A shrill howl rang out from the woods. Under the moonlight, dozens of vicious wolves burst from the dense forest like a gale, scrambling over one another to charge at them. Liang Dazhuang cried out, "Mama!" in terror, paying no attention to what Murong Feiyan was saying. Fright had clearly scrambled his wits: he took to his heels and actually ran downhill. After two steps, he realized the bundles were seriously slowing him down and hurled them down the slope. The two bundles tumbled away, rolling off to who knew where. All Liang Dazhuang could think of was saving his skin. He had even abandoned his master; how could he spare a thought for their luggage? Steeling himself, he wrapped his arms around his head, curled up, and rolled down the slope like a ball of flesh. Normally, he would never have had such courage, but death awaited him either way. Better to fall to his death than be bitten to death and torn apart by those vicious wolves.
Hu Xiaotian did not even feel like cursing him now. Gripping a Water-and-Fire Staff in both hands, he turned and ran toward the cluster of huge rocks where they had just rested, carrying the little girl on his back. His first instinct was that climbing onto a boulder might let them escape the wolves' encirclement.
Murong Feiyan followed close behind him. A Blue Wolf reached them first. When it was still some twenty feet away, it visibly crouched on its hind legs, then sprang into the air. Its blood-red maw gaped wide, two rows of gleaming white teeth snapping toward Murong Feiyan's face. She swung her sword, striking the Blue Wolf squarely in the neck. Splat! Its head was severed clean off, and hot blood spurted from its headless body.
Murong