Chapter 39
C39 – That Brat Was a Genius
As dusk settled in, a crescent moon ascended, casting a soft glow from its high perch in the heavens.
Within the confines of Deadwick Valley, a bonfire roared to life, its crackling sounds illuminating the area in a bright halo.
A group of weary youths huddled together, yet none dared to close their eyes in sleep, fearful of a savage beast lurking in the shadows, poised for an ambush.
Even Prof. J, well into his years, fought off the urge to rest. The youngsters around him were green, prone to panic in the face of danger, and in need of his leadership.
The two girls, though exhausted, remained vigilant, aware of the peril that surrounded them.
For the four young men present, the allure of the girls’ beauty paled in comparison to the threat to their lives; attractiveness offered no defense against danger.
A prolonged, mournful howl echoed through the forest, unrelenting.
Prof. J, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly looked stricken, his face betraying a fear that seemed to surpass the terror of encountering the barbarian.
“What’s the matter, Prof. J?” one of the girls asked, her concern evident.
Before Prof. J could respond, the bespectacled man blurted out in alarm, “That’s the howl of a wolf. How can there be wolves here?”
“Chong Siji, what are you screaming about? Looking for trouble?” The young man in yellow seemed perpetually at odds with the bespectacled man, glaring at him with a scowl of disapproval.
Shivering with fear, the bespectacled man insisted, “It’s a wolf. Wolves are pack animals, highly attuned to the presence of fire. We’re finished. Wolves are far more fearsome than any barbarian.”
Chong Siji’s words seemed to tap into a well of fear within the group, their eyes turning to Prof. J in anxious anticipation.
Prof. J’s face was tinged with sorrow as he confirmed, “Chong Siji is correct. That is the call of wolves. A pack has at least a few dozen members. It looks like we’ll have to extinguish this fire. If the wolves approach, our danger will only increase.”
“But Professor, wolves fear fire. If we put out the bonfire and the wolves still come, we’re as good as dead. We can’t put out the fire.”
At that moment, Chong Siji interjected with a firmness that belied his frightened gaze.
Prof. J was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head and resolved, “Forget it. That’s the plan. Everyone, gather anything that can burn. Let’s get our spirits up and head to the rock.”
No one dared to object to Prof. J’s grave tone. They collected matches from the ground, adding them to the fire to stoke the flames higher. Then, the group clambered onto the large rock, using this solitary natural bastion for protection.
Perched atop a tree, Wen Huaimu was at a loss for words.
Their luck had run out. The barbarians hadn’t yet departed, and now wolves had arrived.
But with the situation growing dire, Wen Huaimu couldn’t remain indifferent. They were all human, after all; he couldn’t stand by and watch them perish.
Silently channeling his magic, Wen Huaimu braced himself for action. Should any wolves attack the canyon’s inhabitants, he’d intervene. With his elementary yet peak elf magic, handling a pack of small wild wolves would be straightforward.
Soon enough, a pack of wolves materialized at the canyon’s perimeter, their menacing eyes sending chills down the spine.
Wen Huaimu scanned the area with his psychic force, counting thirty-five wolves in total—clearly the vicious kind from Deadwick.
Their intimidating stares petrified everyone in the canyon.
If these wolves, more dreadful than the savages, were to catch them, it would spell their doom.
In the harsh glow of the fire, faces blanched with despair were all that could be seen.
A savage roar echoed through the forest, a warning from the barbarians: this was their domain.
Yet the wolves remained silent, their steely gazes fixed on the canyon’s prey. They dismissed the barbarian’s warning with a mere sidelong glance, utterly unconcerned.
The barbarian in the forest was enraged.
Like a shadow streaking through the forest with the speed of lightning, it charged toward the wolf pack.
The barbarian’s presence was overwhelmingly fierce, causing a ripple of unease among the wolves.
A giant wolf, clearly more imposing than the rest, emerged from the shadows. Its low growl brought instant calm to the pack. With a few more murmurs, the wolves spread out, disciplined and vigilant, ready to confront the encroaching barbarians.
When the wild man caught sight of the massive wolf, he froze, his gaze brimming with shock, fear, and a flicker of rage.
“Awoo!” he bellowed at the wolf.
The wolf paid him no heed.
Fuming, the wild man doubled over, gasping for air. His eyes began to slowly redden, and his body crackled as if swelling in size.
Wen Huaimu, concealed in the shadows, was taken aback. Could savages actually transform?
The wolf, too, turned to scrutinize the wild man, its eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and gravity.
“Awoo!” The wild man’s roar echoed once more, as if issuing a final warning.
Impressed by the transformed savage’s strength, the wolf’s attitude shifted. It no longer dismissed him, replying with a low growl instead.
The two formidable beasts commenced an eerie dialogue.
From his darkened hideout, Wen Huaimu was astounded. Were these the fierce creatures of the forest? The two monstrous beasts appeared to be engaging in a negotiation.
While Wen Huaimu grappled with his astonishment, the group in the canyon succumbed to despair.
With a wolf before them and a wild man behind, their fears were confirmed—the wild man had indeed been lurking, ready to pounce.
Now, with the wild man still present and the wolf’s arrival, their grim prospects were clear, absent any outside rescue.
“I don’t want to die,” whimpered another young man, teetering on the edge of breakdown. He huddled on a large rock, his expression vacant, his body quivering as he murmured to himself.
The man in the yellow robe cast a scornful glance his way. True colors shine through in the face of peril.
Clearly, this individual was feeble and craven.
Yet, given the perilous circumstances, their inability to cope was understandable. After all, they were all just students.
“Professor, what’s our move?” asked the man in the yellow robe, abandoning any hope for rescue. He fixed Prof. J with a steady gaze, seeking guidance.
Prof. J managed a wry smile. “We leave it to fate. We’re no martial arts heroes. How can we stand a chance against those merciless, starving wolves?”
“No,” the man in yellow retorted sharply, “life is too short to leave to fate. In the face of such peril, we must take action. To survive, we must devise a strategy to confront the pack of wolves.”
The two girls standing next to the professor were staring at the man in the yellow robe, utterly spellbound. They were his classmates, yet they never imagined he could be so brave in the face of peril.
“So, what’s your plan for getting us out of this?” Prof. J asked, his eyes sparkling with intrigue.
The man in the yellow robe glanced towards the pack of wolves and spoke with an icy resolve, “As the wolves drew near, the barbarians let out a roar. It’s clear we’re in their domain. The wolves are trespassing, and the barbarians won’t take kindly to that. Their clash is our window of opportunity. If we want to survive, we must take our leave amidst their battle.”
“What?” The revelation left everyone perched on the boulder reeling. He proposed they flee from the beasts under the cover of darkness? That was ludicrous. It was a desperate gamble at best!
Yet, from the shadows, Wen Huaimu couldn’t help but smile and nod in approval after catching the yellow-robed man’s strategy. “This one’s got a spark of genius. He’s undaunted by danger and quick to devise a plan. But what he doesn’t realize is that the barbarian is currently brokering a deal with the wolves. If they strike an accord, your situation just got a whole lot riskier.”
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