Chapter 32: Another Effect of the Fourth-Generation Rejuvenation

I'm copying, stop!

As a modern person who has read many novels, Ji Ming already has PTSD toward words like "valley," "quiet," "no one."

Now hearing Si Tong idly goofing around here with his crow‑mouth, I was scared and almost inhaled a breath of cold air.

But it wasn't his turn to speak; An Na, who was ahead, already turned and glared at Si Tong.

"Isn't it better to stay steady? If it's like last time…"

Before the words finished.

"Hey! Hey!"

A panicked Lao Bo Er shouted, sprinting back from the nearby thicket.

No signal was needed, because several red‑eyed demon wolves had already darted out behind him.

Ji Ming saw this, his smile unchanged, though a bead of sweat slowly trickled from his temple.

"Ha ha, it's all fine…"

Nevertheless, under the crisis, the Iron‑Chain squad entered combat mode just as they had discussed countless times.

"Quick, contract the defense line!"

With Si Tong's shout, the squad members swiftly readjusted formation.

The highest‑ranked warrior An Na took the tip of the triangle, shield in one hand, sword in the other, her combat stance very standard.

Charlie and Bei Li, though somewhat inexperienced, performed flawlessly, drawing their blades and forming a strict line.

Si Tong raised his longbow, took a quick aim, and loosed a sharp arrow, driving back the fastest demon wolf that was chasing Lao Bo Er.

AdaiEr, earnestly playing the mage apprentice, activated magic, beginning to cast shields on An Na one after another.

As for Ji Ming.

He pretended to be all flustered, checking the medicine box once.

Then, with one hand clutching a Breath‑Seal talisman and the other a Flame‑Burst technique, he prepared for a head‑on charge with the wind at his back and a retreat against the wind.

Thanks for the invitation, our hanging accessories are like this.

With Si Tong providing cover, the already agile Bo Er smoothly returned to the squad.

"These damned beasts, they've set up a nest nearby!"

No wonder he's angry; the torn collar of his waist, ripped by wolf fangs, still flutters in the wind.

The old fellow muttered curses, nocked a feathered arrow to his hunting bow, and fired back.

His target was a one‑eyed male wolf in the pack; judging by his stance, he wasn't planning to spare any grudge.

But the gray‑fur beast was quite clever; with a cold glance, its four paws twitched and dodged the arrow.

However, the old hunter had already anticipated its reaction and, with a reverse hand, shot another projectile from his palm.

Although this bow's power was far less than Si Tong's, in his hands it fired with the speed and force of a bolt‑action rifle.

The still‑airborne one‑eyed wolf couldn't evade; the arrow struck its left fore‑paw knee.

And straight and true, the sturdy arrow jammed its joint, immobilizing it.

The one‑eyed wolf winced, its airborne leap contorted, and it fell clumsily, covered in grass and dust.

"Dog thing, deserved it!"

Lao Bo Er sneered smugly and drew another arrow from his quiver.

At the front of the squad, the two fastest wolves had already engaged An Na in close combat.

"Hey!"

As a breath of vitality rose, red light resurfaced on An Na, whose body was already sheathed in a brown luminous membrane.

She swung her shield, activating her most practiced move, the Shield Strike.

The heavy iron‑wood shield, like a hammer, smashed the open‑mawed demon wolf that tried to bite her, sending it flying.

Another demon wolf, seizing a chance to ambush, was also repelled by Charlie and Bei Li, who guarded An Na's flank together.

The battle grew fierce; feeling he contributed nothing to the group fight, Ji Ming scratched his head and took a bottle of third‑generation Rejuvenation Liquid from the medicine box.

"If you need healing, come find me; today we have enough supplies!"

Then he pretended to wipe his sweat.

Even though I did nothing, it was still hard work for me!

With everyone's concerted effort, the first wave of the wolf pack's assault was easily repelled.

But for some reason, the wounded demon wolves that appeared did not retreat.

They circled in groups of two or three around the perimeter, their dangerous snouts continuously emitting threatening growls,

Thus, both sides fell into a standoff.

"Something's off; they still have intentions."

The experienced Lao Bo Er whispered a reminder.

"Either they're waiting for a chance, or reinforcements are coming."

"Young lads and girls, keep your eyes wide! Be agile!"

Thus the three warriors separated, returning to a full‑defense large triangle formation.

Wolf eyes scanned, human eyes surveyed.

In silence and solemnity, the standoff between man and beast gradually turned into a war of attrition.

Both sides were waiting to see who would lose composure first, or who would collapse first.

But one side is on the offensive, the other on defense; the side holding the initiative will certainly expend less stamina.

Soon, perhaps even they hadn't noticed, the adventurers' breathing grew heavy and rapid.

Without needing to intervene, and with the ultimate option of "return to reality," Ji Ming, standing at the center of the formation, felt a certain detached clarity.

He furrowed his brows, keenly sensing the give‑and‑take at play.

After a brief thought, he lowered his voice, turned his head and asked the AdaiEr beside him.

"You just said the fourth‑generation Rejuvenation Elixir can invigorate, right?"

AdaiEr, nervous, didn't grasp what Ji Ming meant, froze for a moment before hesitantly nodding.

Ji Ming deliberately noted her breathing rate and depth; indeed she was the most stable member of the team at present.

Then his fingers curled and hooked, and a bottle of glossy red liquid materialized in his palm.

"Ugh…."

AdaiEr's gaze was instantly drawn to it; before she could react, a mouthful of saliva went down.

Ji Ming didn't notice her reaction; instead he swiftly pulled several hollow stalks of wild grass from the ground and fashioned a few makeshift straws.

He inserted one into the bottle and handed it to Si Tong on the other side.

"Captain, this is the latest‑generation Rejuvenation Elixir…"

Si Tong was still busy scanning the shadows deep in the thicket; he had no time to chat.

He was about to reply that he wasn't hurt.

"…it can invigorate and also boost combat power."

You could've said that earlier.

"Thanks!"

He took a small sip, and instantly felt a warm current roll from his throat into his stomach.

What followed was a surge of vigorous life force radiating outward.

The fingertip that had been hooked during the hasty draw no longer hurt, and the eyes, weary from continuous use, no longer ached.

His mind was clear, his whole body bristling with strength.

Just one sip restored him to peak condition, even faintly stronger than before.

He pursed his lips, which carried a hint of sweetness, and a smile curled on Si Tong's face.

"Congratulations, Doctor, you've obtained another divine medicine!"

"As long as it's useful to you, that's all that matters."

Ji Ming, with a composed expression, nodded, swapped a straw, lifted the bottle and walked toward the already sweating Charlie.

He used one, tossed another; Ji Ming quickly fed the entire bottle of Oral Rejuvenation Elixir to everyone.

"Incredible, Doctor."

"Wow, that's really powerful!"

"No need to talk about the efficacy; the taste alone could run a gold‑making tavern, right?"

Not to mention the youngsters—after drinking the Rejuvenation Elixir, even old Bo Er's wrinkles seemed to loosen a bit.

"Fantastic, old man, I feel I could now kill a tiger!"

Thus the adventurers' conditions were fully restored, each brimming with vigor and higher combat power than before.

Conversely, the wolf pack's morale was severely crushed by the unreasonable turn of events, their fatigue evident as they fell into disadvantage.

The already‑wounded one‑eyed wolf even trembled, its mind conjuring thoughts of fleeing.

Until a familiar scent surged into its nostrils.