Chapter Forty-Four: The Spirit of the Wolf

Jiang Feng realized that his earlier tactic had been a mistake; he hadn’t anticipated the skeleton monster’s astonishingly rapid recovery, nor the way its regeneration overlapped, making it clear that only after a fierce battle would it finally die. Steeling himself, Jiang Feng watched as the skeleton monster’s attention shifted from himself to Wang Yingying, who stood nearby. Yingying’s already frail body, startled by the terror before her, collapsed in a heap as her legs gave way.

“Damn it, this is all my fault,” Jiang Feng cursed himself bitterly for his carelessness. Seeing the skeleton monster lunging toward Wang Yingying, he executed the twenty-fifth form, striking the creature’s head. The skeleton monster, momentarily distracted by Jiang Feng’s attack, paused its advance. Jiang Feng continued to attack while retreating, drawing the monster away from Wang Yingying by sheer force of will.

As the skeleton monster charged at him, Jiang Feng stopped retreating and confronted it head on. His twenty-fifth form could only momentarily halt the monster’s assault, so he needed another strategy. He recalled the Xuantian Secret Arts’ Divine Palm technique, though he wasn’t sure if it would be effective now. From his bag, he took out a pill gifted by the old man Yi Chen, said to instantly boost one’s power.

After swallowing the pill, Jiang Feng felt his strength surge. He quickly regulated his breathing and used the Meditation Arts to optimize his state. The skeleton monster, impatient for Jiang Feng’s display, swung its axe at him in a wild frenzy, each blow cleaving deep fissures in the earth—below which unknown darkness seemed to lurk. Jiang Feng knew that if he remained passive, he might soon perish beneath the monster’s axe.

At that moment, Wang Yingying shouted, as if she’d noticed something, “Jiang Feng, attack the center of its brain! It looks like all commands emanate from there. Strike the center and the skeleton monster will die!”

Jiang Feng looked up and, just as Yingying had said, saw a red mark right in the middle of the monster’s forehead. Summoning all his strength, he leapt to match the monster’s height and unleashed his full power in a palm strike to its head. The skeleton monster froze after taking the blow, and then, with a thunderous crack, exploded.

Like a firecracker, the skeleton monster burst apart. Jiang Feng swiftly rushed to Wang Yingying’s side and called for the divine beast to carry them both away. At this speed, they would surely escape before the monster’s final explosion consumed everything.

They ran for a long time before finally reaching a safe haven, both gasping for breath. Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed from the arena behind them—surely the skeleton monster had been destroyed by Jiang Feng. He allowed himself the thought, and perhaps from exhaustion, drifted into sleep.

“Beast, do you think Jiang Feng has been too tired lately? Since we entered the Forest of Mystery, he’s been on edge every day—and it’s all my fault. If he hadn’t brought me along, he would’ve gotten the Blood Fiend Fruit long ago. As everyone says, I’m nothing but a burden. Without Jiang Feng, the Wang family would have fallen into another’s hands…”

The divine beast shook its head, as if disagreeing with Wang Yingying’s self-blame, and signaled her to relax. Jiang Feng would protect her; she only needed to stay safe.

“Beast, would you dislike me if I died? To have such a troublesome woman by your side—though I’m from the Wang family, I know nothing of the Meditation Arts, which is why Jiang Feng suffers so much…” Wang Yingying burst into tears as she finished speaking.

At that moment, the divine beast fell silent, unsure how to comfort Wang Yingying.

Wang Yingying stroked the jade flute at her side, glanced at Jiang Feng, and seemed to reach a decision. After a while, she confided in the divine beast, telling it to protect Jiang Feng as she intended to venture out on her own for training. The beast, sensing that Jiang Feng should not be separated from her, tugged at Wang Yingying’s clothes persistently.

Wang Yingying remained conflicted, but resolved to embark on her own journey, determined to at least gain the ability to protect herself and no longer burden Jiang Feng. She slipped away under cover of night.

Not long after, Jiang Feng awoke to find only the divine beast flapping its wings nearby. He sensed something had happened. Looking around, he couldn’t see Wang Yingying anywhere. “Where’s Yingying?” The divine beast tugged at Jiang Feng’s clothes and pointed ahead.

