Xue’er swallowed her saliva nervously as she stared at the 5 newcomers who rudely appeared. Even though she was at the Second Stage, she can feel that each of one of them can wreak havoc in the Forest of Death!
While she was busy staring at them, she heard a slight gasp beside her. She looked at the source of the sound, and she saw Fang Lin’s ashen face. His eyes held the spark of recognition as he stared at the one with No.5 on its mask.
Xue’er used her bloodline to talk to Fang Lin. She made it as quiet as possible, lest the others hear it.
“Do you know them?” From her interactions with him, Xue’er knew that Fang Lin seems to have come from those with strong background. It was obvious from his bearing and attitude.
“They are the Fang Clan’s punishers.” Xue’er felt the anger that was restrained on his voice. “Their goal was to maintain order in the clan. They also hunt down traitorous clan members.”
“Are they supposed to be as strong as that?” Even though Xue’er had not ventured outside, she spent her childhood reading books the Wolf King had lent her. From those, she knew that those with the abilities like her adoptive father were quite rare. Yet now, she saw 5 of them that can defeat her father with ease!
“Oh that? Actually, those punishers have one thing in common. They had failed to step on the Sixth Stage.”
” Doesn’t that mean that their death was already assured?” Xue’er tilted her head as she pondered Fang Lin’s statement. From the looks of it, it seems like the Fang Clan had deep resources.
“Yes, their death was almost assured, so the clan decided that those who will die from the Flames of Decay shall be part of the Punishers. That will be the way they can help the clan before their death.”
“I’m surprised they do not go crazy and stir trouble.” Xue’er was more confused by this. She also read in her books that those who fail to step in the Sixth Stage usually goes batshit crazy since they were assured to die anyway. Seeing 5 of them made her awed at the strength of Fang Lin’s clan.
“They have their ways.” Fang Lin seemed to be unwilling to speak anymore about the Fang Clan. He shut his connection as he said,
“Let’s go now and talk to your father. We need to do something about this situation.” He walked away before Xue’er could say something.
“….”Xue’er could feel the rage and pain in Fang Lin. As of where did it come from, she does not know and care. But at that moment, she remembered a scene from one of the books she read. There, it taught Xue’er on how to comfort a sad person. Too bad that was the last page, and she was not able to know what happened next.
She hugged Fang Lin tightly, pressing her body on his back. She caressed Fang Lin’s cheeks slightly as she put her lip near his ears. Her red lips slightly parted as she said,
“Come and let onee-san make you feel good.”
“What are you doing?!” Xue’er was surprised to hear Fang Lin’s panicked voice on their connection.
“Huh? I read in a certain book that if I do that, I can make any sad person feel better.” Xue’er tilted her head innocently as saw Fang Lin’s shocked expression. “Am I wrong with that?”
“Did that book show you what happened next?”
“No. That part I did was the last page of the book. As for where the other pages of the book were, I do not know.”
Xue’er then saw Fang Lin sighing in relief from her answer. But she seemed to have also felt that his sigh was mixed with some… disappointment?
“Okay onee-chan I feel better now.” Fang Lin smiled a little, just to placate Xue’er. “Satisfied? Let’s go now! We should not waste time!”
Xue’er could only run dazedly as she followed Fang Lin. She does not know why, but that smile of Fang Lin sent her heart racing and her breath quickening. She slapped her face, as if she was trying to awaken herself from a powerful spell.
When Fang Lin saw this, he tried to ask Xue’er what she was doing. But before he could do so, both of them heard some rumbling sounds.
“Booom!”
Xue’er looked high in the air, and she saw the Wolf King along with the 9 other Fifth Stage Undead facing off against the five punishers. The deer was close beside him, as they consciously flared their auras to the max. The punishers responded, showing their killing intent too.
To Xue’er’s surprise, the aura released by the Fifth Stage Undead seems to be slightly weaker than the punishers! Her adoptive father realized this, as it started to speak to them.
“You, invaders of my forest.” The deer gave him a look of annoyance, but her father just ignored it. “What brought all of you here? We all know that the object that created us and this forest cannot be used by anyone in this planet. Leaving it here was the best choice.”
The one with the No. 5 mask was the one who replied.
“We were perfectly aware of that. We did not come here to take anything from ‘your’ forest. We just want the person named Fang Lin! Where is he? Bring him to us now!” Xue’er felt surprise and slight indignation once she discovered that Fang Lin was their target!
“Him? What do you want from my son-in-law huh?” The Wolf King’s stance turned aggressive as he stared at the punishers. “Because he was my son-in-law, he’s already a part of the forest! Taking him away means offending all of us!”
“Sigh.” The deer shook its head as it realized they were in a dead end now. It looked at its followers, and it saw that they were looking determined. The deer just had a bitter smile as it said,
“This dog was right. Try taking that boy away, and you will face all of us.”
“Herbivore…” Xue’er saw her father giving a grateful look to the deer. “If we survive this, I swear I will take you as my concubine!”
“Who the hell wants to be your concubine! Pah!” The deer stomped her hooves angrily. She seemed to be embarrassed by what he said. “Stop spouting nonsense! Tonight, we fight!”
“Yes, we fight!”
