Author Archives: Thandar

The sky had already darkened, and dusk was approaching.

The last rays of the setting sun reflected off the boiling hot springs erupting from the ground, casting a fiery hue across the falling water curtains, like a scene ablaze with evening colors.

The herbivores around the hot springs gradually retreated. After replenishing their water and salt, they quietly returned to the safety of their herds. Meanwhile, the nocturnal predators were just beginning to stir, readying themselves for the night’s hunt.

Lin Shuishi had already finished washing the sheepskin and deerskin, hanging them by the fire to dry. Though his skills were not particularly refined, the skins had become much softer and more comfortable to wear.

Fuli had long since left, having rejoined the fierce wolf pack. The howls echoing through the mountains were a testament to this.

Once again, two green wolves were assigned to stay by Lin Shuishi’s side. One carried the furs and the salt blocks within them on its back, while the other bore Lin Shuishi himself. The two wolves returned him to the treehouse before nightfall, then settled down beneath the tree, showing no intention of leaving.

Lin Shuishi was practically bouncing with excitement as he started a fire to cook the meat. He finally had salt! No longer would he have to endure the bland, flavorless boiled and roasted meat.

He took the crystalline salt from the sheepskin. The salt crystals were of such high quality that they required no further refining, so Lin Shuishi simply ground them down for storage and use.

These minerals should have been buried deep underground, but Lin Shuishi figured that the powerful eruptions of the hot springs had expelled them, scattering the crystals around the spring’s perimeter. Over time, this formed a small surface salt mine that drew the salt-seeking mountain creatures, who passed this knowledge down from generation to generation, embedding it into their survival instincts.

With the salt in hand, Lin Shuishi began to cure the remaining pork and mutton in the treehouse, hanging the meat from the treehouse beams to air-dry. This way, it would taste better and be more convenient to use—just cut off what was needed.

After his work was done, Lin Shuishi sat by the fire to warm himself. He boiled a large pot of snow water shaken from the tree branches, and then started preparing the sheep that Fuli had skinned in the morning. In this cold weather, the sheep’s limbs had already frozen stiff, making them difficult to bend!

Lin Shuishi’s hands were red from the bone knife, and he made a mental note to always handle the meat while it was still pliable in the future. After much effort, he finally managed to open up the sheep’s pelvic cavity. Fortunately, it hadn’t fully frozen, and he could clean it properly.

As Lin Shuishi poured hot water over the frozen entrails to thaw them, the two green wolves, who had been napping under the tree, began to subtly and deliberately inch closer.

The two wolves circled around Lin Shuishi, sneaky and mischievous, making exaggerated noises—sneezing loudly or scratching at the frozen dirt, producing a grating “squeak” where the ground was icy.

Lin Shuishi found it amusing but wasn’t afraid. By now, he had grown braver.

After all, he had witnessed the stampeding beast herd, ridden a mighty white wolf, and even bathed with Fuli himself!

The green wolf showed no hesitation. Before Lin Shuishi could even put down the organs, the wolf had already snatched them from his hands. Then, with a swift motion, it dashed off to the grass pile in the woods, where it happily devoured its prize.

Finally, Lin Shuishi had some peace. After cleaning out the sheep’s stomach, he cut off a leg, started a fire, and began roasting it on a makeshift spit. He sprinkled salt and added some juice from green fruits, letting the meat slowly cook over a low flame. The exterior became crispy while the inside remained juicy and tender.

He also marinated some freshly washed perilla leaves in a bone bowl, while the rest were used to wrap the roasted meat, balancing out the richness and providing a healthy touch.

This sheep was quite fatty, so as Lin Shuishi roasted the meat, he also cut off some of the fat and rendered it in a stone pot, producing a good amount of lamb oil. He used a twig to brush some of the oil onto the drying outer crust of the roast, which enhanced the aroma of the lamb. The remaining lamb oil would be perfect for frying vegetables later on.

Lin Shuishi rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he gazed at the fragrant, crispy roasted lamb leg, ready to treat himself to a well-deserved meal. But just as he was about to dig in, he heard a rustling in the woods. He became alert, unsure how to react as he glanced at the two green wolves in the grass pile, who were calmly eating liver, seemingly unbothered.

Holding his meat, Lin Shuishi strained to listen to the sounds around him, ready to climb up to the treehouse for safety if needed. Suddenly, the rustling was accompanied by two high-pitched yelps, “Awoo, woof woof!”

A small white blur shot out of the bushes like a little cannonball, its legs moving quickly as it dashed straight into Lin Shuishi’s arms.

Startled, Lin Shuishi quickly set the roasted meat aside and reached out to pet the little wolf. But the white wolf pup wasn’t content with just being petted; it rolled around all over Lin Shuishi, rubbing against him. This was the wolf’s way of marking its territory, as if declaring, “This one’s mine! I’ll protect him! And of course, all the good stuff is mine to eat too!”

Lin Shuishi felt the pup’s round, soft belly and realized it must have already eaten its fill back at the wolf pack. Feeding it any more would likely make it sick.

He gently rubbed the soft, downy fur on the pup’s belly, playfully wiggling its little legs, all the while marveling at how perfect this fur would be for knitting a sweater!

The little thing had no idea how treacherous human hearts could be—some may appear gentle and weak on the surface while secretly coveting others’ downy fur!

Watching the pup laze around by the fire, Lin Shuishi finally tossed it a chestnut to gnaw on, allowing himself to settle down for his meal.

In the end, Lin Shuishi set aside a piece of roasted meat, leaving it to warm by the fire. His thoughts lingered on the person who had yet to make an appearance—Fuli. The roast was delicious today, and he wanted to save some for him to try.

Had he ever eaten cooked meat before? Would he like the taste of the fruit juice on it? Should Lin Shuishi roast some more chestnuts too?

Or… would he even come at all?

With such thoughts swirling in his mind, Lin Shuishi fell asleep inside his small tent.

Late into the quiet night, Fuli silently stood in the moon-dappled shadows of the trees, listening to the crackling of the fire’s embers in the earth stove. His gaze was deep as he looked at the strange little tent below him.

The animal skins that had covered him during the day had been taken by Lin Shuishi, kneaded and worked until they were soft and supple. Now, they were neatly folded by the fire, warmed by the heat, making them comfortable to wear. On the stove, a wooden bowl was placed upside down, covering a piece of roasted meat, with three shiny, plump roasted chestnuts arranged next to it.

Fuli sat crouched beside the small tent, listening to the steady breathing of the person inside as he slowly ate the food.

The taste was unlike raw, bloody meat—it was human food. Fuli wasn’t used to the seasoned, cooked meat, but he still chewed it all thoroughly. It was as if doing so could prove that he was also human, that he was the same as the person inside the tent!

This fierce “beast” harbored such thoughts. He began to ponder his origins and his eventual destination.

The moonlight was bright, and the mountains were silent. Occasionally, a few low wolf howls echoed, only to be muffled by the dense forest and deep valleys, quickly fading into stillness.

The old she-wolf, once the queen of the pack, emerged from her hollow tree and padded over to the injured young wolf king. She lowered her head to sniff her “child,” catching the scent of new flesh growing, and lovingly licked him. This was a sign that the lead wolf would soon recover, unlike his father, who had passed away quietly beneath a tree after suffering grievous wounds.

The old wolf stood alone on the ridge, her thick fur still reflecting some of its former luster as the mountain wind blew through it. She had lived for thirty-eight years, nearing the lifespan limit of a white wolf. She had seen much in her life, eventually raising a successor and painstakingly nurturing the last descendant of the wolf god’s lineage.

With calm and deep eyes, she gazed down at the vast grasslands, the valleys, and the forests. Every creature adhered to its own survival rules and destiny. The white wolf pack, too, upheld their generations-old promises and vows, guarding this ridge, living and breeding, never to leave.

But when she thought of the “human” who had entered the wolf pack today, she felt that the time had come. The descendant of the wolf god would eventually have to leave this mountain and sea, returning to the world of humans.

No matter how well he had learned or how fierce he had become, Fuli was fundamentally different from any member of the wolf pack.

Because he was not, after all, a wild beast.

And the “human” the old wolf queen was thinking about was now, in the morning, interrogating the little wolf cub by squeezing its white paw.

“Come on, confess! Did you eat the roasted meat? Wolves can’t eat salt! Your fur will fall out!” He said this while slyly pulling out a handful of the cub’s downy fur. “See? This is what happens when you eat salt.”

Despite his words, his hands moved quickly, gathering up the soft fur to save for spinning into yarn.

But as Lin Shuishi cleaned up around the tent, he noticed some chestnut shells scattered on the ground, and he paused. Only Fuli ate chestnuts like that, without peeling them, chewing them up into bits with his strong teeth.

He then checked the place where Fuli had left his animal skins, and it was empty. It finally dawned on him that he had wrongly accused the little wolf cub.

Fuli had been here. Lin Shuishi blamed himself for sleeping too soundly, missing the chance to ask if Fuli liked the roasted meat, to exchange a few words.

As Lin Shuishi stood there in a daze, the green wolves suddenly came trotting up from somewhere. One had its fur slightly disheveled, while the other had a few bright bird feathers sticking out of its head.

They lowered their heads in front of Lin Shuishi, and with a “plop,” each wolf spit out a large, bright red egg from its mouth! The eggs were beautiful, even larger than goose eggs.

From their disheveled appearance, it was clear they had been up to some sneaky mischief! Lin Shuishi looked at the two proud wolves, both amused and exasperated.

“Where did you steal these from? You’re in trouble now!”

As the sound of trickling water reached his ears, Lin Shuishi followed Fuli out of the forest, and his view suddenly opened up.

The source of the thick, smoky mist he had seen earlier was finally revealed before his eyes, and Lin Shuishi was struck by the awe-inspiring power of nature!

Before him lay a series of interconnected hot springs, stretching across the landscape. There were four or five separate springs in sight, some calm and still, while others boiled and spouted water high into the air before it came crashing back down. The steam rising from the springs condensed into thick mist in the cold air, blanketing the entire mountainside. The vapor swirled and drifted with the wind, giving the place an ethereal, otherworldly feel.

Standing amidst it all, Lin Shuishi was rendered speechless, feeling as if the world around him had fallen into a tranquil silence.

Deer and small horses moved in and out of the mist, occasionally revealing a wolf or leopard. The animals showed no fear, for the predators did not hunt here. Instead, they lazed in the hot springs, soaking up the warmth of winter.

This warm, humid mountainside seemed to bring all life into harmonious coexistence.

The scalding spring water continuously bubbled up from underground, spreading outward until it finally converged into a steaming river that flowed down the mountainside and into the world below.

Lin Shuishi finally understood why, in the original body’s childhood memories, the rivers in the winter of Rehe village always emitted a slight warmth and never froze. Every household would go to the river to wash clothes and fetch water.

He had once thought this was a child’s imagination, but now he saw it was real. The boiling spring water flowed down from underground, retaining enough warmth even as it reached the village.

With warm water, the village’s climate would be milder. The distant village where the original body‘s uncle lived, without any hot springs, saw people freezing to death in winter. But in Rehe village, that would never happen; if it got too cold, one could always warm up in the river.

Fuli, carrying the hides, walked to the edge of a shallow hot spring and placed the items on the ground. Lin Shuishi snapped out of his reverie and crouched by the pool, dipping his hand in. The water was hot, pleasantly so.

When he turned back, Fuli was no longer where he had been. As Lin Shuishi anxiously looked around, a cold wind blew, parting the mist and clearing his view.

He saw Fuli soaking in an upstream hot spring, his black hair clinging wetly to his honey-colored back before disappearing into the water. There were several other wolves in the lower part of the pool, appearing older. They had instinctively given Fuli a wide berth, moving to the downstream area. No other animals approached that part of the hot spring, as if it were a space reserved exclusively for the wolves.

