All Heavens Strategy Game

Eagle's beak, valley floor.

Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

Su Ming's palms were sweating as he gripped the broadsword. The cold hilt against the warm sweat created a slightly slippery and uncomfortable sensation.

He moved backward slowly, extremely slowly, his back muscles tense, always facing the direction of those few pairs of eerie green eyes, until his heels touched the still warm body of the goat behind him.

With the three sheep as a temporary barrier and reference, he calmed down a little, but his heart was still pounding heavily in his chest.

狼。

And it wasn't just one.

The bushes rustled as the branches and leaves were parted.

The first to come out,

They were two medium-sized gray wolves.

Their fur appeared somewhat mottled against the backdrop of snow and rocks, but their lines were sharp and their eyes fierce.

It emitted a low, threatening "woof" sound.

Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, quickly freezing on the cold rock.

But Su Ming's gaze was instantly captured by a figure slowly walking out from behind them.

That... doesn't resemble a wolf at all in the usual sense.

Its size is astonishing, almost like that of a robust adult bison!

Its shoulders were nearly five feet tall, and its body length was probably more than ten feet.

Its thick, coarse fur was not gray, but rather had an almost silvery-white color, with only the back and joints of the limbs showing a hint of iron gray.

A pair of eerie green eyes swept across the massive head, their pupils seemingly flickering with the eternal flames of a frozen wasteland.

It simply stood there, and a fierce aura, a mixture of blood, oppression, and the scent of a apex predator, swept over you, making the already thin air in the valley freeze.

Wolf King!

The word immediately popped into Su Ming's mind.

The rumors that Ma Xiuying recounted with trembling voices, and the horrified worries of village chief Su Dashun, have now become a vivid and chilling reality before their very eyes.

now,

The three wolves formed a loose semi-circle, with the wolf king in the center and the two ordinary gray wolves slightly to the sides, blocking most of Su Ming's retreat route out of the valley.

They didn't pounce immediately; their eerie green eyes sized up the bipedal creature wielding a strange long weapon, and the three plump prey behind him that reeked of blood.

Su Ming forced himself to calm down.

He was backed by the cold cliff face, with a nearly vertical rock formation to his left, forming a relatively narrow triangular area.

This terrain is not conducive to breaking out, but it also has one advantage—there is no need to worry about being ambushed from the rear and flanks, and you only need to focus on dealing with the 90-degree area in front.

He slowly moved his left hand behind his back and took out the black horn bow.

This action immediately alerted the wolf pack. The two gray wolves lowered their bodies, and the howling in their throats grew louder.

The wolf king merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the strangely shaped hard bow.

Su Ming did not nock an arrow, but slowly pulled the bowstring back a little. The bowstring made a soft "clanging" sound, and the arrow stopped on the three-headed wolf in turn.

The gray wolf that he has his eye on will immediately show strong agitation, either leaping to the side or back, or lowering its body almost to the ground, baring its teeth, but it does not dare to actually pounce.

They have an instinctive fear of this noisy, dangerously shaped "stick".

The wolf king, on the other hand, remained much calmer.

When Su Ming pointed his bow at it, it merely narrowed its eyes slightly, its massive body remaining motionless. However, the scrutiny and assessment in its gaze intensified, as if it were weighing the true threat posed by this "stick."

The standoff continued in silence.

A cold wind swept through the valley, carrying fine snow, and ruffled the wolf king's silvery-white mane and the strands of hair on Su Ming's forehead that were damp with cold sweat.

Time passed by, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Damn it..."

Su Ming knew that continuing this stalemate would be detrimental to him.

The wolves had plenty of patience, but his physical and mental strength was being continuously depleted.

He has to get moving.

He maintained the threat of his bow and arrow, and began to move laterally very slowly, his target a larger rock nearby that he could lean on.

At the same time, he quickly pulled a sturdy hemp rope from his waist with his right hand—this was prepared before entering the mountains, intended to drag large prey or assist in climbing if necessary.

