Only I Walk Alone

Sister Mei proposed a very bold method, suggesting, “The Star Worm’s brain still retains its soul. If we transfer this soul into a werewolf’s body, allowing it to grow and guiding it towards the path of a creator, it might subconsciously recreate the experiences of its life.”

Though the Star Worm had died, its soul had not dissipated. If Sister Mei’s plan succeeded, it could live again as a werewolf.

The Fox Immortal stated, “I can accomplish this, but the reincarnated Star Worm will definitely lose all its memories. Can it truly recreate everything from its previous life?”

Wu Ge responded, “Let’s try. I have ten years of experience living as a werewolf; I’ll guide it.”

This was something Xiao Chao couldn’t do. It commands formidable technological power, but when it comes to matters beyond its technological capabilities, it can do nothing. Fortunately, it can rely on Wu Ge and the others.

Xiao Chao announced, “Starting the collection and organization of all of humanity’s masterpieces…Collection complete. To enlighten werewolf children’s intelligence, I suggest starting with children’s literature.”

Wu Ge turned to the Fox Immortal, saying, “Get ready, I’m heading to the virtual cabin now.”

Wu Ge hadn’t been away from the werewolf tribe for long before he returned in a new identity.

Using her divine powers, the Fox Immortal transferred the Star Worm’s soul into the womb of a pregnant werewolf mother. The werewolves had evolved beyond their once savage nature, adopting marriage and monogamy, forming cities, and establishing laws, governed by political and religious versions of Xiao Chao.

Wu Ge returned to the werewolf’s world, observing the tall city walls and farmers working the fields. He declared, “Tear down the outer walls, open up the land and skies.”

The grasslands no longer sufficed for the growing werewolf population. Their numbers and the scope of their activities were expanding; it was time for them to see more of the world, or they risked the inability to produce exceptional talents.

Wu Ge, controlling a sixteen-year-old simulated werewolf, knew he had fifty years to shape the Star Worm’s soul into a creator and have it depict the world it once saw.

But Wu Ge didn’t immediately seek out the Star Worm’s soul. He planned to give it a warm, secure, and happy childhood.

This could be considered compensation for the Star Worm or perhaps sympathy for its life of fleeing. Or maybe it was simply because he wanted to do it.

Before nurturing the little Star Worm, however, Wu Ge himself had to become a creator first.

“Become a novelist,” Wu Ge thought, then began to create. His creations were not original but derivative works, not for false status or money among the werewolves but to better nurture the little Star Worm.

“Little Star Worm? It might already have a name by now.”

With that thought, Wu Ge started creating. He first adapted the tales of Hans Christian Andersen, but since he was within the werewolf race, he had to describe the stories from a werewolf perspective, with characters also being werewolves.

After publishing his first fairy tale, it became an instant hit. Currency had been introduced in werewolf cities, and sculptors emerged, who could be considered creators. Most sculptors stuck to replicating objects, with the most common being statues of the wolf deity. The first werewolf to sculpt a deity statue became the most famous werewolf sculptor, with countless families ordering small wolf deity statues from him.

Following the success of Wu Ge’s fairy tales, he began sculpting characters from his stories, indicating the popularity of his derivative fairy tales.

Wu Ge continued writing without pause, not for fame or money. He began adapting human works like “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and “The Mysterious Island” into science fiction stories, reading them first and then rewriting them from a werewolf perspective. While some of his works bore the shadow of their originals, what he wrote was mostly his imagination.

For instance, “Lakebed Adventures” and “Mystery Mountain” were suitable since werewolves had not yet encountered the ocean, making stories of the sea somewhat anachronistic for the time.

Wu Ge became immensely popular, idolized by countless young werewolves. Ten years into his career as a werewolf writer, he suddenly announced his intention to take on an apprentice.

By this time, Little Star Worm should be ten years old.

After Wu Ge’s announcement to take on a disciple, numerous werewolf children clamored to be chosen, and many parents went to great lengths to make their children stand out. They even forced their children to write compositions and, if they were wealthy or influential, maneuvered behind the scenes to make their children famous.

However, Wu Ge did not choose any of them. He went to an ordinary werewolf family and took away a ten-year-old werewolf child named “Xing Chen” (Star Dust).

Thus began the legendary story of Xing Chen.

Wu Ge stopped his writing and devoted himself to teaching the child. He took him around the great grasslands, beyond the isolation walls, and into the outside world on adventures.

Their favorite activity was lying on the grass, gazing at the vast starry sky. Xing Chen would say, “Master, I often dream that I become a fish, swimming through that beautiful starry sky.”

Wu Ge would reply, “Xing Chen, write down your dream!”

After three years of Wu Ge’s guidance, Xing Chen began to write. However, for some reason, he showed no talent for creation; his writing was even worse than that of some ordinary writers who became novelists by following trends.

Xing Chen lacked the gift of creativity. His words failed to move people, and he couldn’t depict the majestic star domains he had seen in his dreams.

Sister Mei’s plan seemed to have failed. Not everyone is cut out for writing.

As time passed, no matter how Wu Ge taught him, Xing Chen couldn’t depict the scenes from his past life. He even began to doubt and loathe himself, whispering, “Maybe I’m just not cut out for creation. Should I give up?”

Wu Ge said, “Xing Chen, don’t stop. Just like in your dreams, don’t stop. No matter what setbacks or hardships you face, don’t stop!”

Xing Chen looked up at the boundless sky, but there were no stars in sight.