Descendants of the False Gods - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Wolf

The narrow path before the “Old Man’s Village” stretched east along the mountain and lake, linking to the main road that connected Wang County to Di County. Heading further south, the path reached the northernmost town of Wu County—Iron Plains Town.

The lake beside the mountain village was named Little Mirror Lake because of its calm, mirror-like surface. To the north of the village stood a mountain called Tiger’s Mouth Peak, named after its peak, which resembled a tiger’s gaping maw.

Tiger’s Mouth Peak was the last summit of the southernmost part of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range, which divided Di County from the Central Plains. As it marked the range’s end, the peak was not particularly high.

From its summit, one could see the endless mountain ranges stretching northward—an expanse of uninhabited wilderness with boundless forests and untamed beasts. The southern part of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range served as the territory of a pack of mutated wolves.

These mutated wolves differed from ordinary ones primarily in size—an adult mutated wolf was nearly as large as a grown horse. Known as “riding wolves” or “spirit wolves,” they possessed remarkable intelligence and sensitivity.

Due to the natural affinity the northern wolf clans had for these creatures, some gifted individuals could form a bond with the mutated wolves, training them as mounts. These clans believed that the mutated wolves were the most intelligent and spiritually connected animals, hence the name “spirit wolves” or “riding wolves.”

However, the leader of such a pack was called a “demon wolf.” A mutated wolf king was the most intelligent, cunning, and ferocious of the pack, leading its group to dominate a territory and eliminate any threat. Such a leader was unyielding, attacking indiscriminately—whether human, beast, wolf clan, or foreign creature.

The southern end of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range was home to a pack of over thirty of these mutated wolves.

As winter approached, the demon wolf king sensed that their current territory was too close to human settlements. When the mountains were sealed by snow, food scarcity could threaten the pack’s survival. Thus, it decided to lead the pack to migrate.

However, disagreement arose within the pack over the direction of the migration.

The wolf king intended to head northwest into the mountains since the northern region was occupied by a group of mutated bears. These bears had driven the wolves out, forcing them to their present grounds.

Yet, the wolf king’s son, now fully grown and in his prime, proposed a different approach. Given the current abundance of food and the pack’s strength, he advocated for a direct confrontation—either killing or driving out the mutated bears to reclaim their former territory.

The son was not only the strongest in the pack but had also earned a following through his years of leading hunting parties. His dissent signalled a threat to the old wolf king’s authority—an intolerable challenge within the pack. The wolf king’s roar failed to intimidate the younger wolf, leading to a direct challenge according to the pack’s rules.

In such challenges, the defeated often faced death or exile, only surviving if they managed to escape the territory. Should they be found nearby, they would be hunted down mercilessly.

In the duel, the old wolf king, still bearing injuries from the battle with the mutated bears, was eventually defeated. As the new wolf king delivered the final blow, the she-wolf—heavy with pups—stepped in, shielding the old wolf king and enabling his retreat.

Banished from the only pack it had ever known, the old wolf king, carrying a sense of loss, wandered with the she-wolf. They unknowingly reached the borderland between the wolves’ territory and the domain of humans.

Here, they knew that discovery by either humans or wolves meant inevitable death. Yet, with no other choice, they found temporary refuge in a narrow gap of this hostile land.

The old wolf needed food to heal, while the she-wolf required nourishment to sustain her unborn pups. They hid in a gully north of Tiger’s Mouth Peak, wary of the strong human presence to the south.

Winter had fully arrived, casting a blanket of snow across the land. In this frozen wilderness, only small creatures like pheasants, squirrels, and hares scavenged for food, enough to sustain them for days or even weeks.

The injured old wolf lay hidden in the snow, awaiting prey. With a sudden, forceful strike, it managed to capture a fat hare—its first prey in a week. The wolf ravenously tore into the hare, replenishing its weakened body. Despite its hunger, it carried the remaining half of the hare back to the rocky cave sheltering the she-wolf.

However, the scent left behind during the hunt caught the attention of a wandering wolf. This wolf brought the news to the new wolf king, who realised that the old wolf had not left the territory.

Seizing the opportunity, the new wolf king decided to eradicate the threat while the old wolf’s wounds had yet to heal. Knowing the danger posed by a wounded yet desperate old wolf and a pregnant she-wolf, it gathered its strength for a decisive strike.

With the pack assembled, the new wolf king led a dozen robust spirit wolves southward. They followed the scent trail to the boundary of their domain.

In the rocky hollow of the gully, the old wolf and the she-wolf huddled together for warmth, unaware of the approaching threat. As the howling wind carried a foreboding chill, the old wolf sensed the impending danger. It emerged from the cave, looking up to see the new wolf king on a boulder, flanked by the pack.

A semicircle of wolves snarled threateningly, and the old wolf knew escape was unlikely. It nudged the she-wolf, whispering a final message before stepping out of the cave together.

The spirit wolves advanced cautiously, testing the old wolf’s resolve. The old wolf dodged their probing attacks, his instincts sharp despite his weariness. In a swift move, the old wolf struck out, aiming to weaken the pursuing wolves. The she-wolf seized the chance, darting toward the mountain slope.

Surprised by her sudden escape, the pack hesitated. The new wolf king quickly recovered, commanding a portion of the wolves to chase the fleeing she-wolf.

With desperate strength, the old wolf intercepted the pursuers, scattering them with ferocious strikes. Despite his weakened state, he managed to reduce their number before collapsing, his breath heavy in the cold air.

Snow began to fall again, covering the scarlet-stained ground. The old wolf finally fell, its throat caught in the jaws of the new wolf king. The victorious howl of the new wolf king marked the dawn of a new era for the pack.

Amidst the snow, the lifeless wolves lay sprawled—a testament to the brutal contest for survival. The new wolf king glanced toward the slope, hoping the hunting party would soon return with news of the she-wolf. The snow had buried their tracks, leaving an uncertain fate in the icy wilderness.