Wolf Hunt

Wolf Hunt

Zhou Leng looked over and saw a group of youths about his age approaching.

Zhou Leng vaguely remembered having seen several of them recently. After thinking carefully, he finally recalled when.

Before the Martial Arts Examination began, some candidates had been dressed in brightly colored clothes and chasing one another up the steps of the martial arts arena. Several of them had been among that group.

All of them had dyed their hair in a riot of colors.

"Isn't that Young Master Chang? What brings you here?" Xue Chengsong asked, looking at Chang Luan with a false smile.

"Nothing much. You're doing Martial Arts Research too?" Chang Luan was tall, thin, and pale, with long hair brushed back. He looked somewhat old-fashioned at his age. He surveyed everyone in Zhou Leng's group, then glanced at the two people behind them, Guo Xiaohao and Liu Teng.

"Yeah." Xue Chengsong answered casually.

"All right, I won't disturb you, then. Be careful. Don't let a demonic beast kill you," Chang Luan said.

"I'll take Young Master Chang's good wishes. You be careful not to drown in the water."

"I have a strong fate."

Ding Yan asked in a low voice, "Won't they cause trouble here?"

"Chang Luan isn't a good person, but he isn't stupid either. During something as crucial as Martial Arts Research, he won't create complications. Don't worry. There aren't many tough fighters among his people. Most of them are good-for-nothings."

"I'm just worried we'll run into enemies."

Xue Chengsong watched Chang Luan's back and said, "My father and his father both run Pioneer Branch Companies. Their superiors don't see eye to eye. They fought over resource sites and had a few clashes, with both sides winning some and losing some. Later, someone mediated between them. Both sides still make occasional small moves, but not enough to tear off all pretense of peace. We've sparred several times. We were happy when we won and talked tough when we lost. We fought and joked around, but there was no reason to become enemies."

"That's good," Ding Yan said.

"These days, who doesn't have a few enemies? It doesn't matter." The tallest and strongest muscular man in the group folded his arms across his chest, completely unconcerned.

This person's name was Cui Mingcong, and his physical prowess was visibly formidable.

"With how big you are, of course you don't have to be afraid," Ding Yan said while looking around.

"Why come to Demon City if you're afraid of dying?" The speaker was a girl with a crew cut.

Cui Mingcong had the most muscle in the group. The crew-cut girl, Cao Jiajia, ranked second. Her muscular build was enough to make men envious, and tiger-patterned tattoos covered her neck and wrists.

"You strong people always think you're right," Ding Yan said with a laugh.

"Cao Jiajia's words are still the most pleasant to hear," Cui Mingcong said.

Cao Jiajia glanced at Cui Mingcong's thick, bulging upper arm, then looked at her own. It was not even half as large, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Xue Chengsong said with a smile, "Let's go. We're heading to Wolf Valley."

As Zhou Leng walked, he kept Li Linhan's instructions firmly in mind: speak less within the group, observe his teammates, and prepare for every possibility.

The group moved forward for nearly an hour before Xue Chengsong spoke.

"Remember these trees with red-spotted leaves. They mark a vague boundary. Within this forest line, we can directly use our Battle Merit Tokens to call for help. The military and the people nearby will also come to our aid. But once we enter..."

Xue Chengsong looked toward the dense forest ahead and said slowly, "We are responsible for our own life and death. The Battle Merit Tokens will lose contact with the outside world and can only provide signal positioning. In other words, this is everyone's last chance to leave."

Xue Chengsong looked at the six team members.

The six of them remained calm and composed.

"Good. Let's go."

The team entered the red-spotted forest. By afternoon, Xue Chengsong took a wristwatch-style Demonic Microcomputer from his pocket. The computer projected light and shadow, displaying a three-dimensional map.

Feng Wenhao stared at the Demonic Computer enviously, then glanced at his own phone.

"Up ahead is one of more than thirty Wolf Valleys, and it's also the target of this Martial Arts Research session. Next, we'll conduct one final battle rehearsal. Everyone must be clear about their role. Any escape, cowardice, or mistake could trigger a chain reaction..."

