bookbashuk Chapter 776 Go back
Chapter 776 Go back
The fourth elder nodded and lowered his voice, almost whispering into Qingyi's ear: "The Sect Master has come out this time, saying only that he's gone down the mountain to relax, but he actually has two important things in mind. First, he wants to use this opportunity to open up spiritual material channels in the south and distribute all our sect's elixirs and magical instruments there. This way, we can secure a stable market and then continuously receive spiritual stones. Second, he wants to take this opportunity to shake off those who have been secretly following us. Brother Qingyi, haven't you noticed? Ever since we left the mountain gate, there's always been a faint presence following us, sometimes far away, sometimes near. It's most likely coming for the Sect Master. I'm afraid it's spies from other sects."
Upon hearing this, Qingyi's brows furrowed slightly. These past few days, he'd been so absorbed in counting the confiscated spirit stones that he'd barely considered the underlying dynamics. So, the Sect Master's journey this time was a carefully planned one, a moment of intense activity. He subconsciously touched the bulging storage bag at his waist, heavy with spirit stones. A sudden realization dawned on him—perhaps these spirit stones weren't just emergency reserves for the Sect, but a strategic move by the Sect Master, a stepping stone to open up new channels, or perhaps a decoy to distract the enemy. Who knew?
As he pondered this, Qingyi turned to look at the wolf crouching nearby. While this beast possessed humanlike qualities, its long wanderings in the mountains had given it a feral nature. It had previously injured many people while protecting the treasures in its lair. He paused for a moment, then said, "From now on, you should change your name."
Upon hearing this, the evil wolf immediately raised its head, its amber eyes filled with seriousness as it looked at Qingyi honestly: "Tell me. When I was in the mountains before, no one gave me a name. Everyone called me 'Evil Wolf' when they saw me, and I accepted it."
Qing nodded. He knew full well that while the wolf had previously injured many, it was those cultivators who had first coveted the Companion Spirit Orb in its lair, relying on their numbers to forcibly seize it, which had caused it to resist. Ultimately, it couldn't be considered actively committing evil. Furthermore, the sect was now depleted of talent, with most of its top fighters gone. It was a prime opportunity to recruit. Recruiting this intelligent and powerful demonic beast would be a boon for the sect.
He looked into the wolf's expectant eyes and said slowly, "From now on, you'll be called 'Evil Wolf.' This name has a bit more edge than before, and it sounds better."
The wolf wagged its tail in delight, a low whimpering sound emanating from its throat, as if to say thank you. After living for so long, it finally had a proper name, no longer the malicious "Evil Wolf."
The fourth brother, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile awkwardly. He didn't think the "evil wolf" was any better than the "evil wolf," and rather, both exuded a certain malevolence. But seeing the evil wolf beaming, its tail wagging like a rattle, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. As long as he could keep the demon beast quiet, its name didn't seem to matter.
Qingyi watched the Evil Wolf's excitement, a flicker of relief in his eyes. Taming this demonic beast was an unexpected bonus on this trip. He patted the Evil Wolf's neck and said in a deep voice, "Now that you've earned a new name, you must abide by the rules from now on. Don't hurt others as you did before."
The evil wolf rubbed his palm, seemingly understanding, as if in agreement. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, falling upon the man and the beast, bringing a rare sense of peace. The fourth elder, observing this scene, sighed inwardly—it seemed like there would be more new things to come in the sect from now on.
Seeing the fourth brother's frown, Qingyi knew he was still thinking about leaving the mountain, so he smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, stop thinking about it. Go find the Sect Master. When the time comes, tell him everything about this place, and then stay by his side to protect him. We'll go back first. Anyway, things here are almost over, so there's nothing to worry about."
The evil wolf listened from the side and grinned too, revealing his pointed canine teeth, his tone full of excitement: "That's great, I'll change back into wolf form at night and carry you on my back. It will be faster than riding a horse. I'm sure it will be faster than riding a horse. I'm very familiar with the roads in the mountains. We can reach the foot of the mountain before midnight." As he spoke, the tip of his furry tail behind him subconsciously swept the ground, and his tail shook like a rattle, and he was obviously very proud of his speed.
Qingyi was amused by his expression and nodded in response, smiling, "Okay, then I'd like to test how fast you are. But let's make a deal, if the bumpy ride tires us out, you'll have to buy us a drink later, and it has to be the best in town."
Xie Lang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he became even more motivated. Ever since he followed the Sect Master to this area, he had mostly been alone guarding the stronghold, and he had long felt bored. Now that he had companions to travel with, and they could even compete with each other along the way, he finally felt less lonely. He scratched his head and chuckled, "No problem! Not to mention drinking, when this is over, I'll give you half of the seized spirit stones!" In fact, he felt a little frustrated. These days, he had to guard the pile of sparkling spirit stones, but they had to be used by the Sect Master in seclusion first, and he could only watch helplessly. Now, he finally had something to look forward to, and he had already been thinking about how to have some fun after going down the mountain.
The fourth elder frowned, looked at Qingyi, and said seriously, "Elder Qingyi, I think we should be cautious about this matter. The sect leader has specifically instructed us that the righteous sect has been investigating cultivators everywhere lately. The inspections are very strict, especially after dark, with secret guards at every intersection. The evil wolf's wolf-like form is too conspicuous. It is much larger than an ordinary wild wolf, and its fur is shiny. If the higher-ups see it, they will inevitably question its origins. If a conflict arises, wouldn't it cause unnecessary trouble for the sect leader? In my opinion, it is best to walk down the mountain, avoid crowded places as much as possible, and follow the narrow mountain paths to avoid any complications."
When Qing heard him say this, the smile on his face faded a little. He lowered his head and pondered carefully for a moment before nodding. "You are indeed right. I was not thoughtful enough." He said frankly, "I was wrong in this matter. I was too focused on speed. I should criticize myself. Then we will do as you say. We will walk down the mountain quietly at night. We should try to keep a low profile. It doesn't matter if we take a longer detour. Safety first."
Although the evil wolf was a little disappointed that he hadn't been able to demonstrate his speed, his ears drooped, he also knew that what the fourth brother said made sense. After all, the current situation was urgent, and he couldn't cause trouble for the clan leader. He suppressed his excitement and nodded. "Okay, I'll listen to you. Whatever's safe is best. At worst, I'll carry you guys for another trip after the storm has died down."