The distance from here to Fuli’s wolf den was quite significant, but it was clear that most of the wolves came to this area to bathe and drink. When Lin Shuishi thought about it, he realized that no wolves seemed to bathe in the hot springs near the den, and they rarely drank from them either. He found it puzzling since the springs near the den tasted much better than these sulfur springs—crisp, clear, and with a beautiful blue hue, incredibly clean.

As the wind blew, the steam rose again, obscuring his view. But knowing that Fuli was just upstream, he wasn’t afraid. He began soaking the hides and then gathered some wood from the nearby forest to build a fire, burning it down to ash for simple tanning.

However, the area around the hot springs was too damp, so he had to go into the forest to get the fire started. After working for a while, he carried the burned ashes back to the stone wall near the spring in an animal skin pouch, mixed them with water, and spread the mixture on the inside of the hides. Now, he just had to wait for the hides to cure before washing and softening them.

With nothing else to do for the moment, Lin Shuishi dipped his feet into the hot spring, letting the heat rise and turn his face red. Gazing into the clear, misty water, he finally had the leisure to take a good look at his new appearance.

His skin was fair, his eyes were bright and moist, and his eyebrows were like small willow leaves, giving him a very delicate and gentle appearance. As a “ger,” he had a red mole between his eyebrows, though it wasn’t very bright or noticeable. According to local beliefs, a pale birthmark meant poor fertility. Otherwise, the original body’s uncle would have sold him off as a male concubine long ago, and he wouldn’t have survived until now.

Lin Shuishi even felt a bit fortunate that he had been sold as a sacrifice to the wolves. Although life in the Eastern Mountains was precarious, the freedom and lack of constraints were worth it.

Moreover, he had been lucky enough to be found and saved by Fuli, allowing him to survive. But deep down, he still feared Fuli and didn’t know how to repay him.

As he thought about this, his mood darkened. Was he becoming someone else’s burden again? He had already been a burden to his family for 20 years and didn’t want to be a burden to anyone else, especially not to this person who might not even be entirely human.

As he was lost in thought, absentmindedly splashing his feet in the spring, there was a sudden “plop” sound, and a rock fell into the water, splashing his face and stinging his eyes with the sulfur-laden water.

Lin Shuishi quickly stood up, cautiously looking around. Suddenly, a wild monkey jumped out in front of him, baring its teeth to scare him. Seeing that Lin Shuishi wasn’t much of a threat, the monkey became even bolder, and when he wasn’t looking, it grabbed one of the hides and tossed it into the water.

At first, Lin Shuishi didn’t want to bother with a stone-throwing monkey, but when it started causing trouble, he became angry. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got! He realized that tolerating it only made the situation worse. So, he picked up a stone from the ground, ready to throw it back at the monkey.

But before the stone could leave his hand, Lin Shuishi awkwardly froze because a group of monkeys, big and small, had jumped down in front of him, chattering noisily.

“…”

Monkeys are omnivores, aggressive, and they hold grudges. Lin Shuishi had no choice but to swallow his frustration and cautiously take a step back. To his surprise, he backed into something hard and warm.

He let out a small “oof” as he collided with a solid chest. Turning around, he saw Fuli standing behind him, shirtless, revealing his strong, muscular arms. Steam rose from his body, and droplets of water slid from his brow, falling onto Lin Shuishi’s forehead as their eyes met.

Fuli glanced at the small face lifted towards his chest, then looked up at the monkeys. He spread his arms slightly, drawing his chest inward, revealing the sharp wolf-like teeth at the edge of his lips. A growl rumbled deep in his throat, a sound meant to intimidate, making him appear even more formidable.

The monkey troop immediately grew restless. The robust monkey leader stepped forward to confront Fuli, but under the piercing gaze of those golden eyes, it retreated. The monkeys quickly followed their leader, retreating into the forest and disappearing from sight.

At that moment, Lin Shuishi was enveloped in Fuli’s embrace. Before him were Fuli’s broad chest and arms, stretched wide to intimidate the monkeys, and in his ears was the fierce growling of a beast. His heart pounded wildly, and his cheeks felt as if they were being scorched by the steam rising from Fuli’s body.

But beyond the fear, he felt an overwhelming sense of safety. What place could be safer than in the embrace of this human-shaped beast king?

Fuli calmly watched the monkeys retreat. The other small animals nearby, sensing the confrontation, had already fled. He looked down, the wet strands of his hair brushing against his chest and tickling Lin Shuishi’s shoulder. As he gazed at the little creature nestled against his chest, Fuli felt an urge to bite the back of its neck.

But he restrained himself. The old hunter had spent five years teaching him to control these impulses, especially when dealing with “people.” When he detected the scent of fear, he was supposed to distance himself, although he had never actually had to practice this.

Yet, he didn’t smell fear this time—just a faint, sweet scent that was hard to identify, making it difficult for him to decide what to do.

Lin Shuishi suddenly realized the situation and quickly stepped back a few paces. Just as he was about to say something, Fuli pointed behind him. Lin Shuishi turned around, confused, only to see that the hides were about to sink!

Panicking, he quickly rolled up his pants and rushed to retrieve them, but the soaked hides were much heavier than he anticipated!

Seeing this, Fuli clicked his teeth, jumped into the hot spring, and scooped up both the hides and Lin Shuishi in one arm, carrying them back toward the wolves’ hot spring pool.

Lin Shuishi, held securely under Fuli’s strong arm, remained silent, only gently resting his hand on Fuli’s firm abdomen. He obediently let himself be placed into a warmer hot spring, where he relaxed and even quietly washed himself.

Both of their clothes were soaked, but while Fuli seemed unbothered by the cold, Lin Shuishi couldn’t afford to be so careless. He had no choice but to set up a fire to dry their clothes, even including Fuli’s somewhat stiff animal hide, which he started to tan as well.

Seeing Fuli’s simple and rough clothing, Lin Shuishi had an idea: why not sew a proper garment for him? But he didn’t have any needle and thread. As he pondered this, he noticed the wolves soaking downstream starting to shake off the water, preparing to return to their den.

Observing their fluffy coats and the tufts of fur they shed, he had another idea. Why not gather some of the wolf fur and spin it into yarn? He could knit a warm and close-fitting garment! One for Fuli, and one for himself!

Excited by this plan, Lin Shuishi felt a burst of energy and began to take in the scenery around him. The natural beauty of the area was breathtaking. Surrounded by vast, rugged mountains, the hot springs created a unique and enchanting landscape. He speculated that this place had once been a massive volcano, its underground magma still not fully cooled, causing the water to boil and create such a spectacular phenomenon.

As he explored, Lin Shuishi noticed some animals having a dispute near a rocky slope. Concerned about getting caught up in it, he moved closer to a stone wall to observe from a safe distance.

He soon realized it was a group of majestic black horses, their coats gleaming like silk, fighting over a piece of milky-white crystal rock. They were eagerly licking the crystalline stone, competing for access. Nearby, several cows and sheep were scattered around, also licking stones, accompanied by their young. It seemed as if the older animals were teaching the newborns where to find essential nutrients—a wisdom passed down through generations.

Lin Shuishi grew excited, suspecting what the shiny rocks might be. To confirm, he carefully approached a gazelle and picked up a small fragment of the rock from under its hooves.

The gazelle didn’t flee; the creatures of Dongshan had rarely encountered humans. Even though Fuli was around, they categorized him as a wolf. And Lin Shuishi, with his small stature and calm demeanor, posed no threat. To the herbivores, he seemed even less intimidating than a young calf or lamb.

Reassured by their indifference, Lin Shuishi licked the crystalline rock and smiled with satisfaction—it was salt. He realized that this discovery would help him survive even longer.

The last rays of the setting sun spread across Fuli’s honey-colored back, highlighting the valleys between his muscles and spine.

It was only after he turned away that Lin Shuishi dared to lift his eyes, watching the graceful beast as it disappeared into the forest. Even after the figure was gone, he stood there quietly for a while longer.

He let out a soft breath before turning to his tasks.

The area beneath the treehouse, despite the aftershocks of the earthquake, had only seen animals scurrying in panic. Unlike the plains, where the chaos had caused a terrifying stampede, there was little damage here—just some fallen branches and leaves, a few chicken feathers, and the tracks of small animals.

The ancient tree supporting the treehouse stood unchanged, its gnarled roots and sturdy branches whispering softly in the cold wind, as if murmuring secrets.

Lin Shuishi cleared the ground and then climbed up to the treehouse to clean the mushrooms and wood ear fungus he had gathered. He spread them out on the platform, so they could dry in the sun the next day for storage.

He cooked the sweet dates and frozen venison together, adding some roasted chestnuts from the stove into the stew. The result was a warm, hearty meal.

Full and content, he and the wolf cub sat by the fire, relaxing in the small tent. Lin Shuishi held a persimmon in his hand, which had softened after being thawed by the heat of the stove. He bit into the skin and sucked on it, savoring the sweet, slushy fruit inside.

Perhaps influenced by the resilient and wild nature of the creatures around him, he no longer dwelled on his past worries. His only thought now was to live well.

Every life is a passionate journey deserving of reverence, including his own.

He cradled the wolf cub, leaning against the warm stove inside the tent, mentally listing the tasks for the next day. Gradually, he drifted off to sleep. In his drowsiness, he thought of Fuli’s lair by the hot springs. It felt like it had underfloor heating—so comfortable, if only it weren’t for all the wolves…

Having walked a long way with the squirrel that day, Lin Shuishi was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep, forgetting to add more wood to the fire. He awoke in the middle of the night, shivering from the cold. As he wrapped himself in the stiff, unprocessed sheepskin to rekindle the fire, he couldn’t help but envy the wolves for finding such a cozy place to live.

He shivered again, feeling the chill and sniffling with envy.

In the morning, it wasn’t a dream that woke Lin Shuishi but the pressing need to relieve himself. It was all that meat soup from the night before!

So, he and the wolf cub went outside to water the plants. The wolf cub stood guard with a serious expression, believing that this was the time when beasts were most vulnerable. It needed to protect its territory and its pack, which, for now, consisted solely of Lin Shuishi—the only weakling human in its domain.

But as time would later teach the wolf cub, even this small territory and this one fragile “two-legged” creature belonged to someone else. It was a harsh lesson that made the young wolf resolve to grow stronger, realizing that power was the only true measure.

For now, Lin Shuishi found it amusing to see the wolf cub on high alert, and he simply hugged it, holding it close with a smile.

Today, Lin Shuishi planned to tan the animal hides; otherwise, the stiff sheepskin and deerskin would remain uncomfortable to wear. He scooped out the ashes from the stove, mixed them with the dirty snow he had collected, and stirred it all together with a stick before applying it to the inside of the sheepskin. Ideally, he would have soaked it, but there wasn’t enough water.

The deerskin was much larger than the sheepskin, and the snow water wasn’t enough, so Lin Shuishi had to pause his work and went back to the treehouse to eat some dates and chestnuts. His strength had been waning recently. The roasted meat and broth, without any salt, had become cloying, and his body was beginning to struggle.

Fuli didn’t consume salt, yet he remained strong and vigorous. Lin Shuishi suspected it was because the wolves, along with Fuli, drank animal blood. The salt content in the blood might be sufficient for their needs. But it wasn’t something Lin Shuishi could do—he couldn’t catch live prey, and even if he could, he couldn’t bring himself to drink the blood. So, he kept this thought in the back of his mind.

Lin Shuishi was resting in the treehouse when the wolf cub at his feet suddenly perked up its ears, let out a “howl,” and dashed down the vine ladder.

It turned out that Fuli had returned, bringing a few wolves along with him. He carried two dead bighorn sheep over his shoulder and had the skull bowl that Lin Shuishi had given him the previous night tucked into his waistband.

The wolf cub wagged its tail excitedly as it approached Fuli. The other wolves, seeing the cub, lowered their tails and sniffed the little one’s wet nose.

