Chapter 97: Life Hanging by a Thread

The wolf king sneered, "Moved? Want to cry? Then cry, don't hold back, no one will laugh at you."

Qin Feiyang kicked him away, this guy was truly incorrigible.

Wolf King dodged swiftly, chuckled, and upon noticing Ling Yunfei beside him, asked, "How did he end up here?"

His gaze instantly turned ice-cold!

"He already knows my identity."

Qin Feiyang briefly recounted the events.

"I see."

Wolf King's eyes flickered, he turned his gaze toward Ling Yunfei and said, "How do you plan to thank Wolf Brother?"

"Who is speaking?"

Ling Yunfei was startled.

Wolf King could only communicate through mental transmission at the moment.

Thus, Ling Yunfei had not heard the previous conversation with Qin Feiyang.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, causing him to panic!

But then.

He realized what had happened.

Here were only the two of them and Wolf King.

Who would refer to themselves as Wolf Brother?

Without question, it was the wolf before him.

He looked down at Wolf King, puzzled, "Why should I thank you?"

"Heh, it seems you still don't understand."

"Do you believe your wits alone can escape Housekeeper Ling's pursuit?"

Wolf King regarded him with contempt.

Ling Yunfei was dazed.

Originally, he had believed it was his own strength that had allowed him to evade Housekeeper Ling.

But now, upon Wolf King's words, a careful review revealed numerous suspicious details.

Wolf King said, "Let me tell you, without Wolf Brother's secret assistance, you would have been slain by Housekeeper Ling, and it was ultimately Wolf Brother who enlisted the Black Bear King's help."

"So that's it."

Ling Yunfei suddenly understood and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Wolf Brother. Qin Feiyang, thank you as well."

Without a doubt.

It was Qin Feiyang who had instructed Wolf King to secretly protect him.

"Words of thanks are useless. From now on, become Wolf Brother's little follower and you'll eat and drink to your heart's content."

Wolf King said shamelessly.

"Uh!"

Ling Yunfei was stunned.

A wolf's little follower?

Wouldn't that be too undignified?

The atmosphere grew awkward.

At a critical moment, Qin Feiyang stepped forward, smiling faintly, "Enough, stop fooling around. The main business comes first. Do you know where the Black Bear King's den is?"

Wolf King boasted, "Of course. Nothing under heaven or earth escapes Wolf Brother's knowledge."

"Keep blowing smoke and you'll die from it!" Qin Feiyang couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Mountains and rivers can change, but one's nature is hard to alter—this saying was spot on.

He looked at Ling Yunfei. "White-Eyed Wolf knows the Black Bear King's den. Now the only issue is how to break out of the poison insect nest."

Ling Yunfei pondered briefly. "I'll go out to draw them away. Take the chance to find the Black Bear King. When you return, don't forget to come back and give me a proper burial."

Qin Feiyang asked, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

"Everyone fears death!"

"But since you've pledged to be my sword, you should lead the charge, facing the dangers for me."

Ling Yunfei's gaze was resolute and his words firm.

Qin Feiyang stared at him intently and added, "Aren't you afraid your mother will be heartbroken?"

"I..."

Ling Yunfei hesitated.

"Enough, I'll go then!"

"As a son, filial piety comes first."

"To be honest, sometimes I envy you. Though your circumstances are tragic, your mother at least remains by your side."

"And me?"

"Seeing her once is already a luxury."

Qin Feiyang shook his head and sneered at himself.

Ling Yunfei was stunned, asking, "Could it be that your mother has already..."

"She is still alive, but between us lies an unbridgeable, unbreachable chasm."

Qin Feiyang sighed deeply, swallowed a detox pill, and left the ancient castle.

Ling Yunfei frowned and looked down at Wolf King. "Wolf Brother, don't you think Qin Feiyang harbors many worries in his heart?"

"Wolf Brother already knows, but since he doesn't speak of them, Wolf Brother won't inquire further. The only task is to silently aid and support him."

Wolf King smiled, his words infused with deep affection.

Outside!

Whoosh!!!

Squeak!!!

Hiss!!!

Qin Feiyang clutched a torch in one hand and Cang Xue in the other, racing through the forest like a streak of lightning.

Around him.

Swarms of poison insects erupted from the grass, bushes, and treetops, baring their fangs and lunging toward him!

Their eerie shrieks sent chills down the spine!

"Not good. Too many poison insects. If this continues, they'll swallow me whole."

Qin Feiyang's face turned ashen.

It had barely been five breaths.

His entire body was swarming with poison insects, biting his skin.

Some poison spiders had even torn into his flesh and were drilling into his core!

Countless toxins already coursed through his veins.

Even the detox pills could not detoxify him in time!

Fainting swept over him.

Crack!

Boom!

Just as he prepared to enter the ancient castle.

Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, the thunder deafening!

The poison insects on Qin Feiyang's body scattered in fright, fleeing into the grass.

In an instant, not one remained.

"Woo woo..."

Splash...

The wind howled violently!

Rain poured down like a torrent!

The long-awaited storm finally broke.

Ancient trees were twisted and bent by the gale.

