Yao leaped onto the rooftop. Dai Xiaomei felt relieved; traversing rooftops was far safer than the ground.
Yao ran across the rooftops and reached a farmland on the outskirts. He saw many plants, indicating the local creatures were not fond of meat, subsisting solely on vegetation. These plants would suffice to fill Dai Xiaomei's and Gun Gun's stomachs. However, Yao observed numerous monsters in the vicinity. He decided to wait until nightfall when these creatures would likely rest, allowing him to "acquire" the food. He mused that for an adventurer, such an act couldn't be called stealing.
He thought the rooftop would offer safety, but upon looking up, he saw countless flying creatures watching him. These were not ordinary animals; some had human faces, clearly possessing sentience. Upon spotting Yao, they let out roars. The nearby villagers heard the commotion and turned their heads, spotting Yao.
"He's the one they posted a bounty on! Kill him!" the villagers shouted, grabbing their tools and charging towards Yao.
Yao froze for a moment, then dashed in the opposite direction. "Damn it! I forgot they have flying creatures too! How could I not expect them on the rooftops?" He avoided the direction he came from, not wanting to endanger Dai Xiaomei and Gun Gun.
Gun Gun, sensing something was wrong, heard the villagers' commotion and ran out without hesitation. Dai Xiaomei tried to follow but, hearing the villagers' furious roars, her legs went weak, and she hid in a water vat. Fortunately, Gun Gun, not resembling a human, was not noticed by other creatures as it ran through the streets. Some creatures even mistook Gun Gun for one of their own and assigned it the task of chasing Yao.
Realizing the danger of revealing its identity, Gun Gun quickly nodded and followed the direction indicated, catching up to Yao. Gun Gun was far more capable than these creatures and quickly spotted Yao, greeting him.
Yao was surprised to see so many creatures following Gun Gun without posing any threat. Then, it dawned on him. "Of course, Gun Gun isn't human. What do they have to fear?" With this realization, Yao leaped down and hid in a corner. Gun Gun immediately understood Yao's intent and bravely stood in front of him, blocking the pursuers' view.
Seeing Gun Gun, the hunters continued their pursuit without suspicion. "Damn it, he got away! What is that guy? How could he escape our sight so quickly?"
"Could someone have helped him? Otherwise, how could he have escaped so easily?"
"You don't understand, all creatures here have been modified, just like us. They wouldn't help a normal human."
"If they discover us, they'll bring people from the real world here."
"And then they'll control us like toys."
"Have you forgotten what Dr. Hu Ka Luo told us? He warned us never to be discovered, or our lives would be in danger."
The so-called anthropomorphic creatures straightened their thoughts upon hearing this. "Damn it, we didn't catch him, but at least we know he's nearby. Let's report this to the palace immediately."
Meanwhile, in the palace, a child-like figure sat on a throne. Unlike others, he appeared unmodified and normal. However, his deep voice belied his small stature; he was certainly over fifty years old, and his wrinkled face confirmed his advanced age.
"How is this possible? How could a normal human enter our realm? Wasn't it only those calling themselves Atlanteans who came here before?" The king was incredulous and terrified upon hearing the lion's report of recent events. His hands trembled. "Could this place be discovered so soon?"
"If it is, my human modification experiments will be exposed to everyone!"
"Kill them all! These people were sent from outside to study us. If they find us, we will all die here!"
The lion, upon hearing this, became furious. "Yes, Your Majesty, I will apprehend them immediately. Rest assured, our Dream World will not be affected by them."
As the lion left, the king nodded frantically.
Simultaneously, Jiang Fan and Zhou Niannian, after a series of inquiries, arrived at the so-called palace. The palace seemed heavily guarded, with bat-like soldiers patrolling the vicinity. Bats, relying on echolocation, could pinpoint them easily without relying on sight, making a direct approach perilous.