Fuli picked up the small cub that was getting underfoot and tossed it aside. After a brief moment of thought, he remembered how Lin Shuishi usually struggled with skinning animals, often taking a long time. So he stood at the edge of the forest, bit down on the sheep’s neck with his sharp teeth, and, with a powerful pull, tore the skin off in one swift motion, separating it from the body with his brute strength.

He spat out some of the wool and tossed the skinned sheep to the other wolves. As he looked up, he saw Lin Shuishi frozen midway on the vine ladder, neither up nor down, staring at him in shock.

Fuli carried the other bighorn sheep over, along with the sheep’s skin, and dropped them at Lin Shuishi’s feet. Then, without a word, he turned to leave.

Lin Shuishi looked at the items on the ground, opened his mouth, and rubbed his hands together. Unable to hold back, he called out, “Fuli, uh, Fuli!”

The beast, who had been striding away, paused at the sound of his name. Deep in the mountains, surrounded by wild animals, he had gradually lost the use of human language, replaced by animal howls. Even his name had almost been forgotten—there was no creature that would call him by a “human” name.

Fuli’s fingers twitched slightly as he turned to look at the hesitant figure on the vine ladder. His dark golden eyes were hidden by the braid that fell over his face, masking his expression.

The figure on the ladder was both frail and weak, someone who seemed like they wouldn’t survive, yet here they were, standing resiliently like wild grass in this desolate wilderness. His face had gained some color, and he seemed healthier now, though he still fidgeted with his hands as his bright, black eyes looked up at Fuli.

Looking at him, calling his name—the name that was meant to be forgotten by everyone.

Lin Shuishi, having called out his name, found it much easier to speak, so he continued, “Can you take me to find a nearby water source? I need to tan these hides, but there’s no water here. Uh, any water source will do, as long as it’s close!”

It had been years since Fuli had used any language, not since the old hunter passed away over a decade ago. As Lin Shuishi babbled on, Fuli tilted his head slightly, carefully discerning the meaning behind his words, and finally understood the weak creature’s request.

He signaled with his eyes for Lin Shuishi to follow.

Lin Shuishi was overjoyed but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he quickly hopped down the vine ladder, his cautiousness giving way to excitement as he said, “Wait for me! I’ll be right back!”

With swift movements, he grabbed a few vines, rolled up the hides, and tied them into a bundle. He then hoisted the large bundle onto his frail shoulders, struggling to lift his head as he said, “Let’s go.”

Fuli looked at the bundle, which was thicker than Lin Shuishi’s waist, and remained silent.

He couldn’t help but think that this weak creature might get crushed under the weight on the way to find water.

So, he extended his arm, effortlessly lifting the bundle of hides, and without looking back, headed into the forest. Lin Shuishi felt the sudden lightness on his shoulders, and although he hesitated for a moment as he watched Fuli’s retreating figure, he obediently lowered his head and followed behind.

As he trailed behind Fuli, he murmured a soft, “Thank you.”

Fuli didn’t walk as quickly as usual. This journey wasn’t a hunt but rather to show the weak creature the way to find water. He needed to make sure Lin Shuishi could survive in this forest, and the only way to do that was for him to walk the path himself and remember it.

Fuli recalled how the old wolf king had once taught him in the same way. Back then, a strong and graceful wolf had led the way, walking slowly ahead, while a stumbling child followed behind, crawling on all fours, trying to imitate the wolf’s movements…

When Fuli was a child, he believed he was a wolf. He moved on all fours, with no clothing to cover his body, and struggled to survive among the wolf pack. It wasn’t until the old hunter came along and told him that he was a descendant of the Wolf God tribe, that his name was Ashina Fuli, and that he was human.

As Lin Shuishi followed Fuli deeper into the forest, he began to recognize the surroundings. This was the direction he had taken on his first day in the forest! Back then, he had encountered a swampy area, and the surrounding smells were so unpleasant that he didn’t dare to go further.

Now, following Fuli along a rocky ridge that avoided the swamp, they continued forward.

By Lin Shuishi’s estimate, at the slow pace they were moving, they had been walking for nearly an hour. The trees around them were becoming sparser, the terrain started to slope downward, and there was a strange smell in the air, although the wind blowing through wasn’t as cold as before.

As they walked, Lin Shuishi looked around, hoping to find some edible fruits. Though he didn’t find any, he did spot a large patch of perilla plants growing near the swamp. There were many of them! He picked a leaf, sniffed it, and found the scent quite pleasant. He thought to himself that it would be great to eat with roasted meat tonight!

Feeling pleased, he looked ahead at the towering figure of Fuli. But then, through the thinning trees, he saw something that looked like a thick, smoky fog, a vast billowing mass!

Alarmed, Lin Shuishi hurried closer to Fuli, his brow furrowing as he stared ahead. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, fear creeping in. “Fuli! Is there a fire up ahead? There’s so much smoke! We need to run!”

A forest fire was no joke! He was ready to bolt, but Fuli simply turned around, looked down at him, and didn’t move.

Lin Shuishi hesitated, reaching out slightly but not daring to grab Fuli. He was so anxious that he started to stomp his feet in frustration.

Seeing Lin Shuishi in such a state, Fuli narrowed his eyes slightly, as if contemplating speaking. Finally, in his deep, resonant voice with a hint of animalistic undertone, he said, “Hot water.”

Lin Shuishi was about to tug on Fuli’s fur belt—though he knew he wouldn’t be able to budge someone as large as Fuli—but then he heard that deep voice, clearer this time.

He paused, “Huh? Hot water?”

Seeing Fuli so calm, Lin Shuishi began to relax. Wild animals are the most aware of danger; if the forest were on fire, Fuli wouldn’t be so composed. But hot water? What did that mean?

Lin Shuishi looked more carefully at the “smoke” ahead, then sniffed the air. They were downwind, and if there were a fire, there should be a smoky smell!

But there wasn’t. Instead, there was a strong odor of rotten eggs!

Only then did Lin Shuishi realize what Fuli meant by “hot water.” Relief washed over him, but thinking back to his panicked reaction just moments ago, he glanced at Fuli’s dark golden beast-like eyes.

He suddenly wished he could curl up into a ball, a smooth, quiet ball that could roll all the way down the mountain and disappear.

Lin Shuishi widened his eyes, staring at Fuli, who had suddenly spoken, completely dumbfounded.

He opened his mouth, “Huh?”

Fuli hadn’t spoken in years, so his tone was a bit strange, even making his own name feel awkward and foreign. Seeing the little creature with those wide eyes, he assumed he hadn’t understood.

It was understandable, and he internally laughed at himself.

As Lin Shuishi looked up into Fuli’s deep eyes, their gazes met, and it finally dawned on him—Golden Eyes could talk! No, wait, Fuli could talk! This man had just told him his name was Fuli!

Lin Shuishi would forever remember this moment. In the dappled sunlight of the forest, under the trees where leopards had attacked, this man, with blood on his face and a voice resonating with a beastly undertone, seriously said to him—Ashina Fuli.

It was a scene he would later revisit often in his dreams.

The two leopards that were still fighting the mixed-fur white wolf froze when they saw Fuli return. Immediately, they fluffed up their fur and turned to flee, but the white wolf bared its teeth and aggressively lunged at them.

Fuli glanced up at the treetop, where the fat squirrel that had helped by throwing “hidden weapons” was now trying to hide its chubby body with its trembling bushy tail, in a rather futile attempt.

He nudged the chestnuts on the ground with his foot and saw they were indeed the same roasted ones that the little creature had shared with him the other day. It made sense—these two small beings had known each other for a while, even sharing food.

Fuli concluded that this was just the sort of useless mutual aid found among small, weak, herbivorous animals…

With that thought, he dashed forward and quickly killed the fleeing leopard. The white wolf finished off its opponent as well, though it had a minor ear injury. It proudly rubbed its head against Fuli’s strong thigh, still basking in the glory of its bravery.

The wolf, despite its size, only reached Fuli’s thigh but was nearly as tall as Lin Shuishi’s waist. Lin Shuishi even struggled to climb onto the white wolf’s back.

Lin Shuishi sighed but was even more curious about Fuli’s true identity. Not only was he different from Lin Shuishi, but he also didn’t resemble anyone in Shuishi’s memories. It was as if Fuli was a being separate from the world, a mountain spirit or a forest beast.

Yet, he understood human language.

With the area now free of danger, Fuli led the white wolf away. He knew that the weak little creature had its own things to do, constantly busy with strange ideas and methods.

He decided to leave Lin Shuishi here to “graze.”

Lin Shuishi watched them drag the leopard carcass away without fear. He now believed that this entire territory was under Fuli’s control, making him feel like a sly little fox pretending to be a tiger.

As he was calming down from the earlier panic, resting with his hands on his hips under the tree, a de-shelled chestnut suddenly fell with a thud, hitting him on the head. Lin Shuishi immediately looked up.

“You little fatty!” he exclaimed.

The squirrel in the tree, seeing Fuli walk away, grew bolder. It held a pile of small dried fruits in its tiny front paws and hid in the tree canopy, chattering “kakaka” at Lin Shuishi, its eyes narrowing mischievously.

Lin Shuishi was very grateful for the squirrel’s earlier “chestnut-throwing assistance,” even though it hadn’t been much help. After all, leopards can climb trees, and if truly provoked, they could have easily climbed up to hunt the squirrel.

After celebrating his narrow escape, Lin Shuishi resumed gathering food. He quickly wove a simple basket from some resilient vines he found that still showed signs of life in the winter, and retraced his steps to collect chestnuts.

The fat squirrel, seeing itself as the boss, considered Lin Shuishi a little brother. After all, Lin Shuishi had given it an exceptionally large chestnut! It was the biggest chestnut the squirrel had ever owned. It wasn’t that such chestnuts were uncommon, but the squirrel’s tiny hands made it impossible to carry one back from far away. The only reason it could bring it back was because Lin Shuishi had conveniently left it at the base of the tree, right by its home.

So, the squirrel decided to lead by example! It would show its little brother around its domain, letting him see its “feast of fruits”! This way, the country bumpkin could broaden his horizons.

By the time night fell, Lin Shuishi was dragging his tired body, covered in grass and snow, back to the treehouse, laden with his haul. He had gathered a large amount of hazel mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, chestnuts, hazelnuts, wild dates, and sweet persimmons. He was carrying so much that he couldn’t hold any more, even carrying a lingzhi mushroom in his mouth!

It was the first time he had ever seen a real lingzhi mushroom, and it was such a big one too. He left the smaller ones behind, simply noting their location for future reference.

All the way back, he refused to drop anything, and with a determined effort, he managed to haul everything back to the treehouse. His little face was flushed red from the exertion, and he was sweating, but he didn’t feel cold at all.

Fuli, lying in the tree, watched Lin Shuishi return with what looked like a load of “grass” on his back, no longer trying to understand the strange and divergent thoughts of this weak little creature. He simply rolled over, facing the glow of the setting sun.

Waiting for Lin Shuishi was the enthusiastic little wolf cub, who eagerly circled around him.

The wolf wanted some meat soup! The wolf wanted some of those black round things! The sweet taste of chestnuts had won over the little wolf, and now that Lin Shuishi was back, it was time to eat!

Lin Shuishi unloaded his haul and caught his breath. He started up the stove, but the first thing he did wasn’t to cook. He had already eaten plenty of wild fruits and dates and wasn’t too hungry.

Instead, he took out a stone pot and smashed the lingzhi into pieces, slowly boiling them to make a cup of dark yellow lingzhi water. He poured it into a bowl made from an animal skull found in the treehouse and carried it up to the platform.

He stood there for a while before speaking up, “Um, Gold—no, wait.”

He bit his tongue, forcing himself to forget the name “Golden Eyes.”

“Fu—Fuli, this is lingzhi water. It can help reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Uh, I think the injured wolf really needs it.”

