The Card Cultivation System
CCS-101

Xika instantly changed her position to sit down. He did so fast enough to make Huo Bing who was beside him shocked.

Before Huo Bing could ask a question, Xika had circulated her explanation and looked at the various newcomers.

Wolfs. There are many wolves of different sizes and types. Each does its own thing, but one thing is the same. They all surround him.

Xika moved closer to Huo Bing.

"Are they Heiliao's enemies? Are we being held captive? Do you have any escape plans?"

Xika tried to whisper as quietly as possible. But the hearing of the wolves was sharper than Xika had imagined. They all heard it. But they don't seem to care much. Some looked at her strangely, some looked at her with smiles, and some seemed to be offended by Xika's words.

"Calm down. They're on our side. Heiliao's friend might be. The wolf didn't tell me the details. Anyway we're safe for a while."

Some wolves looked at them. The others looked at Xika strangely as she spoke to herself while the others did not. Xika noticed their gazes.

"Can they see you?"

"Yes and no."

"Damn it! Can't you just be normal? It's enough with Heiliao's mysterious attitude, there's no need for you to add either."

"Hehehe. To be honest, I wonder what it's like to do something as mysterious as before."

"And how do you feel?"

"It's normal."

"Then don't be mysterious again, fool!" xika said while hitting Huo Bing on the head. The bird just rubbed its head while smiling widely.

"By the way, where's Heiliao?"

Some of the wolves who had been in a relaxed position were straight up when they heard Xika's words. They looked at Xika with a dislike look.

"Did I say it wrong?"

"Maybe. It seems they don't like you calling his name straight away. And as for your previous question, those who are strong can see me, while the weak can't."

"What about the answer to my second question?"

Huo Bing recalled for a moment.

"Oh! I don't know. He just said he needed to finish the family business. He left after that."

Xika still did not really understand what Heiliao was doing. Looks like the wolf asked his relatives to keep him until his wound healed.

"Then what do we do now?"

"Eitherway. For a while we'll wait for your wounds to heal. I don't know what we'll do after that."

Xika looked around her. From childhood, he loved wolves. And now there are thousands of them of all kinds. Of course he would not miss this opportunity. He looked at them all as if they were his precious treasure and would be lost if he did not look after it.

Some wolves seemed to be distracted by Xika's gaze. They were already used to the sight filled with killing intent. But facing strange views from Xika they never.

"Hey, Xika. Looks like you're pestering them with your gaze."

"really?" ask Xika without looking. He was still busy looking at the beautiful scenery he had first seen.

"Why do you like wolves so much?" huo Bing asked trying to shift Xika's gaze. And it worked.

"Do you know why there's no pet store that sells wolves as pets? Xika asked back.

Huo Bing frowned, thinking for a moment. Then shook his head and said,

"No."

"Because no one can tame a wolf."

The ears of the wolves stood up. Xika's conversation this time was quite interesting for them. Although there are still some who try not to seem interested.

"There are many pets for sale. They were all originally wild animals. Until humans catch them and eliminate their wild side."

There was a growl from various directions. All the wolves and Huo Bing agreed with Xika's words. They all had a dislike look on his face.

"Dogs, cats, elephants, snakes, the eagle of the king of the sky, and even the lion who is famous as the king of the forest managed to tame them. But of the many animals they managed to catch. There is one they cannot tame.

And that animal is a wolf."

Back there was a growl from around him. But this time in contrast to the previous growl, this was a snarl of approval.

"You know why that is, Huo Bing?"

Huo Bing again shook his head.

"Wolves cannot be tamed. You can kill them but you can't tame them. They will never bow down to anyone, even if it means death. They honor their self-worth until the end of their lives. And that's what I love about wolves. Their honor."

"Then, at least humans can catch them without killing, right?"

This time it was Xika who shook her head.

"No. Being arrested means degrading their honor. They will not let humans do that. The other thing I love about wolves is madness. You know why humans can't catch them? Because at the last moment they will show insanity. Between their dead enemies or those who died. But it's better to die honorably than to live full of humiliation."

Xika smiled ending. He remembered his life for the last ten years. That experience taught him this. It was the humiliation he had received that allowed him to utter the last sentence.

"But unfortunately not all wolves are like that, son."

A voice sounded from behind the forest. After a while, Xika could clearly see the figure that spoke.

