Chapter 297

Unlike the chaos inside Wan Gu City, the Holy Antelope tribe was celebrating in high spirits.

Game was being slaughtered, beast meat roasted—everyone was immersed in the joy of victory.

Ling Qiu and Wu Xun had been waiting at the tribe’s gate long before. When they saw the giant wolf in the distance, they hurried forward to welcome it.

Qi Bai slid down from Lang Ze’s back, and Wu Xun grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the tribe.
“When you left, you only said you were going to wipe out the Gu Jin territory—we never imagined that when we saw you again, Wan Gu City itself would have changed hands! Hahaha!”

Ling Ping added: “Wu, it’s not called Wan Gu City anymore. From now on, it’s Song Wu City.”

Wu Xun laughed heartily. “Good—Song Wu City. That name is fitting. The land beyond the mountains was always Song Wu; calling it Song Wu City is only right.”

Qi Bai smiled. “This time, the Holy Antelope also contributed greatly to taking the city. When he heard we were coming, Song Wu’s city lord Hu Ji asked me to pass along a message: you must come to Song Wu. There are matters best discussed face-to-face.”

After winning a war, what was there to “discuss”? Both Ling Qiu and Wu Xun understood it was surely something good—they naturally didn’t refuse.

“Of course,” Ling Qiu said with a laugh, lifting the fur curtain for Qi Bai and Lang Ze. “Song Wu and the Holy Antelope are neighbors. Since Song Wu has been founded, we should certainly join the festivities, and also see what the houses and food of a city look like. Wan Gu City was built more than ten years ago—at last we can get a close look!”

Qi Bai and Lang Ze exchanged a glance, smiling and shaking their heads.

Once seated, Ling Qiu said, “You must be wondering why we called you here.”

Indeed, they were. These days were busy with rounding up Wan Gu survivors and interrogations. If not for Ling Ping and Ling Ta insisting, Qi Bai and Lang Ze truly wouldn’t have had the time.

Lang Ze said, “Though our tribes haven’t known each other long, the Holy Antelope are friends of Silver Moon. Between friends, there’s no need to hide things—say what you mean. And I won’t hide this from you either: once Song Wu’s affairs are settled, the Silver Moon will leave the south.”

His words surprised Ling Qiu and Wu Xun, and even Ling Ping and Ling Ta—who had just entered carrying roasted meat and broth—froze in shock.

Ling Ping asked, “You’re leaving? Now? This is the coldest time of year. Why not stay and winter here, then leave in spring?”

Ling Qiu and Wu Xun also turned to look at them.

When they had first met, they hadn’t known who Qi Bai and Lang Ze were. But now, it was no secret that Qi Bai and Lang Ze were the Silver Moon’s chief and Great Priest. They even suspected the two had come to the Wilds in search of their people.

So they had already prepared themselves for Silver Moon’s eventual departure. But privately, they had hoped the Silver Moon would remain at least until spring. They hadn’t expected them to want to leave immediately.

Qi Bai smiled. “When we left the north, it was winter. We endured all the way south—we can manage now as well.”

Of course, the real reason was that Lang Shuo’s territory now lay between Ji Cheng and Song Wu. They had to hurry, to reach it before Ji Cheng heard the news.

Ling Qiu and Wu Xun didn’t know this hidden urgency, but no beastman liked to wander homeless. They could understand Qi Bai and Lang Ze’s determination.

Ling Qiu sighed, then laughed boisterously.
“This time we didn’t call you here to ask for help—but to repay you, for removing the great evil of Wan Gu.”

Qi Bai’s expression turned odd. “The Sacred Spring? Sacred Water?”

So the “Sacred” in the Holy Antelope’s name came from the Sacred Spring they had guarded all along.

Lang Ze’s brows furrowed slightly.

One couldn’t blame them for being wary. After witnessing the so-called “god-water” and “witch-water” of Wan Gu, now suddenly hearing about a Sacred Spring and Sacred Water from the Holy Antelope, they dared not take it lightly.

Even Ling Ping and Ling Ta looked astonished. The Sacred Spring was the tribe’s greatest secret—most clansmen didn’t even know of it. And now the elders were telling two outsiders.

It hadn’t been easy for Ling Qiu and Wu Xun to make this decision, but they knew it was best for their tribe.

Sensing their unease, Ling Ping clapped his thigh.
“Our Sacred Spring is nothing like Wan Gu’s tricks. It is a gift from the Beast God. And besides—you’ve already drunk it. You know it’s real.”

“You mean the broth we drank during the ritual?”

Ling Ping nodded. Wu Xun stood and said, “Come, I’ll take you there now.”

They wound deeper into the forest, twisting this way and that, until they passed beneath a massive tree draped with hanging vines. At last, a clear pool appeared before them.

It wasn’t large—barely two meters across. Unlike other mountain springs, it had no flowing source. It lay there like a mirror, calm and still.