He saw some movement in the branches, and Fuli stood up, looking down at him from above.

“Why don’t you give it to the wolf? It’ll heal faster after drinking it.”

Fuli leaped down, landing on the treehouse platform with surprising lightness, like a nimble forest panther. Lin Shuishi, caught off guard, took a step back, causing the lingzhi water to slosh in the bowl but not spill.

It was his first time being this close to Fuli! Lin Shuishi’s head only reached the man’s chest, and he could almost feel the heat radiating from Fuli’s body. His face quickly turned red.

Lin Shuishi didn’t dare look up. He just raised the bowl in his hands, his eyes fixed on his own toes.

Suddenly, the bowl in his hands felt lighter. When he looked up again, Fuli had already jumped off the platform, carrying the bowl of lingzhi water without spilling a drop, his figure disappearing into the forest.

Lin Shuishi rubbed his hands together, feeling as though the scent and presence of Fuli still lingered around him.

That scent—Fuli’s scent—had become unforgettable to him.

—

Thandar: probably smells like armpit since he never seems to shower

Although Lin Shuishi was eager to save the wolf, he had no idea where to start. Not only was he in the wolves’ den, but there wasn’t even a needle and thread in the treehouse! Should he run down to the village? Even if he were lucky enough to find the way, by the time he returned, the wolf would already be long dead.

He bit his lip and looked at the white wolf, whose breathing was growing weaker, deciding to do his best to try.

Fate had given him another chance at life, healthy and whole. So why not this giant wolf, a creature of the mountains?

Finally, Lin Shuishi found a dead sheep among the pile of carcasses the wolves had dragged to the mountain ridge, its belly torn open by a bull’s horn. He tore out the clean parts of its intestines to use as thread for stitching.

He then went to Fuli’s lair and took out a slender, sharp tooth of some unknown animal. Using a stone, he carefully chipped a small notch at the end of the tooth to hold the sheep intestine. With hurried, trembling hands, he knelt beside the blood-soaked injured wolf and began to stitch up its abdomen, where its organs were already exposed.

Fuli dispersed the surrounding wolves, leaving only the wolf king’s mate, who continued to gently lick her partner, keeping her body close to warm the white wolf king, whose body had grown cold from excessive blood loss.

By the time the sky darkened, Lin Shuishi had also splinted the wolf king’s broken leg with branches, hoping it would heal straight.

Despite the biting cold wind, Lin Shuishi was drenched in sweat.

The day’s events were unbelievable to him, a former invalid. The boundless forests and plains, the wild stampede of beasts, and his deep involvement with this fierce wolf pack—none of it seemed real. It felt like a dream, as if he would wake up to find himself back in his small, unchanged room of over ten years, with the old wheelchair under his bed…

Fuli stepped forward, scooped up the unconscious Lin Shuishi, and examined him carefully, relieved to find no injuries—just exhaustion. Hesitating slightly, he placed Lin Shuishi in a warm, dry nest and covered him with animal skins.

He had allowed a weak female, who was not his mate, to stay in his wolf den.

But Lin Shuishi was too fragile; even in the rigid hierarchy of the wolf pack, he couldn’t survive well on his own, even though he was different and had a way of tugging at one’s heartstrings with his “little tricks.”

Stars hung low in the sky, and the moon reached its zenith.

Fuli brought out an elderly female wolf from a tree hollow. Her once white fur was now yellowed, and her blue eyes were clouded, yet they seemed to hold the essence of the heavens and earth, the mountains and rivers. She was the “mother” of both Fuli and the wolf king.

The wolves stood on the mountain ridge, surrounding their injured leader, howling at the moon. They were communicating with nature and the world, following in the footsteps of the wolf god, respecting life, praying for it, and revering it.

Half-asleep in the wolf den, Lin Shuishi felt the howls of the wolves resonate within him, as if his very soul was connecting with them. His body felt warm, and he slept soundly until morning.

Lin Shuishi woke up the next day, driven by hunger. It took him a while to remember where he was. As he cautiously peeked out of the cave, he saw several wolf pups peeking curiously in his direction. Fuli’s den was in the highest part of the area, and no wolves dared to approach.

Only one white wolf cub, looking particularly proud, strutted confidently over to Lin Shuishi, its little legs kicking as it ran. It eagerly licked Lin Shuishi several times, making “slurp slurp” sounds.

Lin Shuishi laughed and picked up the little one, ruffling its fur. “Oh my, the little king is so mighty!”

But then he became puzzled. Looking around, he noticed that there were only a few adult wolves left in the area—mostly pups and a few white wolves guarding the injured wolf king.

In reality, Lin Shuishi had no idea that most of the wolf pack members, even when food was plentiful, still went on group hunts, leaving behind only a few to watch over the pups and guard the den, ready to alert the others in case of danger.

After yesterday’s battle, the wolf pack had returned to calm, allowing the pups to finally come out of their dens. Some were gnawing on bones, others were playing by pouncing on leaves—each one content in its own way.

As soon as Lin Shuishi stepped out of the wolf den, the adult wolves on guard became watchful, monitoring his every move. This made him feel uneasy, as though there were thorns on his back. Despite his hunger, he didn’t dare touch any of the prey, fearing he might provoke an attack.

So, he cautiously made his way to the edge of the hot spring. He cupped some of the spring water in his hands, finding it pleasantly warm. He sniffed it, and detecting no strange odors, he took a tentative sip—freshwater. At last, he had found a drinkable water source!

Judging by the appearance of the spring, it seemed to be mineral water, rather than the more common sulfuric spring.

Suddenly, Lin Shuishi couldn’t help but smile to himself. If this were a sulfur spring, wouldn’t the entire wolf den smell like rotten eggs? And wouldn’t that imposing figure, Fuli, reek of rotten eggs too? Haha!

As he thought about this, Lin Shuishi felt a strange warmth in his chest. That man-beast only carried the scent of sunlight, mixed with the intense musk of a powerful male. Thinking back to yesterday, when those strong arms had held him, he might have detected a faint scent of…dog?

His face suddenly flushed. When had he ever paid so much attention to someone’s scent? But still, Fuli was different from anyone he had ever met—unique in every way, even down to his scent.

He quickly lowered his head, trying to cover his embarrassment, and drank another gulp of the warm spring water. To his surprise, it tasted sweet!

This vast, steaming hot spring was sweeter than any snow he had ever eaten in the village below!

Meanwhile, the few adult wolves watching from a distance saw the human, who was soaked in their second leader’s scent, guzzling the sacred spring water with shining eyes, looking rather silly.

So, they turned their attention elsewhere, deciding to focus on more meaningful things, like the wolf king’s condition.

Whether it was Lin Shuishi’s stitching, Fuli’s potent green herbal paste, or their midnight prayers to the wolf god, something had worked. By morning, the wolf king had opened his eyes and started eating. For a wild animal, the ability to eat was a sign of survival.

But now, Lin Shuishi himself needed to eat! He had only drunk water and didn’t dare touch the wolves’ food. He started thinking about how he could return to the treehouse. Though this place was warm and had sweet water, he felt uneasy being surrounded by wolves whose paws were thicker than his arms.

He hesitated for a while but finally decided to try and make his way back alone, heading toward the sloped forest where the green wolves had originally brought him down. But he had barely taken a few steps when the little white wolf ran up and tugged at his pants leg with its baby teeth.

Lin Shuishi picked up the pup by the scruff of its neck and held it in front of his face. “I ran all this way, and it’s all your fault! You’d better stay in the den and behave. Aren’t you the little king around here?”

The white wolf cub didn’t seem to care what Lin Shuishi said. It just followed him, step by step, refusing to stay behind. It had already been entrusted to the pack’s strongest “wolf” by its parents, and Fuli had tossed it into Lin Shuishi’s arms.

Ever since it had eaten the chestnuts peeled by Lin Shuishi and drunk the meat soup he had made, the little white wolf had decided that it would be Lin Shuishi’s wolf from now on!

As man and wolf stood stubbornly at the edge of the forest, a chorus of howls echoed from the mountainside. Fuli was leading the pack back from the hunt. The pups in the den were excited, rushing to the mountainside, while a few adult wolves, worried they might fall, picked them up one by one and carried them back.

Lin Shuishi looked up and saw a large group of white wolves surrounding Fuli. Their muzzles were all stained with blood, and they panted, exhaling clouds of white breath.

The white wolves dragged three strong water buffalo up to the ridge, gutted them, and offered the innards to their injured leader. Only after Fuli had torn off a leg did the rest of the wolves begin to eat.

Fuli glanced at the two figures in the forest but didn’t intervene. He went to check on the wolf king, and to his surprise, the wolf king was recovering and could eat. It seemed that the weak creature’s methods had worked; indeed, it was essential to sew up a gaping wound. Fuli lowered his head, and the two brothers touched noses in a brief moment of connection.

Lin Shuishi observed his surroundings and noticed that only white wolves remained—perhaps a few with mixed fur, but the green and gray wolves were nowhere to be seen.

He didn’t realize that this area was exclusively for the white wolf pack. Other wolf groups lived separately in the mountains and forests, not having the privilege to reside with the ruling white wolves. They merely followed orders.

Fuli sat beside the wolf king, tearing into a buffalo leg with his sharp teeth. His black, braided hair, now sticky with blood, made him look especially fierce. Lin Shuishi stood there for a long time before finally mustering the courage to quietly mutter in Fuli’s direction, “Um, I want to go back to the treehouse. Can you show me the way?”

What should have been a simple request came out as a hesitant murmur, leaving Lin Shuishi unsure if Fuli had even heard him. But as he watched the bloody scene of the buffalo being gutted and devoured, he was too scared to breathe.

Fuli’s dark golden eyes flicked over to the distant figure of Lin Shuishi and the little wolf pup. His ear twitched slightly, sensing that the fragile creature was using those “methods” again. With a sharp pull of his teeth, Fuli ripped off a piece of sinew and meat and tossed it to a nearby white wolf with mixed fur. He growled in the wolf’s throat for a moment, issuing a command.

The mixed-fur white wolf took the meat back to its den before turning around and running straight toward Lin Shuishi. However, the wolf wasn’t quite sure how to get the “two-legged” creature onto its back, so it simply lay down on the ground like a small cow.

Lin Shuishi was initially hesitant to get close, as he wasn’t familiar with this particular wolf. But when he saw Fuli gesture at him, he bit his lip and cautiously climbed onto the mixed-fur wolf’s back.

Before he could even settle in, the wolf bolted, racing through the forest. Lin Shuishi let out an involuntary scream, clutching the white fur tightly as they sped off.

The little white wolf pup, seeing this, howled and ran after Lin Shuishi, chasing them into the forest and back toward Fuli’s treehouse territory.

This white wolf was much faster and stronger than the two lazy, sneaky scouts. The wolf pup was soon left far behind as Lin Shuishi clung to the wolf’s back, too afraid to open his eyes for fear of being scratched by the branches whipping past.

After a bumpy ride, the terrain leveled out, and the trees became sparse. Lin Shuishi finally lifted his head and realized they had arrived near the fat squirrel’s home from the other day. He thought about gathering more chestnuts but didn’t have time to speak before the white wolf suddenly braked.

The abrupt stop sent Lin Shuishi flying off the wolf’s back, tumbling onto the snow-covered ground and dry leaves. Though it didn’t hurt much, Lin Shuishi froze in place when he looked up.

Three well-fed leopards were surrounding them, their intent to attack unmistakable. They let out low growls and pounced simultaneously. The white wolf lunged at two of the leopards, locking them in a fierce battle, while the third leopard took advantage of the distraction and leaped straight at Lin Shuishi’s throat.

Terrified, Lin Shuishi rolled to the side, but just then, a shower of chestnuts rained down from the trees, pelting the leopard. It was the fat squirrel hidden in the treetop!

