Chapter 21: Family

Don’t you call refraining from eating human flesh a sign of piety?
I say it’s stubbornness, rigid dogma, and foolish ignorance. In such times, flexibility is the right path; it’s wise to preserve one’s own life. Even the gods will be on my side! If I’m right, let the wounds in my heart serve as a miracle to prove it.
No compromise, no negotiation—attack the opponent’s core issues head-on and crush them completely. If Dev succeeds, the very reason for the Holy Sect’s existence will vanish, and their actions will become a laughingstock.
Fearing this, some Holy Sect members, including Zhan Ga, decided to go to extremes. To ensure fairness and transparency in this wager, they demanded representatives stay in the camp to oversee everything.
The flesh-eaters, angered by their stubbornness, confronted them: “You’re so aggressive. If it turns out Dev is right, how will you account for all the harm you’ve caused? Will you commit suicide as atonement? Or leave the migration group on your own? You can’t just brush off your mistakes with an apology. Things could get messy—who knows when you might invent another excuse to claim your so-called purity and freedom?”
“Fine! If we’re wrong, we’ll leave the migration group and fend for ourselves!” Under pressure, people easily become stubborn. Finally, a core member of the Holy Sect stepped forward and spoke boldly.
With a leader, followers followed. Seven people stepped forward, essentially capturing all the key members of the Holy Sect. They realized they had no face left to stay in the migration group if Dev was right.
Zhan Ga thought of greeting all these people’s female relatives—wasn’t this forcing him to cut off his last escape route?
At that moment, Priest Norlund also approached the seven core members of the Holy Sect. The sect’s rise was greatly tied to his involvement. He prayed devoutly to the gods for guidance, but, as usual, the gods’ answers were vague, leaving him to follow his instincts. Norlund felt he couldn’t shirk his responsibility. If the Holy Sect was at fault, self-exile seemed justified.
Seeing this, Zhan Ga also had no choice but to join the core members. If he made mistakes twice in a row, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. His power came from his “reputation,” and at this critical moment, he had to at least preserve his image as someone who dared to take responsibility.
Meanwhile, Dev remembered another piece of advice from Neo: “Hold your ground; facts speak louder than words.”
So instead of exploiting the situation or pretending to be forgiving, Dev shifted the focus to another concept: sincere prayer.
Of course, this was all a show. Dev dared to speak boldly because of Neo’s strong support. The techniques from the Life series were the real heroes in healing. Thanks to Neo’s unique method of planting seeds, his healing techniques could now take effect at set times.

Just as Dave made his declaration of faith, Neo was performing the Seed Ritual of the Pearl of Life in the infirmary. To cover his tracks, he pretended to be there to visit everyone with Valentina and Milien. As the two women comforted the patients, they drew the attention of all the wounded, allowing the rituals to be carried out one by one. As for those who were in a coma, it was even simpler.

“Neo, why do you look so pale?” Although the Pearl of Life was the least resource-intensive healing technique, performing it too many times still posed a heavy burden. After a round in the infirmary, Neo’s mental strength and life energy had dropped to rock bottom. He happened to run into Liz right as he stepped out of the tent.

“It’s an old illness; it’ll be fine after resting for a while.”

Unexpectingly, Liz acted like a protective hen and pulled Neo aside. “Don’t take your health for granted just because you’re young. Rest right here.” Then she turned to Milien and Valentina and said, “Miss Manmores, Miss Srod, if there’s nothing urgent, I’d like my Neo to rest here for a while.”

These words made Milien feel jealous to the point of almost losing control and stepping forward to argue, “Neo is mine!”

Valentina was also aware of Neo’s attachment and, feeling a sense of solidarity with Milien, stepped forward and said, “My Neo… I don’t know if you’re his…”

“Sis!” Liz puffed out her chest.

