Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger-Chapter 68: No Open Flames Allowed in the Forest

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: No Open Flames Allowed in the Forest

Old Xing could no longer run.

He was too exhausted; his heavy legs felt like they were filled with lead, refusing to lift. His throat seemed scorched by fire, leaving a distinct taste of blood. His chest heaved violently, gasping for air.

Old Xing knew this was his limit.

But it wasn’t Big Black’s limit.

"Big Black, you go on without me, don’t worry about me," Old Xing collapsed onto the ground, his green coat covered in dust.

"Awoooo—!"

Big Black couldn’t speak; it just obediently sat on the ground, licking Old Xing’s palm over and over as if that could make its master stand up quickly.

Just at this moment,

Pairs of glowing green eyes silently emerged from all directions, an invisible sense of oppression pressing down on the man and dog, while short, high-pitched howls rose and fell, silencing every creature in the night.

"Roar～"

A tall leading wolf stepped forward, its streamlined body, dense snow-colored fur, and erect ears illuminated by the moonlight.

It simply stood still, gazing intently at the man and dog, with limbs extending razor-sharp claws, its whole body exuding a powerful sense of pressure.

As the head wolf let out its deep howl, the other wolves hidden within the dense forest started to step out one by one.

With the head wolf, there were seven wolves in total, forming a shrinking ring, trapping the man and the dog within.

An invisible, oppressive atmosphere gathered overhead.

Old Xing knew he could no longer escape.

He fumbled in his coat pocket for a wrinkled cigarette, his right hand trembling as it held the lighter but not igniting the cigarette, only the tiny flame reflecting in his eyes.

"The forest forbids open flames..." he said with a bitter smile, then placed the cigarette under his nose, inhaling the scent deeply, before returning it to his pocket.

At that moment,

Old Xing took a deep breath, slowly stood up, a flickering smile on his face: "You really are persistent."

Since the seven-day torrential rain, Old Xing felt that the Qinling had become strange.

Every creature around him had undergone earth-shaking changes, Big Black was like this, and so were these ghostly wolves.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind as the near sixty-year-old Old Xing looked down at the tall Big Black, sighing slightly: "It’s just tough for you, old buddy."

Big Black was a Kazakh shepherd dog he brought from outside years ago, tall and fierce, suitable for guarding and protecting, and also suitable to accompany him in this desolate place.

Since that rainstorm, Big Black had grown bigger, becoming more fierce, able to use incredible powers.

"Awooo."

Big Black’s bushy tail brushed against sighing Old Xing, its pitch-black eyes fixed on the head wolf, mouth open showing sharp teeth, its fierce aura soaring.

At that moment, the barking and howling echoed in the sky, startling a flock of birds.

"If you’re not afraid, I have no kin or ties, just one life to lose."

Seeing the fight was inevitable, Old Xing pulled a small knife from his pants pocket, reversed it in his right hand, adrenaline surging with his increasingly determined gaze as if his whole body’s blood started to boil.

At this moment, the air seemed to freeze, only the heavy breathing continued.

Both sides were growing restless, but each waiting for the other to show a flaw, to launch a fatal strike.

Just then,

A thick pillar of fire pierced the distant night, fiery heat flooding forward with its blazing light.

Boom!

The fire pillar struck the ground between both sides, resounding with a loud boom, smoke swirling up.

Both sides, locked in a stalemate, instinctively retreated several steps, dumbfounded, looking at each other with puzzled expressions.

As the smoke dissipated, Spark began to flap its wings lightly, its orange-yellow body roiling with flowing Flame Stream, fiery feathers igniting flames.

Every time it flapped its wings, a cascade of sparks scattered to the ground, like fleeting fireflies.

Spark’s expression was calm, glancing around, its gaze sweeping over each figure, its deep, ocean-blue eyes carrying undeniable authority: "Chirp!"

From now, cease fighting.

Who agrees?

Who opposes?

The area plunged into a deathly silence.

"Awooo!"

Following Spark, Cola rushed over hastily, seeing this scene, a deep envy emerged on its face.

The big sis pulled it off again!

Why didn’t I run quicker!!!

At that moment, Cola once more regretted not having wings, unable to ignore the terrain and fly directly to the destination like the big sister.

Spark and Cola’s successive appearance completely disrupted the prior stalemate.

The head wolf seemed somewhat anxious, with furrowed brows, panting heavily, especially uneasy with the bird flapping its wings above.

It then looked at Old Xing’s green coat, sniffing as it inhaled the scent filled with deadly allure, with a face showing a mesmerized expression, its former unease dissipated.

"Old Xing, are you alright?"

Chen Yuan pushed through the blocking leaves, stepping from the dense forest into this flat, lively area, asking Old Xing, who was encircled by the Snow Cloud Wolves.

Luckily, he made it in time.

Old Xing turned to face Chen Yuan, digging through his memories for relevant information, nodding: "For now, I’m still alive."

Chen Yuan smiled widely: "Don’t worry, I’ll get you out soon."

Then he looked at the two little ones ahead: "Spark, Cola, it’s up to you now."

"Chirp."

Spark nodded slightly, the Flame Stream on its body surged even fiercer.

"Awoo!"

Cola had been waiting for a long time, hearing Chen Yuan’s words, immediately yelping and charging at the nearest Snow Cloud Wolf.

Chen Yuan surveyed these Snow Cloud Wolves, recalling related data: Snow Cloud Wolf, Ice-type Pet Beast, naturally born of common grade, with an extremely rare chance of appearing in elite quality.

Cola’s form was carried by the wind, speeding up during its run, until it became a blurred shadow, barreling towards the nearest Snow Cloud Wolf!

Boom!

Cola was unbelievably fast, so fast that the Snow Cloud Wolf had no time to react, sent flying several meters, crashing heavily into a large tree.

The tree shook, leaves rustling down, covering the Snow Cloud Wolf dazed from being hit.

"Awoo!"

Cola grinned at this Snow Cloud Wolf, then turned its gaze to the second Snow Cloud Wolf, a sudden whirlwind gathering around it, Wind Blades coalescing.

"Roar..."

The Snow Cloud Wolf suddenly felt a foreboding sense, involuntarily shivering.

Boom boom boom!

Three Wind Blades continuously assaulted the Snow Cloud Wolf, its eyes widened, dodging the first, then opening its mouth to freeze the second with a chilling breath.

Boom!

But facing the third Wind Blade, the Snow Cloud Wolf had no place to dodge or block, watching helplessly as the Wind Blade grew nearer, precisely striking it.

Wind Blade sharp as a sword, sliced through the snow-colored fur of the Snow Cloud Wolf.

With a painful howl, this Snow Cloud Wolf staggered, then fell to the ground.

It fell so quickly, the cry too agonizing, causing Chen Yuan to frown instantly.

Moreover, Chen Yuan noticed that after Cola defeated these two Snow Cloud Wolves, the system notification for Source Point didn’t sound in his mind.