The Prince

The two Gray Shadow Wolves that had just appeared at the edge of the forest had not yet joined the encirclement.

One lowered its head to sniff the bloodstains across the ground, while the other stood motionless between two trees, watching the battle by the lake. Behind them, the brush continued to stir.

Hao Nhien did not wait to see how many more were coming.

"Leave the lake."

Lam Phong asked no questions. He turned his shield toward the heaviest pressure while Tieu Van closed the distance behind him.

The three continued fighting as they moved, but this time they no longer followed the shoreline. They headed toward a thinner stretch of forest to the west, where Hao Nhien had already noticed the ground beginning to rise.

The Gray Shadow Wolves followed.

None rushed forward blindly. Those at the front kept enough pressure on the three to force them to maintain formation, while gray shapes on both sides threaded through the trees, waiting for a chance to move ahead and cut off their path. The three second rank wolves remained far enough away that the Tieu Dao Sword could not easily reach them.

The strongest silver-furred wolf appeared now and then through gaps in the pack, but Hao Nhien no longer paid it much attention. Killing the leader was not the objective.

Getting away from an area that kept drawing in more Gray Shadow Wolves mattered more.

"Left!"

Tieu Van had barely called out when Lam Phong turned his shield.

A first rank wolf burst through the brush, its claws scraping across the rim of the shield before it recoiled. Hao Nhien did not pursue. He stepped diagonally instead, intercepting a second wolf that tried to exploit the opening.

The tip of the Tieu Dao Sword pierced its shoulder.

He turned his wrist, forcing the beast off its line of advance, then withdrew the blade with the motion.

"Move."

The three shifted again.

Each time they gained only a few steps, but every step carried them farther from the lakeshore.

Howls sounded continuously behind them. Some came from the wolves already in pursuit, while others answered from farther away. The pattern only confirmed Hao Nhien's judgment. If they remained at the lake, the number of Gray Shadow Wolves would keep increasing.

The forest ahead gradually narrowed. Gray trees became fewer, replaced by black stone jutting from the ground. The terrain rose on both sides until it formed steep slopes covered in dark moss and tangled vines.

A narrow stream appeared beneath their feet.

The moment Hao Nhien stepped across the first wet stone, he realized they were entering a tight valley.

Lam Phong noticed as well.

"This place is bad."

"I know."

Hao Nhien scanned the two rock walls.

The farther they went, the narrower the space would become. But turning back meant facing the pack directly, while more wolves were still arriving through the forest on both sides.

Tieu Van looked up at the slick cliffs.

"Climb?"

"No."

Hao Nhien shook his head.

"The rock is too slippery, and there are too many vines. We'd climb far slower than the wolves."

Lam Phong understood.

"Then we keep going."

There was no safe path, only the one that was less dangerous.

The three moved deeper into the valley.

The stream beneath them was only a few steps wide, its clear but icy water flowing over black stones before disappearing into narrow cracks. The cliffs rose sharply on either side, reducing the moonlight above to a thin silver band across the water.

The terrain forced another change in formation.

Lam Phong no longer had enough room to swing his shield as freely as he had by the lake. He held the middle, the shield angled slightly toward the rear. Tieu Van stayed close on the left, while Hao Nhien moved a few steps ahead, watching the path and cutting off any wolves that tried to surge in from the sides.

The pack continued to pursue them. Yet the deeper they went, the fewer wolves could attack at the same time.

That was their only advantage.

A first rank wolf leapt from a low rock on the right.

Hao Nhien turned and swept the Tieu Dao Sword across.

The beast crashed into the stream, blood spreading through the water. Another lunged in behind it, only to be driven into the cliff by Lam Phong's shield the moment it landed.

Tieu Van took the opening. A short knife cut across the wolf's front leg, and before it could regain its footing, Hao Nhien ended it with a single strike.

The three did not stop to harvest the beast cores.

No one was thinking about examination points anymore.

The rush of water, claws scraping against stone, and howls echoing between the cliffs blended together until the valley seemed endless.

Hao Nhien no longer knew how far they had gone. He only knew the pressure behind them had never eased.

Then another howl sounded.

Not from behind.

From ahead.

All three slowed at once.

The call was not long, but it was sharper and clearer than the others. A breath later, the Gray Shadow Wolves behind them also reduced their pace.

Hao Nhien narrowed his eyes.

Ahead, a silver-gray figure appeared atop a raised stone beside the stream.

It was clearly larger than the first rank wolves, with a low, powerful frame, broad shoulders, and a strip of silver fur running from its neck along the spine. A long scar crossed its muzzle, but did nothing to soften the coldness in its dark red eyes.

Second rank.

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What caught Hao Nhien's attention even more was the reaction of the pack behind them.

The wolves in pursuit did not pass it.

Even the two second rank wolves that had followed them from the lake slowed and remained farther back.

