Chapter 019: Lei Hang in Peril (2)

The intentions of the two men in silver armor were now painfully clear. Shen Tuo gripped her sword tightly, her gaze locked onto them.

Lei Hang was still engaged in an exhausting struggle with the Kodo beast. The Scarlet Flame Vermilion Bird, having just depleted its energy and suffered grievous wounds under the pressure of a high-tier magical beast, had already been summoned back into the spirit beast realm. The surrounding mercenaries were busy fending off the remaining low and mid-tier magical beasts, while Lei Lie and his companions were entangled with the Flame Beast—no one had attention to spare for what was happening here.

A thin, greenish-blue sphere of spirit energy crashed against the Kodo beast. Lei Hang, gasping for breath, glared at the unyielding creature before him and couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, if I hadn't spent all my strength today, would you still be jumping around here?" The Kodo beast, sensing his hostility, threw its head back and roared.

The two men in silver armor exchanged a glance. One launched a "Tyrant Dragon Strike"—a sky spirit technique—toward the Ironwing Silver Wolf. But the attack did not strike the wolf directly; instead, it glanced past its left wing. In an instant, the massive iron wing was violently blasted apart. The Ironwing Silver Wolf howled in agony, blood pouring from the severed wing and staining the snow-covered ground—a scene almost too brutal to behold.

Its eyes blazing with fury, the Ironwing Silver Wolf glared at the two men. Its wings were its pride, the mark that set it apart from lesser silver wolves. Now, thanks to these wretched humans, its iron wing had been destroyed—a loss it could never recover, for a silver wolf could only grow one pair upon advancing in rank. How could it not be enraged? With a swipe of its deadly claws, it struck at the men, who dodged back, grinning with malicious satisfaction.

The Ironwing Silver Wolf's claw met empty air. Enraged, it chased after them, running on the ground since it could no longer fly, while the two men hovered just out of reach, taunting it.

Suddenly, the men dropped to the ground, withdrawing the blue spirit energy that had shielded them. The Ironwing Silver Wolf was not about to miss this opportunity. It leapt, pouncing upon them, and with a long, menacing howl, snapped at them with its jaws. The wolf's deadliest weapon was not its wings or claws, but its venomous fangs—capable of piercing even the hard armor of a sky spirit master’s spirit beast. Any spirit master bitten by it was doomed unless cured by the wolf’s own saliva; otherwise, death would soon follow.

The Ironwing Silver Wolf was fast—its strength on par with a sacred beast—but the two men on the ground moved even faster. Just before the wolf could strike, they darted away like lightning. Wounded and crippled, the wolf was no longer as agile as before, and the ferocious attack it launched could not be withdrawn. Directly in its path was Lei Hang, locked in combat with the Kodo beast.

Magical beasts are proud and fierce by nature, their pride growing with their power. Already disdainful of human spirit masters, the Ironwing Silver Wolf, having just lost its wing to those two, now saw Lei Hang and, blinded by rage, lunged at him as an outlet for its fury.

Lei Hang was wholly absorbed in his battle. Unaware of the danger approaching from behind, he finally managed to end the Kodo beast with a spirit-infused palm strike. He exhaled in relief, relaxed, and bent down to dig out the beast’s magic crystal—when a chill wind and a ferocious roar erupted behind him.

By the time he realized what was happening, the Ironwing Silver Wolf’s jaws had already clamped onto his back. Pain like fire seared through him; he cried out, nearly losing consciousness as the wolf’s deadly maw threatened to close. But just then, a swift breeze swept by, and a sword plunged straight for the wolf’s eye. Shen Tuo's gaze was cold and resolute as she gripped the hilt, her determination clear: any beast that dared harm her friend would pay the price.

At that moment, Lei Lie, fighting the Flame Beast, was startled by the commotion. He had witnessed the scene and was shocked that, at such a critical juncture, it was the seemingly powerless young girl who dared to step forward. His sharp gaze then fell upon the two men in silver armor: they were none other than Elder Wei He and his nephew Wei Liheng from the Wei family—the very troublemakers from the day before. Their purpose was now laid bare. Lei Lie quickly dispatched the Flame Beast and hurried anxiously toward Shen Tuo.

The Ironwing Silver Wolf had not expected a sudden attack. Pain flared in its eye, and it thrashed its head violently. Lei Hang, wounded, was flung aside, while Shen Tuo, still gripping her sword, was sent soaring into the air. The beast’s immense strength was beyond anything she, not even a spirit master herself, could withstand. If she crashed to the ground now, she would surely be gravely injured. Gritting her teeth as the wind roared past her ears, she relied on her agility, twisting in the air and landing astride the Ironwing Silver Wolf’s back.

The wolf would not tolerate a human atop it. It bucked and leapt in fury—if it could speak, it would surely have cursed her. Shen Tuo, however, clung tightly to its thick mane at the neck, refusing to be thrown no matter how wildly it moved.

Lei Lie caught the flung Lei Hang and, after entrusting him to Lei Bo and Lei An, charged forward. The two from the Wei family, not wanting to be too obvious, made a show of flying over as well, inwardly delighted. Though Lei Hang had not died on the spot, he was now poisoned by the wolf’s venom.

Fighting desperately, Shen Tuo wrenched the sword from the wolf’s eye, blood staining its silver fur a ghastly crimson.

The Wei family pair raised their hands, blue spirit energy gathering as they prepared to strike the wounded Ironwing Silver Wolf. Its strength was severely diminished; a pair of sky spirit techniques would surely kill it instantly—along with Shen Tuo, who still clung to its back. But the two men had no regard for someone as powerless as Shen Tuo.

Lei Lie saw this and his eyes turned icy. He leapt between them, roaring, “How shameless you are—plotting against my son and now trying to destroy the cure. Do you take me, Lei Lie, for someone easily bullied?”

He had struck at the heart of the matter. If the Ironwing Silver Wolf died now, not only would Shen Tuo be lost, but the antidote for Lei Hang’s poisoning would be out of reach. Finding another high-level Ironwing Silver Wolf in the depths of the Catra Forest within a limited time was no simple task.

Their scheme exposed, Wei He and Wei Liheng dared not escalate in front of so many mercenaries and the leader of the Blazing Flame Mercenary Corps while the beast tide was still raging. With a cold snort, they replied, “Since Captain Lei Lie doesn’t need our help, we won’t interfere further.” With that, they flew off, returning to the Lava Mercenary Corps’ territory to help with the remaining magical beasts.

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The “Ironback Silver Wolf” from the previous chapter has been changed to “Ironwing Silver Wolf.” Please take note.