Chapter 78 Leaving the Wolf Clan (Bonus)

Xue Yao stared at them with an awkward smile. "I’m Bai Xue Yao... nice to meet you all, I guess." She waved at them.

Little Ancestor didn’t seem to notice the complicated look on Xue Yao’s face. He clapped his hands once to get everyone’s attention, and the four little wolves immediately stopped whispering among themselves and stood up straight as though they had received an important mission.

"Let’s go," he said in a quiet voice. "Remember what we talked about."

The four little wolves nodded so seriously that Xue Yao almost believed they were seasoned hunters instead of a group of children sneaking out before sunrise.

Keeping close to the shadows, the six of them quietly made their way toward the main road leading to the fortress gates.

As they drew closer, the fortress gradually became livelier. Warriors carrying bows and spears walked past them in small groups, servants hurried back and forth with bundles of supplies balanced in their arms, and stable hands led large spirit beasts toward the waiting convoy.

The cool morning air was filled with the sound of hushed conversations, creaking wagon wheels, and the occasional whinny of spirit horses preparing to leave.

Xue Yao instinctively lowered her head a little more as they blended into the crowd. Although she had changed into hunting clothes, she still felt as though everyone could somehow tell she didn’t belong here. ’Stay calm... just keep walking. You’re wearing the same clothes as everyone else. Don’t look guilty. Guilty people get caught. Normal people don’t keep thinking about getting caught... wait... does thinking that make me look guilty?’ She resisted the urge to look around and simply followed half a step behind Little Ancestor.

He glanced back and noticed the stiff way she was walking. "Relax," he whispered. "You’re walking like you’re about to rob the treasury."

Xue Yao looked at him helplessly. "I’m sneaking out of your brother’s fortress," she whispered back. "Isn’t that almost the same thing?"

Little Ancestor actually thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. "No. The punishment for robbing the treasury is different."

"...That wasn’t the comforting answer I was hoping for."

By the time they reached the gates, dozens of wolves had already gathered around the convoy. Some tightened the straps securing their armor, others checked bowstrings or sharpened blades one last time, while several warriors loaded barrels of water, spare weapons, ropes, and rolled animal hides onto the supply carts. Everyone moved with efficiency, completely focused on the hunt ahead.

Little Ancestor quietly pointed toward the largest supply cart near the back of the convoy. It was already stacked with coils of thick rope, wicker baskets, spare tools, and bundles of hides, leaving enough space near the center for several people to hide if they squeezed in carefully.

"We’re hiding there," he whispered.

Xue Yao followed his finger and stared at the cart. "...Inside that?"

"No one checks it." Little Ancestor replied with absolute conviction.

Before she could say anything else, the four little wolves were already moving.

A-Hui darted ahead and positioned himself near the cart, pretending to admire one of the horses while secretly keeping watch. Tie Tou toward a pair of hunters and immediately started asking them loud questions about their hunting knives, his excited voice drawing their attention away from the convoy.

Xiao Feng and Mu Dou casually wandered past the supply cart before turning back and waving as though they were simply looking for their friends.

Xue Yao blinked in surprise as she looked at the little wolves. Then at Little Ancestor. Then back at the little wolves again. "...They’ve done this before."

Little Ancestor puffed out his chest proudly. "I told you," he said with obvious satisfaction. "They’re my hunting squad."

Xue Yao couldn’t help looking at the four cubs again.

One was confidently distracting two fully grown hunters. Another was acting as a lookout. The remaining two were signaling them forward without attracting the slightest bit of attention.

She had to admit... They were surprisingly good at this.

’...How many times have these little troublemakers snuck out? Actually...don’t answer that. I have a feeling I’d become an accomplice just by hearing it.’

A-Hui suddenly looked back and waved twice.

That was the signal. Little Ancestor immediately grabbed Xue Yao’s sleeve and tugged lightly. "Now."

The two of them hurried toward the supply cart while the hunters remained distracted. Little Ancestor climbed in first with practiced ease before reaching back to help Xue Yao over the side. She quickly followed, carefully squeezing herself between the bundles of hides and the wicker baskets as he pulled a large rolled hide over the opening above them.

The space immediately became dark. Only thin rays of dawn filtered through the small gaps between the supplies, and the sounds outside became muffled.

Xue Yao adjusted her position as quietly as she could before letting out a slow breath. ’Well... there’s no turning back now.’

Beside her, Little Ancestor looked completely at ease. He settled comfortably against one of the baskets, folded his arms behind his head, and smiled as though they were about to enjoy a pleasant outing instead of secretly leaving the White Moon Wolf Clan under their Alpha’s nose.

Soon the other four pups jumped inside the wagon with a goofy smile on their faces.

Xue Yao looked at him for a long moment before shaking her head.

’He’s either unbelievably brave... or he still hasn’t learned what fear is.’

A loud shout suddenly echoed from the front of the convoy.

"Move out!"

The wagons lurched forward one after another, and the entire hunting party began rolling toward the fortress gates as the first rays of sunlight spread across the distant mountains.

The wagon swayed gently as it rolled over the uneven stone road, its wooden wheels creaking softly beneath the weight of the supplies. Every now and then, it lurched over a loose stone, making the bundles of hides shift against one another and filling the cramped space with the smell of leather, rope, fresh timber, and damp earth.

Thin beams of morning light slipped through the narrow gaps between the stacked supplies, but there was barely enough room for the six of them to sit comfortably. Outside, the hunters chatted as they walked alongside the convoy, though their voices gradually became quieter as the fortress disappeared farther behind them.