Chapter 72
Lang Ze climbed the mountain one step at a time, his heart filled with grief and frustration, while Bai Tu was busy trying to calm the increasingly agitated Lang Qi.
The louder the voices and the more people gathered at the base of the mountain, the more obvious Lang Qi’s restlessness became.
His agitation grew, along with a strong urge to head down the mountain. Thankfully, despite their concern for Bai Tu, the other beastmen listened to reason and refrained from making any sudden moves.
Bai Tu tried speaking tentatively, “How about we don’t go down the mountain?” His tone was the same gentle one he used when coaxing the cubs.
He remembered that saying this earlier had convinced Lang Qi to stay put.
If not for Lang Ze’s sudden shout, Lang Qi might have remained in the cave, which would have been much safer.
Hearing Bai Tu’s voice, Lang Qi turned his head to look at him. Several similar gentle tones echoed in his mind. Each one was soft and comforting—but none of them had been directed at him. They had been spoken to the two cubs, the ones that didn’t belong to him.
When did I hear those? Lang Qi’s gaze flickered as he fell into thought.
Seeing that he had calmed down slightly, Bai Tu continued coaxing him, “Let’s go back to the cave, okay?”
Bai Tu’s heart was pounding, worried that Lang Qi wouldn’t cooperate. He still didn’t know what had happened the previous night, but there wasn’t time to ask now. Controlling Lang Qi was the only priority.
Go back to the cave… Something seemed to stir in Lang Qi’s mind, and his eyes darkened. Without a word, he followed Bai Tu, his gaze fixed solely on him as they made their way back.
Bai Tu didn’t dare relax until Lang Qi was back in the same spot where he had been treated earlier.
Even then, his tension hadn’t subsided when the two cubs, having woken up and found the bed empty, began crawling to the edge, whimpering and calling out for him.
Bai Tu’s heart, which had just settled, leapt back into his throat. Lang Qi’s gaze was disturbingly similar to the one he’d had when Bai Tu first woke up earlier.
Suddenly, Bai Tu understood. Lang Qi’s midnight stare at the cubs hadn’t been one of familial affection—it had been a predator’s gaze, one filled with the desire to destroy every living creature around him.
This was exactly the state that Hei Xiao had described: a Fallen Beast, more violent than usual. The reason Bai Tu hadn’t connected the dots earlier was that no Fallen Beasts had appeared nearby before.
A chill ran down Bai Tu’s spine. Outside the cave were the returning wolves, rabbits, leopards, and cats; inside were the two cubs. No matter where he brought Lang Qi, the situation would be dangerous.
Lang Qi glanced toward the bed where the cubs were. Those two tiny, defenseless creatures could disappear with just one bite.
Seeing the increasingly dangerous glint in Lang Qi’s eyes, Bai Tu instinctively moved to block his line of sight.
Sensing Bai Tu’s tension and wariness, Lang Qi looked away from the bed and instead leaned closer to him, sniffing lightly at his body.
Bai Tu thought to himself, Thank goodness I’m in human form right now—otherwise, I’d probably be bristling like a cornered animal. He knew better than to dodge, though. At a time like this, avoiding Lang Qi would only provoke him further.
It was as if Lang Qi were inspecting a particularly tempting meal to see if it suited his palate.
The answer was clear—it was very much to his liking. A strange, indescribable feeling rose in Lang Qi’s chest. He didn’t understand it, but he inexplicably wanted to get closer to Bai Tu, closer still.
He nuzzled Bai Tu’s face with his nose, though his movement was so forceful that he almost knocked him over. A hint of regret flashed in Lang Qi’s wolfish eyes, and he immediately softened his movements, gently rubbing against Bai Tu as if in apology.
Bai Tu: “…” What do I even say to this?
He could tell that Lang Qi had no intention of hurting him, but having the largest canine he had ever seen snuggling up to him was still nerve-wracking. Even if Lang Qi didn’t bite him, the sheer pressure of his presence was overwhelming.
