If Chen Yuan guessed correctly, these were exactly the Star Moon Deer he had briefly encountered at Crescent Lake.
“Roar~”
The largest Star Moon Deer leader slowly rose, its light brown eyes scanning Chen Yuan and the three small creatures beside him one by one, blinking nimbly as if recalling something. The wariness in its eyes dissipated.
The group of Star Moon Deer, which had been briefly stirred by Chen Yuan's arrival, also lowered their guard and went about their business.
Only one small Star Moon Deer rushed towards Chen Yuan without hesitation, staring intently at the backpack behind him, making a curious, tender sound: “Yo?”
Chen Yuan remembered this little Star Moon Deer.
Initially, all the Star Moon Deer were wary of the snacks on the ground, but this little deer bravely stepped forward and was the first to taste the delicious treats.
After not seeing it for many days, it was still so bold.
Chen Yuan said with a chuckle, “Don't rush, don't rush.”
He opened the backpack on the ground, took out Texas BBQ flavored potato chips, and waved them at the little Star Moon Deer: “Do you still remember this?”
“Yo!”
The little Star Moon Deer's eyes sparkled. In that instant, it recalled that indescribable taste, lowering its head and staring intently.
Chen Yuan tore open the package and placed it on the ground: “Eat, eat.”
Chen Yuan nodded in understanding, then looked at the injured little Star Moon Deer and asked with a smile: “What about you, little one? Among so many little deer, only you got hurt.”
Most of the adult deer had injuries, but among the little deer, only this one was injured.
“Yo!”
Hearing this, the most special little Star Moon Deer raised its head, its light brown eyes gleaming, and made a boastful cry.
Because only it had the courage to actively attack the Snow Cloud Wolves.
The other little deer were protected by the adult deer, but only it took the initiative, repelling a Snow Cloud Wolf that was preparing to sneak attack.
Chen Yuan couldn't help but give a thumbs up: “You're so amazing, but remember to protect yourself well.”
The setting sun was like blood.
Chen Yuan and Old Xing finished dinner and sat in front of the door, watching the Star Moon Deer grazing in the forest in front while talking to each other.
“How is that forest?” Chen Yuan asked.
This was the most concerning matter for the Baokun City Pet Beast Master Association, especially after this rainstorm, which might have brought changes to that mysterious forest.
“It's about the same as before, except the affected area is wider.”
“Big Black and I don't dare go there.” Old Xing replied.
Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully: “I'll go take a look tomorrow.”
“Have there been any other noteworthy changes in the mountains recently?”
A trace of thought appeared on Old Xing's withered face, and he pondered: “Other than there being more pet beasts, the terrain has become very unfamiliar.”
Chen Yuan nodded, these were obvious changes that could not be ignored.
As they talked, darkness fell without them realizing it.
The night in the deep mountains was exceptionally profound, with only the boundless starry sky hanging above. Chen Yuan went to bed early.
Outside the house,
Star Moon Deer leaned against each other, the star patterns on their bodies emitting a fluorescent glow in the dark night, as if they had become a reflection of the brilliant stars in the sky.
The next day, early morning.
Chen Yuan got up early, quickly finished breakfast, and followed Old Xing to the mysterious forest.
“Roar!”
Accompanied by a deep roar, the Deer King stepped to the front, the adult deer following the leader's pace, protecting the little deer in the middle.
They should go home too.
Chen Yuan's route overlapped with the Star Moon Deer in some parts, but Chen Yuan took the relatively flat mountain path at the foot of the mountain, while the Star Moon Deer chose to cut diagonally up the steep rock wall on the side.
Their rock climbing ability was very strong. Although they were walking on a dangerous mountain road that made Chen Yuan feel frightened, they were still walking on flat ground, rising a distance in a short time.
“That's how they get rid of the Snow Cloud Wolves.” Old Xing's voice suddenly rang out.
Chen Yuan nodded.
The Star Moon Deer were clearly somewhat similar to the mountain goats before the spirit energy recovery, being very good at climbing.
Perhaps because of the rainstorm, Chen Yuan clearly felt that the road under his feet was much muddier than last time, the soil was looser, and there were small puddles in some places.
