Chapter 89: The Inevitable Curtain Fall

After nearly two hours of riding, the cavalry finally drew close to Feng City. Guided by Qiu Jiecha, they skirted around the city and sped toward the nearby Chessboard Valley.

Soon, a line of fencing appeared ahead, stretching like a giant serpent and enclosing the entire valley. As Ye Xin’s mount, the Unbounded Direwolf, halted before the barrier, it grew restless. Lifting its head, it let out a deep, penetrating howl—Awooo...

The Unbounded Direwolf was a fiercely intelligent beast. Since Ye Xin had chosen this one as his mount, the others already regarded it as their leader. As if receiving an order, all the direwolves joined in the howling chorus.

Moments later, agitation swept through the depths of the valley; distant howls echoed in response. Within a dozen heartbeats, Unbounded Direwolves burst from the tree line, charging like the wind toward the gathered company.

The paltry fencing was no barrier for such beasts. Ye Xin had stopped here only to show respect for the veteran guards entrusted with the direwolf corps’ domain. The incoming direwolves leapt the fence and swiftly melted into the pack, rubbing necks, sniffing each other, or feigning bites in greeting.

One particularly imposing direwolf approached Ye Xin. It first assessed him with a scrutinizing gaze, then slowly moved to stand beside his mount. Ye Xin’s wolf bared its teeth, a low growl rumbling from its throat.

Wolves always have their own leaders. If separated, it would not be long before two alphas emerged. The one now approaching Ye Xin was the pack leader of this valley.

The alpha offered no challenge. Instead, it lifted its gaze, locking eyes with Ye Xin, then slowly lowered its body to the ground.

This was the language of the Unbounded Direwolf: it neither threatened nor resisted, ultimately surrendering all wariness and lying prone in a gesture of submission.

Ye Xin’s mount, understanding the gesture, chose not to press its advantage. It lowered its head to sniff at the other’s scent, then gently rubbed its neck along the alpha’s body, as if offering comfort.

“This one looks the mightiest of them all!” Fu Shang exclaimed, approaching eagerly. He jumped off his warhorse and reached out to touch the prone direwolf.

Suddenly, the wolf’s body seemed to swell as every hair bristled upright, its jaws gaping wide to reveal a cavernous maw, as if it might swallow Fu Shang whole.

But it was only a bluff. The direwolf was clever and knew these newcomers were not enemies; it was simply upholding its dignity.

“Damn!” Fu Shang recoiled several steps in fright.

Ye Xin dismounted and, channeling his Wolf Lord Technique, reached out to the imposing direwolf. Sensing the power of the Wolf Lord Technique, the beast narrowed its eyes, allowing Ye Xin’s hand to stroke its fur.

“Lie down, you’re too tall!” Ye Xin said. Though he was tall for his age, beside the direwolf he seemed small. This one’s frame was even larger than Ye Xin’s own mount; its shoulder rose above his head, and even with an outstretched arm, he could not reach its mouth when it looked up.

The direwolf seemed to understand. It lowered itself to the ground once more. Ye Xin studied it closely and saw that Fu Shang was right—it was indeed the most imposing of all. Its limbs were thicker than Ye Xin’s thighs, resembling the legs of a young elephant, and its paws were as broad as a washbasin, brimming with power.

“Fu Shang, why don’t we trade mounts?” Ye Xin suggested.

“Fine by me,” Fu Shang replied, indifferent.

“Young Marshal, there may be a new Wolf King on Mount Unbounded,” Qiu Jiecha interjected suddenly.

“Wolf King?” Ye Xin was surprised. “You mean... I should visit Mount Unbounded?”

“Mount Unbounded is perilous,” Xue Baiqi said, frowning. He was deeply opposed to Ye Xin venturing into such unpredictable danger.

“For most people, Mount Unbounded is a deathtrap with no return—even cultivators dare not trespass,” Qiu Jiecha explained. “But if the Young Marshal brings a direwolf, things will be easier. The wolf will naturally find its den. Still, there’s no rush. When you reach the rank of High Pillar, it won’t be too late. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to earn the Wolf King’s approval.”

“I see...” Ye Xin replied.

“Young Marshal, direwolves have their pride,” Qiu Jiecha sighed. “I advise you not to change mounts lightly. Unless your original wolf has fallen, it will not accept another rider. And if it believes it’s been abandoned, it will not only refuse others, but will soon pine away and die.”

Ye Xin paused, then turned to his own mount. The direwolf’s head was pressed against his shoulder, its eyes filled with anxiety and unease, as if sensing Ye Xin’s favor toward its companion.

“I never imagined direwolves could be so sensitive,” Ye Xin said with a laugh, stroking his wolf’s neck.

