Ch 8: My Wolf Husband

In the mountains of the East, the sound of countless beasts’ hooves echoed.

On the ridge, the entire wolf pack stood at the ready, united and formidable, guarding the ruins behind them.

Below the ridge, Fuli and the White Wolf King charged through the herd of animals, their figures gradually becoming shrouded in the snow kicked up by the panicked beasts.

Lin Shuishi, hiding on the edge of the wolf pack, saw the golden-eyed man riding a massive wild buffalo. He forcefully broke off one of its horns and threw it out of the herd, forcing the giant buffalo to change direction and avoid the wolves’ den on the ridge.

As the giant buffalo veered away, many other buffalo followed, turning towards the plains beside the grassland. The herd split into two groups. Amidst the chaos, Lin Shuishi heard a loud, clear whinny of a horse, briefly overpowering the howls of the wolves.

The buffalo continued to charge in their new direction, but the herd of wild horses broke away from the others. These tall, powerful horses kicked and ran wildly for a moment before calming down, then left the scene in groups.

At that moment, the wolf pack seized the opportunity. Hundreds of adult wolves, fierce and fearless, charged down the slope at the remaining panicked beasts. Their sharp teeth bared, they moved with the momentum of warriors rather than mere animals.

Even the usually sneaky green wolves charged down with a serious expression, leaving Lin Shuishi alone on the ridge, quietly observing.

Lin Shuishi’s gaze was still fixed on the herd of buffalo because he noticed that the “golden eyes” had disappeared!

He didn’t know if the man was still alive, but he decided to risk being attacked by the buffalo to search for him.

As he slid down the ridge, the herd had already dispersed. The wolves’ assault had caused the panicked herbivores to regain their senses. Without the buffalo and horses leading them, the animals, now facing the dominant wolves of the Eastern Mountain, fell back in a bid for survival.

Looking around, the snow kicked up by the stampede was gradually settling, leaving behind a scene of chaos. Especially in the area where the animals were forced to change direction, the snow was stained with blood. Many animals had been trampled to death, including dozens of strong buffalo, and even more were young calves.

The wolf pack worked together; some of the mixed-colored wolves were responsible for clearing the battlefield, dragging away the carcasses of the animals. These trampled animals would provide a grand feast for the large pack.

Another group of wolves, about ten or so, scattered around, monitoring the movements of the scattered animal herds. The two green wolves, unusually diligent for once, quickly ran off to fulfill their duties.

Meanwhile, dozens of pure white, exceptionally tall, and intelligent wolves searched the area, occasionally howling as if calling for their kin.

Lin Shuishi glanced at the dead animals on the ground, relieved not to see the golden eyes among them. Thinking about it, he ran towards the direction where the buffalo herd had gone, as the last place he saw Fuli was when he was fighting atop a buffalo’s neck.

The buffalo herd was still agitated, their breath heavy, with large clouds of white mist billowing from their nostrils as they mooed constantly. The young, strong buffalo were especially restless, pawing at the ground as if preparing for battle or defense.

Their leader’s horn had been broken off. A buffalo with broken horns could no longer lead the herd, and now was the perfect time to compete for leadership of the group!

Lin Shuishi finally reached the herd, but he didn’t find the golden eyes. Instead, he saw many long-horned bulls fiercely fighting each other, their horns clashing with loud “bangs!”

At that moment, a few of the bulls on the edge of the group noticed Lin Shuishi. They rarely saw humans, only knowing Fuli, who had just broken off their leader’s horn with his bare hands! The buffalo became wary, thinking Lin Shuishi was also a significant threat.

Seeing this, Lin Shuishi didn’t dare approach any closer. Those sharp horns were no joke—just one could easily pierce right through him! He was no match for the golden-eyed man’s strength and skills.

As he kept backing away, he suddenly noticed someone rushing down the high slope on the side of the buffalo herd—a tall, strong man with a bloodied white wolf slung over his shoulder!

This was indeed the person Lin Shuishi had been looking for—Fuli! He held the thick horn of the wild buffalo leader in his hand, intimidating the aggressive bulls into retreating. In no time, he reached Lin Shuishi, who was standing alone near the herd. Fuli frowned slightly when he saw Lin Shuishi without the company of the green wolves, his golden eyes scanning the area.

Despite all the panic and fear Lin Shuishi had felt since the earthquake that morning, he was somewhat relieved at this moment. Although he wasn’t very familiar with Fuli, and was even a bit afraid of him, Fuli was the only “person” he had encountered in the vast Eastern Mountain. This “person” had saved him several times, so Lin Shuishi was concerned about his safety and had risked finding him, hoping that Fuli was okay.

Without saying a word, Fuli freed up one arm and scooped Lin Shuishi up, running swiftly back towards the wolf pack. He needed to return to the group quickly; the White Wolf King’s condition was dire.

Fuli had gone to fight the wild buffalo leader, who was leading the herd in a frenzy. When he turned back, the White Wolf King was nowhere to be seen. After searching for a while, he found the White Wolf King barely alive beside five dead buffalo. Its stomach was torn open, and one of its leg bones was broken. Upon seeing its powerful “brother” before it, the White Wolf King closed its eyes.

Lin Shuishi, held tightly in Fuli’s strong arm, didn’t dare speak. He suddenly felt something cold on his back, and when he reached back to touch it, he realized that the White Wolf King’s blood had soaked into his clothes.

