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Shaking the bloodstained steel blade in his hand, Pan Er pursued Wang Bo relentlessly.

Wang Bo had no idea that danger was already closing in on him. He continued running toward the small woods without slowing.

“Little beggar, where do you think you’re going?” A furious roar came from behind him. Wang Bo was so startled that he nearly fell. Turning his head, he saw only a dark shadow rapidly drawing near.

“How can he have caught up so quickly?” Wang Bo stared in astonishment at the approaching figure, and his spirits immediately sank. But when he saw the woods just ahead, his fierce will to survive overcame both his fear and his exhaustion. He quickened his pace and ran toward the trees.

A long, mournful wolf howl rang out from within the woods, leaving both Wang Bo and Pan Er momentarily stunned.

Wang Bo looked up at the forest. It was pitch-black, and he could not see a thing. Yet the dreadful howl filled him with terror, and he unconsciously slowed his steps.

“Hahaha, little beggar! Stop and accept your death. It will save your grandfather Pan the trouble of chasing you!” Seeing Wang Bo slow down, Pan Er increased his pace. His mind was filled with the delight of revenge, and he had completely forgotten everything else. There was only Wang Bo in his eyes. He was determined to tear the beggar who had humiliated him into pieces.

“I have no choice but to risk it.”

Hearing Pan Er shout behind him, Wang Bo knew there was no other path before him. The woods ahead were certainly dangerous, but they offered at least a slim chance of survival. If Pan Er caught him, there would be absolutely no hope. With the resolve to die, Wang Bo forced a little more strength into his exhausted body. In the blink of an eye, he reached the edge of the woods and plunged inside without a second thought.

Seeing Wang Bo disappear among the trees, Pan Er was both furious and frustrated. Once the beggar entered the woods, his chances of catching him would be greatly reduced. Still, howling strangely, Pan Er charged in after him.

Wang Bo ran for his life, searching desperately for a way out as he went. Behind him, Pan Er pursued him while shouting like a madman.

It soon became clear that trying to do two things at once was a terrible idea. As Wang Bo hurried forward, he caught his foot on a dead branch and fell heavily to the ground.

“Hahaha! Let’s see where you can run now!”

Seeing Wang Bo sprawled on the ground, Pan Er cried out excitedly once more.

Just as Wang Bo’s hopes had been reduced to ashes, another mournful wolf howl rang out. The sound seemed to come from right beside his ear, raising gooseflesh all over his body. Even Pan Er, who had been so excited moments before, became alert and warily scanned the surroundings.

Wang Bo slowly rose and looked around. Then a terrifying sight appeared before him. One pair after another of eerie green eyes gradually emerged from the depths of the forest, and their numbers continued to grow.

Another howl sounded. The green eyes that had gathered together slowly spread apart, gradually surrounding Wang Bo and Pan Er.

Wolves—vicious and watchful pack animals. Only now did Wang Bo understand what it meant to be trapped with no road to heaven and no door to earth. There were wolves before him and tigers behind.

Pan Er was frightened as well. He stared fearfully at the pack closing in around him, his heart filled with indescribable regret. If he had known they would encounter wolves, why had he pursued the beggar? Would it not have been better to leave him to fend for himself? But regret was useless now. The wolves had surrounded them completely, yet they did not attack. No one knew what they were waiting for.

Wang Bo slowly backed away. He did not want to die. He was searching for a chance to survive. Suddenly, he spotted a thick, sturdy tree, and his spirits lifted.

After wandering far from home for so long, he had developed an excellent talent for climbing trees. From time to time, he had passed through remote mountain forests and always felt unsafe on the ground. He had therefore spent a period of time deliberately training himself to climb.

Wang Bo glanced at Pan Er and saw that the man was still distracted. Such an opportunity would not come twice. Wang Bo suddenly sprang into action, gritting his teeth against the exhaustion and pain throughout his body. He hurried to the tree he had chosen and climbed it in a few swift movements.

When a person’s life was at stake, it was easiest to unleash hidden potential. Once he reached the tree, Wang Bo chose a thick branch—

Seeing the little beggar climb the tree so nimbly, Pan Er burned with rage. Yet he also realized that it was a good way to preserve his life. While the wolves had not yet attacked, Pan Er began searching for a tree he could climb.

To his dismay, there was no suitable tree anywhere near him. With no other choice, Pan Er gripped his blade and cautiously approached Wang Bo.

Through the faint moonlight, Wang Bo noticed what Pan Er was doing. He was horrified. This position was not safe enough. Wang Bo hurriedly climbed higher.

