By now, the women had grown accustomed to life on the road.
After getting off the carriage, they would stretch, gather firewood, or help with cooking—everyone fell into a routine quickly.
Since entering the mountains, campfires were essential at night.
First, nights in the mountains were cold, and most people had little to cover themselves, so fires provided warmth.
Second, wild animals roamed the mountains. Even with soldiers on guard, the sheer number of people made protection difficult. Fires helped keep predators away.
Shen Ruyi and her two companions usually gathered firewood, staying active and comfortable, sometimes even picking wild vegetables or fruits.
Soon, temporary camps were lit with multiple fires, their warm glow comforting the travelers in the otherwise deserted darkness.
After eating the day’s portion of rough steamed buns with hot soup, night fully settled.
Tonight, the mountains were particularly quiet; even insect chirps seemed sparse. Shen Ruyi wasn’t sure if the cold was the reason.
Seeing the soldiers calm, she settled down to sleep with Xing Yu and Qing Ping.
“Wolves! Everyone, wake up!”
A sharp cry rang out, accompanied by a loud, piercing clang of a gong, shattering the night’s silence.
“Ahhh—!”
Screams mixed with the relentless gong echoed through the mountains.
“Qing Ping, Xing Yu, wake up!”
Startled, Shen Ruyi sprang up, shaking Qing Ping awake. Xing Yu had already stirred from the noise.
Seeing them awake, Shen Ruyi grabbed a few sticks to add to a nearby fire, then handed two large burning logs to Xing Yu and Qing Ping.
Together, they added more wood to nearby fires, making the flames higher and brighter.
They stood back-to-back near the fire, alertly watching their surroundings.
Because there were so many women, most were either screaming, trembling, or curled up crying, Shen Ruyi could only see the dark area just beyond the firelight.
Green eyes began to glint from the darkness—wolves approaching.
Clutching her burning log, Shen Ruyi felt a little more secure.
Suddenly, the closest pair of green eyes vanished.
In the firelight, a wolf collapsed with a “thud,” an arrow lodged in its forehead, trembling slightly.
Shen Ruyi turned to see the leader, bow drawn, taking aim like a formidable warrior holding a chokehold against countless foes.
One by one, more green eyes disappeared as more wolves fell.
“Howl—”
A long howl echoed, and the remaining wolves retreated slightly but still encircled the group.
Those unaware might have mistaken the green lights for fireflies.
Some of the women cheered, but Shen Ruyi noticed the leader’s brow furrow deeply, and he did not shoot further.
It seemed the previous howl was from the alpha wolf, commanding the pack to retreat out of arrow range.
Wolves truly were clever animals.
Shen Ruyi grabbed another burning log, keeping her eyes on the leader.
From observing him during the journey, she knew: though he spoke little, he was capable and reliable.
If anyone could fend off the wolves, it was him alone.
If something happened to him, this large group would be in grave danger.
The leader, sensing someone watching, looked directly at Shen Ruyi, noting her vigilance with a raised eyebrow.
After whispering something to his two accompanying soldiers, he disappeared into the darkness behind the carriages.
Could he be going after the alpha wolf? Shen Ruyi wondered.
“Strike the leader, strike the king”—a tactic even in the wolf world.
Her hand clenched tightly around the log. Bark and splinters fell into her palm, but she felt no pain, her focus entirely on the soldiers and the leader.
Time dragged painfully. Surrounded by screaming, crying, and frantic prayers, Shen Ruyi’s heart pounded like a drum.
Suddenly, the two soldiers at the side sprang into action.
One made the gong sound more urgently, and together, they threw torches into the wolf pack.
Other soldiers shouted “Charge!” and raised weapons as if to rush the wolves.
Shen Ruyi noticed some were just pretending at first, but three-quarters of them actually moved forward when a wolf screamed in pain.
Remaining soldiers cautiously protected the women, standing between the wolves and the group.
When the wolf’s final scream faded, Shen Ruyi finally exhaled.
Sweating coldly from the adrenaline, she moved closer to the fire. She sipped some well water to regain strength.
Soon, the leader returned, dragging a massive wolf carcass into the firelight, and the green eyes in the dark vanished.
The sky gradually brightened. Soldiers took the carcass to a lower area, quickly skinning it.
Once finished, with no breakfast cooked, everyone returned to the carriages with wolf meat and hides, swiftly leaving the site.