Gong Nansong nodded. "Very well. You must be careful. Focus on reconnaissance, and avoid direct confrontation with the enemy."
"I understand."
Chen Qing said no more, turned, and strode out of the courtyard.
Before long, an eagle's cry echoed from the sky. The magnificent Golden Feathered Eagle he raised broke through the clouds, dove down, and landed steadily before him.
Chen Qing gently stroked the eagle's feathers and leaped onto its back.
"Go."
At his command, the Golden Feathered Eagle gave a powerful flap of its wings, kicking up a gale. It carried Chen Qing soaring into the sky, transforming into a streak of golden light as it sped directly toward Smoke Wave Marsh, the mysterious waters at the heart of Longze Lake.
En route, Chen Qing guided the Golden Feathered Eagle through the steadily thickening lake mist.
