Ch 79: My Wolf Husband

Finally, before the rainy season arrived, Lin Shuishi hurriedly managed to heal the injured animals along the way. Large groups of beasts had already returned to the Dongshan mountain range, eagerly awaiting the long-anticipated spring thunder and rain.

But for Lin Shuishi, there seemed to be no end to the tasks at hand—each one demanding his attention, unable to be set aside. He was like a little landlord, busily taking stock of his property and possessions.

With spring rain approaching, the vegetable garden behind the wolf den in the forest was in complete disarray, overrun with weeds, though miraculously free of pests!

When Lin Shuishi spotted a few plump “geese” in between his weeding, he realized that the male goose with goslings had really done its job! The goslings had been well-taught, leaving no pests behind—excellent helpers in the field!

However, the pepper seedlings and scallions were now lost among the grass, making them difficult to distinguish. The five acres of potatoes and sweet potatoes were also hard to identify among the plants, so he decided to leave it until autumn when he could turn the soil and see what harvest he could get.

Only the three acres of beans were in good shape—the vines were wildly overgrown, wrapping densely around the surrounding tree trunks. It seemed that beans would be the main dish this year.

As he turned to check the seeds stored in the cave, he found there was still plenty of rice that hadn’t been planted yet. Perfect timing with the rain coming—he could sow them all in the muddy flats around the shallow river where the little black bear roamed! The “black bear spirit” could keep an eye on the crops for him—perfect!

After a full day of hard work, Fuli silently followed Lin Shuishi all day long! Since they had returned to the wolf den, Fuli hadn’t gone out hunting or patrolling; he just kept close to Lin Shuishi, watching everything he did, often getting in the way rather than helping!

When Lin Shuishi was weeding, Fuli was watching. He had only bent down to cut a few weeds in the potato field, but when he looked back, the area behind him was already bare—not just weeds, but even the plants were gone!

At the riverbank, when Lin Shuishi was washing animal hides, Fuli took over after watching for a while, only to end up tearing several hides, including Lin Shuishi’s favorite white sheepskin rug.

Even when feeding the wolf pups their first solid food, Fuli was there, constantly blocking the little white wolf’s excited pounces, causing the pup to roll around on the ground in frustration.

“…”

“You… you don’t seem very busy these days, do you?”

Fuli sighed heavily. Not busy? He felt busier than ever!

But after sighing, he continued to watch, his eyes brightening as he observed the little wolf pups eating noisily, like tiny piglets. Thinking of his own family, he felt that all this “hard work” was indeed necessary.

Seeing how Lin Shuishi had been bustling around all day, Fuli gently pulled him close, intending to carry him back to their den for a quiet moment together.

Just as they reached the den’s entrance, Lin Shuishi suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no!” Fuli stopped immediately, starting to rub and check him, trying to figure out what was wrong.

“Haha, hey, stop touching me, that tickles!”

Lin Shuishi grabbed the man’s mischievous hands. “I just remembered, let’s go check on the treehouse. The wolf den might get too hot in the summer, and I’ve never stayed there before. If it turns out to be uncomfortable, we might need to move back to the treehouse.”

It was indeed time to check whether the roof needed patching or if the treehouse needed a fresh coat of tree oil. The less the house was used, the more it would wear down.

“Summer won’t be too hot; the den has cool breezes and is shaded by trees. It’s nice and cool.”

Fuli clearly didn’t want the little one in his arms running around anymore; he just wanted to cuddle and sleep.

But Lin Shuishi kept squirming in his arms, playing with his eyelashes and twisting his little braid around, teasing Fuli until he started to feel a bit warm and restless.

With a glance at Lin Shuishi’s small belly, Fuli tried to control himself.

Lin Shuishi only noticed that the man’s body was getting warmer, his chest rumbling with a deep sound. Just as he was about to lean in and listen more closely, Fuli suddenly stood up, his voice deep as he called out to him.

“Let’s go, to the treehouse.”

…Ah, men.

Lin Shuishi had lived in Dongshan for quite some time and was familiar with the paths. He walked ahead, with Fuli’s tall figure following behind, taking slow steps as they made their way back to the forest where the treehouse was located.

The sky was dimming, with the last light of the sunset barely visible, obscured by thick clouds.

The warm southeastern monsoon wind clashed with the descending cold air from the peak of Dongshan, creating swift spring gusts that swirled the mountain mist, reflecting a palette of colors across the forest in the fading light.

It was a stunning, dreamlike scene, unlike anything of this world.

Such a naturally divine and mysterious landscape was something Lin Shuishi had only ever seen in dreams before.

The dense forest of Dongshan at dusk was dangerous, but Lin Shuishi felt no fear because behind him was a steady, reliable footstep—the presence of the fiercest beast in Dongshan, who was also his most devoted lover.

Leisurely, they arrived at the old tree that held the treehouse. Looking around, everything seemed as it was before, with even the temporary earthen stove still standing. The vine ladder leading up to the treehouse was covered in a few fallen leaves and some dust, but nothing that couldn’t be managed.

Lin Shuishi climbed up the ladder, the vines creaking with the sound of wood under strain. When he reached the door, he naturally grabbed the handle.

But the moment he pulled the door open, there was a loud “whoosh” as a huge pile of dried fruits and hazelnuts suddenly spilled out of the room all at once!

Lin Shuishi, caught off guard, found himself knee-deep in the pile of dried fruits and nuts that had spilled out of the treehouse.

“?”

“Wait, did the ancestors bless us again?” he wondered aloud. Could the wolf god really enjoy eating dried fruits and almonds?

Fuli clicked his tongue in mild exasperation. The ancestors didn’t eat fruits and nuts; they ate meat! If there were to be a divine sign, it would probably involve stockpiling a room full of meat first. He felt an urge to gently knock some sense into the little head in front of him.

