Chapter 279

Wolf Zhan’s face showed gloom and unwillingness. “Don’t you think the fall of Silver Moon was far too sudden?”

The Silver Moon Tribe had never made enemies among the other tribes. When prairie tribes fought over territory or prey, they would often go to Silver Moon to mediate.

In truth, Silver Moon had already become the leader of most of the prairie. The tribes could coexist peacefully precisely because they were under Silver Moon’s protection.

What commanded the tribes’ respect wasn’t only Silver Moon’s fairness, but also their overwhelming strength—the wolf packs that no one dared face head-on.

Such a mighty tribe, yet destroyed overnight—everything about it reeked of conspiracy and deceit.

“You know something?” Lang Ze’s voice was icy enough to freeze the air. “Was there… betrayal within Silver Moon?”

For years, Lang Ze had carried too many unanswered questions.

At least two thousand strong horned beastmen had invaded their lands. How had such a massive force slipped silently into the heart of the prairie?

Why hadn’t the nearby tribes warned Silver Moon? Why hadn’t Silver Moon’s patrols detected them?

And most crucial of all—how had the enemy known the exact moment when Silver Moon’s defenses were at their weakest?

Now that Lang Ze had his own people, looking back, he could see that too many things had been abnormal during that time.

As for the story spread across the continent—that Silver Moon had been defeated by slaves and the Flowing Water Tribe—that was nothing but a false tale.

The Flowing Water Tribe was but a small prairie tribe. Not long after Silver Moon’s fall, they themselves were annihilated. How could such a tribe possibly have defeated Silver Moon? It was nothing more than a smokescreen spread by unseen hands.

“That hunt was nothing unusual,” Wolf Zhan said bitterly. “But Wolf Shuo claimed he had found a huge herd of wild aurochs. If we could take them down, half of the winter’s food would be secured. He demanded we bring the elite warriors to hunt them.”

Wolf Zhan held his head in his hands, his massive frame seeming to shrink. “Just before we left, the chieftain called me over and warned me to be cautious. If danger came, don’t fight to the death. The most important thing was to bring the warriors back alive.”

Wolf Zhan had replayed the chieftain’s expression countless times. Perhaps the chieftain had already sensed something amiss. But he had been too foolish to understand the meaning.

Qi Bai forced out, “What did you encounter?”

Wolf Zhan shook his head. “Nothing. We found nothing.”

A thousand warriors, brimming with fighting spirit, followed Wolf Shuo eagerly, all dreaming of a great battle and meat to bring home.

But after three days, when they reached the place Wolf Shuo had described, there was nothing but endless grassland.

“It rained a few days ago. The herd must have moved to shelter,” Wolf Shuo said after scouting, “They won’t have gone far. If we follow the tracks west two more days, we’ll find them.”

“I don’t agree. We only brought food for seven days. The tracks are already fading. The herd may have left our territory altogether.” Wolf Zhan recalled the chieftain’s warning, stood up, and said, “The chieftain said if we failed to find them, we should return at once to our usual hunting grounds and bring back game for the tribe.”

“Chieftain! Chieftain!” Wolf Shuo snapped angrily. “The chieftain is back in the village. We are out on the battlefield.”

“A hunting party will always face the unexpected. Must you run back to ask my brother every time?” He jabbed Wolf Zhan’s chest. “I am leading this hunt. If you are truly a Silver Moon warrior, then you know what obedience means! Tell me—are you defying my command?”

Wolf Zhan’s chest heaved. He did not believe Wolf Shuo’s words, but there was no answer to give.

For Silver Moon warriors, obedience was bred in the blood. Their absolute discipline and unity were the very foundation of their invincibility.

And besides, no danger had yet appeared. He could only bow his head and obey.

The next day, Wolf Shuo led the party farther west in search of the herd.

But when Wolf Zhan stumbled upon droppings at least ten days old, his mind went blank.

Then he understood what had been wrong all along.

If such a massive herd had truly been there, traces would remain despite the rain—tracks, droppings, grazed grasses. Yet there was nothing.

That meant only one thing—

“There was never any herd,” Wolf Zhan said hoarsely.

“At the time, I didn’t know why Wolf Shuo had done it,” he continued. “I only urged again that we return. Many warriors were suspicious too, and in the end, about three teams chose to come back with me.”

But even then, they were too late.

The land was awash in blood. Corpses of their people lay everywhere. Of those left behind, every adult horned warrior had been slaughtered.

Wolf Zhan closed his eyes, seeing the horror again. “Wolf Sheng found signs left by survivors. Following them, we rescued some sub-beasts and cubs who had been captured as slaves.”

