Chapter 42

On days when she didn't have to attend the private school, Shen Ningning didn’t like to idle at home.

She visited Xiangyun Village daily, bringing fresh vegetables and meat for the aunties to help prepare into meals.

Then she stored all the food in her mystical realm.

Shen Ningning was right; the cooked dishes remained fresh for two to three days without spoiling when stored there.

For this purpose, she had cleared a shelf in the kitchen hall of her mystical realm to store the fragrant and delicious dishes.

In the future, if she got hungry at the private school in the evening, she could simply take out a plate to eat.

Having visited the village several times, she spent forty-two taels to have the aunties help with cooking.

Including the wages already paid, Shen Ningning now had three hundred and eighty taels left.

The little one felt like the money would never run out.

While she herself enjoyed a good life, she didn't forget to nourish the entire Wolf Mountain.

As the weather grew hotter, she braved the scorching sun, riding the Black Wolf King, leading the wolf pack through the mountains.

Shen Ningning went to check the several spirit springs she had discovered before.

Wherever a spirit spring flowed, the surrounding trees always grew greener and more robust!

The Black Wolf King sniffed the soil by the stream and howled twice at Shen Ningning.

It was indicating that deer and squirrels had been to this place.

Shen Ningning nodded contentedly: "With water available, there's no fear of dying from thirst!"

On such hot days, a water source is crucial.

But food is also essential.

So, riding on the Black Wolf King, she and the wolf pack dropped baskets of meat and fruit wherever they went.

She also scattered pear tree seeds, brought from her mystical realm, all around.

The spirit springs would gradually nourish the soil of Wolf Mountain, allowing the seeds to sprout slowly.

Although they certainly wouldn't grow as quickly as under the spiritual rain in her realm, she believed that in six months, the pear trees on the mountain would bear sweet fruit!

Only if the animals in the mountain are well-fed will her and her grandmother’s dwelling be safe from other wild beasts.

That night.

After Granny Qin had gone to bed, Shen Ningning listened to the chirping crickets outside the window while reading by lamplight.

There was so much knowledge taught by the mad scholar, and the little one liked to review it from time to time.

Past midnight, Shen Ningning yawned, her eyes brimming with sleepiness.

After washing up, she had just lain down on her bed.

When she suddenly heard the fierce howling of wolves from the main gate of their house.

"Is that the wolves' howl?!" She immediately recognized the Black Wolf King’s voice.

She quickly threw off the covers and ran out in her shoes.

As soon as she reached the front yard, she saw the wolf pack encircling Wolf Four.

The Black Wolf King let out a terrifying low growl from its throat.

Wolf Four was so scared that it lay on the ground, whimpering continuously.

Shen Ningning hurried over: "What's going on? Why are you fighting?"

Her arrival caused the wolf pack to slowly make way.

However, the Black Wolf King positioned itself in front of Shen Ningning as she approached.

"Awoo~" It wouldn't let her get closer, indicating danger.

Shen Ningning's eyes filled with confusion as she looked towards Wolf Four.

She saw Wolf Four move its chubby body aside, revealing a small white-furred she-wolf lying behind it!

If it weren’t for the distinctive wolf ears, Shen Ningning might have mistaken it for a dog.

The she-wolf was terribly thin and trembling, clearly terrified by the Black Wolf King’s howling, with its tail tucked between its legs.

Wolf Four, seeing Shen Ningning, looked as if it had seen a savior.

It whimpered as if pleading.

"Are you saying you want to keep her?" the little one asked.

Wolf Four nodded repeatedly.

The Black Wolf King let out a furious howl, filled with intimidating ferocity.

It refused to allow the she-wolf to stay.

Currently, the composition of the entire wolf pack mostly consisted of the Black Wolf King’s offspring, or its siblings and their descendants.

This was a family.

A wolf pack requires absolute submission.

And this lone outsider wolf might do something that goes against the pack's rules.

For instance, harming Shen Ningning or attacking Granny Qin.