The eldest of the Zheng family down in Rehe Village had been right—“People really do lose some sense during pregnancy,” Fuli thought, though he almost forgot about this himself. That chubby squirrel, after being left behind by the beast horde, must have returned and, along with its squirrel family, tirelessly hoarded all these “treasures” to feel better. It seemed they had stored everything right here.

As soon as Lin Shuishi asked the question, he realized the answer and scratched his head awkwardly. “Uh, yeah, I was just kidding. Just joking, hehe.”

Fuli sniffed the air, detecting the scent in the room, and gently whispered to Lin Shuishi, “Squirrels.”

Lin Shuishi gasped. That chubby little squirrel, who panted after climbing just a few trees, had managed to haul all these “treasures” over here. Hopefully, it didn’t exhaust itself to death!

Whether the squirrel had died or not, Lin Shuishi wasn’t sure, but he knew that if they didn’t dry out all these nuts, they would soon start to rot and mold in the wooden house once the rains came.

So, late into the night, while the birds and beasts had returned to their nests to rest, the treehouse was still ablaze with light. They spent the whole night drying the nuts over the fire, the earthy stove and campfire glowing warmly, filling the air with a rich, toasty aroma.

Lin Shuishi dozed off halfway through the night, leaving Fuli to finish the work. Lin Shuishi felt a bit guilty—he had been sleeping more than usual lately, and the smell of the roasted nuts had made him crave them. So, he ate his fill and then fell asleep by the fire, perfectly content.

He awoke the next morning to the sweet scent of dried fruits mingling with the morning mist. He was warm all over, realizing it was because Fuli was sitting by the fire, holding him in his arms while adding wood to the flames and drying the last of the nuts. Lin Shuishi snuggled into the most secure embrace in the world, rubbing his face against Fuli’s chest.

Then he suddenly looked up in surprise. “Fuli, your chest! Since when could you control your bloodline to this extent?”

Fuli’s chest and limbs hadn’t changed much, but his skin was now covered with a fine layer of silver-white fur, keeping the little one warm.

“Ever since I woke up in the pool in the ancestral land, I’ve been able to do this,” Fuli explained.

“Wow, what else can you do?” Lin Shuishi’s eyes lit up, filled with curiosity and a desire to explore the unknown.

Fuli ground his teeth slightly, looking at the little one who was happily squirming on his lap. He let out a restrained hum of approval, holding back his instincts.

Lin Shuishi suddenly froze, realizing he had accidentally sat on something rather… alarming—something hard as stone.

“Still works,” Fuli remarked.

Lin Shuishi immediately became meek, carefully getting up and moving to sit quietly by the fire, head down, not saying a word.

No kidding! That could be dangerous!

The sun was just beginning to rise, its brilliant colors muted by the thick clouds that only allowed a few rays of light to peek through.

The fog in the forest was dense, almost thick enough to form water droplets, signaling that the heavy rains were not far off.

The air was stifling, making it difficult for Lin Shuishi to breathe. Fuli, not wanting to linger, quickly tidied up the treehouse and carried Lin Shuishi back to the wolf den.

It was the safest place.

The wild animals in the mountains seemed to have sensed the approaching downpour. They secured their spring-born offspring in sheltered nests, waiting quietly. Even the powerful eagles and owls of the sky didn’t fly far, circling once before returning to their nests to spread their wings protectively over their fluffy young.

Inside the wolf den, all was calm. The wolf pups had been carried back to their nests by their mothers and were peacefully nursing. Fuli, holding his beloved close, lay on the soft animal pelts, feeling a rare sense of contentment.

He had never had anything to protect closely before a storm, but now, with his soft companion nestled against his chest, he felt a sense of satisfaction. His eyes narrowed slightly as a gentle vibration rumbled in his chest, a sound akin to a beast’s contented purr.

Lin Shuishi, on the other hand, was stiff and cautious, too scared to move after the morning’s shock. The mere thought of it made his scalp tingle, so he stayed obediently still, letting Fuli do whatever he wanted without protest.

Soon, the wind died down, and the thick storm clouds gathered over Dongshan, colliding in the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, as if the heavens were tearing apart, shaking the earth.

Even in the warm and dry cave, Lin Shuishi could smell the fresh scent of earth wafting in. His curiosity piqued, he carefully retracted his hands and feet from the covers, and under Fuli’s watchful gaze, got up and walked to the entrance of the den.

He grabbed a fur blanket on the way and spread it at the entrance of the wolf den, lying down comfortably to peek outside.

Looking down, he noticed that across from him, below the den where the wolf king resided, a row of little furry heads was also poking out of the entrance, just like him, curiously peering out.

Lin Shuishi chuckled softly, happily swinging his legs. The row of wolf pups below him wiggled their tails, just as delighted.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scents of earth, grass, and raindrops, before gazing out at the scene before him.

Fuli’s den was situated at the highest point on the slope of the wolf den, offering a view of the distant fields and mountains. The thick clouds hung low, seemingly resting halfway up the distant mountains, where lightning flashed and thunder rolled in a spectacular and dangerous display.

Suddenly, a bright flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and Lin Shuishi quickly covered his ears. A loud crack followed as the spring thunder rolled in, vibrating his eardrums and sending a shiver through him.

The power of nature was vast and overwhelming.

Yet, this magnificent sight was something Lin Shuishi had never witnessed before, and he was momentarily entranced by it.

Fuli approached him, silently watching as Lin Shuishi’s long lashes trembled, his mouth slightly open in awe and joy as he gazed at Dongshan, until the heavy rain began to pour, obscuring everything behind a curtain of rain.

Only then did Fuli lead him back inside, holding him close as they listened to the joyful rain that blessed the mountains.

Soon after, they fell into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in each other’s embrace.