Chapter 400: Unity

Bing Meishi had an outgoing personality; after becoming familiar with all the members of Black Feather, she started inquiring about this matter.

She wasn't after anything; she just wanted to satisfy her curiosity.

The first person she came into contact with was Xinxue.

Outgoing people attract outgoing people, and Bing Meishi and Xinxue got along exceptionally well.

Moreover, Xinxue had almost taken charge of Black Feather's affairs at the time, so Bing Meishi naturally assumed she was the group's second-in-command.

It wasn't until she jokingly called her that during a teasing moment that Xinxue instantly turned serious, and Bing Meishi realized she had been mistaken.

But who could have guessed that?

It turned out that Black Feather's second-in-command was actually the cook Wan Yi, who basically ignored affairs; Xinxue could only rank third, and fourth…

…was Liang Shanbo, a usefulness she had not yet discovered.

Furthermore, those few were quite satisfied with their positions, and others who had a say in Black Feather—Ailin, Guanghui, and a few others—also approved.

Bing Meishi didn't understand, but these were matters for the leaders, not something she could interfere with, so she let it drop.

Time returned to the present; although she hadn't been singled out, Bing Meishi felt uneasy. She was about to pretend she hadn't seen anything and continue her work when she heard Xinxue's call.

Well, escape is impossible; hopefully it's a good thing.

……

As dusk approached, the wolf beastmen of the first and second patrols finally returned with their game.

They had just neared the territory when they noticed something different today.

The beastmen who usually worked were gone, and the children who used to greet them at the village entrance were absent as well.

"Something happened?"

The keen captain of the first patrol, Langju, immediately sensed the problem.

Having earned the position of first patrol captain through her own strength, Langju had thus compelled even dissenting wolfmen to submit after being beaten down a few times.

They might submit verbally, but they still harbored some resentment, and talking back to the first patrol captain had become a common occurrence.

"This is our wolf tribe's territory; what could happen here?" Langji smirked dismissively. As the deputy captain of the second patrol, he often clashed with the cautious Langju, "Maybe Jiuer sister organized everyone to dig up some new wild vegetables again."

Langju ignored his nitpicking, her sharp gaze sweeping over the silent village, nostrils twitching as she carefully discerned the scent in the air, "There's no smell of blood in the territory; probably nothing happened."

Hearing her judgment, the members of both patrols finally relaxed.

All the heavy weapons were with the third patrol; if something had indeed happened and the third patrol couldn't resolve it, they would only be marching to their deaths.

The wolf pack's audible sigh of relief only provoked Langji's displeasure further.

It was bad enough that the first patrol listened to Langju, but the second patrol's captain was clearly him, yet these people also obeyed Langju's orders!

Could it be that he isn't actually the captain of the second patrol?

What position do these wolfmen assign him?

Langji curled his lips into a smile; his anger had already clouded his mind.

He stepped forward abruptly, nearly pressing his face against Langju's, his voice thick with uncontainable mockery and provocation:

"Captain Langju, you're really imposing! Even our second patrol members listen to your commands? To outsiders, it would seem the entire wolf tribe's patrols are under your command!"

This sudden challenge froze the atmosphere in an instant.

The first patrol members immediately glared at Langji with anger, while the second patrol members looked embarrassed and at a loss, instinctively glancing toward their deputy captain.

Langju frowned slightly, calmly regarding him: "Langji, now isn't the time to discuss this. The whereabouts of our tribespeople are unknown—that's the primary issue."

"Right, Ji team. Our harvest today hasn't been bad; things are looking up, so we shouldn't have any mishaps now."

Deputy Captain Langdao also stepped in to mediate.

"Primary issue?" Langji scoffed, relentless, "I think the primary issue is that you, Langju, have overstepped! On what basis do you declare nothing's wrong? Why must everyone obey your judgment?"

After finishing with Langju, he turned his spear toward Langdao: "And you! Langdao! Whose deputy are you really? Every time you speak for outsiders, do you even regard me as your captain?"

Langdao flushed red at this unfounded accusation, opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his defense, merely sighing helplessly.

The other second patrol members also lowered their heads, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

Seeing no one dare to directly refute him, Langji's fury flared; he turned to Langju, raising his voice: "You said there's nothing wrong? Move aside—I'm going home!"

