Chapter 12: If the Mantis Has Arrived, Can the Oriole Be Far Behind?

Wu Qingsong was caught off guard by the sudden events but quickly realized that these individuals couldn’t possibly be allied with Kleine.

“Wolfman!” Ling whispered anxiously at his side.

More wolfkin leaped down from the cellar entrance. The first to arrive declared, “Black-haired half-elf, we’ve come to rescue you.”

“Thank you,” Wu Qingsong replied, “But–”

“Stand back!” A towering wolfman burst forth from behind them. Wu Qingsong instinctively stepped back, giving him room to raise an ax and strike the cage’s chains forcefully, twice. The cage that had imprisoned him for nearly a month was promptly opened, and the chains fell to the ground.

“Move quickly!” another wolfman, dressed in standard-issue iron armor, urgently commanded.

“Who are you?” Wu Qingsong scrambled out of the cage and asked as he did so.

The only wolfkin he had a prior connection with were the wolfwomen he’d saved before. Yet, he found it hard to believe that these wolfmen would risk so much just to rescue him for that reason alone.

“Explanations will come later,” insisted the armored wolfman.

Ling looked utterly bewildered by the unfolding events. Wu Qingsong grasped her hand and followed the wolfmen as they hurried upstairs.

Kleine’s home was in complete disarray, ransacked from top to bottom. One of the wolfmen was busily setting fires throughout the place. Looking out the window, they could see flames flickering everywhere in the surrounding area. Amidst the darkness, people were frantically running to and fro, their cries for help and screams of panic echoing in the night.

The wolfmen, without pausing, led them toward the back exit.

“We still have another companion,” Wu Qingsong suddenly remembered Liuli, but where could he possibly find her in this chaos?

“No time for that,” said the armored wolfman. “We’ll sort it out later.”

They suddenly ducked into a narrow alleyway off the main road. Moments later, a small squad of perhaps a dozen soldiers scurried past them, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestone street. Once the coast was clear, they moved swiftly in the opposite direction down the alley.

“We’re members of the resistance,” a voice declared.

Wu Qingsong strained his eyes in the darkness, but he couldn’t discern the features of the wolfman leading them. Even if it were daytime, recognizing them would be a challenge. Still, judging by the voice, he surmised that the speaker must have been the first wolfman who had leaped into the basement.

Wu Qingsong felt Ling’s hand clench around his own. Both her father and uncle had lost their lives fighting against the resistance. Although she might not have had deep emotional ties to them, their deaths were bound to inflict some emotional pain on her. In response, he tightened his grip on her hand and continued to follow the wolfkin.

They navigated swiftly through the streets, soon leaving behind the neighborhood where Kleine resided. They reached what was unmistakably a slum. Although the fire had not yet ravaged this area, the infernos consuming the military camps, warehouses, and officials’ quarters had alarmed the residents. Some were solely worried about the fire spreading, while others saw the pandemonium as a chance to loot or grab anything of value from the afflicted areas. Stirred by a few instigators, the atmosphere was chaotically tense.

Every so often, soldiers would dash down the main streets, causing those contemplating quick gains to momentarily quash their greed.

By this point, the wolfmen had sheathed their weapons and donned cloaks to blend in. They guided Wu Qingsong and Ling deftly through the frenzied crowd. Shortly thereafter, they arrived at a structure resembling a warehouse and quickly slipped inside.

“This is one of our temporary safe havens,” the wolfman who had spoken earlier quietly informed Wu Qingsong.

The warehouse was occupied solely by an elderly beastman, who, to Wu Qingsong’s eyes, didn’t appear to belong to the wolfkind.

“Have Nina and the others not arrived yet?” asked the wolfman clad in armor.

The elderly beastman shook his head.

“In that case, let’s wait for them a bit longer,” said the armored wolfman.

The elderly beastman produced some dried meat, bread, and low-alcohol beverages from seemingly nowhere. The wolfmen then began to eat, their conversation a blend of hushed tones and palpable excitement.

The armored wolfman handed Wu Qingsong some food, and it was only then that he realized just how hungry he was. He shared some with Ling, and both of them dug in voraciously.

“This time, those damned half-elves should have learned their lesson,” exclaimed a young wolfman excitedly. 

Another wolfman subtly nudged him, a silent reminder that a half-elf was present in their midst. 

This created a moment of awkward tension, but for Wu Qingsong, insults directed at half-elves carried no weight or concern for him.

“Thank you, everyone,” he said, taking the opportunity to express his gratitude.

“We’re simply repaying a favor,” responded the armored wolfman. “You’ve helped our people before, so consider this us returning the favor. We’re even now.”

“Did you set those fires?” Wu Qingsong inquired.

“Absolutely!” the young wolfman answered, both excited and proud. “Let’s see if they still dare to attack our village.”

Kleine had never divulged much information about Rem City. In fact, Wu Qingsong knew very little about the world he found himself in, lacking the context to fully understand his current predicament. However, piecing together the scant clues he had, he could surmise that these wolfmen were likely the same rebels who had previously decimated Kleine’s troop. Their primary objective for this mission seemed to be to sabotage the military and storage facilities of Rem City, aiming to halt any further military actions by the city.

This revelation left Wu Qingsong slightly disappointed, but he quickly shook off the feeling. After all, if the wolfmen had ventured out specifically to rescue him, he would have been even more suspicious of their intentions.

