Ch15 - Black Wolf

Xie Zhiwei wanted to help them but realized it wasn’t appropriate.

He went through all that trouble to end up in the same straits. Won’t I ruin the moment by interfering? I can’t reveal myself.

The beast then roared loud enough to shake the Heavens. Xie Zhiwei looked back and swore. Sh*t, that’s a massive wolf! Hero, don’t wimp out ahh, this is a great chance for you to show off your manliness! Protect that girl!

The shifting shadows of the trees obscured Mu He’s expression from sight, so all Xie Zhiwei heard was the girl crying out. “How can this be? Inky, what’s wrong with you?” She pressed closer to Mu He as she spoke.

The sluggish Mu He finally reacted and moved back. “Big sister, he was fine a moment ago. Why is he attacking you, one of his own?”

“I…I don’t know either, it’s so strange,” the girl looked at Mu He in shock.

Xie Zhiwei was stunned as well.

“Big sis, I’m so useless.” Mu He raised his head, revealing glistening eyes in the moonlight. He seemed to be frightened to the point of tears. Combined with his bandaged head and crutch, he looked extremely weak and pathetic. “I’ll drag you down since I can’t run.”

The girl gave a jolt before sighing deeply. “Don’t be afraid,” she said and grit her teeth, “I—I’ll protect you!”

Xie Zhiwei was confused. Who’s supposed to be protecting whom? Did they switch scripts?!

Suddenly, the black wolf lunged towards Mu He. He pretended to lose his footing and rolled into a weed-filled depression to avoid the blow.

“Are you all right?!” the girl exclaimed in alarm.

“I’m fine,” Mu He crawled up with difficulty just as the black wolf turned and growled at him. “Forget about me, big sister! Hurry and go get help!”

Xie Zhiwei suddenly understood the protagonist’s motives. While he could simply use Black Lotus to augment his cultivation and deal with the wolf, he didn’t want to expose himself. His only choice was to send away the girl first.

Dear, no need for that! Don’t you want that girl to look at you with adoring eyes? Think about it if you’re a real man!

The girl still took a step forward, but the fierce black wolf blocked the way and bared its fangs at her. She sucked in a breath and stammered, “I…I’m…sorry!” Then she tossed her sword into the air, preparing to fly away.

Mu He clung to the edge of the depression and watched her with scorn in his eyes. Shizun wouldn’t abandon me if he was here. Everyone else is just selfish and self-serving.

Xie Zhiwei began to have doubts about the world. Mu He not only failed the qualifications of a stallion novel protagonist, but even those of a damn man! Can’t you look at her more gently? Where did I go wrong? Or did the plot go astray? The stallion hero’s become emotionless!

Just then, a powerful wave of spiritual power swept in from the valley.

“Not good,” Xie Zhiwei muttered to himself.

From the southwest flew a single arrow flooded with silver moonlight, streaking silently through the air. It was meant for the black wolf, but the girl wearing all-black robes reminiscent of Ashen Cloud Sword Sect was standing on a nearby rock and became the bull’s eye instead. Her eyes widened at the icy light streaming from the arrow buried in her chest before she toppled off the boulder.

The culprit walked onto the scene and sighed. “Sheesh, bad luck. I actually missed.”

Xie Zhiwei looked at the lifeless girl collapsed on the dirt and wanted to stomp his feet. She’s already dead and he talks like he missed a game of darts. Who could be so ruthless?!

“So it was a girl. How depressing,” the mystery archer remarked while holding a silver bow of unknown make in his hands. “Well, I’ve just gotten used to this treasure tonight, so I might as well practice some more.”

Xie Zhiwei surveyed the new arrival who seemed to be two or three years older than Mu He. He was still in his teens and wore rich brocade robes and a jade pendant. No doubt he was well-off, but who was he?

Mu He couldn’t act with outsiders around, so he took the chance to crawl out of the depression instead. The black wolf’s eyes glowed red as he spotted his target and pounced. Mu He could only stall for time as he stumbled and crawled in the undergrowth to avoid the beast. As the wolf lunged back and forth, the archer tried to shoot with his bow but grew impatient.

“How is this young master supposed to aim? Hey, stand still and stop running.”

“But he’ll bite me to death!” Mu He said with wide eyes as he evaded. An arrow flew past his ear, startling him even as killing intent flashed through his features.

The other boy narrowed his eyes. “I told you not to move. Stay right there. The beast will stop running once it starts eating you and then I’ll shoot him to avenge your death.”

Xie Zhiwei could only gape. This brat dares to toy with human lives, does he take them to be grass?

Gradually, the sound of horses and a carriage joined the scene. Two men and two women stopped in front of the youth and dismounted to greet him.

“Young lord.”

“You came just in time,” the youth didn’t even look at them. “Aim your bows at that boy and trap him in place. This young master wants to shoot that wolf.”