Compared to Liz, Milien and Valentina lacked a bit of feminine grace—one still had a youthful innocence, while the other had a somewhat masculine appearance. In terms of looks, the three were evenly matched: Milien had delicate skin but appeared pale; Valentina, who exercised regularly, had a healthy tan with slightly rough skin; Liz, on the other hand, had fair skin with a healthy rosy hue, fitting the standard of beauty best. Of course, the most crucial factor was that Liz could openly express her feelings for Neo, while Milien couldn’t, and Valentina could only keep reminding herself that affection should stay within bounds. This led to situations like this, where Milien and Valentina ended up at a disadvantage when “fighting over a man” in person.

“Sis Liz, I’m fine…” Neo tried to fight for his “freedom,” but with Liz’s emotional tactics, he had few reasons to rely on.

With a hint of resentment, Liz turned back and said, “You said you needed to rest. Why are you running around? Just rest here for a while.”

Milien wanted to argue but couldn’t come up with a good excuse, so her lips pursed in frustration. Seeing this, Valentina realized that if things continued like this, given Liz’s sensitivity as a woman, she might guess the relationship between Neo and Milien. And once that news spread, things would get serious. She immediately said, “Hmm, I’ll arrange for someone else to take over Neo’s duties. Let him rest here.” Then she walked over to Neo, patted his shoulder, and said, “Neo, take care of yourself. You’re a public figure who can affect everyone’s morale. Many people are worried about you…”

Valentina’s second half of the sentence carried a noticeably heavier tone and deeper meaning, and the accompanying gesture was by no means simple—seemingly gentle, yet actually imbued with combat energy. Neo had no way to express his distress and could only show gratitude and astonishment. “Thank you, Miss Srod, for your concern.”

“Hehe, so that’s how it can be…” Valentina was secretly pleased, not only because she saw Neo unable to voice his grievances but also because she had found a way to “tame” this domineering guy.

As Mielien turned around the corner of the infirmary with a pouted face and a somewhat distressed expression, Valentina comforted her, “I already gave Neo a lesson just now to teach him a lesson. He shouldn’t act carefree just because he’s young and handsome, causing all sorts of trouble.”

Mielien frowned at Valentina. “Neo used so much energy in the infirmary—did you not hurt him?”

“…Uh… I don’t think so… Hehe…” Valentina said this, but inwardly she felt some guilt for her petty caprice. After all, Neo had shown great kindness to both her and the people of Mathuya, without expecting anything in return. Yet she always wanted to naturally suppress his dominance. “It’s his fault for always acting so mature,” Valentina defended herself, though deep down she knew the real reason was quite childish…

This tent belonged to Liz. Most of the space was occupied by medicine cabinets and shelves, with cleanliness and the lingering scent of medicines being its most prominent features.

Lying on the simple bed made of wooden planks, Neo could easily smell a faint, soothing fragrance with a hint of soap-like scent—that was Liz’s scent, a sweet laurel aroma that brought a sense of peace and warmth.

Liz’s slender, cool fingers moved over Neo’s head. To his surprise, this massage, which he had initially dismissed, proved extremely effective at relieving his excessive mental strain. The dual relaxation of both body and mind was incredibly pleasant, so much so that even with his self-control, he couldn’t help but let out a soft groan. This made the atmosphere a bit awkward. Neo tried to explain, but Liz silenced him with a “Shh! Relax, stay calm. Don’t force down your feelings—just let things take their course…”

Liz’s voice was soft and pleasant. Exhausted both physically and mentally, Neo stopped resisting his feelings and gradually felt his eyelids grow heavy as he fell asleep.

On this gloomy winter day, in the desolate jungle, even the sound of the wind carried a sense of sorrow.

“Neo, when I shout for you to run, just keep running in that direction,” the burly man said, pointing toward the depths of the forest—a dark place filled with twisted branches and snow, so chilling that even prolonged staring would make one feel cold to the bone.

“You need to run with all your might, like a wild horse escaping from a lion’s hunt—keep going! Don’t look back! Do you understand?” His injuries were only roughly treated, with several bandaged areas already seeping bright red blood. The burly man’s face was pale, and he appeared tired and worn out, yet his voice remained calm and steady, his eyes sharp and bright, and his grip on the sword hilt strong as ever.

