Dimensional Invasion: I Can Fish for All Heavens

Chapter 544: A Bao's Curiosity About the "Human World" and Zhang Chulan's Inner Anxiety

"national treasure?"

Ah Bao blinked as he listened to Zhang Chulan's words.

Although the word is somewhat unfamiliar, judging from the human tone, it seems to mean that the speaker is very precious and important.
It turned its head, somewhat confused, to look at Azi beside it.

Azi tilted her head slightly, then raised it a little, making a "squeak" sound in her throat, as if she were saying something.

Abao listened attentively, then relayed the message to Zhang Chulan:

“Azi said it has seen many, many animals, different kinds, gathered together, in great numbers.”

"But they were easily killed by humans using terrifying 'things' that made loud noises and flashes of light."

"Moreover, humans collect their bodies and take them away."

As Abao relayed these words, a hint of discomfort and confusion appeared on its chubby face. Clearly, it had sensed some cruel scene from Azi's description.

"Many animals gathered together? Easily killed by a terrifying weapon?"

Zhang Chulan frowned deeply, his confusion growing stronger.

"Firearms? But if it's a large gathering of animals, it's not something a few poachers with shotguns can handle."

"That would have to be an armed conflict or an organized encirclement and suppression."

"But where in China is it really this exaggerated?"

"Even in extremely remote areas, it probably wouldn't be this bad."

"Abroad?"

But if this isn't China, why are there pandas here?
By the way, it said it had only been here a short time, but something still felt off.

It doesn't even know it's a national treasure, so how would it know how to go abroad?
It went unnoticed along the way, and then came a mountain range that it didn't even know was where it was.

Moreover, why would animals gather in large numbers for no reason? Are they migrating? Or are they frightened or attracted by something? This in itself is abnormal.

Besides that, his gaze fell on Azi again.

From the beginning, the sable has been making "squeak squeak squeak" noises, which the panda 'translates'; it seems that the sable itself has never uttered a single human word from beginning to end?
Has its cultivation level not reached the point where it can speak?
Forget it, there's no point in dwelling on these details now.

Zhang Chulan shook his head, temporarily suppressing the chaotic speculations. The most important thing right now was to determine where he was.

No matter where he was, no matter how dangerous the humans these two "spirits" were, he had to go and verify it for himself.

With his current strength, as long as he is careful enough, he should have no problem not being discovered.

As long as he can get close to a human settlement, hear the language, see the writing, or even just observe the architectural style and people's living habits, he can roughly determine the location.

Moreover, deep down, he didn't really believe that he had instantly traveled from Longhu Mountain to a foreign country.

This is too outrageous.

Even someone as all-powerful as the Celestial Master probably couldn't do such a thing, let alone others.

Thinking of this, Zhang Chulan took a deep breath, his original smile vanished, and was replaced by a rare solemnity.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Abao and Azi, and said sincerely:
"Thank you for your guidance, esteemed immortals!"

"No matter what the situation is, I must go and see for myself, otherwise I will not be at ease."

"If this is my Great Xia territory, perhaps there is some misunderstanding; if it is truly a foreign land, then I must find a way to find out the reason."

"Please, immortals, show me the way. I am deeply grateful and will repay your kindness if I have the opportunity in the future!"

Abao looked at Zhang Chulan, who had suddenly become serious, and was somewhat puzzled, not quite used to his sudden change.

Azi stared at Zhang Chulan quietly for a few seconds, then raised one of her front paws and pointed towards the southeast of the valley, letting out a short and clear "squeak" from her throat.

“Azi said, ‘Keep going in this direction.’”

Abao translated.

"Thank you!"

Zhang Chulan once again solemnly clasped his hands in a salute, without the slightest hesitation.

He took a deep look at the bear and the weasel, as if trying to etch their appearance into his mind, then turned around, used his movement technique, and sped off in the direction Azi had pointed.

A Bao stood there, watching Zhang Chulan's figure quickly disappear into the depths of the dense forest.

After a while, it turned its head and said to Ah Zi, who was sitting quietly beside it, in a slightly uncertain tone:
"Azi, I feel like humans aren't entirely as hostile to us as you say?"

"That human we just met, although he was acting strangely at first, I could sense that he seemed quite friendly towards us?"

Ah Bao recalled Zhang Chulan's behavior. Although the human displayed a kind of awe and other emotions that it couldn't understand, it could still discern the friendliness. Moreover, it had always harbored a strong curiosity about the "human" group.

After all, according to Azi, the language it speaks is human language.