It was a cruel and insulting order.

Yet the men and women showed no reaction to his words beyond taking out their weapons. It was as if their master had simply told them to pull up his boots or something equally trivial.

Well, even pulling up shoes for him would be an insult!

Mu He tumbled and twisted weakly among the grass as his hands formed into fists. “You’re truly vicious!”

The youth glared at him unhappily. “How dare you curse me? Release the arrows!”

Immediately, multiple shafts flew through the air like rain. It was obvious these subordinates had better archery skills than their master, because all of their arrows avoided the black wolf to aim straight for Mu He. Xie Zhiwei couldn’t stand to watch any longer. This was pure bullying!

Abruptly, the System dinged in his brain. “Reminder: Xie Zhiwei wouldn’t stand by and watch someone die. Please avoid OOC.”

Finally, this damn System says something humane!

…but I don’t need your reminder to save him, all right?

He mentally rolled his eyes while grabbing his sword to leave the woods.

Though the subordinates’ arrows didn’t glow like their master’s, they couldn’t be underestimated. The first few that Mu He avoided hit some rocks and sent up sparks. Their whistling noise as they flew through the air made Mu He shut his eyes. As he prepared to call upon Black Lotus, everything fell silent.

A familiar scent of bamboo reached his nostrils.

Mu He’s eyes instantly flew open. Despite the mellow fragrance, his nose stung with the threat of unshed tears. He stared at the figure in crow-gray robes before calling out softly, “Shizun, I…”

Xie Zhiwei shielded him with one hand while brandishing a magic talisman in front of his chest with the other. He cut them off completely with no gaps. The Qingping Sword in his hand was abloom with turquoise light like sheaves of lotus leaves swaying in the night breeze. It seemed intangible and adrift, but rebuffed all incoming arrows until they fell to the ground.

The youth was astonished. “What divinity is this?” Even his own arrows were knocked to the dirt. This newcomer’s strength was terrifying!

Xie Zhiwei only looked at him. “I don’t know what my disciple has done to offend you that he merits such a vicious attack?”

Mu He used his crutch to force himself upright and murmured, “Shizun, disciple didn’t…”

The youngster scoffed and swaggered, “Does this young master need a reason to do as he pleases?”

…looks like another braggart. Still, Xie Zhiwei had to stick to his character settings and speak nicely. “If that’s the case, then could this little friend withdraw for my sake?”

“Your sake?” the youth snorted. “And who are you?”

“Yujing Sect, Xie Zhiwei,” Xie Zhiwei announced, neither haughty nor humble.

The youth blanched at the name. “What? You’re Xie Zhiwei?” Even his subordinates exchanged looks before gazing at Xie Zhiwei with complex expressions.

Xie Zhiwei was secretly smug. Scared now, brat? Kneel down and call me daddy!

Naturally that wasn’t possible, so he continued to ask, “Will this little friend drop the matter now?”

The black wolf was currently sealed with Xie Zhiwei’s spell talisman and couldn’t move, but kept howling at him with glowing scarlet eyes.

“If it was anyone else, this young master could consider it, but you had to be Xie Zhiwei…” the youth laughed coldly and spat out, “No! Way!”

Xie Zhiwei gave a start. Say what? Is he surprised because he met an enemy? It’s not from fear?

Speaking of which, when did Xie Zhiwei make such a young enemy? Did someone kill his parents and elders? Dammit, how many gaps does the original novel have?

This time, the youth nocked his bow and aimed the arrow at Xie Zhiwei. Mu He stepped forward and cried, “How dare you disrespect shizun!”

Xie Zhiwei shook his head and sighed. “Why do this, little friend?”

Without a word, the youth drew the arrow back to its limits before suddenly switching targets to the black wolf. Xie Zhiwei crinkled his brows. He’s not kind enough to eliminate the black wolf for us. He’s breaking its seal!

Because Xie Zhiwei wasn’t expecting it, he didn’t react in time. Abruptly, the light shield around the beast shattered. After spotting Xie Zhiwei, the black wolf had changed its target and now ignored Mu He to lunge at him.

“Shizun watch out!” Mu He shouted as he rushed in front of Xie Zhiwei. The latter grabbed the boy’s collar and dragged him back just as claws slashed past Mu He’s nose. Then Xie Zhiwei’s finger made a hooking gesture to direct the Qingping Sword until the blade appeared in front of the beast and stabbed it through the forehead.

The black wolf let out a miserable howl.

Its blood, red and bright and hot, spurted out like a fountain. Neither master nor disciple dodged in time to avoid an impromptu shower.

—

Translator’s Note: Let’s have a moment of silence for our resident black wolf Inky (Ah-Mo, 阿墨), a limited screentime soy sauce character who was at least important enough to have a name before he died🐺😭