Saying that, he moved to shove Langju aside and charge into the village.

This was no longer mere talking back; it was an open provocation and a tyrannical challenge to authority.

Langju's eyes turned completely cold.

She could tolerate doubt, but she could not allow anyone to sabotage the unit's unity and discipline at such a time.

Her stance remained as steady as a rock; the force of her arm block suddenly increased, her voice like an ice‑covered lake, carrying a bone‑chilling chill: "Langji! I warn you one last time—step back!"

"On what grounds do you order me!"

Langji completely lost reason, let out a low roar, his muscles bulging, claws snapping out, appearing ready to strike without restraint.

"Stop!"

At that critical moment, an aged yet vigorous voice, like the evening drum and morning bell, suddenly rang out.

Everyone startled and turned; deep in the village they saw Langsan, beard and hair white, leaning on a cane, slowly approaching with the support of two young wolf tribesmen.

In Langji's view, Langsan was merely an old wolf leaning on his age; if not for his years, who would listen to him?

Thus he not only failed to stop, but seized the moment Langju halted, taking advantage of her brief distraction from the shout, and lunged forward with force, claws whistling toward Langju's face!

If that strike landed, Langju's face would be ruined.

Langdao and several quick‑reacting wolf beastmen cried out, but it was already too late to intervene.

Langju's appointment as first patrol captain was certainly no fluke.

At the instant the claws were about to pierce her skin, she twisted her waist at an impossible angle, narrowly evading the sharp tips.

Thus, even if Langji managed to slash her face, it wouldn't be as disfiguring as before.

Meanwhile, a leg whipped out from somewhere like a lash, slamming hard into Langji's wrist at the last moment!

"Bang!" a muffled thud.

"Ugh!" Lang Ji let out a painful grunt, a bone‑cracking agony shooting through the wrist, distorting the attack.

Cheng Shuili steadied herself; if Lang San hadn't moved so slowly and taken so long to arrive, she wouldn't have felt safe to come and see—today Lang Ji's claw would surely be bleeding.

"Who?!" Lang Ji clutched the wrist, startled and angry, and stared at the suddenly appearing Cheng Shuili.

Lang Ji didn't know this human, only felt that she moved astonishingly fast and her strength was absurdly great.

Lang Ju, Lang Dao, and everyone else who saw Cheng Shuili's face—especially those who sensed the faint, dignified aura on her that matched the wolf‑fang insignia—were all stunned.

In the next instant, Lang Ju reacted first; she couldn't even bother attending to Lang Ji, dropped to one knee, her voice trembling with excitement:

"King! You… you have returned?"

"King?!"

That address rose like a massive stone plunging into water, stirring a towering wave in the hearts of all wolf‑clan beastmen.

The king they had long awaited was suddenly right before them?

And appearing in such a manner?

Lang Dao and the other members of the First and Second Patrol Teams, after a brief shock and verification, all knelt down in unison, and even the two young wolves who had earlier helped Lang San bowed respectfully.

"We salute you, my king!"

The shouts ceased to be chaotic, now filled with profound reverence and a hint of fear; they had just—

... actually let the king witness such a disgraceful internal clash!

Lang Ji was utterly stunned, staring blankly at Cheng Shuili, then at the kneeling comrades, especially Lang Ju's unfeigned respectful posture, and the venerable Lang San giving the girl a slight nod...

A massive terror seized his heart in an instant, suffocating him more than the earlier wrist agony.

He… he almost injured the king just now?

No, no, no, it was the king who stopped him, and…

... even kicked him?

Cheng Shuili didn't immediately let them rise; her gaze slowly shifted to the ashen‑faced, trembling Lang Ji.

"It seems my arrival is ill‑timed," Cheng Shuili said calmly, her voice revealing no joy or anger, "or perhaps I came at exactly the right moment, averting a tragedy of intra‑clan slaughter?"

Lang Ju bowed deeply, "My incompetence failed to handle internal affairs; please punish me, King!"

Cheng Shuili gave no reply, but stepped before Lang Ji.

Lang Ji watched her approach, terror rendering them almost unable to breathe; they tried to kneel, but the legs felt as if filled with lead, immobile.

