Xiao Feng's heart clenched the moment he heard the woman's desperate scream—"Ai Wei!"
In a flash, he vanished from the treetop.
Ai Wei was pressed against a towering tree, her pistol lost in the chaos. In her trembling hand, she clutched a short dagger barely a dozen centimeters long, staring in terror at the savage demon-wolf before her.
Just moments ago, the beast had swiped her gun away with a single claw, prompting her terrified cry. Now cornered, pale with fright and unable to retreat, she stood defenseless beneath the looming shadow of the monster. Around her, not a single mercenary remained—they had all fled, saving only themselves.
She was utterly engulfed by fear, her trembling chest heaving with each shallow breath, yet she was completely unaware of her disheveled appearance.
"Stay away!" she cried, swinging the dagger frantically. "Get back! Go away!"
But the demon-wolf paid no heed to her words. It growled low and menacingly, drool dripping freely from its fangs as it eyed the delicate prey before it.
After circling a few steps, the wolf suddenly lunged—jaws open wide, aiming for the soft whiteness of her neck.
Ai Wei shut her eyes and screamed again, voice piercing through the forest—"Ahhh!"
Amid her scream came a dull thud—"Bang!"
The wolf's body was flung sideways, slamming into a nearby tree.
Ai Wei opened her eyes in disbelief. Xiao Feng had already closed in, his lithe figure charging the stunned demon-wolf. Without hesitation, he rammed the long barrel of his sniper rifle down the creature's throat and pulled the trigger—"Boom!" Another thunderous shot rang out, and the beast collapsed, twitching, to the blood-soaked earth.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Xiao Feng muttered, "Just in time."
Had he arrived even a moment later, this fierce and alluring woman would have become the wolf's feast.
Ai Wei broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with emotion, tears spilling like an overflowing spring.
Xiao Feng approached, and upon seeing her tear-streaked face, offered a gentle smile. "It's alright now. The beast is dead. No need to cry."
Suddenly, Ai Wei threw herself into his arms, burying her face into his shoulder, weeping without restraint.
Gone was the image of the hardened mercenary leader—instead, she was now just a frightened, fragile woman, overwhelmed and undone, her defenses shattered in the aftermath of terror. The comfort of Xiao Feng's steady presence had unraveled her resolve entirely.
Xiao Feng stood frozen, unsure of how to react, allowing her to cling tightly to him. The warmth and softness of her trembling body pressed against his—something he instinctively resisted, yet subconsciously refused to pull away from.
"You scared me to death," Ai Wei sobbed into his shoulder. "Why didn't you come sooner? I was almost torn apart by that damned wolf—do you even realize that?"
Xiao Feng hesitated for a moment, then lifted his hand and gently patted her back. "Alright, alright, you're safe now. I came, didn't I? There's no need to cry anymore. This isn't the time or place for tears. If you keep holding onto me like this and more wolves show up, I won't have the chance to kill them!"
Ai Wei sniffled and slowly released him. She understood he was right.
Still wiping away tears, she choked out a laugh.
Xiao Feng smirked. "Weren't you supposed to be tough, sister? Didn't think you could cry like that. Look at you—crying like a mess. Try not to cry next time. You look awful."
Ai Wei gave his chest a playful punch. "Shut up!"
"This place isn't safe. I'll take you out of the forest."
She nodded, scanning the ground until she recovered her pistol, and quickly followed behind Xiao Feng toward the edge of the woods.
Along their path, the forest floor was littered with corpses—mercenaries, torn and bloodied, their bodies strewn in grotesque disarray. Severed limbs and decapitated heads lay scattered amidst pools of blood. The air was thick with the stench of death.
Neither of them had ever witnessed such carnage.
The Viper Squad had suffered devastating losses, while the demon-wolves remained mostly unscathed—a clear sign of the terrifying power they still possessed.
Xiao Feng's only concern now was Ai Wei. He had to get her back to Safe Zone 64, quickly.
They quickened their pace. More corpses lay ahead—fallen brothers in arms.
"More than ten of our people are dead," Ai Wei whispered, her voice trembling. "Viper Squad has been decimated…"
"I saw it," Xiao Feng said grimly. "No one could've predicted this pack of monsters. But it's already happened. We can only avenge our fallen now—by killing every last one of them."
Gunfire cracked in the distance—heavy and rhythmic. The sound of a mounted machine gun.
Xiao Feng pulled Ai Wei along, urging her forward.
When they finally broke free of the forest, they saw it—the remaining wolves were swarming a heavily armored vehicle, snapping and clawing with savage fury.
A handful of surviving mercenaries clung to the vehicle's defenses, firing with everything they had.
Xiao Feng raised his sniper rifle, took aim, and fired—"Boom!" The shot struck a leaping wolf clean through the eye. It tumbled to the ground, twitching violently before lying still.
With Xiao Feng's support, the last of the wolves were soon dispatched.
Only then did the mercenaries inside the vehicle dare to emerge.
Xiao Feng, panting heavily, ran up and flung open the door. He pushed Ai Wei inside. "Take her back, now! I have to find Old White!"
Ai Wei grabbed his hand, pleading, "Come with us—please!"
He shook his head and gently pulled away. "I can't. I have to go back for him. Besides… who here has bullets that fit this rifle?"
A soldier inside the vehicle rummaged around and tossed Xiao Feng a box of ammunition. "Be careful, brother!"
Xiao Feng smiled. "Get going. Keep Ai Wei safe!"
Ai Wei looked at him through tear-filled eyes, unable to speak.
"What a loyal kid…"
"And unexpectedly powerful. Without him, we'd all be dead by now."
"He'll be an even greater hunter than Old White one day."
"Isn't it too dangerous to let him go back alone?"
"Believe in Xiao Feng. He'll manage."
As the warriors spoke in low, reverent tones, Ai Wei's eyes remained fixed on Xiao Feng's slender figure as it disappeared once more into the shadowy depths of the forest.
The mercenaries quickly loaded the bodies of the slain demon-wolves and turned the vehicle toward the safety of the protected zone.