Chapter 130

Xia You chose a landing spot a bit distant from the nearest energy stone mine. It's not that the aircraft couldn't approach the mine closer, but there was a dormant creature nearby that had previously signaled its presence to her.

The area is a vast icy plain, far removed from the territory where Baihu once resided. It can be considered the most desolate polar region of Lanxing.

The spicy strips seemed perfectly suited to this cold environment, frolicking in the snow, jumping around. When the little tiger returned to its two uncles, it behaved like a naughty child, flinging snow onto the black panther, much to Yuan Yuan's annoyance.

"Xuebing visited here before and found that white wolf," Xia You shrugged, "but that wolf established a pack here with over twenty members, so he never took it back."

Xia You had researched this white wolf before. The wolf had entered the protected area later than Baihu Ajie but maintained a consistent mental state.

Its stability was so unnerving that the Dormancy Center worried whether the wolf had become completely assimilated into its pack, possibly preferring to stay even if offered a chance for treatment.

—Of course, the primary reason was that they genuinely couldn't get close.

Wolves are creatures with strong pack instincts and when they fight, it's with a tenacity that won't end until one side is defeated. They couldn't possibly harm innocent grey wolves just to retrieve the white one.

Lu Yinghuai helped Xia You put on her specialized protective suit, his eyes revealing understanding.

Avoiding his gaze, Xia You said sheepishly, "I know it's an elder. I won't mess with its fur..."

Turning her head, Xia You met Yuan Yuan's silent stare.

Xia You: "Ahem."

Polar days are long, with endless snow covering vast expanses. During the prolonged winter, the resident wolf packs prey on deer and fish. Yet often, they opt for a many-against-one tactic to take down a musk ox, feeding the entire pack.

Xia You released her streaming orb to autonomously capture footage. The moment she started the live stream, the eagerly waiting viewers were treated to an extraordinary icy panorama.

[!! Where is this? A conservation area? The snowy mountain I visited before wasn't like this!]

[Ah, I know. It's the Polar Conservation Area. Conditions here are harsh, with only a few companion beasts around.]

[Why has Lord Xia You come here?]

The usernames of the commenters were familiar to Xia You. The long snowy trail stretched from the mountain top, with rolling hills, deep glaciers, and a sky that seemed to merge with the mountains. A mix of gold and green light pierced the horizon, looking like a torch rising from the ground, lighting up the entire sky, making the whole scene seem like a dream.

[I thought Lanxing was just a primitive planet... who knew it would have such breathtaking beauty... it even looks more magnificent than those touristy planets.]

[It seems every planet in the Solar System has its unique charm; they're just not developed much.]

The camera panned, revealing Xia You and Lu Yinghuai hand in hand, walking on the snowy ground, with their paired footprints trailing behind them.

Ahead of them, a graceful black panther strode through the snow. A playful tiger, lifting its paw, swiped at their footprints sunk into the snow. After observing for a few seconds, the entire tiger lunged forward, creating a large indentation in the snow.

Yuan Yuan sidestepped, making an exaggerated effort to convey an "I don't know that tiger" attitude.

Xia You: "...Pfft"

Lu Yinghuai: "..."

Lu Yinghuai went over to dig La Tiao (Spicy Strip) out of the snow and lifted his large head, directing him to look at the streaming orb hovering in the air.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, a tiger face covered in loose snow was directly presented to the livestream's audience.

La Tiao: "!!!"

Now a fully grown tiger, La Tiao hurriedly shook off the white snow adorning him and began to walk with a composed and elegant catwalk.

[HAHAHAHAHA! Classic La Tiao, the usual antics we all know and love!]

[We get it, we get it. There's only one La Tiao here!]

Taking care of her pet tiger's reputation and watching the comments on the livestream screen, Xia You laughed, "We are here to find an elder's companion beast. It might be a bit challenging, but documenting the process is meaningful."

[Oh? A companion beast from around here?]

[There aren't many predators in this polar region, excluding those in the sea. All that remains are bears, wolves, and eagles.]

While the comments kept speculating, Xia You and Lu Yinghuai faintly heard the howling of a wolf pack and simultaneously paused in their tracks.

Yuan Yuan squinted in a certain direction, and the playful La Tiao immediately returned to Xia You's side, alert and ready.

“Awooo~”

The rallying cry of the wolf pack was subtle yet carried an ominous tension of a brewing storm.

The musk oxen upwind found it hard to detect the wolf pack gradually advancing from downwind.

This group of gray and white wolves approached, claimed territory, and encircled their prey with silent precision and careful collaboration.

