Deep in the forest, Tinwood's outlying territory.
Richard walked out of the cave and headed toward Tinwood. When he was still dozens of meters away, he caught a strong scent of blood and could not help frowning.
Quickening his pace, he reached Tinwood and saw a wolf with silver-white fur lying beneath him. The white wolf was covered in dozens of penetrating wounds, as though it had been struck by a rain of arrows, yet there were no arrowheads or shafts. Furthermore, the edges of the wounds bore serrated tears, making them extremely peculiar.
Several meters away, the tall Gray Wolf Richard had seen before was watching the white wolf anxiously, occasionally glancing toward Tinwood.
Tinwood remained silent. Branches drooped down from his canopy, forming two arms that pressed against the white wolf's wounds.
Pale green energy emerged from his palms and slowly flowed into the white wolf's body, healing its wounds, though very slowly. At times, some strange energy interfered; after several wounds had finally been repaired, they inexplicably split open again and spilled copious blood, wasting Tinwood's efforts.
Yet Tinwood showed no anger. He merely kept a grim face and continued treating the white wolf.
After watching for a while, Richard frowned and asked Tinwood, "What happened?"
"Nothing much. One of the Demonized Beasts I have been focusing on raising was injured by other Demonized Beasts in the forest. I am treating it now," Tinwood said, without any discernible emotion.
Richard blinked. Not so easily dismissed, he looked at the injured white wolf several more times, especially its wounds, and pressed on. "Ordinary Demonized Beasts could not have inflicted wounds like these, could they? They do not look as though they were caused by a spell either. They look more like the mouthparts of some special insect."
"What