"What—?" Sun stiffened, surprised by Shade of Autumn's response.
"I understand that you want to go and fight. It is better to be safe than sorry, so it should be fine to have you fight. I will maintain the rear of our convoy."
"You truly do not mind?"
"It would be better for you to act under orders than to act out of hand; that way, you will at least act with rationality rather than impulse."
"I see...? So you're worried that I may act out of hand?"
"Do not worry about it, go out and fight."
Although Sun had many questions on his mind, he tucked them away as he turned back towards the eastern direction.
"Okay. I will go and fight... thank you, for the opportunity..."
In fact, Sun would have gone and fought anyway, regardless of permission.
Shade of Autumn's pre-emptive mediation was not unfounded, for she had anticipated Sun's overly eager personality due to a similar, prior circumstance.
She hoped that this would help abate his eagerness, for the moment at least.
'As long as this irrationality doesn't overrule his rationality, then it is fine to let him indulge in this senseless pursuit for redemption... I also do not want to see him lose himself. On the other hand...'
Sun rushed through the carriages and plunged into the approaching group of wolves.
He spotted the largest wolf, a Mystical Wolf King, as claimed by Shade of Autumn, being fended off by his senior, Axe-Wielding Fiend.
The other ordinary wolves seemed to part around their fierce collision.
As Sun raised his halberd, pale green Qi flowed up the shaft and ignited the blade a pale gold.
Ribbons flowed from the blade, streams of golden light flowed as Sun cut an arc.
The blade slammed into a wolf, then raised and shot forward, piercing another wolf through its skull.
Behind him were the frightened denizens of Corpse Mountain Settlement, and before him were the Night Graced Wolves.
Swinging and stabbing with his halberd, he acted as a border between the two, accompanied by a few mortal Warriors and Cultivators.
Sun stood fearlessly with those who accompanied him; however, the horses and oxen were thrown into chaos.
As the scent of violence filled the air, horses neighed and oxen snorted, lifting their heads and trembling.
While the wolves had not even reached the convoy, the unease was intense.
The people desperately tried to calm their steads as the battle continued.
...
Eventually, after a ten-minute battle, the last of the Night Graced Wolves retreated back into the forest's shade.
The convoy had successfully defended against the beast group's assault.
Thin Stream Valley had experienced this small battle and returned to its normally quiet state.
The sound of running water filled the air, mixing with the heaved breaths and panicked steads.
"Get your horses and oxen under control; we do not want to draw any more attention to ourselves!"
That familiar authoritative tone filled everyone's minds, and they silently heeded its commands.
Sun calmed his breath as he shook off the blood from his halberd.
Due to his Dao Art—Crown Ring Tyrant's War Banner—the scent of blood exhilarated him. The surrounding scene was full of blood, which worsened his state.
"Sun."
Turning to face that voice, Sun was suddenly met with something being tossed to him.
He fumbled with it as he caught it, looking down at the Dao Art Medium, which was tossed to him.
"Oh. Thank you, Autumn."
Instilling it with Qi, gentle licks of flame surrounded Sun's body and burned away any stains of blood.
"You are not injured, are you?"
"Ah... Just a few scratches. Those wolves seemed to bear more vigour and wrath than expected."
"That is true. I was observing their behaviour when on guard. Even as that Mystical Beast King was felled, they continued to fight fiercely, their will unwavering. It wasn't until the last moments that the wolves finally fell back."
"That is odd. They weren't insane; they couldn't have been. Could it have been the nature of those wolves?"
"Night Graced Beasts are all known to attack other intelligent life, especially humans. It is likely the case of the beast's nature."
Even as Sun nodded along, a small part of him believed otherwise, but since nothing was supporting that notion, he dismissed it.
"Well... Sun, if you are injured, why don't you try using the Dao Art you were learning?"
"Height of Blossom...? Ah. I suppose it would be a good time to try it out."
Saying so, Sun collected Qi in the tip of his finger and began to draw the Dao Art image onto his palm.
Health. Longevity. Gourd. Yang.
For some odd reason, despite this being the first time he put the Dao Art into action, his skill at drawing such intricate images was quite good.
It even sent Shade of Autumn into quiet surprise for a moment, until she turned to Sun with a curious expression.
"Sun. You say you've never learned a healing Dao Art before, right?"
"Yes. I get where you may be coming from. I'm surprised, too. I never draw Dao Arts too often, only my offensive Dao Art when preparing for battle, so this skill surprises even me!"
"And you say you only know of the mundane healing method, which is an application of Qi..."
"Yes...? Is something the matter, Autumn?
"I recall you having another healing method... Although I don't know its name, I witnessed you treating the injured of Corpse Mountain Settlement, after the Demonic Cultivator's invasion."
"You... I, what...?"
Sun frowned as he heard this.
When did he have a healing method? Was what Shade of Autumn claiming the truth?
He thought that it couldn't be, for his memories did not hold such a truth.
"You do not remember?"
"No... No... I do not. Are you sure, Autumn, that I had such a thing... such a method?"
"Yes. I do recall you being able to use a healing Dao Art... Sun, do you have any problems with your memories?"
"What?"
"Ah. I do not mean to insult you. Perhaps your injuries had damaged your memories... and maybe that is why you can not recall having such a Dao Art..."
"..."
Sun palmed his brow as he tried to recall every immediate memory.
...