Chapter Thirty-Nine: Wolf and Bear (Part One)

Late at night, the old immortal explained to Qianyin and the others the medicinal properties of the herbs they had brought back that day—what illnesses they treated and what effects they had. Xiao Qi grew impatient, pacing outside and refusing to enter the crowded room lit only by an oil lamp.

Everyone else listened attentively, for mastering more knowledge could only benefit them.

“Master Immortal, I’d like to invite you to leave the mountain and care for my grandfather, to preside over our Mo family. We will treat you as an honored guest, never make things difficult, and certainly won’t let you suffer any loss,” Mo Lan said, sensing it was time to raise her personal request after the long lesson.

The immortal was surprised; after so many years without visitors, someone now sought him out. He knew they had their motives, but hadn’t expected this.

Mo Lan produced a millennium ginseng, her face alight with a smile. “We searched specifically for these treasures for you. Please accept them.”

The immortal opened the box and, seeing the thousand-year-old ginseng, was astonished. Yet he replied with some regret, “There are so many things here I need. I don’t wish to leave the mountain. If I go, who will tend to everything? I require fresh herbs every day—who could run back and forth between here and your Mo family, delivering them for me?”

Qianyin, hearing this, realized the immortal was tempted. She hurried to say, “I have four disciples guarding the Mo family. For them, this distance is nothing. They can manage things for you and transport the herbs as needed.”

“The Mo family can also restore a mountain forest for you, dedicating it to growing medicinal herbs,” Mo Lan promised, for such a task was trivial for her family.

The immortal closed the box, scanning their faces, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Ah—” Before they could finish discussing, a woman’s shriek pierced the night outside.

They rushed out and found six wolf-bears prowling just beyond the fence, glaring menacingly at Xiao Qi. Their glowing red-green eyes were terrifying, their massive bodies and fanged jaws formidable.

The immortal frowned deeply. Had he been sleeping too soundly at night? In decades living here, he’d never seen wolf-bears approach his home. Was it this woman again—what trouble had she caused now?

An Feng sized up the six beasts and noticed one had an injured eye, apparently struck by something. He frowned at Xiao Qi—could she have thrown something and hit the creature?

The wounded wolf-bear let out a harsh, ugly howl. Whether it called to its companions or complained about Xiao Qi’s actions was unclear.

“What did you do?” An Feng asked urgently, for after the beast’s cry, its gaze grew even more ferocious.

“I just threw some things out. How was I supposed to know they’d get hit?” Xiao Qi muttered, head lowered, refusing to admit fault.

Mo Lan’s brow tightened. These wolf-bears were not creatures swayed by apologies; they would only grow angrier at Xiao Qi’s actions. Who could restrain such beasts?

Qianyin and Coldblood’s eyes were devoid of sympathy—this woman was long overdue for a lesson in humility.

“It seems the troublemaker you brought is yours to deal with. I’m tired and going to rest. You all stay out here,” said the immortal, glancing at the wolf-bears, waving his hand, and then retreating with his possessions to sleep.

Qianyin coughed a few times—she had considered taking Xiao Qi as a disciple, but at this rate, it would be like pushing her into the jaws of the wolves.

“If this is your doing, you handle it. I’m exhausted,” Mo Lan said, taking Qianyin’s hand as they moved to sit by the door.

Qianyin didn't mind, casting a curious glance at An Feng to see if he would intervene for his subordinate, though she found the woman quite irritating. Coldblood simply watched the wolf-bears, intrigued by these creatures.

Those red-green eyes seemed almost sentient. Such enormous paws could surely kill with a single swipe. Those sharp claws could surely pierce a belly. If one raised a pack of these beasts to kill, what havoc would ensue?

But then he shook his head—such animals lacked humanity. Before keeping them, one had to consider: would they end up killing their keeper instead?

“I…” Xiao Qi hung her head, wringing her hands anxiously. She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. Now that everyone ignored her, what should she do?

“Fetch some firewood. Build a circle of fires around us—they won’t dare approach. By dawn, they’ll leave,” An Feng mused aloud, offering a solution. He was not only helping Xiao Qi but also ensuring they could remain here.

“You know wolf-bears well?” Qianyin asked curiously.

“Wolves fear fire, which is normal. They only come out at night, so they’ll leave when daylight comes,” An Feng replied casually, his gaze fixed on Xiao Qi, urging her to act.

Seeing that look, Xiao Qi hurried to gather firewood, gruffly obeying his orders. But only she knew how resentful she felt inside.

An Feng found a spot to sit, and the others watched the wolf-bears, confirming that the beasts truly feared fire and wouldn’t approach. As they howled outside, the group quietly admired An Feng. A detective truly had talents others lacked.

After dragging and stacking all the firewood, Xiao Qi collapsed in exhaustion, sitting on the ground with no regard for her appearance. Her face was smudged black and white, her hair thoroughly disheveled.

Yet she didn’t realize, rubbing her face vigorously with dirty hands, only making it worse.

Qianyin, seeing Xiao Qi’s state, felt a surge of satisfaction. She tugged Mo Lan’s sleeve and pointed at Xiao Qi, coughing softly. When Mo Lan followed her gaze, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Haha!”

Coldblood glanced over as well, finding nothing special, and shook his head at the women’s low threshold for amusement.

An Feng looked too, frowning even more deeply. This woman’s incompetence was clear—her hands and feet were anything but nimble. She could ruin more than she could accomplish.

He resolved, at all costs, to get rid of Xiao Qi when they returned, for his reputation as a detective would surely be destroyed by her one day. This thought was all that occupied his mind.

Once the situation was handled, everyone settled down, closed their eyes, and prepared to sleep.

But in the dead of night, Xiao Qi secretly smothered a large patch of firewood, her eyes full of malice, caring nothing for the others’ safety.

She crept to An Feng’s side, intending to pull him away, for the wolf-bears were now approaching, poised to leap in.

An Feng abruptly opened his eyes, pushed her away, and saw the ferocious beasts looming.

“Ah—” Xiao Qi lost her balance, fell backward with a scream, and roused everyone.

When all opened their eyes, the wolf-bears had already surrounded them.