Chapter 14: The Wolf’s Counterattack

Physical Combat Class.

The much-loved and much-hated physical combat class arrived as scheduled, never delayed by anyone’s reluctance. Cold Sha entered as always. His face remained stern and dark, cold and unapproachable, as if he bore a grudge against everyone and belonged nowhere. The oppressive silence he carried seemed to suffocate the air around him.

Time passed—half an hour slipped by. The students gathered, and Cold Sha began his usual routine: calling out names for the matches.

“Kong Yi.”
“Mo Tu.”

The two students emerged reluctantly and prepared themselves. At Cold Sha’s command, they began their bout—and, without realizing it, their aura surged, fierce and brutal, as if facing mortal enemies.

Their breathing was rapid, their eyes bloodshot. From the outset, the battle was intense.

Cold Sha watched in silence, a hidden smile flickering in his heart. His training had been a resounding success; most had been forced to unearth some latent potential—except for a select few…

His gaze swept across the students, filtering each one, until he paused. His emotionless eyes locked onto Wolf. He remembered that this student had missed class for over ten days due to injury, and was now lagging behind, his habits growing slack.

"The next one will be you," Cold Sha planned in secret.

Wolf, unaware of the coming storm, watched the bout with excitement. Over the past days, listening to Solitary Farewell instruct Little Flower, he had learned much. Recently, he had even been taught a new combat skill—Heavenly Wolf Claw.

This technique was not inherited from previous academy students, but crafted by Solitary Farewell—an amalgamation of various skills, refined to suit Wolf’s nature and strengths. It emphasized two things: leveraging his hand techniques, and matching them with footwork for evasion and counterattack.

Wolf hadn’t mastered it completely, but he understood its essence and Solitary Farewell’s intentions. In his sparring with Little Flower, guided by Solitary Farewell, he discovered his strengths and weaknesses, remembered the advice: avoid his flaws, maximize his advantages, control the flow of battle, and seize victory.

“I’m really looking forward to this,” Wolf’s gaze wandered, searching for the one who had broken his ribs—a name he remembered well: Chu Yi. By chance, Chu Yi was also moving through the crowd, and they met unexpectedly.

Crack—crack—

The instant their eyes met, sparks flew. Chu Yi’s smile bloomed like a flower, full of mockery, disdain, contempt, and provocation.

Wolf unconsciously clenched his fingers, joints popping with sharp cracks. He glared fiercely at Chu Yi, his aura soaring, fighting spirit ablaze. “Just wait, the free challenge is my chance for revenge!”

…

“Next group: Wolf… and Chu Yi.”

As the previous match ended, Cold Sha immediately called Wolf’s name. When naming his opponent, he paused briefly, then—whether by intent or coincidence—selected Chu Yi.

The appearance of Wolf and Chu Yi instantly stirred memories and excitement among the students from the noble families. They recalled that, just over ten days ago, Chu Yi’s violent punch had broken Wolf’s ribs.

That had been a landmark bout, bringing joy to this clique. Recently, Little Flower’s performance had been a blow to their pride; now, this match was a chance to strike back.

Not far away, Chu Yi looked at Wolf with disdain, his hand drawing a slicing gesture across his throat. The gesture was met with enthusiastic approval; shouts and cheers erupted, some even screaming: “Kill him!”

Wolf clenched his fists, eyes locked on his opponent, mind sharpened and body poised, ready to unleash his attack the moment Cold Sha gave the word.

This was not a match; he was truly prepared to tear his enemy apart.

Cold Sha observed both sides, sighing inwardly, then finally spoke: “Begin.”

“Heh heh…” Chu Yi sneered, about to boast, but Wolf had already launched his attack.

Whoosh—

Wolf crouched low, fists spread wide, ten fingers curved like hooks, exploding forward. He was like a wild wolf from the wilderness, fangs bared, energy surging, his presence fierce and unrestrained.

Swish, swish, swish—

With precise footwork, Wolf encircled Chu Yi, hands slashing wildly. Shadows flickered, one after another, dazzling the spectators. His speed made his nails seem like sharp blades wielded by Death itself, slicing through the air, cold and menacing.

