allonlinenovel Chapter 230 The Wolf King's Escort
Chapter 230 The Wolf King's Escort
Night fell like a thick black silk, completely enveloping the earth, with only a few sparse stars twinkling faintly in the sky. General Li and his entourage struggled forward in the darkness, surrounded by deathly silence, broken only by the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels breaking the oppressive stillness.
"General, there seems to be some movement ahead," a soldier said nervously, his voice trembling slightly in the quiet night.
General Li immediately became alert. He gripped his longsword tightly and ordered in a low voice, "All troops, be on alert!" The soldiers quickly formed a circle around the carriage, protecting the gifts in the middle. Their weapons gleamed coldly, their eyes were filled with vigilance and tension, and their breathing became rapid.
Just as all was quiet and the night was deep, suddenly, a long and mournful wolf howl resounded through the night sky, the sound like a sharp sword piercing the stillness of the night. Immediately afterwards, as if in response, wave after wave of wolf howls surged from all directions, one after another, the sounds growing closer and closer, as if countless pairs of eyes hidden in the darkness were coldly watching them, these unsuspecting people.
"It's the Wolf King!" someone in the crowd cried out in terror. With this shout, everyone's gaze turned to the endless darkness. In the impenetrable darkness, pairs of eerie green eyes flickered, gleaming with a chilling light. Those eyes, like will-o'-the-wisps, flickered on and off, seemingly poised to pounce on their prey at any moment.
The wolves drew closer, trapping the group inside. Each wolves was agile and swift as the wind. Their fur was rather rough, reflecting a faint silver light in the moonlight. Every wolf opened its gaping maw, emitting low growls; its sharp fangs gleamed coldly in the darkness, sending chills down the spines of anyone who beheld them.
General Li's expression instantly turned serious, his eyes sharp as he quickly scanned the approaching wolf pack. Then, he took a deep breath, gathered his inner strength, and roared in a booming voice, "Don't panic! Maintain our current formation and obey my commands!" Hearing General Li's order, the soldiers, though fearful, forced themselves to remain calm, huddling tightly together, the distance between them barely a fraction of an inch. The long spears they gripped, like a forest of steel, were all pointed at the closing wolves.
The wolves began to slowly approach, their bodies hunched, tails lowered, cautiously testing the waters. Suddenly, a large wolf lunged at a soldier, who swiftly parried with his spear. With a clang, the wolf's claws clashed with the spear, sparks flying. Seeing this, the other wolves also launched their attack, charging towards the soldier like black lightning. In an instant, shouts of battle and howls of wolves mingled together.
General Li brandished his longsword and charged into the wolf pack. His swordsmanship was fierce; each strike was accompanied by a whistling sound, driving back several wolves. However, the wolf pack was too numerous, and the soldiers gradually became overwhelmed, with soldiers constantly being wounded.
Just as the situation became increasingly critical, a deafening wolf howl rang out, a sound full of majesty and power that instantly silenced all the wolves. A gigantic wolf slowly approached, its fur glossy black, shimmering with a mysterious luster in the moonlight, its blood-red eyes revealing a kingly aura—this was the Wolf King.
The wolf king stood before the pack, silently watching General Li and his men, its gaze unfathomable. General Li gripped his longsword, thinking to himself, "This wolf king is incredibly powerful; today will likely be a fierce battle." He glanced at his weary and wounded soldiers, then at the important mission behind him carrying the gifts, gritted his teeth, and shouted, "Brothers, even if we have to risk our lives, we will protect the gifts!" The soldiers roared in unison, their voices filled with a resolute determination to die.
However, just as everyone was preparing for a final battle with the wolf king, the wolf king made a surprising move. It slowly crouched down, lowered its head to the ground, and made a gesture of submission. Immediately afterward, the wolves behind it followed suit, all lying down on the ground.
General Li and his soldiers were stunned. They looked at each other, unable to believe what they were seeing. "General, what... what's going on?" a soldier stammered.
General Li also looked puzzled, but he remained vigilant and did not lower his grip on his weapon. At this moment, the Wolf King slowly got up, took a few steps towards General Li, then turned around, gesturing for them to follow.
"General, is the Wolf King going to escort us?" another soldier guessed.
