The Haughty Wolf King

Watching the Wolf King and A Ning nestle against each other, Chen Qing spoke solemnly. "Everyone, don't go too deep into Black Pine Forest. The Wolf King was injured this badly—there must be something similar to it in there, or perhaps wolves under it who want to replace it."

Hearing Chen Qing's words, the villagers silently nodded.

"It's so dangerous in there. How about we take this wolf back as food?" a man asked, looking up.

As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers all turned to look at Chen Qing.

A Ning had heard the villagers' discussion as well. She turned to Chen Qing and slowly shook her head in refusal.

The Wolf King seemed to sense the danger too. Though badly injured, its fur still stood on end as it let out a low growl.

Chen Qing glanced at A Ning and shook his head. "This Wolf King has clearly already acknowledged A Ning as its master. Once it recovers, with it guarding the village, will you still need to fear wild beasts attacking?"

"But..." One villager still wanted to speak, but the person beside him pulled him back. They were not fools. It was obvious Chen Qing wanted to protect A Ning and the Wolf King. For now, they did not wish to offend him either, especially after witnessing Chen Qing's inhuman strength last night...

The enormous Wolf King was carefully carried back to Uncle Po's small courtyard on a crude stretcher made from thick tree trunks and ropes.

Throughout the entire journey, it was unusually docile. It only whimpered now and then when the jolting disturbed its wounds, but whenever A Ning's little hand gently stroked its forehead, it immediately quieted down.

Chen Qing expended a little Starforce, using his inner breath like needles to temporarily seal the main blood vessels around the Wolf King's broken leg and stop the bleeding. Then he crushed and applied Uncle Po's treasured Blue Wound Grass, which was remarkably effective.

But the wolf's body was simply too enormous. Merely lying in the courtyard, it occupied an entire corner, and the amount of food it needed was even more astonishing.

The village had narrowly escaped disaster and was itself short of food and clothing. How could it afford to feed such a giant beast?

"Wh-what are we supposed to do?" Uncle Po looked at the "giant beast" occupying more than half the courtyard and worried until he kept sucking his teeth. "It'll probably eat half a cow a day! People in our village can barely fill their own stomachs now!"

Chen Qing found it equally troublesome. Looking at the Wolf King resting with its eyes closed, he attempted to communicate through spiritual intent. "Hey, big fellow, you're injured this badly, and we'll do our best to save you.

"But the village is truly struggling. We can't afford to keep you. Once you've recovered a little and can move on your own, go back to the mountains and forests, all right?"

The intent reached it, but the Wolf King did not even lift an eyelid. It merely snorted a disdainful blast of hot, blood-scented air from its nostrils and perfunctorily swept the ground once with the tip of its thick tail, as if that counted as a response.

Its attitude could not have been clearer: it was not leaving! Stop bothering it!

Chen Qing: "..."

A Ning silently brought over a basin of water and set it beside the Wolf King's massive head.

Only then did the Wolf King open one eye. It stretched out its huge, barbed tongue and leisurely lapped at the water in the basin, as elegant as if it were savoring tea—except the sound of it drinking was like a miniature waterfall.

That afternoon, Chen Qing and several villagers who had regained some strength entered the edge of Black Pine Forest again. This time, luck was on their side. They found a patch of wild potatoes and caught several startled wild rabbits and pheasants, as well as a wild boar.

The food was not much, but it was enough to ease their pressing need.

When Chen Qing returned to the courtyard carrying a wild rabbit, the Wolf King, which had been resting with its eyes closed, suddenly opened them! Its dark green wolf eyes instantly locked onto the rabbit still kicking in his hand. An exceptionally clear rumble sounded from its throat, and its huge tail even swayed with a hint of expectation—though only slightly.

Looking at its expression of "Present it to this king at once," Chen Qing found it both irritating and amusing. He deliberately waved the rabbit before its eyes. "Want to eat?"

The Wolf King's gaze followed the rabbit's movements, its nostrils flaring. It seemed as though drool was about to spill from its mouth, yet its massive head remained proudly raised, wearing the look of "This king is only eating to honor you."

Suppressing his laughter, Chen Qing tossed the rabbit beside its mouth. "Fine. The injured get priority."

The Wolf King did not stand on ceremony. It snatched the rabbit in one bite, its sharp teeth effortlessly crushing the rabbit's bones, and began chewing with satisfaction, juices splattering everywhere. It even shot Chen Qing a look that said, "At least you know what's good for you."

Watching the Wolf King eat so happily, A Ning finally showed a faint smile.

She simply crouched quietly beside the Wolf King, slowly smoothing its fur with her hand.

That day, after Chen Qing finished dealing with the wild potatoes, he prepared to mount the donkey and head to the neighboring village to trade for some salt.

"Big fellow, recover well. I'll be back soon." Chen Qing patted the Wolf King's enormous body, trying to soothe it.

The Wolf King lazily lifted an eyelid and glanced at him. Then... with extreme disdain, it gave a heavy snort, turned its head away, and presented the back of its head to Chen Qing.

Its meaning could not have been more obvious: get lost, don't touch this king! And don't even think about riding it!

Chen Qing: "..." The difference in treatment was far too obvious, wasn't it?!

He helplessly shook his head and had just mounted the donkey when A Ning entered from outside the courtyard, carrying a small bundle of freshly picked Blue Wound Grass still beaded with dew.

She walked straight to the Wolf King and placed the herbs by its mouth.

The Wolf King immediately turned its head back and affectionately rubbed A Ning's arm with its huge nose, a contented purr rumbling from its throat. Then it lowered its head to sniff the herbs and actually picked up several stalks, chewing them leisurely as though they were some exquisite delicacy. Its gaze was so gentle it seemed ready to drip with water.

Chen Qing's mouth twitched as he watched this display of blatant double standards.

He instructed A Ning, "A Ning, watch the house—and watch this... this honored lord as well. I'll be back soon."

A Ning raised her head and gave Chen Qing the slightest nod of her little chin in response. Then she lowered her head again, stretching out her small hand to gently comb through the Wolf King's thick neck fur.

The Wolf King comfortably narrowed its eyes. Its enormous body shifted slightly to make things easier for A Ning, the purring in its throat growing louder. Even the tip of its tail happily swept the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

Uncle Po sat on the doorstep smoking his pipe, watching the strange "family of three" in the courtyard: Chen Qing riding his donkey into the distance, little A Ning grooming the giant wolf's fur, and the enormous Wolf King, haughty and lazy as it enjoyed its "massage."

A faint smile appeared on his face. Life seemed calm and gentle once more.

By the time Chen Qing returned after exchanging for salt, the lingering glow of the setting sun had already filled the courtyard, gilding this ruined yet lively little corner with a warm gold.

Smoke curled upward from the cooking fire, mingling with the scents of herbs and earth before gradually being covered by the fragrant aroma of rice porridge.

The shadow of disaster had not yet fully faded, but within this tiny courtyard, a peculiar life mingled with pain, warmth, and a touch of absurd humor was stubbornly taking root once more.

And the haughty Wolf King occupying most of the courtyard seemed to have calmly accepted itself as part of this family—though it only acknowledged its little master who groomed its fur, barely accepted food from that "two-legged beast," and as for anyone wanting to order it around?

Hmph, not a chance!