It desperately wanted to know if humans knew about the "Jade Palace," the "Dragon Warrior," or where its "home" was.

It was only because of Azi's constant warnings and descriptions of the "danger" of the human world that it suppressed its curiosity and did not take the initiative to make contact.

Now, Zhang Chulan's appearance has reignited its curiosity.

It felt that humans weren't as scary as Azi had described; at least, they were someone it could try to communicate with.
"or."

"Shall we sneak over and take a look?"

"Just observe from afar, without getting close, and see what the human world is really like?"

Ah Bao looked at Ah Zi with a hint of eager excitement.
Listening to A Bao's words, A Zi looked in the direction where Zhang Chulan had disappeared, then looked at A Bao beside her, who was full of anticipation and eager to act. Finally, she let out a sigh with a hint of helplessness.

Instead of answering A Bao directly, it turned around and walked with light steps in the southeast direction that it had just pointed out to Zhang Chulan.

After taking a few steps, it noticed that Abao was still standing there, so it stopped, looked back at Abao, and made two short "squeak" sounds.

What are you standing there for? Didn't you want to come along? If you don't leave now, you'll fall behind.

"Wuhu!"

Upon hearing Azi's words, Abao let out an excited low shout and followed after her eagerly.

"So why are they following me?!"

Zhang Chulan, who had already traveled a considerable distance, noticed the almost undisguised commotion behind him, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

He had noticed long ago that the bear and the weasel had been following him.

If they weren't truly capable of harming him, they could have attacked him directly in the valley earlier, without needing to go through all this trouble. He would have suspected that there was something wrong with the directions they gave him, and that they were planning to lure him somewhere and then kill him.

Even so, he dared not relax. While maintaining his forward speed, he secretly gathered the Golden Light Mantra, tensing all the muscles in his body and raising his vigilance to the highest level.

He had considered suddenly changing his route to shake off these two "tails," but wouldn't that be blatantly telling them that he had discovered he was being followed?

What if they didn't mean any harm, but he angered them by doing this?
Judging from their unfathomable appearances, if they really fought, he would definitely be the one who suffers!
Besides, he only suspects that the directions they are pointing to might be wrong, which doesn't mean they are definitely wrong; what if they are pointing out the right way?
He thought he was being clever by changing direction, but ended up plunging into an even more dangerous place. Wasn't he just asking for trouble?
To be on the safe side, let's stick to the original route and pretend we didn't notice them.

What if you get there and find something's wrong?
At worst, we'll just have to play it by ear; the best of the thirty-six stratagems is to flee. With his thunder magic unleashed at full power, he refuses to believe he can't escape!

After making up his mind, Zhang Chulan calmed down considerably.

He stopped paying attention to what was happening behind him and instead focused most of his attention on exploring the path and environment ahead, while keeping a sliver of his mind on what was happening behind him.

Finally, after traveling for about an hour and a half, the trees ahead began to thin out, and a relatively open area appeared at the edge of Zhang Chulan's field of vision.

He immediately slowed his pace, using the dense bushes to conceal himself, and cautiously approached, parting the branches to look ahead.

In the cleared area ahead, a rather large temporary camp had been set up.

The camp was surrounded by simple yet sturdy metal fortifications and watchtowers, with figures moving about on them. Inside the camp, dozens of camouflage tents were neatly arranged, and personnel dressed in uniform combat gear with special arm patches were busily moving about inside and outside the camp.

They were all fully armed, wielding what appeared to be extremely sophisticated firearms. They were alert, moved with practiced efficiency, and exuded a chilling aura of seasoned veterans.

What alarmed Zhang Chulan even more was that he saw several armored vehicles painted in camouflage and equipped with heavy weapons, as well as some high-tech detection equipment that he couldn't name but could tell at a glance was operating and emitting a low hum.

"Gudong."

Zhang Chulan swallowed hard as he looked at the scene before him, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"Something's wrong here."

He gasped inwardly.

"This equipment, this demeanor—it's clearly the style of a regular army! And those armbands, though not very clear, are definitely standard domestic markings! Is this really within the territory of Great Xia?!"

Upon confirming this, Zhang Chulan felt not at ease, but rather a chill ran through him.

Because this means that what the panda said is very likely true!

"If this place truly is the Great Xia Dynasty, and these people are indeed government officials..."

"Then their claim that 'humans used terrifying weapons to kill large numbers of animals' is probably not unfounded!"

"But the question is...why?!"

"Why would Great Xia do this? It doesn't make sense! Unless..."

"Unless those animals themselves have a problem!"

(End of this chapter)