The newly arrived silver wolf stepped down from the stone.

It did not hurry, nor did it spend long assessing the terrain as the others had.

It simply walked into the center of the valley.

Hao Nhien did not know what position it held among the Gray Shadow Wolves, but the reaction of the others said enough.

Tieu Van noticed as well.

"That one…"

"Don't focus on it too long," Hao Nhien cut in. "Watch the sides."

Tieu Van pulled his gaze away.

The silver-furred Gray Shadow Wolf stopped about twenty steps from them.

It looked at Lam Phong.

Then Tieu Van.

Finally, its gaze settled on Hao Nhien.

There was no warning growl. It simply walked forward.

Hao Nhien tightened his grip on the Tieu Dao Sword.

This one was different from the previous pack for more than just its strength. It had no intention of staying behind the others and directing the fight.

It wanted to deal with the one in front itself.

A first rank wolf behind it started to rush forward, then stopped as the silver wolf passed. Space opened around it almost instinctively.

Hao Nhien understood.

"Hold formation."

Lam Phong lowered his shield.

Tieu Van shifted his stance, both short knives held close.

The silver wolf accelerated.

Its first few steps were measured, but on the third it dropped low and shot straight toward Hao Nhien, claws sweeping sideways.

The Tieu Dao Sword left its sheath.

Keng!

The impact traveled along the blade and nearly wrenched Hao Nhien's wrist backward.

The beast did not stop. The instant its front paw touched the ground, its body twisted and the other claw swept upward from below.

Hao Nhien retreated half a step and angled the sword to block.

The clash rang harshly through the valley.

This time he was forced farther back.

The Gray Shadow Wolf was not so strong that he could not withstand it, but its combat experience was clearly far beyond the second rank wolf they had killed near the lake.

It did not bite wildly or throw itself into the sword. Each time Hao Nhien prepared to counter, it changed angle with surprising speed, turning a shoulder or the thick fur along its flank toward the blade before striking back from another direction.

More importantly, the rest of the pack began pressing forward as well.

The silver wolf did not need to command them with howls. Its presence alone had made the wolves behind it bolder.

"Right!"

Lam Phong turned his shield and stopped two first rank wolves trying to slip past.

Tieu Van cut across the leg of a third before withdrawing again.

Hao Nhien tried to shift over to help, but the silver wolf blocked his path.

Another claw came at him.

Keng!

He caught it.

The beast gave half a step, but never moved far enough to let him pass.

Hao Nhien understood. It did not need to kill him quickly.

It only needed to keep him here while the rest of the pack wore down Lam Phong and Tieu Van.

A heavy impact sounded behind him.

Lam Phong was forced backward by a second rank wolf, his shield slamming into the cliff with a dull thud.

At the same time, Tieu Van had to evade another gray shape dropping from a rock on the left.

Three second rank wolves.

One in front of Hao Nhien.

The other two split to either side.

First rank wolves filled the gaps between them, applying constant pressure.

The situation was deteriorating quickly.

Hao Nhien drew a breath.

He could not let this continue, but neither could he abandon the wolf in front of him and rush to the others. Every time he changed direction, the silver-furred beast cut him off.

A thought flashed through his mind.

He did not need to be stronger.

He only needed to offer the wolf an opening it believed was good enough.

Hao Nhien blocked another claw and retreated closer to Lam Phong.

"Tieu Van."

"Here."

"Fall back to Lam Phong. Hold for three breaths."

Tieu Van did not ask why. He cut across the leg of a first rank wolf, used the opening to retreat, and moved behind the shield.

Lam Phong heard him and gritted his teeth.

"Three breaths I can do."

Hao Nhien continued, "Brother Lam, on the third count, bring the shield toward me."

Lam Phong hesitated.

"What are you planning?"

"Push me."

Two words were enough.

Lam Phong understood and asked nothing more.

Hao Nhien turned back to the silver wolf.

It was still watching him, those cold red eyes never leaving his body.

One.

Hao Nhien blocked the first claw and retreated.

Two.

He yielded another half step, deliberately angling himself toward Lam Phong as though preparing to turn and help the others.

The silver wolf closed in.

Three.

Hao Nhien actually turned his shoulder.

Only slightly, but enough to expose his flank.

The beast lunged, claws tearing toward his chest.

"Shield!"

Lam Phong turned.

The shield rose at an angle directly behind Hao Nhien.

Hao Nhien dropped low and planted one foot hard against its surface. At the same moment, Lam Phong drove true qi through his legs and shoved the shield forward with everything he had.

The two forces combined.

Hao Nhien shot forward close to the ground.

The silver wolf's claws swept above his shoulder.

The Tieu Dao Sword drove upward.

The blade pierced the softer flesh behind the beast's front leg.

