Ch 45: My Wolf Husband

In recent days, Lin Shuishi noticed that more and more animals were gathering near the wolf den. Particularly on the grassy area below the ridge, he could hear the steady clattering of cattle hooves and saw herds of sheep and deer. He even spotted the group of the horse king not far away, with the little black horse nodding its head in greeting!

It seemed as though the herbivores in the mountains were gradually converging on this area.

However, the wolf pack remained unhurried, as if this was perfectly normal. Lin Shuishi was puzzled and decided to ask Fuli, who had just returned from hunting.

Their hunting efficiency had been exceptionally high lately, and with plenty of food available, the wolves preferred to hunt deer. At this moment, Fuli was carrying a stag back to the den.

He placed the deer at the entrance of the cave and went to bathe in the hot spring before returning, all because his little companion only kissed clean places…

Lin Shuishi, watching Fuli bathe every day, couldn’t help but find it amusing. Bathing daily didn’t mean he had to be kissed daily! But at least the den had stayed much cleaner, and the fur rugs on the floor hadn’t needed washing in a long time.

Fuli sat on the ground, letting Lin Shuishi braid his hair. When he heard his companion’s question, he thought for a moment. It was difficult to explain clearly in human language, so he turned around and embraced Lin Shuishi. “Tomorrow, we’ll go out together.”

The cave was warm, and Lin Shuishi was only wearing an inner garment. The two of them were pressed together, their body heat gradually mingling. Hearing this, Lin Shuishi was momentarily surprised. “Ah? Together? Going on patrol?” He was a bit excited. Due to the cold weather and heavy snow, he had been cooped up in the wolf den for quite some time, so getting out to stretch his legs sounded great. Besides, he had yet to fully experience the scenery of Dongshan.

Having made their plans, Fuli reached up and touched Lin Shuishi’s hair, which had been cut short a few days ago. Lin Shuishi’s black hair had once reached down to his waist, and he used to wear it half tied up and half loose, following the customs of this place.

But in the mountains, such long hair was inconvenient, and with no formal rules to follow, he had cut it short like he used to wear it, framing his handsome face and covering the birthmark. He now looked like a modern person who had retreated into the mountains.

Lin Shuishi then started talking about how he had discovered that the uninvited white goose was actually male, with its tail curled in a spiral! And it didn’t lay eggs. Or how he had encountered a pangolin digging into an ant nest for food in the forest, with Little White Wolf trying to bite it but only ending up with a mouthful of dirt as the pangolin lifted its tail and ran off!

Lin Shuishi took Fuli’s hand and, with a playful smile, asked him who could dig faster, Fuli or the pangolin…

He always had so much to say to Fuli. Compared to the gloom and silence of his earlier life, it was as if he had come alive again. Fuli held his little companion in his arms, listening attentively, occasionally murmuring a few words. Lin Shuishi would then press against his vibrating chest, teasingly correcting the wild beast’s pronunciation. If he pushed too hard, he would find himself pinned down by the embarrassed and angry Fuli, who would take the opportunity to tickle him and plant a firm kiss.

Though material resources were scarce, his heart was full of love, making him feel nourished and renewed, as if reborn.

The next day, Lin Shuishi wrapped himself up tightly and followed the wolf pack down the ridge. The wolves moved with the swiftness and grace of drifting clouds, so fast that Lin Shuishi could barely keep up. In the end, he had to cling to Fuli’s sturdy back, listening to the wind rushing past his ears and widening his eyes to take in the hidden, lost wonders of the world.

After the fierce snowstorm, the temperature in the mountains was extremely low. As they passed through snow-covered peaks and forests, it felt like they were traversing a frozen wasteland. The farther they moved from the wolf den, the colder it became, and the breath Lin Shuishi exhaled turned to frost on his eyebrows.

The sunlight was strong, shining on his face, but it offered little warmth. The wolf pack passed through vast, desolate plains and snow-covered forests. Gradually, the cold wind stirred up snow clouds, spreading them everywhere and obscuring the sunlight.

They leaped across the mountain ridges, where the snow wasn’t as deep due to the terrain. But when Lin Shuishi looked down, he suddenly understood why the animals were migrating.

The snow on the plains was incredibly deep, making it impossible for herbivores to find the food buried beneath it. A lone yak was stuck in the snow, with only its head and horns visible. It struggled mightily, swinging its strong neck and shaking its head, trying to clear the snow and reach the grass beneath.

It moved alone across the wilderness, leaving behind a long trail, like a lonely requiem of life and a sorrowful song.

If spring didn’t arrive on time, it would perish in this sea of white.

At that moment, Lin Shuishi truly understood the cruel yet merciful nature of the world, and the poignant, fierce struggle of life.

They spent the entire morning, yet even at the speed of the wolves, they couldn’t fully patrol Dongshan. They only checked the key exits. But Lin Shuishi began to understand why the temperature in the mountains fluctuated so unpredictably.

The underground hot lava fueled the continuous eruptions of hot springs and the spring-like climate even in winter. However, the Dongshan mountain range seemed to form a ring, with only one opening that allowed the warm monsoon winds each year. If heavy snow covered the area and the geothermal heat couldn’t rise to the surrounding mountain peaks, then the cold air gathered at the top would sink, converging in the low-lying plains, causing all the living creatures to huddle in fear.

At noon, the exhausted wolf pack rested by the familiar hot spring where Lin Shuishi used to tan hides. But now, the area was extremely crowded, with various animals soaking in the warm waters. The most numerous were a group of monkeys, huddled motionlessly in the water, with their exposed limbs covered in frost. The weaker monkeys, those of lower status in the group, were not allowed in the hot spring and shivered on the edge.