The seven gathered together and took turns reciting what they had rehearsed earlier.

Ding Yan said, "My footwork and movement techniques are strong. I'm mainly responsible for distracting the magic wolf and attacking it from behind..."

Cui Mingcong said, "My body is the strongest, so I'm responsible for facing the magic wolf head-on..." As he spoke, he tightened the spiked arm guard around his forearm.

Zhou Leng said, "My footwork and palm techniques are decent. I'll try to attack from the side and will also be responsible for rescue..."

Feng Wenhao said, "I'm the weakest, so I won't attack immediately. I'll be responsible for rescue and observation, and avoid letting more magic wolves discover us..."

The others also clarified their respective roles one after another.

Finally, Xue Chengsong glanced at Guo Xiaohao and Liu Teng in the distance and said, "Let's go."

As the sun sank in the west, the seven set out again. They moved carefully and slowly through waist-high grass.

After a quarter of an hour, Liu Teng, beside Guo Xiaohao at the rear, asked in a low voice, "Should we warn them?"

"Wait a little longer. I'll warn them when that magic wolf gets closer," Guo Xiaohao said.

"Mm."

The seven advanced slowly, not daring to breathe loudly.

Zhou Leng suddenly looked toward the Front Left and said in a low voice, "Something Was Wrong."

The team came to an abrupt stop.

"Where?" Xue Chengsong did not dare turn around and stared carefully ahead.

"About ten o'clock ahead. Something feels wrong, but it's getting dark and I can't see clearly."

Everyone looked toward the same direction. Suddenly, a Blue-backed Magic Wolf rose and lunged straight at them.

Wherever the magic wolf passed, powerful wind stirred the wild grass, flattening it.

"Damn..." Cui Mingcong cursed as he raised both arms and stood at the very front of the group.

Zhou Leng widened his eyes and observed it. Excluding its tail, the magic wolf was about two and a half meters long and nearly one point six meters tall, far larger than a yellow ox.

He had clearly seen them in videos and books, but the shock of one lunging straight at him made his heart instinctively seize with panic.

"Stay calm! A normal Blue-backed Magic Wolf has a Hunt Down level of Qi Nourishing Stage Level Four. That means four ordinary soldiers at the Qi Nourishing Stage can kill one. The seven of us..."

The magic wolf lunged forward and opened its jaws toward Cui Mingcong.

"Get lost!" Cui Mingcong growled and launched a Direct Strike at the magic wolf's neck. The magic wolf twisted in mid-air, forcibly avoiding the blow before landing.

"Just do it!" Cui Mingcong actually charged toward the magic wolf.

Zhou Leng followed to Cui Mingcong's Front Left, searching for an opportunity.

Ding Yan crawled through the grass on all fours, like a gecko, circling toward the magic wolf's rear.

The others each carried out their own roles.

The magic wolf glanced at the six people, then headed straight for Ding Yan. Ding Yan immediately fled back to the group, while the others attacked the magic wolf.

The magic wolf hurriedly turned around. The group attacked it in a semicircle.

The magic wolf either swung its claws or stretched out its head to bite, probing them in every way.

Five of the seven team members had experience hunting magic wolves, so none of them panicked.

This was Zhou Leng's first battle against a magic wolf. His heart pounded wildly, but he had no time to panic. Instead, his fighting spirit soared.

Feng Wenhao stood at the very back of the group, his hands clenched tightly. He looked at the magic wolf, then at his surroundings, his entire body rigid.

"Charge!" Seeing that the magic wolf was refusing to advance, Cui Mingcong took the initiative and moved forward.

The five attacked from five directions while Ding Yan continued circling around.

The Blue-backed Magic Wolf flew into a rage and swung its claw at Cui Mingcong.

Cui Mingcong raised his left arm. The spikes on his arm guard blocked the blow and pierced into the wolf's claw.

The magic wolf let out a soft cry and violently withdrew its claw.

The other experienced team members launched attacks all together. Zhou Leng was half a beat slow, but he still kept up.

