The Card Cultivation System
CCS-111

"Pe-leader Hao......"

Lang Shu could not say anything. He was very surprised to see the figure who asked was the same figure he was talking about. His face was pale. He wants to disappear right now. If only he had mastered the space element.

"Lang Shu."

"Y-yes, Leader Hao........"

"I heard that your cultivation level still did not go up even though you were already at this stage for three years. It's a celebration, but don't you think about practicing more and making time for others like a celebration?"

Lang Shu could only nod. He can't do anything. Whether it was talking or moving, all of his senses seemed unwilling to hear his orders.

Then Lang Xuehao gave a sign to go through his head. Lang Shu glanced at his surroundings and there were only Xika and Lang Xuehao besides him. He ran away as fast as he could.

Now Xika and Lang Xuehao lived in this place. They looked at each other for a while. Then Xika spread something and made smoke appear.

"See you, uh, senior."

Xika was about to run away amidst the smoke. But the white-haired wolf did not let him. The wolf bit his collar and prevented him from escaping. It seemed that Xika's artificial smoke had no effect on her.

"Your class is pretty good. But it's useless to me. Come briefly. I want to talk to you."

Xika wants to talk 'But I don't!' but he abandoned his intentions for fear of being eaten by the wolf. Just when Heiliao was beside him Xuehao dared to eat it, especially when Heiliao was not around. It was likely that Xuehao actually ate it this time. And it seemed like the wolf knew what he was thinking.

"Calm down. I'm not gonna eat you. Maybe."

Xika hesitated again after hearing the last word. But he sat down and picked up the available grilled meat. Plenty of meat was abundant here as all the wolves left this place simultaneously.

"You......didn't mind Lang Shu's words?"

Xuehao frowned.

"Senior."

"......senior."

Wrinkles disappear.

"Not really." He was quiet for a moment. "But what he's talking about is true."

This time it was Xika who frowned.

"really? You're guarding that cliff for Heiliao? Your love was rejected outright by Heiliao? You won't marry if Heiliao doesn't marry you? You only love Heiliao? Is that all true?"

Xuehao took a few steps back with a troubled face.

"Can you not say it so blatantly?"

"Ah. Excuse me. Didn't mean."

Xuehao rolled his eyes then came back closer.

"So......what do you want to talk about?"

"Senior."

"......senior."

Xuehao did not answer directly. He was silent for a while. His gaze glared back to the massalu. And Xika let him.

"What's.......Heihei's okay?"

"Currently? Yep. When I met him? No."

Xuehao looked at Xika. He waited for Xika to continue.

"He seemed to be about to end his life when I first met him. His face looks so old. Even so he was still very strong."

Xuehao smiled. He imagined Heiliao who was still strong even though he looked old.

"Then?"

Xika was silent for a moment to answer Xuehao's question.

"Well, I don't know how he was in the wolves. But I guess I can guess. More or less he was like that when he first met. But slowly it changed. Until as it is today. I wasn't so aware of his change of attitude until I saw him meet you."

Xuehao was still smiling. But this time Xika could see the sadness in her smile.

Xika could see that this wolf in front of her really loved Heiliao. His love is truly sincere.

"Eh, if I may know, why do you love her so much? Uhh...senior."

"The first time I met him was on the cliff. That's one of the reasons why I keep that cliff so well. I was only twelve years old at the time. I will never forget that moment. I saw him surrounded by a white light that was so amazing yet his face looked lonely.

I've heard a lot about him. The arrogant wolf. Imperious. Chilly. It doesn't look like a wolf at all. Doesn't like to blend in. Loners. And what I saw at that time was the same as the news that was circulating. I was so fascinated by her being bathed in starlight that I approached unknowingly. I knew he was in front of me. Even then he still ignored me. I don't know if he ignored me or didn't know where I was.

I ventured to come closer and ask. But I haven't finished talking he's already stepped away. And I didn't have the courage to go after him at all."

Xika laughed dryly. He could imagine the incident very clearly in his head.

"I still remember that incident very clearly as if it had just happened yesterday." He stopped and looked at Xika. "No. You wrong. I really love her, not just admire her. I admit, it was my admiration that started all of those things. But you're wrong to think I'm after him just out of sheer awe.

After that day, I no longer had the courage to talk to her even if we met. He just walked past me like there was nothing."

Xuehao paused again to look at Xika with his eyes that gave a questionable look.

"You want to know why the old me was so shy about acting like this?"

Xika nodded.

"I'm surprised it could be like this, too. We met a few more times after that but I still didn't dare to talk to him. Over time, all my friends knew that I liked Heihei. I could only silently blush in embarrassment as they all teased me. Slowly, their temptations turned to ridicule and they mocked me more and more. Their taunts are getting worse and worse.

Then came that day. The day I realized that my love was no longer based on awe alone but actually fell in love with her. We were playing on the hill. I refused to join but one of my best friends begged to accompany her. With a heavy heart, I joined them. And as I thought, they came back to taunt me.

Even my best friend who had previously begged for company also followed me. He said he did it to blend in and didn't really mean to mock me. Then suddenly, they all ran away as if seeing a ghost. I turned around and saw the ghost.

All my life I've only seen that handsome ghost for the first time. The fur is jet black without any additional color or pattern that makes it more cool. He turned around as if nothing had happened but I knew he had come to help me. I timidly said thank you and he replied with a wave of his tail that was getting further away.

From that moment on, I was no longer ashamed when I met him. I was nervous and very happy. But maybe not too much difference. After that hill incident, I'd rather be alone than accept that mockery again. Sometimes they give very outrageous words, you know.

