Chu Wangshan initially thought that once the giant wolf stood up, it would pounce on him in the next second. However, the giant wolf did not do so.
After observing Chu Wangshan for a while, the giant wolf turned its head to look to its side. Following its gaze, Chu Wangshan saw a small bundle beneath the wolf, where a baby was sleeping soundly.
Chu Wangshan was shocked, and before he could make sense of it, the giant wolf spoke, "Take in this child, then burn the swaddling clothes. I will be watching you, so don't get any ideas."
It was said that only Spirit Beasts of Tier 8 and above could speak human language. This giant wolf was at least a Tier 8 Spirit Beast!
In Qingwu Town, even Tier 3 Spirit Beasts were extremely rare, yet this giant wolf was Tier 8! None of Chu Wangshan's ancestors had ever seen a Spirit Beast of such high grade!
Seeing Chu Wangshan unresponsive, the giant wolf continued, "If you refuse to adopt the young master, then I will have to kill you."
Hearing this, Chu Wangshan swallowed hard, mustered his courage, and walked over to pick up the child.
The swaddling clothes were stained with blood, but the baby was unharmed, with a rosy, cherubic face that clearly belonged to a child from a wealthy family.
The giant wolf lowered its head to look at the baby, gently nudging the bundle with its nose. "Take good care of him. His name is Shaoye, and from now on, he will carry your surname. Do not tell anyone about my existence."
Chu Wangshan, holding the child, stumbled out of the forest. When he saw the sun again, if not for the child in his arms, he would have thought he had just been dreaming.
Chu Wangshan returned without any wild fruits but with a baby instead, which greatly surprised Lan Fang. "Where did this child come from?"
Chu Wangshan thought for a moment. The giant wolf had forbidden him from telling others, but his wife didn't count as 'others.' Besides, they couldn't hide the adoption from Lan Fang, so he recounted what had happened.
"This is really..."
Lan Fang didn't know what to say. Adopting this child might bring them disaster, but they couldn't bear not to.
As an expectant mother, Lan Fang's maternal instincts were overwhelming. Looking at the baby wrapped in the bloody swaddling clothes, she decided to adopt him.
She took out a small blanket she had prepared for their unborn child and replaced the blood-stained swaddling clothes.
The baby woke up due to her actions, opened his eyes, and smiled at Lan Fang, even grabbing one of her fingers.
Chu Wangshan's recollection ended there. Over the years, he had watched Chu Shaoye grow from a babbling infant to the handsome young man he was now, long considering him his own son.
He patted Chu Shaoye's shoulder, "Son, I know you have great ambitions and don't want to waste your life in this small village. But you must know your limits. If things don't go well at the Chixiao Sect, come back. Your mother and I will always be waiting for you."
No matter how mature Chu Shaoye was, he was still just a twelve-year-old boy. His eyes reddened as he hugged Chu Wangshan, "I know, Dad."
Chu Wangshan patted his back and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, "Alright, go to sleep. Don't you have hunting to do tomorrow?"
Chu Shaoye nodded, bid his father goodnight, and returned to his room.
Chu Wangshan calmed himself before returning to the bedroom, where Lan Fang was still awake, waiting for him. "Finished talking with our son?"
Chu Wangshan responded with a nasal sound.
Lan Fang poked his forehead, "Look at you, crying like that."
Chu Wangshan grumbled, "He's still just a twelve-year-old child. Qingyao is fine, she has Qingyu for company, but he's going to the Chixiao Sect alone. How can I not worry?"
Lan Fang was also worried, but she comforted him, "Shaoye has been steady since he was a child. He'll be fine. We can't hold him back from better opportunities, can we?"
Chu Wangshan sighed, "That's true."
Lan Fang patted him, "Get some sleep. We have to prepare for the feast tomorrow, lots of work to do."
*
Early the next morning, Chu Shaoye got up, tidied himself, and prepared to head into the forest to find the giant wolf.
Lan Fang was making breakfast. Seeing him about to leave, she handed him a pancake, reminding him, "Come back early. No need to catch more prey; that wild boar is enough."
Chu Shaoye agreed, took the pancake, and left. Lan Fang watched his back for a while, knowing without saying that he was going to find the giant wolf.
Entering the forest, Chu Shaoye summoned his Natal Spirit Pet, the Immaculate Fox.
After forming a contract with a Spirit Beast, it resides in the Spirit Master's Spirit Abode in the form of a Beast Mark. After contracting with the Immaculate Fox, a fox Beast Mark appeared on the left side of Chu Shaoye's neck.
A white Summoning Array opened before Chu Shaoye. This array was much smaller than the one he had used for the first summoning in the square yesterday, barely larger than the form of his Natal Spirit Pet. Get faster updates on novelping . com.
The little fox leaped out from the array, jumping directly into Chu Shaoye's arms. It stretched lazily on his forearm, yawning with its rear end sticking up, looking as if it had just woken up.
A smile appeared on Chu Shaoye's face. Although the Immaculate Fox was practically useless in battle, it was undeniably cute. Even if it could only be kept as a pet, it wasn't bad.
He tore off a piece of the pancake and offered it to the Immaculate Fox, "Want some?"
The little fox sniffed, seemingly satisfied with the taste, and opened its mouth to eat the pancake, licking Chu Shaoye's fingers afterward, looking at him expectantly for more.
The boy and the fox walked and ate together, finishing the pancake in no time.
Chu Shaoye picked up the little fox, patting its round belly, "You sure can eat."
Noticing something, Chu Shaoye exclaimed, "It's a male."
The little fox immediately curled up, refusing to let him touch it. Chu Shaoye settled for rubbing its big ears, "So shy. Since you're a male, let's call you Xiaobai. You'll take my surname."
"Chu Xiaobai, how about that name?"
The little fox, unimpressed by the name that only a simpleton could come up with, bit Chu Shaoye's finger, the pressure akin to teething.
Chu Shaoye let it nibble as he reached a cliff face covered in lush dark green vines, about ten meters high.
He pushed aside the vines to reveal a hidden cave, over five meters high.
The little fox stopped biting, holding onto Chu Shaoye's finger, staring blankly at the cave entrance. It could sense a powerful presence inside.
Chu Shaoye entered the cave, and the vines closed behind him, automatically returning to their original state, concealing the hidden entrance completely.
Though no sunlight penetrated the cave, it wasn't dark. Thick moss grew on the cave walls and floor, emitting a faint blue glow.
After walking about ten meters through the cave, a pool appeared ahead. In the center of the pool lay a smooth, flat boulder, upon which the giant wolf was resting.