Generally speaking, due to the considerable size difference, grey wolves target musk ox calves or weaker oxen that might be abandoned by the herd during a hunt. When surrounded by a wolf pack, the musk oxen band together, shielding the vulnerable members of their group at the center, using their sharp horns to fend off the predators.

Unfortunately for them, they encountered a wolf pack led by a massive alpha wolf.

Encircled by the tightening grip of the wolves, the musk oxen breathed heavily with anxiety.

The leader of the pack approached, its footsteps silent yet deliberate. The immense threat looming over the oxen intensified the already skittish nature of the herd.

This alpha wolf, several times the size of a typical grey wolf, had snowy white fur, razor-sharp claws and teeth, a composed aura, and silver-gray eyes.

It slowly advanced towards the musk oxen, then with a sudden burst of speed, scattered the tight-knit herd, revealing the hidden calf. However, the alpha chose not to attack the calf, instead targeting a robust adult musk ox.

The wolf pack's hunt commenced with the alpha signaling the attack. Soon, a strong musk ox fell, bloodied and defeated, while the surviving oxen fled with the calves, grateful to escape with their lives.

After the hunt, the panting, ravenous wolves refrained from eating, surrounding the prey and awaiting the alpha to take the first bite.

Yet, the snow-white alpha stepped away from the pack, its gaze fixed unwaveringly upon the slope where Xia You and Lu Yinghuai stood.

Thick, snow-white fur danced in the chilly wind. Amid the pack, the alpha wolf, its mouth still stained with crimson blood, tilted its head back and released a long, echoing roar.

Within that roar resonated a strong warning and intent to drive away.

[Whoa! The intimidation from this scene is almost breaking through the screen!]

[That white wolf! It's Vice Marshal Fang!]

[The Iron-Blooded Vice Marshal from the Fifth Legion?]

From the moment the white wolf appeared, unfamiliar viewers continuously flooded into Xia You's livestream.

Xia You's stream, being a military channel, only permitted verified military accounts. From their usernames, it was clear that these silent viewers, steadfast in their attendance, were predominantly from the Fifth Legion.

Fang Junye was the most legendary and revered Vice Marshal in the history of the Fifth Legion, bar none.

He single-handedly transformed the once-dismissed "mismatched" Fifth Legion into a force rivaling only the First Legion. He also provided an alternative path for soldiers lacking the aptitude for the First Legion but unwilling to serve nobility for life.

Common knowledge held that Fang Junye was the only man Lu Yinghuai had ever publicly acknowledged as his teacher.

This use of the word "teacher" differs from the usual military mentor – it signifies respect akin to that given to a father figure.

Whether in battlefield strategy or legion reformation, Lu Yinghuai's methods greatly differed from those of Lu Jiuzhu. By contrast, they closely resembled Fang Junye's approaches.

Lu Yinghuai tightened his grip on Xia You's fingers. Yuan Yuan, who had been walking ahead of the two, turned to look back, nudging Xia You gently with its head.

With the wolves now on high alert, their presence is already detected by the white wolf. Approaching rashly with Xia You's psychic touch might provoke the entire pack.

Lu Yinghuai gazed at Xia You, whispering, "Xia You, I..."

Understanding, Xia You hugged Yuan Yuan's massive head, rubbing it affectionately, then encouragingly patted it, draping her psychic tendril around its neck like a chubby little scarf.

Her blue eyes were filled with encouragement and support.

Yuan Yuan nuzzled Xia You's cheek with its snout, turned around, and began confidently walking toward the pack through the snow.

The snow-covered plains aren't the preferred terrain for jaguars. Even with its imposing size, a single jaguar isn't enough to deter the wolf pack.

They merely watched the approaching panther with icy eyes, teeth slightly bared, emitting warning growls.

Canids typically have a slightly longer snout than felines.

The white wolf growled softly, then, bringing a scent of blood, slowly emerged from the pack.

The snowy white wolf and the black panther locked eyes in the midst of the snow field, with the wolf having a pack of gray wolves behind him, and the panther his family.

The white wolf lowered its head, sniffing the panther. Confusion flashed in its eyes.

No scent of its kin was detected, yet a strange familiarity arose.

A familiarity that evoked the urge to playfully paw at the panther's head.

This shouldn't be.

This creature doesn't smell like a wolf.

Seizing the moment when the white wolf's expression showed a hint of cognitive dissonance, Yuan Yuan quickly draped its psychic tendril from its neck onto the wolf's.

As the wolf pack sensed something amiss and thought of attacking, Xia You's psychic tendril wrapped around the white wolf, seeping in its energy, and... took the opportunity to affectionately tug at the wolf's ears.