Hence, the Black Wolf King would never take in such a dangerous element.

But Wolf Four continued to whimper and beg.

It had sneaked out today and secretly eaten a few chicken legs Shen Ningning had left outside for other wild animals.

Then, it discovered this timid she-wolf behind a large tree.

Perhaps because white wolves are rare, Wolf Four instinctively offered its food to her.

After she had feasted, Wolf Four planned to bring her back under the cover of night.

The Black Wolf King’s eyes were cold and unyielding, fixed on the she-wolf. With just one command, the pack would pounce and tear the white wolf apart!

Shen Ningning reached out her little hand, continuously stroking the Black Wolf King’s fur.

Angered, its black fur stood on end under the moonlight, its yellow wolf eyes intimidating to anyone who saw it.

Yet the little one kept comforting it: "It's okay, Wolfie, don’t be angry. Wolf Four may be greedy, but Granny really likes it."

Wolf Three snorted disdainfully from the side—

It’s all because that chubby one likes to be coddled!

Out of respect for Shen Ningning, the Black Wolf King refrained from further aggression towards Wolf Four.

The little one looked at the white she-wolf, who was also shivering and looking at her.

In its beautiful green eyes were visible fear and uncertainty.

Shen Ningning examined the she-wolf closely.

She noticed injuries on its hind legs and abdomen, scars from past fights.

The scars had scabbed over, marring its beautiful white fur with darkened bloodstains.

It must have suffered a lot in the wild.

Shen Ningning hesitated for a moment.

In a soft and sweet voice, she said, "Wolfie is the head of your family. If it says no, I won’t force it to change its mind."

After all, maintaining the dignity of the Black Wolf King was essential.

It wasn’t for her to whimsically override its decisions due to momentary compassion.

Wolf Four let out a mournful whine.

Wolf Three ran over and stepped on its tail to quiet it, ensuring it wouldn’t disturb Granny Qin’s rest.

The white she-wolf lowered its dim lashes and stood up, limping as it prepared to leave the residence.

Shen Ningning couldn't help but say softly, "But you can live near our house; you don't have to go far."

"Every day, I'll have Wolf Four bring you food and clean water. You won’t go hungry."

The white she-wolf glanced back, blinking softly at Shen Ningning, likely as a gesture of thanks.

It then left the residence, its figure vanishing into the dark night.

Wolf Four wanted to accompany it but was pinned down by a swipe from the Black Wolf King.

How could it have such a useless son!

Enamored with the pretty she-wolf as soon as it saw her.

So hopeless!

The Black Wolf King, in its anger, bit off a tuft of fur from Wolf Four’s neck.

Shen Ningning quickly embraced its head: "Wolfie, don’t be angry! If Granny sees Wolf Four bald tomorrow morning, won’t she worry?"

The Black Wolf King ceased its scolding, nudging Shen Ningning onto its back, and then took her back to the house to rest.

The rest of the wolf pack hurriedly followed, not wanting to miss out on a good spot.

They all slept in Shen Ningning’s room every night, and those who couldn’t get a good spot had to sleep at the door.

Having angered the Black Wolf King today, Wolf Four lost even the spot at the door and had to lie in the courtyard.

The next day.

True to her word, Shen Ningning had Wolf Three carry a bucket of meat to the outside of the house.

And Wolf Four also brought the fruits and pork bones it had saved for the small white wolf.

The little white wolf huddled and slept at a corner behind the house for the night.

It devoured the food ravenously upon seeing it, clearly starving.

After eating, the white wolf even pushed the wooden bucket back.

For two consecutive days, the little white wolf behaved and ate well without wandering far.

Early on the third day.

Shen Ningning felt she had observed the little white wolf’s good behavior enough to convince Wolfie to let it join the pack.

However, before she could get out of bed, she heard the urgent howling of Wolf Three outside!

It was a signal for the pack to launch a collective attack!

The little one rushed out: "What happened?!"