Seeking Death, Advancing Toward Danger

Hundred‑Herb Garden was attacked by wolf packs, but on the neighboring hill, Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan Dongling and Prince Adrian faced not only the wolves but also an ambush by deathsworn assassins.

Prince Adrian had invited Ninth Royal Uncle for a hunt, and of course there were guards accompanying them. But those guards had already been scattered by wave after wave of wolves, leaving only a few close escorts to protect Prince Adrian and Ninth Royal Uncle, each group fleeing in different directions.

“Royal Uncle, let’s see who can shoot more wolves!” Prince Adrian, facing the wolf pack, wasn’t afraid at all—he was actually thrilled, shouting as he retreated while nocking arrows and shooting.

A complete pampered young master.

Whoosh—the arrow flew out, striking a wolf’s throat. Prince Adrian laughed triumphantly and, ignoring the surging wolves, drew his bow again.

“Protect Prince Adrian. Don’t let anything happen to him,” Ninth Royal Uncle ordered his guards, then sent six more to shield Prince Adrian.

Prince Adrian was never one to behave, and the Emperor’s overprotectiveness left him clueless about how dangerous things really were now.

“But, Your Highness...” There are hardly any men left at your side.

The guards hesitated, unsure what to do.

They knew well that the Emperor was extremely fond of Prince Adrian—nothing must happen to him.

“I’m fine,” Nolan Dongling replied coldly, his eyes fixed on the wolves as he rode his horse uphill. He showed not the slightest hint of panic—completely opposite to Prince Adrian’s reckless playfulness. Nolan was steady and composed.

Even his mount was unlike an ordinary warhorse. Under attack by the wolves, it didn’t panic or neigh, but moved forward with calm, steady steps.

“Yes, sir.” The guards saw that Ninth Royal Uncle was indeed unharmed, while the escorts around Prince Adrian were falling one by one.

Prince Adrian had been protected too well. Facing attacks from wolves and assassins, he treated it like a game, fighting and retreating, wearing out his guards. Several men got hurt because of his recklessness, but he didn’t care at all.

Nolan Dongling glanced thoughtfully at the assassins, a cold, sharp smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Hyah!” With a flick of his whip and a pull of the reins, his handsome horse spun around mid-gallop, changed direction, and charged straight down into the wolf pack.

“Ninth Royal Uncle!” The guards panicked and rushed after him, but their horses, terrified by the wolves’ howls, froze in fear—none dared face the wolf pack head-on. By the time they turned their mounts, Nolan Dongling had already left them behind.

“Royal Uncle…” Prince Adrian was frightened now. He immediately dropped his arrows, turned his horse, and tried to chase after Nolan.

“Hyah…”

Nolan Dongling’s mount reared up, leaping right over the heads of the wolves. As its hooves landed, there was a sickening crunch—it stomped a leaping wolf’s skull to pieces.

“Zichun, I’ll cover the rear. You hurry back to the palace.” Ninth Royal Uncle seemed to have eyes in the back of his head—just as Prince Adrian was about to chase after him, Nolan stopped him with a shout.

“No, Zichun can’t let you face danger alone, Royal Uncle! I’ll help you!” Dongling Zichun—Prince Adrian—cracked his whip and tried to follow, but was blocked by the wolves.

At that moment, the deathsworn assassins ignored the guards and broke off to chase after Ninth Royal Uncle.

Whatever they carried, wherever they went, the wolves didn’t dare attack them. In fact, the wolves actively avoided them.

Seeing this, Nolan Dongling realized the wolves really were being raised and controlled.

They’d gone to a lot of trouble just to kill him.

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Nolan Dongling’s mouth as he rode deeper into the woods.

Behind him, one of the assassins whistled, and dozens of fine horses ran out from the forest. Each assassin mounted up and chased after Ninth Royal Uncle, riding single file into the depths of the woods.

……

Relying on her doctor’s sensitivity to the scent of blood, Serena Feng arrived at the hunting grounds and immediately found the spot where the wolves first appeared—corpses everywhere.

There were warhorses and guards killed by wolves, and wolves killed by the guards—a scene of utter devastation, the wind carrying the stench of blood.

Suppressing her nausea, Serena dismounted to inspect the site. There were almost no survivors; the carnage here rivaled a street blasted by bombs.

But Serena Feng, hardened by battlefield horrors, barely felt anything. After a quick search and finding no survivors, she started looking for signs of where people had gone.

“Why would they head into the forest?” Serena stared at the tracks on the ground, unable to understand.

Anyone with sense wouldn’t go deeper into the woods. It’s even more dangerous in there.

There were tracks from people, horses, and wolves.

“Could it be they weren’t escaping, but were driven into the woods by the wolf pack?”

But looking at the direction the wolves died, something didn’t add up. The wolves had burst out from the forest, so if people were forced to run, they should have gone the other way. Yet the tracks showed they’d gone straight toward the danger.

“Are they out of their minds?” Serena thought the one who made this decision had to be Prince Adrian.

Ninth Royal Uncle would never make such an unwise choice.

Serena Feng glanced at the darkening sky, feeling a surge of unease.

The forest at night was anything but safe.

But thinking of Ninth Royal Uncle, Serena grit her teeth. “Nolan is inside. No matter what, I have to go.”

Still, before heading into the forest, Serena made her preparations.

The Smart Med‑Pack was designed for military doctors—field equipment for emergencies. It might not match true military gear, but it was close enough.

She took out a large backpack, packed emergency medicine, and added antivenom, knowing the forest was full of insects and snakes. After stowing the drugs, Serena added a compass, tent, emergency solar lamp, matches, some condiments, and finally, her pistol for self‑defense.

Watching her dwindling supply of bullets, Serena’s worry deepened.

She had only ten magazines total, and was nearly through her second box. The bullets and casings she’d recovered were useless, just scrap now.

“It’s a shame—the Smart Med‑Pack can’t restock itself. Once it’s used up, I’m out of options.” Serena stroked the empty casings, reluctant to let them go.

“The institute researchers said the Smart Med‑Pack’s ultimate goal was warehouse‑style auto‑replenishment. Too bad mine’s just a prototype—it probably doesn’t have that feature.”

Even if it did, she had no idea how to activate it. And even if she could, across two worlds, there was no way to get supplies from her old life.

Serena touched the Smart Med‑Pack, pain and regret flashing in her eyes.

In her previous life, she died without even a whole body. The only proof her old life ever existed was this Smart Med‑Pack.

She’d wondered how the Smart Med‑Pack ended up here, but just like why she’d transmigrated, it was a mystery she couldn’t solve. Better to treasure her new life than dwell on it.

After sorting and packing everything, Serena slung the bag over her shoulder, mounted up, and followed the tracks deeper into the woods.

She’d barely gone a hundred meters before spotting a wolf corpse. Farther ahead were two dead guards, and to the side, three more wolf carcasses.

Serena glanced at the guard whose face had been mangled by wolves. She sighed—not frightened, just a little regretful.

She’d once seen a tiger swallow a man alive, standing powerless as it happened…