"AWOOOO!"

Urgent, sharp wolf howls rose and fell, like an ever-quickening drumbeat that made people instinctively clench their fists and grit their teeth, as if an invisible hand was squeezing their hearts.

In the dim light, indistinct shadows flickered in all directions. Vast swathes of wild grass fell with a great RUSTLE, as if a scene from "Ambush from Ten Sides" was playing out live.

"I've heard the story my brother told, 'The Wolf Is Coming.' Wolves eat children!" Fang Ling whispered.

"Shh! Don't talk, or you'll draw the wolves to us!" Nannan raised a small hand, pressing a finger to her lips as she muttered softly.

Though the two little girls were scared, they were too young to fully grasp the gravity of the situation. Even more terrified than them were Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady.

"The wolves are here, Brother Rui! What are we going to do?!" Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family asked, her hands clenched in terror.

"From the sound of it... there are quite a few of them," Third Lady said, her expression grave. She, too, looked toward Fang Rui, her clear eyes filled with worry.

Although she knew Fang Rui was a Middle Grade Martial Artist, she didn't know his true combat strength. She worried that two fists were no match for four hands and that he might not be able to protect them all.

"Brother Rui, if... if it really comes to that, protect Auntie and Ling'Er first. Don't let me be a burden. These past few days... I've been so happy. I have no regrets being with you..."

Third Lady murmured softly and smiled at Fang Rui, her bright eyes glistening with unshed tears.

In that moment, her panic was gone. In its place was a serene acceptance, like a village centenarian who prepares their own coffin and speaks of death without a hint of fear.

"It hasn't come to that."

Fang Rui gently patted the back of Third Lady's hand, his voice carrying a reassuring calm. "It's alright. I'm here."

'It's just a pack of wild wolves. So what if there are hundreds or even thousands? As long as they're not some supernatural breed, it'll be fine.'

Meanwhile.

"Young Master, Madam, rest assured!" Elder Wang declared with righteous conviction, while furtively pinching a buttock.

Mrs. Chang squirmed uneasily, her eyelashes fluttering, but she pretended nothing had happened.

The only one completely in the dark was Chang Qing, who earnestly said, "Then we'll be counting on you, Elder Wang!"

As he spoke, he puffed out his chest and glanced proudly toward the Fang Family's group, clicking his tongue and shaking his head as if pitying them.

Clearly, Fang Rui's refusal to trade his horse for a donkey at noon had left Young Master Chang nursing a grudge.

Fang Rui's senses were sharp, so he naturally noticed Chang Qing's gaze. A strange expression crossed his face. 'Is he showing off to me? What's he showing off? That he's got a secret second dad? Oh, on that front, I really am no match for him. I surrender!'

Just then, Steward Chen hurried over with seven or eight guards.

"Physician Fang, Young Master Chang, a wolf pack is attacking. But don't worry, our caravan will certainly provide protection."

He gave a few instructions, sending the seven or eight guards to form a defensive line at the rear, before hurrying back to the front of the caravan himself.

About a hundred breaths passed.

Perhaps the wolves had finished sizing up the caravan, or perhaps they had completed their encirclement. Following one exceptionally long, drawn-out howl, the entire pack responded with "AWOOO," "AWOOO," their cries merging into a terrifying chorus.

For a moment, the howls were so dense they seemed to explode like fireworks and spread like a surging tide. The sheer sound was enough to make one's heart tremble.

"WHINNY~"

Throughout the caravan, many of the horses began to snort and stir restlessly.

And at that very moment—

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE!

All around the caravan, the tall grass began to shake violently. It bent low as black shadows shot out like lightning, their pairs of gleaming green eyes terrifyingly bright in the darkness.

The pack's full-scale assault had begun!

...

'What a pity!'

Fang Rui's ears twitched. 'The Wolf King is at the front of the caravan. Otherwise, I could just kill it directly. The pack would probably scatter then, which would save a lot of trouble.'

"AWOOO!"

"Kill these beasts!"

"Don't panic!"

"Hold the line!"

"Agh, my leg!"

...

The howling of wolves, the clang of steel, and the screams of men all merged into a chaotic din.

...

At the rear, the seven or eight caravan guards had formed a fan-shaped defensive line, fending off the wolves.

But there were gaps between them, and every so often, a lone wolf or two would break through.

"Ah!"

Seeing a wolf break through the blockade and charge toward them, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan all stared wide-eyed and let out low cries of alarm.

"It's fine. Besides, the Chang Family is in front of us."

Fang Rui thought, 'There are too few guards. And what's more, they're clearly not giving it their all. They're holding back.'

'That's to be expected. They're just getting paid by the caravan. Why would they risk their lives for this?'

'Even worse, maybe they're letting a few wolves through on purpose. If something happens to us, they'll get a share of the wealth we're carrying. It's the same as preying on a family with no heirs, or one of those roadside inns that robs and kills its guests.'

Fang Rui never hesitated to assume the worst of people.

Because in a world like this, there were no truly good people among the survivors—himself included!

"AWOOO!"

Just as Fang Rui had said, even when a wolf slipped through the net, the Chang Family was there to block its path.

Elder Wang did not simply sit and wait for death. He took the initiative, charging forward to meet the two or three large wolves that had broken through the line.

"Get lost!"

He swung his long staff with lightning speed, sending the two or three charging wolves flying. They hit the ground, howling in pain and rolling in the dirt.

When one occasionally slipped past his guard and pounced from the side, its claws failed to even break Elder Wang's skin. Instead, he grabbed the wolf by its leg and smashed it to death against a rock.

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