After narrowly escaping the clutches of the bloodthirsty tree, Lin Wei ran deeper into the dark, wild forest. He had been sprinting for hours without rest. His legs felt like heavy logs, and each step burned with exhaustion. His breathing had become ragged and shallow, like someone on the verge of collapse. The wounds he sustained during the battle for survival had drained most of his strength—he was now running on nothing but sheer willpower.
The forest grew denser, the trees towering like ancient giants, their leaves whispering secrets with every passing breeze. Lin Wei knew he had to find a place to rest before the sun rose. Once daylight came, there would be no chance to hide from the dangerous creatures that stalked the woods. Even the Ocean Egg he had consumed earlier, which once refreshed and nourished him, now felt useless—its effects had already been fully absorbed by his body to keep him alive until now.
With no cave or shelter in sight, Lin Wei decided on a desperate plan: to climb a tree and rest in its branches. But his body was weak. Climbing was a risk. Still, with his mind made up, he found a towering tree with thick, leafy cover—perfect for hiding. Wrapped around the trunk was a Serpent Coil rope, known for its sturdy grip and extending infinityly. It aided his climb, almost as if the tree itself helped him.
Reaching a thick branch at the top, hidden from view by the thick foliage, Lin Wei finally settled. From his storage ring, he retrieved a small handful of Frostbloom Petals which he secured in one of the his treasure stones—a bitter medicinal herb that numbs pain and boosts recovery. He chewed and swallowed them quickly, ignoring the horrible taste. Then, from the same ring, he pulled out a piece of raw horse meat—leftovers from his emergency rations. With no fire to cook it, he devoured it like a starving beast, his face smeared with blood, not caring about taste or manners.
Only after filling his stomach did he finally feel a sliver of peace. The wind cooled his skin. His eyelids grew heavy. He fell asleep atop the tree branch—the first real sleep he'd gotten since stepping into the wilderness.
By morning, Lin Wei awoke feeling a bit stronger. Not healed, but no longer on the brink of collapse. He removed his cloak—it had no use during the day—and stored it. Carefully, he began climbing down the tree.
But halfway down, his eyes caught something alarming.
On the ground below, feeding on scraps of the horse meat that had fallen during the night, was a terrifying creature—a Shadowmane Wolf cub.
Despite being a juvenile, the beast was huge—larger than a full-grown man, with thick grey fur streaked with black lines like lightning bolts. Its eyes glowed faintly red, its fangs longer than a man's fingers. The Shadowmane was a rare and elite species of wolf, known for its speed, sharp instincts, and strength. Even as a cub, it could battle and kill a Qi Condensing realm cultivator.
This one had likely gotten separated from its pack, drawn by the scent of blood.
Lin Wei froze. He was still just a mortal with no cultivation. A head-on fight with this beast would be suicide. But the meat of a Shadowmane? It was extremely nourishing—rich with spiritual energy that could heal wounds and increase one's strength faster than some herb.
A plan began to form in Lin Wei's mind.
He stayed hidden in the tree, quietly securing his grip with the help of the Serpent Coil rope. From his back, he drew his spear—sharp, heavy, and sturdy. The weapon wasn't just steel; it had been reforged with rare ore that even he as a blacksmith have no idea of the kind of ore that was used to cast it. Lin Wei believed it could pierce even the toughest beast hides, something comparable to a divine weapon.
Carefully, he aimed it at the wolf's neck, where the fur was thinner.
Whoosh!
With a silent prayer, he hurled the spear with all his remaining strength. The spear flew like a bolt of lightning, whistling through the air before stabbing through the wolf's neck cleanly—like a hot knife through butter.
The Shadowmane cub gave a muffled growl, staggered, and collapsed. Blood sprayed the grass. Lin Wei's eyes widened with awe. A normal spear would have bounced off this beast. His weapon was truly extraordinary.
