Chapter 31

"Outside... there's... there's..."

That night, the lights in the Shizi's residence remained lit from dusk until dawn.

Hulu and Lingjiao took turns on night duty as usual. At midnight, Lingjiao used a spell to heat the bathwater and added the incense provided by Ning Shiting for the entire household. But Gu Tingshuang had yet to return.

Rubbing his eyes, Lingjiao went to find Hulu, "Why is Dianxia so late today? He's been going to bed around the Hour of the Ox these past few days, but now it's almost dawn."(1)

Hulu replied, "Perhaps Dianxia made some progress in his cultivation today. When that happens, he can lose track of time and stay up a bit later. You don’t need to prepare the bath anymore. If you’re too tired, just go to bed early. If the Shizi comes back later, I’ll attend to him."

Lingjiao shook his head and sat down, cradling his face in his hands, "I’ll wait for Dianxia to come out. I can’t sleep now anyway. Besides, I still need to feed and bathe the wolves. The Gongzi had instructed us to feed the Shizi's young wolf with nine-coloured deer and qilin meat, but Dianxia wanted us to find live birds. A few days ago, I ordered some Bifang birds, celestial mice, and live nine-colored deer. We can use them this time."

The two of them sat side by side at the doorway.

After a while, Lingjiao said, "The Gongzi never makes any noise while practising. He must be cultivating a mental technique." He seemed a bit wistful.

Hulu responded, "Yes, Dianxia used to have Celestial Spiritual Roots, so his disposition is definitely far beyond that of others. Since the Gongzi has acknowledged it, we shouldn’t worry too much. But still, it’s truly a pity. If it weren’t for that illness when he was ten..."

"There’s nothing to regret," Lingjiao interrupted. "It's better not to dwell on the past. Even if Dianxia can’t stand anymore, what can’t he accomplish in the future? Look at that little wolf—it’s completely submissive to Dianxia... And that’s an ancient white wolf, ah!"

They tacitly agreed to stop discussing the topic. Gu Tingshuang was practising just on the other side of the wall, and they feared that if he overheard their conversation, it might make him uncomfortable. Normally, they never mentioned this matter, but it was late, and with their minds weary, they accidentally brought it up.

Gu Tingshuang was always very quiet when he practised. Sometimes, while they were standing guard outside, they would even forget that he was inside, once leading to a humourous situation where they searched everywhere for the Shizi.

The two of them leaned against the door, dozing off with their eyes closed, teetering on the edge of sleep. Just as Lingjiao was about to drift into a deep sleep, he suddenly shuddered, feeling a strange unease that made him open his eyes.

He sensed movement behind the door, but it was different from Gu Tingshuang's usual return. There was a vague but intense aura of hostility and the smell of blood.

Suddenly, he heard the door being struck!

Sharp claws scraped against the door, accompanied by the heavy breathing of a massive creature. At that moment, Lingjiao's hair stood on end. He knew with absolute certainty that this wasn't something Gu Tingshuang or the young wolf could produce.

Terrified, he frantically shook the slumbering Hulu awake, his body drenched in cold sweat, while he cautiously moved closer to the door, intending to peek through the keyhole.

Hulu, still groggy and unwilling to wake up, groaned and blinked his eyes open. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, he saw Lingjiao leaning in to look through the keyhole, only to suddenly stumble back in terror, collapsing to the ground, too scared to even get up, his face frozen in shock.

"Outside... there's... there's..."

Hulu couldn’t catch what he was saying and leaned in for a look himself. Suddenly, he was confronted with a flash of dazzling golden colour.

He froze for a moment, and when the golden figure finally moved away, he suddenly realised what it was and was immediately paralysed with fear.

He had just locked eyes with a wolf's eye, as clear as a glazed lantern!

Outside… there were countless ancient white wolves, gathering at the door. The pack was pressing against the entrance, their claws scratching more and more furiously, accompanied by the dull thudding of their bodies as they rammed into the door.

One sound after another, it was as if they were determined to break the door down by sheer force!

Hulu was terrified out of his wits, barely able to move his legs. But then he suddenly remembered that Gu Tingshuang was still behind that door. The thought filled him with dread, yet also ignited a surge of fury. He grabbed his sword, ready to charge out and fight to the death, but Lingjiao yanked him back with all his strength.

