Chapter 128 – Engraving and branding (1/2)

Translated by Sunyancai

The light of the sun gradually disappeared, and two moons emerged above the woods.

Some nocturnal animals became active, while most of the birds flew back to their nests.

Above the bough where Shao Xuan was in, there were many nests, but he avoided provoking those birds.

These birds seemed not so large, and looked attractive. But in fact, they were very dangerous, because they flocked to prey on animals that were seriously injured or had just died.

Due to a fight among the birds, a bird fell from its nest to the bough where Shao Xuan stood.

Turning over and shaking its wings, the bird looked at Shao Xuan.

At night, its eyesight was not so good, but its sense of smell was good enough to find the smell of Caesar’s blood, and it also felt Caesar’s weakness.

The bird was about to fly back to its nest, but changed its mind to rush towards Caesar. Its open mouth exposed its dense fangs. Its beak with saw-like edge helped it scrape of pieces of meat with just a bite.

When the bird flew over, Shao Xuan quickly stepped forward and stabbed the bird with the stone knife in his right hand quickly.

The bird was so excited by the smell of blood that it completely ignored Shao Xuan. It suddenly realised death was coming.

The next moment, it was pierced by Shao Xuan’s stone knife.

Shao Xuan no longer looked at the bird and threw the stone knife with the bird to the trunk.

On the trunk, there was a hole emitting flashing green light.

When Shao Xuan threw the bird towards the trunk, many open mouths instantly appeared in the tree hole, swallowed the bird completely, and then retreated back to the hole. The green light continued flashing to attract some of the flying night insects, and then the open mouths ate them.

That was some kind of a tree insect living in the tree. They looked no different from other insects in the daytime, but at night, they emitted light to lure their prey.

Many birds in the tree were still covetously staring at Caesar. If Caesar was left alone here, he would be eaten, and only bones would be left within several minutes. These birds were inactive at night, but would still take actions to capture and eat their prey. They would not miss any weak animals.

Shao Xuan stayed awake, because in the woods, it was only a little safer for them to stay in the tree in the evening. There was still a lot of danger in the tree, so he had to be vigilant.

When Shao Xuan was looking for some rattan vines to make a stretcher, he had also found a few herbs to treat Caesar, but they were not effective. As time went by, little by little, Caesar got worse and worse.

However, Caesar was just an ordinary wolf, and his inherent situation determined that he couldn’t become a stronger beast or a ferocious beast in a short time. In terms of physical quality, he was even worse than most wolves of the new wolf pack.

His ability to heal was limited, which Shao Xuan couldn’t change.

Thinking about this, Shao Xuan sighed with sadness. After all, he had kept Caesar since he came to this world.

For more than two years…

An idea suddenly hit Shao Xuan.

The ability to heal?

Yes, the ability to heal!

It was possible to improve Caesar’s ability to heal as long as Caesar could become a ferocious beast from a common one. Even if he failed to become a ferocious beast, he would survive a bit longer with an increased healing ability.

A way to make Caesar a ferocious beast in a short time was the profound craft of engraving and branding, recorded in the ancient volumes!

According to the old saying, for using the profound craft of engraving and branding, there were strict requirements. Caesar met some of the requirements: First, he could accompany the hunting group. And second, he was loyal. Even though Caesar failed to satisfy all the requirements put forward by the ancestors, Shao Xuan still decided to try.

Shao Xuan was not sure whether the profound craft of engraving and branding would work. That was why he didn’t impose it on Caesar before, but now, besides that, he had no other option.

If he tried, he might succeed or fail. If he failed, Caesar would not see the sun tomorrow. Otherwise Caesar would survive.

If he didn’t try, Caesar would die without doubt.

“Hey, buddy.” Shao Xuan touched Caesar’s head and said, “There is a way that may save you, if it works, you will become more powerful, and even a ferocious beast. Otherwise, you have to say goodbye to this world.”

Caesar opened his eyes, and wanted to touch Shao Xuan’s hand with his nose, but he was too weak. He only looked at Shao Xuan.

The branches were waving in the evening breeze, and some slight moonlight shining through the the gaps of the leaves reflected in Caesar’s eyes. The light made this pair of wolf eyes look a bit terrifying, like two flashing lights. In the woods, many animals’ eyes looked like this at night.

Shao Xuan was not scared, and raised his hand to touch Caesar’s head.

“Good, you agree. Old Ke is still at home waiting for you, and many cubs in the tribe are waiting for you to teach them. Without you, they may be cooked soon. The wolves that exterminated your tribe are still alive, and do you not still want to take revenge?”

The profound craft of engraving and branding depended on both the wish of the performer and the recipient. If the recipient was willing to accept, the success possibility would be greater. Otherwise, the possibility of failure was stronger. Even if it worked, it might create a rebellious ferocious beast. That was why the ancestors preferred to choose loyal ones.