The commander continued to brief Xiao Feng about the boy. "Qin Tian is somewhat of a recluse, estranged from the rest of the protection zone's inhabitants. He often clashes with our soldiers. Despite several stern warnings, he remains headstrong and indifferent to the presence of our Alliance troops."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng inquired, "Does this boy possess any supernatural abilities?"
The commander hesitated momentarily. "You mean, is Qin Tian an esper?"
Xiao Feng nodded, pondering silently. If Qin Tian were indeed an esper, he might be the very person they sought. Otherwise, he was merely a stubborn, peculiar child.
Nevertheless, Xiao Feng's curiosity was piqued. "Where does this boy usually go to gather herbs?"
The commander pointed toward a distant mountain. "Qin Tian ventures into those mountains to collect herbs. His grandfather, aside from poor eyesight, suffers from chronic leg pain. You saw for yourself how unsteady he is. Their family is impoverished, so Qin Tian must gather these herbs to alleviate his grandfather's suffering."
"I have nothing better to do," Xiao Feng remarked, "I'll climb the mountain and look for him."
The commander immediately objected, "No, that's too dangerous. The mountain is frequented by ferocious beasts."
Xiao Feng smiled calmly. "What's the highest-level beast on that mountain?"
"Perhaps a level E... or maybe even a D," the commander replied solemnly. In his mind, an E-level beast was already formidable, while a D-level was nearly invincible—any such creature invading the protection zone would surely raze it to the ground.
But to Xiao Feng, E- and D-level beasts were mere trifles. He chuckled softly, "Just a D-level beast? Very well. No need to worry—D-level beasts are laughable."
The commander watched in bewilderment as Xiao Feng strode off. "He's not even fazed by a D-level beast...?"
At that moment, Tugou passed by the commander. "Did you notice the giant gun my boss carries on his back?"
The commander nodded appreciatively. "That's impressive. I've never seen such a weapon."
"It can annihilate C-level beasts in one shot."
"What? Seriously? Where can I get one? I'd like to equip my troops."
Tugou smirked. "You wish. But I'll tell you this—there's only one like it in the entire world." With that, he trailed after Xiao Feng.
Pandora, a machine being, felt no fatigue. Newly arrived, she was eager to explore the mountain's scenery.
Meanwhile, Rush stretched and said to the commander, "I'm not climbing any mountain with those guys. Can I get a room to rest?"
After exiting the protection zone, Xiao Feng, Tugou, and Pandora quickened their pace, racing toward the mountain.
Xiao Feng's powers granted him enhanced speed and strength, while Tugou and Pandora, being mechanical, could maintain rapid movement effortlessly. The distant mountain was reached in less than half an hour.
From afar, Xiao Feng spotted a narrow path and hurried along it, crouching down to sniff the air keenly.
Suddenly, a faint scent crept into his nostrils—similar to the aroma lingering in the old man's humble abode, though considerably weaker here. Only Xiao Feng's keen olfactory senses could detect it.
He stood, turning to Pandora and Tugou. "Alright, we can track this kid now—I've caught his scent."
The trio pressed onward along the mountain path.
Unlike Europe, Asia's mountains were adorned with a diverse array of vegetation. Summer bathed the forest in blooms and wild fruits.
Pandora and Tugou marvelled at the lush flora as they walked.
Leading the way, Xiao Feng tread carefully, concentrating to discern Qin Tian's scent. Fortuitously, all three possessed exceptional endurance, allowing them to press on without pause.
Suddenly, as Xiao Feng glanced at his communicator to check the time, a red dot rapidly closed in on their position.
His brow furrowed; the red indicator signaled a C-level beast approaching. Caution was imperative.
Xiao Feng addressed the cold-eyed Pandora and the somewhat naive Tugou: "A C-level beast is closing in. Prepare for combat."
Tugou's shoulder and back armor unfolded, revealing an array of weapons.
For Pandora, whose powers neared the tenth-level esper threshold, this C-level beast was little more than a playful pup—no preparation needed.
Xiao Feng removed his Black Angel firearm, cradling it as he fixed his gaze on the approaching red dot.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and trees shook violently. The sharp crack of snapping branches grew louder.
Tugou and Pandora also looked on, their vision revealing a blurry figure—not due to swift movement, but an ethereal indistinctness.
Xiao Feng's exceptional eyesight and the advanced tech aiding Tugou and Pandora allowed them to perceive this translucent figure weaving through the trees.
Xiao Feng was intrigued. Such an apparition surely indicated a unique esper ability; otherwise, the boy would not appear so intangible.
Before they could react further, the figure passed between them, as if they were invisible.
Then the C-level beast appeared—a fearsome, brightly striped tiger—roaring as it charged toward the trio.
Upon seeing Xiao Feng and his companions, the tiger abruptly halted, abandoning its pursuit of the elusive figure.
Xiao Feng turned to see the blurry silhouette pause nearby, cautiously peering in their direction with a faint, uncertain expression.
Calmly, Xiao Feng raised the enhanced Black Angel and fired a single shot. The blast struck the tiger squarely between the eyes.
The enormous beast collapsed instantly.
Xiao Feng, Tugou, and Pandora remained composed, but the indistinct figure stood dumbfounded, mouth agape, utterly incredulous.