A deathly silence filled the great tent.
The flames in the brazier swayed in the cold wind, casting Ba Tu's shadow onto the felt wall, tall and distorted, like a savage beast trapped in a cage. Outside, the wind howled, as though all heaven and earth had held their breath for this moment.
Ba Tu suddenly stopped trembling.
He straightened, slowly drawing himself upright, inch by inch. At that moment, something seemed to ignite his deep-set eyes, kindling a light that finally erupted after being suppressed for far too long.
"Wo Lie, I've put up with you for ten years."
He paused.
"Today, I'm done."
Wo Lie's pupils contracted slightly, but the sneer remained on his face.
"What can you do about it?"
The corners of Ba Tu's mouth rose slightly. It was not a smile, but a complete, unrestrained release.
"I've invited two guests," he said.
Someone lifted the tent flap from outside.
The cold wind rushed in with a blast of sand and dust, making the brazier's flames shake violently, nearly extinguishing them. As the candlelight flickered between brightness and shadow, two figures entered the great tent.
Leading the way was a handsome young man, tall and graceful.
Behind him came a woman of breathtaking beauty, dressed in a plain white gown with a gauzy aqua robe over it.
"Who's there!"
Before Wo Lie could react, Hongji's expression had already changed.
The ever-composed Innate Realm expert, the strongest fighter in the Wolf Tribe, saw the woman in white, and his pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints. Every trace of color drained from his face.
"Su..." Hongji's voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. Something seemed lodged in his throat, preventing him from forming the full name. He stared fixedly at the woman in white, his eyes filled with