Chapter Sixty-Two: The Wolf of Kui Wood

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Chuanyun was immediately aware of the Dragon King of Dongting Lake. The Dragon King was said to have mastered the dragon vein of the lake and possessed the bloodline of the dragon clan, gradually cultivating himself into a dragon. Later, he received an imperial edict from the previous dynasty, acquiring his divine status and becoming the Dragon King. The current dynasty neither opposed nor supported him, and the common people recognized his position, so he claimed to be the rightful heir of the dragon clan.

To Shangguan Chuanyun, this seemed to be a matter of insufficient cultivation. After the current dynasty ceased conferring divine titles, those deities who depended on faith lost their official recognition and their powers waned, causing them to stir up trouble everywhere. Over the years, Shangguan Chuanyun had heard that every year the Dragon King of Dongting Lake would create some incident. He casually asked Jia Cheng,

"Do you know what this affair of the Dragon King marrying off his daughter is about?"

Jia Cheng thought for a moment, then replied,

"The Dragon King of Dongting Lake announced that starting this year, he would marry off one daughter each year, choosing outstanding youths from various regions, regardless of race. As long as someone catches his eye, he will wed his daughter to them and bestow a strand of his own dragon energy. The event is happening these days."

"Oh? What does that have to do with father’s army entering the lands of Southern Continent?" Shangguan Chuanyun asked in confusion.

Jia Cheng replied,

"I am not certain. But thick fog envelops the mouth of Dongting Lake, and military ships lose their bearings in the mist—compasses are useless. With no other option, the fleet had to withdraw to the lake’s entrance."

Shangguan Chuanyun pondered; it was clear to him that the Dragon King was acting deliberately, choosing such a coincidental time. He was convinced the Dragon King had cast some spell, for even compasses failed. The situation in Southern Continent was unclear—he’d only heard it was in chaos, with overlapping factions, but specifics eluded him. So he asked,

"Do we know the precise situation in Southern Continent now?"

Jia Cheng thought for a moment. Though Dongting Lake occupied most of Southern Continent, there were other areas not under its control, and information could still be obtained from elsewhere.

"Southern Continent is in turmoil; everywhere is leaderless. The main powers are the bandits of Dongting Lake and Taixuan Lake. But merchant guilds report not only the mouth of Dongting Lake, but the entire lake and surrounding regions are shrouded in fog. Anyone wishing to pass through the mist toward the Dragon Palace needs a road pass from the Dragon King."

Shangguan Chuanyun surmised that the Dragon King intended to make trouble. If he used this occasion to unify Dongting Lake, then his father would have little to worry about. If chaos persisted, the rebel forces were small and could be defeated one by one—but if united, even ten thousand elite troops thrown in would barely make a ripple.

He was unsure of the Dragon King’s intentions, so he asked Jia Cheng again,

"What do you make of this?"

"I believe the Dragon King wants to unify the Dongting Lake faction, find a new dragon among mortals, and support them from behind, thus binding power and becoming the real controller, aiming for supremacy," Jia Cheng replied, sharing his thoughts.

Shangguan Chuanyun considered this; it seemed plausible, though he hadn’t fully analyzed it yet. He asked,

"How did you reach this conclusion?"

Jia Cheng said,

"The fog over Dongting Lake never lasts long, but this time it’s far exceeded previous durations. Although the event is to marry off his daughter and he’s invited talents from all sides, after the announcement, preparations began immediately. Only the leaders of various factions received the road passes—none went to outsiders. If it were simply a marriage, there would be no rush. But if it’s to subdue the factions, it’s sufficient. So I judge that the marriage is a pretext—the true aim is to unify Dongting Lake and pacify all Southern Continent."

Shangguan Chuanyun thought it over and agreed. If he were the Dragon King, he would seize the opportunity to unify Dongting Lake. But as he stood in opposition, he resolved not to let the Dragon King succeed. He nodded to Jia Cheng and said,

"This affair at Dongting Lake must not be allowed to succeed. Father’s army lacks experts in the arcane arts, so I have decided to set out alone to resolve this matter."

Seeing Jia Cheng about to speak, perhaps to object, Shangguan Chuanyun continued,

"You can discern my strategy, can’t you?"

Jia Cheng recalled their journey from Li Hualong, Nanguo, and Lan Feng to here, and replied,

"Yes, young master. From Li Hualong, Nanguo, Lan Feng, and now here, it seems you are laying out a grand strategy."

Shangguan Chuanyun reflected. The enemy was strong, his forces were few; survival was all that mattered. If he could stay alive, there was hope. He said,

"I don’t know if it will succeed, but I’m prepared for the worst. Father fights alone—either his army is wiped out, or barely survives. If I can secure supply lines from the rear, we can endure prolonged battle."

Jia Cheng wanted to dissuade him, since his duty was to care for the young master, but the journey had grown ever more arduous, and he suspected he’d only become a burden. He nodded and asked,

"How will you arrange matters here?"

