The panicked wild goat, upon seeing Mo Yan blocking the way in the center, abruptly stopped, its strong forehooves pawing the ground restlessly. Its large eyes were filled with terror, and it clearly perceived Mo Yan as a threat, just like any other docile herbivore would.
Mo Yan could neither advance nor retreat, but the next scene left her no time to think as the previously howling pack of wolves had drawn near, forming a besieging circle that enveloped both human and goat alike.
Mo Yan was dumbstruck; she had unwittingly walked right into the hunting circle of the wolf pack!
Facing the menacing wolf pack, the entire flock of goats began to stir. At the lead goat’s frantic call, over a dozen robust adult goats spread out, forming a circle to tightly protect their weaker and older companions in the center. Their hooves planted firmly on the ground, their large eyes glaring fiercely at their foes, they were ready to defend against an attack.
In the game of hunter and hunted, of killer and killed, Mo Yan stood frozen in place, watching the brutal contest of predation unfold before her eyes.
Mo Yan was forgotten amidst the fierce battle between wolf and goat; the bloodthirsty wolves didn’t even spare her a glance as they passed by, as if she simply didn’t exist.
The scent of blood grew more intense. Watching more and more of its companions die under the hungry wolves’ claws and fangs, the wounded lead goat narrowly escaped death and let out a mournful cry to its battling companions before dashing out of the encirclement at full speed.
Upon witnessing this, the other wild goats also began to struggle desperately to break free from the entanglement of the hungry wolves. Perhaps worn out from the hunt, the surviving goats, through a valiant effort, managed to escape, leaving only the bodies of their fallen behind.
Mo Yan, who had never seen a wolf in modern times, let alone such a fray, had already taken advantage of the chaos to flee back the way she came, stumbling as she went. The violent skirmish and the intense smell of blood overwhelmed her senses, and she couldn’t think straight, completely forgetting about the existence of "Space."
When the wolf howls finally faded from earshot, and the scent of blood was no longer in the air, Mo Yan, gasping for breath, leaned against a tree trunk and stopped, taking deep breaths. Sweat from her forehead slid down her cheeks, dripping into the grass.
With her legs weak and trembling, she sat down heavily on the ground, wiped the sweat from her face vigorously, and clutched her pounding chest, stunned. Today’s events had delivered such a shock that it had given her a true taste of nature’s cruelty, far more real than the Animal World programs on television, which seemed like mere child’s play in comparison.
Subconsciously rubbing her palm, Mo Yan finally remembered "Space," which fear had made her forget. She slapped her forehead in tremendous relief. If it weren’t for the more appetizing wild goats, she would have been the one being torn apart by the voracious wolves.
Concerned she might encounter more danger, Mo Yan decided not to linger, stood up, dusted off her backside, and was about to leave when a rustling sound came from behind. This time she reacted swiftly, plunging into "Space" without hesitation.
Almost at the moment Mo Yan vanished from the spot, a wolf with sturdy limbs and an imposing stature, much like a calf, burst forth. It was considerably larger than an ordinary wolf, with a distinctive tuft of golden fur on its forehead. At that time, it was carrying a wild goat almost its own size in its mouth and stopped right where Mo Yan had been resting.
After dropping the goat to the ground, the wolf with the tuft wagged its large tail as it sniffed around. Sensing the familiar scent slowly dissipating into the air, it tilted its head curiously, a glint of human-like disappointment flashing in its eyes—it seemed utterly dejected.
Dejected?
Watching from inside "Space," Mo Yan couldn’t believe her mind might have been struck by lightning, for she had seen disappointment in the eyes of that ferocious beast!
The tufted wolf sniffed around for quite a while, ultimately finding nothing. It reluctantly drooped its tail and, in low spirits, ambled back the way it came, leaving the goat it had brought behind.
Only after ensuring the wolf had truly left did Mo Yan exit "Space." Looking at the dead goat on the ground and reflecting on the wolf’s actions, she found it all so unbelievable. Could she be so vain as to think that the strange wolf had chased her down with the goat as a gift for her?