“It’s not sensitivity, but dignity,” Qiu Jiecha replied solemnly.

Ye Xin smiled again. He was astute and, from a few simple words, had understood Qiu Jiecha’s true concern.

Qiu Jiecha kept warning Ye Xin not to wound the direwolf’s pride, but in truth, he was expressing his own worries. Ye Xin was clearly closer to Xue Baiqi and the others, creating a sense of distance with the old veterans of the direwolf corps.

If an abandoned direwolf would pine away and die, what would become of the veterans who felt abandoned?

“Try to get close to the direwolf,” Ye Xin said to Fu Shang. “Move slowly, let it get used to your scent, and it won’t reject you.” Then, turning, he called, “Everyone, dismount.”

Ye Xin then approached the other direwolves, using the Wolf Lord Technique to ease their wariness before allowing the young men to choose their mounts and gradually become acquainted.

Just then, figures appeared on the far side of the fence. Leading them was an elderly man, missing a leg and using a wooden staff as a crutch. One of his eyes was blind, and his face was hidden behind a thick beard that covered his mouth. With the right hat, he’d look every bit the legendary captain from an old tale.

“General Qiu!” the old man cried out in surprise and delight, hobbling over. “What brings you here...?”

“Wuyang, come pay your respects to the Young Marshal,” Qiu Jiecha said slowly.

“The Young Marshal?” The old man followed Qiu Jiecha’s gaze to Ye Xin, hesitated, then bowed low. “Wuyang greets the Young Marshal.”

“No need for ceremony,” Ye Xin said, beckoning to Xue Baiqi.

Xue Baiqi immediately handed Ye Xin a stack of gold notes, which Ye Xin passed to the old man. “You’ve worked hard, good sir. Please accept this token of my appreciation.”

The old man glanced at the notes and shook his head. “Thank you, Young Marshal, but we have our own means here. We have no need, and you should reserve your resources for more pressing matters.”

“Very well,” Ye Xin replied with a smile, handing the notes back to Xue Baiqi. “Qiu Jiecha, the situation is urgent—we must be on our way.”

“Yes.” Qiu Jiecha paused, then turned to the old man again. “Wuyang, you must have heard that the Grand Summoning Kingdom’s army is invading. Be vigilant here.”

“General Qiu, you needn’t worry about us,” the old man replied with a grin. “Our bones are still strong. I only fear the enemy won’t come!”

Qiu Jiecha laughed heartily, then rode his direwolf to Ye Xin’s side, intending to recount Wuyang’s past merits. Though Wuyang had lost a leg, he was still fit to be a knight; to spend his days in this remote place was truly a waste.

As Ye Xin passed by Wuyang, he suddenly halted. “Your name is Wuyang?”

“Yes, Young Marshal,” the old man replied, bowing once more.

“If my father had rewarded you just now, would you have refused?” Ye Xin asked coolly.

The old man froze, but Ye Xin did not wait for an answer. He urged his mount forward.

Wuyang’s earlier answer had been upright and irreproachable, but in reality, many things are not about reason but about rules. One does not refuse the gifts of one’s lord. If the reward had come from Ye Guanhai, Wuyang would never have dared refuse, regardless of personal need, because the relationship between Ye Guanhai and the direwolf corps’ veterans was that of master and subordinate.

To refuse Ye Xin directly was to regard him as an equal—a peer, not a superior. Equals may accept or decline as they wish.

Ye Xin’s words were not meant as reproach for Wuyang, but as a reminder to Qiu Jiecha: the sense of distance between them was not Ye Xin’s alone to bridge. What about them?

On a deeper level, Ye Xin was unsparing. He hoped Qiu Jiecha would come to his own realization: with a new ruler comes new ministers. Even the greatest heroes must eventually take their leave. To recreate the glories of old was no longer possible, for age had claimed them.

Qiu Jiecha hesitated, his prepared words vanishing in an instant.

The cavalry left Feng City and continued north. After about a hundred miles, they paused again. By a roadside campfire, three figures rose to greet Ye Xin.

“You two came as well? Yang Xuantong, why aren’t you studying your sigil arts? What brings you here?” Ye Xin called out with a hearty laugh.

The couple approaching were Lin Tong and Zhou Suying, who had helped Ye Xin slay the Tai Ling Prefecture constable. Behind them was a young man with a short beard, who stepped forward with a smile. “I got Baiqi’s message, and when I heard you were heading to the front, how could I sit idle? I’ve been stuck at the pass lately, unable to make progress, so I thought a change of scene might spark some inspiration.”

“You’ve come at a perfect time,” Ye Xin replied, pointing behind him. “Go choose a mount you like.”

(To be continued.)

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