General Li pondered for a moment and said, "Regardless, let's assess the situation first. Everyone, proceed with caution and do not let your guard down."
So General Li and his entourage cautiously followed behind the wolf king, with the wolf pack following behind them. Along the way, the wolf king led them away from many dangerous places, and when they encountered attacks from other wild animals, the wolf pack would actively drive them away.
As dawn broke, they finally emerged from the danger zone. General Li looked at the Wolf King, his heart filled with gratitude. He clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your help, Wolf King. I am deeply grateful. If you ever need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
The wolf king seemed to understand him; it nodded, then led its pack away. General Li and his soldiers watched the wolf king's departing figure, their hearts filled with emotion.
"General, why would the wolf king help us?" a soldier asked curiously.
General Li shook his head: "Perhaps it was our courage and sense of mission that moved it, or perhaps it was fate. In any case, we successfully completed our mission, and that is enough."
The wolf king actually helped because of Nine-Tails.
Just last night, as darkness fell and the forest was shrouded in thick darkness, only moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Nine-Tails, like a white lightning bolt, appeared silently before the Wolf King. The Wolf King exuded a chilling aura, the flames of vengeance burning fiercely in its eerie green eyes; it was ready to slaughter its enemies.
"Wolf King!" Nine-Tails' voice was clear and powerful, echoing in the silent forest and interrupting the Wolf King's steps.
The wolf king suddenly turned its head, its eyes flashing with ferocity as it glared at the nine-tailed fox: "What are you doing here? Don't block my way. Today is the day those enemies die!" Its voice was deep and angry, each word seemingly carrying shards of ice.
Nine-tailed fox swayed gently, its expression solemn: "Wolf King, you cannot go. The enemy you think you have is actually hiding something. The person you hate is merely carrying out my master's orders, and there is a deeper reason behind those orders."
The wolf king's fur bristled instantly, and it let out a roar filled with suspicion and anger: "What secret? I watched with my own eyes as my companions fell under their blades, their blood staining the ground red, and now you come to tell me there's a secret? Don't try to fool me!"
Nine-Tanuki slowly approached, its gaze fixed firmly into the Wolf King's eyes: "The gifts General Li escorted were at my master's behest. He killed your companion not out of his own volition, but to fulfill a mission concerning the well-being of all people. If he hadn't done so, an even greater disaster would have befallen us."
The wolf king was stunned. The anger in its eyes paused for a moment, but quickly reignited: "All living beings? Aren't my companions also living beings? How can I believe your words!" Its body trembled slightly, its heart struggling violently between hatred and doubt.
Nine-Tanuki closed its eyes, a soft light emanating from its body, and an image slowly appeared. In the image, General Li received a secret order, fully aware of the importance of escorting the congratulatory gift. However, he was attacked by the wolf king's companions along the way, and had no choice but to fight back to protect the gift. And this gift, once delivered, could save countless lives.
As the wolf king watched the video, the anger in its eyes was gradually replaced by shock, and a low whimper escaped its throat: "This... how is this possible? I always thought..." Its voice was full of confusion, and its belief in revenge began to waver at this moment.
Nine-Tanuki said softly, "Wolf King, hatred has blinded you. If you seek revenge now, not only will the congratulatory gifts not be delivered on time, but countless innocent people will also be plunged into misery. Do you want to see such an outcome?"
The wolf king's mind flashed with images of its people, and then it thought of the common folk who might suffer because of its revenge, its heart filled with immense pain. It paced back and forth, its claws digging deep into the earth. "But my companions... how can I just let those people go?"
Nine-Tanuki was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand your pain, but things in this world are not always black and white. If you let go of your hatred and help General Li successfully escort the congratulatory gifts, perhaps you can achieve greater peace, which would also be a comfort to your companions."
The wolf king stopped, raised his head, and looked up at the night sky, tears glistening in his eyes: "Letting go of hatred... how easy is that? But for more lives, I... I'm willing to try. But what should I do?"
Nine-Tanuki breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You can escort General Li and his entourage and ensure they are not disturbed by other forces. Once the gifts are safely delivered, my master will give you an explanation."
The wolf king nodded, his eyes gradually hardening: "Alright, I believe you this time. If this is false, I will not let it go."
That's why we have the scene at the beginning where the wolf king is escorting them.