Chapter 5 — Giao Giao’s Covenant

A Lam raised his eyebrows, not only refusing to let go but pulling me even closer.

The path is treacherous, and I fear that Jiao Jiao might stumble. It would be best if Captain Yun simply focused on leading the way.

Yun Tu’s pupils narrowed into vertical slits—the unmistakable warning sign that his Leopard tribe instincts were surging into combat mode.

Do you want to die?

A sphere of frost coalesced instantly in his palm, radiating a chilling, murderous intent. Feng Yan, not to be outdone, ignited his own palm with a brilliant, roaring red flame. Fight? Then let us fight! I am not afraid of you! I have wanted to put you in your place for a long time! My head began to throb with a sharp, rhythmic pain as I watched them.

Enough! All of you, stop right now!

I pushed A Lam away and stepped between them. If you continue to bicker, you can all just head back home.

All three fell silent instantly. Yun Tu looked at me with a pained expression; although his face remained as frigid as a glacial cliff, that look in his eyes… it was uncannily like a giant, grumpy cat being scolded by its owner. He turned and resumed his position at the front, his footsteps falling much heavier than they had just a moment ago. As darkness blanketed the forest, we made camp inside a cavern. In the dead of night, I was jolted awake by a strange sound—the sharp, ragged gasps of someone suffering in silence. I sat up and looked over to see Yun Tu curled into a ball not far away. His entire body was coated in a thin layer of frost, and even his lashes were tipped with white ice. Was this… an uncontrolled elemental surge?

I pushed everything else from my mind and rushed toward him, desperate to wake him. The moment my fingers touched the layer of frost, they stuck fast, a biting, bone-deep cold piercing straight to my marrow.

Yun Tu! Wake up!

He opened his eyes, the obsidian pupils now clouded with a dull, pale brown. When he saw me, his first instinct was to flinch and scramble backward.

Stay away… don’t touch me… His voice trembled violently.

I was truly exhausted by his constant, reflexive habit of pushing me away. I drew a deep breath, turned my back, and walked off. No matter what internal agony he was suffering, or what pride prevented him from speaking, as far as I was concerned, remaining silent was no different from being mute. I had no patience to guess, nor the energy to ask. When he saw me turn away so abruptly, his face went deathly pale. Back in the tent, Feng Yan’s large, fluffy tail silently curled around me as if to offer protection. Ignoring the sound of Yun Tu’s pained wheezing, I drifted into a deep sleep.

Before the sky was fully light, we were on the move again. The northern forest was ablaze with the colors of autumn, like an overturned palette of scarlet maple leaves and golden ginkgo. Feng Yan led the way, his red-gold hair catching the morning sun like a moving flame. He wore light hunting gear today, his sleeves rolled up to reveal the lean, fluid lines of his well-defined muscles.

Master! Look at this flower!

He crouched by the roadside, holding up a wild violet bloom. It would look beautiful tucked into your hair! He waved his hands enthusiastically, gesturing to place the flower against my hair. The wreath I weave will be the most beautiful! My Wolf tribe learns to braid these things from a young age!

Feng Yan didn't listen to a word I said, plucking a handful of wildflowers and weaving them with nimble fingers as we walked. Five minutes later, a crown of intertwined purple and gold was presented to me. Master! Try wearing it!

His eyes shone like stars, and his tail wagged uncontrollably behind him. Before I could respond, Yun Tu slowed his pace and stepped up beside me. His shoulder pressed close—so close that I could smell the scent clinging to him, a blend of cedarwood and crisp, frozen air.

This wreath… it does not suit you.

I was so annoyed I felt like biting him. He scrambled to explain: No, that is not what I meant… everything suits you, but this wreath was woven by the Wolf tribe, and it simply does not match you.

Then what does match me?

He reached into his tunic and pulled out an object. It was a silver hair ribbon adorned with tiny, shimmering ice crystals that glittered in the morning light. The Leopard tribe… we only offer hair ribbons to those we have chosen as our life partners, he stammered, his earlobes turning a vibrant shade of red. I have had this ready for a long time.

I stared at the ribbon, my heart a tangle of conflicting emotions. Then why did you wait until now to give it to me?

He did not answer, only remained silent, clutching the ribbon tightly in his hand.

The patrol duty was simple: follow the markers along the northern perimeter and verify that nothing was amiss. Yun Tu led the way, using his ice manipulation to leave clear signs along the path. I followed behind, occasionally helping him log data. Everything proceeded smoothly, right until we reached the ridge at the edge of the forbidden territory.

There is the scent of blood, Yun Tu said, coming to an abrupt halt, his expression turning grave. So much of it.

Before I could even ask what he meant, the ground began to tremble. In the far distance, a dark, churning mass was rushing toward us. Beasts—hundreds of them. No, there had to be thousands. They burst from the other side of the valley, eyes glowing a frantic red, stampeding recklessly toward our position.

A beast stampede!

Yun Tu grabbed my hand, yanking me back. Run!