Qu Xiangyun's eyes were filled with panic and wariness.
She quickly retreated a few steps, her hand still held mine.
The old man and the two European women also looked panicked.
I instinctively became vigilant, glanced back at the cave entrance, and my pupils constricted!
The cave entrance was now occupied by several wild dogs, who kept staring at us.
It was more accurate to call them smaller wolves than wild dogs.
Their pair of emerald green eyes revealed cruelty, and their snow-white fangs were even streaked with blood. They were clearly the fearless hunters of this forest.
Not good!
I suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. These wild dogs might have been afraid of the scent of the strange beast that had previously occupied the cave, so they only dared to loiter at the entrance.
But there was no sign of them leaving.
I instinctively shielded Qu Xiangyun behind me and then scanned the others.
Their situations were not good.
Setting aside the man who had fallen unconscious, the others were all injured to varying degrees.
The darker-skinned European girl's arm was even bleeding.
If I were facing these wild dogs alone now, even if I couldn't kill them all, I could leave unharmed.
However, I could guarantee my own safety.
But I couldn't guarantee that the others would escape without any harm.
After all, no matter how strong my physique was now, I only had two hands and one head. The wild dogs that survived in this forest must be the most cunning hunters.
If, while I was fighting the wild dogs, they took the opportunity to sneak attack the others, I wouldn't be able to attend to them.
The current situation, if not handled carefully, could lead to a complete annihilation.
I had to quickly think of a way to break free from this predicament.
"Darling, let's quickly retreat to the previous cave entrance. That cave is so narrow, these wild dogs can't swarm us all at once. We can stall them until they leave," Qu Xiangyun said.
Retreat to the previous cave?
Qu Xiangyun's suggestion sounded like the best option at first glance, but after careful consideration.
No!
This would only be moving us from one predicament to another.
Before I could reject it, the old man carrying the unconscious man suddenly spoke.
"Retreating won't work. These beasts don't attack unless they see prey. They can lie in ambush in burrows for days and nights. We can't hold out that long."
This old man was very familiar with the island's animals?
I immediately grasped this detail, but this was not the time to inquire about it. I had to bury this question in my heart for now.
Just as we were discussing countermeasures, the group of wild dogs outside the cave began to stir.
They seemed to have confirmed the absence of the strange beast, and one of them had already started to cautiously approach the cave.
"What should we do! They're about to come in!"
At this moment, the blonde, blue-eyed European girl, terrified, stumbled back a few steps, leaning against the cave wall and shouting at us in her not-so-fluent Chinese.
The dark-skinned girl beside her appeared much calmer, grabbing her arm.
"Hathaway, calm down!"
I knew I had no time to hesitate. I decisively let go of Qu Xiangyun's hand that was tightly gripping my arm.
"Xiangyun, I'll go out and lure these wild dogs away now. You seize the opportunity to lead everyone to escape first. We'll reunite once we're outside."
I made a quick decision.
The group of elderly, weak, sick, and injured people around me were essentially burdens. Only by making myself a bait and drawing the attention of the wild dogs outside the cave could Qu Xiangyun and the others have a chance to escape.
"Darling, you..."
Qu Xiangyun instinctively grabbed my sleeve, but after a second, she let go. The situation was so dire, and she wasn't an emotional person. She knew my choice was the most stable plan at the moment.
"Lu Ziye, be careful."
I nodded gently at her and took out my alloy knife from my waist.
I strode towards the wild dogs.
Those beasts were extremely cautious, perhaps due to the keen senses honed by this terrifying jungle. It seemed to sense my presence, whined, and wanted to turn to run outside.
You think you can just run!
Seeing the beast trying to bolt out of the cave, I dashed in front of it in a few steps. I forcefully plunged the alloy knife downwards, piercing its body directly. Blood splattered everywhere.
To be honest, I was acting as an MT right now, needing to firmly hold the aggro of the wild dogs outside.
So, I held the beast, impaled on my alloy knife and still whimpering, and walked all the way to the cave entrance. I then threw the wretched creature fiercely in front of the pack of wild dogs.
"Beasts, your doom has arrived!"