Qin Feiyang, caught off guard, was hurled aside. He clung to a massive tree to steady himself.

Immediately after.

With a thought, Wolf King and Ling Yunfei materialized beside him.

Wolf King roared joyfully, "Wow, it's so refreshing!"

"Refresh your ass and lead the way already!"

Qin Feiyang cursed angrily, unable to contain himself.

This white-eyed wolf was utterly unreliable. When did he find time for such roaring?

"Oh oh oh."

Wolf King nodded vigorously, glanced around, and sprinted toward the right. "Follow Wolf Brother."

Wolves were nocturnal creatures, for whom day and night held no difference.

But!

Qin Feiyang had not taken more than a few steps before he suddenly collapsed to the ground and lay motionless.

"Qin Feiyang!"

Ling Yunfei rushed forward at once, flipped him over, and his face paled in horror!

Qin Feiyang's face was deathly white, like that of a corpse.

Yet his lips were smeared with a thick black substance.

His breathing and heartbeat were faint, clear signs of imminent death from poisoning!

At that moment.

The torch in Ling Yunfei's hand flickered and died in the storm.

For the two of them, it was salt in the wound!

"Wolf Brother, Qin Feiyang is failing fast. Come see him!"

Ling Yunfei cried out helplessly in the rain.

Wolf King immediately turned and ran back. Upon seeing the situation, his pupils darkened with sorrow. "Didn't he take the detox pill in advance? Why is he like this?"

Ling Yunfei said anxiously, "The detox pill can neutralize poison, but there are at least a dozen types coursing through his body now. The poisoning is too severe. Without immediate intervention, his life may be lost!"

"Damn it!"

Wolf King cursed furiously. "Quick, pick him up and put him on my back. I'll take you to find the Black Bear King. It might have a solution!"

Ling Yunfei lifted Qin Feiyang at once and mounted Wolf King's back.

Fortunately, the wolf king's eyes glowed in darkness.

Fortunately, the lightning and thunder overhead prevented total blindness.

Otherwise, riding Wolf King would have been a grueling ordeal.

"Continue administering detox pills!"

Wolf King instructed, then ran at full speed while howling like a wolf.

But the howl was swallowed by the thunder!

Half an hour later.

Wolf King, panting heavily, reached the entrance of a gorge.

Carrying two companions for so long, he was exhausted and could not roar.

Yet he gritted his teeth and pressed on toward the gorge's depths.

Bang!

Halfway in, his legs suddenly buckled and he toppled over!

The two wolves tumbled into the mud.

"Little Qinzi!"

Wolf King cried out in alarm.

He tried to rise, but his limbs were powerless and he had already lost consciousness.

"Wolf Brother, is the Black Bear King here?"

Ling Yunfei asked.

Wolf King replied, "Yes, yes, it's at the very bottom of the gorge. Carry him and find it quickly!"

After Ling Yunfei had carried him away, Wolf King gathered his final strength and let out a mighty wolf howl to the heavens.

Then.

He collapsed completely and lay in the mud, washed by the rain, and fell into unconsciousness.

This howl echoed through the night sky.

Even the thunder could not drown it!

Roar!

The next instant.

A deep, resonant beast roar sounded from the gorge's depths.

As if answering Wolf King.

Hearing the roar, Ling Yunfei was overjoyed. He activated the Gu Yuan Step and sprinted forward!

Soon.

A small point of firelight came into view.

Crack!

Lightning struck, brilliant light flooding the night.

Though fleeting, he captured the image clearly.

At the gorge's end towered a mountain peak hundreds of zhang high, in the darkness like a fierce beast lying in wait.

At its foot stood a vast cave entrance, the firelight issuing from within.

Beside the cave entrance loomed two enormous forms.

It was the Black Bear King and his cub.

"How did you get here?"

The Black Bear King was surprised to see Ling Yunfei.

Thud!

Ling Yunfei strode up to him, knelt in the mud, and pleaded, "Bear King senior, please save Qin Feiyang."

The Black Bear King was momentarily stunned. He looked down at Qin Feiyang cradled in Ling Yunfei's arms, his pupils shrinking sharply.

"Quick, bring him inside."

He turned and entered the cave.

Ling Yunfei rose and followed closely.

Though a bear's den, it was neat, clean, and spacious.

Even the massive Black Bear King could move about freely.

A bonfire burned in the center, illuminating the entire cave.

The Black Bear King said, "Place him here."

Ling Yunfei nodded, laid Qin Feiyang gently on a bed of dry grass, and stepped back.

The Black Bear King lowered his head, examined him carefully, and frowned. "Did you give him many detox pills?"

"Yes, at least seven or eight..."

Ling Yunfei began to speak, then his expression changed. "Is there a problem?"

The Black Bear King shook his head. "No, no, no. It is thanks to your constant administration of detox pills that his life is still hanging by a thread. Otherwise he would have died long ago."

Ling Yunfei breathed a sigh of relief. "Then does senior have a way to save him?"

"No guarantees."

He pondered for a moment.

The Black Bear King shook his head.

Ling Yunfei's face turned deathly pale.