Chapter-3 Old Wolf

  The wolf remained hidden in the undergrowth, its golden eyes glinting like embers in the dim forest light. A low, guttural growl rumbled from deep within its chest, a sound meant to instill fear, to remind its prey that they were being watched. It did not lunge, nor did it reveal itself fully—this was a creature that knew patience. The rustling of leaves hinted at its shifting position, circling slowly, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Every snap of a twig or rustle of a branch felt deliberate, meant to unnerve its targets while keeping itself protected from any arrows that might fly its way. Guanglin could feel the weight of its gaze pressing against them, predatory and calculating. It was testing them, measuring their reactions. The air between them grew heavier, charged with the silent battle of wills between hunter and hunted. But Guanglin had no intention of remaining the latter.

  Yan Shun tensed, his fingers gripping another arrow. "An old one. Smart. It knows what it’s doing."

  Guanglin stepped forward, his muscles coiling like a drawn bowstring. "Then let’s not give it a chance to act first."

  The wolf’s muscles tensed as it sized them up, its ragged fur bristling with aggression. Its golden eyes flicked between the three of them, assessing whether they were prey or predators.

  The wolf lunged first, its powerful limbs propelling it forward in a blur of muscle and intent, golden eyes locked onto its prey. But Guanglin, eyes sharp and timing precise, reacted in that same heartbeat—grabbing the deer carcass and hurling it with brutal force. The dead weight of the animal met the wolf mid-air, slamming into its flank with enough momentum to jar the beast mid-flight. The impact twisted its body off-course, knocking it from the air and sending it crashing into the ground in a tangled mess of limbs and snarls. The wolf let out a startled snarl, momentarily disoriented as it shook itself off and scrambled for footing. In that moment, as the wolf's golden eyes flicked toward Yan and Guanglin—still assessing whether it should press the attack or turn toward what it thought might be easier prey—Guanglin acted. That heartbeat of hesitation was all he needed. He surged forward with explosive strength, his armguard raised high like a war hammer, aiming to slam a brutal blow straight into the creature’s skull. But the beast, sharp and seasoned, reacted with a predatory twist, dodging at the last instant. Guanglin’s strike carved only air, and in that heartbeat, the wolf lunged.

  Fangs clamped down on the armguard, the beast’s powerful jaws attempting to crush through the thick oak and leather. A lesser man would have been dragged down immediately, but Guanglin’s footing remained solid, his stance grounded. The wolf snarled and yanked, trying to overpower him, but he twisted his arm, forcing the beast’s head at an awkward angle. The wolf’s claws tore into the dirt as it struggled for dominance.

  Yan Shun, quick as ever, loosed an arrow, striking the wolf’s hind leg. A sharp yelp tore from the beast’s throat, its grip loosening just enough.

  Guanglin reacted instantly. His free arm shot out, wrapping around the wolf’s thick neck in a brutal chokehold. With his enhanced strength, he crushed down, cutting off its air. The wolf thrashed wildly, claws raking against his side, but Guanglin gritted his teeth and held firm. The beast struggled, its powerful limbs kicking up dirt as it fought for survival. But Guanglin tightened his grip, his muscles flexing with controlled brutality. There was a sickening crack as the wolf’s jaw shattered under the pressure. A heartbeat later, its spine followed.

  The body went limp.

  Breathing heavily, Guanglin let the carcass drop to the ground. His arms were covered in scratches, and his armguard bore the deep imprints of the wolf’s fangs, but the fight was over. The tension in the air slowly ebbed away, leaving behind only the ragged breaths of the trio and the scent of disturbed earth and blood. Guanglin flexed his fingers, the residual force of the battle still humming through his muscles. The wolf's body lay still at his feet, its once-fierce golden eyes now dull and lifeless.

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  Yan Shun let out a low whistle as he shouldered his bow. "Remind me never to piss you off, Guanglin. That was brutal."

  Xia Ling approached cautiously, her hands tightening around her satchel. "Are you alright? That thing nearly tore through your arm."

  Guanglin exhaled, rolling his shoulder. "I’ll live."

