Free Web NovelChapter 87: Chapter 87: Riding the Wolf Pack into the City
A moment ago, the scrawny tiger had pounced on Mo Lingwei and bitten his arm.
Fortunately, Mo Lingwei was no pushover.
After a brief struggle, he pierced the tiger’s heart.
So when Shen Ningning and the Black Wolf King approached, they saw the tiger’s corpse lying in a pool of blood.
Fortunately, the guard had also survived.
Shen Ningning said, her heart still pounding with fear, "Thank goodness you’re so skilled, Brother, and Langlang arrived just in time!"
The Black Wolf King tilted its head back and howled.
A moment later, Mo Lingwei and the guard saw dozens of wild wolves rushing down a long, moonlit slope.
Wolf Three and Wolf Four raced neck and neck, each trying to be the first to arrive.
In the end, Wolf Four, being too fat, grew tired, allowing Wolf Three to be the first to reach Shen Ningning.
"AWOOOO~" Wolf Three cried out miserably, as if someone had stepped on its tail.
’Oh, my poor Xiao Ningning! I was scared to death. How did she get lost in the mountains?’
’What if some mindless beast had hurt her?’
Shen Ningning quickly hugged Wolf Three’s head, rubbing its ears to comfort it.
"I’m alright. Brother and Langlang protected me very well!"
As Wolf Three was enjoying the attention, it looked up and suddenly spotted Mo Lingwei standing nearby.
A low growl rumbled in its throat.
’Why is this annoying person here too?!’
Shen Ningning took the last of her Spiritual Spring Water and poured it onto Mo Lingwei’s wound.
"Brother, Langlang and the others know the quickest way. Let’s have them lead the way."
Mo Lingwei nodded lightly, his face pale with weakness.
But his gaze remained sharp.
After much coaxing from Shen Ningning, Wolf Three finally agreed to let Mo Lingwei lie on its back.
The little one then walked over to the dumbfounded guard.
"Guard, you ride Wolf Four."
Wolf Four was plump and would be a soft ride, perfect for the guard who had lost a lot of blood.
"O... Okay..." He didn’t dare say anything else. freewёbnoνel.com
The Black Wolf King helped, grabbing the petrified guard by his clothes and hoisting him onto Wolf Four’s back.
Shen Ningning, in turn, sat on the Black Wolf King’s back.
A pack of wolves, carrying people on their backs, sprinted under the moonlight.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Palace had descended into chaos.
It was the middle of the night, yet the Emperor’s Imperial Study Room remained brightly lit.
The head of the Imperial Guards had just gone inside to report on the situation and had already been thrown out once after a severe scolding.
"Get out! If you can’t find Ling Wei, bring me your heads! I want good news! Bring him back alive, or bring me his body!"
Pelted on the head by several court memorials, the head of the Imperial Guards hastily retreated.
Consort Li arrived with a palace maid in tow, carrying a bowl of soup.
The Chief Eunuch at the door quickly shook his head and whispered, "Lady Li Fei, please return. The Emperor is in a rage over the Crown Prince’s disappearance."
Consort Li’s tone was subtle. "I have no intention of staying. I am merely worried that the Emperor hasn’t eaten all night. What if his imperial health suffers?"
"Chief Eunuch, please announce me. Just say that I’ll deliver the food and leave right away."
The Chief Eunuch considered it for a moment, then cupped his hands in assent and went inside.
A moment later, the Emperor’s harsh reply came from within.
"I have no appetite! Send her away!"
The Chief Eunuch came out, an awkward smile on his face. "Lady Li Fei, the Emperor is busy with state affairs. Please go back for now."
Standing beneath the window, Consort Li pursed her lips.
She raised her voice slightly, clearly intending to be overheard. "Since the Emperor is unavailable, I shall take my leave. Chief Eunuch, please take this bowl of soup inside and advise His Majesty not to let his anger get the best of him."
"Though I, too, am furious. Whoever suggested the Crown Prince go to such a dangerous place is truly detestable." freёwebnovel.com
With that, Consort Li heaved a deliberate sigh and departed.
After she had gone, the Emperor suddenly called the Chief Eunuch inside.
"Investigate who lured the Crown Prince to that godforsaken place, Jingshan!"
"Yes..." The Chief Eunuch hurried to obey.
Fifteen minutes later, he re-entered to give his report.