Called “Nio,” he was still just a tiny child, his frail frame emphasized by the drifting snowflakes that resembled grass fluff. Yet in his eyes, as blue as the sky deep in the desert, lay a depth of seriousness untypical of his age.
In such a cruel environment, the weak could hardly survive. Wolves typically lived about 14 years, learning to find their own food by just over six months old. Among the Daknis werewolves who also struggled to survive in the jungles and wastelands, few lived past 55. Nio, who had just turned five, was already like a wolf of six months old—and one of the best among his peers.
Clenching his lips tightly, little Nio nodded firmly. He kept his father’s words in mind; the nod was his answer, as well as a promise—a promise of the Daknis people, one that would surely be kept if they survived!
A hint of warmth and tenderness flashed in the man’s eyes. The strong man said nothing more, simply grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it into his mouth, then turned to continue watching for any signs of danger against the tree. He knew the pursuers had arrived; all he needed to do was find a suitable opportunity for his son to escape—an opportunity created by him and his wife.
The young mother, whose youth had been worn away by the hardships of life, used her rough, calloused hands to pull a leather pendant from around her neck. She placed it in little Nio’s hands, her voice soft and gentle: “En’shu falah—nah! May the moonlight always shine upon you!”
The crystal-clear wolf fang, still warm from his mother’s touch, was held tightly by Nio until his fingers turned white. He had asked his mother for this pendant more than once; he understood its meaning.
No time! No time!
Woof! The cold wind carrying snow brought the sound of barking dogs. Soon after, the sound of horse hooves, clashing armor, and the crunching of heavy footsteps on the snow became increasingly clear. Through the sparse trees, silhouettes of approaching figures could be seen.
Nio smelled the sweet scent of blood, the foul smell of sweat, as well as stinky body odors and foot smells…
“It’s them! After two days and nights of fleeing, we still can’t escape these pursuers!” Nio gritted his teeth. He knew it wasn’t just because the enemies had dogs; for him, it was a mystery that had remained unsolved for a long time. All he could do now was to firmly remember these smells.
“Run!” The strong man’s shout was like his battle cry every time he fought—full of momentum, enough to make hair stand on end, with the snow on the tree branches shaking violently.
Without time to think too much, Nio reacted instinctively and dashed out like a nimble little wolf, running headlong into the depths of the forest without looking back.
Boom! A loud noise came from behind, like thunder in winter, deafening. Nio shuddered involuntarily. It was amidst this thunderous sound (gunfire) that Marlin, the alpha wolf, died, and his father was injured. Otherwise, in the jungle, no one could outrun the Daknis werewolves.
The thunder didn’t make Nio hesitate; instead, he ran faster and with more strength.

The scent of fresh blood came on the wind; his father’s roars and his mother’s suppressed screams also came on the wind. Tears streamed down, leaving cold trails on his face before turning into frost crystals that fell. But littleNeo didn’t turn back. He had promised his father to run as desperately as a wild horse! Wild horses always run straight ahead without looking back—it was a promise!

He ran at full speed, with only the sound of the wind in his ears. As he ran, he could clearly hear his own breathing and heartbeat…

LittleNeo didn’t know how far he had run. All he knew was that he had to keep running until he lost every last bit of strength.

“Hmph…” The laughter was like the bitter wind of winter—harsh and piercingly cold. “Wolf pup…” A few words were forced out between clenched teeth, not with force, but with contempt and casualness.

LittleNeo was shocked. Before he could react, everything blurred before his eyes, followed by excruciating pain in his legs. He lost his balance and collapsed in the snow, his face and mouth filled with snow.

“Die of cold or die from being bitten—only heaven knows! Hehehe…” A thin figure disappeared among the branches, the falling snow like mist. All that remained in the air was the eerie laughter and a foul, cold smell…

Nightmares came and went, leaving behind the announcement of death. On his thigh was a deep knife wound, with flesh torn open and blood gushing out. Did it hurt? Of course, but that wasn’t the most pressing concern right now. Because littleNeo knew that without blood, he would die of cold, and the scent of blood would attract bears or other beasts from miles away.

LittleNeo had seen his mother bandage his father’s wounds and had received some basic instructions. He knew that if he wanted to survive, he had to do this quickly.

