Chapter Nine: Battling the Wolf Pack to Save the Villagers

Luo Zhifu continued, "When Luo Wenguang saw this scene, he suddenly understood most of it—so it was these two beasts who had brought the prey. Luo Wenguang thought, since the prey was delivered by these two wild animals, perhaps they meant him no harm? With this in mind, he opened the door and walked out towards the beasts."

"These two monstrous hounds—though in truth, there were six—were in fact the reincarnations of the three unfilial sons and their wives, punished by the King of Hell to be born as dogs. After learning of their grave sins and their punishment, they were filled with regret and resolved to mend their ways and seek goodness."

"From the moment they were abandoned by Luo Wenguang and their mother, they bore no resentment. Instead, they intended to repay the kindness of their mother’s raising, and the brief shelter Luo Wenguang had offered. Each time they brought prey, they would linger longingly after laying it down, gazing affectionately towards the door of the house."

"Tonight, after dropping off a pheasant, they once again gazed at the household’s door, thinking: 'It’s been so long since I’ve seen my master. I wonder how he’s been.' Unexpectedly, the master opened the door and stepped out just then. Startled, the two beasts turned to flee, but in their confusion, they collided with each other."

"At that moment, Luo Wenguang had already reached them and was astonished to see two three-headed monstrous dogs. Stunned, as if recalling something, he suddenly shouted, 'So it’s you two wicked beasts! Back then, when I abandoned you, I had thought to kill you myself before discarding you, but considered that you were living creatures too, and so I left you in the wild, believing you were too young to survive—surely you would starve or be killed by other animals.'"

"'Who would have thought, after all these years, not only have you survived, you’ve grown so large. Recently, there have often been wounded prey at my door—was this your doing?' The two three-headed dogs whimpered and nodded. Luo Wenguang continued, 'Why have you done this?' The two monstrous dogs knelt before him and nodded. 'So you mean to repay kindness?' Again, they nodded."

"Luo Wenguang said, 'I have done you no great kindness; if anyone is due your gratitude, it is your mother. But she died of illness two years ago, after many years with our family. She was of great service to us, so I buried her on the mountain.'"

"If you wish to give thanks, you should kneel before her. Once you have paid your respects, leave and go as far as you can. Your appearance would bring misfortune to the village, and the villagers do not like you."

"The two monstrous dogs, tears in their eyes, knelt before their master a few times, then headed toward the place where their mother was buried."

"After paying their respects to their mother, the two monstrous dogs left, but they did not stray far from Luo Wenguang’s village. Instead, they settled in a mountain cave about ten miles away. To avoid frightening the villagers with their strange appearance, they slept during the day and came out only at night to hunt. They would also patrol around Luo Wenguang’s village, for at that time, wild beasts frequently prowled nearby and often attacked the villagers' livestock."

"Thus, the two monstrous dogs would patrol the village at night, hoping to protect the people and their animals."

"One day, a pack of wolves attacked the village during daylight. The wolves chased people and bit any livestock they saw, creating chaos—chickens and dogs scattered, villagers ran and hid in terror."

"The two monstrous dogs heard the villagers’ cries, emerged from their cave, and, realizing the villagers were under attack, sped towards the village. Fearless in the face of dozens of wolves, they rushed in, first targeting those villagers most in danger. Having grown up abandoned in the deep forests, hunting for survival, their skills were unmatched. With three heads each, their strength was immense and their speed unmatched."

"Barking thunderously, they streaked through the village like lightning. Any wolf blocking their path was sent flying dozens of meters with a single blow. When a wolf was about to catch a villager, the monstrous hounds would seize it in their three jaws and, with a mighty twist in different directions, tear a wolf weighing over a hundred pounds into three pieces, casting the remains aside. Then they would continue after the next wolf, dispatching it just as mercilessly. In less than fifteen minutes, more than a dozen savage wolves lay dead, and soon every wolf threatening the villagers was slain."

"The wolf pack, which had been attacking with wild abandon, was suddenly confronted by the two three-headed monstrous dogs. In a brief moment, more than a dozen wolves were slaughtered. The pack was terrified, paralyzed with fear, and dared not advance another step. Even the wolf king, a massive beast weighing at least eight hundred pounds and as large as a tiger, was shaken by the monstrous dogs’ ferocity. Yet, as king, it could not show fear before danger, for it must set an example for the pack."

"And so, the wolf king strode boldly to the front of the pack, glaring at the monstrous dogs while advancing towards them."

"The villagers, who had scattered in panic or hidden in their homes, realized no wolves were chasing them. Some stopped to look back, some kept running, some climbed trees to watch the wolf pack, and others peered out from their second-story windows. When they saw the two three-headed monstrous hounds confronting the wolves, and realized these two alone had cowed the entire wolf pack, they were stunned. Gratefully, they thought, 'Thank goodness for these two monstrous dogs; otherwise, the village would have been doomed!' Still, they worried—once the wolves had gone, would these strange dogs pose a threat to the villagers? Their appearance was so bizarre! Some people were shocked, thinking, 'These two three-headed monsters look oddly familiar, but I just can't place them.'"

"Luo Wenguang, master of the two monstrous hounds, also witnessed their battle with the wolves. He recalled how, when they were born, the villagers shunned them and spoke ill behind his back, how he had abandoned them as puppies, and how, recently, they had brought prey to his house. Now, seeing them fight alone to save the villagers, he was awash with mixed emotions."

"He pondered, 'Is having three heads so different from other dogs that it is unlucky? Among all domestic animals, dogs are the most loyal, caring nothing for their masters' wealth or poverty—how can that be unlucky? The only reason these two were said to bring misfortune was because they looked strange. We shunned them before, but now they come to save us in our hour of need. Doesn't this show they are not only not unlucky, but actually bring us blessing and good fortune? Ah, sometimes, people really cannot judge by appearances alone.'"