Chapter 28: The Hunter and the Prey

A man and two beasts traversed the boundless plains. The two grey wolves, while searching for Lin Yang, never imagined that their enemy had been lurking behind them all along.

After half an hour, Qiu Han noticed that the two grey wolves he was tracking had unexpectedly begun to turn back. This caught him off guard. If he did not hide immediately, his presence would be exposed, and he would have no choice but to face the wolves head-on. Although his current strength would guarantee victory, it would be troublesome, far from the effect of a surprise attack.

Spreading his spiritual sense, Qiu Han discovered, a thousand feet behind him, the most powerful grey wolf was also heading his way. In this scenario, he would be caught between three wolves at once. Confronting all three simultaneously would certainly be a fierce battle, and in these desolate mountains, he would expend a great deal of spiritual energy. If he encountered other demon beasts while depleted, his situation would become perilous.

The two wolves were now only twenty paces from Qiu Han. In the next moment, he would be exposed to their sight. A cold gleam flashed in Qiu Han’s eyes; he made his decision instantly.

As the nearest grey wolf stepped into the twenty-pace range before him, Qiu Han’s figure moved abruptly, soaring upwards and closing in to about ten paces from the wolf—well within attack range.

The wolf spotted a human figure appear suddenly not far ahead. It roared and lunged at Qiu Han. As the wolf reacted, Qiu Han raised his right hand, and six slender ice needles materialized in midair, shooting accurately toward their target.

With his current cultivation, six ice needles was his limit, but their power was formidable. A shriek rang out as the wolf was struck, blood gushing from its wounds. The intense pain drove it into a rage; with jaws agape, it charged Qiu Han, as if only by devouring the hateful human could it vent its fury.

Qiu Han did not pause after his successful ice needle strike. He flipped his right hand, and the air suddenly changed, condensing into a blade-shaped gust that sliced toward the wolf. The speed rivaled that of the ice needles; in an instant, the blade severed the wolf’s head. Blood sprayed into the air, and the wolf’s body collapsed, its eyes wide in disbelief at its sudden death.

The other wolf had noticed Qiu Han as soon as he was exposed and was already racing at full speed toward its fallen companion. Yet it arrived too late, witnessing its comrade beheaded by the human’s spell. It halted, roaring but no longer advancing; fear had overtaken it, dreading the same fate.

Qiu Han had no intention of sparing it. As he slew the first wolf, he saw the second rushing toward him. Having already resolved what to do, he charged as soon as the wolf stopped, closing in to within twenty paces. He cast Wind Blade again, but this time missed.

The wolf, having seen its companion slain by this very spell, grew wary of Qiu Han. When Qiu Han entered the twenty-pace range and began to cast Wind Blade again, it sprang to the left, evading the attack.

Though surprised, Qiu Han pressed on, chasing the wolf. Man and beast, one pursuing, one fleeing, the distance between them shrank to ten paces in a few breaths. This time, Qiu Han locked onto the wolf with his spiritual sense and cast Wind Blade once more. The wolf was struck, its body split in two, lifeless on the ground, blood soaking the earth.

Qiu Han walked to where the wolf had fallen, exhaling deeply. His spiritual energy was greatly depleted; he needed to replenish it at once. He had just cast Wind Blade three times in succession, exhausting his reserves.

He reached into his storage pouch and withdrew two spirit stones. After storing the wolf’s corpse, he sat cross-legged, gripping the stones, and began to restore his energy.

Spreading his spiritual sense, Qiu Han found that the last and strongest wolf was now within three hundred feet of his location. Sensing the scent of its companions lingering in the air, it began to search carefully. It would not be long before it found him.

Soon, it arrived at the place where its companion had fallen. Sniffing the blood and scent on the ground, it raised its head and howled at the sky, then raced toward Qiu Han.

Danger was Qiu Han’s first instinct. His energy was not fully recovered, and to face a wolf of comparable strength would be extremely risky. He accelerated his restoration, activated a shield of spiritual power, and drew two defensive talismans from his pouch, layering his defenses.

Three hundred feet, two hundred, one hundred, fifty, thirty—the distance closed rapidly. At last, the wolf spotted Qiu Han sitting cross-legged, restoring his energy, and unleashed a Wind Blade at him.

This wolf too could cast Wind Blade; it seemed this was the innate spell of the grey wolves, now manifested at its current level. Qiu Han’s pupils contracted—he knew the power of Wind Blade well, having used it to slay the thick-skinned wolves moments before.

There was no time to dodge; he could only hope his layered defenses would withstand the attack. In a flash, the Wind Blade struck his shield. With a crack, the first layer broke, then another crack as the second layer failed.

The final shield of spiritual power shattered, but the Wind Blade’s force dissipated as well. Qiu Han rose swiftly, casting Flight and escaping into the air. The wolf unleashed Wind Blade again, attacking from behind. The sound of the blade slicing through the air reached him. Turning, Qiu Han saw the attack closing in; if struck, his fate would be the same as the other wolves.

In his panic, Qiu Han twisted his body desperately. The Wind Blade grazed him, missing the vital spot, but still leaving a wound on his waist. Though not deep, blood began to flow down his clothes.