But Song Chuyi’s plan back then had been so perfect—Han Zhi had no reason to return to serve the Crown Prince again. He didn’t even have the status to return. In the eyes of the world, he was already a dead man.
One after another, the scalp-numbing wolf howls were especially piercing under the moonlight. Even Song Chuyi was so startled by these howls mixed with screams and shrieks that her head felt ready to split. She clutched Zhou Weizhao’s sleeve, one hand covering her head, standing frozen as she retreated a step—indeed, not everything in this world could be within her control. Even though she had anticipated the Crown Prince would make his move, she hadn’t expected such an extremely complex situation to emerge. At this moment, she couldn’t even figure out who was the mastermind behind this battle between humans and wolves.
After seeing blood, the wolf pack became increasingly frenzied. Even the several Taoist soldiers beside Zhou Weizhao were already struggling to cope. Zhou Weizhao firmly protected Song Chuyi at his side while swiftly ordering people to light fires.
Wolves feared fire. Only then did everyone react. Those who had flint and could spare their hands all seemed divinely inspired as they set fires. Fortunately, not knowing when they could enter the city or where to lodge, they had already collected much firewood. Now lighting it ablaze, the surroundings instantly became bright as day.
It was precisely this brilliance that could sear even human eyes—everywhere one looked was blood, whether human or wolf. There were even severed limbs and broken arms of those who had fled earlier but encountered the wolf pack. Xiang Mingzi, protected as she stumbled to the bonfire’s side, took just one glance before she couldn’t help but bend over and retch.
Mister Qingfeng stared unblinkingly at the wolf pack, his gaze focused on the strongest, most ferocious wolf in the distance that was clearly different from the surrounding wolves—obviously the alpha. He glanced at Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao: “I’ve heard wolves are very vengeful and cruel animals. Once they’ve set their sights on prey, they won’t give up. What’s more, we’ve now killed so many of their companions.” He paused, his lips curving into a mocking arc: “When I was young, traveling alone in Qinghai for my studies, I once encountered a wolf pack while out and nearly lost my life. I’ve heard that wolves, like humans, have an extremely strong sense of clan and are fierce yet alert by nature, often able to cooperate and divide labor when hunting. Right now, the wolf pack we’ve encountered today is no less numerous than what I faced back then. I’m afraid there are at least fifty or sixty wolves. Has there ever been a record of so many wolves jointly attacking people in the capital suburbs?”
Song Yan had spent much time with Song Jue and had heard many strange tales. Hearing this, he immediately shook his head: “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Tigers coming down the mountain to attack people is often heard of, but so many wolves moving together at once is extremely rare.”
Zhou Weizhao had already understood what Mister Qingfeng meant to say. Expressionlessly, he slashed down a wolf lunging at Song Chuyi, then looked past Song Yan to Mister Qingfeng: “How did you escape last time, sir? This fire clearly doesn’t have much effect on them anymore.”
Wolves that had seen blood—how could they still care about fire? At most it could only hold them off for a while. Seeing that Zhou Weizhao understood his meaning, Mister Qingfeng pointed at the largest, most ferocious wolf, his tone decisive: “First kill the alpha, then quickly seize the opportunity to escape—once the alpha is killed, they’ll be in chaos for a while.”
Everyone looked in the direction Mister Qingfeng pointed. The wolf he indicated had a massive body and fierce eyes. The surrounding wolves gathered around it. When it made a sound, they all drooped their tails and lowered their heads. It indeed looked like the alpha giving orders.
Song Chuyi frowned: “But it’s in the middle of so many wolves…”
“It must still be killed!” Mister Qingfeng said without hesitation: “Otherwise, if more wolf packs are drawn here, we’ll certainly die!”
Qing Zhuo, covered in blood, blocked in front of Zhou Weizhao. Hearing this, he unhesitatingly started to lunge forward, but was immediately grabbed by the collar by Zhou Weizhao. He struggled a few times, turning back resentfully to shout: “Your Highness! You cannot take such a risk!”
“I dealt with wolves when I was at Longhu Mountain.” He spoke concisely, then nodded to Song Chuyi: “I’ll be right back.”
Although Qing Zhuo was quick-witted, his martial skills truly weren’t as good as Zhou Weizhao’s. Among those present who had the ability to take the alpha’s life from amid so many wolves, only Zhou Weizhao could possibly do it. Song Chuyi pressed her lips together, then suddenly stepped forward to straighten his collar. Looking up at him seriously: “If you don’t come back, I’ll come find you.”
She didn’t know how to say sweet words, didn’t know how to love someone in a way that was truly good for him, that suited his heart yet wouldn’t make him feel this affection was a burden. She only had a heart that treated people carefully. In her previous life, she had held this heart in both hands and given it to Shen Qingrang, only for him to immediately throw it on the ground and cruelly trample it. In this life, she had mustered the courage to stitch together her shattered heart and place it in Zhou Weizhao’s hands, not wanting it to be ground into mud as in her previous life.
Zhou Weizhao’s entire body trembled. He held Song Chuyi’s hand in his palm, gripping it tightly, ultimately only managing three words: “Don’t worry.”
Song Chuyi looked into his eyes, stepped back, and released his hand, slowly exhaling: “Yes, I won’t worry.”
Zhou Weizhao’s body sprang forward, quickly flying into the wolf pack. Song Chuyi’s gaze fixed tightly on him, never looking away for even a moment. Her hand hanging at her side was already clenched into a tight fist. In that flash of insight, she had already made up her mind—if they could escape unscathed this time, she definitely wouldn’t let those behind this have an easy time.
She was rarely this flustered. Yet someone was a hundred times more flustered than her. Zhou Weiqi was so panicked his hands had nowhere to rest. If it weren’t for Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing supporting him on both sides and bringing him back to his sleeping chambers, with concern for the Crown Prince’s health as pretext, rumors would probably be flying everywhere immediately.
Now having entered the sleeping chamber, he collapsed entirely on the bed, eyes wide open staring straight at the ceiling, like a fish tossed ashore, gasping for breath in great gulps.
Even Huang Yiqing and Qian Ying both had pale faces, sweating palms, bodies rigid as they collapsed on the floor without regard for decorum.
After an unknown length of time, smoke from the incense burner rose in wisps, entering people’s nostrils. The sweet cloying fragrance finally startled Zhou Weiqi into lurching up from the bed. He looked left and right in terror, sat up straight, his hair ribbon disheveled across his chest, his gaze finally focusing as he asked Qian Ying: “What do we do?! Master, what should we do now?!”
Qian Ying sat motionless for a long time. After ages, he finally slowly raised his head, exchanged a glance with the ashen-faced Huang Yiqing, and shook his head stiffly.