He didn’t dare move, afraid that it might slow down Fuli’s pace.

As Fuli ran up the ridge, he let out a howl. The resonance from his chest vibrated through his arm, transmitting the sound to Lin Shuishi. This was the first time Lin Shuishi had ever been so close to experiencing the primal howl of a wolf, emitted from a human’s mouth. It was a powerful and awe-inspiring moment that sent chills down his spine.

Hearing Fuli’s call, the white wolves scattered in all directions immediately turned and raced back to the ruins they were guarding.

Once they reached the hot spring on the mountain, Fuli tossed Lin Shuishi into a wind-sheltered earthen cave, about two or three meters square. The cave was lined with many furs, so he wasn’t hurt from the fall. However, the furs hadn’t been tanned, making them stiff, though the fur itself was thick and soft.

For Lin Shuishi, the most important thing was that the cave was warm! Remembering the hot springs, he quickly realized that this must be an extinct volcano. The underground plates still had residual magma that hadn’t cooled, which not only heated the hot springs but also the surrounding land!

No wonder! Lin Shuishi suddenly understood why the village was so desolate and cold while the mountain still had some greenery, especially the forest near the hot springs, which was full of life!

He found it quite comfortable being left here alone—warm, with fresh air. Inside the cave, besides the furs, there were also some items made of bone and horn, which didn’t seem to be everyday objects but more like trophies. Lin Shuishi picked up a long, slender beast tooth and examined it, unable to identify which animal it came from before placing it back in its original spot.

This must be the golden-eyed man’s lair, he thought.

Lin Shuishi obediently and quietly stayed in the cave, but he could hear the wolves’ chaotic footsteps and mournful howls outside. He reached back to touch the dried blood on his back, feeling a pang of sorrow. He had seen with his own eyes how strong and majestic the White Wolf King was, throwing itself into the herd to protect its pack, and now it was on the brink of death.

After some thought, Lin Shuishi decided to sneak out of the cave. He peeked his head out and looked around. The wolves only glanced at him before ignoring him, neither threatening nor welcoming him.

Lin Shuishi now felt that his courage had grown a bit, thinking that even though he was in the wolves’ den surrounded by the pack, it wasn’t so bad after all! He was starting to feel a bit overconfident.

But deep down, he knew that his newfound bravery came from that person—the golden-eyed man who stood at the center of the white wolves, his back turned to Lin Shuishi.

Finally, Lin Shuishi cautiously walked over. As soon as he stepped out of the cave, a cold wind blew, making the wolf blood on his back feel even colder. Fuli was holding the White Wolf King horizontally, laying it down on a smooth, jade-like stone platform beside the hot spring. The platform, covered with floral patterns, revealed the exquisite craftsmanship of the past, though it was now somewhat worn.

Lin Shuishi wanted to get closer, but that area was surrounded by purebred white wolves, and even the mixed-breed members didn’t dare approach. He hesitated for a moment, but then thought, “What if I could help?”

Having been sick for so long, Lin Shuishi had become somewhat knowledgeable about bones and medical techniques related to limbs. He had always dreamed of standing again, researching tirelessly, until eventually, as he grew older, he accepted the reality that it would never happen and slowly let go of that dream.

So, he moved to the outer edge of the white wolf pack, looking at the wolves, each one stronger than his waist, with their big white backsides facing him…

Lin Shuishi scratched his head and carefully chose a slightly shorter wolf. He gently patted its back. The wolf immediately turned its head, ready to snarl, but before it could, a little wolf cub squeezed through and pounced onto its neck. Seeing the white wolves make way for the little cub, Lin Shuishi followed along.

A strong smell of blood filled the air!

Fuli held the medicinal herbs that the old hunter had taught him to use, unsure how to apply them. The White Wolf King’s belly had a massive gash, with its intestines partially visible, and one of its hind legs was unnaturally bent.

For a wild wolf pack, this was almost a death sentence. There was no other option but to place their leader on this sacred stone platform and leave it to the will of the wolf god.

Fuli looked gloomily at the severely injured wolf, his golden eyes filled with suppressed sorrow. This was the brother who had been raised alongside him by the same mother.

Under the guidance of the little cub, Lin Shuishi squeezed past the tall and sturdy white wolves, finally reaching Fuli’s side. Seeing that Fuli seemed at a loss, he decided to give it a try. After all, the situation couldn’t get any worse.

He glanced up at Fuli, noticing that the man’s face and body were splattered with blood, making him look rather frightening. Nonetheless, Lin Shuishi cautiously suggested, “Um, maybe we should sew up its belly first. That way, it can heal better, and the medicine will work more effectively.”

Lin Shuishi sniffed the air, recognizing the green ointment in Fuli’s hand. It was the same medicine that had been applied to him when he first woke up in the treehouse, confirming that it was indeed Fuli who had saved him! Not only did this ointment treat frostbite, but it also seemed to heal external wounds—how miraculous!

Fuli frowned and looked at the White Wolf King, who was in very bad shape. He understood that this weak female was suggesting treating the wolf’s wounds. After some thought, he realized there was no other option, so he nodded in agreement.

Lin Shuishi glanced at the little white wolf cub whimpering at his feet, and then at the White Wolf King’s mate, who was lying beside him, gently licking his broken leg. His heart ached.

This wolf was a father and a husband.