In the village, when the surviving villagers saw the wolves retreating, their faces immediately lit up with joy. Cheers burst forth as they shouted at the top of their lungs, as if trying to expel all the fear and oppression they had bottled up inside.
Only heaven knew how much pressure they had been under in this unfamiliar and dangerous environment.The constant threat of death had pushed their nerves to the brink.
Now the wolf pack had been repelled. Even the Wolf King had been slain. It was easy to foresee that the rest of the wolves would scatter into disarray. Moreover, many villagers had taken part in the battle, helping defend the village against the beasts. Their sense of pride and shared victory surged within them.
"Count the number of surviving soldiers. Gather the bodies of the fallen."Yang Ye stabbed his long spear into the ground and used it to prop himself up. His body was covered in wounds, his armor shredded to tatters by the wolves' claws. His face was pale, and blood flowed from his injuries. He was on the verge of collapse, with waves of intense pain washing over him.
"Father, are you alright? Do you need rest? Let me help you back."Yang Yanding, although also injured, was in slightly better shape. He, too, was covered in wounds from the Silver Wolf Pup, but thanks to his training in the Vajra (Diamond) Dragon Elephant Art, his body was much more resilient than both Yang Ye and Yang Yanping. His control over his flesh was extraordinary—he had forcibly stopped the bleeding from his wounds by contracting the muscles and sealing them.
"No need. Take the injured soldiers back to the village first. These wounds won't kill me," Yang Ye said firmly. Standing on the battlefield, he was a symbol—a pillar of the Yang Family Army.
His presence there was his way of paying final respects to the fallen soldiers.
These soldiers had been trained by his own hand. From raw recruits to battle-hardened elites, they had fought side by side. He knew many of them by name. Watching them fall in battle tore at his heart in a way few could understand.
All he could do now was stand and send them off with honor.
"Father, at least we've driven the wolves away. The Wolf King is dead. They'll never form a pack this large again," Yang Yanping said, walking to his father's side, leaning on his spear.
"The numbers are in. Four hundred and thirty-seven soldiers of the Yang Family Army have fallen. All of the rest are wounded. On the other hand, a large number of dire wolves were slain. The wolf threat has been resolved. But the civilian casualties are even worse—likely over a thousand villagers dead," Yang Yanping reported grimly.
The casualties were devastating.Not only among the soldiers, but even more so among the villagers. Ordinary people could hardly defend themselves against such savage beasts.
"The Howling Moon Wolf King... I wonder how it tastes," Yi Tianxing said as he stepped into the village. He stood before the enormous corpse of the wolf king, eyeing the severed body with a curious glint. "Wolf meat usually isn't great, but this one might be special."
Even if it wasn't eaten, the Wolf King's body was full of treasures. Its pelt, fur, and bones were all excellent materials for crafting—especially the fur, which could be used to make talisman brushes or high-quality calligraphy pens.
"If Mister Yi wants to eat it, I can personally cook a feast," Lai He, who was nearby, stepped forward and offered eagerly.
Having witnessed Yi Tianxing's display of godlike combat abilities, Lai He was in awe. In this chaotic world, following a powerful person was the best path to survival. And what he had to offer was his top-tier culinary skills.
Lai He had already pegged Yi Tianxing as a gourmet—someone who appreciated fine cuisine. If so, his cooking could serve as a fitting offering of loyalty.
"Very well, I look forward to seeing what you can do," Yi Tianxing replied with a smile. Lai He's culinary skills were extraordinary—his dishes could even emit light, a sign of reaching an incredible level of gastronomy.
In fact, the only time he had seen glowing food before was in an old anime called Cooking Master Boy. Clearly, that world too had fused into the Eternal Continent, along with its special rules: for example, top-grade dishes could shine with radiant light.
Such food could greatly strengthen the body. Yi Tianxing had already decided—whether Lai He offered or not—he would make sure to keep him close and have him prepare all kinds of exquisite meals.
With a wave of his hand, he stored the entire corpse of the Howling Moon Wolf King into his spiritual pearl space without hesitation.Then, without delay, he turned and walked toward the large shelter that had been destroyed by the feral dog.
Bang!
The area was blocked with debris. Yi Tianxing simply kicked everything aside, clearing the obstacles without even pausing his stride. In no time, he had uncovered the collapsed area.
Lying beneath the wreckage was a dog—its body bald except for four green-furred paws. Its appearance was so hideous that no one could possibly like it. Just one glance filled people with a sense of disgust. People would instinctively drive it away—or beat it.
The dog was still alive.
Barely.
After being kicked by the Wolf King, it was at death's door—its mouth gasped for air, blood pouring out, mixed with bits of internal organs. Its bones were shattered, its body unmoving except for shallow breathing.
Yet as the debris was removed, the dog opened its eyes and looked at Yi Tianxing with surprising intelligence in its gaze. A deep sentience shone within.
Its hind legs were broken, but using only its front paws, it began to crawl forward. Each inch it moved caused its body to tremble with pain. Blood seeped from its wounds, leaving a trail behind.
The villagers nearby watched in silence. All eyes turned to Yi Tianxing—and then to the dog. The sight of it crawling, inch by inch, moved them deeply.
Because it was crawling toward the corpse of a little boy.
"That's Goudan. This dog used to stay with him. I remember when we first came to this world, Goudan found this ugly dog being chased and beaten. He took it in and even gave it half a steamed bun."
"Yeah, they were inseparable. Even when there wasn't enough food for people, he always shared with the dog. Poor kid... such a good heart, and now he's dead."
"Goudan called it Little Green, because of the green on its paws. But a lot of people said the dog was cursed. People who drove it away died mysteriously—some from hunger, some killed by wolves."
"That dog is definitely ominous. Goudan was such a sweet child, and now he's gone. This dog brings misfortune."
"But... its bond with Goudan seems real. Looks like it just wants to die beside him."
The murmurs of the villagers were filled with unease and dread. Most instinctively stepped away from the dog, afraid of being contaminated by whatever curse it carried.
The dog had a notorious reputation in Yang Family Village.But now, watching it crawl toward its dead master in silent agony, it was hard not to be moved by its unwavering loyalty.
"Mm..."Yi Tianxing took a step forward.
"Mister Yi, don't! That's an ominous dog!" Lai He cried out instinctively, trying to hold him back.
The dog turned its head, glancing at both Yi Tianxing and Lai He. Then, it resumed crawling.
One inch.Two inches.Three inches.
Behind it, a deep blood trail marked its journey—blood that flowed endlessly from its battered body.