Unfortunately, the chestnuts had little effect, merely annoying the leopard. The squirrel jumped up and down in frustration, but there was nothing more it could do.

Angered, the leopard bared its yellow teeth and swiped its claws, turning to pounce on Lin Shuishi.

In that moment of crisis, Lin Shuishi instinctively shouted, “Golden Eyes!”

As he closed his eyes, trembling and wildly flailing his fists in defense, he suddenly noticed the surroundings go silent. Opening his eyes, he saw a strong, dark figure standing before him, backlit like a mountain.

With broad shoulders and a muscular waist, the figure still had dried blood from a bull on his hair, but his right hand was clenched like a deadly claw around the leopard’s throat. The muscles in his arm tensed, and with a crunch, he snapped the leopard’s neck.

The leopard struggled for a moment before going limp, then was tossed aside.

Lin Shuishi was dumbfounded. The man turned and looked down at him with a calm expression, his dark golden eyes shining. His rugged features were sharp and defined. In a deep, steady voice, he slowly spoke a few words.

“Fuli.”

After a moment of thought, he repeated himself.

“Ashina Fuli.”

…

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.

The forest at night.

Lin Shuishi dismantled the small tent he had set up under the tree and moved everything to the earth stove. He dug the stove’s fire entrance deeper and wider, then set up the small tent over it. He blocked the tent’s other side with the deerskin and laid the thick, new sheepskin on the ground over the stove’s fire entrance.

However, both the sheepskin and deerskin had dried out and were stiff because they hadn’t been properly treated. He realized that tomorrow, after gathering the scattered chestnuts, he would need to soften the hides to make them warm and pliable.

With the fire glowing in the stove and frost beginning to form on the ground outside, Lin Shuishi finally completed his work inside and outside the small tent. The tent was now surrounded by earthen walls that blocked the wind, and as long as he kept the fire fed, it would stay burning through the night.

Cuddling the fluffy little wolf, he curled up in the warm, enclosed space. The heat from the stove made him even sleepier. The little wolf felt secure in Lin Shuishi’s embrace, yawning widely and even tearing up a bit.

And so, the young man and the wolf pup slept warmly together in the cold winter night.

This time, Lin Shuishi felt completely at ease, no longer worrying about what he would do if wild animals approached in the middle of the night.

He knew that the golden-eyed man was up in the tree canopy above the small tent. With someone as terrifying as him nearby, no wild beast would dare come close…

The next morning, the tent was still warm. Lin Shuishi was half-asleep when he suddenly felt the little wolf wriggling in his arms. By the time he fully woke up, the pup had already darted out of the deerskin tent flap and was tugging at his pant leg, trying to pull him outside.

“Hey, where are you going? Need to pee? I don’t!”

Lin Shuishi didn’t rush. He carefully rolled up the sheepskin before stepping out, but suddenly, he felt the ground tremble lightly. It took him a moment to realize what was happening—it felt like an earthquake!

He remembered that the year before he had come to this place, his mother had taken him to visit his grandparents in rural Sichuan, and they had experienced a significant earthquake. His mother had pushed him to a safe open area with a tense expression. Thankfully, the low-rise houses in the countryside hadn’t suffered any major damage.

But that feeling of the earth shaking beneath him had stayed with him, and now it was happening again!

The tremor here was mild, but Lin Shuishi could still faintly hear the distant cries of animals. The wolf pup at his feet stood with its ears pricked up, constantly adjusting its ear direction while its body crouched low, baring its baby teeth in a threatening growl.

Just as Lin Shuishi was about to bend down to calm the pup, it suddenly bolted away. Despite being young, it was strong and agile, quickly disappearing into the forest with long strides.

Lin Shuishi immediately felt a surge of panic. He shouted toward the large tree, “Hey, Golden Eyes!”

The dense branches of the ancient tree rustled, but there was no reply.

Lin Shuishi hesitated, torn between staying and leaving, while the sounds of startled animals echoed around him—pheasants fluttered past, only to fly away in a panic, and the cries of wild boars could be heard.

Clenching his teeth and making a quick decision, Lin Shuishi grabbed his bone knife and set off in the direction the wolf pup had disappeared.

He followed for quite a while, initially catching glimpses of the pup, but eventually losing sight of it altogether. The terrain grew increasingly complex, unlike the area around the treehouse, which was dominated by tall, ancient trees. Here, the ground was overgrown with thickets and dense, low-hanging trees. His legs and arms were already scratched in several places.

Lin Shuishi was at a loss, so he called out several times, “Little white wolf! White wolf!”

But instead of finding the wolf pup, he encountered a few foxes fleeing in haste. Frowning, he realized there were too many animals here, which likely meant predators were nearby. Chasing the pup seemed futile, and he was now at risk of becoming someone else’s meal. He decided it would be best to return to the treehouse.

Just then, he heard rustling in the bushes along the path he had come from. Anxiety gripped him—who knew what kind of wild animal was on the loose? He pressed himself against a thorn bush, holding the bone knife defensively across his chest.

Lin Shuishi braced himself, but after a long moment of rustling, two familiar wolf heads poked out of the bushes. Their sly and mischievous expressions were unmistakable—it was the two scout wolves he recognized.

Lin Shuishi cautiously approached and asked with some hope in his voice, “Do you know where the little white wolf went?” He figured that if the golden-eyed man could understand human speech, maybe these wild wolves could too.

The two scout wolves exchanged glances—they definitely didn’t understand.

They had originally been ordered to guard the “two-legged” one in the wolf king’s brother’s territory. But when they arrived, they couldn’t find him anywhere. Eventually, they picked up the scent of the wolf king’s cub and followed it to Lin Shuishi.

The wolves assumed that Lin Shuishi and the wolf king’s cub were heading to the same place. But the “two-legged” creature was so weak and slow that the cub had left him far behind…

Remembering the offering of deer liver from the other day, the green wolf didn’t hesitate. It was almost as tall as a person and nudged Lin Shuishi, causing him to topple over onto its back. One wolf led the way, scaring off any panicked animals blocking the path, while the other wolf carried the small and frail Lin Shuishi as they sped forward.

By sheer luck, he was being taken to find the little white wolf.

It all happened so quickly that Lin Shuishi barely had time to react. Suddenly, he was lying on the wolf’s back, rushing through the forest without knowing the direction. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel very afraid. He knew these wolves obeyed the golden-eyed man, and since they seemed intelligent, he hoped they meant him no harm. The thought that they might have understood his request made him a little happy.

It was his first time “riding a wolf,” and despite the urgency of the situation, he took a moment to appreciate the experience. The green wolf ran swiftly, showing no signs of strain from carrying him.

To avoid falling off, Lin Shuishi adjusted his position, wrapping his arms around the wolf’s neck and squeezing his legs tightly against its sides. He could clearly feel the powerful muscles moving beneath the wolf’s fur as it ran. He marveled at the wonders of nature and admired these wild, untamed creatures.

And these wild creatures were quite warm and fuzzy too.

The green wolf glanced back at Lin Shuishi, seemingly satisfied that he wouldn’t fall off, and then picked up the pace.

Lin Shuishi could only watch as the trees on either side blurred past. In no time, they had exited the thorny area with difficult terrain and entered a forest with clear, orderly vegetation. The path led uphill at a steep incline, and the green wolf slowed its pace to climb.

After a short run, they crested the slope, and the ground sloped downward. There was even a small path through the forest, likely an animal trail worn smooth by frequent use. Familiar with the layout of the forest, the wolves quickened their pace again.

Lin Shuishi clung tightly to the green wolf’s neck. In his nervousness, he squeezed a bit too hard, causing the wolf to stretch its neck and cough a few times, shaking its head.

Lin Shuishi quickly loosened his grip and tightened his legs around the wolf’s belly instead, hurriedly apologizing, “Sorry, sorry, it’s my first time—I’m not very good at riding.”

Finally, they emerged from the dense forest, and Lin Shuishi’s view suddenly opened up.

Before him lay a flat basin surrounded by mountains on three sides. In the center was a wide, blue pool of water, reflecting the sky and clouds and steaming gently—it was a hot spring.

Next to the pool were remnants of broken walls and ruins, with bricks and tiles that glowed like white jade, smooth and translucent. It seemed like the remains of a once-grand palace.

But what really startled Lin Shuishi was that the area around the hot spring was filled with wolves! Green ones, gray ones, white ones—an entire pack, all staring intently at him.

Lin Shuishi froze, his whole body tensing up. He had only wanted to find the wolf cub, not stumble upon the entire wolf den…

The wolves all watched him with wary, dangerous eyes. The two green wolves beside him were now cowering too—they were low-ranking in the pack. They let Lin Shuishi down and crouched low to the ground.

Lin Shuishi, feeling helpless, awkwardly stood next to the two green wolves. His new legs suddenly didn’t feel so reliable—they were a bit shaky.

Lin Shuishi watched as a large, strong white wolf with sleek, striking fur slowly approached him. There were clear signs that she had recently given birth. The other wolves parted to make way for her.

The white wolf’s pale blue eyes looked at Lin Shuishi with suspicion. She moved closer to sniff him, tilting her head. If the little white wolf did this, it would have been cute, but this imposing white wolf’s curious head tilt only made Lin Shuishi more nervous. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was the little white wolf’s mother—did she think he was a child thief?

After finishing her inspection, the white wolf circled Lin Shuishi twice, then turned her authoritative blue gaze toward the two green wolves. The two cowards lowered their heads, not daring to lift their eyes, and made low, grumbling noises in their throats.

The white wolf stared at Lin Shuishi for a moment longer before turning away and letting out a howl. She then gracefully returned to the wolf pack. Hearing her call, the other wolves stopped watching Lin Shuishi and shifted their attention back to the opposite side of the mountain, where a snow-covered rocky slope lay.

Lin Shuishi had no idea what they were looking at. With the immediate danger seemingly passed and no wolves paying him any attention, he took a few shaky steps backward and sat down on the ground, too afraid to run.

As he sat there, sweating from the cold, a little cub suddenly squeezed out from somewhere within the wolf pack after hearing the white wolf’s howl. With a series of “woofs,” it ran straight to Lin Shuishi.

In an instant, it was in his arms. Lin Shuishi took a closer look and, with a mix of relief and frustration, tugged at the little white wolf’s cheeks. Seeing the wolf pack with their backs turned, he had to suppress his anger and muttered quietly, “You little rascal! If I knew you were running to the wolf den, I wouldn’t have chased after you! What do I do now?”

The little white wolf didn’t seem to care and, after snuggling with him for a moment, ran back to the pack, gazing toward the mountain ridge. Lin Shuishi started to feel uneasy. The wolves’ behavior suggested that some danger was approaching, something he wasn’t aware of.

The two green wolves had already risen to their feet. They initially wanted to return to the outskirts of the pack but hesitated when they looked at Lin Shuishi.

As Lin Shuishi sat on the ground, unsure of what to do, he suddenly felt the ground begin to shake slightly. It didn’t feel like an earthquake; it was more like the thunderous approach of an army. At that moment, the wolf pack, led by the white wolf, began to charge toward the mountain ridge, leaving only the cubs and some of the weaker, older wolves behind.

The little white wolf tried to join them but was quickly grabbed by the scruff of the neck by another wolf with some gray fur and tossed back to Lin Shuishi.

Thinking quickly, Lin Shuishi comforted the pouting wolf cub, then patted the green wolf beside him. Understanding his intention, the green wolf crouched down to let him climb on, and they rushed forward together.

Following behind the pack, Lin Shuishi reached the snow-covered ridge and gasped in shock.

Below him stretched a vast plain covered in winter snow, with patches of green grass still visible.

What shocked him the most was the massive herd of wild buffalo thundering across the plain toward the wolves’ side of the slope. Behind the buffalo, a few scattered deer and horses also ran.

Though the wolf pack numbered at least three to five hundred, they stood no chance if that mass of dark animals trampled them.

