Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: First, Secure the Fortuitous Encounter (2)
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Among the misfortunes, the silver lining was this.
The wolves weren't all that big.
At best, the size of a large dog?
……At first glance, that had definitely been the case.
「Groooowl!」
Right after the wolf let out a massive howl.
"Oh, shit."
True to its spirit beast nature, the silver-maned wolf's mane suddenly swelled like it was about to burst, doubling its size in an instant.
Now I was utterly outmatched in weight class too.
I calmly cranked my brain into overdrive, calculating the path to victory.
It was a dead end.
This is a death flag...!
But there's that saying—even if a tiger mounts you, keep your wits and you'll live.
Taking the squirrel spirit beast Squirrely as an example.
Spirit beasts like these could surely understand human speech just fine.
"Three against one is cowardly! Let's fight fair and square!"
I chewed on the surging self-loathing but shouted with as much dignity as I could muster anyway.
Truth be told, I wasn't expecting much.
But then.
Sincerity moves heaven and earth, or so they say.
The wolf with the scar over its eye, lurking slightly behind.
It tilted its head a bit.
And then.
It kicked the rump of the wolf right in front of me, shoving it forward.
「Yelp?!」
At the same time, it retreated smoothly alongside another wolf.
I couldn't be sure if I was reading the animals' expressions right.
But at a glance, only one slightly smaller wolf remained before me, wearing an utterly exasperated look.
As expected of spirit beasts.
They knew the value of fairness and justice.
I too was a man of ingrained fairness.
I considered turning tail and bolting right then.
Even with swift lightness skill through the dark forest thick with trees, I'd probably be slower than wolves, so I gave up on that.
Which meant subduing this one first, then struggling from there somehow.
I'll make you regret giving me this chance!
I gripped my sword tight, lowered my stance slightly, and fixed my gaze on the wolf.
A massive frame radiating subtle pressure.
Its blue eyes locked onto me, circling slowly in sync with my footsteps.
Honestly.
It looked stronger than Moyong Wicheon.
Well, beasts can rip people apart, after all.
……If those two spectators joined in from behind, I'd end up as tasty jerky, getting gnawed to bits.
Strike first, then.
Savoring the Blazing Shadow True Qi flowing from my dantian through my meridians, I gradually channeled it into my sword through my palm.
The moment I confirmed the faint red aura flowing along the blade.
"Flame Swoooord—!"
I closed the distance in a flash and swung.
Booom—!
The wolf nimbly leaped back, its front paw precisely blocking my sword.
Chewing on the faint ache in my wrist.
"No way—what kind of wolf emits qi from its claws?!"
I vented at the absurd reality.
Meanwhile, I kept my expression as calm as possible—show a gap here, and my gut screamed those other two would pounce.
I pressed on with sword strikes as casually as I could, dodging paws, leaping over the beast as it lunged murderously at my ankles with its bulk—
Half on instinct, pacing my footwork.
If I'd sniped from afar, I could've taken one down clean.
Should've brought my bow, I regretted too late.
"Ngh—"
I barely twisted away from the wolf's iron claw strike.
Riiip!
"Argh! My limited-edition silk robe, hand-stitched by the soju master's own hands!"
Should've listened to Father.
He said not to strut around in fancy clothes during training...
I miss you, Father...
With a mind clear enough to entertain stray thoughts, I seized the opening bought with my clothes.
「Groooar—!」
I hadn't infused proper sword qi yet—just basic internal energy into the blade was my limit—but my vividly red strike grazed the wolf's left shoulder.
A shallower cut than hoped.
But enough to inject tension into its movements.
Man or beast.
Face harm, and instinct makes you flinch.
Whether my clothes tore further, baring my torso.
Or a gash from an unavoidable claw.
After that, I relentlessly targeted its left foreleg.
「Kyaaao—!」
The wolf roaring to intimidate me.
Intense enough to make an ordinary person piss themselves on the spot.
But tough luck—wrong opponent.
This body of mine: Clear Mirror Still Water.
Doggo growls all it wants—no mental damage lands.
And so.
Gradually, the wolf's movements became crystal clear.
The split-second clashes of sword and claw felt like time slowed.
Each time our eyes met.
Where its next attack would go.
When it'd lead with claws.
Or body-slam instead—
All possibilities flashed vividly, like seeing the future.
And with it.
I felt the wolf's emotions.
Fear, impatience, fighting spirit.
Waves of emotion crashed in so clearly, like I'd dived into its head—as if momentarily dazed.
