The Northern Country was a land of bitter cold, also known as the Snow Country, for snow blanketed it all year round and temperatures never rose above zero degrees Celsius.
Ice Wolf Valley was home to one of the Northern Country's powerful yokai clans. Its Ice Wolves were vicious and domineering, notorious throughout the land.
A weathered figure stood quietly atop a mountain. He wore ancient armor emblazoned with the wolf clan's oldest symbols.
His face was lined with age, but his eyes were keen, and an unmistakable air of dominance marked his brow.
"Reporting to the chief! Lord Hyōrinmaru has sent a secret letter!"
A figure hurried over and dropped to one knee, looking respectfully at the figure before him.
"After all this time, a letter at last."
The Ice Wolf King turned and took the secret letter from his subordinate. A trace of displeasure lingered at the corners of his eyes, as though he resented how slowly Hyōrinmaru and the others were proceeding.
He opened the letter. His pupils shook, and his body trembled. Then towering fury erupted within him, and an aura approaching that of a true Greater Yokai burst forth, sending his subordinate flying.
"How dare a mere whelp kill both my sons!"
The secret letter in the Ice Wolf King's hand was the one Hyōrinmaru had sent before leaving Dog Castle's territory.
It reported that Mingye had killed Ice Wolf Fang and Bing Jiling, and requested reinforcements.
News of Hyōrinmaru's death had only just begun spreading through the Western Country and had yet to reach the Northern Country.
The Ice Wolf King's heart seemed to bleed. Both his sons and numerous members of the Ice Wolf People had been slaughtered. The news dealt him a devastating blow.
**"Pass down my command! The entire clan will