Yu Sheng held out a piece of jerky toward Little Red Riding Hood, a mysterious smile on his face. The meat strip was a tempting dark red, with an aroma that was… quite enticing.
But Little Red Riding Hood instinctively felt something was off. The peculiar grin on Yu Sheng’s face made her wary. She furrowed her brow. “Wait a minute, what exactly is this?”
“Remember the ‘Wolf Granny’?” Yu Sheng admitted without hesitation, nodding casually. “The one we took down in that pitch-black little house? I brought it back and experimented with different ways to cook it. Turns out, it’s quite tasty.”
Little Red Riding Hood’s eyes widened in shock, and her breath hitched.
Oblivious to her reaction, Yu Sheng continued his culinary explanation: “The ribs are great grilled or stewed. The leg meat is tough and needs to be cooked for a long time. The fatty parts under the skin are amazing roasted—crispy and fragrant. Some of the organs make an excellent hot pot if prepared correctly, though they can have a strong taste otherwise. The creature was so large, though, that eating it repeatedly gets boring. So, most of it ended up —jerky. I seasoned it with spices and salt, then smoked it over fox fire. It’s a bit tough to chew but has a delightful crispness at the edges. It’s great as is, or even better in soup.”
As he spoke, Yu Sheng pushed the jerky closer to her, his smile unwavering. “Try it. Once you accept its source, you’ll find the flavor is really good.”
Little Red Riding Hood shuddered, instinctively scooting back a little. Her gaze was filled with confusion, unease, and even a hint of horror. She stammered, “You… ate the Wolf Granny?!”
“We’re still eating it,” Yu Sheng corrected, his tone casual. “Why so shocked? You’ve seen a dish of stir-fried Entity-Hunger before, haven’t you?”
On Little Red Riding Hood’s shoulder, the squirrel fainted the moment it realized what the jerky was. It toppled without even a squeak.
From the dining table, the fox girl glanced over while chewing her jerky, her tails swaying behind her. “Give it a try. It’s delicious.”
The aroma intensified. It was… intoxicating.
The whispers started. Soft and steady. They weren’t loud, but they were persistent—Yu Sheng’s voice, her own, even… a wolf’s.
Little Red Riding Hood hesitated, her hand trembling as it reached out. Conflicting emotions swirled inside her—curiosity and revulsion battling for dominance. Finally, she took the dark red jerky.
Yu Sheng’s grin widened as the tantalizing scent filled her senses. “Fear is hard to overcome, especially when it’s rooted in childhood. But after today, you’ll always remember: the fear of wolves… tastes like spiced jerky.”
“What kind of twisted logic is that?” she muttered, her face incredulous.
“Facing fear is one thing,” Yu Sheng explained, his expression still cheerful. “But turning it into flavor? That’s genius.”
Despite herself, Little Red Riding Hood took a deep breath, bracing for what felt like a life-or-death moment. She closed her eyes and bit down hard.
It was tough, requiring effort to chew, but… it was just meat. Nothing more, nothing less.
From the distant depths of the forest, a faint, eerie wolf howl echoed.
Little Red Riding Hood couldn’t tell if it was real or just her imagination.
She chewed forcefully, swallowing the rough texture as it slid down her throat. Her fear transformed, taking on a bizarrely tangible form.
Yu Sheng turned toward the window, sensing the wolf’s presence. Its eyes were locked on the house, unblinking. It had been prowling for a long time but paused, just for a few seconds.
The squirrel, sprawled on the bed, groggily woke up, only to see Little Red Riding Hood chewing on Wolf Granny’s meat. With a panicked squeak, it fainted again. 𝐫å𐌽ổBËs̈
Yu Sheng picked it up, shaking it gently until it revived. “Wake up, Squirrel. I have a question.”
“NO! The squirrel refuses to answer!” it shrieked, flailing in terror.
“What’s the connection between the Evil Wolf and the Wolf Granny?” Yu Sheng asked, ignoring its panic. “Are they the same?”
The squirrel’s tiny eyes darted nervously. It hesitated before whispering, trembling all the while, “Wolf Granny is a side of the Evil Wolf. When it enters the house, it’s Wolf Granny. Outside, it’s the Evil Wolf. When it chases you, it’s the whole wolf pack… Every wolf is a part of the Evil Wolf, and the Evil Wolf is a part of the Black Forest.”
The squirrel’s voice grew shakier. “Everything here is intertwined—like a tangled thread, like veins, like nerves. And in the end, it all ties back to Little Red Riding Hood, trapping her in this nightmare.”
Yu Sheng pondered the squirrel’s words, his focus shifting to the link in his blood. He could feel the wolf pack retreating, their movements cautious. Outside, something was forming at the door.
Wolf Granny was regenerating.
The Black Forest’s rules pressed on, its stage unfolding according to the script. Despite his chaos, the show went on.
Yu Sheng feigned ignorance of the changes. Calmly, he tore off a piece of jerky and handed it to the squirrel. “Eat.”
The squirrel recoiled, shaking its head furiously. “I’m just a squirrel! Squirrels don’t eat this!”
“You should face your fears,” Yu Sheng said solemnly. “Little Red Riding Hood ate it. Now it’s your turn.”
“Squirrel knights fear nothing! Nothing! Please, no more!” it squealed.
Yu Sheng shrugged, tossing the piece aside. “Fine. I won’t force you.”
The squirrel froze, stunned by his sudden leniency.
Turning to Little Red Riding Hood, Yu Sheng gestured toward the door. “Time to go. Your part’s done.”
“This was all to trigger a key event,” Yu Sheng said, his tone matter-of-fact. “Teamwork, right? Everyone has their own tasks.”
Before she could argue, Irene extended her hand. An icy sensation seized Little Red Riding Hood’s mind, yanking her outward. In an instant, she vanished.
Yu Sheng sighed. “Can’t you make that smoother? It always feels like sudden death.”
“How else can I force someone awake unconditionally?” Irene retorted, rolling her eyes. “She’s awake now, probably swearing.”
“Forget it.” Yu Sheng grabbed his Tetanus Staff, stretching lazily. “Get ready.”
The knock came—loud, insistent, echoing in their hearts.
The squirrel panicked, running in circles. “Squirrel knights need preparation!”
Yu Sheng smiled brightly, gripping his spiked club, and flung open the door. “Come on in!”
Standing there was a hunched, grotesque figure, its twisted, slender frame cloaked in short black fur. A claw—barely resembling a wolf’s—reached inside.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation