Chapter 742: Dark Hand
Generals under the Wolf King’s employ possessed solid authority. They were like feudal lords—in addition to leading troops, they would also rule semi-independently over a corresponding administrative region. The stronger ones could take over multiple general positions and obtain several times the land compared to others.
As a position signifying true power and territory, this reward caused the eyes of all the generals under the Wolf King to turn red.
The elder who had suggested this reward stayed behind after the generals had withdrawn. The Wolf King asked him, “Is it really worth investing so much for two kids and an unconfirmed plot?”
The elder said confidently, “It’s definitely worth it. Great Chief, a human once said that, in order to maintain their bloodthirst, war wolves need to be thrown the occasional piece of meat and made to fight among themselves.”
The Wolf King immediately became angered. These words were an insult to the werewolves who considered all wolverines half their people.
The elder, on the other hand, was quite composed. “Great chief, these words really do make sense from the viewpoint of any other race. The more generals you have under your control, the more stable your territories will be. Don’t you feel that the overall momentum has slowed down in recent days? Our expansion to new lands have slowed down, and most of the enemies inside have been cleared out. To be frank, your generals have already eaten their fill, and a full wolf cannot fight well.”
The Wolf King nodded slowly. “You have a point there. As long as there’s a gap between them, the ones at the back will start feeling hungry even if they’re already full.”
“The great chief is wise.”
The Wolf King pondered for a moment. “Contact some mercenaries and have them bring back a demonkin from the old spider’s place. I have a use for them.”
“Great Chief, are you planning to fight the Spider Emperor?”
The Wolf King sneered, “I will have more generals now. If I don’t go to war with that spider, must I start splitting my own territory with them?”
“But…”
“Even if there is a problem, don’t we still have Zhang Buzhou?” the Wolf King said calmly.
The elder was shaken at the thought of a certain possibility, but he didn’t dare say anything.
The Wolf King added, “Oh right, I have one more thing I need you to do.”
The elder couldn’t hide his astonishment as he moved closer to the king and listened closely to his instructions. He then left in a hurry, leaving the Wolf King alone in the totemic hall.
In the southern parts of the desolate lands, Qianye’s aura immediately returned to normal and even became somewhat withered. Nighteye supported him and said while looking into the sky, “What was that thing just now?”
Qianye shook his head. “I don’t know, either, but it looks like a secret art capable of spying over long distances. There's probably a mixture of divination arts involved, otherwise, they wouldn’t have found us like this.”
“Is it related to that entity in the sea?”
Qianye pondered deeply. “Unlikely. That eye was emitting an evil darkness origin power and accompanied by a damp, rotten aura. I have a feeling it’s someone from the Wolf King’s side, a powerful person proficient in divination.”
Nighteye seemed a bit worried. “You used up your trump card, right? Are you okay?”
Qianye said with a smile, “I’m fine. I’m currently full on essence blood and can reform a new Shot of Inception in two day’s time. The one spying on us is fairly powerful, I don’t think I could’ve killed them without the Shot of Inception.”
“What do we do now?”
“Since we’ve been discovered, it’s time to pack up our things and run.”
The closer to the hinterlands of the Eastern Sea, the more flourishing the lands would be. Humans had occupied vast territories here, and the most prosperous were the northern central regions. There were three rather large cities, two near the sea and one deeper inland, linking the coast and the continent together.
The regions to the south were more desolate. In remote areas, one would only find a small town after traveling hundreds of kilometers. The interesting part was that there was less and less human habitation toward the northwest borders, wherein lay the Wolf King’s Totemic Castle and their tribal villages.
That place used to thrive, but it gradually fell into decline after the Wolf King took up roots in the Eastern Sea.
The two seaside cities were called Tidehark and Seagaze, both of them human settlements. There were a number of large human families in those cities directing the cities both from the surface and in the dark.
The Xue family was one of the five major families of Seagaze City.
The Xue family’s ancestral home was located in the northwestern part of the city, occupying an entire four street blocks like a smaller city within the city. There was a majestic building at the center of this courtyard which served as the ancestral hall of the family. At this moment, Xue Ding and Xue Wu were kneeling at the center of the smoky hall, not daring to even look up. There were hundreds of memorial tablets in front of them, arranged in many layers upon the altar. Kneeling here, everyone would feel as though they were being observed by countless forebears.
As a hall where the heroic spirits of the ancestors were put to rest, the entire place was filled with protection and blessing for the descendants.
At this moment, a clamor arose beside the hall and the overseeing elder became evidently unhappy. In the blink of an eye, over ten people charged into the main hall and made straight for the gates. There were two young men carrying an elder, shouting with anxious expressions, “Quick, call for the sage doctor!”
The old man appeared withered in appearance. There were bloodstains on his chest, and he was still coughing up blood every now and then. It was just that the blood was purplish, dark, and contained an intense rotten smell that made one nauseous.
