A Lie's palm was rough and powerful, gripping Gu Liang's wrist to pull him up. The gesture still carried an unyielding force, yet it lacked the earlier brutality.
He listened intently to the distant sounds, confirming the unknown creature had retreated before gesturing for Gu Liang to follow. He led the way deeper into the forest. This time, he didn't drag him roughly, his pace slightly slower, seemingly accommodating Gu Liang's sluggishness from his injuries.
The primeval forest in the night was fraught with danger. Every strange sound sent shivers down Gu Liang's spine, yet A Lie seemed utterly at home. His ears twitched slightly, picking up sounds imperceptible to humans, while his golden pupils scanned every shadow in the darkness with sharp precision.
Suddenly, A Lie halted abruptly, pulling Gu Liang behind him. His tense body and low, warning growl instantly alerted Gu Liang to the danger.
Not far ahead, within the thicket, several pairs of eerily green eyes slowly glowed. They belonged not to the earlier unknown giant creature, but to several massive forest wolves. Clearly starving, their fangs glinted coldly in the moonlight.
A Lie shoved Gu Liang behind a large tree, then stepped forward himself, his stone axe held horizontally across his chest. He didn't immediately shift form, but Gu Liang could feel the air around them grow thick and heavy—the ominous stillness before a beast's explosive charge.
The alpha wolf let out a low howl, and the pack slowly spread out, forming an encircling stance.
A Lie suddenly let out a deafening tiger roar—a sound utterly unlike any human voice, filled with pure savagery and overwhelming pressure. The wolves were visibly shaken, their steps faltering.
But hunger ultimately overcame fear. The alpha wolf charged forward first.
The ensuing battle unfolded so swiftly it left Gu Liang dizzy. A Lie transformed into a colossal golden tiger, locked in combat with the pack. Claws and fangs clashed, blood spattered, and the roars of beast and wolf tore through the night sky.
Gu Liang pressed himself against the tree trunk, his heart pounding wildly. He saw A Lie fighting with unmatched ferocity, yet struggling to handle several starving wolves at once. A deep gash appeared on the tiger's shoulder, blood staining his golden fur crimson.
A cunning wolf, taking advantage of A Lie's focus on the frontal attack, quietly circled around and lunged straight at Gu Liang.
Gu Liang instinctively raised his arm to block, but in a flash of golden light, A Lie instantly shifted his defense, swatting the wolf away with a single paw. Yet this maneuver left him exposed, and the alpha wolf's sharp teeth sank viciously into his hind leg.
A Lie let out a pained roar.
In that instant, Gu Liang did something even he hadn't expected—he picked up a thick branch from the ground and swung it with all his might at the wolf clinging to A Lie.
The branch snapped clean in two, but the blow was enough to make the wolf wince and release its grip.
This small act of aid bought A Lie a moment to breathe. He spun violently, his claws slashing precisely across the alpha wolf's throat.
The alpha wolf collapsed. Seeing this, the remaining pack finally retreated, whimpering as they fled into the darkness.
The battle ended. A Lie transformed back into human form, his body covered in wounds, breathing heavily. He looked at Gu Liang, his golden pupils flickering with complex, unreadable emotions.
He staggered toward Gu Liang, saying nothing, only reaching out to roughly check for injuries. Then he pointed to the wound on his own leg, then to the broken branch Gu Liang had used, uttering a vague syllable—whether a question or a statement, it was unclear.
Gu Liang didn't answer, unsure how to respond.
A Lie said no more. He tore off pieces of his clothing to make a simple bandage for the worst wound, then motioned for Gu Liang to continue following.
This time, his stride was noticeably unsteady, and he occasionally had to lean against trees to rest. Gu Liang followed silently behind, observing this powerful male reveal his vulnerability for the first time.
Late into the night, they found a relatively safe small cave. A Lie lit a small fire—it was the first time Gu Liang had seen him use fire, and his technique was remarkably skilled.
By the flickering light, A Lie tended to each other's wounds. His movements remained rough, yet carried a newfound care. When his fingers touched the graze on Gu Liang's knee, the younger man couldn't help but flinch.
A Lie paused briefly before retrieving some herbs from a small leather pouch he carried. He chewed them into a paste and applied it to Gu Liang's wound. A cool sensation immediately eased the pain.
Watching this male—who had once cruelly branded him—now awkwardly tending to his wounds, Gu Liang felt an indescribable mix of emotions welling up inside him.
A Lie lifted his head, meeting Gu Liang's gaze. The firelight danced within those golden pupils, and for an instant, Gu Liang thought he saw something different.
But the next moment, A Lie reverted to his usual domineering demeanor. He pointed at Gu Liang, then toward the depths of the cave, uttering a commanding syllable. He then positioned himself at the cave entrance, closed his eyes, and rested.
Curled up deep within the cave, Gu Liang watched the figure at the entrance—wounded yet standing like a guardian deity—and lay awake for a long time.
That night, many things changed silently.
For both A Lie and Gu Liang.