Chapter Sixty-One: Slaying the Wolf

Han Li’s spiritual sense could only reach ten meters; otherwise, he wouldn’t need to laboriously climb trees. But then a thought occurred to him—should he train three squirrels? Perhaps he should be the first to register that brand.

He Mi blushed for a moment before realizing Han Li’s gaze was fixed on the treetops above. Curiosity piqued, she looked up as well, but saw nothing except branches and leaves.

“Comrade Han, what are you looking at?” she asked.

“I’m looking at those pine cones up in the tree. Unfortunately, it’s not yet time to pick them.”

“Pine cones? You mean those pine nuts that used to be tribute to the imperial court?”

“That’s right. Back then, the tribute specifically referred to the pine nuts from these Korean pines right before us. No other pine nuts counted. When the time comes to pick them, we’ll come back and collect some. After the snow falls, they make a great snack. It’s said that regularly eating them can replenish vitality, nourish the organs, strengthen the muscles, darken the hair, and lighten the skin.”

“Let’s not. Climbing dozens of meters is too dangerous—it’s not worth the risk,” He Mi replied.

Han Li slapped his forehead and laughed, realizing his own stubbornness. Pine nuts might fetch a high price in the future, but that was still some years away. Right now, they weren’t popular here at all. Even when the ripe cones fell to the ground, few bothered to pick them up. People didn’t even want them for firewood. When the time came, he could just trade them with children for candy.

After a short rest, the two continued searching for mushrooms. Luck was on their side, and their basket was soon nearly full. Just as He Mi was suggesting they head back, Han Li suddenly pushed her to a large tree and stared intently at the nearby undergrowth.

What was happening? Was Han Li about to do something to her, here, in the woods? He was a good man, but not to the extent her grandmother had warned her about. Should she shout for help? In the depths of the mountains, it would likely be useless. Her heart raced and her legs grew weak, panic rising within her.

But after a brief moment of confusion and wild imaginings, He Mi realized things weren’t at all as she’d thought. Han Li was standing protectively in front of her, poised as if facing some grave threat. Her face flushed deeper, redder than the evening clouds, but thankfully, only the two of them were present.

Han Li’s gaze never wavered from ahead, so he didn’t notice her embarrassment. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known what to do.

“Comrade Han, is something wrong?” she asked.

Han Li, cautious about stepping on any traps, always used his spiritual sense to scout ahead in the mountains. Just as he finished gathering some chicken-leg mushrooms, he sensed a wolf entering the nearby thicket.

The wolf looked pitiful—its fur was matted and unkempt, its age obvious. Clearly, it was a lone wolf, expelled from its pack.

Han Li was relieved it was only one wolf, but he dared not relax his guard.

A lone wolf could be as dangerous as a pack. Packs hunted together using coordinated tactics. But a lone wolf, cast out from its kind, was even more vicious, for it had no retreat in solitary hunts. Every attack was a fight for survival. People called such wolves “solitary wolves” or “phantom wolves.” They were perilous, cunning, and vengeful, haunting their prey like shadows, watching every move from afar, waiting for the slightest lapse before striking.

Hearing He Mi’s question, Han Li whispered without moving his eyes, “Can you climb a tree? Could you get up this one behind us?”

“Han Li… what’s going on? Don’t scare me,” He Mi replied, her voice trembling as she called him by name.

“It’s nothing. I think a lone wolf has its eyes on us. If you can’t climb, just slowly move around to the other side of the tree. With me here, you’ll be fine.”

The mention of a wolf made He Mi’s legs even weaker. Her voice trembled as she almost sobbed, “I can’t climb. What do I do?”

“The wolf is right ahead of us. Just move slowly, step by step, around behind the tree so it can’t see you,” Han Li instructed.

“Han Li, maybe we should run?” she suggested.

Han Li wanted to run too—martial training was one thing, facing a lone wolf was another. But he remembered the elders in the village always saying, whether facing a pack or a solitary wolf, if you’re discovered, climb a tree if you can, and if not, never turn and run. If you run, you save the wolf the trouble of assessing your strength; you’ll only die faster.

“We can’t run. Running will get us killed. Just move behind the tree, trust me—I won’t leave you behind.”

“Han Li…”

As He Mi edged her way behind the tree, Han Li quietly readied his short spears, gripping two tightly in his hands. He knew he couldn’t outlast a beast in patience.

Guided by his spiritual sense, Han Li hurled a spear toward the lone wolf.

A pained howl rang out. Though the undergrowth deflected it, the spear still grazed the wolf’s body, forcing it to emerge, eyes fixed on Han Li, saliva dribbling from its snarling mouth.

Han Li steadied himself, another short spear whistling through the air toward the wolf.

But the wolf was no easy prey. Leaping aside, it dodged the attack, then, with a low growl, sprang at Han Li with all its strength.

Han Li responded by rapidly throwing his remaining spears at the wolf—sometimes, a flurry of wild attacks is more effective than an expert’s measured blows. Though the wolf was agile, it was struck in the foreleg, turning it into a cripple as it howled in pain.

Han Li breathed a little easier—the extreme danger had lessened, but the wolf was still only a few steps away. With two spears left, he rushed forward.

There were two wet, meaty sounds, followed by the wolf’s dying cry and its last rattling breath. The danger was over. Han Li slumped to the ground, drenched in sweat, heart pounding, hands and feet still trembling.

Though the struggle was brief, it had been intensely exhilarating. The wolf had lunged for his throat, its fangs and claws flashing. It was so fast he barely dodged in time. Were it not for his ranged weapons, even if he managed to kill it, he’d have been injured.

He burst out laughing, pounding the ground in wild relief. In two lifetimes, he had never experienced anything so thrilling.

He Mi, still unsteady, emerged from behind the tree and knelt behind Han Li, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her trembling body against his.