Then the corpse would "come back to life."
So the main issue must be with that wisp of gray mist.
But what exactly is it?
A strange toxin?
Or is it a new method that I am unaware of?
Kong Xiangdong was full of doubts and curiosity.
If it weren’t for the fact that he had more important things to do, he really wanted to capture a moving "corpse" right now and study it carefully.
But Kong Xiangdong also knew that time was running out.
Because just then, that unimaginably large ship was rumbling towards the coast.
Along the way, mist surged and the tide rose.
Faintly, a towering chimney could be seen constantly emitting gray smoke.
At this moment, the beast head sculpture at the bow of the ship seemed to sense something, its green eyes rotated slightly, and then it looked towards Kong Xiangdong in the sky.
After meeting those eyes, Kong Xiangdong felt like he had fallen into an abyss, even his soul was instantly frozen.
He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, and couldn’t even think.
At this moment, the Free-Loading Bird leader below him suddenly trembled violently, seemingly trying to wake him up.
It was then that Kong Xiangdong snapped out of the nightmare-like state, sweating profusely and gasping for breath, his eyes full of fear.
Because at that moment, he had clearly felt the outline of death.
This extremely bizarre attack method made Kong Xiangdong incredibly frightened, so he dared not stay any longer. He patted the Free-Loading Bird under him, meaning to hurry up and leave.
The Free-Loading Bird leader had been waiting for this command.
In fact, it was already a miracle that it had managed to hold out this long.
But just as it turned to flee the battlefield, the beast head suddenly opened its mouth and emitted an ear-shattering whistle.
Kong Xiangdong spat out a large mouthful of blood with a "puh."
The bird beneath him trembled even more severely, almost falling.
Yet the Free-Loading Bird leader struggled to flap its wings, stumbled, and then rose back into the air, flying off into the distance.
The entire process happened very quickly, and many people didn’t notice it.
In fact, there were hardly any living people left by the shore now.
Besides a few still struggling against the "dead," only Liu Shiyi noticed this scene.
Even from a great distance, Liu Shiyi could tell at a glance that the person lying on the giant bird’s back was Kong Xiangdong.
When he realized this, Liu Shiyi’s first instinct was to open his mouth and call for help.
Because Liu Shiyi knew very well that only Kong Xiangdong could save him now.
Otherwise, there were only two outcomes if he stayed on the battlefield: being shot dead by bullets from the ship or being killed by those living dead.
But before he could open his mouth, the sound wave attack from the beast head made Kong Xiangdong spit a large mouthful of blood.
The blood mist even blew onto Liu Shiyi’s face.
After that, Kong Xiangdong fled in disarray on the giant bird.
Liu Shiyi lay on the ground, suddenly finding it somewhat amusing.
He had just been indulging in delusions!
Actually thinking of asking Kong Xiangdong for help.
Isn’t this a dream?
He had betrayed him first, and Kong Xiangdong hadn’t killed him at the time, which was already good enough, how could he possibly come to save him?
Moreover, Liu Shiyi was certain that Kong Xiangdong had definitely noticed him then.
But there was nothing in Kong Xiangdong’s eyes but a trace of coldness.
Not even ridicule or mockery.
Yet it was this complete indifference that made Liu Shiyi feel even more uncomfortable and made him lose the will to survive.
"Let it be! I’m tired!"
Liu Shiyi lay in the snow and ice, looking up at the rapidly darkening sky, with only this thought left in his mind.
Meanwhile, Kong Xiangdong was rushing back.
Just as Liu Shiyi had predicted, he did see Liu Shiyi a moment ago.
But as Liu Shiyi also observed, Kong Xiangdong didn’t care about this matter at all.
Compared to the horrific changes happening today at the coast of the Wuyang Sea, Liu Shiyi’s betrayal and the price he would have to pay were insignificant.
Despite the injury of the Free-Loading Bird leader, its speed remained fast.
So within just half a cup of tea’s time, Kong Xiangdong returned to the camp in front of the Great Snow Mountain.
As soon as he landed, his legs went weak, almost causing him to collapse.
Fortunately, someone nearby quickly supported him.
"Chief!"
"Leader, what’s wrong?"
The people exclaimed in surprise.
Because Kong Xiangdong looked truly terrifying at that moment.
Most of the blood he had previously spat stained his chest, dyeing his clothes red, making it particularly striking.
With his pale complexion and dim eyes, anyone could tell he was injured.
And seriously so.
Considering he had just returned from the Wuyang Sea’s coast, it was obvious something must have happened there.
Kong Xiangdong took a deep breath, suppressed his boiling Qi Blood, and quickly ordered, "Quick, depart immediately, leave this place."
"What? Leave now?" someone asked in surprise.
"Yes, leave now, and only take the most essential items, leave everything else behind," Kong Xiangdong shouted.
The people immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
Fortunately, these people were used to mingling at the coast; their important possessions were always with them, their bags always packed, ready to escape at any moment.
So when they heard Kong Xiangdong’s words, the whole camp instantly burst into action.
Even the women of the night showed rare decisiveness, taking only the most important items, leaving everything else behind as per Kong Xiangdong’s instructions.
In just a few minutes, the group had assembled and then left the camp, starting to cross the Great Snow Mountain before them.
By this time, no one was asking Kong Xiangdong what had happened at the coast.
For the evidence before their eyes proved everything.
The sun that used to hang in the eastern sky had long disappeared, replaced by clouds as thick as ink.
Not just that, the cold wind started to howl, with large snowflakes mixed in.
The temperature began to drop rapidly, making it unbearable even before the relatively warm Great Snow Mountain.
If these were just weather changes, then the continuously surging mist on the distant Snowfield was like a death knell, causing everyone to change their colors in fear.
Without needing to be urged, everyone was desperately moving forward, scrambling to cross the Great Snow Mountain before them.
Meanwhile, many looked at Kong Xiangdong, leading the group, with eyes full of reverence.
If they had previously harbored resentment towards Kong Xiangdong for intervening, that resentment had now turned into full admiration.
Because everyone understood what the rising mist on the Snowfield meant.
The Sea Gatherers, who had once made a fortune by the sea, were evidently wiped out.
Were it not for Kong Xiangdong’s insistence, they too would have perished by the sea long ago.
In an instant, Kong Xiangdong’s image in the minds of these Sea Gatherers grew even more towering.
If his previous prestige was mostly based on absolute force, it had now undergone a significant change.
However, Kong Xiangdong didn’t have time to think about these things at the moment.
As he hurried along the road, he took out paper and brush, using his hand as a desk, and quickly wrote something.
But the temperature was too low, and the brush tip froze after only a few words. He had to thaw it with his mouth, making the writing discontinuous and incoherent.
Yang Zhan naturally understood what Kong Xiangdong was writing.
He did only one thing: he took out a fine iron hip flask from his pocket, poured some high-proof liquor from it, and used it to grind ink.
Soon, the aroma of wine filled the air as the ink was mixed, remaining fluid even in the cold.
Yang Zhan handed the ink box to Kong Xiangdong, who took it and immediately started writing rapidly, completing the letter and sealing it in a pouch.
But it was not yet time to release the carrier pigeons because the temperature was too low. Even the unusual pigeons could not withstand such cold.
The only option was to quickly cross the Great Snow Mountain and release them then.