Louis spurred his horse, heading deep into the hot zone of Red Tide Territory.
However, as soon as he stepped into the outer periter, his warhorse began to grow restless, letting out anxious neighs.
"It can't go any further here?" Louis tightened the reins, dismounted, and continued on foot.
Although it was already autumn, and the northern land should have been icy cold, in this area, the surface temperature had already exceeded eighty degrees.
Even thick-soled riding boots couldn't block the scalding sensation, as if he were stepping on a hot griddle.
He took off his heavy wolf fur coat, wearing only a light shirt.
Battle Qi surged within him, forming a thin protective mbrane that barely resisted the encroaching high temperature.
But even so, he still felt as if his whole body was being stead, and sweat instantly drenched his back.
Before him lay a reddish-brown cracked area, with hot steam rising from the rock fissures. A dozen Fireback Turtles were half-buried in the geothermal zone, lazily and warily exhaling hot air. Occasionally, they would lift their heads, their carapaces gleaming with a faint red light.
This was the Fireback Turtles' nest, the core of the gushing geothermal heat, and the very foundation of Red Tide Territory.
Louis took a deep breath of the hot air and stepped towards the core area.
The Red Tide Knights here had already arrived at the geothermal zone a while ago.
Since they didn't have Battle Qi for protection, ordinary hunters could only offer advice from the periphery, while the actual operations were carried out by these knights. Every one of them looked unwell, indicating that the operation was not very successful.
"Reporting, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) my lord!" a knight hurried forward, panting, "These Fireback Turtles are simply too difficult to handle!
Although they aren't aggressive, their vigilance is extrely high. As soon as you get close, they retract into their shells—their defense is comparable to a city wall, and coupled with the high temperature of their surface, there's no way to approach them!"
Louis was silent for a mont, then made a decision: "Then let's stop for now. Observe first, and don't provoke them."
The knights nodded, relieved, and went to rest.
Louis stood on the scorching ground, carefully observing the Fireback Turtles.
He knew he had to find a smarter way, and he didn't have much ti left.
After half a day of observation, Louis finally discovered sothing unusual.
The Fireback Turtles were entering their mating season.
In the scorching geothermal zone, a few scattered female turtles were surrounded by groups of male turtles.
The restless male turtles breathed heavily, their eyes filled with a season's worth of suppressed hunger.
Whenever they approached a female turtle, the male turtles would tap the female turtle's carapace with their heads, making a crisp sound—that was the Fireback Turtle's direct courtship signal.
Usually, if the female turtle was interested, she would lazily rub herself on the ground a couple of tis, emitting a faint, almost imperceptible rubbing sound.
If uninterested, she would directly retract into her shell and spray hot white mist, which was highly effective in deterring them.
However, the female turtles here were very clever.
They neither agreed nor refused, simply maintaining an attitude of "you still have a chance," keeping a circle of male turtles spinning around in confusion.
So rubbed twice then retracted into their shells, causing the male turtles to bump into nothing.
Others exposed half a tail, attracting a group of male turtles to fight amongst themselves, then casually sprayed a mouthful of mist, making them roll on the ground.
The more astute female turtles simply stuck out their tongues and tapped the ground, aning was simple: bring food.
So the male turtles, dragging their heavy bodies, searched frantically across the entire area, bringing back roasted small lizards, dried stone fruits, and other items, piling them in front of the female turtles.
The female turtles ate and picked at the food, leisurely chewing the delicacies the male turtles had painstakingly found.
Once they had eaten their fill, they would casually shake their shells, leaving a subtle hint, and then continue to string along the group of male turtles.
Louis narrowed his eyes, feeling like he had seen this scene sowhere before.
At this mont, the male turtles' sexual suppression had been pushed to its limit.
They were restless, anxious, and almost on the verge of losing control at any mont.
Louis's eyes lit up, and a brilliant, underhanded trick popped into his mind: "Very well, we'll do sothing despicable. The code na is 'Turtle Man Trap.'"
So he imdiately instructed the knights to start collecting female turtle urine.
The urine of female turtles during mating season was strong and pungent, like roasted sulfur mixed with rotten mud, making people's eyes water.
The knights' faces turned green, but it was their lord's command, and they couldn't refuse.
They could only pinch their noses and hold up bottles, carefully collecting the urine.
To enhance the effect, Louis also called in an alchemist to concoct other liquids and mix them in, instantly amplifying the sll several tis over.
The entire camp seed to be covered by a thick, stinking pot lid, and even the bravest knights were so overwheld they squatted down, coughing violently.
At the sa ti, he also ordered artisans to weave a batch of simple reed fake turtle shells.
Inside the fake shells, a few real small stones were suspended.
With a gentle shake, they could produce a rustling sound similar to a female turtle rubbing on the ground.
Once these preparations were complete, the plan began.
Over the next day, Louis led the knights, hiding behind the hot rock terrain, specifically targeting the male turtles that were restless and agitated from sexual suppression.
These unfortunate fellows had shiny carapaces from rubbing, and their eyes practically shot fire.
So even hugged stones and rubbed frantically, relieving their loneliness, a truly unbearable sight.
After confirming the target, Louis pulled out the fake turtle, sared with pungent female turtle urine, as bait.
With a pull of a thin vine, the fake turtle shell swayed back and forth on the ground, emitting an ambiguous, alluring rubbing sound.
Coupled with the thick "scent of love" that could knock out flies, the effect was devastating.
The restless male turtle's neck instantly stretched out, its nostrils flared to their widest, and its eyeballs almost popped out.
It looked as if it wouldn't recognize its own mother, only its "wife."
So it let out a series of strange, low, hoarse roars and rumbled towards the fake turtle.
Opportunity!
Louis imdiately waved his hand.
Several knights, who had been ready, quickly moved, accurately lassoing the male turtle's neck with thick hemp ropes soaked in the sa female turtle urine.
The vines pulled hard!
With a deafening thud, the passionately excited male turtle was forcibly dragged into a cold iron cage.
The cold iron cage was heavy and sturdy, not only able to withstand the Fireback Turtle's full-force charges but also capable of isolating the high-temperature mist they spewed in a mixture of anger and hunger.
Successful capture!
In just two days, Louis personally directed the capture of four of the most restless, most irrational, and most incorrigible male Fireback Turtles.
Although they were still violently crashing around in their cages, emitting mournful and hungry cries, they could only retain their passion, with no outlet to vent it.
"Poor turtles," Louis said softly, looking at the securely caged Fireback Turtles.
He wasted no ti and imdiately arranged for personnel to prepare for the escort of the Fireback Turtles to Han Shan Territory.
Although these Fireback Turtles were far from truly tad, Louis managed to safely transport them back to Han Shan Territory while trying to avoid excessive violence, laying the groundwork for future true dostication.
The journey would take approximately four days.
To prevent the Fireback Turtles from rioting en route, Louis specially designed simple mobile protective devices.
He also had the physicians prepare mild herbal dicines to gently hypnotize the Fireback Turtles, keeping them in a semi-conscious state throughout the journey.
In the autumn wind of Red Tide Territory, Louis stood atop Red Tide Fortress, looking down at the gradually receding transport team, hoping they would arrive soon.
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