He drew qi from his dantian, channeled strength through his waist, and struck with One Palm Strike.

The magic wolf easily retreated and dodged.

The five pressed their attacks one after another. The magic wolf took several blows, yet it was completely unaffected.

After fighting for several minutes, the magic wolf suddenly let out a low growl, turned around, and ran.

"Very Good." Team leader Xue Chengsong nodded in praise.

Feng Wenhao stared blankly. "That's it?"

"Of course that's it. When we first came here, we were just like you. We thought we'd either kill the magic wolf easily or fight a bloody battle. In reality, demonic beasts are quite intelligent. Unless they have orders from above, they rarely fight to the death against a strong enemy."

Feng Wenhao suddenly understood. "Even ordinary wild beasts know to flee when they're afraid. Magical beasts are stronger and smarter, so there's no reason they'd only know how to fight desperately. The fact that it ambushed us shows how cunning this magic wolf was."

"It could also be that the unintelligent magic wolves were all wiped out by the Sea Suppressing Army," Zhou Leng said.

Feng Wenhao said softly, "I was still hoping to eat some magical beast meat."

"You're thinking too much," Ding Yan said. "The contract makes it clear. Even if we really hunt a magic wolf, there's no way for us to carry it. We can only use the Battle Merit Token to mark and locate it, then have the military send someone to take it away."

"Once our strength improves and a few people can finish all the magical beast meat, we can roast and eat it on the spot," Xue Chengsong said. "For now, forget about it. Safety comes first. Also... we have to thank Zhou Leng."

Everyone turned to thank Zhou Leng all together.

Zhou Leng hurriedly said, "It was just a coincidence. Don't mention it."

"You're wrong." Xue Chengsong's expression turned solemn. "The captain of my previous Pioneer team once said that every act of assistance to the team might save everyone. We must develop the habit of thanking our teammates and avoid taking their help for granted. We have bodyguards now, but what about later? In Demon City, only our teammates can be relied upon!"

Zhou Leng nodded.

"Let's continue."

The team continued forward.

They encountered magic wolves three times over the course of the night. Although they failed to hunt any, the battles went smoothly, and at most they suffered minor flesh wounds.

After leaving the range of Wolf Valley, the team set up camp and rested.

After dinner, the seven took out their phones or Demonic Microcomputers, recalled what they had experienced, and wrote their research notes.

Demon City was dangerous, so none of them lit a fire. Only the faint glow from their screens illuminated their faces.

After everyone finished writing, Ding Yan said, "Zhou Leng, you're more perceptive than all of us. All three magic wolves were first discovered by you."

Zhou Leng answered honestly, "I was attacked by a demon half a year ago. I gained a blessing from the disaster, and my mental will was tempered. That's why I have a slight advantage in some areas."

Xue Chengsong looked at the other four and said, "Didn't I tell you we'd struck gold? In Demon City, this kind of ability is more important than ten experts at the same level."

Cui Mingcong looked at Zhou Leng and asked, "Is this really your first time entering Demon City?"

"It really is."

"Your mentality is impressive. Your moves barely fell out of form during the battle. When we first entered Demon City, our teacher cursed us until we were drenched in blood. Looking at Feng Wenhao, I don't feel like laughing anymore." Cui Mingcong could not help laughing.

Everyone looked at Feng Wenhao with broad smiles.

Feng Wenhao's face reddened. "I can't compare with you experts. I'm mainly here to keep watch and do odd jobs. To be honest, when the first magic wolf came, my legs wouldn't move. I nearly had to change my pants."

"Hahaha..."

The seven chatted and exchanged what they had gained, arranged themselves into three shifts for the night watch, and gradually fell asleep.

Pioneer Base.

A string of alarms suddenly rang out in the monitoring room.

Everyone looked toward the large screen in the center.

Three green nodes turned red, sending out crimson ripples.

"Monitoring Points 791, 792, and 793 have simultaneously detected abnormal Spatial Fluctuation. All of them are Level One fluctuations. An abnormal Spatial Fluctuation is equivalent to a Level Two fluctuation. Please proceed to investigate as soon as possible."