“But when we tried to regroup with Wolf Shuo’s party…”

A chill raced down Qi Bai’s spine. He felt dread.

Wolf Zhan’s veins bulged as he roared: “We saw Wolf Shuo with them! It was him! He led them into the tribe! He loosened the guard on the slaves! The tracks on the grass belonged to the invaders!”

“The chieftain feared we might meet danger outside, but in truth—the enemy’s target had always been those left at home.”

“Our people—so many! All of them sub-beasts and cubs with no ability to resist. Wolf Shuo betrayed us! He slaughtered them all! How could he dare!!”

Lang Ze’s face was deathly pale. Qi Bai’s chest ached seeing it. He laid a hand over Lang Ze’s, finding it ice-cold.

Lang Ze asked again, each word bitten out between clenched teeth: “Where is Wolf Shuo?”

Wolf Zhan shook his head. “I don’t know. We didn’t dare approach. We couldn’t stay on the prairie. We hid first in the south, then when we heard of the Evilbone Tribe building a city, I brought the survivors into the Wildlands, hiding in the Misty Forest.”

“But we are too few. Over the years, we’ve only managed to ambush small bands of Evilbone. Our strikes are nothing compared to their rate of expansion.”

Lang Ze squeezed Qi Bai’s hand, then stepped forward to face the broken warrior.

“As long as our blood flows, Silver Moon will never vanish.”

“Destroy Wangu, find Wolf Shuo,” Lang Ze vowed, “When it’s done, I’ll take you home.”

Wolf Zhan, who had shed no tears upon meeting Lang Ze, finally broke. At the word “home,” his huge body shuddered, and he sobbed quietly. The sound was more wrenching than wailing.

Qi Bai laid his hand on Wolf Zhan’s head. “You’ve done well. The Beast God will bless every child of Silver Moon.”

All these years, Wolf Zhan had led the remnants in hiding, never grasping at power, never betraying the royal bloodline, calling himself only a captain.

He was the most loyal of warriors. He deserved their highest respect.

When Wolf Huai entered the tent with food, Wolf Zhan had already composed himself, even embarrassed by his earlier breakdown.

They could never forget their hatred—but nor could they drown in grief. That would only cloud judgment.

He had thought he could always control himself. But seeing Lang Ze today had nearly undone him.

Scratching his head, he called to Wolf Huai, “The young chieftain and the high priest invite you to eat with us.”

Qi Bai smiled. “Our homeland lies far to the north. From here, the journey back is at least ten tens of days. The winter outside is cruel. We must prepare everything.”

Wolf Huai’s heart pounded. From the moment she met Lang Ze, she had seen hope of Silver Moon’s revival. To hear he already had a territory—they could soon return.

Qi Bai added, “Wolf Yao mentioned you to me. She’ll be glad to see you when you return.”

Wolf Huai beamed. “Yao—she’s well?”

“She suffered much in the past,” Qi Bai said, “But now things are good, and will only get better.”

While Qi Bai chatted with Wolf Huai, Lang Ze and Wolf Zhan discussed strategy against Wangu City.

“The city is heavily guarded, but we’ve found ways in. We even have people living inside, though so far we’ve only reached the lowest ranks. About the rulers, we know only a little.”

“Tell me,” Lang Ze said.

Wolf Zhan gulped down a bowl of water, then spoke.

“There are two most important figures in Wangu. One is Du, the High Envoy of Upper City. The other is Great Shaman Fu.”

“Most of the decrees come from these two. The City Lord of Wangu is little more than a figurehead—grand title, no power.”

“We’ve never seen either. Only glimpsed the envoy’s attendants, and the Great Shaman’s disciples.”

The title “attendant” they knew—Ji, whom they had captured, had been one.

As for “disciples,” they weren’t children, but apprentices. This Great Shaman had six such disciples, any of whom might inherit his role.

Lang Ze asked, “Are there only Evilbone in the city?”

He remembered that Silver Moon had been attacked by at least three tribes, like what Mink Lan had seen fifty years ago in the Giant Wind Tribe. But only Evilbone was said to have built Wangu. What of the others?

Wolf Zhan was surprised Lang Ze knew so much. He hurried to explain: “There are many tribes in Wangu. Most are beastmen seized from the west and south. We slipped in under the name of the Smoke Wolf Tribe.”

“They call them citizens, but in truth, they’re barely freer than slaves.”

“The ones who truly count as Wangu beastmen are only two: the Evilbone Tribe, and the Fiery Lion Tribe.”