Soon after, soft footsteps were heard approaching the warehouse. The wolfmen instantly grabbed their weapons, but the tension dissolved when a rhythmic and orderly knocking sounded at the door.

The elderly beastman opened the door, allowing seven or eight wolfmen to swiftly enter. Trailing them was an imposing figure draped in a cloak, a swordsman with a massive blade nearly as tall as Wu Qingsong. One look at him commanded instant respect.

“Was the mission successful?” the armored wolfman asked urgently.

The cloaked figure cast a glance at Wu Qingsong and nodded. He then pulled a bloodied head from beneath her cloak and tossed it onto a barrel serving as a makeshift table.

The sight immediately triggered a coughing fit from Wu Qingsong, while Ling let out an astonished cry, “Lord Vals!”

“You know him?” The figure in the cloak looked surprised. It was then that Wu Qingsong realized she was a woman.

Clinging tightly to Wu Qingsong’s arm, Ling retreated to stand behind him.

“She’s a local from Rem City,” Wu Qingsong explained hastily.

“Nina, you killed Vals?” a young wolfman asked, his eyes alight with excitement.

“He led a squad to extinguish the fires, and his troops scattered,” the woman identified as Nina responded. “I didn’t know who he was, but he was clearly intoxicated and had only a few guards. He looked important, so it would’ve been a missed opportunity not to eliminate him.”

“This should effectively incapacitate Rem City from mobilizing troops,” the armored wolfman stated as he lifted the severed head. He then turned to Ling, uncertainty coloring his voice, “You’re sure this is Vals?”

After a moment’s hesitation and with encouragement from Wu Qingsong, Ling nodded.

“It appears we’ve exceeded our mission objectives this time,” Nina commented, scanning the outside through the door. “Now that Vals is dead, they’ll be disorganized for a while. Let’s rest briefly, then make our move.”

The wolfmen nodded, swiftly diving into their meal. But Nina, however, walked directly over to Wu Qingsong.

“Thank you for rescuing those girls,” she told him.

Her imposing height seemed to exert a subtle pressure on Wu Qingsong. Although her face was hidden by her cloak, her voice had an unexpectedly melodious quality, exuding a reassuring aura.

“Anyone would have acted the same way under those circumstances,” he responded. “If anything, it’s I who should be thanking you for coming to my rescue.”

“It’s a mutual sentiment,” Nina said. “We’re planning an immediate breakout. What are your plans?”

“Do you still have allies in the city?” Wu Qingsong asked. “We have another companion.”

After studying him for a moment, Nina nodded. “Give me their name and a description.”

“She’s a catgirl named Liuli and used to be Kleine’s servant,” Wu Qingsong replied hastily. “If it’s possible, please find her as quickly as possible, otherwise, Kleine will definitely have her killed.”

Nina nodded again. “And what will you two be doing?”

“We’ll accompany you,” Wu Qingsong declared immediately.

Nina hesitated for a moment. “You want to join us?”

It was then that Wu Qingsong realized the ambiguity in his statement. In a way, he was an outsider with unclear origins. Even though there seemed to be mutual respect, it was unlikely the rebels would willingly accept someone unvetted.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” he clarified. “Can you take us somewhere they won’t be able to track us, and wait for updates on Liuli?”

“That won’t be an issue,” Nina confirmed, nodding. “We can escort you to Karagados.”

The mention of this unfamiliar place left Wu Qingsong puzzled. Kleine had previously shown him a map that probably included this location, but since he couldn’t decipher the Elven language, he remained in the dark, even if he had laid eyes on the place before.

Nina took a quick look at their ragged attire and ordered someone to fetch two sets of fresh clothes for them to change into. Then she said,  “Let’s move out.”

The wolfman donned in armor was the first to emerge from the warehouse. Surveying the stillness outside, he nodded, signaling everyone to follow him. 

In the distance, the fire was still raging, accompanied by the clamor of people. A gust of wind picked up, seemingly intensifying the flames. Given the rudimentary level of technology in this world, Wu Qingsong felt it was almost impossible for them to extinguish such a large fire. If it didn’t rain, the possibility of the entire city being consumed by the blaze seemed all too real.

Yet, the wolfmen around him showed no signs of guilt or remorse, instead, they appeared exhilarated. 

“Is this the harsh reality of war?” Wu Qingsong sighed softly to himself. As someone from a modern world, he knew he needed time to adjust to the norms of this new environment–norms that were accepted here but seemed cruel to him.

“To the east side wall. Move.” Nina commanded, hoisting her massive two-handed sword.

Just then, a thunderous shout erupted from the rooftops across from them, “Fire!”

Arrows streaked through the dark sky like raindrops. With a ferocious roar, Nina swung her greatsword, knocking down the incoming projectiles. Despite her swift action, several wolfmen were taken by surprise, hit by multiple arrows, and fell screaming in pain.

Wu Qingsong too was struck several times, causing him to grit his teeth in agony. Thankfully, his body acted as a shield for Ling, who remained unscathed.

“Fire!” 

The command echoed once more. Nina lunged forward, her greatsword cutting through the air as she deflected most of the incoming arrows. 

“Fall back! Everyone fall back!” she bellowed.

Wu Qingsong and the wolfmen quickly retreated to the warehouse, aiding their wounded comrades. Almost at the same moment, Kleine’s voice resonated from the outside.

“Nina Lams? What a delightful surprise! Surround them, let not a single rebel escape!”