Free Web NovelChapter 386: Chapter 386: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada
In the dead silence, Lian Zhou gasped.
"Is this... the wolf pack from the Beast Circle?!"
He looked at Shen Yanchuan in disbelief. "My lord?"
The Royal Hunting Ground kept all sorts of birds and beasts, so the presence of wolves wasn’t strange. The key point, however, was that this pack was clearly untamed and wild!
Shen Yanchuan’s eyes narrowed. "Last month, the Beast Circle did indeed introduce a few wild wolves."
’But they shouldn’t be here!’
"Could there have been a lapse at the Beast Circle?" Lian Zhou thought anxiously, his mind racing.
Although they had numbers on their side, the pack before them consisted of at least eight or nine wolves!
If a real fight broke out, the outcome would be uncertain, and the safety of his master and the two young masters would be in jeopardy!
The men and the wolves faced off, the air seemingly frozen.
The murderous atmosphere was almost suffocating.
But just then, with a STRIKE!
Shen Yanchuan glanced to the side and saw that Ye Jingyan had actually taken out a flint and lit a dry, broken branch.
The fiery flames danced, like a small lantern that could be extinguished by the wind at any moment as evening fell. Yet, it successfully halted the wolves’ advance.
A hint of wariness and fear finally appeared in those cold, savage, yellowish-brown eyes.
Ye Yunfeng breathed a sigh of relief. "Third Brother, you’re the best!"
’He’d almost forgotten that wolves were afraid of fire!’
Ye Jingyan’s gaze remained fixed on the pack as he gave a slight lift of his chin.
"Back away slowly."
Ye Yunfeng nodded and silently began to back away, step by step, increasing the distance between them and the wolves.
Lian Zhou and the others exchanged glances.
’Those two are only thirteen or fourteen, aren’t they? How are they facing this situation without a shred of panic, even coming up with a countermeasure so quickly?’
’If it had been any of those other young masters from noble families, who only know how to eat, drink, and be merry, their legs would have probably turned to jelly by now.’
Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.
Ye Yunfeng had previously taken first place in the Imperial College’s monthly exams and later stole the show at the horse race. Everyone in the Capital City knew that Ye Chutang’s fourth brother was a spirited and exceptionally brilliant youth.
In contrast, aside from the attention he received when he first enrolled due to being a favorite of Tang Zhongli, not much had been heard about Ye Jingyan.
At first glance, he seemed to be nothing more than a gentle, scholarly boy.
However... the extreme composure he displayed in the face of danger at this very moment was truly impressive.
It was an exceptionally rare quality.
’He does... have a bit of his older sister’s air about him.’
Shen Yanchuan raised a hand, and his men began to retreat quietly as well.
After they had put some distance between them, Lian Zhou whispered, "My lord, there’s something wrong with this pack. How about I lead them back to the Beast Circle first and then investigate?"
Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. That will also prevent anyone else from running into them."
Xiao Chengqi still hadn’t been found. If he were to encounter this wolf pack, it would only make a bad situation worse.
Lian Zhou looked back at a few of his men, and they exchanged glances. He quickly made a hand signal.
Several of the guards lit torches and began to spread out, forming a semi-circle around the wolves.
Shen Yanchuan, in turn, looked at the two brothers.
"I’ll escort you back first."
Ye Yunfeng was taken aback and immediately refused. "There’s no need to trouble yourself, Princely Heir! We can get back on our own! Don’t you still have to find the Third Prince? It wouldn’t be good if you were delayed."
Shen Yanchuan said, "There’s already a problem with the Beast Circle, so the surrounding area is not safe. Once we reach the safe zone on the perimeter, you can return to the camp on your own."
Ye Jingyan didn’t actually want to be indebted to him, but he also knew that what Shen Yanchuan said was right.
There were too many problems within the hunting ground now. Getting back safely would not be an easy task.
’Our sister is still waiting for us.’
At that thought, his resolve hardened. He cupped his fist and nodded.
"In that case, we thank you in advance, Princely Heir."
...
The group continued on their way.
Ye Yunfeng glanced back a couple of times, but the trees obscured the scene, and he could no longer see what was happening.
’But Shen Yanchuan’s men aren’t useless. Since they dared to say they would lead the pack back, they can probably do it.’
The day’s events replayed in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off.
He raised his hand, wanting to discuss it with Ye Jingyan, but then he saw Shen Yanchuan walking beside them and forced himself to hold his tongue.
He had a gut feeling this wasn’t something he should meddle in. In fact... it was better not to even know about it!
The branch in his hand had mostly burned away. Ye Jingyan bent down and picked up a new one from the ground.
But in the very instant he transferred the flame, a cold gust of wind suddenly rushed in from the side!
"Third Brother, look out!"
Along with Ye Yunfeng’s cry of alarm, Ye Jingyan instinctively sensed the danger and immediately rolled forward!
A gray shadow shot past like the wind!
Pushing himself up with one hand, Ye Jingyan snapped his head up, only to see that it was another wolf!
Unlike the pack from before, this one was thin and had matted fur. It was clearly old.
And yet its eyes were even more ferocious!
It reeked of bloodlust, a savagery that was bone-deep!
"It’s the old Wolf King." Shen Yanchuan’s eyes turned cold. As he spoke, his long fingers were already on his bowstring, the ice-cold arrowhead aimed straight at the wolf’s eye!
Wolves are pack animals and usually travel together, but this one was clearly an old Wolf King that had been abandoned by its pack.
It didn’t look like it had been having an easy time, and precisely because of that, its temperament was exceptionally violent.
’This has to be a one-shot kill!’
Without any hesitation, Shen Yanchuan drew the bow to its limit and released the arrow!
WHOOSH—!
The instant the arrow flew, a streak of light, like a meteor glowing with a cold blue sheen, suddenly shot out from the woods, speeding toward the back of Shen Yanchuan’s heart!
Ye Yunfeng’s eyes flew wide open!
"Princely Heir!"