Chu Yi panicked. He never expected that, after just ten days, Wolf’s strength would grow so much. The barrage left him unable to distinguish real from fake, forced to defend along Wolf’s rhythm, unable even to deploy his best techniques. Each arc of Wolf’s blade-like nails radiated killing intent, exhausting Chu Yi’s defenses. Occasionally, the force brushed his face, leaving a bloody mark and reminding him this was no illusion.

“Come on, come on—let’s see how long you can keep this up. Once you tire, I’ll really kill you!” Humiliated and suppressed, Chu Yi’s fury ignited, murderous intent swelling. The consequences of murder were forgotten; he believed his family ties would reduce it to manslaughter, earning only minor punishment.

Born to a noble family, he had support.

Roar!

Wolf suddenly shouted, thunderous as a storm. In Chu Yi’s moment of shock, Wolf closed in, engaging in close combat. His ten fingers, needle-sharp, struck at Chu Yi’s chest and throat.

“You’re courting death!”

Chu Yi was delighted—he wanted a direct confrontation. He raised his arms, blocking and countering, preparing to unleash his family’s secret technique and destroy his opponent in one move.

But in the next instant, Wolf’s fierce momentum shifted; he seemed to glide across ice. One hand transformed from claw to palm, five nails gleaming with a cold light, forming a line and slashing diagonally like a blade wheel.

Slash—

Blood sprayed, streaking across the air in a dazzling yet tragic arc.

Though Chu Yi instinctively dodged, a deep gash—an inch long—appeared on his neck.

“He wants to kill me!”

Chu Yi was terrified; he sensed that Wolf’s strike had been deliberate, leaving no room for mercy. Had he not dodged, his neck would have been half-severed.

The “little lamb,” the lowborn nobody in his eyes, had suddenly become an agent of death, showing enough power to make Chu Yi want to flee.

Fear seized him.

Fear breeds panic, breaks composure.

Wolf seized the moment, rushing in again, claws merciless.

Heavenly Wolf Claw!

Legend says the Heavenly Wolf was a vicious beast from ancient times, roaming the starry worlds, cruel by nature, fond of ripping out human hearts to eat. Its deadliest attack, and the foundation of its power, was its claw.

The Heavenly Wolf is extinct, but Wolf lives on.

He wielded the Heavenly Wolf’s claw, as if reborn.

With his claws unleashed, wind and clouds seemed to change.

Chu Yi, utterly lost, was caught beneath the shadow of the Heavenly Wolf Claw. The cold, chilling light at the tips of Wolf’s fingers blinded all who watched. Perhaps, in the next moment, when sight returned, they would witness Chu Yi slain, his heart torn out.

Thunder rumbled—

Cold Sha, who had been silently observing, could wait no longer. He moved, battle energy roaring within him like divine thunder. His arm, forged like steel, slipped simply and precisely between the fighters, forcing Chu Yi back. Wolf’s claws followed, slashing across Cold Sha’s arm.

Ten fingers like blades, each scraping against that iron arm, emitting screeching friction and spraying sparks.

The attack lacked sufficient power, sharpness insufficient—he could not break through the defense.

Cold Sha, seemingly prepared, crashed forward, battle energy surging and stopping instantly. Wolf was knocked backward, stumbling to the edge of the students, where Little Flower and others caught him, steadying him once more.

“That’s enough,” Cold Sha said calmly.

“He tried to kill someone—this can’t be overlooked.”
“That’s right! He must be severely punished, at least expelled from the academy. We can’t live with a madman like him…”
“…!” Several noble family students, close to Chu Yi, shouted in agitation.

“Silence!” Cold Sha roared suddenly, his voice booming and shaking the vast classroom. His gaze swept over them, a powerful, invisible pressure overwhelming all, silencing the noisy students in an instant.

Cold Sha gritted his teeth, speaking each word slowly and deliberately: “I said, that’s enough. Didn’t you hear me? If anyone has questions, speak to me.”

…

Not a sound was heard.