Chapter 36: Discovering the Lost Treasure

Ye Da had once heard that all things possess a spirit.

But he had never seen a wolf cub that could truly understand human speech.

He’d encountered clever dogs at pet exhibitions and circus performances, but nothing quite like this—a creature so intelligent it seemed to comprehend every word.

Was this really a wolf?

Little Ash seemed more like a mute child who couldn’t speak!

“Woof woof!”

After wandering through the woods with Little Ash, the cub finally stopped before a large tree, sniffed the air, and barked at Ye Da again.

It wasn't until he saw the marks on the trunk—the ones he’d pounded in, one after another, with his Stone Fist—that he finally believed Little Ash truly understood him.

“Little Ash, you’re just too smart!”

Ye Da climbed the trunk and looked down from the vantage point where he’d spied on the goblins the day before.

The traces at the tree’s base had been swept away by the night wind, but Ye Da replayed the goblins’ passage in his mind, picturing those who’d carried the treasure chest, and the moment one stumbled over the fallen bamboo pole…

One goblin tripped, and a bamboo tube tumbled from the chest!

“Found it!”

As the goblins’ path replayed in his mind, Ye Da at last pinpointed where the treasure had fallen.

He quickly located the unremarkable bamboo tube among a heap of collapsed, tangled dead bamboo.

It was a brownish-yellow tube, about the length of his forearm.

Its inconspicuousness was precisely why the treasure porters had overlooked it, giving Ye Da a lucky break!

What could be inside? Some kind of treasure? A weapon? Or perhaps a rare mineral?

Having confirmed the spot, Ye Da hurried down from the tree, full of anticipation for the prize the tube might hold.

“Woof!”

“Woof woof woof!”

But just as he descended, he heard the wolf cub barking sharply.

The tone wasn’t playful—it was the tense, reactive bark of something facing danger.

“What’s going on? Have goblins shown up?”

The barks made Ye Da nervous—he nearly lost his grip and fell.

He glanced down, only to see Little Ash still there, lounging casually on the ground with a bored yawn, not the least bit concerned.

“Woof woof woof…”

“Awooo!”

Little White’s barking continued, rising into a howl, leaving Ye Da a bit confused.

But Little Ash’s composure calmed his nerves.

Once down from the tree, Ye Da instructed, “Go check on your brother. If there’s any danger, run.”

“Woof!”

Little Ash answered and darted into the depths of the bamboo grove.

Ye Da was a little worried about Little White, but he’d finally traced the goblin treasure’s whereabouts. Not wanting to risk losing it, he quickly snatched up the bamboo tube.

He hadn’t even pried it open when Little Ash came back, dragging Little White by the tail.

And in Little White’s mouth was a Jumping Mushroom several times its own size. The cub was shaking its head fiercely, trying to finish off its prey.

“So he went hunting for Jumping Mushrooms.”

Ye Da finally understood—the barks had been a sign of prey.

He hadn’t expected it. Little White might be a bit dim-witted, but when it came to hunting, it had natural talent.

After all, Little White was still just a wolf pup, and yet had managed to bring down prey many times its own size—a clear mark of its gift.

Ye Da had always wondered—Little White was a Hell Wolf, while Little Ash was just an ordinary wolf. Since bringing them both home the previous night, he’d seen no hint of Little White’s superior genetics. Now, he realized its strength lay not in intelligence, but in hunting instinct.

“Awoo!”

Though Little Ash had dragged him back, Little White refused to let go of his prey.

He even bared his teeth and gave low, warning growls, as if cautioning his catch.

“All right, all right,” Ye Da said, patting the pup’s furry head. “This Jumping Mushroom is dead now. You don’t need to keep biting—let go.”

“Awooo!”

Instead of letting go, Little White shook the mushroom even harder.

The enormous Jumping Mushroom swayed from side to side in the white wolf’s jaws. Little White nearly lost his balance, on the verge of being toppled.

But as he watched, Ye Da noticed the mushroom’s stem twitch.

It was still alive!

With a swift motion, Ye Da drew the hatchet from his belt and struck where the cap joined the stem.

The Jumping Mushroom, now beheaded, went instantly limp—truly dead.

Only then did Little White finally release his grip.

He seemed to sense when his prey had truly perished.

“Not bad, not bad!”

Ye Da patted the little fellow’s head, acknowledging his talent.

He stored the severed Jumping Mushroom in his backpack. While Little White did not protest, he stared at Ye Da with a look of deep reproach.

The gaze sent shivers down Ye Da’s spine—goosebumps prickled up his arms.

“Um…”

Ye Da reflected for a moment on what he might have done to wrong the little pup.

Then it struck him. “Is it… because I took your prey?”

“Woof!”

Now, Little White seemed smarter than ever.

Ye Da couldn’t help but laugh. He’d always assumed that whatever his pets hunted automatically belonged to him. He hadn’t expected the little one to be so particular.

But he wasn’t about to hand over the mushroom. Regardless of whether wolves could eat mushrooms—and even if they could—this Jumping Mushroom’s cap was full of venom sacs.

Ye Da had no intention of letting harm come to his wolf cub.