"All things under heaven unite as one, the beast's heart is my heart, the beast's eyes are my eyes. Hehe, pretty cool passage, right? That's why it's called Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning!"
⟨ Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art ⟩
Totally out of nowhere.
Myo Narang's voice struck my mind like lightning.
……Good thing studying the manuscript wasn't a waste.
In copying it, and even teaching Myo Narang, the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art's verses had rooted in my heart unnoticed.
Thus.
I wield it. For it dwells within me.
The moment I fully circulated the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art, the wolves' demeanor toward me shifted.
At the very least.
No more hostility from the two spectating the fight.
As expected of a technique from the Southern Barbaric Beast Palace that Myo Narang sought.
Of course, the wolf before me didn't suddenly roll over belly-up in submission.
「Kyao!」
Perhaps due to its youth, it burned fiercer, baring fangs.
I like dogs, originally.
But.
A disobedient mutt—especially a fierce one that bites—is met with a stick.
After that, it was one-sided thrashing.
Its attacks were as clear as day on my palm—simple: dodge and strike.
Embodying the profound simplicity of martial arts, I even sheathed my sword and beat it like a dog in summer heat.
「Kiiing...!」
Taming complete.
The wolf shot me pleading eyes.
And resentful, desperate glances at the two still just watching.
Thud!
Finally, it rolled over belly-up in submission.
No peanuts down there—she's a girl.
Only then did the spectator wolves saunter over, gently licking her wounds.
Somehow, bulk-up mode ended; the three returned to normal wolf size. Watching them.
The scarred wolf.
Likely the father of the one I'd just pummeled. He lifted his head to me.
The instant our eyes met, I intuitively understood why he'd let his pup suffer.
"……You left the family discipline to me...?"
A hollow laugh escaped.
If I hadn't grasped the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art, would he have sampled human flesh? Or kept boundaries even then?
The wolf, having slobbered his fainted pup clean, gazed steadily at me.
"Heir of the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art. This child will resist you no longer—please take good care of her."
"……?"
In clear human speech I could understand, it left those words.
Then, with its mate, vanished into the darkened forest.
What the hell.
Child abandonment?
Selection? Rehoming?
Suddenly a cat mom—no, dog dad—my brain throbbed like it was overloading for the first time today.
For starters, I'm no heir to the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art.
If anything, that's Myo Narang...
In the original story, if the protagonist skipped this encounter, Myo Narang might've claimed it.
"Haa."
For now, keep her alive, drag her to the academy later, gift to Myo Narang.
What do I need with a doggo in my fate.
……Though that giant form earlier? Mount up, wolf-rider clopping along—kinda cool.
Archery's pinnacle is mounted shooting, after all.
I'll mull that over.
For now, I approached the silver wolf, still limp-tongued.
Sprinkled hemostatic powder roughly on the stab wound.
「Kyuuung...!」
Stings, huh?
"Ouch..."
Stings for me too...
Luckily, my cut and her claw marks weren't deep—should heal quick.
Rags anyway.
Tore cloth strips for crude bandages.
Behind the wolves.
I flung open the stone door at the cave mouth.
Bit disappointing no inner core.
But something better awaits?
All that clash.
The forest keeper had watched from afar.
She'd grown quite attached over the years—if they'd driven the pup to death, she'd have exacted punishment.
But for some reason.
They handed the pup to that tall man, who'd shredded his ragged shirt to bare honed muscles.
"Hah."
A low exclamation escaped at the unbelievable sight.
The keen qi on her axe had already dispersed into nature.
Moments later.
"Kyauu!"
"Woo!"
Mother and father wolves approached, rubbing heads affectionately.
"Selling your pup to a total stranger, then coming back to act cute? You know how much I loved that little one!"
She grumbled gruffly, but affection laced her voice inescapably.
The forest keeper stared piercingly into the father's bright eyes.
Couldn't guess a beast's thoughts.
But no worry in those eyes—for the half-naked man, or their pup.
"Hmph, took you half a year tumbling with me to open up."
A jealous tone slipped out inevitably.
But what could she do.
Beast hearts were too complex for humans.
The forest keeper hugged the mother's face tight.
Purring rumbles and warm breath tickled her ample chest.
After savoring the coziness awhile.
"Kiiu, kiiuu—"
"Tch, fine. I'll handle it, milady."
To the mother's faintly anxious whines.
Since her semi-forced enrollment in Hundred Flowers Academy.
For the first time, she resolved to care for a person, not the forest.