A Shocking Dream

Chapter 148

Its eyes were like two balls of burning green fire, staring closely at the people in the village. It let out a low roar, revealing its sharp fangs. There seemed to be traces of blood from its previous prey between its teeth, and the bloody smell drifted away with the breeze.

The old man leading the group gasped, his cane trembling slightly. The young men, though feigning composure, beads of sweat streamed down their foreheads. They gripped their farm tools tightly, veins bulging in their arms from the strain. The women, pale with fear, clutched their children tightly to their bodies, some even covering their eyes, fearing the horrific scene would leave a lasting impression on them.

Frightened yet curious, the children peeked from between their mothers' arms, their bodies involuntarily huddling closer behind the adults. The entire village was instantly enveloped in an atmosphere of extreme tension and oppression. Only the crackling bonfire, swaying in the wind, seemed the only solace in this silence and terror.

A bonfire burned brightly between the two sides, its flames dancing and illuminating the villagers' tense faces and the Wolf King's grim silhouette. The two sides remained deadlocked, their silence punctuated only by the whistling of the wind, fanning the flames and adding a tense rhythm to the silent confrontation.

"I was the one who killed your wolf cub." Lin Wunian walked up from behind the villager.

She stood tall and straight, her steps firm. Though her face was slightly pale, she exuded fearlessness. The wolf king's previously cold and fierce gaze instantly focused on her. Like a blazing fire, his fur suddenly stood on end, with the hairs on his back standing up like steel needles. He let out a deafening roar, the sound waves spreading through the air like ripples, causing the branches and leaves of the surrounding trees to tremble. His front paws scratched the ground relentlessly, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving deep scars in front of him. He looked as if he was about to tear the person in front of him into pieces.

Lin Wunian showed no fear. She raised her chin slightly and looked directly into the Wolf King's eyes. Her hand tightly gripped the hilt of her sword, which gleamed with a cold light, as if responding to its master's determination. She knew she couldn't retreat at this moment. Behind her were the kind villagers who had taken them in, and she had to shoulder this responsibility.

Qianqian anxiously called out, "Sister, be careful!" But Lin Wunian ignored her cries, her entire attention focused on the Wolf King. The entire village was silent, the only sound being the Wolf King's roar and heavy breathing. The villagers, daring not to breathe, watched nervously as this life-or-death confrontation unfolded. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, each second stretching endlessly, each moment brimming with the tension of life and death.

"If it hadn't attacked me, I wouldn't have killed it." Lin Wunian spoke, his voice calm but firm, and it spread clearly in the silent night sky.

When the villagers heard this, their faces showed different expressions. Some villagers' eyes flashed with relief, as if they found a reasonable explanation for Lin Wunian's behavior and felt a little comforted. Others were still nervous, their eyes flickering back and forth between Lin Wunian and the Wolf King, and they gripped their weapons even tighter, fearing that the Wolf King would suddenly attack and hurt them.

The wolf king seemed to understand Lin Wunian's words and howled angrily to the sky. The sound waves rolled, shaking the snow from the surrounding branches. Its eyes burned with the flames of revenge, and its body crouched slightly, ready to pounce.

Seeing this, Lin Wunian stepped sideways, moving steadily, trying to draw the Wolf King's attention completely to herself and protect the villagers behind her. "I know you're angry about the death of your cub, but things have come to this. If you insist on revenge, I will not back down," she said to the Wolf King, her words tinged with a hint of respect and helplessness for life.

Qianqian stood there, her heart aching. She quietly clenched the whip in her hand, her eyes fixed on the Wolf King's every move, ready to lend a hand to Lin Wunian at the crucial moment. At this moment, the night wind blew, the flames swaying even more violently, and the light and shadows on everyone's faces flickered, as if dancing uneasily with the tense confrontation.

"Awooo!" A pack of wolves suddenly appeared in the forest. Their long, eerie howls echoed one after another, like a death warrant from hell. The already tense atmosphere suddenly became like a taut bowstring, ready to explode.

The villagers' faces turned pale, the children burst into tears of fear, and the women's hands, trembling as they hugged their children, muttered various prayers for safety. Although the young men tried to remain calm, their feet unconsciously moved back, closer to each other, and the farm tools in their hands seemed to become heavier and harder to control.

The wolf king heard the wolves' response, and the fierce light in his eyes became even more intense. He did not hesitate and suddenly pounced at Lin Wunian. Lin Wunian was prepared and dodged to the side, swinging his sword with a cold light, forcing the wolf king to twist his body in the air, avoiding the sharp edge and falling heavily to the side.

"Sister!" Seeing this, Kanan rushed forward, brandishing her whip. The whip made a whirring sound as it lashed out at the Wolf King. The Wolf King nimbly leaped up, dodging the attack and lunging at Kanan. Lin Wunian quickly followed, his sword pointed directly at the Wolf King's back, forcing it to turn mid-flight and confront the two men again.

At that moment, pairs of dark green eyes appeared in the woods, and the wolves gradually gathered around them. They spread out behind the wolf king, forming a semicircle that trapped Lin Wunian, Qianqian, and the villagers. Each wolf had a fierce look in their eyes, and a deep growl emanated from their mouths, as if awaiting the wolf king's command, ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment.

Lin Wunian watched the scene, and it reminded her of a past life when she was also surrounded by wolves. She was isolated and helpless, filled with despair and helplessness. Under the wolves' sharp teeth and claws, her life flickered like a candle in the wind. The unforgettable fear and pain now surged into her heart like a tide.

But she knew that in this life, she was no longer the weakling who could only sit and wait for death. A flicker of determination flashed in her eyes, and she gripped the sword even tighter, as if it were her only hope in fighting fate. "Today, I must not repeat the same mistakes," she whispered to herself.

Kanan sensed the change in Lin Wunian's mood and asked softly, "Sister, what's wrong with you?" Lin Wunian shook her head slightly and did not respond, but stared intently at the wolf king and the group of wolves that were gradually approaching.

She slowly adjusted her breathing, trying to calm herself, but her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the tragic scenes of her previous life. Blood, screams, wolf eyes flashing in the darkness... these images kept replaying in her mind.