Chen Yuan, walking on a flat road, was already like this, and the Star Moon Deer climbing on the steep mountains felt the difficulty of the road even more. The stones under their feet occasionally fell down with the loose soil, startling them and making them move forward quickly, not daring to stop at all.
Fortunately, there was no landslide, only some stones fell down, making a "bang" sound.
Chen Yuan said: “Let's not get too close.”
“Awoo, awoo.”
Cola, who was closely following Chen Yuan, raised his head, looked at the Big Sister and Electric Flying Cat soaring in the air, and showed sincere envy in his eyes.
Another day of not being able to fly.
The two people and four pets at the foot of the mountain moved forward slowly, and the Star Moon Deer on the top of the mountain crossed the steep mountains and finally reached the highest point of this mountain.
There was no road ahead. To continue, they had to cross a cliff of more than ten meters and jump to the opposite mountain.
The difference in height between this cliff and the foot of the mountain was hundreds of meters. If they accidentally lost their footing, even extraordinary creatures would be smashed into meat sauce.
Chen Yuan couldn't help but be stunned: “Is this the only way for them to go home?”
Looking up, even though they were hundreds of meters apart, Chen Yuan could clearly see the distance between the two cliffs.
This was not one or two meters, but more than ten meters.
Before the spirit energy recovery, perhaps only the strongest antelopes could jump over, and even that was only possible.
Old Xing stroked his beard and said in a low voice: “I know, but since the leader is leading the way, there must be a reason for it.”
Chen Yuan was silent for a moment.
The Deer King would not harm the Star Moon Deer, it would only hope that the deer herd would gradually grow stronger.
Above the cliff, the wind howled.
The Deer King's tall figure stood at the very front, a half-step forward would be a cliff with a hundred-meter drop. Its light brown eyes swept over every Star Moon Deer, and suddenly it raised its head and roared: "Roar～"
"Roar!"
"Yo!"
The rest of the Star Moon Deer all raised their heads in response. For a time, the calls rose and fell one after another. Cola, located at the foot of the mountain, heard the calls and raised its head to roar in a vivid imitation: "Awoo, awoo, awoo!"
No matter who was calling, Cola would always show its support.
The next moment,
the Deer King stared straight ahead. Its limbs glowed with a brilliant white light. Suddenly, it leaped up, its tall body transforming into a perfect parabola, jumping across the cliff, passing through the raging wind, and landing lightly on the opposite mountain peak.
The Deer King succeeded. It looked back at the Star Moon Deer and raised its head to roar: "Roar."
Without exception, read it from the beginning to the end!
Instantly, the atmosphere became excited. One after another, the adult Star Moon Deer stood out. Their jumping postures were surprisingly consistent. Their limbs flashed with dazzling white light, and then they leaped up, easily crossing more than ten meters.
The fawns were all focused on observing the jumping postures of the adult deer, especially paying attention to that brilliant white light.
After becoming a Beastmaster, Chen Yuan, with his excellent eyesight, saw this scene on the cliff and murmured: "So that's how it is."
These Star Moon Deer rely on the wind-type skill [Wind Leap] to easily cross the cliff.
Wind Leap allows a pet to leap several meters in an instant and inflict damage on the opponent upon landing.
As a dark-type pet, it is obvious that the Star Moon Deer has a special opportunity to master the wind-type skill.
And leaping across the cliff may be the opportunity.
The adult deer demonstrated one after another, and the fawns tried one by one.
Soon, it was the turn of the two little Star Moon Deer who had eaten potato chips first. All the Star Moon Deer were staring at them intently.
The brave deer was the first to eat potato chips. The timid deer had been dissuaded by its mother, but eventually broke free from its mother's protection.
The timid deer stood at the very edge of the cliff, its eyes involuntarily looking down. When it saw the hundred-meter drop, its body trembled faintly, and it took half a step back uncontrollably.
"Roar, roar!!!"
The Star Moon Deer on the opposite mountain peak all made sounds of encouragement.
"Yo."
The timid deer rallied its spirits and stood on the outermost stone again, exhaling a long breath and staring straight ahead.
However, just as it was about to leap up, the stone that had been trampled by all the Star Moon Deer suddenly shook, and along with the loose soil underneath, fell towards the foot of the mountain!