His actions once again stirred the wolf pack. The two gray wolves paced restlessly in place, and the wolf king let out a very low growl, as if issuing a warning.

Su Ming remained unmoved.

While keeping his bow and arrow pointed, he quickly lassoed the necks or legs of the three goats with ropes, tying a complicated slipknot to ensure they could be dragged together.

Throughout the entire process, his gaze never left the wolf pack, especially the wolf king.

After doing all this, he took a deep breath, suddenly pulled the three goats behind him, and at the same time retreated rapidly behind the big rock!

"roar--!"

Almost at the same time he moved, the more agitated gray wolf on the left finally couldn't hold back any longer, let out a low growl, and pounced!

But it didn't pounce on Su Ming; instead, it attacked the dragged sheep carcass, which reeked of even stronger blood!

Su Ming's eyes sharpened, and the bowstring, which had been drawn loosely, tightened instantly. An arrow shot out with a sharp screech, like a venomous snake that had been lying in wait for a long time!

"puff!"

The arrow grazed the wolf's forepaw and embedded itself in the rock, sending up a few sparks!

The gray wolf was so frightened that it twisted its body in mid-air and tumbled to the side in a sorry state, staring at Su Ming with lingering fear.

This arrow served as a warning and also completely broke the deadlock.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Su Ming had already dragged the three sheep to the side and behind the big rock, where they had better cover.

He did not continue firing, but began to slowly move towards the valley entrance, each step steady and cautious.

The three-headed wolf immediately followed, maintaining a distance of several dozen steps, like a leech clinging to a bone.

"As expected, I couldn't shake them off..."

Su Mingxin felt her heart sink.

He dragged his heavy prey backward while thinking rapidly.

In the freezing cold, the conditions deep in the Great Mountains must be even more unbearable. This pack of wolves was likely forced to migrate south by the severe cold and food shortages, and came to the Lesser Mountains, where they discovered the "treasure land" of Eagle's Beak.

The wolf pack, having stumbled upon the door with freshly killed, steaming hot mutton, was like a windfall to the starving wolves.

Getting them to give up is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

As for making Su Ming abandon the three sheep and escape alone?

He certainly didn't want to!

He used the tactic of "luring sheep down with salt and then shooting them" to hunt down three sheep. The other sheep became wary, and the same tactic would probably not work in the future. Hunting sheep again would be extremely difficult, so he could not possibly give up!

"We can't give them a chance to surround us..."

Su Ming's gaze swept over the three wolves that were hot on their heels.

He knew that wolves were extremely cautious and cunning animals, and would not easily fight to the death against an opponent who clearly had the ability to launch a fatal counterattack unless they were absolutely certain of victory or were starving.

The bow and arrows and the broadsword in his own hands were the greatest deterrent.

But deterrence comes at a cost—his physical strength and arrows are limited.

He had to feed them to reduce their aggression and create an opportunity for himself to escape.

With that thought in mind, Su Ming no longer hesitated.

With a swift motion of his right hand, he chopped off a leg of a sheep and tossed it towards the three wolves, instantly filling the air with the intense aroma of fresh flesh.

"Woof!" The three-headed wolf turned sharply without hesitation and pounced on the lamb leg, tearing at it with its teeth.

Su Ming didn't stop, taking the opportunity to retreat.

After running for a while, the three wolves finished eating the lamb leg and continued to chase after them. Helpless, Su Ming cut off a large piece of lamb with the ribs attached and threw it at them.

that's it,

Every so often, Su Ming would drop a large piece of mutton to feed the wolf. While the wolf was eating, he would take the opportunity to run a little further and keep pulling it along.

After walking some distance, one of the wolves finished a piece of meat, burped, and slowly walked away, disappearing into the wind and snow, surprisingly abandoning the pursuit!

"It's freezing cold, you'll give up hunting me once you've eaten your fill?"