"You are... Lang Ji?" Cheng Shuili examined them, "Second Patrol Team… captain?"

"I… I…"

Lang Ji's lips trembled, unable to form a complete sentence.

"It seems you, as captain, are quite unpopular," Cheng Shuili said evenly, each word cutting deep, "questioning comrades, provoking superiors, attacking allies…"

One accusation after another poured from the king's mouth; Lang Ji's earlier arrogance vanished, and the legs trembled faster with Cheng Shuili's words.

But Cheng Shuili hadn't finished: "Now, even with me standing here, you still don't know how to bow and pay respects?"

As the words fell, Lang Ji hadn't yet reacted, and the other wolf‑clan beastmen instantly glared angrily.

No matter which patrol team you captain, daring to disrespect the king is tantamount to trampling the entire wolf clan's honor, essentially opposing the whole clan! Without even needing Lang Ju or Lang Dao to act, a member of the Second Patrol Team surged forward and delivered a hard kick to Lang Ji's thigh hollow.

"Kneel! Who permits you to stand before the king!"

He roared, his voice full of fury.

The kick, full of force, sent Lang Ji "thud" to the ground, knees slamming the hard floor with a dull clang.

The intense pain snapped them awake, making them fully grasp the situation.

They were no longer the captain who could wield power, but a sinner who had committed a grave error before the king.

"King… King… I was wrong! My crimes deserve ten thousand deaths! I beg the king for mercy! I beg the king for mercy!"

Lang Ji could no longer save face, tears streaming, head pounding the ground hard, producing a "thud thud".

Overwhelming fear and remorse engulfed them.

Cheng Shuili instantly realized this was a perfect opportunity.

Though these beastmen were absolutely loyal to the king, it didn't mean they were all of one solid block.

She needed to use this chance to imprint authority and order deep into every wolf‑clan beastman's heart.

Otherwise, future internal troubles within the wolf clan would come in endless waves.

To act is to eradicate future calamities forever!

Cheng Shuili lowered her gaze, watching Lang Ji's trembling, incessantly kowtowing form.

The air was suffused with a suffocating oppression.

After a long while, Cheng Shuili finally spoke, her voice low yet like a passing cold front, freezing the air:

"The wolf clan stands on bravery and unity. And you, Lang Ji, today's actions—none of them match the wolf clan's identity?"

Her gaze swept over the kneeling wolves, her voice clear across the arena:

"Questioning comrades is discord. Provoking superiors is disrespect. Attacking allies is injustice! When the safety of the clan is uncertain, inciting internal strife for personal greed is the utmost folly!"

Each word struck like a hammer, pounding Lang Ji's heart and the hearts of all wolves.

Unlike the solemn expressions on the wolves' faces, Cheng Shuili felt a growing sense of relief with each sentence she uttered.

Fortunately she had memorized these lines in school; otherwise she wouldn't have known what to say.

Look at the effect: not only Lang Ji's tail was tucked, but even the tails of Lang Ju and several other beastmen were caught between their legs.

Clearly they were terrified.

The beating was done; now comes the punishment.

"Lang Ji, your rank as Second Patrol Team captain is stripped; from now on you are assigned to the First Patrol Team, obeying all orders from Lang Ju. If you offend again…"

She paused slightly, her gaze like a solid substance pressing on Lang Ji's trembling back.

……Just go shut yourself in and reflect on the past; when will you figure out how to write the two characters for 'unity'; when will you go out again?

This punishment was beyond the expectations of all the wolf clan.

Assigning Lang Ji to Lang Ju's command—whom he has always been dissatisfied with—and placing him under daily control, this is nothing short of an all‑around crushing from dignity to strength.

Compared to mere corporal punishment or demotion, this arrangement is nothing short of a heart‑punishment.

Lang Ji jerked his head up, all color draining from his face.

Letting him go to the logistics team to do odd jobs might just be embarrassing, but making him take orders daily under Lang Ju, watching the person he once provoked become his superior whom he must absolutely obey...

This is harder for him to accept than any physical punishment.

"Wang…" his lips trembling, he still wanted to beg for mercy.

"How?" Cheng Shuili interrupted him, her tone flat yet indisputable, "You unwilling?"

If Cheng Shuili's voice before was merely stern, these three words were asked with killing intent.