Chapter 82: Following the Trail

Chapter Eighty-Two: Following the Trail

“What’s going on? Number Six hasn’t returned yet!”

In a dimly lit natural cave, a fire crackled, surrounded by several figures. Some devoured roasted meat, others meditated in silence.

At that moment, one of the men spoke out.

“It’s already late. Considering Number Six’s caution and habits, the fact that he hasn’t returned by now suggests he’s met with misfortune. Otherwise, he would never stay out so late.”

Another man replied, his aura thick and menacing, almost tangible.

“What? Someone actually dared provoke the Seven Wolves of Jingmu? They must have a death wish!” A hot-tempered brute erupted in rage, his voice booming like thunder.

“Gray Wolf, we’re counting on you to find Blue Wolf’s location. This time, whoever it is, they must pay dearly. We’ll show them that the vengeance of the Seven Wolves of Jingmu is terrifying.”

“Understood. Tracking scents is my specialty. Even if they’ve escaped a thousand miles, I can find them,” Gray Wolf responded without hesitation.

Thus, six of the Seven Wolves of Jingmu left the cave and slipped into the shadowy forest.

Not long after, they followed the trail to the place where Blue Wolf had once lingered, discovering the battlefield.

When they arrived at a patch of scorched earth, Gray Wolf said, “Blue Wolf’s scent ends here. He was likely killed right here.”

White Wolf glanced around the scene and said, “It wasn’t a human-level expert who killed him.”

“If that’s the case, we have nothing to fear,” Blood Wolf growled viciously.

Next, Gray Wolf moved to a nearby patch of earth.

This spot was slightly raised and still carried traces of Blue Wolf’s scent. Gray Wolf unleashed his energy, blasting open the ground to reveal a charred corpse buried beneath.

They finally confirmed Blue Wolf’s death.

“Gray Wolf, what have you found?” White Wolf, the most cunning among the seven, pressed him for answers.

The Seven Wolves of Jingmu were bound by a common cause, united against outsiders. Only through unity had they carved out a place in the county city of Jingmu, earning the respect and wariness of all major powers.

If they weren’t united, they’d quickly fall apart.

Even as ninth-level warriors, none dared provoke the second- or third-rate powers in Jingmu County alone. Any action had to be done in secret, lest they face relentless pursuit—a dangerous prospect.

“Yes,” Gray Wolf replied firmly. “Along the way, I found several unfamiliar scents overlapping with Blue Wolf’s. It’s almost certain they’re the killers, not just passersby.”

“Hurry and find them! I’ll tear them apart for revenge!” Blood Wolf’s eyes flashed with cruel excitement. Though he claimed it was for vengeance, he seemed thrilled, like a predator scenting prey.

Black Wolf, Gold Wolf, and the others radiated a chilling aura, gathering in the air.

Clearly, after searching the Fulong Mountains for dozens of days without results, frustration gnawed at them. They were eager for violence, desperate to vent their pent-up irritation.

Their last massacre of a stray group had been more than ten days ago.

Their thirst for revenge wasn’t born of deep affection for Blue Wolf, but rather to intimidate other factions and build the fearsome reputation of the Seven Wolves of Jingmu.

Gray Wolf immediately began tracking the unfamiliar scents.

For him, it wasn’t difficult. Less than a day had passed since Blue Wolf’s death, and Yi Tian’s lingering scent remained—faded but obvious to a skilled tracker like Gray Wolf.

The wolves followed him through the forest, weaving between trees.

Soon, they discovered the temporary cave opened by the Yi Tribe.

Inside, dozens of scents mingled. Gray Wolf followed them all the way to the cliff above Peach Blossom Valley, where the trail abruptly vanished.

“The killers disappeared right here!” Gray Wolf confirmed.

“Here?” White Wolf, Blood Wolf, Gold Wolf, Black Wolf, and Shadow Wolf all frowned.

Ahead lay a bottomless gorge, so deep that none could see its end. The cliffs were steep, with only a few uneven spots spaced two or three yards apart for footing.

Such a treacherous ravine was where the killers’ trail vanished.

“Gray Wolf, are you sure? Maybe the killers tried to mislead you, tossing clothes with their scent into the abyss,” Gold Wolf questioned.

Even Black Wolf, Blood Wolf, and the others were suspicious.

Gray Wolf himself began to doubt his judgment.

The abyss was so perilous that even for them, descending would be dangerous and time-consuming.

As they pondered, White Wolf spoke up, “Gray Wolf’s tracking shouldn’t be wrong.”

His words caught everyone’s attention.

He continued, “Think about it—how close is this to the site of Blue Wolf’s first battle?”

“Right!” The others realized it as well.

Indeed, Blue Wolf had fought the killers in two places—the first was near Peach Blossom Valley, though slightly off in direction.

Experienced veterans, they easily deduced that Blue Wolf must have spotted the enemy near Peach Blossom Valley, pursued them, and ultimately met his end.

As for the killers, they later returned to this desolate, beastless gorge.

The sequence of events fit together perfectly.

“What are they doing hiding in this gorge? Did they discover some secret?” White Wolf pondered the strange circumstances.

Suddenly, Shadow Wolf, who had remained silent, spoke with a hint of intrigue, “Could the previous anomaly be connected to this gorge? That group is searching below.”

Blood Wolf, Black Wolf, and the others’ eyes lit up.

It was highly possible.

Whatever the case, they had to explore the gorge.

After all, they’d never searched it before. If some miraculous treasure truly lay within, their luck would be unmatched.

Naturally, the six wolves of Jingmu guarded against each other. If a treasure were found, chaos would erupt, each desperate to claim it.

White Wolf and the others drew their weapons from their storage rings and began their descent.

All of them were ninth-level experts. Their sharp weapons cut through the cliff, moving in turns and progressing steadily. Their stamina made the descent effortless, and with caution, they reached the bottom of Peach Blossom Valley within half an incense stick’s time.

“No mistake. They’re here in the gorge!” Gray Wolf inhaled deeply, delight flashing across his face. His judgment was correct—the killers had disappeared into the gorge.

“Be careful!”

Now that they knew who had killed Blue Wolf, the others grew alert, weapons ready.

“They went that way,” Gray Wolf said, leading the group deeper into the wilderness.

Finally, they reached a narrow crevice.

“Their scent disappears inside,” Gray Wolf said, eyeing the depths warily. The crack was so narrow it could only accommodate one person at a time. Inside, it was pitch black, though air flowed freely.

Still, Gray Wolf didn’t rush in.

In such a cramped space, one couldn’t unleash their full strength—it was undeniably dangerous.

“I’ll go!” Blood Wolf, seeing Gray Wolf’s hesitation, couldn’t wait any longer and entered first.

The others followed closely behind.