It turned out they had underestimated the bird.
Lu Wuming employed his strongest killing move, clearly intending to leave the bird no room to struggle.
He knew, after all, that the opponent was truly formidable.
If they couldn't kill it in one blow, they would inevitably face greater trouble later.
Lu Wuming understood this all too well, and in matters of attack and killing, he had always considered himself to possess a significant advantage.
Yet, as his claw descended, it didn't even get close to the feathers on the bird's neck. Merely upon approaching, it felt as though it had struck an incredibly hard steel plate. With a resounding clang, Lu Wuming's ghost claw was repelled, and a sharp pain shot through him. He felt as if his hardened claws had been fractured by that barrier.
He abruptly withdrew his hand, reverting to his human form. Looking down, he could clearly see his fingertips stained with blood.
This situation furrowed Lu Wuming's brow. Liu Buli, witnessing this, widened his eyes in disbelief. Forgetting all about their plan, he rushed to Lu Wuming's side, grabbing his hand to examine the injury. Whether it was good or bad fortune, in that brief moment, Lu Wuming's wound had already completely healed.
Meeting Liu Buli's worried gaze, Lu Wuming, as the one who experienced it, offered a reassuring smile. Shaking his head gently, he said, "Master, please don't worry. I was just caught off guard and was jolted. It didn't attack me, so the wound was shallow and would heal quickly."
Seeing his hand completely restored, Liu Buli knew Lu Wuming wasn't lying about this matter.
His thoughts calmed slightly, and he let out a quiet sigh of relief. However, he dared not let Lu Wuming face the bird alone any longer.
According to their original plan, Lu Wuming was to take the lead, primarily due to his advantage of being immortal.
This was Lu Wuming's own suggestion, and the others couldn't refuse. In his own words, as long as he had a breath left, he might be able to acquire what they needed before the blue bird could kill him.
Liu Buli and the others would only need to rescue him before he was torn to shreds, and the plan would be flawless.
Moreover, despite this, everyone harbored a faint sense of hope, believing that it was just a bird, and no matter how strong, it shouldn't inflict too much harm on Lu Wuming.
But now, reality had delivered a harsh blow.
This bird was unbelievably powerful.
All their hopeful thoughts vanished in an instant.
Liu Buli glanced back at Shen Muzhi, conveying with his eyes that the plan had changed.
Shen Muzhi nodded in understanding.
Having known these two for so long, he clearly understood the meaning behind that look.
The next second, the three of them acted simultaneously.
Shen Muzhi, utilizing the advantage of his beast form, moved with utmost speed towards the surrounding herbs. He didn't rush to touch the stone, but instead first collected the herbs that they all believed wouldn't provoke the bird's wrath.
Concurrently, Liu Buli and Lu Wuming prepared for defense and attack. However, events unfolded too quickly, leaving no opportunity for Liu Buli to intervene. The moment Shen Muzhi's claws brushed against the herbs, an intensely blinding blue light erupted from the bird.
Lu Wuming launched his attack, and Liu Buli followed their plan to resist.
But it was all in vain.
The blue light didn't attack them physically; instead, it seemed to disintegrate them mentally. Although it was a critical situation, Liu Buli found himself becoming increasingly dazed under the blue radiance. Strange thoughts began to surface, making him question why he was even there.
He desperately tried to remind himself, attempting to maintain his sanity and normalcy. But it was as if his own mind was rebelling against him. The more he tried to focus, the less concentrated he became. In the end, he couldn't even tell when he lost consciousness.
Sunlight warmed his skin, a sensation Liu Buli always cherished. Instinctively, he nuzzled against something beside him. Realizing the hard texture felt wrong, he abruptly opened his eyes.
He couldn't recall what should have been there. Instead, he saw his familiar desk, his usual computer, and on the screen, a file he had been editing.
"Liu Buli, I know you're the best at your job among us all. But sleeping openly during work hours, and sleeping so soundly, that's not right of you, is it?"
A voice, tinged with laughter, chided him. Though the words sounded like a complaint, there was more concern than displeasure in his tone.
His shoulder was gently patted, and the familiar voice spoke again, "Hey, what were you up to last night? You've never slacked off during work hours before. And you look pale. Should I go buy you a coffee?"
At the same time, other voices chimed in from nearby, jokingly remarking on the man's excessive concern for Liu Buli.
The man grumbled that this was the proper care a superior should show his subordinate. The chatter, though boisterous, was all so familiar.
As the conversation reached this point, Liu Buli finally took a deep breath, as if breaking free from a suffocating nightmare.
Hearing his sigh, the woman sitting beside him asked anxiously, "Brother Liu, are you really okay? You look so pale."
"I'm fine," Liu Buli shook his head and pressed his forehead firmly with his hand. "I just had a nightmare. I've woken up, and I don't remember the content, so it's nothing."