"It is said His Highness went to retrieve Miss Shen. Her private school was on an outing to Jingshan, a trip made possible by the graciousness of Guangyang County’s Magistrate, Mr. Fu. Unexpectedly, the intense heat caused the mountain to crack open, which led to the subsequent accident."
"Shen Ningning again?" The Emperor took a sharp breath.
’Why is it that ever since his son got involved with this little girl, he’s either turning misfortune into fortune or facing one life-threatening danger after another?’
Given the Emperor’s temperament, he would have punished Shen Ningning long ago.
Even if he couldn’t find her, he would have ordered her family to be implicated and punished!
However, remembering how fiercely Mo Lingwei had protected her that day, the Emperor ultimately relented.
He said angrily, "Have the County Magistrate of Guangyang County thrown in the imperial dungeon!"
’If he couldn’t touch Shen Ningning, he could at least find someone else to vent his anger on and hold accountable. That should be fine, shouldn’t it?’
「At the crack of dawn.」
Just as the gates of Guangyang County opened, a pack of wolves slowly strolled into the city streets.
The guards at the gate were so frightened their eyes bulged, thinking they were seeing things.
’Did I wake up too suddenly? Am I not only seeing a pack of wolves enter the city, but also three people sitting on their backs?’
Upon seeing the sight, the townspeople on the street scattered in terror. Those who could hide, hid. Those who could shut their windows, slammed them shut.
Some dove directly under tables, trembling uncontrollably with their behinds sticking out.
"Halt!" The guards gave chase.
The wolves glanced back, their gazes fierce and chilling, making the guards’ legs tremble.
Raising their broadswords, they stammered, "Wh-Who are you people?"
Shen Ningning wasn’t fully awake, still dozing on the Black Wolf King’s back.
Mo Lingwei, however, remained completely alert.
He gave the guards a cold look and pulled a golden order from his waist.
"Lead the way. To the nearest clinic."
The guards’ eyes widened.
A Dragon Plate Order carved from solid Gold!
Only those of imperial lineage, the descendants of the dragon, could possess such a thing!
They scrambled to lead the way, and the wolves, seeming to understand, followed close behind.
All along the way, townspeople either screamed or fainted.
The Black Wolf King’s eyes were chilly, yet it looked around with some curiosity.
’So this is the place where my Xiao Ningning goes to her private school.’
「At the clinic.」
The old doctor had just cheerfully hung out his sign for the day.
Upon seeing so many wolves, he was so frightened he dropped to his knees.
Mo Lingwei, still mounted on Wolf Three, said nonchalantly, "You may rise. Come and treat our wounds."
「When Shen Ningning awoke.」
She found herself lying on a simple cot inside the clinic.
Inside and outside the main hall, the wolf pack lay sprawled everywhere.
The Black Wolf King was standing guard beside her.
"Langlang, where are Brother and the others?" the little one asked, rubbing her eyes.
The Black Wolf King let out a few soft whines.
A short while ago, Mo Lingwei had made the doctor examine Shen Ningning first. Only after confirming that she only had minor scrapes and was not seriously hurt did he allow his own wounds to be bandaged.
As the wolf "spoke," a shop apprentice hiding in the backyard peered through a cloth curtain, watching them in terror.
Wolf Three stood up and shook its fur, and the apprentice promptly fainted from fright.
Shen Ningning went out to the main hall, where Mo Lingwei had just finished having his wounds bandaged. He was shirtless, revealing a lean and powerful waist.
His high ponytail, bound by a golden crown, made his handsome face appear even more striking and his demeanor more aloof as he turned his head slightly.
Seeing Shen Ningning, Mo Lingwei’s tone was familiar. "Awake now?"
The little one nodded.
The doctor was kneeling on the floor, tending to the guard, who was the most severely injured.
Shen Ningning couldn’t help but ask in her soft, childish voice, "Brother, how much silver do we owe him?"
She didn’t have any money on her, and she couldn’t very well retrieve some from the Immortal Realm in public.
Mo Lingwei chuckled. "I’ve already instructed the local government to send a message to the Imperial Palace. My men will be here soon. I’ll settle the bill, you don’t need to worry."
"Now that you’re awake, you should hurry home. You don’t want to make your grandmother worry."
Shen Ningning agreed he was right and quickly called to Langlang.
She climbed back onto the Black Wolf King’s back. The wolves filed out in a line, causing the crowd of onlookers outside to once again scream and scatter like startled birds.
"I’m leaving, Brother!" The little one waved.
Mo Lingwei suddenly called out, "Wait."