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Pan Er had no time to concern himself with Wang Bo. He had belatedly realized that the wolves’ encircling formation was steadily tightening, and he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Although he held a blade, it gave him no sense of security.

Consumed by fear, Pan Er finally reached the tree Wang Bo had climbed. This made him breathe a sigh of relief. With his back against the trunk, he felt a little safer. He glanced around at the wolves. Though the beasts continued shrinking the circle, they had yet to attack.

Pan Er steeled himself, gripped his steel blade, and began climbing. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to climb a tree. After struggling at the base for a long while, he still could not get up.

Wang Bo immediately understood what Pan Er intended. If he allowed the man to climb up, how could he possibly remain safe? He quickly set his mind to work, hoping to find a way to stop him.

Pan Er was growing frantic. No matter how hard he tried, he simply could not climb. Looking up at Wang Bo, he hurriedly pleaded, “Little beggar, help your big brother here!”

Wang Bo had been trying to figure out how to knock Pan Er down, so he had not expected him to say that. He felt considerably more at ease.

So he cannot climb trees.

“Brother Pan, you’d better think of something yourself. I’m only a beggar. What virtue or ability do I have to help you?” Wang Bo replied with deliberate sarcasm.

He felt thoroughly vindicated. Only moments ago, Pan Er had been pursuing him with a murderous expression and a steel blade in hand. Now the man was begging him with the face of a servant.

“Little beggar, you can’t say that. We’re both human beings. Would you really have the heart to watch me die in the jaws of these beasts?” Pan Er pleaded while continuing to struggle upward.

“When you were hunting me down, why didn’t you remember that we were both human beings?” Wang Bo asked, laughing angrily as he glared at him.

“You little wretch! Just wait until I climb up there. I’ll tear you into pieces!” Realizing that his pleas had achieved nothing and had earned him only Wang Bo’s mockery, Pan Er dropped his false mask and roared furiously.

“You’ll have to climb up first,” Wang Bo replied smugly. Then, feeling that was not enough, he added, “Brother Pan, if you want to live, you’d better climb faster. The wolves are getting closer.”

At his words, Pan Er looked around and saw that the wolves had indeed drawn nearer. He was terrified. For the sake of his life, he climbed with even greater effort.

A human being’s will to survive was remarkably strong, especially when life and death hung in the balance. Under the pressure of death, Pan Er unleashed two hundred percent of his potential and actually managed to climb a little higher.

Seeing that his efforts were producing results, Pan Er worked even harder. Wang Bo, however, felt as sick as if he had swallowed a fly. Never before had he thought himself so foolishly talkative. Watching Pan Er slowly climb upward, he almost wanted to slap himself.

“Honored wolf lords, would you please attack already?” Wang Bo wore a bitter expression and nearly wanted to kneel before the pack.

But the wolves paid him no attention. They continued to approach at their own measured pace.

“This won’t do. The wolves refuse to attack, and sooner or later Pan Er will climb up here. If he makes it, I’ll be the one to die.”

Wang Bo’s mind raced. Suddenly, an idea flashed through it.

“If you refuse to attack, then I’ll attack you!”

He acted at once, snapping off several branches and hurling them in one direction. His aim and strength were poor, so he threw another, but it was still ineffective.

“I refuse to believe this!”

Wang Bo’s stubborn temper flared. He grabbed branches and began throwing them wildly in every direction. This time, they had some effect. His barrage clearly agitated the wolves, which began growling and snarling restlessly.

Pan Er did not notice what Wang Bo was doing, but he could hear the wolves’ reaction.

“That beggar up there must be up to something. Once I climb up, I’ll butcher him and feed him to the wolves.”

Just as Pan Er was imagining how he would kill Wang Bo and feed him to the pack, another mournful howl rang out.

The howl sounded like the trumpet announcing a general assault. The moment it ended, the wolves suddenly quickened their pace and charged toward Pan Er.

One howl, and two entirely different reactions. Wang Bo was naturally overjoyed, while Pan Er’s heart turned to ashes.

Realizing that the wolves had begun their attack, Pan Er climbed even faster. But haste made him careless. After finally making some progress, he slipped and slid down again.

A scream rang out. The wolves had reached Pan Er. One of them clamped its jaws around his leg and tugged fiercely, trying to drag him down.

“Die, you beasts!”

Pan Er roared in pain and swung his blade at the wolf biting him.

The stroke contained all the strength in his body. With that single blow, Pan Er cleaved the wolf in two.

But the sight did not frighten the pack. Stimulated by the smell of blood, the wolves became even more savage, attacking with greater speed and frequency. One of Pan Er’s legs had already been bitten until flesh and blood were indistinguishable.