As Xue’er was looking at the exchange, she saw something approaching from a distance. It was a skeletal wolf bringing Mina and Bloodspear. Their faces were filled with tension with the current situation. The skeletal wolf dropped the two unceremoniously upon arriving in front of Mina and Bloodspear.
Xue’er ignored Mina’s and Bloodspear’s complaints as she stared at the skeletal wolf. With a jolt, she realized that this wolf was her father’s avatar! It must have been here to send a message to her. She looked at the trio as she told them about her father’s avatar.
It was then that Xue’er heard her father talking to her through the avatar.
“My lovely daughter…. Being with you for 17 years was the best part of my life. You cannot imagine my joy raising you from a young pup to an elegant wolf. It was hard at first, since you are a living being and I am an Undead. But I persevered and gave you all my love. And look where you are now! You became the wolf that I am proud of! And you already found your own mate! Today was the happiest day I have!”
“Father!” Xue’er had a slight premonition of what her father was going to say next. She looked at Fang Lin, and she saw the same grim expression on his face.
“It pains me a lot say it, but I think I will not be able to survive after this night.” Xue’er felt the truth behind her father’s words. “We can hold them off, but not for long. During that time, I want you to escape with Fang Lin’s group.”
“Father!” Tears pooled from Xue’er’s eyes as she saw her father’s determined expression. She wanted to say no, but logic dictates that it was the best thing to do.
Because her Father was an Undead, he cannot leave the Forest of Death. Xue’er on the other hand, was a living being. She can freely leave the forest with Fang Lin.
If it was before, she would have jumped in joy. But what she could only feel now was sorrow.
“Fang Lin, do you promise to take care of Fang Yu in sickness and in health? In troubles and success? Do you promise to protect her from any harm? Do you promise to accompany her until the Underworld?”
“Yip?”(I do?) Fang Lin’s confused voice echoed in the transmission. “Yip yip yip yip yip?”(Is it just me, or that seems to be a heavy promise?)
“Do you promise it too, Xue’er?”
“I do!” Xue’er flushed crimson as she realized what her father was doing.
“Then I announce you husband and wife.”
“What?” Mina, Bloodspear and Fang Lin were shocked upon hearing this declaration. Fang Lin looked at Xue’er as he said,
“Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip? “(Are you not angry about what your father did? He just forcefully married us both!)
“We are mates already, so marriage is just a matter of time. It just sort of happened today.” Xue’er then glared at Fang Lin who was about to say something yet. She tried to wipe her tears as she said,
“Besides, it was my father’s wish to see me married before I leave the forest.”
“…..” Xue’er saw Fang Lin’s face turn from confused and scared to determined. She saw him nodding on the skeletal wolf while saying,
“Yip yip yip!”(Do not worry pops, I will take care of my wife!) Xue’er could not help but feel warm from Fang Lin’s promise. She tried not to show her glowing face as she wiped her runny nose.
“Good good!” Her father seems to be satisfied with Fang Lin’s promise. “Seeing your dedication, I can give you one last gift before you leave.”
The skeletal wolf opened its mouth, and it spat out a claw. Upon closer inspection, Xue’er realized this was her father’s middle claw!
“Fuse with it quick! Once you do that, you can readily awaken the wolf essence that you have been cultivating now!” Her father’s voice became urgent as it gave the claw to Fang Lin. “Once you do that, leave this forest already!”
The skeletal wolf then faded away, disintegrating into thin air. Xue’er could only grasp some of it before it disappeared. She hugged her arms tightly to herself, feeling desolate. Mina hesitantly approached Xue’er as she hugged her tightly.
Xue’er gave no resistance as she felt Mina’s comforting warmth. Bloodspear just awkwardly stood there, still stunned from Fang Lin’s marriage.
Fang Lin on the other hand, looked at the claw left by the Wolf King. He had a determined expression on his face as his right hand touched the claw.
“Hiss!!!” Xue’er watched in wonder as the claw fused with his right hand. Then his body trembled as a dark aura sprouted out of his body. Xue’er’s eyes widened as she felt familiarity with this aura.
It was similar to her father’s!
A few minutes passed by, and the dark aura disappeared within Fang Lin’s body. He then stood up, flexing his arms clearly in a human way. This means that Fang Lin succeeded on whatever he was doing, and he was free of the wolf form now.
Instead of feeling disappointed, Xue’er felt more excited, as she was now seeing Fang Lin for who he really was. She opened her mouth, trying to congratulate her husband.
But before Xue’er could say something, Fang Lin held his hand out, while his other hand clutched his head. Xue’er felt worried as Fang Lin seemed to have some sort of headache. A minute passed by, and Fang Lin opened his eyes.
He had a relieved expression on his face as he surveyed Mina, Bloodspear and Xue’er. Xue’er took this as a cue to get nearer to him.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes my wife, I am just slightly disoriented.” Fang Lin said cheekily as he stared at Xue’er hungrily. “Can’t you even give your husband a hug?”
“Hmmph! Quit your sweet nothings here!” Xue’er saw that Mina was pissed. As for why, Xue’er just blamed the invaders.
“Instead of trying to smooch your wife, try to think on where we should go! We cannot just run randomly!”
“Do not worry, I already have a destination in mind.” Fang Lin seems to be confident as he said that. Even Xue’er could feel it too.
“And where would that be then?”
“The Solstice Kingdom.”
