14
Wolf King
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have escaped danger every single time.
He hoped that beast was merely passing through. The sensation on his body grew increasingly intense—what was happening? Was it getting closer to them?
His fingernails dug into the bark without him feeling any pain, only sensing his entire body breaking out in cold sweat.
Everyone climbed up the trees in confusion, not daring to ask questions, simply following instructions.
He Xunzhou watched their series of actions from nearby and sighed: Truly worthy of being hunters, so sharp.
After watching for a while, He Xunzhou left. He needed to go to Great Black Mountain to search for something. There weren’t even wolves among the large fierce beasts here, let alone wild boars. Only some small animals remained—no wonder people came here to hunt.
After all, the danger level was low.
They waited nearly two hours before Liu Tie climbed down from the tree. Everyone relaxed and descended, asking: “What happened?”
Liu Tie replied with a worried expression: “I felt this place wasn’t safe.”
The Village Chief quickly asked: “Was there a fierce beast?”
“Yes, earlier I felt my hair stand on end. It was probably just passing through.” He added with post-survival relief: “Let’s check another place and return tomorrow.”
“Alright, let’s take the prey and leave this place first, then look elsewhere.” The Village Chief thought it over and agreed—it wouldn’t be worth losing lives just for meat.
Liu Tie had also considered that if he suggested returning now, the Village Chief definitely wouldn’t agree, since they had come all this way with great difficulty.
Great Black Mountain, inner perimeter.
“Howl~” Understood?
He Xunzhou looked at the trembling Wolf King before him.
The Wolf King’s figure appeared majestic and magnificent. It was a giant silver wolf, with thick fur shimmering with pale silver radiance. Its body was powerfully built with smooth, elegant lines, every muscle displaying wild strength and ferocity. Its eyes were deep and bright, sparkling with intelligent light.
Yet it still got beaten down by He Xunzhou.
The Wolf King fearfully watched the tall black tiger before him. Just moments ago, this tiger had passed through his subjects and fiercely attacked him—the other wolves couldn’t stop it at all, as if suppressed by some unknown force.
During the fight, he’d been at a disadvantage the entire time, and with one careless moment, got slammed to the ground by a single paw strike—utterly damaging his dignity as Wolf King.
“Howl~” Understand, understand. I surrender.
Damn, it’s just about going to the neighboring mountain to scare a couple of humans. As long as no one dies or gets permanently injured, there are plenty of methods. Couldn’t you just say so directly? Why bother beating me up? My wife loves me most when I look dignified.
“Howl~” We’ll do as you say, please don’t harm us. The Wolf Queen helplessly spoke from beside the Wolf King. They still had cubs to care for.
Hearing the Wolf Queen speak, the Wolf King immediately trembled as he stood up to shield her, saying: “Howl~” She didn’t mean it, punish me instead.
The two wolves gazed tenderly at each other.
How foolish.
“Fine, I can trust you. This is your reward—if you perform well, there will be more later.” He Xunzhou somewhat speechlessly replied to the Wolf Queen.
He Xunzhou looked satisfied at his achievement. Did they think I was some weak cat just because I hadn’t shown my power? He’d only been away from his territory for a few days, and already a snake had moved in.
It had now become his meal.
After giving a drop of Spirit Spring to the Wolf King, he leisurely departed. (This Spirit Spring was in solidified form, about the size of a medium raindrop, dissolving upon contact with water.)
Fighting was truly exhilarating. He needed to find time to challenge the entire Great Black Mountain as training.
If he was going to do it, he would become the king of Great Black Mountain. All animals must obey him. Those without spiritual intelligence didn’t count. (Some animals possess spiritual intelligence, like the Wolf King who has intelligence equivalent to a seven-year-old human child.)
(Note: Animals have their own language.)
After watching the tiger leave, the Wolf King picked up the blue stone that looked like a water droplet from the ground. Finding it fragrant, he licked it with his tongue, and it immediately dissolved completely in his mouth.
The Wolf Queen slapped his head with her paw and said, “Why do you eat everything?” She looked again and found that the thing had been completely consumed by that idiot.
The Wolf Queen was furious that it didn’t kill him. Just as she was about to erupt in anger, the Wolf King exclaimed excitedly.
“This thing is amazing! After eating it, I feel incredibly energized. The old injuries on my body have healed, along with the wounds from the recent fight.”
Hearing this, the Wolf Queen immediately examined his body and found that all his injuries had indeed healed. Then her poor cub might be saved! The two looked at each other, instantly understanding what the other was thinking.
A gray wolf approached and asked, “Should we obey that tiger?”
The Wolf King looked at his subjects and asked, “How many are injured and unable to fight?”
The crowd responded:
“No injuries, just suppressed by some unknown force.”
“Right, that tiger was terrifying.”
“You all heard what that tiger said earlier. These are the clothes of those two humans. Come smell them, and we’ll immediately complete the task. Those willing, step forward.”
Hearing the Wolf King’s instruction to smell the clothes, all the wolves stepped forward, expressing their willingness to attack those two humans.
The Wolf King was pleased with his subjects’ choice. He left half behind to guard the territory while taking the other wolves with him. The Wolf Queen remained behind as well.
After making arrangements, the Wolf King led the wolves out.
“Lin Jiang, you’re really pushing yourself.” Lu Beiyan said with frustration, “That pheasant got away, so let it be. Yet you still went after it. Look at your thigh, scraped by that branch…”
“Sorry, Brother Lu, it’s just habit.”
After bandaging his wound, Lu Beiyan went to check on others’ injuries, leaving with the words, “Do as you please.”Everyone had sustained minor injuries of varying degrees, but these couldn’t hide the smiles on their faces, as their harvest had been plentiful.”
The group discussed their satisfaction contentedly.
Some talked about saving money to get married, others about buying clothes for their wives and children.
They had two wild boars plus one piglet, over thirty rabbits, more than twenty pheasants, and one sika deer.
“Quiet!” Liu Tie’s single command instantly silenced everyone.
The Village Chief also spoke with a grim expression, “We need to leave quickly. Leave the things for now…” Before the Village Chief could finish, wolf howls echoed from all around.
“Awooo~” All wolves, have you spotted those two boys? Whoever contributes the most will get a share of the stone the tiger promised. No sooner had the Wolf King spoken than he thought to himself: I’ll find a large leaf, put the stone in water, and after it dissolves, distribute it to the wolves with the greatest contributions.
The wolves cheered excitedly.
They had all seen the Wolf King eat that stone and completely recover from his injuries. Though no one dared ask about it earlier, fearing the Wolf Queen’s wrath.
But along the way, the Wolf King had explained everything to them. Every wolf wanted to drink the solution. The tiger had said no one could touch it except those two humans, and those two must not be killed either.
“You come with me to lure away the hunter.” The Wolf King recognized that hunter – he had injured him a few years back, but the man had unfortunately escaped.
“Awooo~” Let’s go.
As soon as the Wolf King gave the order, all the wolves immediately charged toward the location of Liu Qing Zhu and Liu Qing Yang.
Before anyone could react, they saw the wolves already rushing over.
Liu Tie’s pupils contracted slightly as he shouted loudly, “Wolf King!” Seeing the Wolf King and several robust wolves running toward him, he quickly urged, “Everyone, climb the trees now!”