"Quick, collect carefully!" Lei Luo immediately commanded, his voice filled with excitement.
"Only take the stems and leaves, leave the roots."
Everyone quickly and cautiously got to work, snapping off the mature Earth Dragon Grass. The stems and leaves were placed in soft cloth bags, while the roots were left in the ground to continue growing.
Moonlight's agile figure shot up to the treetop like a white lightning bolt.
A long-tailed blue-patterned bird there had caught his attention.
However, after just plucking a few bird feathers, his movements suddenly paused, his ears perked up vigilantly, and his sharp gaze shot towards the distant sky.
"Meow... Meow wuw!"
A low, urgent warning howl suddenly broke the tranquility of the forest.
Lei Luo and Aide, who were engrossed in picking Earth Dragon Grass, froze in their movements, abruptly raising their heads and looking in the direction of Moonlight's gaze.
They saw several small black dots rapidly enlarging in the western sky, under the afterglow of the setting sun, flying at high speed towards their location.
"What is that?" a knight asked, uncertain and surprised.
As the distance closed, the outlines of those black dots gradually became clear.
Their figures were elegant and agile, with pure white wings spread in the air.
"It's... Pegasus!"
Pegasus, the Pegasus herd mentioned in earlier intelligence. He had sent knights to search for them many times in the Mist Forest, but they had found nothing. Why were they appearing now?
Almost instantly, Lei Luo thought of the alluringly fragrant Earth Dragon Grass.
It seemed they were also attracted by the Earth Dragon Grass.
"This is a rare opportunity. Let's take down these Pegasus while we have the chance."
He lowered his voice, but his excitement was hard to conceal.
"Moonlight, don't move yet, listen to my command."
Moonlight on the treetop flicked his tail, letting out a low purr from his throat, as if responding.
His pale golden eyes were fixed on the approaching Pegasus herd, full of curiosity and eagerness.
There were six Pegasus in total, all pure white without a single Noise.
They flapped their wide wings, gliding elegantly, like spirits in the sky.
Clearly, they were also attracted by the unique scent of this Earth Dragon Grass. After circling a few times and confirming there was no danger, they began to slowly descend.
"My Lord, we..."
Aide leaned closer, his voice extremely low, his eyes fervent.
The value of Pegasus was undeniable; whether as mounts or strategic resources, they far surpassed ordinary warhorses.
If they could capture a few, it would be a huge boost to the Blackstone Territory's strength.
"Don't rush."
Lei Luo made a gesture to calm down, his gaze turning to Moonlight, who was squatting on the treetop with an agile posture.
"Moonlight, do me a favor, use your... um, little trick, to hide us so they don't find us."
He tried to express it in a way Moonlight could understand.
Moonlight tilted his furry head.
He looked down at the knights holding their breath on the ground, then looked up at the Pegasus about to land, and gently waved his furry paw.
Immediately after, a strange scene unfolded.
Centered around the bushes where Lei Luo and the others were hiding, the surrounding light seemed to subtly distort, like ripples on water.
Their colors and outlines blended even more perfectly with the surrounding trees and weeds, as if they had donned a disguise woven from shadows and branches.
If one didn't look closely, it would be difficult to discover that there were still a dozen or so people hiding there.
"This..."
Aide and the other knights widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief.
They could clearly see each other, but they felt as if they had become part of the environment, their presence greatly diminished.
"Get your lassoes ready," Lei Luo suppressed the excitement in his heart and calmly issued the command, "When they land, completely relax their guard, and start eating the Earth Dragon Grass, listen for my command, and act together!"
"Yes!"
The knights responded in hushed voices.
The air seemed to solidify.
Everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests, both nervous and expectant.
There was only the occasional chirping of insects in the forest and the sound of wind from the Pegasus flapping their wings.
Finally, the most magnificent Pegasus leading the group landed first.
He vigilantly twitched his ears, looked around, his long eyelashes fluttering, his clear eyes like the purest lake.
After confirming safety, he elegantly lowered his head and began to enjoy the alluring Earth Dragon Grass.
Immediately after, the other Pegasus also landed one after another, gathering around the Earth Dragon Grass, letting out satisfied whinnies.
They were completely immersed in the temptation of the delicious food, completely unaware of the danger so close at hand.
Now is the time!
A glint flashed in Lei Luo's eyes, and he suddenly waved his hand!
"Act!"
With a single command, it was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake!
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
A dozen ropes shot out like venomous snakes, accurately targeting the pure white figures that were lowering their heads to eat the Earth Dragon Grass.
"Hee-haw—!"
The Pegasus herd instantly erupted into chaos!
They neighed in terror, trying to take to the air.
However, the well-prepared knights were even faster!
The lassoes accurately encircled the necks of six Pegasus.
The knights immediately pulled back with force, and at the same time, several people in groups quickly rushed forward, attempting to control the startled Pegasus.
For a moment, there was chaos in the shrubbery, with both men and horses falling!
The Pegasus were incredibly strong; even when lassoed, they struggled, jumped, and kicked desperately.
Although the knights were well-trained, they exerted immense effort.
Some knights were dragged stumbling, while others narrowly avoided being kicked by hooves.
Aide, agile in his movements, successfully lassoed the most magnificent Pegasus. He was pulling the rope tightly, using all his strength to wrestle with the beast, his arm muscles bulging and veins popping.
In the chaos, a smaller Pegasus, but the most agile in its reaction, suddenly leaped backward the moment the lasso came, dodging the fatal restraint.
He let out a sharp neigh, spread his wings with all his might, raising a gust of wind, and shot up from the ground, about to escape into the sky!
"Oh no! Stop him!" a knight exclaimed, watching as the Pegasus was about to clear the treetops.
Just at this critical moment, a white figure, like an arrow released from a bow, pounced down from the nearby tree canopy!
It was Moonlight!
His small body drew a graceful arc in the air, landing with pinpoint accuracy on the back of the ascending Pegasus—no, more precisely, on the top of his head!
The Pegasus clearly hadn't expected a "pendant" to suddenly appear on his head, and in surprise, he sharply threw his head back again.
Then, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded unfolded.
Moonlight was seen squatting steadily on the Pegasus's head, extending his two furry front paws towards the smooth horse head—
"Bang! Bang!"
Two crisp yet muffled thudding sounds rang out, not very forceful, but seemingly carrying a strange vibrating effect.
It was like... knocking on a head?
The Pegasus, which was struggling to fly upward, froze abruptly after these two blows, and his upward momentum suddenly stopped.
He shook his head vigorously, his eyes clearly becoming dazed, and his flight path became wobbly, as if he had been drinking.
"Meow wuw~"
Moonlight seemed quite satisfied with his "battle results," proudly flicking his large tail, and then stepping on the Pegasus's head twice, as if claiming ownership.
"...Well done!"
Lei Luo was stunned for a moment, then shouted with a wry smile.
He hadn't expected Moonlight to have such "physical persuasion" methods.
"Quick! Now!"
Aide reacted extremely quickly, immediately directing two knights.
The two knights, as if waking from a dream, quickly threw out their spare lassoes.
The Pegasus, having lost its balance and speed, was now like a swaying target, easily lassoed squarely.