The big black snake outside had vanished, yet it had left her deeply shaken. She had always been terrified of legless, slithering creatures — if another one suddenly appeared, she would surely be scared to death right on the spot!
Stumbling forward through the brush, she suddenly heard a soft, pitiful whimpering sound.
Following the noise, she peered into a thicket nearby and gasped. There, a pure white she-wolf was in labor — and it was clearly struggling, blood pooling beneath her. The she-wolf lay panting heavily, looking utterly drained of strength.
Yu Wanzhi was terrified of snakes and worms, but she adored fluffy creatures more than anything. The sight of the beautiful white beast drew her in, and she found herself unable to step away. She took a tentative step forward — and the she-wolf let out a fierce, warning growl, summoning every last ounce of strength to stand guard.
“Easy there… don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you!” Yu Wanzhi spoke gently, holding up her hands. “I only want to help. If you don’t get help, you and your cub might not make it…”
The she-wolf grew weaker by the moment. Her gaze, fierce at first, slowly softened into a look of desperate pleading.
Seeing the wolf calm a little, Yu Wanzhi stepped forward two more paces, cautiously. She reached into her space store and pulled out a large basin, filling it with fresh stream water from her supply, then set it down just within the she-wolf’s reach.
The big carp back in her space had told her this stream water strengthened the body and restored vitality — if it worked for humans, surely it would work for animals too?
She then backed away to a safe distance. The she-wolf watched her retreat, then slowly leaned forward and began to lap at the water.
Almost instantly, a miracle unfolded. Strength seemed to flow back into the she-wolf. She lifted herself up, strained and pushed, and with a low, rumbling growl, soon gave birth to a tiny, snow-white wolf cub!
Yu Wanzhi watched, mesmerized, as the mother wolf licked her little one clean. Minutes later, the cub let out a faint squeak and began squirming weakly, alive and whole.
The she-wolf gently picked up her cub by the scruff, walked slowly toward Yu Wanzhi, and looked at her with clear, trusting gratitude.
“You want to thank me, don’t you?” Yu Wanzhi asked softly, daring to speak to her as if she could understand. “Then… can you lead me out of these mountains? I’d be so lost alone, and if I run into any more snakes or creepy-crawlies… I’d be terrified!”
Perhaps strengthened by the magical water, the she-wolf seemed to understand every word. She carried her cub and stepped forward, standing right beside Yu Wanzhi. Overjoyed, Yu Wanzhi quickly fell into step behind her.
It took them the better part of a day to finally emerge from the deep mountains. Along the way, Yu Wanzhi gave the mother and cub two more drinks of the healing stream water. In return, the clever she-wolf hunted for her — bringing her more than a dozen pheasants, several nests of hares, and three plump roe deer. Yu Wanzhi gratefully stored everything away in her space.
“We’re out! Thank you so much for guiding me.” Yu Wanzhi stroked the air gently. “You stay safe and healthy, okay?”
Seeing her turn to leave, the she-wolf let out two soft, low rumbles and nudged Yu Wanzhi’s slender calf gently with her great head.
Yu Wanzhi’s heart melted. In two lifetimes, she had never touched a wild beast before. This was such a rare, precious moment — surely it wasn’t too much to ask, just to feel that soft fur?
She knelt down slowly and reached out to touch the she-wolf’s ear. The wolf didn’t flinch at all. Growing bolder, Yu Wanzhi gently stroked her great, fluffy head.
Ah… so soft… so warm… it feels absolutely wonderful!
Soothed and pleased by the touch, the she-wolf lay down comfortably and bowed her head low — a gesture of utter loyalty.
Yu Wanzhi blinked in happy surprise. “You… you want to come with me? You like the water I give you, don’t you?”
The white she-wolf didn’t move or make a sound. She just looked up at Yu Wanzhi with large, round, hopeful eyes — ignoring even the tiny cub’s soft whimpering.
“Then stay with me! I’d love that!” Yu Wanzhi beamed. “But… aren’t wolves supposed to live in packs? Where’s the little one’s father?”
The white she-wolf seemed to understand. Her eyes grew wet and sad, and she slowly lowered her great head…
Yu Wanzhi understood. “He’s gone, isn’t he? Poor things. Well then — come with me, both of you! I have wonderful treasures now. Taking care of you two will be easy as anything!” With a wave of her hand, she gently placed the mother wolf and her cub into her space.
Her spirits soared! She would raise this little wolf cub from birth, bond with it deeply, and when it grew big and strong — she would walk proudly by its side, commanding respect wherever she went! Who dared cross her? She’d have her magnificent white wolf stand guard and intimidate whoever she pleased. How glorious that would be!
Humming happily, she made her way down the mountain. Upon asking around, she learned she was in a remote village in the far Northeast.
To reach the capital and find Xiao Yunting, she would first have to walk out of the mountains, ride an ox-cart to the nearest town, take a minibus to the county seat, ride a coach to the city, and finally board a train bound for the capital.
But she had no money — and no identification papers. How could she travel?
Money, perhaps, could be arranged. The she-wolf had caught so many game animals — she could trade some for traveling funds easily enough. But identification? That was a far greater problem.
In her past life, she had grown up in an orphanage. The matron often told them stories of the past — that in the 1970s, there were no ID cards. To travel anywhere, one needed a formal letter of introduction issued by an official work unit or local authority.
But in this world, she didn’t even have a household registration record. Who on earth would issue her such a letter?
Suddenly, her bright almond eyes twinkled. A clever, mischievous smile curved her lips…
At the local police station.
Several young, unmarried officers were huddled in the corner, red-faced and sneaking glances. Their gazes kept drifting toward the young woman sitting quietly on the bench, sipping water so sweetly and politely.
The senior policewoman receiving Yu Wanzhi tapped each of their foreheads sharply with her knuckles, hands planted firmly on her hips. “Pay attention! That young lady has come to find her fiancé. Put those silly thoughts out of your heads! However beautiful she may be, she is spoken for!”
One young officer frowned, unconvinced. “Sister Zheng… didn’t she say she’s lost her memory? She can’t even remember her own parents — yet somehow she remembers a fiancé she’s never met? Couldn’t she simply be mistaken?”
A second officer nodded in agreement. “Exactly! I’ve heard that when people suffer head injuries, their minds can become confused. Perhaps her memory is muddled? And if she really knows this man… why did our inquiry come back saying he claims no knowledge of her at all?”
Before they could speak further, another policewoman stepped forward, her expression severe.
“Sister Zheng — even if these boys are blinded by beauty, surely you can see reason?” She looked toward Yu Wanzhi distrustfully. “Think about it. She has no household registration, no letter of introduction, cannot recall her home address… and claims to be seeking the grandson of Commander Xiao. Shouldn’t our very first thought be: is she a foreign spy or enemy agent?”
“If she has ulterior motives and brings danger to Commander Xiao or his family — every single one of us in this station will answer for it!”
Sister Zheng picked up her teacup and took a calm sip, then smiled.
“If she truly were an enemy agent… with her beauty and charm, she could surely find far easier ways to approach her target. Why would she go to such lengths — and come openly to the police — to find him? That would be like digging a pit to trap herself.”
“Of course, I do not rule out the possibility entirely. But regardless of her story — she has come to us for help. Assisting her is our duty. We shall know the truth soon enough. Let us wait for Comrade Xiao to arrive, and let him decide for himself.”