Blood Valley
Just as Ling Zhan was carrying Shen Hong and running away.
On the very edge of that blood-red hell in the northern frontier, a lone figure charged forward—it was Shen Yan.
He had just swiftly torn apart the interception of an enemy squad.
The cost was a new, deep knife wound on his left arm that exposed the bone.
The intense pain only sharpened his senses.
He lay prone on a sheltered snow slope, breathing heavily.
His gaze swept across the desolate valley ahead like that of a hawk—the place where Tiger had sent his last signal.
In the wind.
Aside from the blood and smoke, he seemed to detect a faint yet strangely familiar fluctuation of energy.
With a peculiar, soothing rhythm, it was intermittent, as if it would go out at any moment.
Just as Shen Yan caught a glimpse of this faint presence, on the other side of the valley entrance...
The north wind whipped up snowflakes, which felt like cold sand lashing against my face.
Deep in the valley, the air was thick with the rusty smell of despair and the sweet, pungent scent of death.
Ling Zhan lay prone behind a snow-covered rock, with Shen Hong close beside her, her face blue from the cold.
But his eyes were unusually focused, and his pure spiritual energy was like invisible tendrils.
Difficulty discerning amidst the bloody and chaotic atmosphere.
"there!"
Shen Hong's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Pointing to a natural shelter formed by jagged, strangely shaped rocks at the deepest part of the valley.
"It's very chaotic... There's a wolf's scent, a lot of it... and... Brother Tiger! Very faint!"
Ling Zhan's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an icy hand.
She looked up at Lan Ying beside her.
The silver-gray snow wolf had completely lost the elegance it had displayed atop the mountain.
It crouched low, its silvery-gray fur standing on end in the wind and snow.
A low, warning sob rolled in his throat.
His eyes were fixed on the direction Shen Hong was pointing, filled with vigilance and a strange sense of oppression.
It sensed the presence of its kind.
Moreover, they are a large number of hostile fellow beings!
"Lan Ying, lead the way! Be careful yourself!" Ling Zhan shouted in a low voice.
Lan Ying darted away silently, like a silver arrow released from a bow.
Its movements were swift and cautious, making perfect use of the terrain for cover.
Its enormous body moved with ghostly lightness in the deep snow, its fluffy, thick, silvery-gray fur fluttering slightly in the cold wind.
Each step landed precisely on the softest or firmest point of the snow, without making a sound, leaving only shallow marks behind that were almost instantly smoothed over by the wind and snow.
Ling Zhan pulled Shen Hong up and followed closely behind.
The wind, snow, and rocks provided excellent cover and also obscured visibility.
Lan Ying flared her nostrils as she inhaled the icy air deeply, completely ignoring the wind and snow that blocked her way.
It was firmly locked onto some invisible coordinate in the distance—that was Tiger's unique aura.
The closer you get, the clearer the sound carried on the wind becomes.
Heavy breathing, suppressed groans of pain.
There are also the wolf pack's distinctive, threatening low growls and the sound of claws scratching the ground!
Just as they rounded the last boulder.
The sight before him caused Ling Zhan's pupils to shrink sharply!
In a relatively sheltered depression, several corpses draped in Northern Di fur robes lay scattered about.
It was clearly torn apart by claws and fangs.
Outside the semicircle formed by these corpses were more than a dozen large, robust snow wolves from the northern border region!
They paced anxiously.
Its eerie green eyes gleamed in the dim light, its fangs bared, and it emitted threatening growls—
They tightly surrounded the two figures huddled together in the center of the depression.
Surrounded in the center.
It was Hu Zi and a middle-aged general with disheveled hair and beard, covered in blood—General Huo!
Tiger's face was deathly pale, a broken arrow piercing his left shoulder, blood staining half his body. His consciousness was hazy, but his body trembled slightly, his lips moving silently, as if maintaining some faint rhythm—
It was the wolf-driving technique taught by Ling Zhan!
General Huo's condition is slightly better.
However, his right leg was twisted at an odd angle, clearly indicating a fracture.
He leaned against a rock, gripping a chipped knife tightly in his hand. His eyes were fierce, like those of a wounded tiger, staring intently at the pack of wolves. But his hand holding the knife trembled uncontrollably, clearly at his last gasp.
The most shocking thing was the clothes they were wearing!
General Huo's thick leather robe was torn in several places by wolf claws.
The dark, oddly textured clothing underneath was revealed.
Tiger's outer cotton coat, meant for warmth, was practically tattered, but underneath was the same dark, tight-fitting garment! In the wind and snow, the exposed lining through the torn openings miraculously remained dry!
And there were the dead Northern Di soldiers nearby.
The clothes under their fur robes were already soaked with snow and blood, and frozen into hard ice shells in the extreme cold!
This stark contrast is precisely due to the waterproof quilted inner garment designed by Ling Zhan and secretly produced by the workshop at the foot of the mountain!
