Chapter 21

Damn!

Gu Han saw the Tide‑striding Bull charging like a tank, and his face instantly changed.

He quickly slipped the Water Element Lotus into his bosom, then tossed the water snake's carcass aside like trash, throwing it onto the lakeshore.

Immediately afterwards, without a word, he turned and ran!

The Tide‑striding Bull was now furious to the extreme!

First, it was tricked by the Phantom Water Wolf, nearly losing the Water Element Lotus.

Then, this human brat took advantage of its inattention and straight‑out stole the Water Element Lotus!

That earth‑shaking bull roar made the beasts in the surrounding mountains and forests tremble.

A one‑star seventh‑rank Tide‑striding Bull is absolutely the overlord of this surrounding area!

But the Tide‑striding Bull's advantage lies in its water‑control ability and astonishing strength.

After leaving the water, even if it exerted all its strength, it could only watch Gu Han pull farther and farther away.

But Gu Han still dared not relax, gritting his teeth and fleeing desperately.

Not long after, Gu Han had flung the Tide‑striding Bull far behind him.

The exasperated Tide‑striding Bull chased for a stretch, then stopped, its nostrils continuously venting angry breath.

But no matter how furious, it knew it could not catch this human brat today.

The Tide‑striding Bull let out a few low bellows, warning Gu Han not to approach its territory again, then galloped back to the lake on four legs.

It's all the fault of that Phantom Water Wolf fellow drawing its attention, giving this brat an opening.

In the Tide‑striding Bull's eyes, the Phantom Water Wolf is the sole culprit of all this!

Since it can't catch this brat, it will simply devour the Phantom Water Wolf alive!

The Tide‑striding Bull is no vegetarian!

As the Tide‑striding Bull just turned and bolted, it noticed Gu Han tightly trailing behind it.

Whenever it stopped, Gu Han would stop as well, keeping a safe distance.

After trying several sudden stops, the Tide‑striding Bull chose to give up.

This brat is too slippery; still, that Phantom Water Wolf fellow is easier to bully!

However, when the Tide‑striding Bull returned to the lake, it was instantly dumbfounded.

Where on this lake is there any trace of the Phantom Water Wolf?

All along, the Phantom Water Wolf's dying appearance was completely an act?

The Tide‑striding Bull, feeling like it had drawn water with a bamboo basket for nothing, was furious beyond measure and let out a bellow that echoed through the mountains and forests.

Even the leaves on the lakeside trees were shaken off.

After a few futile roars of rage, it plunged into the lake, intending to turn its grief into appetite!

The unfortunate ones became the fish and shrimp in the lake.

All of this was within Gu Han's expectations.

His reason for following the Tide‑striding Bull back was to hunt down the Phantom Water Wolf fleeing at death's door!

No matter how you look at it, the Phantom Water Wolf has the strength of a sixth‑stage martial practitioner; killing it yields far greater profit than those fourth‑ and fifth‑stage beasts.

Apart from the Tide‑striding Bull, the beasts around the lake pose no threat to Gu Han.

Gu Han guarded against the Tide‑striding Bull, denying it any chance to ambush.

Meanwhile, he searched the lakeside and soon found a path mixed with bloodstains and lake water.

"This should be the direction the Phantom Water Wolf fled."

Gu Han immediately followed that trail.

After winding left and right in the forest, about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Gu Han finally saw the Phantom Water Wolf, out of strength and collapsed on the ground.

At this moment, the Phantom Water Wolf had only its last breath left.

Its chest still rose and fell slightly, but it had no strength left to stand.

Two tear streaks marked the Phantom Water Wolf's face as it helplessly gazed at the distant mountains.

"Although beasts lack the humans' means of healing wounds, this place is already far from the lake; the Phantom Water Wolf could first find a spot to recover its injuries, so why rush here so urgently?"

Gu Han looked puzzled at where the Phantom Water Wolf's eyes were directed, and then noticed a small, inconspicuous cave there.

At the same time, a few tender wolf howls came from within the cave.

Having figured out the context, Gu Han sighed helplessly,

"I never expected the Phantom Water Wolf to be so devoted."

The Phantom Water Wolf probably felt it couldn't hold on much longer, so it hurried back to see its offspring.

Yet it never imagined that, in the end, it couldn't make it back, bleeding out excessively and collapsing here, never to see its child's final moment.

"Well then, I'll see you off."

Gu Han sighed.

Before crossing over, Gu Han had been a genuine rural left‑behind child since childhood.

Each year he could see his parents only during the New Year.

He naturally could genuinely feel the Phantom Water Wolf's emotion.

But even now, he still hadn't let his guard down, approaching the Phantom Water Wolf too easily.

These demon beasts are full of eight hundred tricks; a simple fellow like him could easily be deceived!

Gu Han went straight into the cave, and in the dim light he quickly found a little Phantom Water Wolf crying for food.

The little Phantom Water Wolf seemed to sense its mother nearby, emitting soft, whimpering cries.

This Phantom Water Wolf is tiny, its eyes not even opened yet.

Its fur is a light blue like lake water, incredibly soft; just one look makes people unable to resist wanting to pet it.

The Phantom Water Wolf's habits are the same as ordinary wolf packs; it should be a social animal that likes to live near water.

Gu Han said thoughtfully,

This Phantom Water Wolf mother and child being in this mountain cave must have encountered some mishap.

Gu Han picked up the little Phantom Water Wolf, which, sensing a foreign scent, immediately struggled.

But the little Phantom Water Wolf had just been born; even a First-stage Martial Apprentice could easily subdue it, so it naturally lacked the strength to resist Gu Han.

Gu Han brought the little Phantom Water Wolf out of the cave, but saw the large Phantom Water Wolf lying on the ground.

It struggled and howled, trying to enter the cave, as if worried that Gu Han wanted to snatch her child.

Seeing Gu Han come out holding the little Phantom Water Wolf, the Phantom Water Wolf's chest heaved violently, as if about to explode, emitting a low growl.

Gu Han could clearly feel that the Phantom Water Wolf probably couldn't hold on much longer and would soon pass away.

He understood the Phantom Water Wolf's worry, bent down, and placed the little Phantom Water Wolf beside it.

Seeing that Gu Han had no hostile intent, the Phantom Water Wolf finally relaxed a little.

It stuck out its tongue, using the bumps on its tongue to groom the little Phantom Water Wolf's fur.

The little Phantom Water Wolf stuck out its tongue, patiently licking its mother's wound, hoping to heal her.

Using its last moments of life, the Phantom Water Wolf groomed the little Phantom Water Wolf's fur, then exerted all its strength to push the little one toward Gu Han.

Aooo—

The Phantom Water Wolf's howl was no longer bright, but revealed a sense of decline at the end of life.

Gu Han couldn't understand the Phantom Water Wolf's howl, but he understood that the Phantom Water Wolf likely wanted to entrust its child to him.

At the same time, a familiar system notification suddenly sounded in Gu Han's ear.

Ding, congratulations, host, for gaining the Phantom Water Wolf's approval; you wish to entrust the Phantom Water Wolf King's son to the host.

It is recommended that the host accept the Phantom Water Wolf King's son, which can unlock the battle pet function.

The system notifications sounded one after another, causing Gu Han to flash a hint of surprise.

He glanced at the Phantom Water Wolf, its eyes full of pleading, and at the little Phantom Water Wolf lying at his feet,

Phantom Water Wolf King's son, how did you end up in such a miserable state?