Chapter Ninety-Nine: Battling the Wolves

Green quietly settled, spreading evenly throughout the forest, filtering softly through the gaps in the leaves. After nearly two hours of walking, Hua Rong still hadn’t managed to find her way out of this vast woodland. Instead, the incessant cries of birds and beasts around her only frayed her nerves further.

With a frustrated sigh, she leaned against a towering tree, pouted helplessly, and muttered under her breath, “Why is this wretched forest so enormous? I’ve been walking for ages and there’s still no exit. Don’t tell me I took the wrong path?”

A sudden, guttural roar echoed from somewhere nearby. Startled birds and beasts scattered into the night. Hua Rong’s face drained of color; her legs nearly gave out beneath her. “What’s happening? There really are wild beasts here!”

She had thought Cui Liu was merely trying to frighten her, but now it seemed she was unlucky enough to encounter real danger.

Swallowing hard, Hua Rong’s eyes darted about. By the moonlight, she hurriedly swept aside the leaves at her feet, revealing a sturdy branch. Clutching it tightly, she froze on the spot, not daring to move. Amid the rustling leaves and animal calls, her own heartbeat was the only sound she could hear with absolute clarity.

“Calm down, calm down!” she told herself, struggling to suppress her panic. Step by cautious step, she edged forward, careful not to make a sound, terrified of drawing the attention of some lurking predator.

Then, in the shifting shadows, a sudden beam of light flickered. “Is someone there?” A spark of hope ignited in Hua Rong’s heart. Even if it was only Cui Liu, anyone would be better than being devoured by beasts.

Fueled by a sliver of luck, she advanced cautiously, but just as she did, a wolf’s head emerged ahead, making her jump in terror. “A wolf! This is it—I’m doomed!”

Though her mind was blank with fear, she remembered enough to know that wolves rarely hunt alone. If one was here, the rest of the pack couldn’t be far behind. To be eaten whole by a single wolf seemed almost merciful; to be torn apart by a pack was a gruesome fate she didn’t dare imagine.

One thought blazed in her mind: Run!

Of all the strategies, escape was the wisest. Trusting her long legs, Hua Rong turned and bolted, swift as lightning.

But the wolves gave relentless chase. As expected, one wolf’s appearance drew out the whole pack, who raced after her, some flanking to cut off her escape.

Suddenly, two wolves appeared ahead. Hua Rong slammed to a halt, lost her balance, and tumbled hard to the ground.

“It hurts so much!” she whimpered, lips trembling, fear rising as the wolves closed in. She was clearly trapped.

She gripped the fallen leaves, ignoring the pain that shot through her body, and clenched her teeth. The only thing she had to defend herself was the branch she’d just found.

“What now…” Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, so fast it felt ready to burst. She feared she might die of fright before the wolves even reached her.

“Help! Is anyone there? Save me!” she cried out desperately, her scream piercing the night. If resistance was futile, she might as well make a final plea.

Her shriek sent another wave of panic through the wildlife, birds and beasts scattering in a frenzy.

The wolves, seemingly provoked by her cries, abandoned all hesitation and charged straight at her, their muscular bodies moving with lethal grace, their attack as swift as lightning.

Hua Rong held her breath, instinctively pressed herself to the ground, unwilling to witness her own end.

But at that critical moment, a thunderous roar erupted nearby.

A wolf’s anguished howl pierced the night. Hua Rong’s heart lurched. “What’s happening? Are they fighting each other?”

These agonized cries didn’t sound like the triumphant feast she feared; it was more like an all-out brawl.

Before she could react, a sharp, commanding voice rang out, “Why are you still lying there? Want to become wolf food? Get up and stand behind me!”

Stunned, Hua Rong dared to lift her head and peek up, squinting through the moonlight. A man stood before her, half his face illuminated in silver, his features noble and strikingly handsome—so much so that she momentarily forgot her peril, lost in a daze.

“Uh?” she mumbled, confused.

With a resigned sigh, the man grabbed her arm and pulled her close behind him. “Hold on tight. Otherwise, you won’t even know what killed you!”

Still dazed, Hua Rong clung to him, her mind a muddle. Then she noticed, not far away, the corpse of a wolf, its body still twitching, blood pooling near her feet. Instinctively, she edged away.

“What happened? Did you kill that wolf?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” the man replied coolly.

A crimson droplet slid from the blade of the sword he held—it was a chilling sight.

Hua Rong swallowed hard, her doubts quelled. Still, with so many wolves, how could anyone—even with her as a burden—possibly prevail?

“There are too many wolves. You can’t fight them all alone. Shouldn’t we run?” she ventured, her voice trembling. At such a desperate moment, she lacked the courage to ask anyone to sacrifice themselves for her.

The man gave a soft laugh. “Are you stupid?”

Before she could retort, he strode toward the dying wolf, seized it by the scruff, and lifted it high.

The wolf struggled weakly but was powerless to resist, left dangling before the pack as though on display.

“What are you doing? Is this really the time to show off?” Hua Rong muttered in exasperation. It made no sense to provoke the wolves further.

But the man paid no heed. With a swift, decisive motion, he drove his sword into the wolf’s abdomen. The blow was so precise and deadly that the wolf expired instantly. The rest of the pack, witnessing this, dared not approach.

They thought themselves fierce, yet someone else was fiercer still.

Seeing the fear in the wolves’ eyes, the man’s lips curled into a faint smile. He glanced at Hua Rong, raised his brows, and said, “While they’re still afraid, let’s go!”