Lin Shuishi was terrified, but he couldn’t understand why the wolves weren’t fleeing. Instead, they held their ground at the ridge, their eyes resolute.

Suddenly, from within the stampeding buffalo herd, he heard a powerful wolf howl, “Awoo!”

The wolves responded, their howls echoing across the mountain ridge. The frantic animals hesitated momentarily but continued their frenzied charge, led by their panicked leader.

Lin Shuishi, caught in the middle of it all, felt both the primal fear of humans toward wild beasts and a rising sense of exhilaration.

Amid the wolves’ angry howls and the pounding of hooves, Lin Shuishi was startled to see a lithe figure leaping through the panicked herd.

This figure rode a sturdy, strong white wolf, almost the size of a small cow. With a powerful leap from the wolf’s back, the figure landed on the back of a massive, charging buffalo, jumping from one beast to another until he found the giant lead buffalo. He then leaped onto its neck.

The buffalo immediately thrashed, crashing into the other members of its herd. The fallen buffalo were instantly trampled into bloody mud by the stampeding horde, causing Lin Shuishi’s teeth to chatter in fear.

Was the golden-eyed man trying to get himself killed?

On his first exploration of the forest, Lin Shuishi was very cautious. He didn’t go far, and he didn’t collect much.

As the sky gradually darkened, he quickened his pace. Following the red ribbon markers, he soon arrived back at the fallen tree where he had collected the water celery and mushrooms. The vine basket on his back was heavy, leaving red marks on his thin shoulders. He set it down and sat on the fallen tree to rest for a moment.

He realized he needed to hurry! The sky was darkening much faster than he had anticipated. Without a watch, he could only estimate the time by the sun, and while it had been bright and sunny just a short while ago, it had quickly dimmed. Everything in this world was still very unfamiliar to him.

Reluctantly, Lin Shuishi decided to lighten his load by emptying out most of the heavy chestnuts into the hollow of the fallen tree to retrieve them tomorrow.

Just as he stood up with the basket on his back, he froze. A spotted leopard was crouched behind a pile of fallen branches, its cold eyes locked onto him, its body poised to strike.

Lin Shuishi didn’t dare breathe. Staring down the powerful leopard, he realized that his only “weapon” was a handful of spiky chestnuts. His body tensed, and sweat broke out on his back.

He had never encountered anything more dangerous than a cat, which had once scratched him and drawn blood. But a leopard? It was a far more skilled and deadly hunter, agile and fierce.

Shaking, Lin Shuishi lifted the vine basket, ready to fling the spiky chestnuts at the leopard as a last-ditch effort to defend himself.

But just as the leopard was about to pounce, it suddenly recoiled, arching its back and hissing threateningly in Lin Shuishi’s direction.

Lin Shuishi blinked in confusion. Could it be that the chestnuts in his basket were that terrifying?

He didn’t waste any time pondering. Sensing an opportunity, he turned and ran, but as he glanced back, he saw a figure crouched on the thick, dead tree trunk—a person!

The figure was posed like a wild beast, on all fours, with hair bristling and eyes glowing like the flames of a wolf, sharp white fangs bared in a silent snarl.

Lin Shuishi had faced the leopard with some level of composure, but the sight of Fuli, exuding an overwhelming and bestial aura, made him scream. His legs gave way beneath him, and he fell to the ground, spilling his spiky chestnut “weapons” all over the place.

Fuli paid no attention to the frightened “female.” He bared his teeth, flexed his powerful arms, and with a swift leap, launched himself at the leopard that had intruded into his territory.

The leopard, normally bold and confident, turned and fled at the sight of Fuli’s ferocity. Despite its agility, it was no match for Fuli, who quickly brought it down. The two clashed in a violent, primal battle of snarls and roars.

Lin Shuishi was stunned.

He had only ever seen Fuli resting quietly after a hunt, which had already made him feel uneasy and less human. But now, he was witnessing the most brutal and savage hand-to-hand combat imaginable!

No weapons, no armor—just sharp teeth, claws, and raw, powerful bodies.

In a matter of moments, Fuli had subdued the leopard, throwing its bloody and wounded body against a tree trunk and leaving it there. In the icy cold, his broad chest heaved as he exhaled a cloud of white breath. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his hand, he walked toward Lin Shuishi.

Lin Shuishi sat dazed on the ground, clutching his vine basket, chestnuts scattered everywhere, still holding a handful of water celery in his hand without even realizing it.

Fuli was puzzled. Hadn’t he just hunted for this “female”? Why was she holding onto wild grass? Were females supposed to eat grass? The old hunter had never mentioned that…

As Fuli approached, Lin Shuishi instinctively scooted back, causing Fuli to stop in his tracks.

He could smell the fear. The “female” he had brought back was afraid, just like the wild animals on Dongshan. They feared him, were intimidated by him, and wanted to keep their distance.

So, Fuli turned around, ready to leap into the trees.

At that moment, Lin Shuishi finally snapped out of his daze. Seeing that it was already dark, he reminded himself that the golden-eyed man had never harmed him—in fact, it seemed he had saved him each time.

Smelling the blood in the air, Lin Shuishi, still trembling, managed to ask, “A-are you hurt? I-I have some cloth strips.”

Fuli suddenly turned back, his eyes glinting faintly in the moonlight. He clearly saw the small, trembling figure, now crying from the cold, with a bit of snot on his nose—he looked rather pitiful.

Suppressing his irritation, Fuli walked over to Lin Shuishi.

He quietly thought to himself that perhaps this was how the weak creature managed to survive—by appearing so helpless that it triggered his restraint and tolerance. It was a rather impressive survival strategy.

Fuli didn’t realize that this approach might only work on him. After all, what wild animal would care if its prey looked pitiful? They only cared if it was tasty.

When Fuli reached Lin Shuishi, he didn’t say a word. He simply picked him up with one hand, ready to leave. As Lin Shuishi got a closer look, he realized that Fuli wasn’t injured at all—he was just sweaty, probably from the heat of the fight. Seeing that Fuli was about to carry him off, Lin Shuishi felt a bit panicked.

He knew that the arm gripping the back of his neck could easily tear him apart if Fuli chose to exert his strength!

Not daring to resist, Lin Shuishi clutched the now half-empty vine basket to his chest. Like a frightened cat, he tucked in his head and let the human-like beast carry him away.

Fuli moved quickly, sometimes covering more than ten meters in a single leap. Unlike Lin Shuishi, who had to take small steps and navigate around steep slopes, often needing to check his markers to stay on track, Fuli found a direct route, leaping over several cliffs. In just a short time, Lin Shuishi was safely back at the treehouse, though he felt a bit dizzy from the wild ride.

Fortunately, after setting him down, Fuli was called away by the howling of wolves. Left alone under the ancient tree with only the little wolf pup, Lin Shuishi watched as the pup tried to imitate the howls of the wolves in the mountains, lifting its head and letting out a small, high-pitched “ha-woo.” But it accidentally choked on its own saliva, leading to a fit of coughing.

Amused, Lin Shuishi reached out to pet the little wolf, gently soothing it. The soft, downy fur of the white wolf helped to calm his nerves after the recent scare. After resting for a bit and feeling steadier on his feet, Lin Shuishi went to fetch a leftover roasted lamb leg for the pup.

His intention was to keep the little wolf quiet, as its immature howling wouldn’t scare off any enemies and might even attract wild animals.

With a sigh of relief, Lin Shuishi walked over to the earth stove beneath the tree and poked at the fire with a small stick, finding that there were still some embers left. It turned out that putting a large piece of wood on the fire before leaving at midday had been a good idea!

He quickly gathered some dry leaves to rekindle the fire and set water to boil. He cut off a piece of frozen venison from the treehouse, put it in the pot to simmer, and prepared the mushrooms and water celery. He tossed the hardier fungi into the venison soup first.

Water celery doesn’t keep well, so it needed to be eaten first. Lin Shuishi set aside some of the white mushrooms to use in the next meal.

Before long, the aroma of the meat soup filled the air, the rich scent of venison mingling with the earthy flavor of the mushrooms. The little wolf abandoned its roasted bone and nosed its way over to Lin Shuishi, trying to jump into the stone pot. Lin Shuishi quickly grabbed the pup, rubbing its ears. “Wait! The meat isn’t done yet.”

As he spoke, he tossed a few chestnuts into the stove, where they began to pop and crackle as they roasted.

When the soup was nearly ready, Lin Shuishi snapped the water celery and added it to the stone pot, stirring it gently with a clean branch.

And so, a frail young man and a small wolf pup sat obediently by the stove, waiting to enjoy a rather unique meal.

The warm firelight from the stove bathed the two of them, casting a soft glow in the cold and dark night, illuminating their two small, well-behaved heads.

When Fuli returned from hunting with the wolf pack, this was the scene that greeted him.

He hung a small wild boar on a tree branch and then crouched on the tree trunk, silently watching the two small figures illuminated by the firelight below.

It wasn’t until the scent of the cooked meat wafted up to his nose that he finally grabbed the prey and leaped back to the ancient tree, but he didn’t show himself. Instead, he simply tossed the small boar down with a thud, right in front of Lin Shuishi.

Lin Shuishi jumped in surprise, instinctively leaping away. His newly acquired legs were more agile than ever—proving that human potential is truly limitless!

Seeing it was a small wild boar, Lin Shuishi knew that the golden-eyed man had returned. He delivered prey every day, and without it, Lin Shuishi would have long starved.

The little wolf, meanwhile, was too focused on slurping the meat soup from a broken porcelain bowl to pay any attention to anything else. Having just been weaned, the rich broth had completely won it over, making it think of Lin Shuishi as a good caretaker, much like its mother.

Fuli, watching from the tree, frowned. He was beginning to think that this cub from the wolf king’s family was a lost cause—only concerned with eating and likely unfit to fulfill its duties to the pack in the future.

Lin Shuishi glanced at the small wild boar, then at the darkened tree above. After hesitating for a moment, he took out the roasted chestnuts that had just popped open from the fire. He had tasted them—they were delicious and filling!

He walked to the platform of the treehouse and, just like before, wrapped the warm, cooked chestnuts in a large leaf and placed them on the wooden board. “Try these. They’re good,” he said.

After a brief pause, he decided not to say anything more and slowly descended the ladder.

When he looked back, he saw that the golden-eyed man hadn’t just vanished like before. Instead, he was sitting on the treehouse platform, cautiously sniffing the pile of cooked chestnuts.

Relieved, Lin Shuishi returned to the warmth of the stove and sat down to enjoy the dinner he had carefully prepared. Despite the lack of seasoning, the mushrooms and water celery had helped eliminate the slight gamey taste of the meat, bringing out the rich flavor of the venison.

He ladled out some of the slightly milky broth and took a sip. It was warm, satisfying, and filled him with contentment.

When he finished eating and looked up, he saw that the man was still on the platform. The moonlight filtered through the branches, giving the once fearsome beast a more tranquil appearance.

By the soft light of the moon, Lin Shuishi could see that the golden-eyed man was still studying the chestnuts. His large, sinewy hand picked up one, turning it over and over, but he hadn’t taken a bite.

Scratching his head, Lin Shuishi fished out a few more chestnuts from the stove and took them with him as he climbed the vine ladder. He didn’t go all the way to the platform but stopped on the ladder just below it.

Fuli looked up at him and saw the small “female” skillfully peeling away the hard shell of the chestnut with slender fingers, revealing the golden-yellow nut inside. Lin Shuishi then popped it into his mouth, chewing happily, his eyes narrowing with pleasure. He demonstrated the process again, indicating that Fuli should try it that way.

Fuli watched Lin Shuishi and narrowed his eyes slightly, then casually tossed the chestnut into his mouth. He bit down hard, “crunching” the entire chestnut, shell and all, and spat out the chewed-up shell.

“….”

