Mu Ye’s vitality was astonishing. Ning Beichen had never encountered anyone with a stronger life force than him. Even if Mu Ye were reduced to a dying dog, as long as he had a breath left, Ning Beichen was confident Mu Ye would survive.
“Mu Ye, you haven’t slept all night. You should go rest.” Ning Beichen said, concerned he might be exhausted.
“Mr. Ning, I’m not tired at all.” Mu Ye shook his head, his tone firm. He wasn't pretending; he genuinely wasn't tired. A sleepless night was nothing to him. He had once gone a month without sleep. Mu Ye's excitement and anticipation at Ning Beichen's arrival only fueled his energy. He was eager to seize this opportunity to serve Ning Beichen, an opportunity he had waited three years for, a chance to repay his debt of gratitude.
“You… you are like a weed in the wind, a useless foxtail grass with the fate of a draft animal for life,” Ning Beichen said with a helpless sigh. He had saved Mu Ye not for repayment, but because he couldn't bear to see the young man's potential wasted. He had given Mu Ye a new life, hoping he would have a better future. For Mu Ye, however, Ning Beichen was the most important person in his life, his savior, his untouchable idol. If anyone threatened Ning Beichen, Mu Ye would transform into a wild dog, a lone wolf, or a venomous snake, standing guard without hesitation.
Mu Ye chuckled shyly, a rare innocent and honest expression that surfaced only in Ning Beichen’s presence.
After waking up, Ning Beichen and Mu Ye had something to eat before setting off. Ning Beichen knew the Black Dragon King's lair was in a primeval forest, but he didn't know its exact location, which was where Mu Ye's expertise was needed. Mu Ye's greatest asset was his sense of smell. Before Ning Beichen saved him, he had been kept in a cage and used as a hyena. Ning Beichen, upon rescuing him, hadn't restricted this ability but instead granted him freedom and a new life. This was one of the reasons Mu Ye considered Ning Beichen his most important person.
Soon, they reached the outskirts of the primeval forest. Here, the car could go no further. They parked and continued on foot. Within the dense forest, Mu Ye was like a native beast. With a single sniff, he could discern what creatures had passed through, much to Ning Beichen's amazement.
However, the forest was vast. They searched for three days without finding the Black Dragon King’s den. Moreover, an unusual energy interfered with all communication devices in the area. Mobile phones, walkie-talkies, and drones became useless scrap metal. Otherwise, Ning Beichen wouldn't have needed Mu Ye's help; he could have simply deployed his own men with drones to locate the Black Dragon King in no time. The Black Dragon King had clearly chosen this secluded spot for its security, making it difficult for enemies to reach him.
Ning Beichen actually believed someone else was better suited than Mu Ye to track the Black Dragon King: Li Haitang. Li Haitang was a Miao shaman, and the Black Dragon King was also a type of sorcerer. Coupled with Li Haitang's upbringing in the mountains, she possessed superior conditions and abilities for the task compared to Mu Ye. However, Ning Beichen didn't want to put Li Haitang in danger for his sake. He hadn't told her the specifics, only asking for items effective against sorcerers.
The oil-paper umbrella slung over his back was one such item. This was no ordinary umbrella; according to Li Haitang, when opened, it could shield Ning Beichen from her own sorcery. However, it wasn't invincible. Its protection lasted only for one hour, or two hours, after which it would need a month to recharge. Hidden within the umbrella's handle was a sword, a formidable weapon capable of nullifying most sorcerous attacks. It was Li Haitang's personal weapon, and for reasons she hadn't fully disclosed, she had given it to Ning Beichen, her constant companion. With these two powerful artifacts from Li Haitang, Ning Beichen felt confident enough to face the Black Dragon King.
On the evening of the third day, Ning Beichen and Mu Ye set up a campfire in a clearing and began roasting some of the game they had caught along the way.
“Mu Ye, sit down and eat with me.” Ning Beichen broke off half of the roasted pheasant and offered it to him.
Mu Ye, as usual, was about to refuse, but Ning Beichen commanded him in an unshakeable tone, “Sit down and eat, or I’ll send you back.”
Upon hearing Ning Beichen’s order, Mu Ye meekly sat down. He held the roasted pheasant half Ning Beichen had given him like an bewildered child.
“Eat, Mu Ye.” Ning Beichen said, then began to devour his portion of the pheasant. Mu Ye, with his head slightly bowed, also started eating. He was not good at expressing his emotions, but he knew clearly who was good to him, who was sincere, and who was not.
After they finished the pheasant, Mu Ye offered to fetch some water from the river. Ning Beichen, unconcerned, leaned against a large tree to rest. Gradually, however, Ning Beichen sensed something was amiss. Mu Ye had been gone to fetch water for over half an hour, and he still hadn’t returned. Initially, Ning Beichen assumed he might be taking a bath or relieving himself, but the time was excessive. Furthermore, knowing Mu Ye, he wouldn't disappear without notice. Mu Ye always informed Ning Beichen of his intentions, even for minor tasks like fetching water.
“Mu Ye!” Ning Beichen called out loudly.
There was no response from Mu Ye. Ning Beichen immediately stood up. Given Mu Ye’s acute hearing, if he were nearby, he would undoubtedly have heard Ning Beichen’s shout and responded. This left only two possibilities. The first was that Mu Ye had gone beyond earshot. The second was that Mu Ye had encountered trouble and was unable to respond.