Chapter 201


    Winnie’s words struck a chord with the chief, who promptly spoke on behalf of the vigers, epting


    her proposition without a second thought.


    “I didn’t realize the guardían spirit has been watching over us from the shadows all this time. We’re


    truly indebted and ashamed. Whatever the guardian needs, we’re prepared to follow through.”


    It was a debt they owed to the mysterious entity.


    Noticing the vigers nodding in agreement, Winnie knew they meant every word. She nced once


    more at the werewolf standing in the distance, thought for a moment, and addressed the vigers


    again.


    “Just because the werewolf got some blessings from nature, doesn’t mean it’s divine and needs its own


    shrine. The stone chapel up on the hill can be a ce to leave offerings, no need to engrave any name


    on it. Moreover, if you truly wish to make amends, you can dedicate a que to the vige’s ancestral


    hall in its honor. Daily offerings there will convey your sincerity.”


    After this ordeal, it was clear the werewolf wouldn’t continue its protection over the vige. From now


    on, they would have to rely on themselves and the mandrakes they cultivated.


    Dedicating a que in the hall served two purposes: it fulfilled a bond between the spirit and the


    vigers, harnessing the power of their faith to aid its recovery. It also left a thread of connection


    between them.


    So long as the vige hall held the spirit’s que, the werewolf would sense their genuine devotion


    over time. Even if it didn’t protect the vige as before, it wouldn’t ignore them should disaster strike.


    The chief saw no issue with honoring the werewolf. The deep–rooted connection between the werewolf


    and their ancestors justified it. He eagerly agreed and even decided to have the hall’s carvings and


    murals updated to include the werewolf’s likeness.


    Winnie asked Cox to find a piece of jade, intended for the chapel to aid the werewolf’s cultivation. She


    nned to create a simple Spirit Gathering Array with it.


    During her ascent, she noticed that the mandrakes fields of Cloverfield Cottage had depleted the


    spiritual essence of the mountain. It was remarkable that the werewolf managed to cultivate under such


    conditions, sharing what little energy there was with the vigers‘ crops.


    The Spirit Gathering Array would help to re–concentrate the mountain’s spiritual essence. With the


    nourishment of this essence,bined with the vigers‘ daily offerings, the werewolf’s recovery would


    be significantly expedited.


    This was the full extent of the agreement between Winnie and the werewolf. With a consensus


    reached, the werewolf and its kin departed.


    Back in the live–streaming chatroom, the audience was left bewildered.


    “I knew I missed the scoop of a lifetime.”


    “That’s it? What about the details? The showdown? Did the crew cut that out?”


    “Was Winnie negotiating with the werewolf?”


    “It seems like the vigers owe the werewolf big time. Can someone fill me in?”


    “The key moment and the stream goes down. I woke up early for this?”


    “So why were the wolves causing trouble in the vige?”


    “Is that a real werewolf? Can it speak?”


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    11:56


    Qult your yapping, Can’t you tell the crew did this on purpose? And those aren’t real wolves, probably


    people in costume. They cut the stream to cover up the ws.


    The chatroom’s viewers were frustrated, having missed the climax due to the stream’s interruption.


    Some even stirred up trouble.


    Bagot thought it best to have the guests recount the missed events to appease the audience’s curiosity,


    caring little whether they believed it was scripted or not.


    As they descended the mountain, the guests narrated and reenacted the unseen parts of the story,


    satisfying the restive curiosity of the audience.


    “Werewolves are said to be the most difficult to deal with, so why is this one so gentle?”


    “He saved it once, and in return, it not only led him out of the mountains but also found him a century–


    old wild mandrakes. And for a mere joke, it protected the vige for seventy years.”


    “This has got to be love, right?.”


    “I’m crying here. I’ll never hate wolves again.”


    “All creatures have spirits, mosquitoes excluded.”


    “Come on, this is clearly made up by the crew. And people believe it?”


    “I don’t care if it’s made up, I believe it.”


    “The viger who insulted it is terrible. It just wanted recognition, not the stars from the sky.”


    “Will the werewolf seek recognition after regaining its power? If needed, the guardian cane to me.


    I’ll make sure you seed.”


    “The people of Cloverfield Cottage are so lucky to have a silent guardian spirit in the mountains.”


    “I’m not from this vige, but can I go to the mountains and ask for the werewolf’s help?”


    The chatroom was bustling with diversements. Sean, unnoticed until now, approached the staff


    monitoring the chat and peered at the screen, reading the discussions about recognition.


    His eyes lit up, and he grabbed a tablet from a staff member and strode over to Winnie, thrusting the


    screen in front of her.


    “Look at this, they’re all so generous, and you’re being stingy.”


    He just wanted a person for the werewolf to protect so it could seek recognition, but she insisted on


    hiding


    1. it.


    “See, everyone in the chat is willing.”


    His sudden move caught the staff off guard. Winnie’s expression darkened slightly. She didn’t even


    nce at the tablet and simply said, “Give the tablet back.”


    1


    After a pause, she added, “If you interfere with the staff’s work again, you can go back home.”


    It was rare for Winnie to be stern. The audience watched in surprise, feeling as if they were being lifted


    toward her when Sean raised the tablet.


    “Winnie, don’t be so hard on him. He traveled far to find you, and it’s not easy,” Gentry suddenly said,


    surprising the other guests.


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    While the others might have been indifferent to Sean, Gentry feltpelled to defend him, having been


    saved by him the night before.


    As soon as Gentry opened his mouth, Candace and Kane, who were close by, chimed in with their own


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    11:56 D


    words of persuasion.


    Winnie didn’t fancy airing their dirtyundry in front of the live–stream audience, so she toned her voice


    down a notch, suggesting that they could discuss their issues once they were back home.


    Seeing Sean looking like a lost puppy, Gentry leaned in closer to him.


    “Your name’s Sean, right? I’m Gentry. Things have been so rushed sincest night and this morning, I


    didn’t get the chance to properly thank you. Forst night, you know, saving our hides,” Gentry said


    with heartfelt gratitude.


    Sean gave him an odd look as if sizing him up before he replied, “No need for thanks, and besides, it


    wasn’t even me who saved you.”


    Gentry was taken aback, not sure if Sean was being modest or what.


    Last night, when those wolves had charged at them, the cameraman and Joseph had quickly passed


    out cold from fear. It had only been Gentry, and for some reason, the wolf had veered off course as it


    lunged for


    him.


    There was no one else around. If it wasn’t Sean who had intervened, then who could it have been?