The timid deer lost its balance and did not react at all. Its body fell downwards along with the stone!
"Yo!"
At the first moment the stone shook, the brave deer immediately stepped forward and bit the timid deer's tail, trying to pull it up.
However, the force of the fall was too strong. Instead, the brave deer was dragged by the momentum of the timid deer's fall, and together they fell towards the ground!
The adult deer behind tried to rescue them, but the soil at the very edge collapsed, and they could only stop helplessly.
"Roar!!"
For a time, wailing sounds rang out continuously.
At the first moment he saw the two fawns falling, Chen Yuan sensed it: "Spark!"
"Cola!!"
Without even needing Chen Yuan to issue an order, Spark, who had been hovering in mid-air, flew away at top speed at the first moment. Although the Electric Flying Cat's reaction was half a beat slower, it also rushed after it.
The wind raced, and two figures also darted out one after another from the foot of the mountain.
Cola and Big Black were agile, predicting the position where the two fawns would fall and heading straight forward.
Spark's speed was too fast, too fast. The orange-yellow wings trailed a stream of air. In an instant, it approached the falling brave deer, then retracted its wings and swooped down rapidly!
Ten meters!
Five meters!
One meter!
When it was close at hand to the brave deer, Spark suddenly stretched out its claws, firmly grabbed both sides of the brave deer's body, and forcibly stopped the latter's falling momentum.
Spark didn't even feel strained. It grabbed tightly, pulling the brave deer and landing it steadily on the ground.
At the same time,
the Electric Flying Cat also approached the timid deer. It could already clearly see those terrified eyes, and quickly stretched out its claws, grabbing the latter's tail.
But the timid deer's tail was too short and too small. It accidentally let go, and the timid deer continued to fall.
Fortunately, after the Electric Flying Cat's efforts, the timid deer's falling momentum slowed down a lot, and at the same time, it was getting closer and closer to the ground.
"Awoo!"
Cola raised its head and roared, and a violent wind swept around its body, turning into a pair of invisible hands to hold up the falling timid deer, and the falling momentum was finally stopped.
The wind gradually lessened, dragging the timid deer slowly to the ground.
Seeing that both fawns had landed safely, Chen Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief.
Walking over quickly, he saw the brave deer raising its head and looking up at the Star Moon Deer on the cliff. Its expression was without fear or panic, but rather with excitement.
The timid deer's body was still trembling. It stared blankly at the ground, seemingly still immersed in the fear just now.
Chen Yuan squatted down and comforted it repeatedly: "It's okay, you're safe now."
The brave deer gave Chen Yuan a deep look, then looked around, finally found a safe route to the cliff, and ran over quickly.
Suddenly remembering that the timid deer was still staying in place, the brave deer turned back to its side, biting its tail with its mouth and pulling hard.
"Yo."
Its tail hurting, the timid deer finally came back to its senses. It raised its head and saw the Star Moon Deer staring at it from afar, their calls rising and falling one after another.
Finally,
the two fawns ran towards the cliff one after another. The brave deer was completely unaffected, its steps light, while the timid deer moved slowly, its steps cautious.
When the two fawns returned to the cliff again and gathered with the Star Moon Deer, the Deer King stared straight at Chen Yuan below the mountain and raised its head to howl: "Roar!!!"
"Roar!!!"
All the Star Moon Deer followed the Deer King, making a long roar towards Chen Yuan. The deafening sound resounded in the sky.
"They are expressing their gratitude to you," Lao Xing said softly.
Chen Yuan nodded.
For him, it was just a small effort, but for the deer herd, it was saving two young lives that were almost withering.
For this small tribe, every young life is exceptionally precious.
Chen Yuan could imagine that the entire deer herd's goodwill towards him would soar at this moment. If he proposed to sit on their backs for a ride at this time, they would probably accept.
But Chen Yuan didn't say much. He just raised his head, showed a smile, and waved to the Star Moon Deer on the cliff: "See you later."
The Star Moon Deer moved forward, left the cliff, and entered the jungle. Their figures gradually disappeared.
Led by Lao Xing, Chen Yuan continued to move forward, with the three little guys protecting him on the left and right. That mysterious forest gradually appeared in sight.