What should have been simple became difficult due to his weakness. He tore his underwear into strips. Lacking strength, he had to use his teeth, even if it meant his teeth might loosen. He folded the strips into a pad, pressed it over the wound, and then wrapped it with more strips…

The sky grew darker, and the damp, fishy air signaled the approach of a heavy snowstorm. The cold wind whistled around the trees, enjoying the struggle of this weak life.

His wound was only temporarily covered. LittleNeo stuffed some snow in his mouth, but instead of swallowing it right away, he held it there until it wasn’t so cold before swallowing. He didn’t understand academic terms like a weak digestive system; he only remembered his parents’ teachings—that survival skills couldn’t be ignored.

Unable to run, he could only crawl. LittleNeo wanted to get away from there as quickly as possible. The blood loss would attract wild beasts, and he needed to find a sheltered spot to build a snow den. A blizzard was coming, and he didn’t want to die of cold like the reindeer that failed to survive in the snowstorm.

At that time, littleNeo still didn’t know the art of causing harm. He didn’t realize that the wound on his leg was, in the eyes of some, perfectly placed. Struggling for so long yet still unable to escape death—this was a cruel art…

The wind had risen, blowing the snow on the ground into a misty haze. The cold of the snowfield numbed the body through the clothes, while the biting wind pierced deep into the lungs with every breath. LittleNeo blamed himself for not being strong enough, for being too weak. At this moment, he should have already found a shelter, built a snow den, and hid inside until the storm passed and his father’s footsteps could be heard. His father always found him and never let his hopes down…

Gradually, the pain faded, and his consciousness grew blurred. LittleNeo wanted to sleep—right there, right now, and have a good sleep.

“I don’t want to fall asleep. I promised my father that I’d be like a wild horse—pushing forward as long as I have a shred of strength! I still have strength! I can do it!” LittleNeo stubbornly resisted the call of death.

“I can do it!”Neo suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

“Neo, what’s wrong? Had a bad dream?”

Neo heard a concerned voice and then saw Liz’s beautiful face, tinged with concern.

“Just some old memories…”Neo wiped his forehead. Not only was his forehead sweaty, but his whole body was damp. Though uncomfortable, he felt that his mental strength had recovered well, and the sense of fatigue had vanished.

“What time is it?”Neo turned and got out of bed, realizing he was only wearing his undergarments. He had slept so deeply that he hadn’t even noticed anyone helping him take off his clothes. ButNeo didn’t mind much. After all, the quality of sleep was directly proportional to the degree of recovery. He could feel that, in addition to his mental strength returning, the gloom accumulated deep in his heart seemed to have dissipated as well, bringing a long-absent sense of relief.

“Thank you, Sister Liz. After sleeping, I feel amazing. It was a miraculous massage.”

Walking over, Liz handedNeo a wet towel and smiled. “It’s a family secret. Since it needs to be used on sensitive areas, it can only be applied to family members.”

Neo’s face turned slightly red, and he felt warm inside. Scratching his head, he said, “I hope I didn’t howl or snore.”

Liz smiled playfully and said, “You groaned very passionately.”

“Hehe…”Neo became even more embarrassed. To avoid awkwardness, he quickly changed the subject, “I didn’t see Zhenia the two times I came here.”

Liz’s expression darkened. “A few days ago, the Dark Claws attacked. Zhenia was killed while helping to evacuate the wounded.”

“I’m sorry!”Neo said regretfully, recalling the cute smile of the girl with freckles on her face.

Liz shook her head and stepped closer toNeo. “Life is unpredictable and fragile. Amidst grief, I just think we should cherish every day and live as authentically as possible, without regrets.”

“Mm, Sister Liz, you’re right. And you’re very strong.”

“But no matter how strong I am, I’m just a woman with no family. And because I’m somewhat attractive, you know…”

Neo raised his eyebrows and said in a stern tone, “Who? Who dares to be disrespectful?”

