Chapter Fifty-Two: The Beast Tide

(page 1/3)

Having returned home, I have begun updating twice, even three times daily. Please add to your collections and support me with recommendation votes. Thank you.

With a resounding clang, Hao Gang’s long halberd sliced down onto the spine of the one-eyed celestial wolf, striking forth a shower of sparks. Yet apart from a few tufts of fur falling away, the beast remained largely unscathed. On its tough hide, there was merely a pale mark, never breaking through to the flesh beneath.

“This one-eyed celestial wolf is far too difficult to handle,” Hao Gang now felt a tinge of anxiety. He had not expected the beast to be not only armored with impenetrable claws but also to possess skin so hard that even a magical weapon could barely scratch it. At this rate, defeating the creature seemed all but impossible.

“Hao Gang, senior brother, the wolf’s weakness should be its abdomen. If you attack there, you may be able to deal it a serious wound.” Yang Xiao, seeing Hao Gang flounder, offered this well-meaning advice.

Yang Xiao recalled reading about the one-eyed celestial wolf in a bestiary devoted to spirit beasts, hence he was aware of its vulnerabilities. Observing Hao Gang’s fruitless attempts to find an effective angle of attack, he realized that a prolonged stalemate in the heart of the desert might invite even greater dangers. Thus, if Hao Gang could secure victory quickly, it would be for the best.

Since Hao Gang had insisted on facing the beast alone, Yang Xiao refrained from intervening directly, knowing it might only further irritate his companion. Instead, he revealed the wolf’s weak spot, trusting that if Hao Gang seized the opportunity, he could end the battle himself—negating any need for Yang Xiao to act.

Though Hao Gang feigned indifference to Yang Xiao’s suggestion, the course of his struggle with the wolf had made clear that only its abdomen remained untested by his attacks. It was worth a try—perhaps he could break the impasse and avoid wasting more energy.

Despite their strained relationship, Hao Gang decided to take Yang Xiao’s advice this time, to see if it would prove effective.

The one-eyed celestial wolf, enraged by Hao Gang’s repeated blows, lunged at him again.

But this time, Hao Gang did not dodge. Instead, he bent low and rolled across the ground, using the momentum to thrust his halberd straight at the beast’s underbelly.

(page 2/3)

The one-eyed celestial wolf had not anticipated that Hao Gang would, instead of dodging, drop low and attack its abdomen—just as Yang Xiao had described. The beast’s belly was indeed its most vital and vulnerable spot.

With a sharp tearing sound, Hao Gang’s attack split open the wolf’s abdomen, and a gush of fresh blood poured from the wound.

The beast let out a pained howl and quickly leapt aside, narrowly evading a fatal blow. Now, however, it regarded Hao Gang with a newfound wariness, no longer daring to press the attack.

Sensing hope for victory, Hao Gang pressed his advantage, surging forward and once more slashing at the celestial wolf with his halberd.

The wolf raised its forepaw to defend, but Hao Gang’s strike was a feint—the halberd flicked through the air, bypassed the paw, and stabbed at the beast’s belly once again.

Another anguished cry escaped the wolf as yet another wound was opened in its abdomen.

Now grievously wounded, the one-eyed celestial wolf realized it could not easily vanquish this adversary—indeed, the foe before it was stronger than itself. Abandoning all thought of victory, the beast turned and attempted to flee.

“Trying to escape now? It’s far too late,” Hao Gang called, giving chase relentlessly. Darting to the side, he lunged forward, his halberd stabbing the beast’s belly again. With a final, pitiful wail, the celestial wolf toppled and collapsed to the ground.

“Hao Gang, senior brother, don’t finish it off! That will only attract more of its kind,” Yang Xiao shouted urgently.

But Hao Gang, elated by his triumph, paid him no heed. He drove his halberd into the fallen wolf’s belly once more. The beast, helpless on the ground, could only succumb to its fate.

(page 3/3)

Yet, as it died, the one-eyed celestial wolf let out a piercing, desperate scream—a cry that could be heard for miles around, making Yang Xiao and the others’ hearts clench with alarm.

“Hao Gang, you’ve made a grave mistake this time,” Yang Xiao said, shaking his head as he approached, casting his gaze over the wolf’s corpse and the triumphant Hao Gang.

“Yang Xiao, what do you mean by that? Are you jealous that I killed the celestial wolf? I’ll admit, I did something worthy of praise, but there’s no need for you to feign jealousy with such words,” Hao Gang replied dismissively. In his heart, he thought Yang Xiao simply envied his accomplishment, having stolen the limelight by slaying the beast, and was now inventing excuses to diminish his achievement.

“Jealous? What nonsense! Hao Gang, do you not realize that though the one-eyed celestial wolves hunt alone, they rarely stray far from their pack? They keep in touch with each other in special ways. Had you let this one go, even wounded, it would have retreated to nurse its injuries, and would not have rallied its kin for vengeance. But now that you have killed it, things are different. That last, long howl was a signal to its companions. They’ll soon be converging on this spot, and they’ll attack us relentlessly. This is going to bring us considerable trouble,” Yang Xiao explained.

“Yang Xiao, stop making things up. Who knows if your story is true? For all I know, you’re just trying to scare me—I won’t be fooled by your tales,” Hao Gang retorted, still refusing to heed Yang Xiao’s warning.

“You’ll know soon enough, for I can already sense the nearby wolves beginning to gather. In these circumstances, we’d better leave here immediately,” Yang Xiao insisted, his voice tense with caution.

“Yang Xiao, are you serious? The one-eyed celestial wolf has truly summoned its pack, and they’ll join forces against us? If that’s true, we’re in for real trouble. One wolf we can handle, but if many come at once, it will be hard to defeat them all—perhaps at considerable cost,” Qing Yuhe interjected, joining Yang Xiao. His expression was grave as he addressed him.

“It’s just as you say, Senior Brother Qing. We may soon be facing a beast tide, with a number of these wolves attacking us together,” Yang Xiao replied solemnly.