Seeing this, Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

Only two wolves remained following behind him. He continued to throw meat, and when the meat was gone, he threw bones. Before long, another ordinary gray wolf was gnawing on a large bone, looking "full and satisfied," and staggered away.

finally,

Only the wolf king remained, unwilling to give up, and continued to pursue.

However, the wolf king seemed to have had enough meat, and was no longer as fierce as it had been at the beginning, nor did it have that terrifying predator look. Its eyes were gentle, and its attitude was rather lazy, as if it could give up the chase at any time.

Having eaten their fill, they see no need to risk their lives for prey, and seem ready to give up entirely.

Especially after Su Ming continued to throw the entire sheep skeleton to the wolf king, the wolf king chewed on the bones in the wind and snow, his expression becoming increasingly lazy, and he even yawned sleepily, looking like he was about to fall asleep.

"Phew... It's freezing cold, and the wolf king, having eaten and drunk his fill, has lost all desire for me..."

Su Ming analyzed it this way.

A sense of relief washed over me, and I felt as if I were about to escape to safety.

But suddenly,

His expression was strange.

I suddenly remembered a Chinese language article I had read before.

This article recounts a story in which someone encountered a wolf that seemed to be experiencing a similar situation to their own.

He forgot the book's title, but remembered one sentence: "The wolf in front feigns sleep to lure the enemy!"

Su Ming looked again:

Behind him, the silvery-white behemoth followed Su Ming at a leisurely pace, about ten steps behind. Its gaze, like a cold probe, remained fixed on Su Ming, occasionally glancing at the two remaining sheep he was dragging. Its gait even seemed somewhat lazy, as if it were just taking a stroll and might turn away at any moment.

But Su Ming's heart was in his throat at that moment.

Not right.

Something's really wrong.

Wolves are social animals, and cooperative hunting is an instinct ingrained in their very being.

Even if they are temporarily distracted by food, they will never easily leave when hunting key targets.

Did those two wolves really go back to rest after having a good meal?

Combining what I had read about wolves, specifically the story of "The Wolf Feigns Sleep to Lure the Enemy," a terrifying thought flashed through my mind:

A diversionary tactic?

Divide and conquer?

They may not have given up at all!

The so-called "leaving" may be to call out to companions who may exist further away;

More likely... they'll take a detour!

They can re-encircle you from the sides or rear, creating a deadly encirclement!

He may appear to be facing only a wolf king, but in reality, he may be walking step by step into a carefully woven death trap!

The wolf king's current display of "laziness" and "abandonment" is likely just a smokescreen to lull itself into a false sense of security!

Thinking of this, Su Ming's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

The wolf king before him was no longer a simple beast in his eyes, but a cunning, patient, and ruthless master hunter!

What he was dragging along wasn't a spoils of war, but a death warrant!

We can't delay any longer!

This situation must be broken!

Fear instantly transformed into a fierce determination to die.

"Using a counter-strategy..."

Despite his inner rage, Su Ming showed no sign of it on his face.

Instead, he tried to squeeze out a hint of relief at "surviving a disaster" and excitement at "being about to escape danger." He even quickened his pace a little, his gaze "inadvertently" sweeping over the wolf king, then "guiltyly" looking away, as if he really believed that the wolf king was going to give up, his face beaming with joy.

His particularly foolish behavior was an attempt to lower the wolf king's guard.

Su Ming slowly dragged the sheep until they passed a relatively sparse area, but still with many low shrubs and protruding rocks!

right here!

The feigned relief in Su Ming's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an icy calm and a sharp killing intent!

Without warning, he stopped, his body half-spinned, and the black horn bow instantly rose to a full moon as if it had a life of its own!

"Boom! Boom!"

The two bowstrings clicked almost in quick succession!

Two arrows, one after the other, tore through the air like black lightning bolts chasing a soul, aiming straight for the wolf king's eyes and throat!

