Special Forces Medic

Chapter 953 922: The Hidden Specter (Part 1)

The old lady sitting downstairs only felt a gust of wind pass by her. She looked around suspiciously, seeing nothing. Bewildered, she stared at the sky for a moment, then put down her work, half-kneeled on the wooden floor, and began praying to the heavens and earth, muttering to herself.

Xiao Lin rubbed the wolf pup's fur. The little creature had become accustomed to his scent and no longer nipped or bit at him. Instead, it showed a kind of obedience. Under Xiao Lin's careful attention, it could already hop around but would never stray more than three steps away from him.

The sensitivity of animals surpasses that of humans. It clearly understood the fear these humans had towards it, and knowing it wasn't yet adequate to deal with them, it chose to stay close to this person.

"Once you're healed, you should return to the jungle. Staying here will only get you killed eventually." Xiao Lin stretched both feet over the railing. The wolf pup climbed up with effort, sprawled its belly over his thigh, tilted its head his way, its amber eyes seeming to understand Xiao Lin's words, then disdainfully turned its head, sulking.

Seeing it like this, any bad mood could turn for the better. The decision to save this creature hadn't been in vain after all. "Thinking of coming with me? But the big city won't allow raising such a large carnivore like you." The wolf pup whimpered, then suddenly stood up, glaring into the distance, unstable on its legs, a growl building from its throat as if ready to burst.

Xiao Lin bent his leg, covered the wolf pup's mouth with one hand, and quietly shushed it. "Stay quiet!" He watched in the direction Yelü Shou had just gone. Even the slightest movement during calm would draw attention.

He picked up the wolf pup and retreated back into the room. Xiao Lin leaned by the window, resting an arm on the window frame, exposing himself to everyone's sight. The wolf pup anxiously paced around the room, as if ready to dash out, continuously whimpering.

"I know, I know. You be careful yourself." Xiao Lin opened the door. The wolf pup darted out instantly, impossible to stop. "Hey, don't run!" Xiao Lin shouted, chasing after the wolf pup downwards, on the verge of catching up when suddenly two large men leapt out and blocked him.

"I need to retrieve my pet, let me pass!" Watching the wolf pup dart into the bushes, Xiao Lin pointed angrily in that direction. "I won't run, you can follow if you don't trust me."

The pair of strong men remained unmoved, two gleaming blades poised at Xiao Lin's neck, clearly indicating that a single forward step would mean losing his head.

A hand clasped Xiao Lin's shoulder from behind. With a judo throw, a shout rang out. A tall figure fell in response, and Xiao Lin swung a fist downward. "It's me!"

"Next time, don't act behind me." Realizing it was Miao Shaoqing, Xiao Lin stopped, but the wolf pup had already disappeared.

"Young Master Xiao!" Xiao Lin shot a cold look at Miao Shaoqing, who just smirked, saying nothing as he returned to his quarters, leaving Miao Shaoqing standing alone in the clearing.

The old lady picked up the scattered bamboo, limping back into the house. Miao Shaoqing sighed, slowly blending into the forest. From a high vantage point, he appeared like a lonely child abandoned by the world. Inside, Yelü Shou huddled in a corner; bloodstains marked the wooden floor.

"Injured?"

"Hmm, just a scratch, no big deal." Yelü Shou replied while wrapping his wound in cloth.

"Let me see." Xiao Lin approached, but Yelü Shou refused. "If you won't show me, it must be quite serious."

Ignoring Yelü Shou's refusal, Xiao Lin grabbed his hand, twisted it behind him, moved in with his right foot, and pinned him to the ground, eliciting a yelp. "You trying to tear me apart?"

"Ah, how did it get hurt here? The person you faced must have been unusual." Seeing the scratches on the side, and a bit further would have been on the hip at the lower abdomen. "Did you get a clear look at who it was?"

"I didn't see the face clearly, but it was someone ambidextrous." Yelü Shou allowed Xiao Lin to examine his wounds, clearly displeased. "The weapon used was Steel Claw, and they moved very nimbly."

"Then they're not from around here." Once done tying a neat bow, Xiao Lin smiled at Yelü Shou. "There's likely still one in the village, you stay here. Being injured will make it easy for them to spot you."

"Not doing anything?"

"Something will be done once the little fellow returns." Looking at the bloodstain on the ground, Xiao Lin frowned and bent down with a cloth dipped in clear water. "In a day at most, there will be an answer."

As the sun set, the villagers gradually returned. The game from hunting was distributed among households by the village chief for their dinners. The old lady received a leg of lamb, radiating joy as she offered a handmade bamboo basket in return, dragging the leg into the kitchen. From a higher point, Miao Shaoqing's figure was easily seen, standing beside the village chief, exchanging idle chatter while occasionally glancing his way.

The people of Miao Family Village were passionate and wild. After a satisfactory communal meal, men's activities and women's songs and dances took over, drinking around bonfires, expelling the day's fatigue. Once the cacophony ceased, only a handful of individuals remained guarding the village's entrances and key watch points.

The deep, mountainous forest comes alive at night with the presence of fierce beasts, prompting the village's patrolling routine to guard against intruders. Though the night seemed calm, it was not tranquil.

A shadow swiftly departed from the main building, followed quickly by another in the same direction, leaping towards the depths of the forest at incredible speed. After a few agile bounds, the leading figure landed on a large rock, facing a shimmering lake under the bright moonlight.

The trailing figure landed behind him, attempting multiple times to speak but was silenced each time. The shadow remained silent. The animals' calls added life to the night as the shadow jumped into the water, splashing a few times before the lake regained its calm. The pursuer anxiously searched above, suddenly grabbed by a hand emerging from below, pulling him into the water, creating ripples.

"Shh! Keep quiet." Whispered a voice beside the figure's ear. Shortly after, they heard steps above, gentle yet distinguishable from the rustle of leaves and the scraping of pebbles underfoot. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)