A Shocking Dream

Chapter 147

"What kind of monster is this? I've never seen anything so ferocious." Kanan said with lingering fear, her voice still trembling.

Lin Wunian frowned, his eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly: "Whatever it is, there must be more dangers in this wilderness. We must find a populated area as soon as possible."

They hurried along the path, the dead branches and leaves rustling beneath their feet. Suddenly, a chilly wind blew, and the torch flames danced violently, nearly going out. With a startled cry, Kankan instinctively moved closer to Lin Wunian.

"Don't be afraid, it might just be the wind." Lin Wunian comforted her, but her eyes became more serious.

Lin Wunian stopped at a fork in the road, hesitating which way to go. The path on the left looked wider, but overgrown with weeds; the path on the right was narrower, but it looked like someone had recently walked through it.

"Let's go this way." Lin Wunian finally chose the path on the right. She had a hunch that this path might lead to a populated area.

As they advanced, they heard the sound of gurgling water ahead. Quickening their pace, they arrived at a clear stream. Lin Wunian squatted down, scooped up some water from the stream, and washed her face, feeling the cool water soothe her inner fatigue and tension.

Kankan was observing her surroundings vigilantly, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "Sister, look over there!" Following the direction she pointed, on the other side of the stream, she could vaguely see several bright candlelights.

Lin Wunian was delighted, but she remained vigilant. "Don't be careless. Let's see what's going on first." Then, she pulled Kankan along the stream, searching for a shallow ford to cross. The icy water soaked their shoes, socks, and skirts, chilling them to the bone. But the glimmer of hope in their hearts made them careless.

After finally crossing the river, the two quietly approached the houses. As they drew closer, they could hear the gentle sounds of conversation and children's laughter emanating from within. Lin Wunian motioned for Kankan to wait outside while he tiptoed toward the window and peered through the crack. Inside, an old man sat by the fire, recounting ancient legends to the children gathered around him, while a woman busied herself with needlework.

After confirming that there was no danger, Lin Wunian gestured to Kankan to put on their veils and hats before gently knocking on the door. The conversation inside the room suddenly stopped. A moment later, the door was opened by a young man, his eyes filled with confusion and vigilance. "Who are you?"

Lin Wunian clasped his fists in greeting and said gently, "We are travelers on the road. We encountered danger along the way, lost our horses, and have therefore lost our way. Seeing the candlelight here, we have come to seek help. We hope to stay for one night and leave tomorrow."

The man looked them up and down. Seeing Lin Wunian's injured arm and their miserable appearance, the wariness in his eyes eased a little: "Come in first."

After entering the house, everyone inside cast curious glances at them. The old man stood up and said slowly, "Since the girls are in trouble, please stay here for a while. It's just that our place is small and the conditions are simple, so please don't despise it."

Lin Wunian said gratefully: "Thank you very much, old man. We will never forget your kindness in taking us in." Kankan also nodded repeatedly.

"Did you come down from the mountain?" one of the children asked.

"Grandma just said there are monsters in the mountains." Another child added, with curiosity and a hint of fear in his eyes.

Lin Wunian and Kankan exchanged a glance, and Lin Wunian replied with a smile, "We did come from the mountains, but we didn't see any monsters."

The children gathered around, their faces filled with disbelief. "How could that be possible? Grandma said that monster was huge and could eat people."

Kwan Kwan squatted down and patiently explained, "Maybe Grandma saw it wrongly. Although there are some wild animals in the mountains, we didn't encounter anything particularly scary along the way."

At this time, the woman came over and patted the children's heads gently. "Okay, stop bothering the sisters and let them have a good rest." The children then dispersed.

At night, Lin Wunian and Kankan sat in the yard, gazing at the stars. Kankan said with some concern, "Sister, could the monster the children are talking about be related to the shadow we encountered earlier?"

Lin Wunian pondered for a moment: "It's possible, but we have already eliminated the black shadow. I hope there will be no other danger."

Suddenly, a low roar echoed from the distant mountain, echoing in the silent night. The children, startled awake by the roar, ran to the yard and hid behind the adults. Lin Wunian and Qianqian stood up, looking warily toward the mountain.

"This doesn't sound good. We need to be prepared." Lin Wunian tightened his grip on the weapon at his waist.

The roar lasted for a while and then gradually died away. But the whole village was in a state of unease, and the families in this household were discussing and speculating about what had happened on the mountain.

The old man leaned on his cane, his brow furrowed. "That roar, I'm afraid it's the wolf king in the forest who discovered the dead wolf cub. That beast is always protective of its cubs, and once it gets angry, it's not easy to deal with."

The young man looked terrified. "Dad, if it's really the Wolf King, our village is in danger. We've already had livestock carried off by wolves from the mountains. If it comes seeking revenge, we might not be able to save our cattle, sheep, and poultry. We might even get hurt."

The woman hugged the child tightly and said, "What should we do? How about we drive the cattle and sheep into the house?"

The young man shook his head: "How can we fit all the space in the house? Besides, if the wolf king rushes into the house, won't we be in even greater danger?"

Lin Wunian thought for a moment and said, "Everyone, don't panic. If it's the wolf king, although it's ferocious, it also has weaknesses. Let's light a bonfire around the village. Wolves are afraid of fire, so perhaps it will have a deterrent effect."

The young people thought it made sense, so they took action, collecting firewood, piling it up around the village, and lighting it. The blazing flames rose up, lighting up the night sky and bringing a sense of security to the villagers.

Looking at the busy villagers, Wan Wan said to Lin Wu Nian, "Sister, this is just a temporary solution. If the Wolf King really attacks, we'll have to find a permanent solution."

Lin Wunian nodded: "I know. When it gets light, you and I will go up the mountain to explore and see if we can find the wolf king's lair and lure it away or subdue it."

Just then, a rustling sound emanated from the woods outside the village, as if something were quietly approaching. Everyone tensed up, the men gripping their farm tools tightly, ready for action. Lin Wunian and Kankan also drew their weapons, their gaze fixed intently on the direction of the sound.

As the rustling sound drew closer, the villagers' hearts leaped into their throats. Suddenly, a gigantic wolf king emerged from the woods, its figure swift and majestic, its grey fur gleaming coldly in the firelight.