Knowing that there was no hope of survival, Pan Er abandoned his attempt to climb. He released his grip and leapt to the ground.

The pain in his leg was searing, and he nearly collapsed, but he hurriedly braced himself and stayed upright.

Pan Er’s action left Wang Bo on the tree momentarily stunned.

What was he trying to do?

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Pan Er suddenly shouted, “Come on, you beasts! Your grandfather Pan isn’t afraid of you!”

As he spoke, his arm rose and fell, cutting down a wolf that had come too close.

Wang Bo stared down in astonishment. He had never imagined that a street thug like Pan Er could erupt with such overwhelming courage.

The wolves had clearly sensed his ferocity as well. They retreated several steps, baring their teeth at him.

Pan Er leaned against the tree, gripping his bloodstained steel blade. His expression was savage. By now, he had cast life and death aside.

“I have committed countless evils. Perhaps this is Heaven’s will,” he thought bitterly.

Though the wolves had been intimidated for a moment by his ferocity, they would never truly retreat. After waiting for a while, some of them could no longer resist their hunger and launched themselves at Pan Er.

“Good! Come on!”

Pan Er roared to strengthen his courage. His blade rose and fell again, ending another wolf’s life.

But one man could never defeat an entire pack. When he let his guard down for even an instant, a wolf pounced on him and knocked him to the ground. The rest of the pack surged forward at once.

From the tree, Wang Bo watched Pan Er being dragged down and devoured by the wolves. He did not know what he felt.

He could not say he was happy, but neither was he entirely sorrowful.

“After all, if you didn’t die, I would have. I had no choice,” Wang Bo said with a sigh before closing his eyes.

The wolves finished devouring Pan Er, but they showed no intention of leaving. Instead, they settled around the tree and closed their eyes to rest.

Wang Bo was filled with helpless frustration.

“Perhaps they’ll leave once dawn comes.”

After enduring the torment all night, Wang Bo finally saw daybreak. Yet the wolves still showed no sign of departing.

He was close to tears.

“You’ve already eaten! Can’t you leave now?”

But the wolves ignored him, as though they intended to guard the base of the tree forever. Even when Wang Bo threw branches at them, they still refused to go.

“What am I supposed to do? If they won’t leave, how can I possibly get down?”

Wang Bo was tormented by the thought.

“Help! Somebody help me!”

A desolate cry rose from the tree, pierced through the forest, and carried far into the distance.

“Gentlemen of the wolf pack, have I offended you somehow? Why are you so determined to guard me?” From the tree, Wang Bo cried toward the wolves below with an expression of utter despair. If he could have shed a few tears, the performance would have been even more convincing.

An entire day had passed. Wang Bo was exhausted in both body and mind. He dared not sleep, yet he could not climb down. All he could do was cling to the tree and pray that the accursed beasts would leave.

But his prayers were clearly useless. The pack seemed determined to put down roots beneath the tree and showed no intention of departing.

“Help!”

He cried out again. Although Wang Bo knew the chance of anyone hearing him was exceedingly slim, he still refused to give up his hope of survival.

The sun was already slanting westward, and darkness would soon fall. Wang Bo’s spirits sank lower and lower. He considered jumping down and ending his life, but he did not have the courage. Besides, if he survived the fall, things would be even worse.

Just as Wang Bo’s hopes had once again reached the point of despair, he heard a sharp whoosh.

An arrow shot from a nearby patch of grass and flew straight toward a wolf’s forehead. The wolf did not even have time to yelp before the arrow killed it.

The sudden turn of events left Wang Bo bewildered. He heard another strange sound, and another wolf collapsed stiffly to the ground.

That was only the beginning. One arrow after another flew from the distance, and every single one struck a wolf.

How could Wang Bo fail to understand that his life had been saved? He was so overjoyed that he nearly fell from the tree.

The pack was thrown into panic, baring its teeth and snarling repeatedly.

The alpha wolf let out another howl, issuing an order. The pack immediately charged toward the direction from which the arrows had come.

“Excellent!”

A loud shout rang out, and Wang Bo could faintly hear a trace of excitement in the speaker’s voice.

The unseen archer showed not the slightest fear in the face of the wolves. Instead, he sounded exhilarated. Wang Bo found it difficult to imagine who the owner of that voice could be.

But with archery that precise, the man’s martial ability could hardly be ordinary.

At last, he was saved. Wang Bo only hoped that his benefactor would not be thrown away as food for the wolves.

The latest chapter of My Great Three Kingdoms Reformation is available free of charge at Claw Book House.