This can’t go on. Bai Tu began thinking about how to get the cubs out of the cave. While he might be safe for now, the cubs weren’t. Twice now, Lang Qi’s gaze at them had been far from friendly.
Just as Bai Tu was struggling to figure out a solution, Lang Ze’s voice came from the cave entrance.
Bai Tu nearly jumped out of his skin, but that was nothing compared to Lang Ze’s reaction when he reached the cave and saw no sign of either Bai Tu or Lang Qi.
Lang Qi’s size alone meant that killing Bai Tu would take just one bite. Almost on the verge of tears, Lang Ze scrambled into the cave, tripping over himself in his haste, only to find Bai Tu completely unharmed, standing right in front of him.
Lang Ze immediately realized something very serious: Bai Tu being unharmed didn’t mean he would be so lucky.
Sensing a murderous aura, he instinctively rolled out of the way of Lang Qi’s attack. Meeting Lang Qi’s killing intent head-on, he felt for the first time just how close death could be.
At the same time, he fully grasped the gap between himself and his elder brother. A wolf who had truly experienced the brutality of combat was an entirely different beast when enraged. This was the first time Lang Qi had looked at him with such a gaze.
Even though he knew he was no match for his brother, Lang Ze stood his ground without fear. He leaned forward slightly, his body taut, legs bent, prepared to launch an attack at any moment.
Sounds came from the entrance of the cave—more wolves following Lang Ze’s trail up the mountain.
Wolves were never afraid of battle. But this time, the opponent was their own leader. The pack gathered, their eyes fixed on the standoff at the center, hesitating. Everyone knew that if they acted, there would be no turning back.
Bai Tu hadn’t expected the wolf tribe to arrive so quickly, but it made sense.
The first thing Lang Ze would have done upon returning to the tribe was tell everyone that Lang Qi had turned into a Fallen Beast. It was clear the wolves had no intention of hiding Lang Qi’s condition.
If Lang Qi were still out in the wilderness, the wolf tribe’s decision would have saved countless lives.
A large portion of casualties caused by Fallen Beasts came from people who tried to hide the transformation. After all, seeing a beastman shift into their beast form didn’t immediately signal danger, and most would hesitate to confirm.
That moment of doubt was often enough for a Fallen Beast to launch an attack. By being honest about Lang Qi’s state, other beastmen encountering him would know to avoid him and stay safe.
But now, it was clear the wolf tribe intended to capture him. Everyone understood how dangerous this would be—Lang Qi’s combat prowess was terrifying, and he felt no pain. Still, someone had to resolve this situation.
Whether it ended with Lang Qi being killed by the pack or him killing the wolves attacking him, neither was an outcome Bai Tu could bear to see.
He decided to try something first. If Lang Qi hadn’t yet hurt anyone and was simply out of his mind, didn’t that mean there was still hope?
Bai Tu couldn’t accept the idea of someone who had spent so much time by his side dying—especially not in such a pointless and humiliating way.
“Lang Qi!” Bai Tu called out loudly, stopping Lang Qi just as he was about to attack Lang Ze again. The moment Lang Ze appeared, Lang Qi had launched an attack so quickly that Bai Tu hadn’t even had time to react.
Hearing Bai Tu’s voice, Lang Qi froze mid-attack.
He gave the creatures in front of him a brief, hostile glance before turning and walking to Bai Tu’s side.
He leaned down and nuzzled Bai Tu’s face gently, as if to comfort him. His movements brought his muzzle close to Bai Tu’s mouth, and by accident, it brushed against the corner of his lips. Instantly, Lang Qi’s entire body shuddered.
The wolf tribe, who had been watching the entire scene, fell into stunned silence, their outrage momentarily forgotten. Their expressions slowly turned to stone.
Lang Ze, the closest to the pair, misinterpreted his brother’s actions.
He thought Lang Qi was about to bite Bai Tu, and with a sharp howl, he pounced forward to save him. Before he could reach them, however, an older beastman beside him grabbed him by the neck and yanked him back.
