Chu Wangshan had thought the giant wolf would pounce on him the moment it stood up, but it did not.
After studying Chu Wangshan for a moment, the giant wolf turned its head to look beside itself. Chu Wangshan followed its gaze and discovered a tiny swaddled bundle beneath its body, with an infant sleeping peacefully inside.
Chu Wangshan was stunned. Before he could make sense of what was happening, the giant wolf spoke. “Adopt this child, then burn the swaddling cloth. I will be watching you. Do not harbor any ill intentions.”
According to legend, only Spirit Beasts of Tier Eight or above could speak the human language. This giant wolf was at least a Tier Eight Spirit Beast!
In all of Qingwu Town, even Tier Three Spirit Beasts were exceptionally rare, yet this giant wolf was Tier Eight! Not one of Chu Wangshan’s ancestors across eighteen generations had ever laid eyes on a Spirit Beast of such high standing!
Seeing Chu Wangshan frozen in place, the giant wolf continued, “If you are unwilling to adopt the young master, then I have no choice but to kill you.”
Hearing those words, Chu Wangshan swallowed hard, steeled his nerves, and stepped forward to lift the baby into his arms.
More than half of the swaddling cloth was soaked in blood, but the child was completely unharmed. His delicate little face was rosy and fair, showing all the signs of being born into a wealthy family.
The giant wolf lowered its head to gaze at the infant, gently nuzzling the cloth with its snout. “Take good care of him. His name is Shaoye. From now on, let him take your surname. Never speak of my existence to anyone.”
Chu Wangshan walked out of the woods in a daze, cradling the child. When the sunlight fell on his face again, he would have believed it had all been a dream if not for the infant warm in his arms.
Chu Wangshan had failed to pick any wild fruit, returning with a baby instead. Lan Fang was utterly astonished. “Where did this baby come from?”
Chu Wangshan thought it through. The giant wolf had told him not to tell others, but his own wife was hardly an outsider. If they were going to raise the boy, he could never keep it from her anyway, so he recounted everything that had taken place.
“This really is…”
Lan Fang was at a loss for words. Taking in this child might bring total ruin upon their heads, but abandoning him was unthinkable.
About to become a mother herself, Lan Fang was overflowing with maternal tenderness. Looking at the baby wrapped in bloodstained cloth, she chose to keep him.
She brought out the small quilt she had prepared in advance for her unborn child and gently took the infant out of the bloody swaddling.
The infant stirred at her touch. Opening his eyes and catching sight of Lan Fang, he broke into a smile, grasping one of her fingers with his tiny hand.
Lan Fang’s heart melted like warm honey. She planted a gentle kiss on the infant’s forehead and murmured softly, “Little one, I’ll be your mother from now on.”
Chu Wangshan’s memories came to an end. Over all these years, he had watched Chu Shaoye grow from a babbling infant into a handsome youth, and had long since come to see him as his own flesh and blood. This story is hosted at g.com.
He patted Chu Shaoye on the shoulder. “Son, I know you harbor great ambitions and won’t settle for whiling away your life in this small village. But in all things, you must measure your own limits. If life at the Crimson Firmament Sect treats you harshly, just come on home. Your mother and I will always be waiting for you.”
No matter how composed Chu Shaoye seemed, he was still only a twelve-year-old boy. His eyes grew slightly red. He opened his arms and embraced Chu Wangshan. “I know, Dad.”
Chu Wangshan patted his back, then casually wiped his own eyes with the back of his hand. “All right, off to bed with you. Aren’t you heading out to hunt again tomorrow?”
Chu Shaoye nodded, wished Chu Wangshan a good night, and returned to his room.
After calming his emotions, Chu Wangshan returned to their bedroom. Lan Fang had not fallen asleep yet, waiting for his return. “Finished talking with our son?”
Chu Wangshan gave a low grunt, his voice slightly nasal.
Lan Fang poked his forehead playfully. “Look at you, such a big softie. What are you crying for?”
