amaotonovel Chapter 398 The Nature of Wolves
Chapter 398 The Nature of Wolves
Faced with Wang Ergou's skepticism, Li Xiangyang patiently explained, "Indeed, this method sounds a bit far-fetched. But think about it carefully, what is the nature of a wolf?"
Wang Ergou scratched the back of his head, hesitatingly speaking, "The nature of a wolf? That's simple, isn't it just what people often call cunning, greedy, fierce, and brutal? There's a saying, 'a wolf's ambition,' which describes how wolves are never satisfied and constantly expand their territory."
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "You're right about everything. But ultimately, the most fundamental characteristic of wolves is that under the pressure of survival, they obey the strong to ensure the continuation of the pack. And the strong in the wolf pack possess absolute privileges..."
"Right now, the wolf we've captured and subdued was once the strongest in the pack, and the pack obeyed it. Without it, there must be a new alpha wolf. What do you think would happen if we just released it back?"
Wang Ergou suddenly realized: "The new wolf king definitely won't let it live!"
“That’s right.” Li Xiangyang nodded, crouching down to look at the subdued wolf king. “So, this wolf’s only way to survive now is through us. If we help it regain control of the pack, in exchange, it must keep the pack away from the herders and livestock.”
Dalai pondered for a moment: "Is this really feasible?"
Li Xiangyang explained, “You see, wolves and humans are actually quite similar. If the new wolf king kills it, it will have nothing left; but if it regains its position as wolf king through our strength, although it will have to obey our orders, at least it will still have a pack to rule. For it, this is the only option.”
“I understand!” Bayar’s eyes lit up. “Just like those traitors among us humans, willing to betray their own kind to preserve their status and lives.”
Li Xiangyang nodded: "That's roughly the idea. Moreover, we're not trying to completely change its nature, but rather to utilize its instinct—to obey the strongest, and currently, in its eyes, we are the strongest."
Wang Ergou's expression still held a hint of uncertainty: "What if it becomes the wolf king again and then turns its back on us?"
“Then we need to make it understand the price of betraying us.” Li Xiangyang patted the hunting knife at his waist, his eyes resolute. “More importantly, we need to take it one step at a time. First, let it lead the existing wolf pack away from the pastures, and then use this pack to devour other wolf packs and expand our influence.”
Bayar's eyes widened: "You mean, we can eventually control the entire wolf pack on the grasslands?"
“Theoretically, it’s possible,” Li Xiangyang explained. “Wolf packs also fight for territory. If our pack is strong enough, other packs will only have two choices—to submit or be eliminated. And the submitting packs will be influenced by the wolf alpha we control.”
Dalai clapped his hands and cheered, "This is a brilliant idea! If it succeeds, there will never be any more wolves on the grasslands!"
Li Xiangyang did not respond immediately, but instead looked at the undulating hills in the distance.
He knew that the plan sounded great, but it would be far from easy to implement.
What's needed is to proceed step by step, steadily and surely.
“Let’s observe the wolf pack’s movements first,” Li Xiangyang said. “We need to know who the new wolf king is and when they come out to hunt.”
That evening, the group set up their binoculars at a high vantage point and waited quietly.
The moonlight shone on the snowfield, turning everything silvery-white.
About two hours later, the wolf pack appeared.
A dozen or so wolves emerged from a cave on the hillside, led by a smaller but clearly younger and stronger gray wolf.
“That’s the new king,” Li Xiangyang whispered, pointing to the wolf. “It’s a bit smaller than the one we caught, but it looks more agile.”
Wang Ergou nodded: "Indeed, that guy's walking posture is more agile."
Over the next few days, they carefully studied the wolf pack's activity patterns and intensified the training of the captured wolf alpha.
Every day, Li Xiangyang used a reward and punishment mechanism of food and sticks to strengthen its obedience, making it understand that only by obeying orders could it get food, and any resistance would result in punishment.
By the fifth day, the once proud wolf king had shown obvious signs of submission.
It would sit or stand on Li Xiangyang's orders, and would even hand over the food it had hunted to Li Xiangyang for "inspection" before daring to eat it.
“I think it’s ready,” Li Xiangyang said to his companions. “It’s time to let it return to the pack.”
"How exactly do we do it?" Dalai asked.
Li Xiangyang explained his plan in detail: "We'll release it when the wolf pack is out hunting. It will immediately challenge the new alpha wolf, and we'll provide support from a distance to ensure its victory. Once it regains its alpha status, I'll give a specific whistle to guide the pack according to our instructions."
Wang Ergou was still somewhat worried: "What if it wins and then immediately runs away with the pack?"
“So we need to make sure it knows the consequences of betrayal,” Li Xiangyang said firmly. “Furthermore, I will tie a special rope around its neck. It can easily bite through it, but it will leave our scent on it, letting the other wolves in the pack know that it was once controlled by humans. This will create an invisible deterrent.”
That night, the full moon hung high in the sky.
Li Xiangyang and his companions led the wolf king and ambushed it along a path that the wolf pack would inevitably take back to their den.
About two hours later, the howling of the wolves grew louder as they approached. They had just finished their hunt and were returning with their spoils.
Seeing this, Li Xiangyang released the wolf king's ropes and stroked its head: "Go back. Remember, betrayal means death."
The wolf king seemed to truly understand; its eyes gleamed in the moonlight, its body tense, poised to pounce.
When the wolf pack came into view, Li Xiangyang decisively loosened the rope binding the wolf king and fired a shot into the air.
"boom!"
A gunshot shattered the silence of the night, and the wolf pack immediately panicked and scattered in all directions.
The freed wolf king did not run away, but charged straight at the new king.
Two wolves tore and rolled on the snow, snowflakes flying everywhere, their howls incessant.
The old wolf king was injured when he was captured. Although he didn't die, he hasn't fully recovered yet.
So after just a few rounds, it began to be at a disadvantage and was pinned down by the new king.
Li Xiangyang was not surprised by this. He raised his shotgun, aimed at the new wolf king's hind legs, and decisively pulled the trigger.
"boom!"
The new wolf king cried out in pain and his body swayed. In that instant, the captured wolf king seized the opportunity, flipped over, and bit the new king's throat.
On the blood-stained snow, the old wolf king stood beside the new king's corpse, howling at the sky.
The sound echoed in the silent night sky, a declaration of victory and a resurgence of control over the tribe.
The other wolves hesitated for only a moment before lowering their proud heads, tucking their tails between their legs, and crawling on the snow toward the old wolf king, showing their submission.