Wasting no time, he climbed down and used the same spear to butcher the beast into four parts. The smell of fresh blood was thick and heavy—it would attract other predators soon. He packed the meat into the remaining space in his storage ring. But just as he was finishing...
A chilling howl echoed. Something is making a way towards him
Lin Wei's heart stopped. He wasn't alone.
The other wolves were coming. The pack.
They had likely been searching for the lost cub. And now, they were coming fast—and angry.
Lin Wei grabbed his things and ran. He didn't look back. But the damage was done—the blood of the Shadowmane cub was now on him. Its scent clung to his skin and clothes like a death sentence.
Behind him, the howls turned to growls.
Two massive wolves—clearly the parents of the cub—were leading the pack. Their fur bristled with fury. Their eyes locked onto Lin Wei, filled with pure bloodlust. They were easily the size of horses and fast—much faster than him.
Trees whipped past him as he ran, thorns and sharp branches tearing into his skin. Blood flowed freely, mixing with sweat. But Lin Wei didn't stop. He couldn't. The Shadowmane Wolves were closing in.
More wolves appeared, flanking him from the sides. He was being trapped.
His breath grew heavy. He clutched his storage ring from his finger, opening it mid-run. Inside were exploding stones and illusion traps—small artifacts designed to help escape or confuse enemies which he also acquired through the treasure stone.
Not yet, he thought. He needed to be surrounded first to make them effective.
Moments later, he was.
More than twenty wolves had encircled him. From all directions—front, back, left, and right—red eyes glared at him. They didn't attack immediately. They were cautious. One of their own was dead, and Lin Wei must have done it somehow. But he smelled mortal, weak—something didn't add up.
That pause was all Lin Wei needed.
He raised both hands into the air. In one palm, he held an illusion trap stone. With a mighty slam, he smashed it into the ground.
At first, nothing happened.
The wolves growled, closing in again—
Then suddenly, a monstrous illusion burst out, a towering beast that roared like thunder and flashed with blinding light. The wolves froze, fear washing over them as their instincts kicked in.
Boom!
A chain of explosions followed from the exploding stones Lin Wei had thrown seconds earlier. Smoke and flames erupted. The forest shook.
Amid the confusion, Lin Wei sprinted.
He tore off his bloody clothes and wiped the wolf blood off his skin as best he could. Wolves had an extraordinary sense of smell—they could trace blood from miles away. He had to get rid of every trace.
Naked, scratched, and bleeding, he ran through the forest, his body covered in scars. His bare feet slapped against rocks and leaves. His heart pounded louder than the stampede behind him.
From behind, he heard another howl—louder, closer. The wolves had regrouped. They were coming again.
But ahead—through the trees—Lin Wei saw something.
A stream.
Crystal clear water flowed in the distance. It might be dangerous. Other beasts might be there. Wolves could swim too.
But it was his only chance.
If he could jump in, the water might wash off the blood scent. It was a slim chance—but the only one he had.
With all his remaining strength, Lin Wei sprinted toward the stream and hide behind a huge rock he found there
Lin Wei was both nervous, and his heartbeat betrayed him. The wolves arrived, sniffing the ground. They split up, each one searching for him, their noses close to the earth. Strangely, none of them entered the stream. It was as if they were afraid of the water itself. Lin Wei, crouched low behind a large moss-covered rock, didn't notice their hesitation.
One of the wolves scratched the ground nearby, sniffing furiously. After a few tense moments with no sign of him, they all began to growl lowly in frustration. Then, one by one, they turned back and slowly vanished into the forest, their growls fading with distance.
Only then did Lin Wei dare to breathe. He let out a shaky sigh of relief and slumped to the ground, his whole body trembling. "That was close," he muttered, a cold shiver still lingering in his chest. A faint smile crept onto his face despite the fear.
Now that the danger had passed, he stood up and looked at the stream. "If there's a scream, there might be people… but who would build a village near a place like this?" he wondered aloud.
Still, he had no better option. He followed the stream, unsure of what awaited ahead, but hoping it would lead him to safety
His journey continues