Nio didn’t notice that whenever he unconsciously showed anger, the light around his body dimmed and slowed down. This change was unexpected for Liz, but she remained calm and continued the conversation smoothly, “Never mind, I can somewhat understand a man’s impulses. Nio, I want someone to rely on, a family member. If those people knew, they would back down.”

“Sis Liz, I…”

Liz said sadly, “What, do you despise me?”

“No, of course not. In fact, it’s the opposite. If you don’t mind having a werewolf brother, from now on, you’ll be my relative, my family, my sister.”

“Nio!” Liz called out emotionally, reaching out to hug him tightly. Since Nio was sitting, his head ended up buried deep in Liz’s soft chest.

“…” Nio hesitated for a while before finally wrapping his arms around Liz’s waist and thighs. Sometimes, emotions can overcome physical impulses. With Liz, he found the warmth of a home he had long desired—he now had a sister!

Not a single detail of Nio’s actions escaped Liz’s notice. Holding his head and shoulders, Liz felt an unprecedented sense of happiness. She told herself that Nio was different from all the men she had met before—his feelings for her were pure and simple. He truly regarded her as a relative, not as someone to be dominated and toyed with. “Sister? Just for now. Fate brought me to you. You belong to me, and no one can take you away, not anyone!”

With an extra sister, Nio felt both happy and burdened as he left.

“Nio, you’re the pillar of our family. I should take your surname. From now on, my full name will be Liz Daknis.”

“Nio, you’re my only family in this world. Wherever you go, I’ll go there.” …

Liz’s words, spoken with tears in her smile, remained vivid in Nio’s mind. For traditional werewolves, family was something worth protecting with their lives. A sense of responsibility drove Nio to take action—he needed to find Ebut and spread the word through the team’s channels: from now on, Liz would bear the surname Daknis. Anyone who had ill intentions better weigh whether their bones were strong enough!

It turned out that Nio’s emotional intelligence was far from matching his intelligence. The members of the migration group had no idea about Nio and Melian’s relationship. Everyone liked Nio, and a few girls were attracted to his appearance and fighting skills. But behind their backs, some people used Nio’s werewolf identity as an excuse, and some women said seriously, “Haven’t you seen Nio in his transformed, fierce state? His ability in that regard is far beyond that of ordinary men. How could you little girls possibly handle it?”

When Nio finally found Ebut, Ebut was already overwhelmed dealing with the “Wounded Guardians” issue. After a brief conversation filled with misunderstandings, Ebut assumed that Nio had gotten his hands on the much-desired widow, Liz.

“Sure! I didn’t realize you were so resourceful in this area too. You’re out all the time—you even have a family now! You owe us a drink.”
Ebut’s mention of “family” led Neo to misunderstand. “Hmm, we do need to celebrate. During the migration, we kept things simple, but once we get to Asia, we’ll have a proper drink!”…
As time passed, after Ebut spread the news through the guard team, the situation changed instantly. Liz was now Neo’s woman, even taking his surname. Anyone who dared to harass or molest her would have to be careful!
Liz was naturally happy about it. When Neo left, she asked him for a weapon for self-defense, and he gave her the dagger he had obtained from the West Wind Army camp. The dagger was not only sharp but also had a newly replaced blade and handle, along with a scabbard—carefully crafted and eye-catching, drawing envy from many. Liz wore it at her waist, never taking it off, which led to further misunderstandings—people thought it was a chastity dagger given to her by Neo. Over time, the story became completely distorted.
What was even more interesting was that this pair of “beauty and the beast” received blessings from most of the migration group. With Neo’s humble background and Liz’s past marriage, everyone thought the two made a good match. Especially the men, who secretly celebrated it. Although Liz had always been the object of many men’s fantasies, Neo was even more “dangerous”—many young men confessed their feelings to the girls they liked, only to be half-jokingly rejected: “If you could make people feel as secure as Neo does, I’d agree…” Now that things had cleared up, these young men felt much less pressured. But the women behind their backs grumbled sourly: “So Neo likes older women! What a waste—otherwise, I might have had a chance too.” “I didn’t realize Liz’s figure could handle a strong man like Neo.” “Maybe Liz needs a helper after all.”…