That was Lu Yun’s voice.
The low, familiar tone cut through the cold and darkness like a warm current, seeping into the frozen world that had nearly swallowed Li Yingxue whole.
He struggled up almost immediately. His weakened body staggered a few steps, but he did not bother to steady himself. Instead, he hurriedly called out in the direction of the voice, disbelief and relief mixing in his tone, the ending laced with surprise and dependence. “Darling?”
Seeing the figure standing under the firelight—pale, slightly worn, but unmistakably unharmed—Lu Yun finally felt the tight, almost aching tension in his forearm muscles loosen.
The weight in his chest eased significantly. He gave a low “mm” in response, his gaze never leaving the opposite side for even a moment. A werewolf stood there.
Relief briefly settled in, but caution did not fade.
A complicated emotion surged in Li Yingxue’s heart. He had not expected it… Lu Yun had actually come.
Only seconds ago, he had been preparing for the worst, yet Lu Yun had still chased after him without hesitation. The realization made the tip of his nose sting slightly. He had not abandoned him—not this useless burden.
The cold continued to seep into his body, and he already found himself missing the warmth of Lu Yun’s presence. He instinctively reached forward, stumbling two steps in his direction.
But the werewolf clearly had no intention of letting go of this sweet prey so easily.
Seeing Li Yingxue trying to move toward Lu Yun, a flash of cold light passed through the werewolf’s ice-blue eyes.
With a flick of his claw, blue flames suddenly erupted in a circle centered on where Li Yingxue stood, forming a blazing enclosure that trapped him in place.
“Don’t move,” Lu Yun immediately warned.
Li Yingxue did not understand, but obediently stopped. He quickly learned why.
It was too hot—especially around his legs. The flames licked at his skin, while cold wind brushed across his sweat-damp back and forehead. Half-burning, half-frozen, the unbearable contrast made his head spin.
Lu Yun’s expression darkened.
With a lift of his hand, nearby water droplets, dew on leaves, and scattered moisture surged upward, along with broken branches and stones, hurtling toward the werewolf like a storm.
The werewolf did not move.
Just before the attack reached him, all the water instantly evaporated into white mist. Stripped of its water carrier, the branches and stones dropped harmlessly at his feet.
Lu Yun narrowed his eyes. The crimson glow in his right eye deepened.
With a thought, invisible mental threads condensed into razor-sharp strands, silently coiling toward the werewolf’s neck.
The danger instinct triggered immediately. The werewolf’s fur bristled.
Instead of retreating, he kicked off the ground and charged forward with his claws raised.
Lu Yun reacted instantly, twisting aside to avoid the killing strike. He blocked the follow-up blow with his arm, the force behind it making his expression sharpen slightly.
He countered with a brutal kick aimed at the werewolf’s abdomen, but the latter dodged with astonishing agility.
After only a few exchanges, Lu Yun had already reached a conclusion.
In strength, speed, and reaction—this werewolf was not inferior to him.
He flexed his slightly numb wrist and rolled his neck, joints cracking softly.
Instead of fear, a flicker of excitement appeared in his dark gaze. The thrill of combat, the stimulation of pain—something long absent began to rise within him. A violent impulse, almost on the edge of losing control.
But at the edge of that instability, his peripheral vision caught the pale, trembling figure inside the flames.
Li Yingxue…
In an instant, the bloodlust in his eyes cooled.
He shifted smoothly, dodging another claw, seized the werewolf’s arm, and used his waist strength to execute a clean shoulder throw.
The massive body was hurled into a distant tree with a heavy impact.
Bang!
The trunk shook violently, leaves scattering.
The werewolf landed steadily, uninjured except for a layer of dust. He shook his head, ice-blue eyes burning with fury.
Lu Yun lost patience completely. The mental threads around the werewolf’s neck tightened, ready to cut in.
But then the werewolf suddenly froze—as if sensing something. His emotions turned urgent, and he opened his mouth.
A harsh, broken human voice escaped.
“No… behind!”
Lu Yun’s pupils contracted sharply.
He turned instantly.
Behind Li Yingxue, a massive mutated hyena had appeared at some point, its eyes glowing green.
Drool dripped from its mouth as it stared at the defenseless figure. Its claws were already raised—
About to strike.
Without hesitation, Lu Yun abandoned the burning blue flame circle entirely.
He flashed forward and pulled Li Yingxue into his arms, retreating at inhuman speed.
At the exact same moment—
The werewolf roared in fury and lunged. His claws pierced straight through the mutated hyena’s body, killing it instantly. Blood splattered across his silver-gray fur and face.
Lu Yun ignored the corpse entirely and looked down at the person in his arms.
The moment he was lifted, Li Yingxue recognized the familiar warmth and scent. His tense body immediately relaxed, collapsing fully into him.
Lu Yun frowned when he felt how cold his fingers were. Without hesitation, he carried him to the earlier campfire and carefully set him down near the flames.
“Darling… what happened just now?” Li Yingxue murmured against his chest.
“You were taken by mutated vines. I followed the trail they left,” Lu Yun replied briefly, omitting the battle with the giant tree.
I see.
Li Yingxue understood.
“Thank you,” he said softly—this time, sincerely. For not abandoning him. For coming back for him.
Lu Yun only gave a low “mm” in response.
Because the danger was not over.
Not far away, the werewolf had already shaken off the blood on his claws. His ice-blue eyes still locked tightly onto them—or more precisely, onto the person in Lu Yun’s arms.
The blue flame circle had long since extinguished…