Entering the Woods

When Olvia's condition worsened again, Ye Chen was frantic. Her whole body was burning with fever. He had asked Basan and confirmed that her cold illness had relapsed. She had never fully recovered, and her body was already weak. The freezing snow and wind of Freezing Hell were simply too much for a woman like her to endure.

Ye Chen gritted his teeth and looked toward the distant woods, suddenly making up his mind. All this time, those woods had been like a forbidden zone to him. They were too far from the prison, and War Wolves often prowled there. But Ye Chen knew he had no time left to hesitate. Olvia's illness could not be delayed any longer.

After putting on wolfskin and getting himself ready, Ye Chen took a musket, tucked a dagger and wolf bone at his waist, then resolutely ventured out of the prison through the wind and snow.

Seeing Ye Chen head straight toward the distant woods, Basan repeatedly warned him, "Be careful! Don't lose your life!"

The Marine major general, Jace, also sighed and muttered, "His courage is admirable, but he's only six years old. Those War Wolves are incredibly savage and often hunt in groups of three or five. If they spot Ye Chen and swarm him, he'll be torn to pieces."

Although Ye Chen had been training constantly, none of the prisoners had much hope for him. Many tried to stop him from taking the risk. If Ye Chen died, their good days would be over as well.

Who would bring them wolf meat to eat after that? Besides, ever since Ye Chen arrived, there had been many more smiles on everyone's faces.

In this dull, dreary prison, having such a clever little Ghost around had lifted everyone's spirits considerably.

No matter who tried to persuade him, Ye Chen did not turn back. Yet after walking barely two hundred meters, he ran into two War Wolves. One stood to his left, the other to his right. Moving with perfect coordination, they instantly formed a pincer attack.

Their sharp claws struck the frozen snow hard, flinging up sheets of powder. Their icy eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty light. Baring their fangs and growling low, both War Wolves looked excited. To them, Ye Chen suited their appetites perfectly. The day was auspicious—time for a good feast.

"Ye Chen, come back!"

Jace hurriedly shouted, but Ye Chen still did not look back.

Ye Chen lowered his body slightly and drove his toes into the ground. A fierce glint shone on his determined face as both hands darted to his waist. In an instant, the wolf bone and dagger were in his grasp.

Anyone looking closely would have seen that Ye Chen's stance resembled a leopard poised to strike its prey. He held the dagger in a reverse grip. Since it was a short weapon, he could still use close-quarters fighting techniques even with the blade in hand, as his fist remained clenched and did not hinder his punches. A reverse grip was also easier to conceal, delivered greater stabbing force, and allowed for more flexible moves. He could stab, slash, or cut. Compared to a normal grip, it was fiercer and better suited for close combat.

"That Ghost means business."

A scarred man in the cell beside Basan's studied Ye Chen for a long time before withdrawing his gaze and muttering approvingly.

"Brothers, since we've got nothing better to do, why not make a bet? Will Ye Chen be eaten by the War Wolves, escape, or kill them?"

Someone made the suggestion, and many immediately joined the wager with excitement. They did not care about winning or losing. They merely wanted something to pass the time.

Very few people here truly sympathized with Ye Chen. Most of them were pirates who killed without batting an eye.

"Awooo! Awooo!"

The two War Wolves attacked at the same time. Like two flashes of lightning, they moved with astonishing speed, whipping up two gusts of frigid wind as they pounced on Ye Chen.

Instead of retreating, Ye Chen charged toward one of the War Wolves. The beast suddenly leaped up, opening its gaping jaws as its two sharp foreclaws raked viciously at him. It was the terrifying momentum of a hungry wolf hunting prey; anyone else would have been scared stiff.

But Ye Chen leaped up as well, swinging his right fist hard into the wolf's head. With a bang, his fist felt as though it had struck a steel plate. Instead, the War Wolf clawed him. Had he not been wearing wolfskin, he would have been bleeding from the injury.

Ye Chen landed first and immediately swept his right leg low across the ground. The wind from his kick howled, sending snow flying. As the War Wolf's vision blurred, Ye Chen quickly stepped back, spun around, and launched a spinning kick. The War Wolf behind him had not expected the Ghost to react so swiftly. Unable to dodge in time, it was kicked squarely, but its hide was thick and tough. Ye Chen's kick was little more than a scratch to it.

Seeing the two War Wolves form their pincer formation again, Ye Chen made a snap decision and ran straight for the woods. Their exchange had only been a test, but even one War Wolf was difficult enough for him to handle. Two were far too much.

The War Wolves chased relentlessly after him. Upon reaching the woods, Ye Chen did not slow down and sprinted straight toward a large tree. At its base, he slipped the dagger into his sleeve, leaped upward, formed claws with both hands, and climbed the tree like a civet cat, using the Eagle Claw Technique.

The War Wolves rushed beneath the tree, jumping and snarling in frustration, wishing they could climb after him. But just as Basan and the others all breathed sighs of relief, Ye Chen suddenly flipped upside down in midair and sprang down from the trunk.

The two War Wolves were caught off guard. Ye Chen slashed them both with two backhanded strikes, leaving a bloody wound on each of them.

The War Wolves flew into a rage and chased Ye Chen again. He raced through the woods with swift, agile steps, weaving and turning at full speed, actually playing hide-and-seek with them.

Ye Chen ran ahead while the War Wolves pursued him from behind. Just as they were about to catch him, he suddenly jumped, pushed off a nearby tree trunk with his toes, flipped backward through the air, and drove his right fist hard into one War Wolf's eye.

With a bang, the War Wolf saw stars. It let out an enraged howl and was about to rush forward and tear Ye Chen apart, but Ye Chen did not stop moving. He shot away like lightning once more.

The two War Wolves had been toyed with again and again by Ye Chen. They bared their fangs and flailed their claws in fury, yet could do nothing about it. In the woods, Ye Chen was like an agile monkey or a nimble civet cat, dodging, twisting, leaping, and climbing. One moment he circled around them, the next he climbed a tree, leaving the two War Wolves in an utterly miserable state.

It had to be said that these War Wolves were truly powerful. Even after being stabbed by Ye Chen's dagger, they acted as though nothing had happened. They were like indestructible monsters.

Ye Chen knew that he was still too weak. Gritting his teeth, he decided to take advantage of the moment before more War Wolves were drawn over and focus on the more heavily injured one. Its wounds grew worse and worse. Before long, Ye Chen suddenly leaped down from a tree and drove his sharp dagger viciously into the War Wolf's eye. The beast was in unbearable pain, its vision obstructed. It thrashed its limbs wildly and spun in circles where it stood. Its miserable cries made everyone's skin crawl, chilling them to the bone.

Ye Chen dodged the other War Wolf and swept low with a leg sweep. The blind War Wolf had barely fallen when Ye Chen lunged onto it. The instant he struck, the dagger and wolf bone stabbed viciously toward the War Wolf's throat.