It insulates against the deadly damp cold.
It became the last lifeline for Hu Zi and General Huo as they struggled to survive in this desperate situation!
"roar--!"
Just when the wolf pack seemed unable to restrain themselves...
Just as the fatal blow was about to be delivered, a deafening wolf howl, filled with supreme majesty, exploded like thunder in the wind and snow!
Storm Shadow!
It's no longer hidden!
Like a silver king reigning supreme, he leaped onto a boulder in front of Ling Zhan, looking down from above.
Looking down at the wolf pack below!
Its silver-gray fur fluttered wildly in the wind and snow, and its amber eyes gleamed with a cold yet powerful light.
He exuded a powerful and pure wolf king aura that originated from his bloodline and was nourished by the spiritual energy of the mountain peak!
The sudden appearance of this powerful kin.
The restless wolf pack instantly came to a standstill!
All the eerie green wolf eyes focused on Lan Ying with suspicion and uncertainty.
Among the wolf pack, a particularly large, greyish-white alpha wolf with a menacing notch in its left ear—clearly the local wolf alpha—was the leader.
It suddenly raised its head, letting out a threatening growl, its front paws pawing anxiously at the ground, staring intently at Lan Ying.
It was filled with vigilance, anger, and a hint of... disbelief.
The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the howling of the wind and snow and the heavy breathing of the wolf pack.
An invisible force is clashing fiercely between the local wolf king and the outsider, Lan Ying!
The wolf pack wavered, observing and instinctively sensing which side was stronger.
At this critical moment.
Another figure was like a raging black hurricane, carrying a strong stench of blood and overwhelming killing intent.
They charged headlong into the wolf pack's encirclement from the other side of the valley!
"Get out of my way!"
The deep, sullen roar was like a thunderclap!
He was covered in blood, his black clothes were torn, and the wound on his left arm stained his sleeve red.
Fresh blood, not yet frozen, dripped from his fingertips onto the snow.
Striking red spots appeared on the snow.
But the long sword in his hand gleamed astonishingly, carrying a resolute determination to cut through everything!
He completely ignored the threat of the wolf pack, his eyes fixed only on the two barely breathing figures in the center of the depression!
His sudden intrusion was like pouring cold water into boiling oil!
The wolf pack exploded instantly!
Some were intimidated by Shen Yan's murderous aura and subconsciously retreated.
Many more, especially the local wolf king, were thoroughly enraged.
They roared and were about to pounce on the intruder who dared to challenge their territory!
"Lan Ying!"
Ling Zhan shouted sternly.
At the same time, he moved with lightning speed and instantly rushed to Shen Yan's side.
He stood back to back with him, the short blade in his hand gleaming coldly, his gaze sweeping coldly over the wolf pack.
"Protect them!"
Lan Ying let out another long, terrifying howl!
This time, the power contained in the howl was even stronger, and it even carried a faint spiritual impact!
It leaped down from the boulder, its target the local wolf king that was pouncing on Shen Yan!
Its speed was as fast as a silver lightning bolt!
The two giant wolves collided violently!
Claws tore and ripped, fangs clashed, and snow and fur flew everywhere!
The deep growls and ferocious biting sounds were terrifying.
Lan Ying's movements became more agile.
It possesses a pure, explosive power.
Every strike was precise and deadly.
Although the local wolf king was strong and fierce, it was no match for Lan Ying's offensive, which combined spiritual energy with combat skills.
They quickly fell into a disadvantageous position!
The old wound on its left ear seemed to restrict its movement.
Lan Ying seized the opportunity and bit down on his shoulder blade!
"Waaaaah—!"
The local wolf king let out a painful howl and suddenly broke free and retreated.
The look in his eyes as he looked at Lan Ying was filled with fear and disbelief.
The wolf pack became restless, emitting low howls, and their gazes toward Lan Ying began to carry a sense of awe.
Lan Ying did not pursue.
It stood proudly between the wolf pack and Shen Yanling.
His amber eyes swept coldly over the wolf pack, finally settling on the retreating wolf king.
It raised its head slightly and let out a low, commanding growl.
That was a declaration, a takeover!
The local wolf king let out a low growl of resentment.
Finally, under the overwhelming aura of Lan Ying and the silent gaze of the wolf pack, it slowly lowered its head.
He silently stepped back a few paces and blended into the wolf pack.
The wolves' growls gradually subsided; although they remained vigilant, their ferocious aggression had dissipated.
Instead, there was a sense of submission and observation.
The crisis is temporarily over!
Ling Zhan and Shen Yan immediately rushed to Hu Zi and General Huo's side.
"Tiger Boy! General Huo!"
Ling Zhan quickly checked the injuries of the two men, and his heart sank to the bottom.
Tiger lost too much blood, his arrow wound was deep, and his body temperature was frighteningly low.
If it weren't for the lining of that waterproof cotton coat locking in his core body temperature, he would probably have frozen to death long ago.
