Chapter 50: Scarlet Finch

"This won't do. If the people from Sword of the Flame Demon discover that entrance, not only will I be in danger—Qingyi and the others will be at risk too!"

With this realization, Lu Kuan immediately changed his mind. He began weaving in a zigzag pattern through the grass, making several large detours, hoping to shake off his pursuers more quickly. But no matter how many times he changed direction, the pursuers always managed to close in swiftly.

The rustling sound of many boots trampling through the grass drew closer and closer, making Lu Kuan's heart sink. This couldn't go on. He had to come up with a plan, or he'd exhaust himself and still be caught.

His mind raced. Was it possible that their mage had marked him with a tracking spell? No, that couldn't be—the distance had been too great for the mage to cast a spell while he was running so fast. The person closest to him earlier had been Redbeard; perhaps Redbeard had a special item, something that functioned like a tracking mark?

That seemed plausible...

Thinking of Redbeard, Lu Kuan suddenly remembered the little bird that always accompanied him. In a flash of realization, he cursed himself for forgetting about that little creature—it was the perfect tracking tool!

After logging off last time, Lu Kuan had looked up some information. That little bird was called a Crimson Beak Finch, a C-rank pet. Its combat ability was virtually zero, making it one of the lowest-rated C-rank pets. However, it was also the only C-rank pet that could fly!

Master Red's eye for such things was truly sharp. For a professional team like Sword of the Flame Demon, which spent most of its time treasure hunting in the wild, a small flying bird like the Crimson Beak Finch was the perfect companion—fast, with excellent vision, and so tiny that it could remain hidden from large monsters.

What's more, the team had found an alternative route to the volcanic crater where the treasure was hidden, and it was clear the Crimson Beak Finch had played a crucial role.

With this in mind, Lu Kuan looked up into the sky, searching carefully. Soon, he spotted a faint gray shadow hovering about thirty meters above and behind him.

"So that's it. That little thing flies so high and is such a pale color—if you didn't look carefully, you'd never see it."

Lu Kuan narrowed his eyes in irritation, but almost immediately, an idea came to him. He slowed his pace, then dove into a dense patch of grass, vanishing from sight.

The Crimson Beak Finch, now deprived of its target, circled high in the air several times, but finding no sign of Lu Kuan, it descended a little, hovering in place as it searched even more intently. After several seconds of observation, the bird still found nothing. Instinct warned it not to draw too close to the grass, but at this distance, it couldn't communicate with its master. As it hovered in hesitation, a sudden danger erupted.

With a sharp whistle, an arrow flew from the opposite direction, catching the finch completely off guard. The arrow grazed its side, dislodging several feathers with a flurry.

Unfortunately, the shot wasn't true. The finch tumbled but managed to right itself, speeding away into the distance, disappearing within moments.

Hidden deep in the grass, Lu Kuan silently poked his head out, disappointment written across his face.

He had moved carefully to the other side, hoping to take the little pest unawares and shoot it down. But the bird was too small and nimble; hitting it in midair was nearly impossible. If he had managed it, though, Master Red would have been devastated—when a pet dies, it loses a level, which means the player loses their own experience points.

Now that this major nuisance was dealt with, Lu Kuan didn't dare linger. He checked the map and sprinted toward the cave entrance.

Meanwhile, fifty meters away in the grass, the members of Sword of the Flame Demon had already stopped. Master Red had lost contact with the Crimson Beak Finch, and just a few seconds later, the little bird came fluttering back unsteadily, nearly falling straight into his hands.

The Crimson Beak Finch was the darling of the entire team. The others quickly gathered around and saw a gash five centimeters long on the bird's left side, stretching to its wing, staining its beautiful feathers bright red. Fortunately, the wound was shallow and hadn't reached any vital organs; the worst of the damage was to its feathers, and it wouldn't be able to fly for some time.

A priest immediately stepped forward, gestured over the bird, and a holy light flashed. With a healing spell, the wound was mostly closed.

Master Red's face was like iron as he flicked his wrist, returning the Crimson Beak Finch to its pet space.

If, yesterday, Lu Kuan's archery had merely impressed them, this incident left Master Red and the others stunned. They all knew just how agile the Crimson Beak Finch was. Even as a moving target on the ground, no ranger in Sword of the Flame Demon had ever managed to hit it, let alone in midair.

"Who exactly is this Old Deer? Is he some god-tier player from the pro circuit, slipping into 'Echoes of the Gods' under a new name just for fun?" muttered the gnome rogue named Grasshopper, voicing what everyone was thinking.

"Who cares who he is? If I run into him, he'll be finished all the same!"

Master Red gritted his teeth, expression grim. "Spread out and search. He definitely didn't come from the outside of the crater; there must be a hidden passage nearby. Once you find it, don't waste time talking—take him out immediately."

The group fanned out at his command.

Meanwhile, Lu Kuan had found the stone tunnel and leapt down into it.

"Finally! I thought you were dead," came a crisp voice as soon as Lu Kuan landed at the bottom, making him jump. Turning, he saw the fair-featured Aili crouched in the shadows, her eyes shining.

"Why are you still here? Go, quickly!" Lu Kuan didn't waste time, urging her to run.

Following closely, Aili asked anxiously, "Did you get the treasure my grandfather left behind?"

"Got it. I'll explain as we go," Lu Kuan replied without looking back.

Satisfied with the answer, Aili fell silent, following tightly, though her eyes gleamed with thoughts.

The stone tunnel was almost vertical in places, with many sections connected to the outer cliff face. One misstep meant a hundred-meter drop. Even though Lu Kuan was desperate to hurry, his speed was limited.

He could only climb while frantically messaging Qingyi and the others, telling them to take Atang and ascend the slope first; he and Aili would catch up soon.

Lu Kuan couldn't help but feel anxious. The ones on his tail were Sword of the Flame Demon—top-tier professional players. He had only gotten away by being faster; if it came to a direct confrontation, Master Red alone would be more than enough trouble.