Chapter 73: The Wolf Pack's Provocation

( ) Chapter 84: The Wolf Pack's Provocation

The group lit torches and entered the cave; the deeper it went, the more spacious it became. After walking a few hundred meters, it was still an empty cavern, and no wolves were seen.

"I didn't expect that a mere den of only a dozen Qingwolf Beasts would be set up so cleverly." The cave's passages were irregular; within a large cavern lay a hidden tunnel that only a Qingwolf Beast could pass through.

"Indeed, if Qingwolf Beasts are as numerous as Luo Ping Hai's mosquito tribe, it would seem even more dangerous than there." Wan'er said oddly: "Why have we traveled so far yet haven't seen a single Qingwolf Beast?"

Xianghong said: "The cave is so deep; there are only a dozen Qingwolf Beasts, and they rest during the day and hunt at night, so they probably haven't noticed our arrival yet."

"Perhaps they already know I've broken in and are planning an ambush," Li Bucai thought. If these Qingwolf Beasts are similar to Earth's wolves, their hearing or scent would be enough to detect our trail.

As they spoke, a faint wolf howl echoed from deep within the cave.

"Looks like they really have spotted us; everyone stay alert. Wu Zhuoyue, watch the rear of the team; the others, watch the hidden tunnels on both sides."

The wolf howls continued unceasingly from the depths. Li Bucai and the others slowed their pace, constantly watching the hidden tunnels on either side, advancing step by step until the sound grew nearer. The wolf howl ahead was suddenly drowned by the roar of a waterfall. Rounding a bend, they found a vast opening: an underground waterfall dozens of meters wide hung like a curtain, shielding the inner cavern. Light filtered through the falls, making the interior as bright as day.

The group arrived before the waterfall; the cave formed a natural fissure here. The falls poured like a river of stars, hanging in midair and cascading down. The sheer height of the opening was twenty to thirty meters. The top of the waterfall was invisible, as was its bottom; only the deep mist below could be seen, emitting a rumble— water sound. From this side to the falls was a fissure over fifty steps wide. Falling in would either shatter one's body or be swept by the torrent into the depths.

The wolf pack seemed able to see them through the water flow, realizing they were within arm's reach. The lone howl that had been heard turned, when they reached the waterfall, into a chorus of a dozen wolves, their shrill cries nearly drowning out the sound of the water.

Wu Zhuoyue said: "They seem to be provoking us, mocking us for being unable to cross this waterfall."

"Oh? Can you understand their sounds?" Li Bucai asked oddly.

"I don't know either, but judging from the wolves' modulated howls, if one were to play them on a Musical Instrument, it would be an extremely arrogant piece."

"Oh? In that case, is there a melody that can converse with them?"

"I'll give it a try." Wu Zhuoyue said, pulling out a jade flute and blowing a sharp tone toward them.

When the melody began, the wolf pack there fell silent. After Wu Zhuoyue finished playing, a wolf there lifted its head skyward and howled a few times.

Wu Zhuoyue said: "I told them the master of this land has arrived; why don't they come out to receive him? They replied: Everyone claims to be the master of this land, and they consider themselves the master as well. Since all claim to be the master, anyone who dares should come and see who truly deserves the title of this earth's sovereign."

"Let them wait; I'll go over and face them."

Wu Zhuoyue immediately relayed the words, then replied: "They said they will wait to watch our spectacle, to see how we are devoured by this land. Anyone with the skill should come."

This reasoning was even mocked by several wolves.

Xianghong said: "Let me go first and try."

"No!" Li Bucai sharply stopped her. This was a contest for the honor of the land's master, so he must go himself. "You stay here guard; Wu Zhuoyue, come with me."

Wan'er said: "There are… a dozen of them; we should all go together."

"Just a few wolves; if you can't even tame them, you don't deserve to be our master. No more words; you all stand aside." Li Bucai took a rope from his pack, had the girls each hold one end while he held the other, stepped back dozens of steps, then sprinted forward with all his might. When he reached the edge of the fissure, he leapt upward, and upon reaching the ceiling, plunged into the torrent. The girls clutched the rope tightly, feeling the rope's end being swiftly swept downstream.

"Quick, pull back!" The girls startled; if they fell now, even an immortal couldn't rescue them. Wu Zhuoyue hurriedly ordered everyone to haul the rope up. When the rope was taut, the heavy end had already dropped into the fissure, and under the torrent's massive force, the group could not pull it.

"Quick, everyone pull hard, don't let go."

The group exerted all their strength but could not move the rope at all. Wu Zhuoyue quickly released the rope and played an uplifting tune, adding a few more points of strength. Bit by bit they hauled it back, and finally pulled it up, only to see that the other end was not the master but a Qingwolf Beast bound around the waist. Shocked by the torrent, the Qingwolf Beast, once lifted, lay on the ground panting heavily.

"What's happening, where is the master?" The girls looked at each other in shock.

At that moment, Li Bucai's voice came from the other side of the waterfall: "I'm over here; don't worry about me. Wu Zhuoyue, don't come over yet."

When Li Bucai crossed the torrent, the waterfall was only a little over a meter thick. Using his sprinting force, he executed a Wind‑piercing Stab in midair and sliced through the water layer. As he was about to land, a Qingwolf Beast saw him emerge and lunged, trying to hurl him into the abyss.

The rope in Li Bucai's hand was originally intended, in case he couldn't pass through the water, to be hooked onto a protrusion so he wouldn't be swept down, and also to allow Wu Zhuoyue to use it to cross. Thus the rope had been pre‑tied with a loop. When a Qingwolf Beast lunged, Li lightly tapped the cave wall with his toe, leapt aside, and aimed the loop at the beast, snugly lashing it with a firm knot.

The Qingwolf Beast's leap was powerful; even if it missed a person, it could clear the fissure. However, its forward thrust was blocked by the rope loop, losing half its force, causing it to fail to clear the gap and be swept by the torrent into the fissure, where the rope pulled it up.

Li Bucai successfully passed through the waterfall and tidied his attire. A dozen Qingwolf Beasts, each the size of a calf, suddenly bared their long sharp fangs in unison, crouched low, emitting threatening snarls, eager to strike.

In the center of the pack sat a massive wolf cloaked in snow‑white fur, its size a half‑greater than the others. Its gaze was knife‑sharp, imposing; at a glance one could tell it was the Head Wolf. It remained calmly seated, casting an arrogant stare at Li Bucai.