Chapter Fifty-Seven: A Pyrrhic Victory

It was merely a minor obstacle—I'll jump it. At this moment, the great grey wolf led its pack, feeling invincible, intoxicated by the thrill of the hunt, thus oblivious to the unusual surroundings.

The great grey wolf leaped, attempting to clear the barricade.

Such a trivial matter would surely pose no difficulty.

Seeing the lead wolf about to jump, the others drew near. At Commander Wu's command, the group swung the horse-tripping ropes at the wolf. In midair, before the wolf could react, the ropes wrapped around its neck—but it seemed unfazed.

Shangguan Chuanyun observed that the guards’ attacks were ineffective against the towering wolf wielding its spiked club. These guards were martial artists; he realized this wolf demon was no ordinary beast. He channeled his true energy into his right hand, guiding it through a stone, then hurled it at the wolf’s waist.

A pained howl erupted—the wolf felt its lower limbs go limp, and it crashed from midair, hanging atop the barricade.

Wolves, like dogs, share the same weakness: a copper head, iron back, but a tofu waist. Injure the waist and they lose their strength.

By now, the rest of the pack had arrived. Commander Wu swung his blade, severing the vines.

Thunderous rolling echoed as stones tumbled down the hillside, smashing into the midst of the wolves, scattering them in disarray.

Some were forced toward the barricade, others fled back the way they came. A few attempted to leap the barricade, only to be struck down by the ropes, while those behind pressed together in turmoil.

At this moment, Lou Jin’s eyes blazed red as he locked onto a black wolf, ready to pounce at any moment.

Commander Wu, sensing the timing was right, drew his sword and shouted, “Follow me—attack!”

Lou Jin barked twice, and his pack surged ahead, targeting the trapped wolves. The rest followed, each seizing a wolf in their jaws.

Commander Wu, three guards, and two stewards, weapons in hand, charged into the fray.

A cacophony of anguished howls filled the air as the wolves, cornered, fought back with wild ferocity.

Shangguan Chuanyun drew his sword and approached the motionless grey wolf dangling from the barricade. He prodded its paw with his blade—it was as lifeless as a corpse.

“Feigning death.”

His spirit-sight revealed the wolf’s vitality; there was no sign of death, yet an unmistakable sense of danger emanated from it. Clearly, it was pretending. He gripped his sword, acting as if he hadn’t noticed.

With a few casual thrusts, he dispatched several wounded wolves caught on the barricade, then approached the great grey wolf and jabbed at it.

In a flash, the wolf reacted, blocking the blow with its spiked club, then smashed the barricade to pieces and reverted to its original form, fleeing.

“Trying to escape?”

Shangguan Chuanyun stepped forward, unleashing a wave of sword energy toward the wolf.

The great grey wolf swung its club, only for it to be sliced in two by the sword energy. The residual force struck its back, eliciting a wretched howl and leaving a deep gash.

Yet, it quickened its pace, fleeing like the wind.

Shangguan Chuanyun considered using his flying sword to kill it, but saw the guards behind him, battered and bloodied, struggling against the wolves. One wolf escaping was of little consequence; it wasn’t his concern. Even if the wolf demon survived, he couldn’t let his men come to harm, no matter their courage.

He vaulted forward, skewering the fiercest wolf with a single strike.

Then, with a move called “Grounded Bee Stinger,” he felled over a dozen wolves in a single moment.

Commander Wu, now relieved, finished off several wolves nearby.

Suddenly, in the distance, Lou Jin and a wolf were locked in a vicious struggle, sand and stones whirling about them, black miasma swirling.

The aura was overwhelming—wolves and dogs alike cowered, whimpering on the ground.

“Another wolf demon?” Shangguan Chuanyun mused. He had assumed the grey wolf was the only demon; his plan to kill it with the flying sword was thwarted when it escaped. Now, another wolf demon was battling Lou Jin.

The remaining wolves lingered nearby, and a few dogs stood guard, wary of the pack aiding the black wolf. Clearly, things were complicated; the grey wolf seemed to be the wolf king, but none followed its flight. From start to finish, all had clustered around the black wolf.

Shangguan Chuanyun found it odd—a lone grey wolf among black wolves, their breeds distinctly different. The grey wolf belonged to the earth hills, the black wolves to stone mountains—they were not from the same place.

It was as incongruous as a donkey among sheep—a misfit.

Perhaps he should wait until Lou Jin and the black wolf king settled their battle before asking questions.

He watched as wolf and dog tore into each other, neither able to best the other, locked in a balance of power.

Lou Jin’s dog, though battered, bore the brunt of the blows thanks to his forged armor, suffering mainly on his limbs. One hind leg was already broken, dragging behind him, yet he showed no fear.

