The Fangwolves moved with astonishing speed. Almost the instant Joe Di stopped, they had already surrounded him.
The leading Fangwolf didn't even pause—it lunged straight at Joe Di.
Joe Di raised his bamboo blade. As it swept out, a vivid image formed in his mind, and he instinctively followed the trajectory in his thoughts, swinging the blade accordingly.
"Thwack!" Though it was only a bamboo blade, in Joe Di's hand it seemed like a peerless weapon, effortlessly cleaving off a Fangwolf's head.
A spray of blood erupted. Joe Di watched the tall Fangwolf collapse, stunned. When did he become so powerful? He eyed the battered bamboo blade in disbelief. Even if a Fangwolf stood still before him, he shouldn't have been able to decapitate it with such a broken blade—yet he had.
The pack of Fangwolves that followed were also shocked, but only for a few breaths. Then, with a piercing howl from the largest Fangwolf, they all charged at Joe Di in a frenzy.
Once again, Joe Di's mind vividly mapped out the oncoming attacks. He even closed his eyes, letting his bamboo blade dance in a flurry of strikes.
One strike, then another...
With nearly every swing, a Fangwolf fell to Joe Di's blade.
Had Joe Di enough stamina, he might have slain the entire pack. But after cutting down seven or eight Fangwolves, his strength began to wane.
A Fangwolf bit deep into Joe Di's thigh, tearing away a large chunk of flesh. As soon as he killed that one, another Fangwolf bit into his abdomen, ripping open his clothes and taking a piece of bloody flesh with it.
After being bitten twice in quick succession, Joe Di seemed to go berserk. Waves of strength surged from his body as he swung his bamboo blade with wild abandon.
Fangwolf after Fangwolf fell to Joe Di's blade, but his wounds multiplied as the fight continued.
By now, Joe Di had carved a bloody path through the wolves. He could have escaped if he wanted, but instead, he plunged deeper into the pack, swinging his bamboo blade again and again. Each strike followed the trajectory in his mind, and with every blow, a Fangwolf was slain.
The lead wolf sensed something was wrong. Joe Di was clearly a formidable human, and as more Fangwolves fell, Joe Di only seemed to grow stronger. Any wolf that got close was killed instantly. Obviously, as long as Joe Di stood, the pack couldn't advance.
With another piercing howl, the lead wolf turned and fled, and the rest of the pack followed in a mad dash.
Joe Di didn’t give chase, though his instincts screamed to pursue and kill. His body wouldn’t allow it. Hunched over, leaning on his bamboo blade, he let blood drip freely from his wounds.
After waiting seven or eight minutes, Joe Di finally struggled to sling his backpack over his shoulder and slowly walked away. He longed to collapse and heal himself, to rest, but he knew if he stayed even a moment longer, his life might not be his own.
......
"Joe didn't come with us." Marlon Mao and his three companions finally found a safe stone cave. Once inside, they realized Joe Di had fallen behind.
"Joe must have stayed behind to hold off the Fangwolf pack for us," Andy Hou said quietly, lowering his head. If he hadn't been injured, Marlon Mao could have helped Joe Di, and Joe wouldn't have been left behind.
"I owe Joe a debt..." Marlon Mao was a man of honor. Knowing Joe had stayed behind to protect them, he felt deeply guilty.
Cassie Cao suddenly stood up. "I'm going to look for Joe. You all wait here for me."
"Cassie, let me go," Marlon Mao said without hesitation.
Cassie Cao waved her hand. "I'm a bit more nimble—I'll go."
Luna Cui sighed. "Cassie, even if you go, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."
Everyone understood Luna Cui's meaning. If Joe had really been trapped by the Fangwolf pack, he would already be dead. Going back would likely mean not finding Joe—and possibly running into the Fangwolves again.
Cassie Cao said quietly, "Joe was my guest, and he even volunteered to draw the Fangwolves away for us. If I don't go after him, I'll never be at peace. Marlon, you can't go—Andy Hou's leg isn't healed yet, you need to look after him. Luna, while I'm gone, you're in charge here."
No one could say anything more. Cassie Cao had made her decision, and further words were pointless.
Cassie Cao had brought Joe Di along because she felt a subtle connection to him. Now, seeing Joe's loyalty, she realized that even if there was no special bond, he was someone worth befriending.
After leaving the cave, Cassie Cao dashed back at full speed.
Two hours later, Cassie Cao spotted Joe Di collapsed in the grass, already unconscious. Her heart soared with relief—no matter how much blood or how serious the wounds, as long as Joe Di was alive, it was enough. She felt only gratitude that she hadn't left him behind. Had she not insisted on searching, another moment and Joe Di might have been eaten by wild beasts.
Cassie Cao didn't waste time pondering how Joe Di had survived. She immediately hoisted him onto her back and fled, running even faster than before.
......
Two hours after Joe Di left, a tall, handsome man arrived among the Fangwolf corpses. It was Martin Grandwild, leader of the Grandwild Alliance, who had searched outside the Tianhuang District for Joe Di before coming here.
"So strong!" he murmured, lifting a Fangwolf's head.
There were at least dozens, if not a hundred, Fangwolf corpses on the ground. Each had been killed with a single, precise strike, the cuts so neat that even Martin Grandwild couldn't fathom the technique.
Martin Grandwild was certain—the one responsible was no weaker than himself. He eyed the trail of blood left by Joe Di, shook his head, chose another direction, and quickly departed.
For experts like them, it's best not to cross paths if possible. The other party was likely wounded, and if Martin Grandwild approached, it could lead to misunderstandings. There were only a handful of experts who'd surpassed the innate stage, and Martin Grandwild's status in the Tianhuang District was due not just to his strength, but also his way of handling things.
......
"Thud!" Cassie Cao collapsed to the ground, unable to go any further. She had carried Joe Di for nearly seven hours, dodging dangerous beasts along the way. If she hadn't used medicinal powder to mask the scent of his blood, they might have been targeted long ago.
The Tianhuang District truly had no sense of direction. Cassie remembered the way clearly when she came, but after walking seven or eight hours, she still hadn't found Marlon Mao and the others' hiding place. Now she was certain—like many martial artists in the Tianhuang District, she was lost.
"Whew!" Cassie Cao struggled to her feet, carried Joe Di to a sheltered hollow, and carefully concealed them. Then, with trembling hands, she began to treat Joe Di's wounds.
Joe Di's clothes were soaked with blood and flesh, many places mangled by Fangwolf bites. Cassie's hands shook—she couldn't fathom how Joe Di had escaped, let alone survived.
A large chunk of Joe Di's abdomen had been bitten away, nearly exposing his internal organs. His leg was no better. Cassie's eyes reddened; she knew that Joe Di was likely beyond saving.
A blood-stained jade appeared before Cassie's eyes. As she grasped it, understanding dawned—Joe Di felt so familiar, almost as if they'd met in a past life, not for any other reason, but because of this jade.