Shangguan Chuanyun looked around Black Wolf Ridge; it was indeed a strategic place, severing north from south, with towering mountains and perilous terrain—easy to defend, hard to attack. One could advance or retreat as needed. Moreover, the mountain was nurtured by a dragon vein; with proper defense, it could connect north and south.

He felt the name Black Wolf Ridge was inappropriate, given the mountain’s central position. He asked,

"This mountain is the largest range in Central Continent, spanning north and south. Calling it Black Wolf Ridge seems unsuitable. Are there any other names?"

Jia Cheng replied,

"Young master, among the common folk, it’s called Backbone Mountain, like the human spine, supporting Heaven and Earth."

Shangguan Chuanyun thought for a moment, then said,

"From now on, let it be known as Pillar Mountain."

As they spoke, they arrived at the Mountain God Temple, whose main hall had been tidied up. Shangguan Chuanyun gave instructions to several people, took his leave, and checked on the injured dogs—most had recovered well, which relieved him. It was their injuries that spared their lives; had they not been hurt and released, they likely would have been killed. Of the original pack of fifty or sixty, only a dozen or so remained.

He next went to the place where the big grey wolf was held. Seeing it bound tightly, he thought the wolf was truly unlucky. It had barely managed to become wolf king, only to be defeated by him, and then captured by foxes while hiding here. The foxes needed a wolf king, so it survived; otherwise, they would have killed it long ago.

Looking at the wolf king, whose vital channels had been sealed, Shangguan Chuanyun realized Hu Jiuming had no intention of letting it awaken. To break the seals would require hours of blood-activating techniques, but for him it was simple. He pressed a finger to the wolf’s crown, and the sword energy within his vital force destroyed Hu Jiuming’s seals completely. He tapped a dozen more points, releasing all the seals on the wolf’s acupoints. Then he sent a burst of vital energy into its brow, prompting the big grey wolf to slowly awaken. Opening its eyes, it saw a familiar figure and whimpered in fear.

Shangguan Chuanyun addressed the big grey wolf,

"I did save you this time. No need to be nervous—I just want to ask you a question."

The big grey wolf pondered. Indeed, when it returned it was ambushed by foxes, netted, and its channels sealed, likely to be skinned alive. Now seeing Shangguan Chuanyun, it knew he had saved it and replied,

"Please ask, young master. I will answer all your questions truthfully."

"Good," said Shangguan Chuanyun, noting its keen sense of the moment, and asked,

"Do you wish to live or die?"

"Live, live!" Of course, who would choose death if they could live? The big grey wolf quickly replied.

Shangguan Chuanyun expected this answer; the wolf had no bottom line and would do anything to survive, but he couldn’t let it go without precautions. If it served him now, it might serve others later. In ordinary times it wouldn’t matter, but in a critical moment, it could be a ticking bomb. So he said,

"If you wish to live, let me place a seal on you. Serve me, and once my task is complete, the seal will dissolve. I’ll grant you the status of a deity and ancestor. If you wish to die, I’ll send you on your way now."

The big grey wolf whimpered for a while and asked,

"Is it true you’ll make me a deity and ancestor? How can I trust you?"

Shangguan Chuanyun replied,

"I don’t need your trust. You’re a wolf demon, and your nature is of wood. That’s why I spare you. If you disagree, you may refuse."

The big grey wolf thought about it—he was at the mercy of others, his eyes darting as he considered escape, gathering his power.

Shangguan Chuanyun saw his intentions and said,

"You can try to escape if you wish. The one who caught you, Hu Jiuming—the old fox—has already been cut in two by me."

Hearing this, the big grey wolf felt chills run through his body, quietly withdrawing his power, and drooped his head.

"I choose to live," he said.

Shangguan Chuanyun nodded.

"You’ve made the right choice. One day you’ll be grateful for it. Do you have a name?"

The big grey wolf was surprised; he was simply called Grey Wolf, as everyone did, and replied,

"I am Grey Wolf."

Shangguan Chuanyun laughed.

"What a name. From now on, you shall be called Kui Wood Wolf."

The big grey wolf considered the name—it was decent, a proper person’s name. He knew the significance of names among humans; a name was more than a label—it carried fortune. He gratefully said,

"Thank you, master, for granting me a name."

As he finished speaking, Shangguan Chuanyun’s spiritual platform trembled, and he sent a strand of sword energy into Kui Wood Wolf’s mind. Drawing his sword, he cut the ropes binding the wolf and instructed him to find Jia Cheng and follow his arrangements. Then he left without looking back.

Only a bewildered big grey wolf remained, staring in surprise at being left behind. But he did not forget his instructions. Rolling on the ground, he transformed into a wolf-headed, human-bodied giant eight feet tall, pushed open the door, and strode out of the temporary woodshed.