Lin Shuishi’s eyes widened in surprise. He stared at Fuli for a moment, then, without a word, he turned around, “tap-tap-tap,” down the wooden ladder, and didn’t bother with him again.

Fuli, however, smirked slightly and tossed another chestnut into his mouth.

Surprisingly, it was pretty good.

—

Thandar: I hope Mr. Fu-Tarzan-li here has some pants on, with all the crouching he been doing 🫣 🥚🍆🥚

Looking at the large raw leg of lamb in front of him and the untreated hide in his hands, Lin Shuishi decided to start a fire first. He rubbed his hands raw again trying to get the fire going. When the grass finally began to smoke, he quickly cupped his hands around it, his cheeks puffing up as he blew hard to fan the flames.

Finally, he added dry grass and twigs, and the fire crackled to life, sending a thin wisp of blue smoke into the mountain forest.

Fuli, lying on his side on the ancient tree, looked through the layers of branches at the small fire the “female” had started. The flickering red flames were dangerous; beasts would fear them. It seemed that this one wasn’t so easy to kill—every creature had its own way of surviving.

Lin Shuishi also glanced up at the high, dense canopy of the tree, not hearing any movement. He assumed that the man had agreed to his actions within this territory, so he decided to focus on filling his stomach first.

He placed the large leg of lamb on the fire to roast, and soon, the savory smell of cooked meat and sizzling fat filled the air.

The little wolf pup, its legs too weak to climb the tree, could only watch Fuli in the branches, growing increasingly anxious. It had been scratching at the tree bark for a long time, letting out little whimpers. But when it caught the scent of the roasting meat, it abandoned its attempts to climb and instead waddled stubbornly over to Lin Shuishi, tugging at his pants with its teeth.

“You’ve already eaten plenty of raw deer meat! I can only give you a small piece more,” Lin Shuishi said, cutting off a prime piece of meat. Just as he blew on it to cool it down, the little pup jumped up, grabbed it in its mouth, and began to tear at it. Lin Shuishi didn’t dare reach out again—cute as it was, it was still a wolf, wild and protective of its food.

Seeing how much the wolf pup enjoyed the cooked meat, Lin Shuishi thought for a moment and then cut off another piece of leg meat, this one with some fat and still dripping with juices. He placed the meat in a ceramic bowl and carried it up to the treehouse platform.

Standing there, he could only see the man’s long, muscular leg, the sinews rippling as if ready to chase down any prey—a sight that made Lin Shuishi wistful, something he had longed for in his past life. Despite the cold, the man only had a piece of fur loosely draped over him, showing no sign of discomfort.

Lin Shuishi cleared his throat slightly. “Uh, this is cooked, you can try a piece.” As he saw the tree trunk move slightly, he quickly set down the bowl and, like a startled rabbit, scurried back down the ladder.

By the time Lin Shuishi had descended and looked back, the platform held only the half-broken ceramic bowl and a leaf that had just fluttered down into it.

Lin Shuishi stood there for a moment, took a deep breath, and then returned to the fire to continue eating his meat. He was relieved—the man had accepted his gesture of goodwill.

The ram’s meat was softer and more tender than venison, easier to chew. While it was flavorful, it lacked any seasoning. Lin Shuishi knew he needed salt and also needed fruits and vegetables; otherwise, he’d lose strength over time, and his resistance would weaken.

In an environment like this, getting sick could mean death.

So Lin Shuishi decided to take action immediately. First, he needed to build a stove, and then he would explore the nearby forest to gather wild herbs, edible plants, or pine nuts—anything he could find.

Building the clay stove was relatively simple. First, he needed to dig up some soil. Fortunately, the ground in this area wasn’t deeply frozen; after digging down about half a finger’s length, he could easily dig up the soil. If he were at the foot of the mountain, the ground would likely be frozen a meter deep, and the frozen soil would be too hard for him to dig through.

As Lin Shuishi was laboriously digging, the little wolf, now full, began to play around, shaking its head and bounding over to Lin Shuishi. Watching him dig, it mimicked him, pretending to dig as well.

The wolf wanted to dig a warm little den for itself!

But as soon as Lin Shuishi dug up some soil, the little creature would gleefully use its chubby paws to scatter it back into the hole!

Lin Shuishi sighed, picked up the mischievous wolf pup, brushed off the dirt clinging to its fluffy white fur, and tucked it into the soft, thick lambskin. The pup, like most young animals, got sleepy after eating. After holding it in place for a moment, it soon fell asleep, nestled snugly in the lambskin.

Lin Shuishi made some time to grab a burning stick from the fire and checked the wind direction. During this season, the winds in this mountain forest generally blew from the northwest, so he planned to set the vent of the stove downwind. Otherwise, the smoke from the firewood would end up choking him.

He didn’t venture far, just about ten meters in front of the tree’s roots, where he dug a pit about one meter wide and thirty centimeters deep. The bone knife wasn’t very effective for digging, so he had to carve a branch into a wider, sharper tool. Surprisingly, it worked quite well. The final step was to line the stove with small stones from around the fire pit to allow proper ventilation.

Once everything was ready, Lin Shuishi lit the stove, then went back to the treehouse to retrieve an old stone pot. It wasn’t really a pot, just a hollowed-out stone, and quite heavy. He had no choice but to lift it and drop it down from the treehouse, then push it over to the stove.

It wouldn’t work for frying anything, but at least it didn’t leak, so he could use it to collect the remaining clean snow water nearby.

After spending the entire morning working and getting his face smudged with soot, Lin Shuishi finally drank his first sip of hot water.

He could feel the warmth travel from his throat down to his stomach, soothing his curled-up insides and warming his thin frame.

It was midday, and the sun was shining brightly. Although it was cold, the sunlight made him feel warm.

Lin Shuishi glanced up at the tree trunk, which was quiet, and then at the little wolf pup still sleeping soundly in the lambskin. He figured that large wild animals, especially wolves, were probably resting at this time…

After thinking for a while, he took the bone knife and sharpened a stick. He also made a small basket out of thin vines to carry on his back.

Lin Shuishi was preparing to explore the nearby forest, searching for streams and wild fruits. To avoid getting lost, he tore off a piece of the red silk that had been used to bind him and carefully ripped it into thin strips to tie onto trees as markers.

Holding the stick, he gradually moved from the clearing near the ancient tree into the dense forest. His slender frame rustled through the underbrush, disappearing into the foliage.

Fuli, resting on the branches of the ancient tree, suddenly opened his dark golden eyes. The sunlight filtering through the leaves caught his face, and he squinted slightly, his pupils narrowing to slits.

Lin Shuishi had chosen a gentle route and had been walking for quite some time. He noticed plenty of birds and even saw a beautiful wild pheasant fly by, but he knew he couldn’t catch it, so he didn’t dwell on it.

The deeper he went, the warmer the temperature became, and the greenery grew more abundant. However, there was an odd smell in the air, something unpleasant that Lin Shuishi couldn’t quite describe.

The trees around him were older, though none were as massive as the one with the treehouse. They varied in height, creating a picturesque scene. Most still had green leaves, though a few had fallen over and were dead.

Lin Shuishi carefully approached a fallen tree, inspecting it closely. It was solid, not hollowed out by animals, so he began to search around it.

Sure enough, under the dead leaves and rotten tree roots, he found several mushrooms, along with some large white fungal clusters. He poked one with his stick, revealing blackened insides that emitted a puff of smoke. Not recognizing them, he didn’t dare eat them and only placed some chicken leg mushrooms and white mushrooms in his vine basket, covering the remaining fungi with dead leaves and grass.

Next, he used his stick to poke through the low shrubs and spotted a few wild celery stalks among the weeds. The wild celery was a bit dry and scrawny, likely due to a lack of rain in the area. But where there’s wild celery, there’s usually water nearby!

He snapped off the fresh wild vegetables and continued walking. However, the further he went, the wetter the ground became, and the worse the smell grew. Lin Shuishi started to feel uneasy. He had already walked quite far, and there wasn’t much red ribbon left in his basket.

He was also afraid that there might be a swamp ahead, and if he fell in, he might not be able to get out. He had no real understanding of the wilderness in this world. The only memories he had were from Shuishi, and they mostly involved farm work and feeding chickens and ducks.

No one would let a ger go hunting in the mountains—that would be seen as a failure on the part of the men in the family. Besides, as someone fostered by a relative, even if his cruel uncle was unkind, there was still a need to save face.

Lin Shuishi weighed his options carefully. He didn’t want to take any risks; if he couldn’t find a water source, he could always ask the fearsome golden-eyed man.

However, when he thought about the bite marks on the ram’s and deer’s necks, which looked like they were made by sharp fangs, he became uncertain—perhaps that man survived on nothing but blood!

By this time, the sunlight was no longer as bright as it had been at noon. The more he thought about it, the more his mind became muddled, and he even started to feel a cold, eerie chill in the forest. He slapped his face lightly to snap out of it, trying to gather his thoughts. Deciding not to linger, he turned around and began making his way back the way he had come.

When he reached a tree with a crooked trunk, Lin Shuishi was pulling down the red ribbon he had tied there when suddenly, there was a rustling in the tree’s canopy, and something furry shot out! Startled, he quickly stepped away from the tree, retreating to a safe distance.

Hiding behind a rock, he observed carefully and saw that it was just a large squirrel, its cheeks stuffed full, likely gathering supplies for the winter.

Lin Shuishi remained silent; after all, he wasn’t afraid of a squirrel! He decided to follow it, thinking it would surely lead him to a nut tree.

He watched as the squirrel disappeared into the canopy of the crooked tree, fiddled around for a while, and then came back down with empty cheeks—it must have stashed its hoard in its nest.

Lin Shuishi looked up at the towering tree, realizing he couldn’t climb it, so he focused on keeping up with the “chubby” squirrel as it scampered off ahead of him.

The plump squirrel preferred to travel along higher paths, occasionally glancing back at Lin Shuishi. Initially wary, its tail fluffed up, but after getting a good look at Lin Shuishi, it seemed to relax and even stopped dodging, choosing instead to take the easiest paths forward.

Lin Shuishi felt a bit insulted—clearly, the fat squirrel looked down on him…

He muttered quietly to himself, “Little rascal! If I catch you someday, I’ll pluck you bald!”

The chubby squirrel, convinced that the weak little creature behind it was no match for it, considered dropping a small stone on him for fun but decided it wasn’t worth the trouble, especially with the promise of ripe fruits waiting in the trees. It opted to ignore him and hurried on its way.

However, it suddenly felt a chill run down its spine and, no longer daring to be careless, picked up the pace!

Lin Shuishi kept close but didn’t forget to quickly tie red ribbons to the trees as he went. There was no wind in the forest now, so he wasn’t worried about them blowing away.

Before long, they arrived at a more open part of the forest. The tall, slender trees with small leaves gave way to a few towering trees about twenty meters tall, with dark gray bark, deep cracks, and vertical grooves. But what surprised Lin Shuishi the most were the fuzzy, yellowish-orange fruits hanging in the branches.

The fat squirrel quickly climbed one of the trees and disappeared, while Lin Shuishi stayed on the ground, picking up a spiky ball that had fallen.

He pried it open with his bone knife and discovered chestnuts inside!

Lin Shuishi was overjoyed! Chestnuts were delicious and filling—they could be boiled or roasted! The ones he had cracked open were plump and full.

Without wasting any time, he set down his basket, carefully emptying out the mushrooms and wild celery to avoid crushing them. Then he began collecting the ripe chestnuts from the ground, avoiding the prickly shells by using his stick to nudge them into the basket.

There weren’t many chestnuts left on the ground, likely because other animals had already feasted on them. Lin Shuishi filled half his basket before stopping, realizing that any more would make it too heavy to carry.

He placed the mushrooms and wild celery on top of the chestnuts, then started back along the path he had taken. As he passed by the fat squirrel’s “home,” he placed the largest, plumpest chestnut from his basket at the base of the tree.