This group charged out of the hall at lightning speed. At this moment, a middle-aged man entered. The overseeing elder grabbed him and asked, “What exactly is wrong with the great elder?”
That middle-aged man greeted the fifth elder with a bow, and then glared fiercely at Xue Wu. “Of course, it’s the disaster caused by the two bastards who don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. Who knows what they did, the Wolf King actually asked Heaven’s Eye to search for the culprits. If it wasn’t for the great elder personally guarding the ancestral hall with his divination arts and blocking her Heaven’s Eye, who knows how much trouble the family would suffer! But how can that vicious woman be that easy to contend with? The great elder suffered injuries that might even leave long-term sequelae. Sigh!”
Sighing was the only thing the fifth elder could do. That middle-aged man glared at Xue Wu, saying, “At first, I thought you had great talents and will be the future pillar of the family. Who would’ve thought you’d be so troublesome? Humph!”
Xue Wu kept his head lowered and made no attempt at defending himself. Xue Ding’s head was so low that it was almost touching the ground.
The middle-aged man snorted and left with a wave of his sleeve. The fifth elder let out a long sigh, saying, “Little Wu, your ninth uncle wishes you well. His temper has always been like this, so don’t take it to heart. But this time, your handling of this matter was indeed inappropriate. If Heaven’s Eye had searched for another time, I’m afraid even the great elder would've suffered misfortune. Fortunately, the heavens were looking after us, and the old woman stopped using her art after a single wave.”
Xue Wu nodded in silence.
Xue Ding glanced at Xue Wu and finally said, “This matter has nothing to do with big bro, I was the one who stirred up this trouble. In order to help me...”
Xue Ding hadn’t finished speaking when the fifth elder cut him short, “I know the story clearly, but the elder assembly’s decision will not change. Xue Wu will remain isolated in the ancestral hall for three years, forbidden from taking a single step out.”
“Why!? This is all my fault!” Xue Ding cried out.
A dignified voice rang out from behind, “It’s to protect the Xue family and Lil’ Wu.”
Astonished, Xue Ding immediately performed his greetings. “Grandfather, I mean, Clan Lord.”
The elder who had just walked into the hall looked imposing and healthy. Despite having a head full of white hair, his gaze was so sharp that it was almost tangible. He said while staring at Xue Ding, “It’s no longer important whose fault it is. What’s important is that the Wolf King knows that Gary’s death is related to the Xue family. That gives him an excuse, Zhang Buzhou won’t say anything if he uproots our Xue family.”
Xue Ding was dissatisfied. “But in the end, we’re humans and that Wolf King is of a different race! How can Heavenly Monarch Zhang watch him suppress us humans? Isn’t this going too far?”
“Heavenly Monarch Zhang, heh! Even if Zhang Buzhou has really become a heavenly monarch, do you really think it changes anything? He only knows about himself. Human or werewolf makes no difference as long as the person works loyally for him!”
“That… Clan Lord, big bro is in isolation, but what about me? When shall I return to Totemic Castle?”
The old man snorted. “Return? Who says you’re going back?”
“Ah, people are going to start suspecting me if I don’t go back.”
The fifth elder said, “You think no one suspects you now? You think your movements were watertight, but the Wolf King already knows that Gary left the castle to follow you. Anyone can trace you two from these clues. Do you really think you can survive the Wolf King’s methods?
Xue Ding’s expression changed. As the Wolf King’s foster son, he knew quite well about the king’s methods. He would be crippled even if he could survive the ordeal.
The fifth elder spoke again, “Since Gary was actually killed by the young man, we should take the initiative to take him down and receive the Wolf King’s rewards. This will also extricate the Xue family from this mess.”
After hearing this, the completely silent Xue Wu suddenly looked up. “Absolutely not!”
The fifth elder was rather unhappy about being interrupted. “Why not? Since he used such a method to deal with you two, our Xue family can do the same to them! Don’t tell me you wish to repay him for not killing you?”
Xue Wu replied, “No, I was afraid that the Xue family will suffer a calamity.”
The fifth elder was startled, and then broke into a sudden laugh. “Our Xue family has been passed down through so many generations, how can it fall in the hands of two children? Didn’t you say the pair was only rank twelve or thirteen?”
Xue Ding had to chime in, “Fifth Elder, those two are extremely powerful. Their combat strength far exceeds their cultivation.”
The fifth elder snorted. “Can their combat strength exceed your grandfather?”
This time, Xue Wu and Xue Ding became quiet. The Xue family lord was only one step away from the divine champion rank and could easily suppress Qianye and Nighteye. However, they still didn’t feel happy about it.
The old clan lord coughed. “It’s meaningless to debate about this. From tomorrow onward, Xue Ding will also remain in the ancestral hall to cultivate and leave only after three years. Tell outsiders that we don’t know about their whereabouts.”
It was at this moment that an attendant ran in. “Our branch family in Port City sent word. There’s someone seeking protection under the two young master’s names.”