined his next chance to leave would come because Niu Youdao burned his way out with a fire.

Seeing that the distant struggle between people and flame was still continuing, Niu Youdao steeled himself and decided to take the risk.

He beckoned to Ao Feng, then led him back into hiding.

Ao Feng followed and asked, "What is it?"

Niu Youdao pulled open his collar, reached inside his chest, and drew out a stack of white paper. Then, as though performing a conjuring trick, he produced a charcoal pencil as well.

He had come thoroughly prepared.

He had contacted Zhao Xiongge first, then found Wu Fei to understand the situation. He would never have approached Wuliang Garden, much less set this fire, until his preparations had reached a certain point.

That was also why he had brought paper with him before coming, in case an opportunity arose to use it.

Now it had.

Niu Youdao ran spiritual power through one sheet of paper and stiffened it so that even held in one hand, it lay flat as though backed by a board.

Ao Feng was still wondering what the fellow intended when Niu Youdao gestured with the charcoal pencil and said, "The faces of the three Crow Generals after they transform. One at a time. You describe them, and I'll draw."

"..."

Ao Feng was speechless.

He looked at the crude drawing tools and felt the whole thing absurdly casual. How was he supposed to describe them? And how was Niu Youdao supposed to draw them?

Niu Youdao said, "We don't have much time. Move quickly. Stop dawdling. Start with the shape of the face."

Given a direction, Ao Feng thought back carefully for a moment, then leaned his head closer to Niu Youdao's.

"The first one. His face is somewhat square..."

Scratch, scratch.

The charcoal pencil in Niu Youdao's hand moved rapidly back and forth, laying lines across the paper.

"Not that square. Pull the cheekbones inward a little here."

Niu Youdao immediately used a finger to smudge the lines and adjust the cheekbone area.

Under Ao Feng's corrections, the outline of a face gradually emerged. Seeing Niu Youdao's practiced technique, Ao Feng could not help glancing at him several times.

This was the first time he had ever seen this kind of drawing method.

He could not help wondering whether this bastard had deliberately practiced it beforehand for the sake of stealing the Wuliang Fruit.

If that were truly the case, if Niu Youdao had prepared to such an extent, it actually increased Ao Feng's confidence somewhat.

"The outer corners of the eyes should droop a little more."

"Make this forehead a little narrower."

"The bridge of the nose should be a bit higher, and the chin sharper."

The two huddled closely together, looking almost intimate.

One repeatedly pointed out where the portrait differed from his memory. The other accepted every correction without objection, changing whatever was wrong immediately.

There was no hesitation. They could not afford delay.

Ao Feng had not formally agreed to join Niu Youdao in the affair, and Niu Youdao had never demanded an explicit answer.

Yet in actual behavior, the two were plainly already acting like partners in crime.

Ao Feng, in particular, was thoroughly absorbed in the work.

Naturally, even while focused, both men kept one string in their minds taut at all times, reserving part of their attention for movement outside.

Scratch, scratch.

Niu Youdao drew extremely quickly.

Before long, the faces the three Crow Generals had possessed in life appeared on the paper.

The sheets themselves had become rather dirty from all the repeated rubbing and correction.

That did not matter.

For Niu Youdao, these were only rough drafts. So long as he could carry the drafts away, he could redraw them cleanly afterward.

When he finished, Niu Youdao spread the three portraits before Ao Feng. "Look again. Is there anything else that needs changing?"

Ao Feng's gaze moved back and forth over the three faces.

He pondered for a while, then finally shook his head. "They still seem somewhat different from the real people, but my memory is vague. I can't remember clearly enough to explain exactly where. This should be roughly right."

Niu Youdao said, "A portrait drawn from verbal description is bound to differ. I only want one answer from you. Is the difference too large? If someone who knew these three men saw the portraits, would he be able to recognize them?"

Ao Feng said, "It should be close enough. Unless the Crow Generals look very different from how they looked in life, my vague impression of those three men shouldn't be too far off. Otherwise, when I saw the Crow Generals, I wouldn't have felt as though I'd seen them before.

"Someone who knew them should be able to recognize the portraits. At the very least, they look more or less like the Crow Generals do now after transforming. It should work."

As though convincing himself, he nodded.

"Good!"

Niu Youdao quickly folded the portraits and put them away.

Then he handed the paper and charcoal pencil to Ao Feng. "Draw a rough map for me of the defenses and personnel arrangement inside Wuliang Garden."

Ao Feng did not object. He took the materials and began sketching while explaining, "The Wuliang Fruit tree stands exactly at the center of Wuliang Garden. The three Crow Generals roost on the branches of the tree..."

Niu Youdao listened closely, both eyes fixed on the markings gradually appearing on the page.

But they had barely begun when faint voices carried from outside.

"Over there. You search that way..."

