Chapter 035: Supporting Each Other Through Thick and Thin

When Li Zhan arrived at the dock, he finally understood why the female villager’s face showed no sign of fear.

The two war wolves were simply too weak.

Just like last time, they appeared at the edge of the dense forest, but unlike before, they only lay there, making no attempt to approach. In fact, the smaller war wolf’s injuries had severely worsened, leaving it unable to move its legs.

The other war wolf remained by its side, caring for it, occasionally licking its companion’s wounded leg with its tongue, whimpering softly.

There was only one female villager left at the dock, standing on the pier, staring blankly at the two war wolves a hundred meters away. Her expression was more confused than tense.

Who would have thought that such fierce beasts as war wolves could display such delicate and moving emotions? Faced with a companion dragging its hind legs, not only did it refuse to leave, but it was also filled with sorrow.

Li Zhan walked over and stood beside the female villager. She greeted him, and then the two of them stood silently on the dock, watching the two war wolves nuzzle each other.

The smaller war wolf’s breathing was rapid, its body heaving violently, its eyes dazed and lifeless. Gazing at its companion, it whimpered weakly, a sound that seemed both a longing for life and a sorrowful reluctance to part. The cry was mournful, as if pleading, as if weeping.

The other war wolf, despite the pain from the wound on its face, kept nudging its companion with its snout, licking the wounds, and whimpering with obvious distress.

A sour feeling slowly rose in Li Zhan’s heart, reaching his eyes, making them hot, as if tears might spill forth.

Unable to watch any longer, Li Zhan turned his head and saw Zhao Ming leading four militiamen and another female villager toward the dock. Spotting Li Zhan, Zhao Ming glanced warily at the forest, then approached.

“Chieftain, shall we go finish them off?” Zhao Ming gripped his poor-quality iron sword tightly, seeking Li Zhan’s approval.

The four militiamen also grasped their clubs, prepared for battle.

Li Zhan shook his head. “There’s no need; they likely won’t last much longer.”

Zhao Ming and the others started, then took a closer look at the wolves. After a while, the group was moved, lowering their weapons and turning their heads away.

“If even beasts act thus, what of men?” Li Zhan could not help but sigh.

Ruoyan arrived then as well. The militia uniforms had been designed and were now simply awaiting Zhou Min and the others to tailor and sew. Hearing that the two war wolves had reappeared at the dock, badly wounded, Ruoyan’s curiosity drew her to see for herself.

After greeting Li Zhan and the others, Ruoyan carefully observed the two war wolves. Before long, her eyes reddened and tears welled up, until finally she had to cover her mouth with her hand as tears poured down.

After a moment, Ruoyan wiped her tears, left the dock, and took a strip of raw fish from the drying line. Under the astonished gaze of Li Zhan and the others, she walked straight toward the two war wolves.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Li Zhan suddenly realized what she was doing and shouted anxiously as she approached within thirty meters of the wolves. Ruoyan was too sentimental; though her intentions were kind, the wolves were still fierce beasts, even gravely injured.

Ruoyan paused at Li Zhan’s shout, glanced back at the crowd on the dock, said nothing, and turned back, continuing to approach the wolves. Her soft heart could not bear the scene before her—the war wolves’ devotion to one another brought her immeasurable sorrow. She wanted to offer them food and check their wounds, to show through her actions that they were not alone, that at least she cared for them. If the war wolves failed to understand her goodwill and harmed her, she did not feel it a loss. She was a player—at worst, she would lose some experience or drop a level; but the war wolves were NPCs. Death for them was final—no resurrection.

Li Zhan and the others watched in silence as Ruoyan approached the wolves. Li Zhan himself wanted to help the war wolves, but did not know how. In his view, no matter how deep their feelings, war wolves were still wild animals; approaching them rashly could be dangerous.

What Li Zhan never expected was that the usually mischievous and timid Ruoyan would completely ignore the danger and approach the war wolves alone.

Watching Ruoyan’s frail figure, Li Zhan felt both admiration and worry. He did not follow, nor did he have Zhao Ming and the others protect her, understanding that the wolves were already highly agitated. Ruoyan alone might ease their tension; more people would only worsen it and put her at greater risk.

When Ruoyan was less than ten meters away, the scar-faced war wolf—who had been watching her intently—stood up, squatting beside its injured companion, eyes fixed on Ruoyan, glancing occasionally at the fish in her hand.

The smaller war wolf, still lying prone, tried weakly to lift its body as she approached, but failed, remaining limp and breathless, gazing at Ruoyan.

Ruoyan slowed her pace, approaching the wolves gently, and extended the strip of fish as a gesture of goodwill. The scar-faced wolf’s eyes were wary, but seeing the fish, it suppressed its urge to leap at her, gaze shifting between her and the food.

When the fish was less than half a meter from the scar-faced wolf, Ruoyan herself was only about a meter away. She stopped, knowing that at this distance she should let the wolf decide; moving closer might only provoke its instinct to attack.

Just as Ruoyan had expected, the war wolf hesitated, looking at the fish, then at its weakened companion. Finally, it stretched its head forward, eyes still locked on Ruoyan, bit the fish, and placed it before its companion.

The smaller war wolf, seeing the food in front of it, reached out and bit the fish, but had no strength left to tear it apart. The other wolf, not caring about Ruoyan any longer, pinned the fish with its paw and tore off a piece, setting it before its companion.

The smaller war wolf struggled to chew but could not swallow. In the end, it tilted its head back, letting the fish slip down its throat with the help of gravity.

Watching from the side, Ruoyan’s tears brimmed again. She knew these two war wolves could not bear to part—the scar-faced wolf did everything it could for its companion, while the wounded wolf forced itself to live on. Overcome, Ruoyan reached out to stroke the head of the leg-injured wolf.

Suddenly, the scar-faced war wolf let out a snarl and swiped at Ruoyan’s arm with its paw.