On their journey from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, they didn’t really need to bring much food or luggage. After all, two or three days of hunger wasn’t much to them. Hunting beasts or foraging for plants and fruit was a piece of cake, and they were unafraid of the elements. So, they traveled light. However, going to the Gana Grassland was a different story.

Just like when Sui Yi ventured into the Death Desert with Gong Jiu in modern times, they came well-equipped.

Although resources were limited in this era, they still needed some provisions and clothing, as well as a rough map...

There wasn’t an exact detailed map of the Gana Grassland, only a rather crude overview. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The so-called overview was essentially large, lopsided sections with place names scrawled boldly and forcefully within them...

Luckily, among the people saved by Sui Yi and Wu Xie, several were from the Western Regions and familiar with these place names. After some information exchange, the two of them were no longer completely clueless about the Gana Grassland.

However, one of the people from the Western Regions brought up a matter.

"If the two of you plan to enter the Gana Grassland... you must remember... Beware of the Thornbird."

Thornbird?

Sui Yi was somewhat aware of the legends from the Western Regions. The Snow Demon was one, and the other was the Thornbird. While the Snow Demon belonged more to the realm of ghosts and deities, the Thornbird was more akin to an epic tale, reflecting a form of civilization in the Western Regions.

It was said that a Thornbird sings only once in its lifetime. Its song is exquisitely beautiful, unmatched by anything in creation. From the moment it leaves the nest, it searches tirelessly for its thorn tree. On this tree, it sings in the embrace of spreading thorns; the longest, sharpest spike piercing its body. As its life wanes, it transcends the pain and sings joyfully, its sweet song outshining even the lark or nightingale. Its song is sublime, yet it’s sacrificed at the cost of its life. But all of creation listens to its beautiful song, even the gods in the heavens smile down upon it from The Blue Dome... (Adapted from "The Song of the Thornbird")

The legend is beautiful, but reality is harsh. Very few Thornbirds can finish their song in this world. The thorns clutch their throats before the song ends, and they become blood-thorned birds, forever mute. Countless Thornbirds through the ages have hidden in the thorns, unable to complete a song, building a terrifying resentment. The Evil Spirits of the Western Regions exploited this resentment, telling the Thornbirds that if they seized human ears and hearts, depriving them of hearing, the Evil God would grant them the freedom to sing, allowing them to serenade the vast grasslands...

Thereafter, on snowy nights, Thornbirds would appear across the skies, descending to the ground and transforming into malevolent phantoms, snatching human lives, cutting off ears and hearts to offer to the Evil God, in order to fulfill their own longing...

Is it just a legend? In truth, every year a significant number of people fall victim to the Thornbirds, their ears severed, hearts gouged out...

The most frequent occurrence is during the Snow God Festival, when the heavens are closest to the earth, closest to humans...

Snow Demons, Thornbirds, Zhi... Sui Yi memorized these and set out for the Gana Grassland the same day. This time, however, they couldn’t ride Central Plains Horses, choosing instead to purchase two expensive Grassland Horses, heading straight for the Gana Grassland...

As the two left the small town, a shadow emerged from around a corner, watching them depart with a cold smile, releasing a Black Hawk from his hands.

As their horses galloped, Sui Yi looked skyward, seeing a Black Hawk flying overhead. Its path mirrored theirs.

She smirked and whistled.

Wu Xie heard the whistle and glanced upwards.

In the sky, a similarly large and formidable Black Hawk was swiftly besieged by five Grey Falcons, plummeting quickly to the ground.

As horses thundered on, Sui Yi hooked the falling Black Hawk with her Sword Sheath, catching it in her hand.

Tied to its claw was a small bamboo tube. Retrieving the letter inside, after reading it, Sui Yi’s expression softened slightly.

Wu Xie also read it, raising an eyebrow.

It was a list.

A list that outlined some of the Masters entering from the Northeast and Southeast directions of the Central Plains.

Included were Shi Feixuan and Natasha, though notes beside their names indicated that they had escaped and their whereabouts were unknown.

At the top was Sui Yi’s name, prominently marked, with a note stating she had just left the small town, heading for the Gana Grassland.

Following was the Nameless Swordsman, with a similar itinerary as Sui Yi’s.

Further down, Sui Yi recognized many familiar names on the list.

"Demon Sect’s Wanwan, An Long, Dugu Sheng, Dugu Mingyue, Du Gourou, Shen Luoyan, Qin Shubao, Fu Junyu, Yan Huifeng, Fu Qian, Shang Xiuxun..." (Excited to see this list?)

Sui Yi was astonished; some of these people she knew, others she didn’t, but she felt instinctively that they were all figures of some repute.

Or perhaps, this group specifically targeted prominent figures.

Clearly signaling a conspiracy of grand scale.

Wu Xie understood even less about the internal structure of the Great Tang Double Dragon than Sui Yi did, given that he wasn’t one to read modern martial arts novels, even though he had been undercover for many years... This was entirely different from someone like Liew Baiyi.

In total, there were about thirty people listed.

Neither Wu Xie nor Sui Yi commented much on it. They were quietly sure that they had become the hunters’ prey.

Prey — an intriguing experience.

Two supremely accomplished Great Grandmasters looked silently towards the Gana Grassland.

However, Sui Yi’s handling of the list made Wu Xie raise an eyebrow slightly. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest driving force. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)