Chu Wangshan replied in a muffled voice, “No matter what, he’s still just a twelve-year-old child. Qingyao has Qingyu to keep her company, but he’s heading off to the Crimson Firmament Sect all alone. How can I not worry?”
Lan Fang shared the very same concern in her heart, but she spoke words of comfort regardless. “Shaoye has been steady ever since he was small. Nothing will go wrong. Since the boy has a chance at a brighter future, we can’t stand in his way, can we?”
Chu Wangshan let out a soft sigh. “That’s true enough.”
Lan Fang patted him. “Go to sleep. We still have to prepare the feast tomorrow. There’s a mountain of chores waiting.”
Early the next morning, Chu Shaoye rose at dawn. Once he was dressed and tidy, he made ready to head into the forest to seek out the giant wolf.
Lan Fang was making breakfast. Seeing him about to step out, she grabbed a flatbread and handed it to him, advising, “Come back early. No need to hunt any more game. That wild boar is more than enough for everyone.”
Chu Shaoye acknowledged her words, took the flatbread, and left. Lan Fang watched his back for a moment. Though neither had spoken it aloud, she knew he was going to see the giant wolf.
Once deep in the woods, Chu Shaoye summoned his Natal Spirit Companion, the Immaculate Fox.
When a Spirit Beast formed a contract with a Spirit Lord, it resided within the master’s Spirit Palace in the form of a Beast Mark. After contracting the Immaculate Fox, Chu Shaoye had gained a Beast Mark depicting a seated fox in the hollow above his left collarbone.
A white Summoning Array spread open before Chu Shaoye. It was far smaller than the one that had manifested on the square yesterday, barely larger than the companion itself. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The little fox sprang out of the array and landed straight in Chu Shaoye’s embrace. Perching on his forearm, it stretched lazily, sticking its tail end up as it gave a wide yawn, looking as though it had just woken up.
A smile crossed Chu Shaoye’s face. The Immaculate Fox might be completely hopeless in a fight, but it was undeniably charming. Even if he could only keep it as a companion pet, that was fine too.
He pulled off a piece of the flatbread and held it to the fox’s mouth. “Want some?”
The little fox twitched its nose, seemingly satisfied with the scent, then opened its mouth and nibbled down the bread. When it finished, it licked Chu Shaoye’s fingers and looked up with eager eyes, plainly asking for another bite.
Master and fox walked and ate, finishing the entire flatbread in no time.
Chu Shaoye scooped the little fox up and rubbed its rounded belly. “You’ve got quite an appetite.”
His hand grazed a certain spot, prompting Chu Shaoye to let out a surprised sound. “Oh, you’re a little male.”
The little fox instantly curled its body up to hide, refusing to let him touch there anymore. Chu Shaoye settled for rubbing its large ears instead. “So you can feel embarrassed, can you? Since you’re male, I’ll call you Xiaobai. You can take my surname.”
“Chu Xiaobai—what do you think of that name?”
The little fox showed open distaste for a name only an amateur could have devised. It lifted its head with a soft growl and bit down on Chu Shaoye’s finger, applying just enough force to grind its teeth.
Chu Shaoye let it gnaw as he reached a cliff wall. It rose about a dozen meters high, completely draped in lush, dark green vines.
Chu Shaoye raised a hand and parted the thick growth. Hidden behind it was a whole other world: a cave entrance more than five meters tall.
The little fox ceased its biting, clutching Chu Shaoye’s finger while staring blankly at the cave. It could sense an extraordinarily powerful presence lurking within.
Chu Shaoye strode into the cave. Behind him, the vines slid back into place, restoring their natural cover so completely that no one looking from outside could tell a hidden grotto lay within.
Though no daylight reached inside, the cave was not dark. Thick moss clung to the rock walls and stone floor, its blossoms giving off a deep blue glow.
Following the passage inward for ten or so meters, he arrived before a pool of water. In the center of the pool rested a smooth, flat boulder, upon which lay a giant wolf.