Xiao Feng did not pull the trigger.
As he gazed at the shivering little white wolf, a flicker of emotion stirred within him. It reminded him of his own past, and before he realized it, sympathy welled up in his heart for the fragile creature.
Then, regaining his composure, Xiao Feng calmly pulled the bolt back, chambered a round, and fired with a sharp bang. The bullet struck a demonic ape straight through the eye. The beast, which had been howling just moments ago, collapsed backward in an instant.
A single shot was all it took—clearly, this ape was no more than a Grade G demonic beast.
That shot drew the attention of all the other apes. As they turned toward Xiao Feng in unison, it only made his task easier.
With swift precision, he chambered another round and fired again—then again. The shots rang out in steady rhythm. Xiao Feng reloaded with remarkable speed, barely pausing between shots. One by one, the beasts fell to the ground in heavy thuds.
The alpha wolf, alarmed by the gunfire, hastily shielded the little white wolf beneath its body.
When the last echo of gunfire faded, the white wolf collapsed to its knees with a dull thud. Xiao Feng hadn't shot it—it was clear the beast had spent the last of its strength and could no longer stand.
Xiao Feng leapt down from the tree, passing the corpses of the slain beasts, and slowly approached the great white wolf. His expression grew solemn as he stared at the dying creature. He had been moved—profoundly—by the maternal instinct that had driven the wolf to protect its young at all costs. It was a kind of love and sacrifice that Luo Jin had never known.
The white wolf panted heavily, dark blood oozing from its wounds.
Xiao Feng let out a wry smile. "Enough. You're dying—I won't be the one to end your life." With that, he bent down and gently picked up the little white wolf. The creature looked up at him with trusting eyes, docile as a puppy.
"Little one, from now on, you're coming with me."
The white wolf cub let out two soft howls, almost as if it understood his words.
Xiao Feng set the cub down and pulled out his dagger. He approached one of the demonic ape corpses, thrust the blade deep into its belly, and sl*t it open. Reaching into the warm viscera, he fumbled around until his hand grasped a hard, rhomboid core.
It was the beast's magic crystal.
Grade G magic crystals were transparent, glass-like in appearance. The higher the grade, the darker the color of the crystal.
Such a crystal was far more valuable than the meat of any ordinary prey.
One by one, Xiao Feng cut open the remaining demonic apes and retrieved their magic crystals. At last, he turned his gaze to the lifeless white wolf, then looked down at the cub. With a sigh, he shook his head, removed his coat, and gently wrapped the cub inside.
He didn't want the little one to witness what was about to happen.
Xiao Feng walked to the side of the still-breathing white wolf, gripped his dagger tightly, and plunged it mercilessly into the beast's abdomen.
The hide of a Grade F demonic beast was far tougher than that of Grade G. It took considerable effort before he managed to cut through the flesh and reach inside. After a moment of searching, his hand closed around a pale blue magic crystal. He held it up, comparing it to the translucent Grade G ones—it was slightly larger, and its hue was noticeably deeper.
After storing the crystals safely, Xiao Feng glanced one last time at the now-dead white wolf and murmured, "It wasn't my wish to kill you. You simply had no place in this world."
Then he lifted the little white wolf into his arms and set off toward Protection Zone 64.
He concealed the cub beneath his clothes, slipping past the watchful eyes of the Alliance soldiers, and strode into town with his rifle slung over his back.
As he passed the tavern, a voice called out to him.
"Xiao Feng! Where have you been?" It was Old White, his voice tinged with drunkenness.
Seated with him were Cook and Turner, their table cluttered with empty bottles. Turner was still drowning in grief from the loss of so many comrades. Though he was already deep in his cups, he continued to drink with stubborn determination.
Xiao Feng stepped into the tavern. The barmaid looked at him curiously—this boy, still so young, carrying a massive sniper rifle that clashed starkly with his age and frame. His slight build and the imposing weapon gave him an aura that stirred an odd mix of admiration and intrigue in the onlookers—feelings that transcended age.
"Uncle White, I went to avenge our brothers."
Old Cook chuckled tipsily. "Don't tell me you killed that alpha wolf?"
"I didn't," Xiao Feng replied. "When I found it, it was already locked in a deadly fight with a pack of demonic apes. It was badly injured. I simply claimed the final blow. And I brought this back." He unwrapped his coat and lifted the little white wolf onto the table.
Everyone stared in astonishment.
The other patrons gathered around, eyes fixed in amazement on the trembling cub.
Even the barmaid left her counter to take a closer look.
"A demonic beast cub?"
"Incredible... I've never seen one before!"
"Looks like it hasn't been born long."
"This kid's lucky—finding a beast cub like that! If he sells it to the Alliance, he'll make a fortune!"
"White, your daughter's medical bills might finally be covered!"
Old White looked at Xiao Feng with moist eyes. "Thank you, child."
But Xiao Feng cradled the cub close and said firmly, "I'm not selling him. I'm going to raise him."
White gave a wry laugh. "There you go again with your bleeding heart. Remember how those two deer you raised ended up? And now you want to raise this little wolf?"
"I don't care. If anyone tries to hurt my wolf, I'll kill them." Xiao Feng's voice was cold, his eyes like blades—deadly serious.
The barmaid returned behind the counter and brought out a meat patty. She placed it before the cub, stroking its head gently. "Eat up, little one. If Xiao Feng can't raise you, I will."
Xiao Feng grinned. "You must be joking, ma'am. I'm a hunter—I can more than afford to care for him."
"Well then, he's yours," she said, then turned to Old White. "You're a lucky man, White. At your age, to end up with such a capable boy—it's enough to make me jealous. If I weren't still single... maybe you and I should settle down together?"
Old White only chuckled in response.
The little white wolf sniffed the meat, then cautiously began to eat.
Watching it, White and Turner's expressions grew heavy. After all, it was the demonic wolves that had slaughtered over twenty members of the Viper Squad.
White sighed. "Let's go home. Turner, settle the bill—we've no money to spare."
Turner slapped a crumpled bill onto the table and staggered to his feet, weaving his way out of the tavern.
Xiao Feng followed White through the streets. "Uncle White, do you not want me to keep the wolf?"
He smiled faintly. "Do as you please, child. I won't stop you. After all... you're my family."
"Uncle White, are you angry with me?"
"Why would I be? The wolf is your prize. You have every right to decide what to do with it."
"Please don't be upset. I think we've almost saved enough... for Alice's surgery."
White, still drunk, seemed not to hear at first. He paused, turned to Xiao Feng, and asked, "What did you say?"
"I said—we might have enough now... to pay for Alice's treatment."