That figure was a wolf, of course. But it was larger in size than the other wolves, even though it was not as big as Heiliao. He was more or less the fourth Heiliao. Unlike Heiliao whose fur is completely black, this wolf is black with white at the end of each feather.

Xika looked at the wolf.

"really? Why don't I know?"

"You don't know? That wolf is by your side all the time. Don't you know who's babysitting you while you're sleeping?"

And Xika knew that it was Heilia that the wolf was talking about.

"What'sthis? Some kind of clan split?"

"Not really. This is not a split. Just a difference of opinion that we need a new Alpha. Your nanny is no longer worthy of being an Alpha."

"wait. You just said that Heiliao is an Alpha?" Xika looked surprised. And the wolf doesn't know how to respond.

"Heiliao is Alpha. You know that?" ask her to Huo Bing.

"Not really."

Alpha is the leader of a Spirit Beast. He had long dreamed of meeting the Alpha of the wolves. And the wolf just said that Heiliao is the Alpha? It doesn't fit, he thinks.

"really. But your nanny won't be an Alpha anymore."

And plainly Xika asked,

"Why?"

The wolf had trouble responding. He is used to dealing with opponents who have a plan in the plan. They didn't say what they meant. Facing Xika frankly and bluntly was a new experience for him.

"Because he's no longer worthy."

Xika asked the same question again.

"Why?"

"Because he has been neglecting his duties for many years. And we won't accept the nanny as our Alpha."

Xika frowned. He thought of the first reason. When did Heiliao leave his duty? Is he too late in his feelings when his lover left to ignore his duties? The trap was not wrong.

"Well, I can't say anything for the first reason. He himself must take care of it."

And Xika's words made the look on the wolf's face in front of her quite satisfied. But the next remark omitted that expression.

"But I can do something for a second reason. Why won't you accept the nanny as your Alpha?"

The wolf formed a strange expression on his face, as if Xika asked, 'why don't you want to accept the cat as the king of the wolves?'.

"Because he lowered his self-esteem? Because I'm too weak to care for him? It's not important to get his attention?"

"You can say that."

"Then the problem is me, right? If I'm worth it then you won't protest if Heiliao stays an Alpha even if she takes care of me, right?"

Huo Bing perched on his shoulder and whispered.

"Gts....Xika, what are you doing?"

"Sttt."

The wolf thought for a while then nodded. He found that Xika's words had a point as well. Xikalah is the main problem. Perhaps if Xika was a different figure than they had imagined, they would still accept Heiliao as an Alpha even though she became the child's 'carer. But unfortunately for now, Xika was exactly the same as the human figure they had in mind. Well, not all.

"Then how about we bet? If I win then you'll admit me and Heiliao will still be an Alpha."

"What if you lose?"

"You decide. I made my offer, and it's your turn."

The wolf thought for a moment.

"Your nanny will give up her inheritance to another wolf and she won't be an Alpha anymore. He must complete the tasks he had neglected for many years, then after he had finished, he would be exiled from the wolves. He was not allowed to meet other wolves. And he will not be recognized as a wolf."

The wolf's words elicited a reaction from the various other wolves present. Some were surprised, some were happy, some were sad.

Xika slightly frowned.

"Aren't your terms too much?"

"Well, we have to be careful in choosing leaders."

"Then I'll add my terms."

The wolf was silent. It seems he doesn't mind. Maybe he felt confident that he would win this bet.

"I want me and my friend, this mixed bird spirit between Phoenix and Cygnus if you can't see it, to be considered a wolf. And I want the wolves to grant my wish whatever it is, once."

This time it was the wolf's turn who furrowed his brows.

"Now you're too much. You and your friends will be treated as enemies of the wolves if you lose."

Xika thought for a while, then she nodded.

"All right."

The wolf also nodded with satisfaction.

"What's your name?"

"Xing Xika's. And you?"

"Lang Jin's. Lang ⁇ Wolf and Jin ⁇ Setia. As per my name, I will be faithful to my promise."

Xika nodded. Then something came to his head.

"Wait first. Are you enough to represent the wolves?"

"Maybe not. But I'm going to spread this news. And I'll ask all the wolf officials for their opinion on our gamble."

The wolf was silent for a moment.

"What are we going to bet on?"

"I need your confession. So you decide. I hope you're being fair."

"We don't like you. But we're not that low until we cheat to win. I'll ask the higher-ups for a hint."

Xika nodded.

After which, Lang Jin ran away spreading the news of their gamble.