Jiang Feng understood: Yingying had snuck away while he slept, convinced she was a burden. Panic seized him—this was the Forest of Mystery, teeming with danger. If he couldn’t find her, she would be in peril. Ignoring his exhaustion, Jiang Feng struggled to his feet.

He mounted the divine beast again, but his body was so weak and sore that he slid off. Trying once, twice, his strength was spent; even walking became a challenge.

Jiang Feng was nearly in tears; such helplessness had only struck him once before. He’d always been strong in this life, but now he realized he cared deeply for someone. With no other choice, he sat beneath a tree to rest, the divine beast beside him, sensing his anxiety.

After leaving Jiang Feng, Wang Yingying wasn’t sure where to go and wandered aimlessly. When tired, she rested; when hungry, she picked fruit. She deliberately took secluded paths to avoid being found by Jiang Feng, knowing he’d search for her if she disappeared. But she could not continue to be a burden. Yingying had always been strong-willed since childhood; the path she chose, she would follow, even on her knees.

By the time Jiang Feng’s strength returned, it was the next day. He was anxious—an entire day had passed, and Yingying could encounter danger at any moment. He reasoned that Yingying, trying to avoid him, would take only remote routes, so he had the divine beast search along the most secluded paths.

He found no trace of her, but his instincts told him she wasn’t far. He had to find her quickly.

Yingying continued deeper into the forest, the path growing more remote and her fear mounting. She slowed her steps, found a spot to rest and drink water, and realized the surroundings resembled the heart of the Forest of Mystery—she was lost.

Even in her fear, she scanned her surroundings. Suddenly, a chorus of wolf howls echoed in her ears—could it be the wolf spirits again? Perhaps this was her chance to test her abilities. Yingying was somewhat afraid; she’d only used the jade flute once before and wasn’t confident she could defeat the wolf spirits.

Soon, the wolf spirits caught Yingying’s scent; four or five dozen gathered around her. Hungry and fierce, they regarded her as prey, but she dared not show any fear and began to play her jade flute.

The wolves, hearing the flute’s notes, hesitated to approach. But as her playing faltered, the music could no longer deter their hunger. One wolf spirit tried to break through, and Yingying played her flute with all her strength, causing it to back down.

In the distance, Jiang Feng heard the sound of Yingying’s flute and knew she was in danger. He rushed toward the source, the divine beast quickening its pace in response. Man and beast swept through the Forest of Mystery like a roaring wind. When Jiang Feng reached Yingying, she was already surrounded, her fear so overwhelming that the flute had slipped from her grasp. The wolves seemed poised to tear her apart.

“Yingying!” Jiang Feng shouted, and at last Wang Yingying broke down in tears: “Jiang Feng, you finally came to save me. I was so scared!” Jiang Feng’s heart was struck as if by a mighty blow, his eyes burning with fiery resolve.

The wolf spirits, seeing Jiang Feng attack from behind, all turned to lunge at him. Jiang Feng, heedless of danger, employed the twenty-fifth form, slicing from wolf head to tail. Seeing one of their own fall into a pool of blood, the wolves retreated, recognizing the threat. But Jiang Feng was not about to let them escape; he summoned two raging dragons, commanding them to sweep through the wolf pack, leaving no survivors.

The battle ended swiftly. Jiang Feng gathered the trembling Wang Yingying into his arms; she wrapped her arms around his neck, as if letting go of all her worries and doubts.

“Girl, don’t leave me again. I’ve never thought of you as a burden. When you disappeared, both the divine beast and I were frantic. If you leave us again, even the heavens won’t forgive you.”

At last, Wang Yingying managed a smile through her tears: “I just wanted to learn the Meditation Arts, to become stronger, so I could protect you and not be your burden. But after less than a day away, I realized I really can’t manage it. I’m such a failure.”

Jiang Feng tapped her nose gently: “Silly girl. If you want to learn, I’ll teach you. Whoever dares to despise you, I, Jiang Feng, will be the first to stand against them.”