Despite this, none of the animals dared approach the center of the hot spring, where scalding water bubbled up, hot enough to peel skin.

Led by the wolf king, they moved upstream to drink, causing the surrounding animals to clear the way. A few mottled wolves were soaking in the hot spring, and Lin Shuishi recognized the two sly sentry wolves among them. Given the freezing weather, they were likely slacking off again, something Lin Shuishi knew they often did.

Fuli didn’t seem particularly tired or cold. He set Lin Shuishi down and brushed the frost off his small face with his warm hand. Lin Shuishi quickly unwrapped his bulky fur coat, freeing his hands to warm them in the hot spring.

The two wolves swam over to Lin Shuishi without hesitation, gauging Fuli’s expression, and affectionately nudged Lin Shuishi’s hands with their warm noses. Lin Shuishi, feeling pleased, began playfully splashing water with them, sending water droplets everywhere. But in a moment of carelessness, some of the water splashed onto Fuli’s face.

The two wolves instantly froze and silently sank into the water. Lin Shuishi, however, was reminded of the first time he had been with Fuli by the hot spring. Back then, he had been terrified, his heart racing at the mere thought of touching Fuli’s powerful body. But now, seeing the water droplets on Fuli’s face, he mischievously reached out with his wet hands and playfully smeared water across Fuli’s handsome face.

Fuli simply huffed, raised an eyebrow, caught Lin Shuishi’s hand, and brought it to his lips, giving it a wet lick.

Lin Shuishi shuddered, quickly pulling his hand back, and stood beside Fuli with a flushed face, suddenly much more subdued.

His mind was in turmoil, wondering when exactly that tongue had barbs and when it didn’t. Last time, he had definitely felt them! But now, they seemed to be gone…

After a brief rest, the wolf pack started heading back, even bringing a few of the white wolves that had been soaking in the spring. Their fur was quite unique—unlike the green wolves, whose fur stayed wet for a long time after getting out of the water, the white wolves only needed a few vigorous shakes to fluff up again.

Lin Shuishi watched them with admiration and was reminded of his torn wolf-fur sweater. He pouted with resentment and gave Fuli a sideways glance.

Fuli’s ear twitched slightly as he looked down at the mischievous little creature in his arms, who was eyeing him with a not-so-innocent expression. Fuli bared his sharp white teeth in a grin and, despite Lin Shuishi’s struggles, lowered his head to playfully nibble at Lin Shuishi’s face and neck.

As they traveled, they passed by the giant banyan tree atop the mountain. Both Lin Shuishi and Fuli looked up at its lush canopy. It was peaceful, with only the occasional snowflake shaken loose by the birds, gently drifting down to rest on the now-settled roots below.

At the end of their lives, the predators at the top of the food chain, alongside their lifelong faithful companions, would forever sleep in this thick, nurturing earth. Born here, they grew up here, and in the end, they returned to the earth, enriching it.

Life is a cycle.

Then, their descendants once again tread on this land, generation after generation, guarding the sun and moon. Fuli took one last glance before turning back, continuing forward. Lin Shuishi, nestled quietly in his strong embrace, watched his resolute face.

As they approached the Dongshan wolf den, the weather gradually warmed. The nearby snow melted rapidly, vanishing as if in the blink of an eye. The grasslands revealed lush, green patches, with cattle and sheep grazing as they moved back and forth. There were also many small animals that had come to warm themselves.

Among them was a particularly beautiful red fox. It moved cautiously yet cunningly through the grass, and with one swift pounce, it could catch a grazing rabbit, which it then slyly carried away to eat in a secluded spot.

Lin Shuishi removed his fur coat, looking at the verdant scene before him, finding it hard to believe that not far away, the mountain peaks and grasslands were still covered in snow.

It was as if a mysterious force governed this place, providing a refuge and a glimmer of hope for life amidst a desolate and dead landscape.

At the wolf den, the thick snow had been blown away by the gentle wind, and the moisture in the air near the hot springs had condensed into ice, drifting like fine diamond dust, sparkling as it floated around.

The half-grown wolf pups, who had been hiding in the den for days, now joyfully stretched their legs and rolled around on the warm ground. As Lin Shuishi approached his stove, he raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes as he noticed the little white wolf playing nearby, casting sly glances in his direction.

That little creature didn’t even come to greet him upon his return, instead keeping its distance. Lin Shuishi smirked and opened the stove where he stored roasted sweet potatoes, only to find that not even a single skin was left! Looking at the wolf pack, it was clear that the only one skilled enough to master the “survival” technique of opening the stove was this little rascal—it had been a pro at this even back in the village.

Just as Lin Shuishi was about to grab the little white wolf by the ear, it seemed to sense his intentions. Wagging its tail, it walked over to Fuli instead, rubbing up against his sturdy leg, whining pitifully for attention.

In the end, Fuli picked it up and carried it to the wolf king’s den. Reaching in, he pulled out a plump, roasted sweet potato. His golden eyes gleamed, reminiscent of the golden light in the ancestral land’s shimmering pool.

“Don’t be mad, I saved one for you.”

In these small, everyday moments, Lin Shuishi gradually came to understand the creations of Dongshan, to understand Fuli’s homeland. The closer he got to Fuli, the more deeply he loved him.

It was as if Fuli was a son of the mountains, a descendant of the sky, with a soul that was both free and intensely passionate. In the unending flow of life, he stood by Lin Shuishi, protecting him, loyal to the very end.