Chapter 2679: Chapter 2680: Cannot Be Told

"Is this Jinchi Island?" Bai Ruozhu asked, somewhat puzzled. Why did she feel it was quite similar to the Jiuli Clan’s valley?

Lingyu slightly lifted his chin and said somewhat proudly, "This is where we of the Golden Wings Clan live, but it’s not called Jinchi Island, it’s called Li Island."

"Li Island? As in ’departing’?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

"No, it’s the ’Li’ from melancholy," Lingyu replied.

Gao Zhou smirked, "Isn’t that the same word?"

"It means something different," Lingyu replied arrogantly.

"Not much difference," Gao Zhou said bluntly.

Lingyu snorted coldly, clearly displeased. Bai Ruozhu sighed, tugging at Gao Zhou’s sleeve. Her father-in-law was becoming more childlike; there was no need to pay him any mind.

Just then, a few figures appeared on the horizon, flying to Bai Ruozhu and the others in the blink of an eye.

Indeed, they came fluttering on wings.

Four birdmen—or rather, members of the Golden Wings Clan—landed in front of Bai Ruozhu and the others. One of them looked at Lingyu and asked, "Lingyu, the clan leader asks you to bring them inside."

Bai Ruozhu glanced at them, didn’t ask their identity and directly said the clan leader called for them to be brought inside. Could it be that their clan leader could see what was happening outside?

But it wasn’t surprising; the Jiuli Clan’s valley also had arrays that could monitor the outside situation.

"Alright." Lingyu bowed to the speaker, his attitude much more humble.

The four of them scrutinized Bai Ruozhu and the others, especially taking a few more glances at Luan Xin. One of the birdmen couldn’t help but ask, "Why bring a child in? Dressed as a little monk? Here to preach?"

Lingyu glanced nonchalantly at Luan Xin, "An ordinary child from outside, probably here with his sister to broaden his horizons."

His tone was a bit disdainful, exhibiting a sense of superiority. Perhaps in the minds of the Golden Wings Clan, they were a superior race, at least much more powerful than ordinary people.

Bai Ruozhu gave him a faint look and said, "What haven’t Jiuli people seen?"

She didn’t directly say Luan Xin was from the Jiuli, but it certainly had some implications. Lingyu’s face changed slightly but ultimately didn’t retort.

Bai Ruozhu was once again certain that the Golden Wings Clan had quite a regard for the Jiuli Clan, even somewhat fearful. But when she left Jiuli, the clan leader hadn’t mentioned the Golden Wings Clan.

"This way, please." Lingyu’s tone softened a bit.

Bai Ruozhu followed him; the other four followed closely.

The four members of the Golden Wings Clan watched the five of them leave, some showing curiosity, others showing concern, pondering who knows what.

Bai Ruozhu and the others walked a bit further. It was still a vast grassland, but soon their surroundings opened up, and those in the sky gradually hid away. Bai Ruozhu’s sharp eyes noticed that they were birdmen flying high, appearing as tiny black dots from the ground.

She twitched her mouth—so many birdmen, it was truly a spectacular sight.

Lingyu glanced in the direction of her gaze and said, "It’s the clansmen practicing, but unfortunately, the number is dwindling."

Bai Ruozhu looked again, including Lingyu, the four birdmen they had just seen, and those in the sky, she didn’t see a single female!

As the astrologer had said, the Golden Wings Clan had difficulty with offspring, with females being extremely rare.

Was Luan Xin’s biological mother a woman of the Golden Wings Clan or an ordinary person?

With these questions, Bai Ruozhu was brought under a large tree. Who knows how many years it had grown—the trunk was so thick that even with several people holding hands, they couldn’t wrap around it.

The immense canopy stretched towards the surroundings, giving a sense of blocking out the sky.

Among the canopy, there was a treehouse. Lingyu bowed to one of the treehouses and said, "Clan leader, the people have been brought."

A figure emerged; he didn’t dramatically soar into the sky, but simply jumped down the tree. If it weren’t for the large golden wings on his back, Bai Ruozhu would have thought he wasn’t a member of the Golden Wings Clan.

"Jiuli people? Welcome!" The clan leader spoke briefly, but with a smile, appearing very cordial, "I am Heluo, the leader of the Golden Wings Clan."

Bai Ruozhu and the others bowed, "Greetings, Clan leader."

Heluo smiled kindly, "No need for formalities. It is our hospitality that has been lacking, we have neglected our guests. You are welcome to stay awhile in the Golden Wings Clan and see the scenery here."

Gao Zhou, concerned about his son, said directly, "There are still people waiting outside for us; we don’t have time to stay. We just want to know the location of Merfolk Island."

Heluo shook his head, "We have been enemies with the Merfolk for generations, but there is an agreement. If we casually reveal their location, they too could reveal ours. After all, if they venture out, they are no different from ordinary people, but for us, it’s different—when people see us, they assume we’re demons and are very hostile."

"This..." Gao Zhou wanted to speak but was stopped by Bai Ruozhu.

Heluo only said he couldn’t tell them the location of Merfolk Island, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give them any clues, nor that there was no chance for change. Pressing too hard would only strain the relationship and make things unsalvageable.

"Thank you, Clan leader, for your warm hospitality. We shall stay for a few days," Bai Ruozhu said. "If it’s convenient, I would like to take my little brother around. He really likes the Golden Wings Clan."

"Oh?" Heluo’s gaze fell on Luan Xin, and Luan Xin was also looking at him.

This clan leader seemed to be in his thirties, had a steady demeanor, appeared very sturdy, with a somewhat square face, seeming to be very straightforward.

"Indeed, I feel a sense of kinship here," Luan Xin said.

Heluo laughed, "You are most welcome; you may freely explore."

"Thank you, Clan leader," Bai Ruozhu bowed in gratitude.

"I will have Lingyu show you to your accommodations," Heluo gestured to Lingyu, who promptly led the five away, taking them to nearby woods and arranging several rooms for them.

The rooms were treehouses; fortunately, Bai Ruozhu and the others possessed martial arts skills, making climbing no trouble, hence there was no discomfort.

Bai Ruozhu and Fo Lanying shared one room, Gao Zhou had another to himself, and Luan Xin shared with the astrologer.

The astrologer wasn’t aware of Luan Xin’s identity and treated him like a child, which made Luan Xin feel a bit embarrassed.

After a simple tidying, Bai Ruozhu called Luan Xin out and began showing him around the Island.

The place was vast, or perhaps due to some array. She and Luan Xin wandered for half a day without seeing a coastline—it truly was remarkable to hide such a large island.

"That’s the Fertility Tree," murmured Luan Xin, suddenly pointing at a tree with many withered leaves in the distance.

Bai Ruozhu asked in surprise, "How do you know?"

"I feel a sense of familiarity. I vaguely feel like I was born there," Luan Xin replied.

Bai Ruozhu looked at that tree, "Why is it withered?"

The two walked towards the Fertility Tree and soon reached its base.

A figure suddenly flew over—it was the clan leader Heluo, whom they had seen before.