Chapter 135: Wolf King (Seeking Monthly Votes)

「Third Master? 」

Several other hunters noticed Zhou San Ye's gaze, followed the direction of his look, and their expressions changed instantly.

「Tail! 」

Only then did they see behind the straw‑hat old man that the two little girls now had gray tails growing on their backs.

「Wolf tail! Wolf demon! 」

Several hunters instantly felt as if facing a formidable foe.

The old man looked toward Zhang Jian and said.

「Young master, you say, facing such a wicked person, should I, old man, take revenge for my family and exterminate these evildoers! 」

The only one he ever feared was Zhang Jian.

Several other hunters also noticed something amiss, and all turned their gazes over.

Zhang Jian spoke calmly: 「Avenging one's family is just and right; you can naturally kill them, but that doesn't solve the root problem! 」

「They were originally hunters, just as your tribe itself is the top predator of the mountains and forests! 」

「Even if you kill them, their descendants will still be hunters; once they grow up they will continue to hunt your clan, descendants! 」

「Then I'll kill their descendants as well! 」

The straw‑hat old man snorted coldly, a thick strand of fierce gray demonic aura burst from his body, filling this Immortal Rock with intense demonic energy.

Chilling to the bone!

「Let's not talk about whether you can do it in front of me; doing this will only make your tribe disappear faster! 」

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm.

His eyes completely, a bronze‑colored light faintly flowed out from within, as if suppressing the whole Immortal Rock; under that majestic spiritual pressure, the wolf demon's expression changed, he felt his eight hundred years of cultivated demonic aura tremble under this intangible pressure, his soul quivered, like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Master!

The straw‑hat wolf demon's expression changed, his pupils simultaneously shifted color, turning a muddy yellow, with the beast‑typical slit‑shaped vertical pupils.

「Young master, are you determined to protect these scoundrels? 」

He still harbored some reluctance in his eyes.

「Grandfather! 」

At this moment, the two little wolf demons showed some fear in their eyes, clinging tightly to the straw‑hat old man's side, gripping his collar.

「Having received a meal's kindness, one must naturally repay it! 」

Zhang Jian slowly raised his head; the Dragon Chant Sword beside him hummed softly, as if sensing the killing intent in his heart, eager to try.

The straw‑hat old man watched this scene, his expression changed again.

After a slight pause, Zhang Jian smiled and said: 「I'm not unreasonable either; this matter is indeed that several hunter elders were in the wrong first, killing your family, even if unintentionally! 」

「However, stopping killing with killing cannot address both root and branch! Nor can it guarantee that such pain of losing loved ones will never happen again! 」

「Several elders, let me help you notarize this matter, how about that? 」

He gazed at everyone and said calmly:

「You guarantee that you will never again go to the Shady West to hunt, even if you starve to death! 」

「And this old man will ensure he will not retaliate against you or your families; what do you think? 」

Zhang Jian also turned his gaze toward the old wolf.

The straw‑hat old man slightly furrowed his brow, his eyes fixed on the hunters' fierce glint, but after glancing at the two little girls beside him, he still hesitated due to Zhang Jian's methods and nodded.

「If they can guarantee they will no longer disturb the Shady West, my Grey Wolf Clan can also guarantee not to take revenge on them or their families! 」

Upon hearing this, the several hunters exchanged a solemn glance, but soon all nodded.

That Zhou San Ye, bolder than the rest, hesitated a moment then stepped forward to the wolf demon and said:

「Sir, please don't blame us; we brothers truly didn't know that the Shady West was your home, but we can also guarantee to you that we will never again hunt in the Shady West, not just us but also our descendants, never to intrude upon the Shady West! 」

「If anyone violates this, the life and death of any clansperson entering the Shady West shall be at your disposal! 」

Zhang Jian saw this and smiled slightly.

「Quite good! 」

「Today's affair, I personally bear witness; if anyone breaks the rules, all consequences are theirs to bear! 」

「Good, Young Master's words, we naturally believe them; we hope they will not encroach on the Shady West again, otherwise I, even if I risk my life, will make them pay the price! 」

The old wolf then slowly rose, after speaking he cupped his fists toward Zhang Jian, then led the two little girls step by step into the dark depths behind the Immortal Rock.

After the old man left, several hunters hurried forward to salute.

「Thank you, Young Master, for speaking up to save us! 」

Zhang Jian then helped them up and said: 「No need for this; it's also that several hunter elders are kind‑hearted, they saved their own lives! 」

Upon hearing this, the several hunters also felt their hearts moved, only Zhou San Ye still had some worries.

「Young Master, but if that demon does not keep his promise, how shall we protect ourselves? 」

「This is easy! 」

Zhang Jian smiled slightly, he gestured to the side where Zhang Lu took out six vivid paintings from his pack.

He distributed them respectively to the six hunters.

「Kitchen Goddess? 」

At this moment the six hunters opened them, and saw on the paintings a deity surrounded by blazing flames, wearing a great red robe, with a blazing flame divine wheel on her head.

Zhang Jian, seeing this, smiled and said:

「This is the Kitchen God, a household deity that can protect the peace of the home; you take it home, hang it by the stove, and if demons come, the deity will manifest its power to drive away evil! 」

「However, divine protection is not infallible; you had best not lightly venture into the Shady West for adventure, otherwise even I cannot save you! 」

Zhang Jian, having said all this, also warned the six.

He had never underestimated the complexity of human nature.

Upon hearing this, all six let out a sigh of relief and immediately thanked him profusely.

The next day, early in the morning, the rain and snow made the roads muddy.

Several hunters stood before Immortal Rock, feeling somewhat reluctant; each took a portion of wind‑dried meat intending to give it to Zhang Lu, but Zhang Jian laughingly refused, instead leaving behind some dried fruit and cooked food.

The master and servant trudged down the mountain in the rain and snow, while the horse had already been boarded in advance at a farmhouse courtyard at the mountain's base.

The master and servant went to the farmhouse courtyard below to fetch the horse, paid the fodder fee, and then continued onward along the official road.

But after Zhang Jian left, the old wolf in Yin Mountain slowly appeared in the forest, behind it crouching were several large gray wolves with calves; these gray wolves were clearly different from the emaciated, starving gray wolves that lacked food in winter.

He glanced toward the direction of South Mountain Immortal Rock, his dull yellow eyes flickering; after a soft whistle, he first vanished into the woods, the pack of wolves following closely, and they disappeared within moments.

The master and servant were not slow; as the horse galloped, they gradually noticed more and more caravans and camel trains on the official road.

The Gathering Immortals Prefecture lay ahead in sight!

Immediately, Zhang Lu gazed at the many caravans, and a passerby could not help but say, "Young master, with so many caravans hurrying toward Gathering Immortals Prefecture, it seems this prefecture is no ordinary prosperity?"

"Indeed, Gathering Immortals Prefecture is famed as the foremost among the southern prefectures, so it is naturally not ordinary prosperity; especially four years ago, an upright and unyielding prefect arrived in and around the prefecture, ruthlessly purging many corrupt clerks, rectifying a band of tyrants, and consequently the merchants gathering in Gathering Immortals Prefecture have grown ever more numerous."

Zhang Jian smiled, for he knew well the many changes within Gathering Immortals Prefecture.

He too was a thoughtful person.