The space had become even smaller, like a miniature training arena. The difference was that her opponent was now a bloodthirsty beast, and He Yan had no weapons, not even the broken bamboo pole.

The wolf’s eyes gleamed with excitement. As a clever and cruel animal, it knew humans were surely doomed in such situations.

A bitter smile appeared on He Yan’s lips. Heaven truly favored her with exceptionally difficult scenarios. She wasn’t some miraculous strongman who could escape danger every time.

This was probably a hunter’s trap meant for rabbits or foxes. Perhaps too much time had passed, leaving it completely concealed by fallen branches and leaves. Who could have known she and the wolf would fall in while fighting? Now there was no escape.

The wolf slowly stood up. He Yan tried to stand as well, but immediately knew something was wrong. Her left leg had been injured in the fall, shooting pain through her with every movement.

She had no choice but to lean against the stone wall to stand.

The wolf crouched low, letting out a deep growl. He Yan looked down at it, her back against the wall, remaining motionless. After circling a few steps, it suddenly lunged at her.

The massive bloody maw appeared before her eyes, its nauseating stench bringing to mind images of wolf-ravaged corpses she’d seen by roadsides – mutilated bodies, unrecognizable faces, mere piles of rotting flesh.

In that critical moment, she thrust out her left arm. As the wolf aimed for her throat, she deflected it with her palm. Though she used considerable force, it wasn’t enough against a wild beast. While protecting her neck, her arm was caught in the wolf’s jaws.

Though the bite was severe, she showed no concern. Instead, she pushed forward, as if trying to force her arm deeper into the wolf’s mouth. As the wolf maintained its grip, He Yan’s right hand suddenly struck forward—

An agonized howl erupted from the wolf’s mouth. The cunning, persistent beast thrashed wildly in the pit, both its eyes gouged by the sharp stone, blood spraying everywhere.

He Yan released her grip. In her palm lay a small stone, its pointed end bloodied.

She had blinded the wolf.

From the moment she fell into the trap, she had been searching for anything to defend herself. Though the pit only contained scattered stones, she had managed to find one she could use.

Having lost its eyes, the wolf could see nothing and was too consumed by pain to think of anything else, thrashing wildly in the pit. He Yan gritted her teeth, braced against the wall, and used all her strength to pin down the wolf’s head. She gripped the stone again and violently slashed the wolf’s throat.

Blood slowly seeped out, warm at first, then gradually growing cold.

She slumped down, completely drained of strength. Her left arm bore the wolf’s bite, blood mixing with her torn sleeve. Her left leg wouldn’t lift, and her neck was grazed. Undoubtedly, she was in a sorry state, but as she stared at the dead wolf, a wave of melancholy washed over her.

She and this wolf were so alike – both helpless after losing their eyes. Seeing the wolf’s miserable death, though by her hand, reminded her of past events, leaving her utterly exhausted and unable to do anything more.

The sun had set, its last rays fading as the forest succumbed to darkness. She sat quietly, head bowed and silent, seeming for a moment to have stopped breathing as if dying peacefully.

…

In Liangzhou Garrison, no one knew of the heart-stopping events unfolding on the mountain.

Upon reaching the garrison, Zheng Xuan and the other two went to find the instructor. They deliberately delayed at the mountain’s foot before returning. By then, the sun had set, leaving only blood-red clouds splashed across the waterfront.

Shen Hong hadn’t gone with them, returning instead to his room.

When he returned, others had already finished dinner. Seeing Shen Hong sitting dazedly, someone joked, “Hey, how was your mountain trip today?”

“Why does he look so wooden? Did the exhaustion make him stupid?”

“Maybe so, haha! If he can’t handle this much, he’s too weak.”

Everyone teased him, assuming he was just tired, and went about their business. After a while, Wang Ba entered – he shared a room with Shen Hong. The recruits greeted him; though Wang Ba had lost to He Yan in archery, they still respected him here.

Wang Ba noticed Shen Hong sitting dazed on the bed and casually asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

“Don’t know. He’s been like this since coming down from the mountain today,” someone answered.

Wang Ba looked at Shen Hong, sensing something odd. Though he often bullied this honest person, he’d never seen Shen Hong so dispirited. He walked over and shoved Shen Hong, “What’s wrong? Did you see some beast on the mountain that scared you witless?”

The word “beast” made Shen Hong tremble more violently, mumbling something inaudible. Wang Ba leaned closer and heard him saying “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Who are you apologizing to?” Wang Ba frowned.

Shen Hong continued mumbling to himself. Impatient, Wang Ba grabbed him like a chicken and demanded, “Tell me everything that happened on the mountain today, you little wretch. If you don’t,” he threatened, shaking his fist, “you’ll regret it!”

The shock seemed to wake Shen Hong from his daze. Faced with Wang Ba’s intimidating presence, his guilty conscience broke, and he blurted out, “He Yan… He Yan is still on the mountain!”

He Yan? Wang Ba’s heart jumped at the name – that person was truly his nemesis. Still, he asked curiously, “What mountain? Did you go up together today? Why are you down while he’s still up there? What happened?”

“Wolves… many wolves! He Yan drew them away to save us,” Shen Hong burst into tears, speaking frantically, “Zheng Xuan wouldn’t let us tell the instructor, wanting to say He Yan crossed the mountain and went far away. No, that’s not true! They crossed the mountain peak, He Yan saved them, but they want him dead and want to slander him! He Yan is alone on the mountain without any weapons. He’ll die, and it’s all our fault!”

Though his words were jumbled and confused, Wang Ba quickly understood their meaning. After a moment’s shock, rage suddenly filled him, and he slammed his fist on the table, startling Shen Hong.

“He saved you all, and you left him alone on the mountain?”

Shen Hong cried, “I didn’t want to… I had no choice…”

Wang Ba looked at him with contempt: “Coward!” Then he turned and left the room.