bookrandom Chapter 399 You Understand Wolves Better Than They Are
Chapter 399 You Understand Wolves Better Than They Are
The first to approach the old wolf king were several older female wolves, who gently licked his jaw as a sign of loyalty.
Then, the young male wolves stepped forward one by one, lowered their heads and exposed their necks to the wolf king, allowing it to inspect them.
The entire process was solemn and primitive, resembling an ancient power transfer ceremony.
Wang Ergou clicked his tongue in amazement, then leaned close to Li Xiangyang's ear and whispered, "This guy's quite the show-off. Look at him, acting like an emperor inspecting his court."
Dalai was also amazed, clearly shocked by what he saw.
Li Xiangyang smiled but didn't say anything, though he wasn't as relaxed as he appeared.
The wolf king has regained its freedom and the right to rule the pack. Who can guarantee that it will remember the kindness and threats of humans?
"Now that it's free, do you think it will still listen to us?" Wang Ergou voiced Li Xiangyang's doubts.
Li Xiangyang took a deep breath and, feigning composure, said, "Of course."
As he spoke, he whistled to summon the other party.
Upon hearing the whistle, the wolves immediately became alert, arching their backs and baring their sharp teeth.
The wolf king hesitated, turning its head to look in the direction of Li Xiangyang and the others, its eyes flashing with a complex light.
"It's contemplating whether to betray us," Li Xiangyang whispered, then raised his shotgun to his shoulder and fired a shot into the air.
"boom!"
The gunshots were particularly piercing in the silent night sky.
The wolf pack panicked and scattered in all directions.
Only the Wolf King stood still, his eyes fixed on Li Xiangyang.
At that moment, it seemed as if it had returned to the days of its capture: the noose around its neck, the daily training, the rewards and punishments, and...
How it regained the throne.
Without human help, it would probably be a pile of bones in the new wolf king's belly by now.
The wolf king let out a deep howl towards the pack, a voice full of command.
Surprisingly, the initially panicked wolf pack gradually calmed down and then, together with the wolf king, slowly approached Li Xiangyang and his group.
"That's amazing!" Dalai couldn't help but exclaim.
The wolf king led the pack and stopped about ten meters away from Li Xiangyang and his group. Then, he stepped forward alone, lowered his head, and made a clear gesture of submission.
Just then, a young gray wolf suddenly darted out from the pack and pounced on the wolf king.
It was clearly extremely dissatisfied with the wolf king's submission to humans.
But the wolf king reacted even faster.
It suddenly turned around and bit the attacker's throat.
The young wolf's struggle did not last long; it soon turned into a corpse on the snow.
The bloody lesson silenced the entire wolf pack completely.
No wolf dared to object anymore; they all submitted to the wolf king's majesty.
The wolf king dealt with the rebellion in a most primitive yet effective way, maintaining his authority and proving his loyalty to Li Xiangyang.
“It understands the rules of the game,” Li Xiangyang whispered to Wang Ergou. “Now it’s time to give them some rewards.”
After listening to this, Dalai nodded: "I'll go back and get a few sheep."
"Wait," Li Xiangyang stopped him, "Don't go alone, it's too dangerous."
“Then I’ll go with him,” Wang Ergou volunteered, and then followed Dalai back.
Li Xiangyang remained alone, confronting the wolf pack.
This was a delicate display of power, and he could not show any sign of backing down or fear at this moment.
The wolf king seemed to understand this as well. It maintained a submissive posture while using its eyes to control the wolf pack behind it, preventing them from making any rash moves.
About half an hour later, Dalai and Wang Ergou returned with several fat sheep.
From afar, the wolves smelled the sheep and began to stir restlessly, but the wolf king let out a deep growl, and all the wolves immediately quieted down, though their eyes gleamed with longing.
"Just put it here," Li Xiangyang said, pointing to a spot about ten meters away from them.
Dalai and Wang Ergou tied the sheep there and then quickly retreated back to Li Xiangyang's side.
The sheep realized the danger and began to struggle in terror, but it could not break free of the rope.
