The sun continued its slow ascent, turning the morning mist into a thin, golden haze that clung to the valley floor. Yong listened to the confession without interruption. He did not flinch at the mention of the slums or the cold reality of Nao’s isolation. To a man who has lived his life in the periphery of death, these stories are not tragedies. They are the raw facts of survival.
He looked down at the frost-dusted earth between his boots, marking the exact spot Nao had indicated. He did not see a grave. He saw a point of reference. The request for a burial was not a morbid thought to Yong. It was a contract, a final mission delivered by the only person who had the right to ask it of him.
Yong shifted his weight, his back pressing firmly against the rough bark of the oak. He finally turned his head to meet Nao’s gaze, his eyes steady and devoid of the pity Nao seemed to expect.
"I have no love for this village or the people in it," Yong said, his voice flat and steady. "I have spent enough of my life fighting against everything they stand for. If I am still standing on this soil, it is not because I found a sudden respect for their laws. It is because you are here."
He paused, letting the silence of the valley settle between them.
"Blood is an accident of birth. It carries no weight. A chosen bond is different because you have to decide to keep it every single day. I have made my decision, Nao. You talk of dying as if the world is finished with you, but I am not. However, I hear you. If the day comes, this is where you will stay. I will see to it personally. I will give you the peace the rest of this world refuses to offer."
He reached out, his hand resting briefly on the gnarled root of the tree to seal the pact.
"You are not in the slums anymore, my brother. And I am not going anywhere."
The heavy air of the moment was suddenly severed. Yong went perfectly still, his hand remaining on the root as his head tilted sharply to the side. He caught a scent or a vibration only he could perceive, and his nostrils flared with sudden, predatory focus.
"It can't be..." he whispered.
The words were barely audible. Yong dropped into a low crouch, moving with a fluid grace that made him look like a shadow pinned to the earth. His gaze locked onto the dense treeline at the edge of the valley, his body coiling like a spring.
From the shifting mists and the deep shadows of the old pines, they began to emerge. A group of spirit wolves moved with a silent, ethereal weight, their forms shimmering slightly as if they were part of the air itself. Leading the pack was a massive black wolf, its fur matted and covered in the jagged white lines of old scars. The beast moved with a deliberate authority, its golden eyes fixed solely on Yong.
The intensity in the air was suffocating as they stared one another down. For a moment, it felt as though the valley itself was holding its breath. Then, the silence shattered.
Yong let out a sudden, boisterous laugh that echoed off the surrounding peaks. He did not hesitate. He stood and broke into a full sprint, charging directly toward the massive black predator. The lead wolf let out a deep, rumbling howl and bounded forward. They collided in the center of the clearing, tumbling together in a rough, joyous embrace. Yong disappeared beneath a sea of fur and wagging tails as the rest of the pack joined the pile, yelping and nipping at the man they had lost across a warped timeline.
Away from the chaotic pile, a small, inquisitive pup detached itself from the group. It moved with a clumsy, hesitant gait toward the base of the oak tree where Nao was still sitting. The pup stopped a few feet away, its ears perked forward as it studied the man. Its nose twitched rapidly, taking in Nao's scent before it let out a tiny, high-pitched growl. Its little chest puffed out as it began to circle Nao with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
Yong’s head suddenly popped out from the center of the wolf pile, his hair a mess and a massive, uncharacteristic grin plastered across his face.
"His name is Nao!" Yong yelled out to the pup, his eyes bright with genuine joy. "He is family!"
The pup stopped its circling just inches from Nao's hand. It gave his fingers a momentary, cautious sniff before its entire demeanor shifted. It let out a short, happy yips and launched itself forward. The creature scrambled onto Nao’s lap with clumsy, frantic paws, completely oblivious to his state. It began a relentless assault of affection, its tail a blur as it attempted to lick his face completely.
Yong remained on the ground a few yards away, pinned by the larger wolves. He made no move to help, instead watching the scene with a rare, relaxed warmth.
"I think he likes you," Yong called out over the sound of yelps and the heavy breathing of the black wolf. "Be careful. Once they decide you belong to them, they never let you go."
Wc: +905