The white wolf, affected by the healer's psychic power, momentarily spaced out, standing still with its fluffy white tail drooping, a dazed look in its eyes.

The panther, facing the wolf pack, lowered its body, baring its teeth in a threatening stance, clearly exuding the aura of a predator.

At that very moment, from behind, a resounding roar echoed, laden with an intense threat.

The pack of wolves visibly hesitated; some even whimpered and took a step back, their gazes collectively turning to the alpha, awaiting an order to either attack or retreat.

However, the usually decisive white wolf stood still, a joyful little psychic tentacle caressing its head, making its ears flop back and forth.

Even its tail began to sway unconsciously.

On a nearby slope, Lu Yinghuai gently patted the defensive creature next to them and turned to Xia Youmo, raising an eyebrow, "How does it feel to touch a wolf's ear?"

Xia Youmo bashfully raised her hand, scratching her cheek and whispered, "It's... quite soft."

Perhaps due to their harsh, cold environment, the white wolf's fur is thick and dense. Unlike big cats, their fur, especially around the ears, feels even softer than the plush carpet at home.

"I bet the wolf's tail is even softer..." Xia Youmo murmured.

The creature beside them turned its head in disbelief, its big round eyes filled with reproach.

Xia Youmo hastily added, "But the creature's ear fur is the best to touch!"

As soon as she spoke, she felt two gazes fixed on her.

One from the person beside her, the other from a leopard down the slope.

Xia Youmo: "..."

Swallowing nervously, Xia "Master of Deception" Yumo cleared her throat, "What I meant was, undoubtedly, our own big cat's fur is the shiniest, softest, and most pleasant to touch."

As Xia Youmo was rapidly thinking, a wolf's howl sounded. The grey wolves surrounding the slope seemed to have received a command and began to feast on a fresh prey, ignoring the humans and the big cats.

The white wolf scratched at the little psychic tentacle on its head absentmindedly and then approached Yuan Yuan, placing its paw heavily upon him.

The white wolf was careful not to use its claws but rather its padded paw.

Yuan Yuan didn't retaliate but allowed the white wolf to circle him from head to tail. However, when the wolf tried to slap his behind, Yuan Yuan quickly turned, letting out a low growl.

Lu Yinghuai: "..."

Oh, the little black leopard is shy.

The white wolf clicked its tongue internally, deciding to spare its once young student, now grown, and headed up the slope.

As a result, Yuan Yuan promptly caught the wolf's tail in his mouth.

The white wolf turned back to glare at him.

Yuan Yuan, with a precise movement, delicately retrieved the reluctant psychic tentacle from the wolf's head and draped it over his own. With head held high, he marched up the slope, leaving the white wolf with nothing but a view of his retreating leopard's behind.

The white wolf looked up towards Lu Yinghuai on the slope, puzzled: "?"

What's the brat showing off about?!

Then, the once-adorable-now-grown student intertwined his fingers with a blond young man, conspicuously waving their joint hands in the wolf's direction.

Fang Junye, who remained a lone wolf since birth until his psychic energy was disrupted and sent to the dormant chamber, could only think: "..."

Have they grown up?!

In a huff, the white wolf dashed forward, aiming a fierce swipe at Yuan Yuan, who was ahead.

Xia Youmo instinctively released Lu Yinghuai's hand and took two steps towards Yuan Yuan, embracing the sulking leopard's head in her arms and giving it a comforting rub.

— She completely missed Lu Yinghuai's subtle eyebrow raise to the white wolf, and the visibly annoyed expression on the wolf's face not far ahead.

Having witnessed the teacher-student reunion through the live stream, the comment section was now filled with ellipses.

【……】

【……】

Members of the Fifth Legion, teary-eyed and gritting their teeth, typed shakily: [Our vice marshal wasn't like this before...]

Members of the First Legion quietly typed: [Neither was our marshal...]

The comment section fell into an awkward silence for a while, just as both sides were about to forget the recent immature antics of their marshals, the live stream camera suddenly zoomed in.

For some unknown reason, the black leopard and white wolf were at it again. Both were seated on the snow, their front paws moving so rapidly they appeared as mere blurs, trying to swipe at each other. Their tails swept the snow behind them, creating a fan-shaped clean patch.

In the spotlight, the renowned healer was sneakily squatting next to the leopard and the wolf, one hand petting the leopard, the other caressing the wolf, his face beaming with undeniable pleasure.

For a moment, all comments ceased. The silent live stream echoed loudly.