Li Xiangyang took a deep breath and let out a clear whistle, signaling permission to eat.
The wolf king immediately understood, turned to look at the pack, and let out a low howl.
In an instant, the wolves charged toward the sheep like arrows released from a bow.
This was a brutal and swift massacre.
In less than five minutes, the sheep were torn to pieces, and the wolves began to devour them.
Only the wolf king remained unhurried, quietly waiting for the weaker members of the pack to finish their meal before he went forward to enjoy his own.
"It's smart and knows the rules of being a good leader," Li Xiangyang commented.
Dalai nodded in agreement: "In our Mongolian tradition, the chief is always the last to eat. This wolf king knows how to maintain his authority."
Wang Ergou was utterly shocked: "This is too... too amazing! They really obey your commands!"
“For now, yes.” Li Xiangyang looked at the wolves feeding with a complicated expression. “But don’t let your guard down. These guys’ loyalty is based on self-interest and fear. Once they feel the benefits of betrayal outweigh the risks, they won’t hesitate to turn on you.”
Dalai seemed thoughtful: "So what's our next step?"
A glint of light flashed in Li Xiangyang's eyes: "Expand our gains. Let these wolves devour the other wolf packs."
The next morning, Li Xiangyang got up early and went to the temporary fence where the wolf king was being held.
After a hearty meal last night, they did not completely let the wolves roam freely. Instead, they built a simple fence nearby and locked the wolf king up in a separate enclosure, while the rest of the wolves lingered nearby, not daring to stray far from their king.
When the wolf king saw Li Xiangyang, it actually showed a hint of affection, whimpering softly as it approached the fence.
"It seems it really approves of you," Wang Ergou said in surprise as he walked over.
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "Don't be naive. It's just learned to act submissive in front of us. Deep down, it'll always be a wolf."
Subsequently, Li Xiangyang began even more rigorous training.
He taught the wolf king to recognize different whistles and gestures—get up, stop, attack, retreat... Whenever the wolf king behaved well, he would give it a piece of meat as a reward.
After a day of intensive training, the wolf king was able to understand and execute more than a dozen basic commands.
"The time has come," Li Xiangyang said to Dalai and Wang Ergou as night fell. "We should take it to find the next wolf pack."
Dalai seemed somewhat worried: "Isn't this too risky? We've only just managed to control this pack of wolves."
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "Timing is crucial. The sooner these wolves adapt to their new way of life, the better; otherwise, they might rekindle their rebellious spirit. Besides, there are over a dozen wolves; how many sheep do we have to feed them?"
"Yes, no matter how much we give them, it's never enough. Once they run out of food, why should they continue to listen to us?"
Dalai's worry was clearly written on his face.
Li Xiangyang's lips curled slightly as he looked up at the wolf's eyes, which were faintly gleaming in the darkness. "Dalai," he asked, "besides cattle and sheep, what else do you think wolves eat?"
“Wild rabbits, gazelles, and occasionally small animals like mice,” Dalai replied thoughtfully.
"Anything else?" Li Xiangyang asked meaningfully.
Dalai frowned, suddenly realizing something, his expression turning somewhat grim: "You mean...our kind?"
“That’s right, that’s how nature works—survival of the fittest.” Li Xiangyang said calmly. “While wolves don’t easily eat their own kind, they won’t refuse any food source under extreme conditions. Besides, we’re not feeding them, we’re helping them obtain food.”
Wang Ergou's eyes widened: "You mean... send them to hunt other wolf packs?"
“That’s right.” Li Xiangyang nodded. “Let the weaker wolves become their prey, and let the stronger wolves become part of them. In this way, we control not just one pack, but the entire wolves of the grassland.”
Wang Ergou couldn't help but shudder: "This...this is too ruthless!"
Li Xiangyang said calmly, "On this vast grassland, it's inherently a brutal process of survival of the fittest. We've simply taken advantage of this rule and used it to our advantage."
A hint of awe flashed in Dalai's eyes: "You understand wolves better than wolves themselves."