"Baa baa baa—"
The sheep's rump tilted at a forty-five-degree angle towards the sky, a look of human-like terror hanging on its cheeks, bleating incessantly.
"Is it the northeast direction of the prairie?"
Carrying a wooden column on the left shoulder, gripping the sheep's horn with the right hand, Master Fox sped at a rate not less than eighty kilometers per hour, responded to the sheep, saying: "Bear with it for now, Master Fox is fast..."
According to the relay report from Sheep Baah, the flock discovered traces of the Black-skinned Rabbit near Hulan Prairie, and the information was relayed back through a relay of bleats.
Sheep Dao Lang and Tang Lian were dispatched to investigate.
But the Black-skinned Rabbit brought reinforcements, teaming up with two badgers, pressing Sheep Dao Lang and Tang Lian directly, forcing Sheep Dao Lang to bleat out loud, transmitting the information back.
The cattle and sheep on the prairie began to seek reinforcements everywhere upon receiving Sheep Dao Lang's information.
"Hiss hiss hiss—"
Following Master Fox's deep venture into the prairie, strange hissing sounds entered his ears.
That sound seemed like the intimidation of a snake spitting, or like the warning hiss of a feline creature.
Two extremely large badgers, swift and agile, darted across the prairie, swinging their sharp claws, attacking Tang Lian, who ventured alone into the prairie.
Tang Lian, originally hearty and strong, upon entering the Spiritualization state, grew a head taller, with leopard-like head and bulging eyes, an iron face with bristling beard, broad Buddha-like ears, resembling the reincarnation of the legendary Tiger-taming Arhat, commanding respect without anger.
Yet.
His face and back area sprouted black hair, exuding an inexplicable sense of malevolence.
Tang Lian stood firmly on the prairie, his gaze frosty, constantly watching the two running badgers.
"Baa—"
Amidst the murderous aura overflowing outside the battlefield, a rabbit with entirely black fur, pink erected ears, stood up on tiptoe, grabbed Sheep Dao Lang's big ear, and flipped him over his shoulder.
The rabbit smashed Sheep Dao Lang onto the grass on the left side.
Sheep Dao Lang let out a miserable cry.
Without waiting for a respite, the Black-skinned Rabbit again lifted him high and slammed him onto the right side ground.
That black rabbit was like playing ball, battering Sheep Dao Lang round and round on the grassland.
Though incredibly unbelievable, Tang Lian appeared at ease while confronting the two Spirit Beasts.
Confronting the Black-skinned Rabbit, Sheep Dao Lang was already rolled into a bounceable ball by the rabbit, only able to cry out.
"Go..."
"Go help Tang Lian! I can hold up on my end..."
Carrying a weight-bearing column, the visibly noticeable Master Fox made no attempt to hide. Sheep Dao Lang naturally noticed the bleating, and also saw Master Fox standing upright.
But the first words Sheep Dao Lang uttered made Master Fox halt his steps, a look of bewilderment crossed his face.
You say you can hold up?
Judging by your condition, you're nearly battered into the shape of a square sheep from my world, how will you hold up?
"The rabbit...from Northern, those two badgers, not sure where they're from...they're invaders!"
As Sheep Dao Lang was spun overhead, pinned onto an imaginary tombstone by the Black-skinned Rabbit, he bleated.
Although Sheep Dao Lang appeared quite battered, he epitomized thick skin and resilience.
He merely lacked the strength compared to the Black-skinned Rabbit, being overwhelmed in terms of brute force, appearing quite miserable.
In reality, the injuries inflicted by the rabbit's battering were merely some swelling.
He could hold up on his end.
But it's different for Tang Lian, those two creatures resembling badgers were in fact African honey badgers, fundamentally not native to the land, but invaders from the Outer Region!
If not for the timely arrival of himself and Tang Lian, the naïve Black-skinned Rabbit would likely have been smuggled out!
The two honey badgers were leading him toward the border, just five hundred kilometers past, they'd reach the Outer border.
"Invaders?"
Master Fox's gaze shifted towards the two jumping honey badgers, speaking in human tongue, but the two honey badgers paid no heed to Master Fox, their eyes fixed solely on the dignified and formidable Tang Lian.
"Indeed. They are carriers of translocation genes from the Outer Region, though it's currently unclear if they're from the Outer or foreigners..."
Seeing Master Fox coming to assist and focusing his attention in his direction, the initially tense Tang Lian relaxed, even showing disdain:
"But based on my experience, these sneaky rats are ninety percent likely Outer people."
"Their hostility towards me is plainly evident."
Previously, during Master Fox's mealtime, Sheep Dao Lang and Tang Lian bumped into each other, mentioning the visit of Master Fox, the chief engineer from Chang'an City.
Tang Lian consulted above.
There indeed existed a Fox chief engineer, and his purpose here was tourism, but should any Spirit Beast or invasion incidents arise, he'd lend assistance.
An albino red fox, registered name: Master Fox.
His 'master' title originated from single-handedly defeating numerous Spirit Beasts of Xia Dong.
Master Fox.
A master in both the biological and physical sense.
Though many areas of Master Fox's dossier were redacted, his past exploits revealed his brutal combat prowess.
With such a reliable ally, the assured Tang Lian lost interest in confronting the two honey badgers.
Or say....
At first sight, they evoked disgust.
"They haven't shown their faces, how can you tell they're Outer people? Can't they be foreigners?"
Master Fox spoke with interest, looking at the two honey badgers who showed excitement rather than fleeing upon his arrival.
"There's a proverb in the Outer Region."
"The worst people in the world are Xia people. And among Xia people, the worst are Northern people, and among Northern people, it's those speaking the Northern tongue who are worst..."
Tang Lian sneered, saying: "These ingrates naturally resent us, for we know their vile and shameless deceptions, their founding lies!"
"Fans of Russia like dogs before, even slaughtering all the nobles of the Golden Family branch. Later, when Russia fell, they proclaimed to be the legitimate Gold Family and descendants of God's whip to found a nation."
"Erect your mother's tombstone!"
"Think we can't retrace genealogy?"
Tang Lian withdrew behind Master Fox, revealing their shameless acts aloud.
Yet he left some face unscolded, avoiding mention of the Outer Region's national obsession with shady businesses.
Brandishing the Golden Family flag, yet engaging in vile acts.
Previously, harboring animosity towards Xia and Northern folks, even occasionally casting sandstorms over.
When Xia experienced earthquakes, the Outer folk pretended benevolence, donating cattle and sheep to Xia.
But!
Xia bans the import/export of live poultry to block foreign epidemics or parasites.
Northern said they'd do without, rather eat themselves, but Outer people forcibly herded cattle and sheep to the border demanding acceptance.
Seeming enthusiasm, but knowing Xia customs regulations, they aimed for Xia to establish a modern slaughterhouse and supporting cold chains in the Outer Region.
With cattle and sheep delivered, you can't refuse?
Exasperated Northern, for the million-dollar cattle and sheep, invested forty million to construct a slaughterhouse near the border.
Outer people could only gape, staring at the nearly perfect newly built slaughterhouse close to the border, along with the cold chain and new road.
Regarding Outer folk's diplomatic treacheries, Tang Lian could rant for three days and nights.
Just as they hate him, Tang Lian despised Outer people's treacherous deeds to the extreme.