"Are you insane‽"

Lingjiao, still sitting on the ground, clung desperately to Hulu's leg, trying to steady his voice as he said, "Go find the Gongzi! Find the Gongzi! Now! What good will it do for the two of us to fight here? The Shizi's life is at stake, the most important thing is to inform the Gongzi! Go quickly!"

Hulu gave him a hard push, realising just how terrified Lingjiao was—Lingjiao had always been petrified of the tales of the White Wolf God. Even when he was just taking the young wolf for a stroll, he was on edge, let alone now, facing a pack of ancient white wolves almost face-to-face.

Leaving the courtyard, Hulu, seeing that the door was about to be broken down, steeled himself and quickly ran to the kitchen in the Shizi’s residence. He dragged out a large barrel of Nine-Coloured Deer oil—freshly rendered that afternoon from a newly slaughtered Nine-Coloured Deer, its oil clear and without any unpleasant odour.

Suppressing his terror, he struggled to move the barrel and doused the entire entrance with the oil. Then he cast a fire spell and shouted at the wolves outside, "Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"

The wolves had already sensed what was happening when he began pouring the oil, and they swiftly backed away, though they continued to circle outside, hesitant to leave.

Under the moonlight, the sound of the wolves’ howling rose and fell, deep and calm. Listening to it for too long would create the eerie illusion that the pack was chanting some ancient hymn together. There was no aggressive threat, only a solemn resonance, like the tragic sighs and echoes of a battlefield long past.

The howling of the wolf pack was so close, it seemed to stretch endlessly across hundreds of li, like the smoke and fire of a distant battlefield.

There was no need for Lingjiao to send out a warning; starting from the Shizi's residence, lights began to illuminate the entire sprawling estate, one by one.

The more timid maidservants huddled together inside their quarters, trembling in fear, while the guards cautiously drew their swords and moved toward the Shizi’s residence, tracking the source of the sound. However, they soon realized that something was different about these howls—there was no aggression in them, but rather a sense of trying to communicate.

The captain of the guards issued orders, “The old man in the apothecary used to be a beast tamer! He might be able to understand what these wolves are doing! Go get him, now! Has the Gongzi arrived?”

“The Gongzi just woke up; he’s on his way.”

“Good. Let’s wait for the Gongzi to arrive and give us instructions before we go to protect the Shizi.”

Ning Shiting had gone to bed late that night.

He had been busy organising the Xizhou Chronicles as the day approached for Baili Hongzhou to lead troops into the western region, making him busier by the day. He hadn’t gone to sleep until just before dawn and had barely rested before being roused again.

The celestial crane carriage sped towards the Shizi’s residence. Inside, Ning Shiting was still wearing his sleeping robe, hastily wrapped in a thick cloak. His expression was calm, showing no signs of weariness.

As they moved, Lingjiao walked beside him, recounting everything that had happened. Ning Shiting listened intently, then softly asked, "Don’t rush. The wolf pack may have other intentions. When you looked through the keyhole, did you see the Shizi?"

Lingjiao, struggling to suppress his fear, thought back for a moment, his face pale as he replied, “I don’t think I did. I wasn’t able to see clearly, Gongzi.”

Ning Shiting pursed his lips and remained silent.

By the time everyone arrived, the iron divine gate leading from the Shizi's residence to the sealed Spirit Mountain was nearly melted through. The flames seemed to stretch across the entire sky, turning half the heavens red. Crimson clouds roiled in the dawn light, as if the very sky was in a furious rage.

Ning Shiting moved swiftly through the crowd, who hurriedly made way for him. He only stopped when the fire was close enough to scorch his face.

Hulu quickly stepped in front of him, exclaiming, "Gongzi, it’s dangerous!"

The howls of the wolves grew even louder. Ning Shiting turned his head and asked, "Lingjiao said you’ve already sent for the beast tamer? Has he arrived?"

Lingjiao replied, "Not yet. The old man is an earth spirit, and when he sleeps, he melds with the land and vegetation. Our people are still trying to locate him."

Ning Shiting's expression tightened. "We can’t delay any longer. The Shizi may be in danger. Break down the gate."

Hulu's face went pale with shock. "Gongzi, you can’t! That would be like inviting the wolves into the house!"

"It’s fine," Ning Shiting said calmly. "Leave me with one magical tool, and everyone else should leave the Shizi’s residence and close it off. Come here, Hulu." He beckoned Hulu closer and continued in a gentle tone, "Lingjiao mentioned that you saw a wolf with a golden stripe on its back among the pack. That one is part of the little wolf's kin. They follow the Shizi’s commands and won’t harm me. Just do as I say."

