The Wolf King’s displeased voice was soft, but to V, it sounded like a thunderclap splitting the clear sky. His face drained of color in an instant, and a shudder ran through his entire body. Is he going to kill me?

These days, the question of life or death had hung over V like a sharp sword. When he’d first been captured by the wolves, he’d thought he was doomed. For days, he’d pretended to be a terrified idiot, refusing food and water, hoping to fool them. He’d heard wolves ate humans, but they avoided idiots—afraid of catching their madness.

But then the Wolf King had interrogated him personally, using torture. The searing pain had made him drop the act. He’d been sure he’d die, but to his surprise, the Wolf King had brought him along on this journey and told him Ding Rui had been released. V didn’t understand what the Wolf King was planning, but those words had lit a spark of hope in him. Maybe I can be released too?

If there was even a slim chance of survival, he’d cling to it. That’s why he’d been groveling and trying to please the Wolf King along the way—hoping to earn his mercy. It’s not cowardice; it’s strategy, he told himself.

But some questions he could dodge. Being asked to recount his battle honors, though, left him in a bind. Is the Wolf King setting a trap? If I tell him how many wolves I’ve killed, will he order me executed to avenge his kin? V couldn’t read the Wolf King’s intentions, and his heart was torn.

But the Wolf King was pressing him. If he didn’t answer truthfully, he might die right then. It was time to take a risk.

V made up his mind and lifted his head. “I have a request,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

A cold glint flashed in the Wolf King’s eyes. I’m done for! V’s heart sank.

“Speak.”

V was stunned by the Wolf King’s tolerance. He paused, then said carefully, “If I tell you my battle honors, you must promise not to kill me. No matter what.”

“Who do you think you are, bargaining with me?” the Wolf King snorted.

“If you don’t agree, I can’t guarantee I’ll tell you the truth,” V said, throwing caution to the wind. You can force me to talk, but you can’t force me to tell the truth. Do you want lies?

The Wolf King fell silent. V’s heart thundered in his chest, dreading the worst.

“Fine. I promise.”

Really? V could hardly believe his ears. That was easier than I thought?

“What I want to hear is your experience fighting White Wolves,” the Wolf King said calmly.

Now wasn’t the time to celebrate. Whether he escaped the wolf’s jaws depended on whether his story satisfied the king.

V recalled his proudest battle—a triumph of disguise and strategy.

“Twelve years ago, in Capital Village, I encountered White Wolves,” V said, staring at the backs of the White Wolf Cavalrymen. They looked exactly like the White Wolves he’d seen back then.

The most obvious difference between White Wolves and Black Wolves was their fur. Most werewolves had black or gray fur, but White Wolves were silver-white all over, like nobility among wolves.

“Back then, I was a shield soldier in the royal capital’s guard. I’d been sent south with a message, and on my way back, I stopped to rest in Capital Village near the capital. Four White Wolves broke into the village. The village chief, who’d been warned, gathered everyone in the basement to discuss how to deal with the crisis.”

“All the village’s able-bodied men had gone to the capital to work. Only a dozen elderly, women, and children were left, plus me—the only trained warrior. The Good Camp’s strength was barely enough to take on one werewolf, but we faced four. We were outmatched. Many villagers suggested hiding in the basement instead of fighting head-on; if the wolves couldn’t find anyone, they might leave soon.”

As he spoke, the stream widened, and V saw several plumes of smoke on the opposite bank.

“You didn’t suggest attacking them, did you?” V could hear the mockery in the Wolf King’s voice, but he had no choice but to endure it.

“This wasn’t my first encounter with White Wolves. I know their nature—they’re more cunning and dangerous than Black Wolves, and they’re not easy to fool.”

V praised the White Wolves to subtly insult the Black Wolves. The Wolf King snorted but said nothing.

“I told the villagers that the White Wolves wouldn’t leave just because they couldn’t find us. They knew we were hiding, but humans have to come out to eat and drink eventually. They’d wait for us—three days, ten days, however long it took. Hiding in the basement was a death sentence.”

The Wolf King sneered. “Attack and die, hide and die. Either way, you were doomed.”

“But White Wolves have a weakness.”

“Oh? What weakness?” the Wolf King asked, glancing at the White Wolf Cavalry.

“The White Wolves’ greatest weapon is their self-detonation. When they explode, they create a powerful shockwave that devours all living things within ten paces. When fighting humans, they often use self-detonation to take Seers, Sorceresses, Guards, and other divine roles down with them.”

“That’s true,” the Wolf King agreed. “White Wolf self-detonation is ten times more powerful than ours. That’s their strength, not a weakness.”

“But White Wolves can be impulsive…” V didn’t dare speak too plainly with the cavalrymen nearby.

“Hm.” The Wolf King nodded slightly. “I think I can guess your strategy.”

“I had three villagers pretend to be a Seer, a Sorceress, and a Hunter. They led the villagers in a fake attack, surrounding the wolves and making them feel threatened. The White Wolves truly believed there were three divine roles in the village. To break out, three of them chose to self-detonate, taking the ‘three gods’ with them. The tide turned instantly. The Good Camp still had me, the real Guard, and the rest of the villagers. Only one White Wolf was left. We had the upper hand in a direct fight.”

“I see.” The Wolf King sighed. “To think four fierce White Wolf warriors were defeated by a cowardly, hypocritical little man like you.”

V jumped in shock. He hadn’t expected such a harsh judgment. A vague sense of unease washed over him, and he glanced at the White Wolf Cavalrymen flanking them. Won’t they come after me?

But the seven cavalrymen were expressionless, as if they hadn’t been listening. V relaxed a little. The Wolf King promised not to kill me—he can’t go back on his word, right?

“You had civilians pretend to be divine roles to trick the White Wolves into self-detonating. It sounds clever, but you sacrificed three villagers. And you, the real Guard, hid in the shadows…” the Wolf King said, giving V a sidelong glance.

V hurried to explain, “This strategy was cruel, but it saved the entire village. Besides, those three villagers volunteered to be sacrifices.”

“Why didn’t you volunteer?”

“I was the only divine role in the village. I had to lead everyone in battle.”

“No one is an inevitable leader. If you’d been gone, the villagers would have chosen someone else.”

“But I had more combat experience…”

“Experience in wetting yourself when you see a Wolf King?” the Wolf King chuckled.

V’s face burned with shame.

“I-I didn’t force anyone! I just suggested the strategy. If everyone had disagreed, we wouldn’t have done it…”

Just then, the sound of wolf howls, horse neighs, and clashing metal echoed from the distance.

The White Wolf Cavalryman at the front turned back. “Lord Will, we’ve reached the Warm River.”

The Wolf King reined in his horse and surveyed the area. This wolf’s mood is so unpredictable. V wiped the sweat from his forehead, grateful for the interruption.

Looking around, V saw that the small stream they’d been following had turned into a wide river. On the opposite bank, campfires burned, and mist hung in the air.

Under the winter sun, tents like silk mushrooms dotted the landscape. Everywhere he looked, he saw glinting white wolf blades. A huge black flag stood on the bank, embroidered with a bared-fanged white wolf.

V saw more White Wolves than he’d ever seen in his life: wolves holding blades, wolves in armor, wolves leading horses, wolves carrying supplies, wolves cooking over fires, wolves standing guard… Have we walked into the White Wolves’ den?

“Our master is waiting for you on that low slope,” Shentu said, pointing across the river.