Yet Qi Bai couldn’t underestimate it. Anyone who saw it would be struck by awe.

From the Sacred Spring outward spread two starkly different zones.

Beyond was the withered desolation of winter. But right at the water’s edge, lush greenery thrived—branches budding tender green shoots, more abundant even than in midsummer.

Standing there, Qi Bai felt warmth like spring wash over him.

Ling Qiu and the others knelt, bowing reverently. Wu Xun intoned:
“Great Sacred Spring, these two are benefactors of the Holy Antelope. They saved us from annihilation. We bring them to your side—please bestow your blessing upon them!”

Wu Xun then crawled forward, pressing an ear to the stones at the pool’s edge, as if listening to a voice.

After a long moment, he stood with the others and pointed to the sky.
“The Sacred Spring has agreed to our request. Remove your furs and enter. Stay until moonlight touches the water, then emerge. Ling Ping and Ling Ta will wait outside the forest for you.”

With that, the four reluctantly departed.

Qi Bai blinked. Did this mean… they were to take a long bath? From now until moonrise—that was five or six hours! Wouldn’t their skin wrinkle like prunes?

Lang Ze gazed at the water. “Don’t you think the Holy Antelope are stronger and hardier than other beastmen?”

Qi Bai nodded. He had noticed that on his first visit. Could this spring be the reason?

Splash.

While Qi Bai pondered, Lang Ze had already stepped into the water.

He stood still a moment, confirming no danger, then held out a hand. “Come.”

Qi Bai thought wryly, Well, might as well. Since we’re here…

He stripped off his furs and, gripping Lang Ze’s hand, stepped into the spring.

The water was slightly cool, yet soothingly warm against the skin.

Qi Bai sat easily at the edge, stretching his long legs out.

Lang Ze chuckled at the sight.

The spring wasn’t deep. Sitting at the bottom, the water just covered Qi Bai’s chest. He looked exactly like he was taking a bath in his big wooden tub back home.

Lang Ze sat down beside him, copying his pose.

Surrounded by greenery and comfort, it was the most leisure they’d had in a long while.

Qi Bai scooped up water and elbowed Lang Ze playfully. “Do you think the Holy Antelope come here often? If so… didn’t we drink their bathwater last time?”

That was an injustice.

Though the Holy Antelope did allow chosen warriors to receive the spring’s baptism, it was rare—once every few years. The last had been Ling Ping and Ling Ta, more than five years ago. Any “bathwater” would long have been purified.

Lang Ze chuckled softly, ignoring the jab, and instead brushed Qi Bai’s hair. The dye concealing its color was fading in the water. Lang Ze carefully rinsed it clean.
“Do you like this pool? When we return, we can dig one in the City Lord’s manor.”

Qi Bai hadn’t expected Lang Ze, who seemed so unrefined, to know how to enjoy life. He himself had only thought about wooden tubs, while Lang Ze was already planning hot-spring baths.

He raised both hands and feet in agreement.
“Dig it! Dig a big one! Big enough that even in beast form, you can soak.”

In his mind, Qi Bai was already designing it: a boiler room beside it, hot and cold water pipes feeding in… a proper hot bath. Just thinking about it felt blissful.

Talking of baths reminded him of the city.
“We’ve been gone more than four months. I wonder how the city’s doing—whether the wall’s gone up smoothly.”

Lang Ze said, “With Shu Lin watching, nothing will go wrong.”

---

Hei Yao City.

Shu Lin rubbed his reddened ears, then raised his hand to direct the clansmen moving transport carts.

They were building the wall from two directions, meeting in the middle. Today another section had been joined, and they were now moving bricks northward for the final stretch.

Just then, wagons rumbled down the long street.

Lu Guo walked beside them, smiling and waving.
“The kilns were idle these days, so I fired a few loads of bricks for you.”

Shu Lin waved back. “Alright, I’ll check later.”

Lu Guo’s group passed into the city lord’s grounds, where piles of building material filled the once-empty space.

Not only had Shu Lin managed the wall’s construction clearly and neatly, he had also prepared materials for the City Lord’s manor. Once spring came, they could begin according to Qi Bai’s drawings.

Qi Bai and Lang Ze, of course, didn’t know what was happening thousands of li away.

Nor did they have time to chatter.

The gentle comfort of the Sacred Spring soon gave way to something else.

Though the water was cool, waves of warmth surged into their bodies. It was like drinking the serpent broth—but far stronger, growing fiercer until it burned.

Qi Bai groaned softly. Lang Ze gripped his hand. “Endure.”

“Mn.”

Qi Bai shut his eyes, focusing his mind against the burning tide.

He didn’t know how much time passed before his thoughts began to drift upward. In his ears, that ethereal, distant voice returned.

But this time it wasn’t vague. He could clearly sense its direction.

Qi Bai opened his eyes.

There it was.