Hulu, seeing Ning Shiting's resolute expression and hearing the certainty in his voice, was somewhat reassured. He recalled how the Shizi would often order the little wolf around without issue and believed Ning Shiting's words, at least to some extent. Yet, he still hesitated, "But it’s too dangerous… Perhaps I should stay with you, Gongzi?"

Ning Shiting shook his head. "The wolves have seen me before, but not you. Everyone must retreat outside the Shizi’s residence gates, and Ting Shu must not enter."

"Additionally," Ning Shiting made a quiet gesture to signal for silence, "don’t speak about the Shizi and the wolf pack. We don’t want to attract resentment. The reputation of the ancient wolf pack isn’t favourable in Xizhou, and you understand the gravity of the situation."

Hulu nodded and followed his instructions. The noise of the crowd was kept outside the mansion's gates, and the area inside was cleared. Even the few flowers Gu Tingshuang had planted to feed the wolf were carefully carried out. The air was thick with the smell of burning.

Hulu was the one to close the gate. Before doing so, he noticed Ning Shiting standing at the entrance, holding a long blade.

Strangely enough, although Ning Shiting had no magical power and usually appeared frail, he wielded the blade with surprising grace. Unlike a novice, whose scabbard would often droop towards the ground, Ning Shiting stood with his back straight, exuding a quiet familiarity with the weapon. In that moment, he seemed to shed his usual sickly demeanour, emanating an aura of sharpness and gravity.

Hulu was still trying to make sense of the odd feeling of familiarity when he overheard an old servant nearby saying, "When I handed the weapon to Gongzi, the way he took it—it was just like the Wangye in his prime. Back when Wangye led his immortal forces into battle, he held his sword in the same way. So many years have passed since then."

With a sharp sound, the blazing gate fell with a crash. Embers carried by the searing wind surrounded them, and in the faint morning light, white wolves began to emerge from the shimmering blue glow and the smoke.

It felt like a replay of the events from half a month ago. As Ning Shiting opened his eyes, he was met with dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of pairs of cold, glassy wolf eyes—staring at him with calm yet cautious intensity. In an instant, large white phantoms had silently surrounded him, tightening their encirclement. The gathering of these glowing wolf eyes resembled a ring of night lamps.

A white wolf with a streak of gold on its back approached, holding a bloody, furry object in its mouth. It growled softly, moved forward a few steps, circled around Ning Shiting, and then nudged the item toward him, as if presenting it for his inspection.

Ning Shiting's voice trembled slightly as he recognised the small wolf. "Little Wolf..."

The usually lively silver wolf, who loved jumping into his arms for cuddles, was now in a pitiful state—one of its front paws was severed, its body soaked in blood, and it was filthy, looking as if it was barely clinging to life.

As Ning Shiting took a step forward, trying to reach for the Little Wolf, two slightly smaller white wolves blocked his path with a low growl. The wolf pack seemed to be in disagreement, their throats emitting deep, rumbling sounds as they communicated among themselves.

Realising the gravity of the situation, Ning Shiting turned to one of the wolves and asked, "Where's Yinbing? The child in the wheelchair?" He knew these wolves followed Gu Tingshuang's commands, and since Gu Tingshuang had not returned, something must have gone wrong during his cultivation, or perhaps he encountered danger on Spirit Mountain. The bloodstains on the wolves suggested they had been through a fierce battle.

Ning Shiting dropped his sword and spoke calmly, "I am Dianxia’s... family. I know you are all trusted by him, but humans and wolves are ultimately different. Please trust me to take care of Dianxia. Last time, he introduced you to me."

As he spoke, a nearby wolf eyed him hungrily, likely thinking that a Jiaoren would be a tasty meal. However, each time it tried to approach, it was rebuffed by its companions' growls. The hierarchy within the wolf pack was clear, with smaller groups led by head wolves, all deferring to the golden-backed wolf.

This golden-backed wolf, which had escorted them down the mountain with the wheelchair last time, seemed to hold the role of a strategist—quite fitting, Ning Shiting thought.

Standing firm, Ning Shiting remained calm and composed. After a long pause, the wolves blocking his path dispersed, indicating that they had reached a decision.

The golden-backed wolf stepped closer, still holding the Little Wolf, and gestured for Ning Shiting to take him. As Ning Shiting extended his hand, other wolves approached, sniffing at his ornate robes without touching his hand, as if assessing him. Their sharp fangs hovered just a few cun from his skin, and their hot, animal breath sent chills down his spine.

