Chapter 368: The Death of Xun Shitou

Xun Ancai’s thick eyebrows furrowed tightly as she followed the direction Xun Shitou had fled from. Her eyes landed on Xu Sanyan, who was hiding behind a tree. A wave of panic washed over her, and she immediately shouted at the top of her lungs,

“Run! Get out of here!”

Xu Sanyan remained motionless, his gaze fixed intently on Xun Shitou as if he hadn’t heard her warning.

Boom!

Though only thirty-odd Black Sheep were charging, they moved with the force of a stampeding herd, like a roaring torrent poised to tear everything in its path to shreds.

As the distance closed, Xu Sanyan could clearly see the coarse wool of the Black Sheep, the sharp, pointed horns on their heads, and the sinister grin twisting Xun Shitou’s lips.

To onlookers, Xu Sanyan appeared frozen in terror, rooted to the spot and utterly helpless.

Xun Ancai’s heart pounded with dread. Her eyes widened in horror as she instinctively lunged toward Xu Sanyan, but it was too late. The Black Sheep were upon them.

Xun Shitou braced his legs and leaped into the air just a short distance from Xu Sanyan. He grabbed a branch overhead, his body flipping mid-air with remarkable agility before landing gracefully atop the tree’s crown.

The Black Sheep continued their relentless charge, their vision now focused on Xu Sanyan, who had replaced Xun Shitou as their target. To the sheep, both were intruders trespassing on their territory.

Xun Shitou grinned, inwardly pleased with himself. He knew Xu Sanyan possessed a peculiar ability to inflict harm from a distance. After observing Xu Sanyan’s techniques several times, he had identified a clear weakness: range.

Each time Xu Sanyan had used this ability—whether against the Bear Clan or the Snake Clan—he had always been in close proximity to his target.

Therefore, Xun Shitou had carefully calculated the distance and angle, ensuring every detail was accounted for before committing to his plan.

What he didn’t know was that Xu Sanyan had broken through to the soul refinement mid-stage. His cultivation level had advanced, nearly doubling his soul power and significantly extending his effective casting range.

This distance is perfect!

Xu Sanyan watched the Black Sheep stampede past Xun Shitou’s feet, seized the moment, and activated his Heart Thought. Two sharp spikes materialized from the void, spinning rapidly as they hurtled toward Xun Shitou.

“Ah~!!”

Xun Shitou screamed in agony, his grip loosened, and he tumbled from the tree. Just then, the Black Sheep herd surged beneath him.

“Brother Shitou!!”

The Dog Clan people ambushing nearby watched helplessly as Xun Shitou lost his grip and fell into the stampeding herd. Panic seized them, and they cried out in alarm.

“Damn it! Brother Shitou fell!”

The screams grew more desperate, but were instantly drowned out by the Black Sheep’s roars and thunderous hooves. Crimson blood erupted in a spray, flesh and bone fragments flew through the air, and the sickening crunch of crushed bones echoed faintly.

Having achieved his goal, Xu Sanyan feigned sudden realization, his face contorting with feigned panic. He whirled around, grabbed the Five-Headed Dog beside him, and roared, “Run!”

The Five-Headed Dog bolted around the edge of the trap, the Black Sheep leaping after them. Their razor-sharp horns glinted menacingly in the sunlight as they lunged at Xu Sanyan.

The pit was too wide. The Black Sheep lost momentum mid-air and crashed heavily into the depths.

“ROAR~!!”

The Black Sheep roared in pain as wooden spikes pierced its body. Though not immediately killed, it was rendered powerless to resist.

Then came the second, the third…

One after another, the Black Sheep plummeted into the pit, their roars echoing incessantly. Some managed to avoid the trap, but the Dog Clan people had been waiting for this moment, drawing their weapons and charging forward.

Seeing Xu Sanyan out of danger, Xun Ancai finally felt the weight lift from her heart and turned to join the battle.

Even those Black Sheep that fell into the pit unharmed fared no better. As soon as they leaped out, their hooves barely touching the ground, a flash of cold, gleaming steel appeared before their eyes.

With careful planning against the Black Sheep’s recklessness, the herd was quickly subdued, leaving only a few still feebly howling in the pit.

Xu Sanyan huddled in a corner with the Five-Headed Dog, surveying the battlefield. Not a single one of the thirty-odd Black Sheep had escaped. Even the last remaining beast fought to the death, demonstrating the creatures’ ferocious nature.

Despite their ferocity, the Black Sheep’s fatal flaw was their lack of intelligence. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have fallen so easily into the trap.

The battlefield was a scene of carnage. The Dog Clan people worked with practiced efficiency: some tended to the wounded, others butchered the prey, and a few climbed down into the pit to free any Black Sheep that had survived.

Suddenly, someone looked up and asked, “Where’s Brother Shitou?”

Another person’s eyes filled with sorrow as they pointed to the ground the Black Sheep had just trampled. There lay a patch of crimson minced meat, shockingly conspicuous.

“There… that’s all that’s left.”

Xu Sanyan squinted. Xun Shitou was no longer recognizable as human, not even piecemeal.

Xun Ancai strode over to Xu Sanyan, her long saber swinging, and scrutinized him. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

Xu Sanyan shook his head, his gaze fixed on the bloody remains. “I’m fine, but Xun Shitou…”

Xun Ancai shook her head, showing no suspicion toward Xu Sanyan. Instead, she offered a weary consolation. “Ah… hunting is always fraught with danger.”

She had grown accustomed to it. Every hunting expedition claimed its sacrifices.

Xu Sanyan nodded in agreement. “Yes… life is always full of dangers.”

Of course, if there were no dangers, then I would be the greatest danger of all.

Xu Sanyan murmured, “Rest in peace. When you get to the underworld, give my regards to the Old Clan Chief.”

“Stay here for now. I’ll go help with the butchering,” Xun Ancai said, stepping forward to assist in dismembering the corpses.

“Mm-hmm,” Xu Sanyan replied, casually riding his Five-Headed Dog around the area, watching them work.

For now, no one suspected him in Xun Shitou’s death—or perhaps some did, but kept their suspicions to themselves.

The prey’s corpses needed to be processed quickly. The easily perishable organs were removed, while the parts that could be preserved were carefully stored for transport back to the tribe.

After some time, all thirty-odd Black Sheep had been processed. The pungent pile of organs emitted an overpowering stench.

Xun Ancai pulled out a packet of powder and sprinkled it evenly over the meat. The stench immediately diminished significantly, though a faint odor still lingered.

“Let’s eat these for the next few days,” Xun Ancai said, pointing to the pile of organs. “They won’t keep for long.”

Xu Sanyan looked up at the mountain of Black Sheep meat and asked softly, “Isn’t this enough?”

Her tone suggested they might be staying on Southern Mountain for quite some time.

Xun Ancai shook her head. “This isn’t nearly enough. Our tribe has four to five hundred people, and we need enough food for several dozen days. Even if we ration it carefully, it won’t last.”

Xu Sanyan nodded. Being a clan chief wasn’t easy; she had to ensure the survival of the entire tribe, a task fraught with challenges.

Yet these trials were also forging her. Xu Sanyan noticed Xun Ancai had become much more composed and decisive lately. She no longer relied on him as much, often making decisions without consulting him.

This was not a good sign…

Though her concern for him remained unchanged, he wanted more than just concern.

Xu Sanyan lowered his head slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

If Xun Ancai slipped beyond his control, then…

He might have to follow Empress Dowager Cixi’s example.

Of course, he wasn’t referring to ceding territory and paying indemnities.

(End of the Chapter)