The night was dark, the wind howled—perfect for… *ahem*, never mind.
Su Jin felt like the unluckiest person in the world.
As the illegitimate daughter of a renowned veterinarian family, her life had always been one of obscurity—ignored, trampled upon, and constantly schemed against by her stepmother and half-sisters. She was used to surviving in the shadows.
But who would've thought that a simple herb-gathering trip would trigger a **death flag**?
A foul wind carried the scent of blood.
Pairs of glowing green eyes, like demons crawling from the depths of hell, locked onto her.
Werewolves.
And not just any werewolves—these were trained, battle-hardened, and **very** pissed off.
Su Jin's mind raced with curses. *All I wanted was to save up some money for better meals—what did I do to deserve this?!
"Su Jin, you can't escape."
A chilling voice slithered through the darkness, dripping with malice.
Chi Tong.
The wolf clan's smiling tiger of an elder—a man whose kindness was just a mask for cruelty.
"Elder, I've stolen nothing, harmed no one—why go to such lengths?"* Su Jin gasped, sprinting for her life while trying to reason with him.
*When trapped, even the proud must bow.*
**"Hmph. You carry the bloodline of the Wolf King. You cannot be allowed to live."** His voice coiled around her like a venomous serpent. **"Surrender your power, and I'll grant you a quick death."**
*"Wolf King's bloodline? What?!"* Su Jin nearly tripped in shock.
*Since when did I have a hidden cheat code?!*
Was this some recessive gene that suddenly awakened in her?
Her life motto had always been: *If you can't win, run. If you can't run… run harder!*
But two legs could never outrun four.
The werewolves closed in, the stench of blood thickening in the air.
Su Jin could almost see Death raising his scythe.
*What now?*
*Am I really going to die here—a flower that never got to bloom?*
**Wait!**
A legend from her family surfaced in her mind—*an ancestor born with an inverted palm crease, said to wield mysterious power.*
Could it be…?
She raised her left hand. Under the moonlight, the crease seemed to **glow**, pulsing with energy.
*Desperate times call for desperate measures.*
As the werewolves lunged, jaws gaping, Su Jin shut her eyes and prayed:
**"Ancestors, give me a cheat!"**
Then—**MIRACLE.**
A surge of heat flooded her veins, as if her meridians had been unlocked. Power roared through her.
Even stranger—she could **sense** the wolves. Their presence, their rage…
*Like a game hack granting X-ray vision.*
**"Awooo—!"**
One wolf pounced.
Instinctively, Su Jin flung her arms up.
Claws ripped into her skin. Blood spilled.
**"Tsk—!"** She hissed in pain—then froze.
The once-ferocious wolf had stopped mid-attack.
It was **trembling.**
Eyes wide with terror… and **submission.**
*"Soul… Shackles?"* Su Jin whispered.
A bizarre connection had formed—she could **control** it. Command its movements, even **read its mind.**
Was this… the legendary **Beast Taming** ability?!
But it came at a cost.
Her energy drained rapidly, her body weakening.
*"No time—end this fast!"*
Gritting her teeth, she focused on the tamed wolf.
*"You—stand up!"* Her voice shook.
The wolf obeyed, though its limbs trembled violently.
*"Now… attack them!"* She pointed at the other wolves.
After a brief hesitation, the wolf turned on its pack.
**Chaos erupted.**
Fangs tore into fur. Snarls filled the air. Blood painted the ground.
Su Jin staggered back, putting distance between herself and the frenzy. She wouldn't last much longer.
**"Interesting. I underestimated you."**
A voice—**right behind her.**
Su Jin whirled around.
Chi Tong stood there, smirking.
*When did he—?!*
**"But your power… belongs to me now."**
His nails elongated into razor-sharp claws, glinting in the moonlight.
Su Jin tried to dodge—but her body **wouldn't move.**
*Is this it?*
Just as his claws neared her throat—
**"Elder, bullying a weak girl… isn't very dignified, is it?"**
A lazy, familiar voice cut through the tension.
---
Su Jin felt like a string about to snap.
The **Soul Shackles** had given her a brief advantage—turning one wolf against the pack—but the energy drain was brutal.
She was **exhausted.** Dizzy. Ready to collapse.
The other wolves, confused by their ally's betrayal, hesitated.
*This won't last. I need an escape.*
Then—**inspiration.**
*Lin Qian!*
Her childhood friend, the apothecary's daughter—a genius with poisons and **always** reliable in a crisis.
*"Hold the line, buddy!"* Su Jin yelled at her tamed wolf (whether it understood was another question).
Then she **ran.**
Faster than a hare. Faster than an Olympic sprinter.
She didn't stop until the town's outline emerged.
Gasping for breath, she stumbled to Lin Qian's shop and