“Awoo?” Lang Ze’s howl caught in his throat, turning into a strangled yelp.
The elder wolf nudged Lang Ze and let out a low howl, “Awoo~~,” signaling him to retreat.
The Wolf King had just looked at them with the same cold, ruthless gaze as the Fallen Beasts of legend—perhaps even more so. His desire to kill them had been barely concealed. But now, his actions were unmistakably… courting behavior!
If the combat power of a Fallen Beast was said to double compared to their usual state, then a beastman in the midst of courting would be even more dangerous.
Their battle intent toward others could triple. The elder wolf knew that capturing Lang Qi today would come at a steep cost. It was inevitable that some wolves would die.
And when it came to death, it was the elder wolves who would go first.
The tribe could not lose its Wolf King, and young wolves like Lang Ze couldn’t afford to confront Lang Qi directly in such a volatile state.
The wolves adjusted their formation: the elder wolves moved to the front, the adult wolves in the middle, and the youngest wolves at the back. The elder wolves locked their eyes on the former Wolf King, ready to fight if Lang Qi went berserk and to keep him contained within the cave.
Meanwhile, the two cubs, who had been calling out for Bai Tu without getting a response, clung to the edge of the bed. They spotted Bai Tu nearby and tried to climb down, but the bed had been designed specifically to keep them from getting off on their own, so they couldn’t manage it.
Lang Qi, however, didn’t even glance at the others. His gaze was locked on the corner of Bai Tu’s mouth, clearly wanting to repeat his earlier “nuzzle.”
Bai Tu, on the other hand, was preoccupied with two concerns: that Lang Qi might harm the wolf tribe, and that the wolf tribe might harm Lang Qi. As for Lang Qi kissing him just now, he hadn’t given it a second thought. Right now, Lang Qi was no more than a big, confused dog. Who would hold a grudge after being kissed by a dog?
He carefully assessed Lang Qi’s current condition.
The wolf could understand his calls, hadn’t harmed anyone without reason, and seemed nothing like the infamous Fallen Beasts who attacked indiscriminately, recognizing no one. If that was the case, Bai Tu decided it was worth trying to calm him.
Raising his hand, Bai Tu placed it on Lang Qi’s ear and gently stroked it a few times. When he did this to the cubs, they always relaxed and enjoyed it.
Lang Qi watched him but didn’t resist. After a moment of thought, he simply lay down next to Bai Tu, making it easier for him to reach without lifting his hand.
The wolves who had been tense and on high alert froze in confusion. Was the Wolf King not planning to attack them?
While charging up the mountain to provoke him might not have been the smartest decision, waiting for him to come down later would have been even worse—casualties would only multiply. But now, the scene unfolding before them was entirely unexpected.
Bai Tu massaged Lang Qi’s ears and head, watching him visibly relax. Then, he glanced at the wolf tribe and gave them a look, signaling for them to take the cubs away.
The elder wolf who had pushed Lang Ze earlier understood what Bai Tu meant and stepped toward the bed. But as soon as he moved, Lang Qi, who had been lying with his eyes closed and enjoying Bai Tu’s touch, snapped his eyes open and fixed the elder wolf with a murderous glare. Even if they weren’t his cubs, no one else was allowed to touch them.
Bai Tu immediately raised his hand to signal the elder wolf to stop, while softly calming Lang Qi. At the same time, he gestured for the others to retreat.
The elder wolf looked at Lang Qi, then at Bai Tu, realizing that Bai Tu was the only one able to suppress Lang Qi for now.
The wolves, who had never wanted to attack their leader in the first place, hesitated for a moment before exchanging glances.
They silently agreed to withdraw and instead stationed themselves at the entrance of the cave. As long as the Wolf King didn’t go berserk, they wouldn’t have to act.
Once the wolves left, Bai Tu stood up, intending to say something to them. The cave didn’t have much food left, and he thought he should at least send some supplies to them.
Lang Qi glanced at the cubs on the bed, then back at Bai Tu, but made no move to stop him.
