Having said enough, Shen Wang began to operate the Wolf Step technique while walking.
Spiritual Power coursed through the corresponding meridians, and Shen Wang immediately shot forward, appearing several feet away in the blink of an eye.
"This short-distance burst of Wolf Kill is indeed faster than my simple acceleration."
Shen Wang nodded. Previously, his dodging when fighting the Blood Wolf was purely instinctive, with no strategy, and naturally inefficient.
But the Wolf Step was a martial arts technique specifically summarized and refined for maximizing the potential of the legs, even though his physical body was relatively strong, it still had significant effects.
Along the way, Shen Wang dashed around like a wild wolf, taking into account Paper Kite’s speed by not running in a straight line, quickly becoming proficient in the step technique.
After half an hour of cultivation, Shen Wang’s legs felt sore and weak, as previously unused meridians and muscles were activated during cultivation, initially unlocking the speed potential of his body.
Practicing the Wolf Step delayed them considerably; it was 1:45 PM by the time Shen Wang and Paper Kite arrived at Fengming Town.
"Husband, let me go fetch some water to drink."
While resting, Paper Kite spotted a still-untouched pond, feeling thirsty, she wanted to fetch water.
"We’re almost there, hold on, don’t drink untreated water, it’s not clean."
Shen Wang shook his head; he never drank untreated water, especially from stagnant pools.
Right after speaking, he noticed a few bones floating in the pond and frowned as he walked over.
"These aren’t animal bones."
Paper Kite saw the tooth marks on the bones and shifted her gaze, spotting a human skull at the edge, and suddenly retched at the realization.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with nausea and fear: "Husband, someone has been eating..."
At that moment, figures emerged from nearby, eyes somewhat green, clutching common tools like knives, forks, hoes, and hammers, all stained with blood, as they surrounded them with wide eyes.
They looked at people in a strange way, as if seeing food, with only the gaze directed at Paper Kite laced with desire.
"Give us some money."
The leader directly extended his hand.
Shen Wang said indifferently.
"You need to give ten taels of silver, and as for her... hehe, it’ll cost more! At least one hundred taels of silver."
The leader grinned ferociously.
"But I see you have no intention of letting us go."
Shen Wang said expressionlessly.
Having been seen through, the group completely dropped their disguises and revealed vicious expressions.
"Kill the man, play with the woman before eating her!"
The leader shouted, and the knives and forks rushed toward Shen Wang.
Shen Wang sighed, and with Wolf Kill at his feet, he weaved through them like a shadow.
Moments later, with the firelight flickering, he left with Paper Kite, his face cold.
Paper Kite was sullen: "I didn’t expect these refugees to have developed to this extent."
"Just take care of ourselves, as long as they don’t trouble us, there’s no need to worry about these matters,"
Shen Wang shook his head, hoisted the already exhausted Paper Kite on his back, and amidst her delighted shyness, ran straight up the mountain like a wild wolf.
At the ancestral home’s entrance, Liu Shan, with dark circles under his eyes, felt a jolt of spirit upon seeing a rapidly approaching shadow, realizing it was Shen Wang returning, carrying a beautiful woman.
He paused, muttering: "So the master has married another lady."
Shen Wang came to an abrupt halt at the door, stirring up a gust of wind, his gaze scanning over to the dark-eyed Liu Shan: "What’s going on? Your spiritual status doesn’t seem too good?"
"Master, I haven’t slept for two days. At night, there’s something dirty making ghostly cries and scratching around the house."
Liu Shan showed a look of fear, "I don’t dare open the door, it feels like a person."
"Something dirty? Not flying in the sky?" Shen Wang was surprised.
"No, it’s circling the house on the ground, knocking on the door and hitting the walls, making ghostly cries nonstop, so we can’t sleep well."
Liu Shan looked terrified: "There was one the first night, and a few seemed to be there the second night."
Paper Kite got goosebumps hearing this. She had originally been looking forward to this family, but now it seemed unpeaceful.
Liu Shan looked at Shen Wang, like catching a life-saving straw, relaxed: "Master, thankfully you’ve returned, you surely have a way to deal with them."
Shen Wang looked expressionless, his gaze fell on the newly appeared claw marks on the door, and he pondered: "You go take a rest."
"Master, I might still need to keep watch."
Liu Shan resigned, somewhat indignant: "During the day, some refugees tried to steal and rob here. Those bastards act like mice after they found out we have good things to eat."
"Didn’t I tell you to distribute relief and aid the refugees in town?"
Shen Wang was somewhat displeased.
"We did aid, but... but didn’t expect that after doing so, more refugees came. Many knew there were good things to eat here, and sneaked over trying to steal."
Liu Shan chuckled bitterly: "These people have no sense of gratitude, we gave them food, yet they still come to steal."
"Indeed, one shouldn’t do good deeds..."
Shen Wang shook his head; when people are starving, they’ll do anything, let alone steal.
"Moreover, Master, the people in town said today that we’re no longer allowed to do charity, fearing too many refugees will pose a threat to them."
Liu Shan recalled something and said.
"We’ll talk about this tomorrow."
Shen Wang really didn’t want to care about these matters anymore and took Paper Kite inside.
Jia’Er was not home, only the wet nurse Chunmei and Hongping were in the corner of the side room washing their clothes. Seeing him return, they hurried over.
Standing before him, they hesitated to speak, finally embarrassedly said: "Master, I wish to go home for a visit."
"Wait for Liu Shan to send you back tomorrow."
Shen Wang waved his hand.
"Master, actually I want to leave, I don’t want to do this anymore."
Chunmei braced herself and said: "My son was scared at night, doesn’t look well today, if this continues, I’m afraid both of us will fall ill."
Shen Wang’s face turned dark: "Where’s your son?"
Chunmei had just spoken when Shen Wang went to check, finding her son chubby and ruddy, appearing perfectly fine, he instead stared at Chunmei: "Is this what you call looking unwell?"
The latter was so frightened she knelt down with a thud: "Master, I’m just a village woman, without much courage, please let me leave, I’m truly afraid of being eaten by ghosts one day."
She sobbed: "I’ve stayed here for nearly a month, the milk is running dry, the young lady can take beast milk now, please allow us mother and son to leave."
"I’m not stopping you from leaving?"
Chunmei gave a wry smile: "I’m afraid of encountering ghosts on the road."
"If you want to leave, I’ll have someone escort you back,"
Shen Wang knew ordinary people had ordinary thoughts; encountering evil spirits daily, even if the child doesn’t understand and is fine, adults can’t bear it, over time, it could lead to a nervous breakdown.
Chunmei’s face lit up with joy: "Thank you, master."
Beside them, Liu Shan shook his head and sighed: "You village woman are so shortsighted, not knowing who the master truly is, you’re missing out on something more precious."
He thought this woman was too shortsighted. This master was a cultivator, possessing something money couldn’t buy.
Going through some hardship now, there would surely be benefits in the future.
"I don’t have such fortune."
Chunmei said wryly, "Master, if this continues, I will go mad."
Liu Shan couldn’t be bothered to say more, turning back to continue guarding the gate.
Hongping merely shook her head; she also understood Chunmei, being just an ordinary person, without cultivation, one couldn’t think that far.
Shen Wang directly walked to the bedroom, and upon entering, he saw his daughter, a smile spreading across his face.
"She’s so beautiful."
Paper Kite’s eyes shone, such an adorable baby, she liked her at first sight.