  He crouched beside the beast, running his fingers along its matted fur. It was an old wolf, battle-worn and scarred from years of survival. Its fangs were still sharp, a reminder of the danger it had once posed. He pried a few loose teeth from its maw, slipping them into his pouch—he had plans for them later.

  Yan Shun wiped his blade clean and nodded toward the deer. "We should move. The scent of blood will attract scavengers soon."

  Guanglin hefted the wolf over one shoulder and the deer over the other with ease, his body accustomed to bearing heavy loads. Xia Ling sighed as she fell into step beside him. "You’re really just a walking beast of burden, aren’t you?"

  Guanglin smirked. "A useful one."

  With that, they made their way back, leaving behind the quiet clearing where the battle had ended.

  They skinned and butchered the wolf before making their way home, Guanglin carrying both the deer and the wolf carcass on his shoulders.

  As they neared the village, they spotted Zhang Baolin loitering with his group. Zhang Baolin initially sneered, already imagining how he and his group could hassle the returning hunters. His confidence wavered, however, the moment his eyes met Guanglin's. At first, he considered standing his ground, but the sheer presence of the larger boy—bloodstained, carrying both a wolf and a deer as if they weighed nothing—made him hesitate. What once seemed like an easy chance to show dominance suddenly felt like a gamble with too much risk. He narrowed his eyes, before a smirk adorned his face he turned his back, pretending as though he had lost interest. Guanglin noticed a quick clench in Zhang’s jaw. It wasn’t fear. It was thought. Planning. That slip of expression gave him away for a second. Zhang wasn’t done. He was thinking ahead, working something out. This wasn’t over.

  Guanglin watched Zhang Baolin retreat, surprised by the lack of confrontation. Zhang didn’t try to provoke them—not even a single jab or mocking word. That wasn’t like him. Yan Shun noticed it too, his glance briefly meeting Guanglin’s. As if he were holding something back. He walked away, silent and stiff. Guanglin exhaled slowly. Something felt off.

  Yan muttered, "That didn't seem right."

  Guanglin agreeing, "Yeah, smells fishy."

  Only to be interupted by Xia, "You two suspect too much. Now, hurry up, The, clock is ticking."

  At, the base of the tree, where they started their trip. They, started dividing the spoils, Guanglin carefully selected his share without any problem from anyone. He pried the sharpest wolf’s teeth from its jaw, running his fingers over their jagged edges before slipping them into his pouch—he had plans to craft something useful out of them later. The claws, long and deadly, would also serve their purpose, perhaps in reinforcing his armguard. As for the meat, he took a portion of the deer’s leanest cuts, enough for his family to enjoy without hoarding too much. He also claimed the wolf’s liver, knowing that while most might shy away from it, it held great nutritional value. With his share secured, he gave a satisfied nod. It was a fair division, one that reflected the role each of them had played in their hunt and survival.

  Before leaving, Xia Ling placed a hand on his arm, her fingers lingering slightly longer than necessary. "Come by later—I’ll prepare something for your wounds." Her gaze flickered to the scratches on his arms, a crease forming between her brows. "You shouldn’t just ignore them. Infection sets in fast, especially from a wild animal."

  Guanglin smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Worried about me?"

  Xia Ling scoffed, withdrawing her hand as she rolled her eyes. "I’m worried about having to patch you up every time you decide to wrestle a beast with your bare hands. Just be there before nightfall."

  Yan Shun, standing nearby, chuckled. "Looks like you’ve got no choice, Guanglin. The village’s best herbalist is giving you a personal treatment. How fortunate."

  Xia Ling shot him a glare. "Shut up, Yan ."

  Guanglin let out a low chuckle and nodded. "I’ll be there. Try not to scold me too much while you’re at it."

  She huffed but didn’t argue, turning away as they all began heading home. The warmth of her touch still lingered on his arm, but Guanglin pushed the thought aside. There were more important things to worry about—like what the coming days would bring.

  Guanglin gave a nod. "I’ll be there."

  With that, the day came to an end, but something told him that change was on the horizon.