Su Mingyue was stunned by this sudden turn of events.
According to what she remembered from the story, this scene should never have happened.
In the novel, the Wolf Clan had overthrown the Tigers, after which Hu Lingze and Hu Lingxuan had gone into hiding, leading their remaining people to live in secrecy deep within the Shapeshifter Forest.
But now, the Wolves had struck back again.
All because her arrival had disrupted the main plot. Was this counterattack simply the story’s way of correcting its course?
A cold dread settled in Su Mingyue’s chest.
If that was true, did it mean the Tiger Clan was still doomed to fall, no matter what?
Qian Wei immediately turned to rush toward the sound, but Su Mingyue grabbed tight hold of his sleeve.
“I… I want to come too.”
It was the first time she had spoken since arriving in his quarters the night before. So this little thing can actually talk, Qian Wei thought.
Of course, Hu Lingye had already boasted many times about her “achievements,” but Qian Wei had never paid the slightest attention.
“What good would a tiny nuisance like you do there?”
Su Mingyue had no clear explanation, but a strong instinct told her she had to be there. She had to go.
If the Tiger Clan fell again, she would be right back where she startedstruggling in the forest, never knowing where her next meal would come from.
She definitely did not want that. Even living in the clan, constantly on edge, was far better than surviving day to day in the wild.
“Please, Brother-in-lawyou’re so handsome! Take me with you! I really want to see what’s happening!”
Fear forgotten for the moment, she clung to his sleeve and begged.
She noticed the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. A sudden idea struck her, and she called out again, “Handsome Brother-in-law?”
Sure enough, the corner of his lips lifted just a little more.
The next moment, Qian Wei coughed lightly and raised one hand to hide his faintly reddened cheek. “I’m not taking you because you called me handsome, mind you. I’m only doing it because I can see you’re truly worried about Lingye!”
Su Mingyue seized the opening and poured on the praise. “Of course, Brother-in-law! Someone as handsome as you is always right about everything!”
This ambush was only one small part of the Wolf Clan’s larger invasion plan. Taking their enemies by surprise was a good strategy, but they were not foolish enough to think such a small force could wipe out the entire Tiger Clan.
Su Mingyue’s greatest weakness was that she only knew what the novel had described. She did not fully grasp the true weight behind those brief lines of text.
For example, the Tiger Clan’s original downfall had required more than just a surprise attack. It had taken Wolves lying in wait all around, backed by a massive army, striking from every direction at once.
Now, the Wolves who had tried to infiltrate the ceremony had already been captured. But those who had been hiding in the surrounding areas had never left. Even though their plan had failed, they would not abandon their captured kin.
Among beastkind, loyalty to one’s own clan outweighed everything else. And since Wolves were also fiercely faithful to their mates, if any of those captured had partners among the waiting forces, they would certainly return to strike again.
By the time they arrived, the scene was already a bloody battle.
The Wolves had been watching the area for days. When they finally spotted Hu Lingye traveling with only a handful of guards to visit the healer on the edge of the territory, they saw their chance.
They attacked at once, and with superior numbers, quickly overwhelmed and seized Hu Lingye.
“Tell your Chief that if he wants his daughter back alive, he must hand over every Wolf we hold prisoner!”
The leader of the pack had transformed into a giant wolf, his clawed hand pressed against Hu Lingye’s throat. His head was that of a beast, teeth bared and sharp enough to pierce her skin with one wrong move.
“The Tiger Chief is no fool,” Qian Wei said calmly. “Do you honestly believe you can openly attack the future heir of our clan and expect the Tigers to let you go unpunished?”
Everyone around turned to stare at him with strange expressions.
The Wolf leader grinned. “Are you not afraid I’ll kill her right now?”
“I am,” Qian Wei admitted.
“Then why speak so boldly? How dare you say we will not escape your vengeance? I’ll kill your heir here and nowlet’s see how you stop us!”
“Lingye is not our only heir. There are two others. We have more than enough ways to make sure you pay for this.”
Qian Wei’s lips curved into a cold smile. He set Su Mingyue gently aside, then stepped forward slowly.
To Su Mingyue’s eyes, a faint white mist began to rise from beneath his feet.
That mist meant he was unleashing his illusion magicmagic that could bind anyone, regardless of race or location, and make them see only what he wanted them to see.
“Lingye is one of a kind. And I will never let any of you beasts lay a single finger on her.”
His eyes turned sharp and icy.
All the Wolves standing in place suddenly found themselves surrounded by a thick, blinding white fog. They looked around, seeing their comrades nearby also lost in the mist.
Before they could wonder where the fog had come from, a strange, chilling howl echoed through the air. They turned toward the soundand leaped out of the mist came a monstrous creature: head like a dragon, body like a deer, hooves like a horse, and tail like an ox.
No Wolf had ever seen such a beast. Their leader trembled in fear.
“It’s… it’s a hybrid monster! The Tigers have a hybrid among them!” someone cried out.
The Wolf holding Hu Lingye panicked but dared not let go. He tightened his grip, intending to drag her into the forestbut the moment his claw touched her neck, it felt as if he had scraped against hard scales.
He looked down, and the giant creature that had been standing at a distance was now right in front of him. Its body was covered in gleaming, impenetrable scales. Unable to bear the terror, the Wolf yelped and turned to flee.
This was only the third day of Qian Wei’s monthly replenishment cycle. Normally it took seven full days to restore his full strength, and right now he had barely half of what he needed.
He should not have used his magic at all in this statebut seeing Lingye in the hands of such enemies had been more than he could bear.
“Qian Wei!”
He heard Hu Lingye’s cry. Turning back, he saw the shock and confusion written all over her face.
He froze, then glanced downonly to see scales and hooves slowly forming across his hands and arms.
No…
He had cast his illusion over too many people at once, draining his energy completely. He was losing control over his human form.
At that same moment, Su Mingyue finally remembered the scene from the novelthe exact moment when Qian Wei’s secret was revealed. It had also happened during the great war between Tigers and Wolves, when he had risked everything to protect Hu Lingye, showing his true form to fight.
In the end, he had died right beside her… but back then, Hu Lingye had never seen his true appearance before she herself fell in battle, so she had no chance to react to what he was.
But now…
Su Mingyue thought with a sinking heart: This is it. Everything has gone completely wrong.