General Huo's leg injury was also very serious.
Shen Yan's condition was equally bad; the wound on his left arm was torn open, and he had lost a lot of blood. In addition, he had been fighting all the way and was severely exhausted.
"The wound must be treated immediately, otherwise..."
Ling Zhan's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
In this icy wasteland, surrounded by wolves, a place temporarily suppressed.
Breaking through with three seriously wounded soldiers is practically a pipe dream!
Panting heavily, he wiped the blood and snow off his face, his eyes scanning his surroundings with unusual sharpness.
His gaze fell on a sheltered slope not far away, covered with thick snow and backed by huge rocks.
"I'm not leaving!"
Ling Zhan's voice was resolute, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.
"Right here! Build an ice house! Shenyan, don't stand still, keep moving! Hong'er, keep an eye on Lanying and the wolf pack!"
Before Shen Yan could even question it, Ling Zhan had already taken action.
Despite the excruciating pain, Shen Yan walked to the hillside to see Hu Zi.
At this moment, Ling Zhan...
She slammed her palms down on the thick snow, and a burst of scorching heat instantly erupted from her palms!
This power originates from her powerful life force, sizzle—!
An amazing thing happened!
The snow beneath his palm did not melt or flow, but rather seemed to be precisely cut, compressed, and shaped by an invisible force!
The hard frozen ground trembled slightly beneath her feet.
The nearby snow seemed to have come to life.
Pulled and shaped by a powerful force, they were formed into huge, regular, translucent ice bricks, like bricks!
These ice blocks have peculiar angles, smooth edges, and exude a chilling aura.
Ling Zhan's movements were as fast as lightning.
His arms trembled slightly from overexerting his internal energy, and veins bulged on his forehead, clearly indicating that he had exhausted himself.
The enormous ice block was guided by her precise mental calculations.
As if built by an invisible hand, it rapidly piles up around the sheltered rock wall!
The ice blocks fit together perfectly, as if they were naturally formed.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a sturdy, semi-circular, small igloo fortress large enough to accommodate several people was built.
It suddenly appeared in this blood-soaked valley!
The igloo's dome is perfectly round.
The entrance is located in a sheltered spot, and an ice platform was even built inside using the same method to insulate against the cold air from the ground!
Space Marines' survival building techniques.
In this otherworldly, icy wasteland, it reveals its magnificence!
"Go in!"
Ling Zhan gave a low shout, his voice weary yet incredibly resolute.
Without further hesitation, Shen Yan immediately joined Shen Hong.
They carefully carried the nearly unconscious Tiger and the seriously injured General Huo into the ice house.
It was cool inside the igloo.
But it instantly shut out the biting cold wind and snow outside, and the temperature rose significantly.
Most importantly, safety!
Ling Zhan came in and used large blocks of ice and the cotton-padded clothes he had brought with him to block the entrance to the ice house.
He quickly began treating the three people's wounds.
The medicinal herbs she brought from the mountaintop played a vital role at this moment.
Cleaning the wound, applying medicine to stop the bleeding, bandaging and securing it... With Shen Hong's cooperation, the movements were clean and efficient.
Shen Yan also tore open the clothes on her left arm, revealing a hideous wound.
Shen Yan gritted his teeth and pulled out the strong liquor with trembling hands.
Just as he was about to pour the wine onto the wound, Ling Zhan snatched the wine flask from his hand. 'Don't move!'
She quickly and vigorously washed away the clotted blood and dirt from the wound, and Shen Hong cooperated by handing her the medicinal powder and bandages.
Outside the igloo, Lan Ying, like a loyal silver sentinel, sat quietly not far from the entrance.
Its silhouette appeared exceptionally tall amidst the wind and snow.
The defeated local wolf king, along with his pack, lingered a short distance away, his eerie green eyes glancing occasionally at the igloo.
He looked at Lan Ying with awe.
Lan Ying would occasionally let out a low, short, guttural sound.
The wolf pack then adjusted their guard positions according to this instruction.
The wolf pack gradually quieted down.
Several wolves even began patrolling the area, forming a de facto perimeter.
The temperature inside the igloo was maintained by the body temperature of the three people and the small piece of solid fuel that Ling Zhan had ignited.
It quickly stabilized above freezing point.
For them, who had just come from the biting cold, this was a rare "high temperature".
Ling Zhan finished bandaging Shen Yan's wound.
I looked up at his tired yet still burning eyes, which held an indomitable flame.
The words "You're really asking for it" that I finally had time to say were swallowed back down.
Shen Yan was also looking at her.
Their eyes met, and without a word, they both saw the determination in each other's eyes: to live and bring them home!
The wind and snow continued to howl outside the igloo.
But inside the igloo, the wounded men's heavy breathing gradually calmed down.
Only outside the icehouse remained, with Lan Ying's low whimpers and the occasional sounds of wolves moving about in the distance.
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