Those who used to be my best friends became more and more mocking me once I was alone. And Heihei always comes to my aid. Even though after that he immediately left without talking, at least he started to make sounds like 'Hmm" and such. I also began to realize. All the wolves already know that I like Heihei. There's no point in me being shy anymore. It will only keep me away from Heihei. At least that was my mind at the time.

Slowly, I began to change my attitude. The previous Lang Xuehao who had always been embarrassed and could not speak properly became a confident Lang Xuehao and always said anything bluntly. It's a little hard at first. But I tried hard by making Heihei my motivation. Heihei doesn't look bothered by my change of attitude. I really wanted to say that he was starting to get interested in me. But unfortunately not.

He doesn't care much about my change of attitude. My thought that being timid would only keep me away from Heihei was not entirely right, but also not entirely wrong. Perhaps with my current attitude, I managed to scare off the other female wolves interested in Heihei. I don't know, I don't know. No one dared to pursue him blatantly other than myself.

But my change of attitude did not bring me closer to Heihei. In fact, you could say it made me far away from Heihei. I who was confident was no longer bothered with ridicule and could deal with it myself. Heihei saw me once and it seemed like he also felt that I no longer needed to be helped. And he no longer helped me as he did before.

But that didn't stop me from giving up. It's too late to give up now. I began to approach him blatantly. I even expressed my feelings to her. We happened to meet on that cliff. I saw him bathed in starlight and recalled our first meeting. I express my feelings. I told him how he amazed me, how he helped me and finally fell in love, and how I began to change as I am today. I said it with all my feelings.

You know what he said?

'Don't love me. I can't love you.'

After that he walked away leaving behind me who was sculpting. Time seems to stop. Even if I've changed, it's still not easy to express feelings, you know. Especially if you are a girl. There will be a lot of people gossiping about you. I endured all those feelings in the hope that my love would be reciprocated. I won't ask for anything as long as he loves me too. For me that's enough. Unfortunately, my love is unrequited.

I became upset at that time. Especially with the words of the neighbors who are getting hotter. It just shook my heart. I went through the day feeling that way for a few months. My feelings grew even more when we met. And he just passed by like he always did. I began to strengthen my heart. I'll stop loving her. There are a lot of wolves out there.

But like your friend said. My standards are too high. Every time I met another male wolf, I subconsciously compared them to Heiliao. Of course they will lose. After all, it's not easy to re-enter the community after you've come out badly. A few months passed and I was more convinced. I stopped loving her. I don't love him anymore.

Unfortunately, my heart immediately wavered when I met him. My struggle to forget for months seemed to just vanish. I came back to my senses. I still love her. L loved her. Then I tried to forget it again. I motivate myself with the words 'He won't love you, no matter what you do. Just stop.' or 'Didn't he tell you not to love him? Now is a good time to stop.

But the memories of when he helped me came back to me. And I'm back wobbly. It all happened over and over again. Until we grew up and were selected as Alpha candidates. The competition took place while our Alpha was still alive. The winner will receive guidance directly from Alpha at that time. So if the winner does not match or is considered unfit then we will hold a re-competition. My talent was not bad, so I was chosen as well. Of course I didn't expect much. But being with him has made me very happy. Although I immediately dismissed that thought and reminded myself that I should stop to love her.

The competition is pretty tight. And murder is allowed. It can make us stronger, they said. The weak will fall prey to the strong and the strong will get stronger. I'm one of the female wolves who's the most likely candidate to be the next Alpha. And a lot of wolves targeted me. Either male or female. They really meant to kill me. I don't know what hatred they have with me. They don't really care about the Alpha title and just want me dead.

I managed to kill half of them. But it's making me dying. Some of my bones were broken while my fur fell out in some parts. Luckily, they have a deep enough hatred for me. So they didn't kill me right away and chose to torture me slowly. At least it can buy time for help. Though I doubt anyone will help me given that I am another wolf's arch-rival.

The torture was quite heavy. Someone burned me alive. But I'm from the Snow Howl Wolf. And that's pretty much helping. They think of another idea. They broke my legs slowly. That's sore. Hugely. But I was willing to repeat that so that Heihei would help me. Just as I was about to die, I saw a black figure lunging at those who were tormenting me. In a semi-conscious state, I saw him slaughter them. Blood was jumping everywhere. In the fight, he was also injured. I'm sure the wound is quite heavy. But I can no longer hold on.

And the last sight I saw was her face soaked with blood approaching. His face is still cold. But I can feel the worry in it. People say, Heihei is a vile wolf who will not care about anyone. And I know they're wrong. Heihei cares. It's just that you won't feel it. And I was one of the lucky ones who realized his care.

I woke up alone. All around me were their bodies torturing me, silent and unable to move. I stood up and looked at some herbs in my body. I know who did all that. And at that moment I cried out loud. I don't cry for others to hear.

I cry to express my feelings. I cried because I realized I loved her. I cry because I will always love her. I cried because I couldn't stop loving her no matter what she did. I wept at the sky because it gave me such a cruel fate. I cried because I loved her even though I knew she wouldn't love me."

At that moment Xuehao was actually crying. Xika did not know since when, but tears had flowed down her face so profusely and brought about the grief she had endured for so many years. He could also feel what the white wolf was feeling. The sorrow of unrequited love. Love can transform all even the most powerful beings into the weak and helpless.

"I came here to talk about one thing. I love Heiliao. And will always love her no matter what she does. No matter if he will repay my love or not, I will always love him. No matter what she says, I will always love her. Until the end of my life. I will always love him. And I don't expect a reply. Please tell him that."

After that Xuehao ran away. He did not turn his head to wipe his tears because he knew it would be useless. Today's conversation really drained both his body and soul.