The weather over Xinghai City darkened without warning. Heavy clouds pressed low against the skyline, as if heralding an approaching storm. With only three days left before the Wolf Clan's Sacrificial Ceremony, tension thickened the air—not only within the clan's territory, but even inside Yaoshi Group, where unseen undercurrents quietly stirred.
Ling Yao sat behind his desk in the CEO's office, fingers tapping against the keyboard while his gaze remained distant and heavy. Qin Yue had just delivered the latest intelligence: Ling Lie had begun to move.
Rumors were spreading rapidly within the Wolf Clan—whispers claiming Su Wan was the reincarnation of a harbinger of disaster, destined to bring ruin upon the clan. Ling Lie had even produced altered excerpts from ancient texts as so-called "proof." Many uninformed clan members had already begun to waver.
"President Ling," Qin Yue said cautiously, "should we arrange for someone to clarify the rumors?"
Ling Yao looked up, cold light flashing through his eyes. "No. Any public clarification right now would only make things worse and play directly into Ling Lie's hands."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Contact the younger clan members who support me. Have them quietly spread the truth—about Ling Lie tampering with the ancient records and colluding with outsiders to harm Su Wan. At the same time, reinforce security around the clan territory and the sacrificial altar. No blind spots. I want Su Wan absolutely safe."
"Understood," Qin Yue replied, turning to leave.
Silence returned to the office. Ling Yao leaned back, rubbing his aching temples. He wasn't afraid of Ling Lie's schemes—what he feared was Su Wan being hurt during the ceremony, or crushed beneath the weight of the clan's prejudice.
He pulled out his phone and stared at her photo. In it, Su Wan smiled brightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons—sunlight incarnate, effortlessly dispelling the darkness in his heart.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Su Wan entered, carrying a cup of warm coffee. The rich aroma filled the room, tinged with a faint herbal note. She placed the cup in front of him. "You haven't been resting well lately. I made your favorite—sixty-five degrees, just how you like it."
Ling Yao looked up at her gentle face, warmth blooming in his chest. He took her hand, rubbing it softly. "Why aren't you drawing?"
"I got tired and wanted to check on you," she said, sitting across from him, concern clear in her eyes. "Is something wrong? You've seemed troubled lately."
After a moment's hesitation, Ling Yao decided not to hide it from her anymore. "Ling Lie is spreading rumors in the clan—saying you're a bad omen. He even altered ancient texts to back it up."
Su Wan's expression flickered, but she quickly steadied herself. She squeezed his hand firmly. "I'm not afraid. Lies are still lies. I believe you'll clear my name—and that one day, the clan will accept me."
Emotion surged through Ling Yao. He stood and pulled her into his arms. "Thank you, Su Wan. With you standing by me, I fear nothing."
She leaned into him and spoke softly, "Ling Yao, I don't want to just be someone you protect. I want to understand the Wolf Clan better—maybe I can help. Teacher Lin said I could incorporate Wolf Clan elements into my illustrations. Maybe that would help the clan see me differently."
He looked down at her earnest eyes and nodded. "Alright. When I have time, I'll tell you everything—our history, our beliefs. The Wolf Clan isn't as brutal as the outside world believes. We have warmth, too."
Over the next few days, whenever Ling Yao found a moment, he told Su Wan stories of the Wolf Clan—how they had guarded the forests around Xinghai City for generations, coexisting with humans without interference; how they valued loyalty, kinship, and mutual protection.
He explained the clan's sacred totem, Silver Wolf Gazing at the Moon: the wolf's head raised toward the stars symbolized reverence for ancestors and nature; the thorns beneath its claws represented the resolve to protect their land; and the intertwining vines signified the unbroken lineage of the clan.
When he spoke of the ceremony, his tone grew solemn. It was not only a rite to honor ancestors and pray for prosperity, but also the moment of succession. The Clan Head's authority was embodied in the Moon Wolf Fang Scepter, crafted from the fangs of past leaders and infused with ancestral power.
He also revealed the truth behind Ling Lie's forgery. "The original texts say, 'A destined mate knows no race—one with a pure aura can break the curse.' Ling Lie altered 'pure aura' into 'pure wolf blood' and fabricated a prophecy of disaster. Real prophecies are written on stitched beast-hide scrolls using wolf blood mixed with cinnabar. His 'evidence' doesn't even match the material or writing marks."
Su Wan listened intently, sketching as he spoke—drawing the Wolf Clan's lands and legends with warmth and gentleness. When Ling Yao saw her illustrations, his heart stirred deeply.
One night, he took her to the forest at the edge of the clan's territory. Moonlight bathed the trees in silver frost.
"That mountain," Ling Yao said, pointing ahead, "is where the sacrificial altar stands."
At the summit, massive stone pillars encircled the platform, each carved with the Silver Wolf Gazing at the Moon totem. The intertwined thorn and vine patterns shimmered faintly in the moonlight—ancient, solemn, powerful.
"It's beautiful," Su Wan whispered. "The totem feels alive."
Ling Yao led her to a clearing where dew-covered blessing grass grew. He picked three blades and handed two to her. "This is a pre-ceremony ritual—Moon Blessing Prayer. Hold the grass, make a wish to the moon. If the dew doesn't fall, it means the ancestors approve."
She closed her eyes and whispered, May Ling Yao be safe. May the Wolf Clan know peace.
When they opened their eyes, the dew remained perfectly balanced on the tips of the leaves.
Ling Yao's breath caught. He clasped her hand tightly. "The ancestors have accepted you."
Pulling her close, he murmured, "On the day of the ceremony, I won't leave your side. No matter what happens, trust me."
"I do," she replied softly.
She then handed him a painting. It depicted Ling Yao as a massive silver wolf, gentle-eyed, with a girl nestled beside him. Behind them stood the sacrificial altar beneath a brilliant, star-filled sky.
"This is how I imagine you," she said. "Even as a wolf, you'd still be gentle. I want the clan to see that you're not a monster—and that I stand with you to protect them."
Ling Yao's eyes burned as he pulled her into a deep, tender kiss beneath the moonlight.
Elsewhere, in the Ling family estate, Ling Lie inspected his prepared "evidence": a forged beast-hide scroll smeared with fake cinnabar, and a broken stone etched with a distorted Silver Wolf totem.
"Ling Yao. Su Wan," he sneered. "The ceremony will be your end."
With everything in place and the rain falling softly over Xinghai City, the final night arrived.
A storm was coming.
And at the Wolf Clan's sacrificial ceremony, fate would be decided.