Both men jolted.

Their eyes met.

Trouble had arrived.

Wuliang Garden's response was faster than Niu Youdao had expected. Before the fire was even fully under control, they had already sent people to search the surroundings.

Ao Feng immediately shoved the paper and charcoal pencil back to him, darted to the cave entrance, and cautiously peered outside.

When Niu Youdao moved closer, Ao Feng looked back and made a pushing gesture with one palm. Then he pointed to himself, then toward the outside.

He was signaling that he would go out and deal with them.

Niu Youdao nodded.

Ao Feng watched outside briefly, found the right opportunity, and suddenly shot out.

Very soon, one of the searchers shouted, "Who is it?"

Ao Feng answered, "It's me."

The man asked, "Ao Feng? Why are you here?"

Ao Feng looked around as though searching. "While we were fighting the fire, I thought I saw someone moving furtively. I couldn't tell who it was, so I chased over to investigate."

The other man's voice immediately sank. "Where is he?"

"I vaguely saw someone dart into this area. I searched but couldn't find any trace. Everyone spread out and search this section again."

Hearing there might be a suspect here, the man immediately waved his hand. "Spread out and search. Search carefully!"

The others obeyed and scattered.

Without revealing anything, Ao Feng claimed one direction for himself.

It was precisely the direction of Niu Youdao's hiding place.

Inside the cramped cave, Niu Youdao pressed his body against one side of the entrance.

The paper had already been put away.

The false mask was back on his face.

He had removed his outer robe and was reversing parts of his clothing inside-out to alter his appearance.

A figure flashed down at the cave entrance.

Niu Youdao's hand instantly closed around the hilt of the sword at his waist, ready to strike.

When he saw it was Ao Feng, he released the hilt.

A trace of approval appeared in his eyes.

He roughly understood the purpose behind Ao Feng's exchange with the searchers.

Ao Feng had dared violate regulations to rob others in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands. After that competition ended, he had also remained calm enough to testify without losing his nerve.

Those things had already proved he was not some timid coward who panicked under pressure.

What happened now demonstrated even more clearly that he had genuine courage and resourcefulness.

The thing Niu Youdao feared most was getting saddled with an idiot for a partner.

Ao Feng's ability gave him greater confidence in what they were doing.

The moment Ao Feng entered, the two men moved farther back into the cave.

While still paying attention to the outside, Niu Youdao whispered, "If they discover me, don't worry about me. Attack me first. Don't hold back. You must clear yourself completely."

Ao Feng pressed his lips together.

Hearing something like that made him, as the cooperating party, feel considerably more secure.

"Do you have someone outside waiting to support you?"

Niu Youdao said, "Don't worry about me. I'll handle myself. I'll find a way to break through and escape. In this plan, your safety comes first. Nothing can happen to you."

Ao Feng said, "I'm afraid there's no way to explain the guard arrangements inside in detail now."

They had barely started before being interrupted.

"I'll find another opportunity. Within a few days, I'll personally make a trip inside Wuliang Garden and inspect the place on site. We can discuss the details then."

Ao Feng was shocked. "Are you insane? Even disciples of the Nine Saints don't dare enter casually. The moment you go inside, you'll draw suspicion."

"Don't worry. From the first time we met, I never expected to settle everything in one stroke. I've already planned the preparations for what comes afterward. It won't arouse suspicion.

"You shouldn't remain here any longer. Go outside. Return to Wuliang Garden. I'll find my own way to get out."

Ao Feng had just nodded and said, "Be careful..." when the sound of someone landing suddenly came from outside the cave.

Niu Youdao immediately turned sideways and moved lightly into a recess in the rock wall, pressing himself tightly into it.

He became fully alert.

The cave was not deep.

Ao Feng quickly slipped outside and happened to meet a wary searcher walking in.

He tossed out casually, "It's just a shallow cave. Nothing here."

As he spoke, he calmly brushed past the man.

The searcher took two steps farther in and looked around the cave.

Apparently believing Ao Feng, he did not continue forward.

He turned and left as well.

Pressed against the cave wall, Niu Youdao slowly released a breath.

If the man had come even a little farther inside to search, Niu Youdao would inevitably have been exposed.

His only option would have been to kill the man first, then pretend to fight Ao Feng before looking for an opportunity to break out.

Outside the cave, Ao Feng saw his colleague emerge and inwardly relaxed as well.

Too close.

If Niu Youdao had been exposed, Ao Feng did not know whether he could have broken through and escaped.

But one thing was certain.

Wuliang Garden would have sent large numbers of experts to hunt him relentlessly.

And if Niu Youdao fell into Wuliang Garden's hands, the consequences were impossible to imagine.

Who could guarantee that Niu Youdao's mouth would never be pried open?

[End of Chapter 1094]