His hand was nudged and pushed by the wolves, rendering him unable to move. After what felt like an eternity, the wolves finally retreated. Ning Shiting relaxed his hand and gently took the Little Wolf, cradling him close.

As the wolf pack scattered further, Ning Shiting quickly tore off a piece of his robe and used his sword to cut it, bandaging the Little Wolf's injured limb. He then asked, "Yinbing, where is he?"

The golden-backed wolf gave him a deep look before darting off in a specific direction, leaping a dozen feet before stopping and turning back to check on him.

Holding the Little Wolf close, Ning Shiting lit some Soul Returning Incense and held it under the Little Wolf’s nose. He followed the golden-backed wolf, stumbling slightly on the uneven path to Spirit Mountain due to the lingering smoke.

The golden-backed wolf led him to an inconspicuous cave. Inside, Gu Tingshuang lay motionless in his wheelchair, eyes closed and breathing faintly. The wolves, recognising that Spirit Mountain still held dangers and rival wolf packs, had hidden Gu Tingshuang here, knowing his body was vulnerable when he used his spiritual senses. They had been waiting for their leader to return.

Under the influence of the Soul Returning Incense, the Little Wolf began to stir, his wounds healing rapidly. But Gu Tingshuang remained unresponsive.

Ning Shiting took a deep breath and bowed his head in gratitude to the golden-backed wolf. "Thank you. You should go now. I'll arrange for people to bring Dianxia back."

The golden-backed wolf looked at him one last time before howling, signalling the other wolves to follow as they gradually left the palace grounds, heading back to Spirit Mountain.

Spirit Mountain was dangerous, so Ning Shiting decided to bring Gu Tingshuang closer to the mansion. With the Little Wolf in one arm, he struggled to push Gu Tingshuang's wheelchair over the rugged terrain. Just as he was about to collapse from exhaustion, he felt a lightness in his hands—three wolves had returned to help, one steadying Gu Tingshuang in the wheelchair, and the other two pushing it.

These three wolves escorted them down the mountain and stopped at the back courtyard of the mansion.

This time, they truly left.

Ning Shiting quickly called for help to bring Gu Tingshuang back to his room. The doctor who was summoned examined Gu Tingshuang's pulse and noted signs of mental disturbance but found no other abnormalities.

Ning Shiting understood immediately. Gu Tingshuang had likely experienced a qi deviation, causing him to fall into this coma.

Not being versed in this particular cultivation method, Ning Shiting knew that the Ninefold Spirit Mastery didn’t cover this kind of situation. The original author, Bu Cangqiong, had only provided a brief summary, never anticipating that a future generation might actually follow this path. Ning Shiting promptly summoned a messenger bird and wrote letters to his martial siblings, inquiring if they knew of a remedy for this condition.

With the Soul Returning Incense ineffective, the problem seemed quite serious.

That night, Ning Shiting dismissed everyone and kept vigil by Gu Tingshuang’s bedside, monitoring his breathing and pulse. Gu Tingshuang remained motionless.

However, in the middle of the night, Hulu burst in to report that the Little Wolf had woken up and was growling at them, likely wanting to see his master. Ning Shiting allowed them to bring the Little Wolf in.

Despite missing a front paw, the Little Wold struggled free from Hulu’s arms after being cleaned up. With just a thin layer of fur covering the broken bones, the Little Wolf rolled a few times on the ground, trembling in pain but refusing to cry out, and still managed to stand.

Ning Shiting frowned as he watched, just as he was about to reach out and pick the Little Wolf up, the small wolf suddenly dashed toward him. The Little Wolf, wobbling and shaking, with his head held high and tail wagging, quickly ran into Ning Shiting’s arms.

As Ning Shiting settled back into his seat, the Little Wolf snuggled closer, nestling by his side. The little wolf seemed both clingy and despondent, radiating a subdued pain.

The Little Wolf’s warm, soft breaths brushed against Ning Shiting’s fingers as he buried his head in Ning Shiting's hand, resting gently against his hand, with a mix of stubbornness and sadness.

Lowering his gaze, Ning Shiting met the Little Wolf’s eyes. The wolf’s golden eyes seemed a bit colder than usual, reverting to the “dislike mode” it often showed him. Yet, in those eyes, Ning Shiting saw only his own reflection.

Foot Notes

1. The hour of the Ox is 1 to 3am.