After Guo Xiaochun left, Qin Ziwen returned to his fifth-floor apartment, took out his phone, and opened his video album.
He opened a video, paused it, and pointed to the cave on the mountainside in the frame.
"Go here, on the mountain."
"Right here, understand? In a bit, I want you to fly in there. If the altar we saw last time is there, circle it once and get it on video. If it's not, just come right back out."
The Beaked Eagle stared at the screen with its large eyes, finally letting out two squawks.
After setting his phone to record, he secured it in the small pack on the Beaked Eagle's chest.
He patted the Beaked Eagle's wings, and it shot into the sky like an arrow.
He watched it go, praying silently.
The clear sky turned overcast. Unnoticed, a layer of heavy, lead-colored clouds had gathered overhead.
"Bro, you've been standing here almost all afternoon." Qin Ziwu brought over a bowl of vegetable congee. "Here, eat something."