Such close proximity, such a sudden outburst!

however,

The wolf king's reaction was faster than anyone could have imagined!

Just as Su Ming's shoulder twitched slightly and his killing intent was revealed, its massive body had already sprang to the side, so fast that it left an afterimage in its place!

"Knock! Knock!"

Two arrows were driven deep into the rock behind where the wolf king had been standing, and its tail feathers trembled violently.

Su Ming didn't even check whether the two arrows hit their mark the moment he fired them!

He threw down his bow, gripped his broadsword with both hands, and stomped his feet on the ground, causing snow and gravel to explode. He was like a cannonball, lunging towards the direction the wolf king was dodging!

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, carrying the weight and momentum of the entire body as it slashed down fiercely!

"roar!"

The wolf king was filled with shock and rage. It had just completed a perfect dodge, and its old strength was exhausted while new strength had not yet been generated. Faced with this head-on blow, it could only rely on its beastly instincts to roll to the side as fast as it could!

"laugh--!"

Blood splattered!

The sharp blade of the broadsword grazed the wolf king's hindquarters, severing a small section of the wolf's tail covered in thick silver fur!

"Awooo—!"

The wolf king let out a painful and furious howl, rolled several feet away before leaping up, its groin gushing with blood.

Although it was only a superficial wound, the pain of losing its tail and the near-disembowelment completely destroyed the laziness and pretense in its eyes, leaving only naked ferocity and a hint of... surprise and doubt.

Su Ming, having successfully landed a blow, stood motionless, knife in hand, chest heaving violently, while unleashing a thunderous roar:

"Get lost, you beast! I'm not someone to be trifled with. If you want to hunt me down, see how many of your wolf cubs die!"

His voice echoed through the valley, his gaze sharp as lightning. He first glared fiercely at the furious wolf king.

He then abruptly turned to the side, shouting angrily at the open snow slope in the direction he had come from:

"You cowardly scum! I've smelled your stench for ages! Trying to steal my ass? Dream on!"

He cursed fiercely and with great force, as if he had truly seen through the wolf pack's encirclement plot.

This time,

The ferocity in the wolf king's eyes momentarily faltered.

It stopped licking its wounds, its eerie green eyes fixed on Su Ming, then warily scanned its surroundings, as if assessing and weighing its options.

This two-legged creature not only retaliates fiercely and accurately, but also seems to be able to see through their hunting strategies.

The long knife in his hand and the hard bow on the ground posed too great a threat. Was it worth continuing to fight to the death for some mutton?

To kill this two-legged creature, several wolf cubs will inevitably die! Is it worth losing your life for prey?

In particular, it was unsure whether the other party had actually discovered its companion's whereabouts.

The scene suddenly became tense.

The standoff between humans and wolves reached its climax.

After a brief silence, facing the imposing Su Ming, the Wolf King finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, the wolf king raised its head and let out a long, desolate howl filled with complex meaning as it faced the gray sky.

"Awooo————"

The howling echoed through the valley.

After a while,

About thirty paces behind and to the side of Su Ming

Behind two seemingly peaceful snowdrifts and bushes, rustling sounds arose as two gray wolves, their mouths still smeared with blood and bits of flesh, emerged reluctantly, heads bowed, and trotted to the wolf king's side.

They were indeed lying in ambush!

They were planning to flank us from behind!

Su Ming was drenched in cold sweat.

I shouted that just now entirely based on guesswork and quick thinking, and it actually tricked those two treacherous guys out!

If they approach silently...

He dared not think about it anymore.

The wolf king gave Su Ming one last deep look, and the coldness and resentment in his eyes sent chills down Su Ming's spine.

Then, it let out a low growl, and with its two subordinates, it leaped and disappeared behind the vast snow-covered mountains and rocks.

—The mountains and forests are deep and the wind and snow are blowing. The fields are empty and desolate. At this moment, only Su Ming stands alone, leaning on his sword and holding his bow.