The Wolf Brother’s Fire Burns Him in the End

After years away from home, Qi Zhuo returned with his younger brother, Qi Po.

Their hometown was just as it had always been.

Stone houses climbed the hillside in tier upon tier. The old badger guarding the gate was still as talkative as ever, and the residents inside were still busy with their daily lives.

His younger brother, Qi Po, was just as he had always been, too.

He loved to curl up by the doorway and bask in the sun, flip through comic books, and give Qi Zhuo a big hug whenever his brother came back from a trip.

Qi Zhuo had spent many years out in the world. He had done many things, traveled to many places, and suffered plenty of setbacks.

Qi Po never asked about any of it. He simply watched, learned, and followed along.

He never asked, and Qi Zhuo never felt like explaining. After all, his younger brother was always waiting for him to come home safe.

Life went on like that, and it seemed just fine.

Until some unfamiliar voices began to be heard around their hometown.

Then, one night, a visitor came knocking at their door for the first time.

Qi Po was a little worried. “Brother, is someone looking for us?”

Qi Zhuo ruffled his younger brother’s hair. “It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”

Until, once again, Qi Zhuo took Qi Po and left...