Chapter 337: The Bone Scraps Stashed Away?

His eyes were blood‑red, watching the scene of defeat collapsing like a mountain before him.

The elite of the Red Mountain Tribe had already been more than half destroyed; if they didn't retreat now, they feared they themselves would be the ones to annihilate the tribe.

He forced the words out of his throat: "Retreat! Quickly retreat!"

The Red Mountain Tribe members, whose courage had long been shattered by the wolf pack, turned as if granted a pardon, scrambling and crawling back along the road they had come.

"Chase! Don't let them get away!" Wu En's eyes flashed red with fury as he led his men to give chase.

Hasen bellowed: "Wu En! Be wary of deception! Saving lives is urgent!"

Wu En glared resentfully at the backs of the Red Mountain Tribe, sheathing his saber.

The thunderous shouts and cries of battle gradually subsided, leaving only the wounded moaning on the ground.

The Wolf King halted, breathing lightly, his body stained with blood and dust.

Yet those deep‑green eyes remained sharp and imposing.

Tuan Tuan finally lifted her head slowly, her small face a little pale.

She looked around; everywhere lay fallen people and horses, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

Xiao Ningxun and the others sprinted toward her.

"Third Brother! Ninth Brother! Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle! And Qing Qing and Ha Ri! Are you all alright? Any injuries?" she patted the Wolf King's back, intending to descend.

The Wolf King cooperated, lowering his body.

Before she could climb down, Xiao Ningxun carefully lifted her into his arms, his heart, which had been hanging all night, finally settling.

His voice trembled: "It's fine, brother is fine, everyone is fine. Tuan Tuan, you did well, excellent!"

"We're all fine! Don't worry," the others replied.

Hasen walked over with the tribe's help; he pushed aside those supporting him, faced the Wolf King and Tuan Tuan, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed deeply.

His voice choked: "May the Eternal Heaven protect! May the Fortune Star descend, guarding the Wolf Manifestation Saint! Our Azure Wolf Tribe is saved!"

All surviving members of the Azure Wolf Tribe, regardless of injury, struggled to stand, helping each other, and performed the same gesture toward the Wolf King and Tuan Tuan.

The Wolf King stood quietly, accepting the respect.

It lifted its head, focusing its gaze on Tuan Tuan, who was cradled in Xiao Ningxun's arms.

A moment later, the blood‑soaked giant wolf slowly lowered its proud head, gently nudging Tuan Tuan's small foot, emitting a low hum.

Tuan Tuan's whole body shivered, and she stared wide‑eyed!

She understood! She really could comprehend what the Wolf King was saying!

"Third Brother! It's thanking me! I can understand now!"

Xiao Ningxun looked at the Wolf King in astonishment; it turned out that these guardian wolves would only communicate if they themselves were willing—otherwise, even Tuan Tuan could not converse with them.

Tuan Tuan slipped from her brother's arms onto the ground, extended her small hand, wrapped it around the Wolf King's neck, and gently stroked its long fur.

"Thank you too, Wolfie. You're amazing! The villains have all been driven away!"

The Wolf King lifted his head, glanced at the battlefield that had just ceased its slaughter, then glanced at Tuan Tuan, turned, and let out a deep, lingering whine.

With that whine, the giant wolves scattered across the battlefield emerged; the Wolf King led them away like receding silver tide, turning and departing.

The Azure Wolf Tribe members began silently cleaning the battlefield.

They gathered their comrades' bodies, tended to the wounded, collected the Red Mountain Tribe's abandoned weapons and horses; each face was filled with sorrow and fatigue.

Tuan Tuan sighed sadly: "Third Brother, aren't they all prairie people? Why can't they live together peacefully?"

Xiao Ningxun bent down, lifted her, and gently pressed her little head into his chest: "Because some people always covet what belongs to others, stubbornly refusing to see reason."

"Don't look, Tuan Tuan."

"Mm." Tuan Tuan obediently closed her eyes.

Xiao Ningxun walked to Hasen's side: "Chief, the evidence is now conclusive."

"The Red Mountain Tribe lost more than half of its men and horses tonight; they should not dare return any time soon."

"But as long as the gold vein remains, the Great Prince will never cease."

"What are the Azure Wolf Tribe's plans for the future?"

Hasen glanced at the busy tribe members: "Plans?"

"The Azure Wolf Tribe has guarded the Sacred Mountain for generations—was, is, and will be!"

"Before, we only wanted to live peacefully."

"But now that the jackals have set their sights on us, we must cut off their claws and fangs; we cannot let them have their way!"

He paused, then hammered his right hand onto his chest: "If not for your help this time, the Azure Wolf Tribe would already be gone!"

"This bond, the entire Azure Wolf Tribe will never forget!"

"From today onward, you are the Azure Wolf Tribe's most honored friends, comrades in life and death—Anda! Your affairs are the tribe's affairs!"

"Right!" the tribe members responded with low, resonant assent.

"As for Great Prince Bateer," Hasen sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "doesn't he want to be Great Khan? Dream on!"

"Now the eyewitnesses and physical evidence are all present; once everything is settled, I'll go to Royal City and smash these proofs in front of the prairie chiefs, right on his face!"

"Let's see how the Great Khan deals with him!"

Xiao Ningxun, following prairie etiquette, placed his hand over his heart in reply: "I will forever cherish the Azure Wolf Tribe's loyalty!"

After several days of recuperation, Xiao Ningxun intended to set out again.

Tuan Tuan hesitated: "Third Brother, I want to see the wolves once more and say goodbye."

"Alright." This time, Xiao Ningxun answered outright, "We'll all go with you. We'll bring them more meat as a proper thanks."

The few of them arrived at the canyon and approached the wolf pack together.

Tuan Tuan led, stopping a few steps away from the wolves.

Qing Qing and Ha Ri placed the meat they had brought onto a clean rock.

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand: "Wolfie! I'm leaving now! Take care, you guys! I'll come back to play with you later!"

The wolf king silently looked at her, let out a few low growls, then turned and left.

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, waiting silently.

Xiao Ran asked softly: "Tuan Tuan, what's wrong?"

"It said, it has something to give me to pinch."

"Huh?" Xiao Ran was bewildered: "What could it give you? Leftover hidden bone fragments?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I don't know either."

Moments later, the wolf king went away and then returned.

It gently held in its mouth a clump of fluffy, still slightly wriggling silver-gray thing.

It turned out to be a wolf pup!

It looked like it had just been born not long ago, its size about that of a small puppy.

Right in the middle of its forehead, there grew a small tuft of snow-white hair, its shape and position almost identical to the white hair on the wolf king's forehead!

The wolf king walked up to Tuan Tuan, extremely gently placing the pup it was holding in its mouth down, then repeatedly licked the pup's fur with its rough, warm tongue.

"Oh my longevity!" Wu En inhaled a cold breath, voice trembling slightly: "This is the wolf king's pup!"