He thought to himself, Consider it a thank-you gift for the little rascal, even if it is a bit smug.

Fuli moved effortlessly through the cold mountain under the pale moonlight. The darkness didn’t hinder his vision at all; his vertical pupils expanded, capturing every slight movement and detail in his surroundings.

He silently approached the area around the wooden house, kicking the buried remains of the deer and the extinguished fire. He was surprised to see a small tent set up under the treehouse.

He had thought that the creature—a female, in his mind—wouldn’t survive long, as its frail body seemed destined for natural elimination. In the wolf pack, the gravely injured or elderly would find a place to rest in peace, while the weak among herds like deer or horses would be preyed upon. Even the old hunter who once lived in the treehouse had succumbed to the frailty of age.

So what chance did a “human” abandoned by its tribe have?

But as Fuli approached the small tent, he saw Lin Shuishi sleeping soundly, nestled between two young wolves. The little shelter was surprisingly warm in the freezing cold, even warmer than the wolf king’s den.

The two green wolves inside immediately opened their eyes at the sound of his approach, but upon recognizing Fuli, they merely wagged their tails, reluctant to move.

The wolves were too cozy, and if they got up, the cold wind would rush in, possibly freezing their new “little brother” to death!

Fuli didn’t mind. He even tilted his head, carefully examining the seemingly simple yet sturdy shelter. Seeing how soundly Lin Shuishi slept despite someone approaching, Fuli frowned—such poor vigilance! This creature was just like the pup he carried in his arms—without someone to watch over them, they’d be eaten by wild animals.

As he was thinking this, the pup in his arms stirred and poked its head out. Fuli pulled the little white wolf from his fur coat and casually tossed it through the opening at the front of the tent, dropping it into Lin Shuishi’s arms.

Lin Shuishi, in the middle of a comfortable sleep, barely reacted to the disturbance. He simply stretched, then instinctively pulled the warm, fuzzy ball closer, curling up and falling back asleep.

The wolf pup, though tossed around, didn’t cry out. It clumsily pushed itself up against Lin Shuishi’s arm, shaking its little head. After taking a sniff of the two green wolves and recognizing their scent as part of its pack, it only gave a small sneeze, stretched its sturdy little legs, and with a satisfied smack of its lips, burrowed into Lin Shuishi’s embrace, curling up to sleep with its little rear sticking out.

The two green wolves, sensing the scent of the wolf king on the little white pup, instinctively moved aside to make room. They glanced up at Fuli, who had already leapt into the trees to rest and was no longer paying attention to them. Feeling more at ease, they shamelessly decided to laze around and lay back down.

The next morning, Lin Shuishi was awakened by the chirping of birds in the forest. The warm ash under the deer hide had long since cooled, but he still felt remarkably warm—especially in his arms, which were quite cozy.

Opening his eyes, he was startled to find the two green wolves napping beside him!

As soon as he moved slightly, the wolves opened their eyes and quickly darted out of the tent. Before Lin Shuishi could relax, he heard a small whimper from his arms.

Looking down, he realized with shock, What kind of night did I have? Did I move into a wolf den? There’s even a little one in my arms!

But Lin Shuishi was no longer afraid. If the wolves wanted to eat him, they would have done so already. Besides, the little creature in his arms was undeniably adorable—fluffy and chubby, with pure white fur and bright blue eyes that were still drowsy from sleep.

The little wolf pup, with its tiny ears pinned back, kept nudging its way into Lin Shuishi’s arms, kicking its legs as it squirmed closer. It didn’t make any noise, silently searching Lin Shuishi’s chest for warmth, its little whiskers tickling him.

Finally finding a comfortable spot, the pup nuzzled a bit and then began to suckle…

“Ah! Ow!” Lin Shuishi shivered, goosebumps instantly rising all over his body. He quickly pulled the pup out and held it up in front of him, watching as the little creature smacked its lips and curled its tiny paws. Lin Shuishi stared at it for a moment.

Then he gave in. Poor thing, he thought. What harm could a little pup have? It’s just hungry and looking for milk.

But he didn’t have any milk!

So, Lin Shuishi crawled out of the now cold little tent, intending to tear off some strips of deer meat for the pup.

He had no idea whose offspring this little one was or where it came from. But it definitely couldn’t be from those two green wolves—they were both male and had a sly look about them, not the type to produce such a cute little creature!

Meanwhile, the two green wolves that Lin Shuishi had secretly been complaining about had returned to their pack to participate in a hunt. One of them slipped while running and ended up doing a split. Glancing around to make sure the lead wolf hadn’t noticed, they lazily shuffled to the side, looking quite crafty…

The daytime temperature was a bit better. The winter branches were bare, allowing sunlight to filter through the layers of vines and fall onto the ground, even melting some of the snow. As Lin Shuishi carried the wolf pup towards the treehouse, he began to worry.

The half-melted snow was no longer clean; he needed to find a water source. It was safer during the day, so he had to explore the mountain. He also needed to build a clay stove, which would allow him to boil water and store fire. Manually starting a fire every day would be too difficult; it was best to keep the embers alive!

As he pondered these thoughts, Lin Shuishi used his bone knife to cut some deer meat. The little white wolf, smelling the meat, immediately pounced on it, swallowing it without much chewing. Afraid the little one might choke, Lin Shuishi tore the meat into smaller strips to feed it.

“I don’t know where you came from, but since I woke up with you in my arms, it means we’re connected! Life is tough for me too, but let’s both do our best to survive!”

The whole experience of transmigrating still felt unreal to Lin Shuishi. That mysterious benefactor who had saved him was elusive, not seeming like a real person. At times, Lin Shuishi even suspected that person was a spirit! After all, who else would live deep in the mountains and be able to command wolves?

The only thing that gave him some peace of mind was the treehouse, which showed signs of human habitation. Looking at the heavily dust-covered little house, he decided he needed to clean it up! Who knew, he might end up living there. Returning to the village wasn’t an option—he didn’t even know which direction it was in. If he wandered and got lost in the forest, he’d be in real trouble. He could only wait until the snow melted in spring to think about it.

Moreover, even if he did return, he likely wouldn’t be accepted, and who knew what kind of trouble that would bring. Life was already hard enough, and being a ger made things even more complicated.

After mulling it over, he decided his first priority was to build a clay stove and collect the snowmelt nearby for storage!

Carrying the little wolf pup, Lin Shuishi reached the edge of the treehouse platform. Just as he was about to step onto the ladder, he suddenly froze.

The “demon” with golden eyes had returned! He was silently making his way through the forest, carrying a large wild ram over his shoulder, and in just a few strides, he was beneath the treehouse.

Fuli looked up, his gaze meeting Lin Shuishi’s as he stood above holding the pup. The golden morning sunlight streamed down, making Fuli’s eyes appear even lighter.

This was the first time Lin Shuishi had gotten a good look at him in daylight. When they first met, it was in the dim light of a dying campfire, and Lin Shuishi had been too frightened to see clearly, only remembering those dark golden eyes and the man’s imposing figure.

Now, looking down from above, Lin Shuishi could see him completely.

Lin Shuishi had only one thought: “He’s not a demon; he’s a wild beast!” He had never seen anyone like this.

Incredibly handsome! His coarse black hair was braided into small strands that hung behind his head, exposing a smooth forehead and unruly, sword-like brows. His nose was high and prominent, and his features were sharply defined, as if chiseled from stone, with strong and stern lines.

His honey-colored body was tall, muscular, and powerful, with broad shoulders that were glistening with sweat, even in the cold weather, sending up wisps of steam.

He was both fierce and deep.

This was a mature beast, Lin Shuishi thought.

He stood there for a while, his heart pounding and his limbs going numb.

Then he saw the man toss down the ram and begin tearing it apart with his bare hands. It was only then that Lin Shuishi snapped out of it, unsure how to greet him. He had rarely left his home before, and his self-esteem was low. Having met so few people, he had developed some social anxiety over time. He was far from being a smooth talker and often managed to kill conversations.

But, thinking about it, Lin Shuishi decided to head downstairs first.

At that moment, the little wolf pup couldn’t wait any longer. With a “yip,” it jumped out of Lin Shuishi’s arms and waddled its little rear over to Fuli, clinging affectionately to the fur pelt hanging at his waist.

Lin Shuishi followed behind the wolf pup, awkwardly moving to stand beside the man. His eyes were involuntarily drawn to the muscles constantly flexing in Fuli’s arms as he tore at the sheep’s hide. After stammering for a moment, Lin Shuishi managed to say, “Uh, hero, thank you for the deer!”

After struggling to get out just that one sentence, he didn’t know what else to say and could only stand there awkwardly, nervously fidgeting with his hands.

Fuli didn’t say anything. He glanced at Lin Shuishi’s thin clothing, then deftly peeled the sheep’s hide off, rolled it into a bundle, and tossed it into Lin Shuishi’s arms.

The ram’s pelt was thick and heavy! Lin Shuishi staggered as he caught it, barely keeping his balance. Only then did Fuli look up and give the weak “female” a more serious glance, his eyes scanning the slim, even frail arms and chest, his expression unreadable.

Lin Shuishi’s face immediately flushed red. “I-I just wasn’t paying attention, that’s why I didn’t catch it,” he said, his voice growing quieter as he spoke. It was a weak excuse, and he knew he wasn’t strong.

Feeling the need to change the subject, he pointed to the little wolf pup still nibbling at Fuli’s fur pelt and asked, “Is this your wolf?”

Fuli was busy pulling apart the ram’s meat, tearing the animal apart with his bare hands. He tossed the liver to the little wolf without looking at Lin Shuishi and merely nodded slightly.

Seeing Fuli nod, Lin Shuishi felt a bit relieved, realizing that this man could understand him.

After that, the two fell silent.

The air grew uncomfortably quiet…

The ram was large, with plenty of fat. Lin Shuishi realized he couldn’t really help with the butchering, so he held onto the pelt and said, “I’ll go and work on the hide!” With that, he turned and hurried back up to the treehouse, almost as if fleeing.

He sat on the small platform at the entrance, holding the bone knife and scraping the fat and tissues clean from the hide. As he worked, he kept glancing down at Fuli below.

He saw Fuli leave two ram legs by the tree and toss the rest of the carcass into the forest. Then, he threw his head back and let out a howl—a sound so powerful that Lin Shuishi dropped his bone knife in shock!

That was not a sound a human could make! It was the howl of a dominant wolf!

As soon as the howl ended, a few large gray wolves, their fur mixed with some white but not pure white, emerged from the forest. They seemed accustomed to this routine, grabbing the leftover prey and disappearing into the woods.

Lin Shuishi felt a bit scared. Humans naturally fear the unknown.

After nervously finishing the hide, he saw that Fuli had already eaten a large chunk of meat. He didn’t cook it or roast it; he just tore it into strips and ate it raw.

Fuli was still tearing at the meat when he noticed Lin Shuishi coming down with the pelt. His dark golden eyes, with their vertical pupils, indicated to Lin Shuishi that the ram legs and the pelt were his.

Before Lin Shuishi could say anything, Fuli leaped up onto the thick branches of the ancient tree, lying down lazily and closing his eyes to rest.

Lin Shuishi stood there for a long time, staring at the large, meaty ram leg and the soft, thick pelt in his hands. After a while, he quietly called up to the figure in the tree with a soft voice, “Thank you.”

Strangely, after that, his fear of the “beast” in the tree lessened a little.

Lin Shuishi knew that humans were the most dangerous animals.

Human hearts are complex, desires are intense, and even without sharp teeth or claws, they often kill more ruthlessly than beasts who hunt only to fill their bellies.

Just consider what he had gone through—the experience of being sacrificed to the wolves and then being saved gave him a lot to reflect on.

The “beast” in the tree treated him better than the villagers of Yuanshan down the mountain.

He had saved him.