Chapter 13: The Second Failed Death

Gu Feng stared in astonishment at the hound before him, instantly recognizing it as the most formidable dog in the village. Its body was as huge as a tiger’s, and it had once fought a fully grown wild boar single-handedly. No wonder it dared to challenge a pack of jackals while the other hounds cowered in silence.

Yet, despite the hound’s strength and impressive feats, Gu Feng did not hold out much hope for it. He did not pause, but continued to race toward home, knowing that delivering his sister safely was the true priority.

Of course, Gu Feng hoped that the hound could buy him a little time, making it safer for him to escort his sister home.

The hound’s owner crouched in the cellar, filled with regret. As mighty as his dog was, sending it against a horde of frenzied jackals was certain death! The bond between master and hound was deep; several times, the owner wanted to dash out and call the dog back, but his family restrained him. No matter how important the hound was, nothing was more important than their lives.

The mad jackals had lost all reason. Their eyes held only Gu Feng, their minds fixed on a single desire—to tear him apart.

For daring to oppose them, the hound drew the jackals’ furious howls.

The hound bared its savage teeth, as though provoked, and let out a furious bark before charging straight into the fray.

A jackal’s neck was caught in its jaws. Blood spurted instantly, and the animal’s agonized scream pierced the air.

The rest of the jackals swarmed, engulfing the hound completely.

Even beset by so many, the hound’s tenacity was astounding. Facing certain death, it locked its jaws around the jackal and refused to let go.

The jackals tore into the hound in a frenzy, ripping flesh from bone and swallowing it down.

In no time, nothing remained of the once-fierce hound but a skeleton and a whole, intact head.

Having devoured the hound, the jackals sniffed the air, their noses keenly following Gu Feng’s scent as they gave chase.

With a crack, the jackal still caught in the hound’s jaws thrashed desperately, snapping the hound’s neckbone. Dragging the hound’s head, it too joined the pursuit, blood pouring from its wounds, seemingly oblivious to pain.

Such are beasts in their rage—unless death claims them, there can be no rest.

Thanks to the hound’s sacrifice, Gu Feng managed to carry his sister home and settle her safely. Under her anxious, reluctant gaze, he left the courtyard.

No sooner had he stepped outside than he saw the pack of wild jackals closing in, their howls filling the air. The last of the pack still dragged the massive hound’s head from its neck.

Gu Feng felt a pang of regret for the loyal, powerful hound that had perished so tragically.

Worried that his lingering scent might draw the jackals into the house, he waited until they all drew near before suddenly dashing toward the back mountain.

He sprinted at full speed, glancing back now and then to count the pack. Only when he confirmed that all fourteen jackals were following did he relax.

Leading them across a wooden rail, Gu Feng ventured deeper into the wilds, hoping to put more distance between the village and the jackals before making his move.

The villagers of Forest Village heaved a collective sigh of relief when they heard the pack move off. Even so, no one dared leave their homes to check—no one was willing to risk it in case a stray jackal remained.

Only Gu Yan, worried for her brother, ventured out when the howls faded. Bolder than the rest, she ran beyond the courtyard and gazed toward the deep woods, her face filled with worry as the sounds of jackals still echoed from the mountain.

“Brother, you must come back safe. If anything happens to you, I don’t want to live either.”

At that moment, Gu Yan was filled with self-loathing. Unable to help her brother, she was nothing but a burden. She resolved that if he returned safely, she would insist he teach her to cultivate—only by growing stronger could she cease to be a burden and truly help him.

Gu Feng led the frenzied pack onward. Along the way, he saw many powerful beasts. Normally, these creatures would have ambushed him, but sensing a crazed pack of jackals in pursuit, they wisely chose to hide.

Fortunately, the jackals were focused solely on Gu Feng. Since the other beasts did not attack, neither did the jackals.

In the distance, Gu Feng spotted a giant ancient tree, so wide that three men could not encircle it. The space beneath was open, ideal for his plan.

Approaching the tree, Gu Feng climbed swiftly up to the lowest branch.

He intended to wait until the pack had gathered beneath him before leaping down and detonating himself, hoping to kill all the jackals at once and complete his death mission.

He had not counted on the jackals’ climbing ability. Like a flood, they dug their claws into the trunk and surged upward, their savagery undiminished.

Only the jackal still caught in the hound’s jaws, weakened by blood loss, managed only halfway up before slipping and falling, its sharp claws gouging deep marks in the bark.

Thirteen crazed jackals barreled up the tree toward him.

Timing his move, Gu Feng leapt down the moment the first jackal lunged at him, aiming to land atop the jackal pinned beneath the hound’s skull.

He thought his plan flawless—that the jackals would leap one by one and he could bring them all down together. But the ones behind, seeing him drop, flung themselves after him in midair.

Heavens! Thirteen jackals descended on him like a storm, a veritable rain of fangs and fury. The sight alone was enough to make one faint.

So violent was the motion that countless leaves shook loose, fluttering down and adding to the chaos.

Alas, there was no audience to appreciate the spectacle.

The jackal pinned beneath the hound’s head, seemingly at death’s door, rallied with a final burst of strength. When Gu Feng was half a meter from the ground, its bloodshot eyes flashed, and it leapt up to sink its teeth deep into his backside.

The agony was excruciating, and Gu Feng nearly passed out from the pain. Cold sweat drenched him as he looked up to see thirteen jackals tumbling toward him.

For the first time, he felt real terror. If all those jaws tore into him at once, he would be ripped to shreds in an instant. The image of being torn alive filled him with such horror that he forgot his mission entirely.

But the nightmare wasn’t over.

Landing hard, Gu Feng sat down squarely on the jackal beneath him.

Amid the pain, a mechanical voice sounded in his mind, making him forget everything for a moment.

Ding! “You have slain a frenzied jackal. Experience +15.”

Ding! “You failed to kill all the frenzied jackals simultaneously. Mission failed. Death opportunity invalidated.”