Wolf Nature and Human Nature

Over time, Green Pine Sect's investigators began to devote more attention to details they overlooked the first time around.

General Manager Xun lied in the dark and moist drainage channel, panting, coughing and shuddering. He couldn't see himself lasting much longer. He let his mind wander, taking him back to Mu Yu and wondering if the boy would extract his corpse from the channel. His face was deathly pale after days without sunlight.

Every time General Manager Xun killed a haughty Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he'd feel as if he had purged some of the disgust within him. However, his violence intensified with each kill.

General Manager Xun noticed his control over his wolf instincts were starting to wane. He was aware he only had a few more transformations before it would be impossible to assume human form again.

General Manager Xun heard the sound of a sheet of paper from a grey-rank disciple slip down. Zhou Xinyu was the disciple General Manager Xun cared for most in the past as the boy was honest, sincere and shared his dream. For that reason, he agreed to General Manager Xun's proposal when the later brought it up.

"Flowing Moon Sect's Huang Ziyu, left room. Broke the academy's disciple's Lu Xiaohui's left arm."

General Manager Xun tore apart the sheet in a fit of rage. "I can't kill many more, but I guess every kill counts."

There was about another four hours until nightfall, so General Manager Xun found himself a place to lie and rest. He managed to weather the cold down there thanks to his fitter soul-devouring wolf body. His body odour also warded off rodents.

General Manager Xun's hobby was looking at the moon and howling at it, which was a means of getting his pent-up emotions off his chest. He couldn't howl tonight, though. Nevertheless, drawing blood was another means of blowing off steam.

Once night fell, General Manager Xun struggled to his feet and transformed. Some of his skin was still exposed, and his dual tails looked fatigued. He began panting after two stifled cries. He shook his body out and made his way to Flowing Moon Sect's courtyard. He pried open a path in the earth and deftly infiltrated the courtyard.

The light in Huang Ziyu's room was already off. General Manager Xun pushed open the window, then jumped in. He could see his target lying on the bed. His aim was to give his target a scratch first, as the venom on his claws could render his victim unconscious. Next, he would drag Huang Ziyu underground and feast on his heart. He celebrated the easy target.

Bang!The window suddenly closed behind him. The lights went on before General Manager Xun could wrap his head around the situation. Every single person in the room was armed with their magical weapon. Bai Lang commented, "Perfect. A soul-devouring wolf as you said."

Panic-stricken, General Manager Xun backed up to the door. Behind Bai Lang was a quivering youth. He was none other than the grey-rank disciple who passed on the names daily – Zhou Xinyu.

Zhou Xinyu fearfully looked at General Manager Xun's soul-devouring wolf form. It only took a second for him to flip the switch from pity to outright ruthless.

Bai Lang told Zhou Xinyu, "Once I've caught the bastard, you won't be a grey-rank disciple any longer."

General Manager Xun instantly realised his favourite disciple had betrayed him to escape the life of a grey-rank disciple. General Manager Xun howled under his breath. He tried to protect grey-rank disciples, yet one of them betrayed him. Enraged, he bellowed and charged toward Zhou Xinyu. He wanted to see what sort of heart sat in Zhou Xinyu's chest. Was it rotten or twisted?

Bai Lang hit General Manager Xun with a heavy sword qi slash. General Manager Xun groaned as he was driven through the door.

"Die!" Bai Lang ran out and followed up with another slash.

General Manager Xun lacked the strength of a Golden Core Ream cultivator, but he was still strong and fast. Bai Lang's sword grazed him, but the wound wasn't fatal. He jumped back into the drainage water channel.

"He's in the drainage channel! If you don't catch him now, it'll be too late!" cried Zhou Xinyu.

General Manager Xun was absolutely livid. Though he wanted to kill, the world before him started spinning as soon as he was in the drainage channel. He was out of energy. He didn't kill anyone last night for their heart and was wounded. His bones and muscles caved in, reverting him back to his human form.

"Why? Why?" cried General Manager Xun, vexed and unable to comprehend Zhou Xinyu's thinking. Soon, he recalled Zhou Xinyu once said, "I want to be the bully, not the bullied."

General Manager Xun smiled bitterly. Zhou Xinyu was going to become another one of the bullies they both hated. Zhou Xinyu, unfortunately, didn't have the aptitude to go far as a cultivator. All he could bully in the future were grey-rank disciples. Justice? What was that again? Was it something that could lead one down the path of glory?

Chilly sensations invaded General Manager Xun's body. He muttered, "How did I forget grey-rank disciples lived holding onto hope they could escape life as a grey-rank disciple when I spent my entire life as one?"

General Manager Xun gasped a mouthful of blood onto the ground. He could hear angry voices and heavy footsteps approaching. He tried to push away the individual who tried to pull him up to no avail. He knew he was finished, and he knew it wouldn't be a pretty end. A tear drop coursed down his face as his consciousness faded…