The Gray Shadow Wolf roared. Hot blood poured over Hao Nhien's hand, but the beast did not fall. Pain only made it more vicious.

It twisted with startling speed and kicked backward into his shoulder.

Hao Nhien was thrown across the stone. The Tieu Dao Sword tore free from the wound, dragging a line of dark blood with it.

The silver wolf stumbled once, then charged again.

Hao Nhien pushed himself up, his left shoulder burning.

The beast was badly wounded now. Blood streamed from the wound beneath its chest, and one front leg had begun to lose strength, yet the savagery in its eyes had not faded.

Behind Hao Nhien, impacts rang through the narrow passage.

Lam Phong was using his shield to block nearly the entire width of the valley, while Tieu Van stood just behind him, cutting at anything that tried to squeeze past the edge. The other two second rank wolves had already closed in.

They could not hold for long.

Hao Nhien had only a few breaths.

The silver wolf growled and lunged.

This time he did not retreat far. He slipped past the first pounce, brought the Tieu Dao Sword low with his turn, and cut deep into the beast's weakened front leg.

Its body tilted.

But it still did not fall.

The Gray Shadow Wolf snapped its head around, white fangs aiming straight for Hao Nhien's throat.

The distance was too short.

There was no time to change sword forms normally.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Spirit Sword moved.

A sharp intent struck directly into the beast's Divine Soul.

There was no explosion and no power spilling into the outside world. For a brief instant, the wolf's gaze froze. Its attacking intent broke, and the jaws rushing toward Hao Nhien slowed by half a beat.

Half a beat was enough.

The Tieu Dao Sword changed course.

Its tip drove upward from beneath the jaw and sank deep.

The wolf's body convulsed.

Hao Nhien did not stop. He turned his wrist, drew the blade deeper across the throat, then ripped it free.

Dark blood sprayed into the stream.

The beast staggered two steps and finally collapsed into the water.

Hao Nhien spared it only a glance.

The defense behind him was already close to breaking.

He turned and rushed back just as another second rank Gray Shadow Wolf forced its way past the edge of Lam Phong's shield.

The Tieu Dao Sword swept across.

The beast had no choice but to leap back.

Hao Nhien returned to the line beside the other two.

"Hold."

Lam Phong breathed heavily, but his shield rose again. Tieu Van drew both knives close to his body.

Only then did Hao Nhien have a moment to glance toward the silver wolf's corpse behind them.

The pack's reaction had changed.

Several first rank wolves that had been rushing forward slowed. The two remaining second rank wolves also paused for a beat.

Hesitation spread through the pack quickly enough for Hao Nhien to notice. Some looked toward the silver wolf's body, while others raised their heads toward the mountain slope.

The rhythm of the howls broke apart.

Hao Nhien did not know what position the dead wolf had held, but it was clearly more than an ordinary second rank beast.

Then a howl descended from above.

It was not sharp like the calls below, nor did it stretch on without purpose.

It was only one deep, heavy sound.

Yet as it echoed between the cliffs, pebbles began rolling down the slopes and ripples spread across the stream beneath their feet.

Lam Phong looked up.

His expression changed.

Tieu Van lost the last trace of ease from his face.

The Gray Shadow Wolves around them all turned toward the sound.

Only for a moment.

Then the hesitation disappeared.

A chill ran across Hao Nhien's scalp.

Tieu Van lowered his voice.

"King?"

Hao Nhien did not answer.

A second howl rolled down from above.

Closer this time.

Then came the sound of a large stone cracking somewhere on the slope.

Hao Nhien did not need to see more.

"We have to move."

Lam Phong tightened his grip on the shield.

"Together?"

Hao Nhien swept his gaze through the valley. First rank wolves still blocked the rear, with two second rank beasts among them. Cliffs rose on both sides, while the path ahead led deeper into darkness.

If all three ran together, they could not outrun the Gray Shadow Wolves, especially with Tieu Van's injured leg.

Hao Nhien took out the Blood Scent Lure and scattered it directly over his robe, which was already soaked in beast blood.

The sweet, bloody scent spread quickly.

The red eyes ahead turned toward him.

Lam Phong's expression changed.

"What are you doing?"

"Drawing them away."

Hao Nhien tightened his grip on the Tieu Dao Sword.

"You two fall back toward the valley entrance and take care of yourselves. I have a way out."

Tieu Van frowned.

"Hao Nhien."

"Go."

Before either of them could say more, Hao Nhien turned and ran deeper into the valley.

The two second rank Gray Shadow Wolves reacted first, followed by the nearest first rank beasts.

The Blood Scent Lure mixed with the blood covering him and pulled the pack after him. Claws began hammering against stone behind him in rapid succession.

Hao Nhien did not look back.

The sound alone told him they were following.

Another deep howl rolled down from the mountainside.

Closer.

He accelerated.