The black wolf king, meanwhile, was bleeding profusely, its belly torn open, intestines nearly spilling out.

Shangguan Chuanyun saw the two beasts probing and tearing at each other, knowing this was a pivotal battle—a test of spirit.

It wasn’t a matter of assistance; if he intervened now, Lou Jin would truly become a dog, losing his independent will. This was his obsession: avenging the master of the county office, believing it was that master’s discarded bone that saved his life, accepting him from the heart, thus seeking vengeance.

To Shangguan Chuanyun, the difference between man and dog lay in spirit. Some men wore human skin but were dogs; some dogs wore dog skin but were men.

Watching the evenly matched struggle, he knew victory would not come from strength, but from resolve. Whoever wavered first would lose.

The black wolf king bit Lou Jin’s hind leg, inflicting two more wounds, glanced around, then leaped aside.

Its intent to escape was clear, but the pack had encircled it. Its eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.

Though slight, Shangguan Chuanyun perceived it clearly—the outcome was decided. An army driven by desperation always prevails; in battle, distraction spells doom, sapping momentum and success.

Indeed, Lou Jin ignored his nearly severed leg, exposing the wound to the black wolf. The wolf, elated, lunged and bit the injury, but Lou Jin, unfazed, twisted and clamped onto the wolf’s throat, pinning its head with his forepaws.

“The outcome is settled.”

The group breathed a sigh of relief. Though their presence distracted the black wolf, it harbored thoughts of escape.

Its spirit faltered, but had it fought to the death, it might have won—though only just.

The black wolf, jaws locked on its throat, struggled desperately, while Lou Jin’s wounds continued to bleed.

Gradually, both wolf and dog ceased moving.

The remaining wolves turned and fled, only to be surrounded by the dogs, who blocked their way. The guards rushed in, cleaving the last wolves in two.

…

After dealing with the wolves, the group continued on their journey. A few escaped, but none had become demons, so it was of little consequence. The great grey wolf remained a concern, having developed intelligence. Yet, judging by its misfortune, it likely wouldn’t return.

Shangguan Chuanyun looked at Lou Jin, barely alive in the cart, troubled by the severity of his injuries and nearly crippled hind leg.

That leg was essentially lost, but dog legs are straight, like prosthetics. It was said that in ancient times, a young noble injured his leg and replaced it with a servant’s, then the servant received a dog’s leg in turn.

Hence, the term “dog leg” came to refer to the henchmen of bullies.

With its leg replaced, the dog got a clay prosthetic, which is why it stands with one leg raised while urinating.

Though Lou Jin had lost a leg, this was perhaps an opportunity, for the transformation between man and dog lies in the legs; so too does the transition from dog to man.

Since Lou Jin slew the black wolf, he had changed—his gaze became resolute and fearless, like one who had seen through all worldly matters, indifferent to death, unconcerned with survival.

But Shangguan Chuanyun would not let him die, for now Lou Jin had discovered his true self. He rejoined Lou Jin’s broken bones, fixed them with wooden splints, then used his elixir energy to treat the major wounds.

He stabilized Lou Jin’s vitality, infusing his energy into several vital points.

The external injuries were manageable, but the most critical issue was the meridians. If the meridians were intact, one could remain healthy; if damaged, chronic ailments followed. Meridians maintain the body’s circulation, nourish the flesh, and restore injuries.

Like martial artists who focus only on muscles and bones, neglecting the meridians and soul—by fifty, they are riddled with sickness, the so-called occupational disease.

Among the methods Shangguan Chuanyun knew for restoring meridians were the “Five Elements Illuminating Hand” and the “Heaven-Penetrating Finger.” The latter requires knowledge of acupuncture, specifically used to open channels and heal injuries, thus restoring meridians and stimulating acupoints.

Cultivation was simple: using the eyes’ energy to draw upon the power of the stars. There are three hundred sixty-six acupoints, corresponding to three hundred sixty-five stars, with an extra one for the Supreme Star.

He pressed the “Jumping Point” on Lou Jin, which was damaged, but under the nourishment of his energy, it slowly recovered. He treated several nearby points, which soon became interconnected.

“Remarkable,” Shangguan Chuanyun thought.

Meridians are invisible and intangible; few believed in them in his previous life, so they were nearly forgotten. He had never had the chance to use the Heaven-Penetrating Finger on others, and now, his first opportunity to treat injuries came on a dog.

The results were promising. He treated the most severe wounds, bandaging the rest with healing medicines.

Finally, he withdrew his energy and checked himself—the Small Recovery Elixir was somewhat unstable, but not in danger of dispersing. Fortunately, after regathering his strength following Lao Shuren’s ordeal, his cultivation had improved, otherwise he would have been overwhelmed.