Chapter 190

Chapter 190

"Spring?"

Hui Xue didn't know what spring meant, but from the subsequent mention of mating, he guessed it referred to the breeding season. So, he decided to stay with him through this period.

A black panther choosing a lame wolf—this was something Hui Xue still couldn't comprehend.

His eyes shifted, drifting down to the black panther's lower body. Though the part he wanted to see was blocked, he had caught a glimpse during his last escape when the leopard leaped over his head.

"I don't think I'm suitable."

Injuries or death during mating were common occurrences.

As a wolf king, Hui Xue had never imagined he would be the one on the receiving end. But if the other party was this black panther, he rationally accepted that role and had to consider his own safety.

His drooping tail swished back and forth, betraying his anxiety.

It would tear.

Even what was hidden deep beneath his tail tightened nervously into a small ball.

Ao Tian: "I don't care what you think; I care what I think. Hehehe (muffling a chuckle)."

Chen Zui: "You don't have the right to voice your opinion."

He enunciated each word slowly: "Cap—tive—"

Hui Xue blinked a few times. This black panther always said things he didn't understand, though he grasped the first sentence clearly. So, even if he was unwilling, the leopard would take him by force.

There was nothing to discuss then.

After all, he couldn't fight back now, nor could he escape.

After a moment of silence, Hui Xue asked something else that had been on his mind: "What did you do to that rabbit?"

"Do you care about that rabbit?"

Ao Tian: "Host, your tone sounds a bit jealous~"

Jealous?

Chen Zui didn't think so.

"He was trying to save me." Hui Xue didn’t have a heroic urge to protect weaker animals, and he had eaten rabbits before, but this one was different—this rabbit had tried to help him.

Chen Zui looked at Hui Xue, who had changed back to wolf form to negotiate. As expected of a former wolf king, he was quite responsible.

"I killed—"

"Ah! You're not dead!"

A sudden, sweet, and soft voice burst, full of excitement. Chen Zui and Hui Xue turned together to look outside the cave entrance. Under the patchy sunlight, the snow-white little rabbit, carrying a small basket woven from twigs and filled with flowers, came bouncing over.

There was a ledge at the cave entrance, a bit high for the little rabbit. After failing to jump up, he gave up and held onto the edge with his paws, his round rabbit eyes studying Hui Xue.

"It's great that you're okay. I thought the black leopard would have eaten you."

Hui Xue was also surprised to see him, and he felt relieved. "Why are you here?"

He started chatting with the little rabbit.

Ao Tian: "After all, they’re the canon couple—meant to be."

Chen Zui watched Hui Xue, who had become more talkative. His wolf cub had never made friends, his wolf cub didn’t need friends, his wolf cub only ever stuck close to him all day.

Wolves were different from one another.

He stood up, and with that movement, the little rabbit outside finally noticed that the dark shape deep inside the cave wasn’t just darkness but the black leopard.

He cocked his head, staring in shock at Chen Zui, so frightened that his fur puffed up, his rabbit ears shooting straight up.

Shaking like a leaf.

Chen Zui walked straight out of the cave.

Hui Xue: "Where are you going?"

Chen Zui didn’t look back. "Hunting."

Hui Xue watched the black leopard as he left, his tail hanging still. The leopard had suddenly seemed upset.

"Thump."

He looked over, startled. The little rabbit had fainted straight away to the ground, muttering vaguely, "Le-leopard..."

Hui Xue: Hold?

He scooped up the little rabbit with his paw and gave him a shake. "What’s wrong?"

The little rabbit came to his senses and pointed to where Chen Zui had been. "The leopard is here too!"

Hui Xue realized then that he had been scared by the black leopard and reassured him, "He’s gone now."

The little rabbit scrambled to his feet. Yes, the black leopard was gone now. He grabbed one of Hui Xue’s paws. "Then let’s run quickly!"

In his eyes, Hui Xue was the black leopard’s food. If they stayed, he would soon be too.

Hui Xue paused for a moment. Right, the black leopard had left, and he hadn’t even thought of escaping. He was about to act immediately but stopped, looking outside. No, that guy would never give him such an obvious opportunity. This was clearly a trap—he must be watching nearby, ready to jump out if he tried to escape.

Little rabbit: "What’s wrong? Hurry, let’s run!"

Hui Xue shook his head. "There’s no escaping."

His tone sounded resigned.

The little rabbit didn’t understand. The black leopard wasn’t here—why couldn’t they escape? "Why can’t we? If we don’t run now, we’ll be eaten!"

"He won’t eat me."

Hui Xue said this with great confidence.

The little rabbit was stunned. He thought Hui Xue might have been messed with his head by the black leopard. But he couldn’t drag a wolf away, and he didn't want to just leave him there to wait for death. He was torn about whether to go or stay.

Hui Xue saw the rabbit had an injured paw. For such a weak creature, surviving in the woods was tough.

"But if I go with them..."

"Do you want to stay?"

The little rabbit shook his head frantically, terrified. "That black panther will eat me."

"He won't."

Hui Xue said with certainty. His reasoning was that the little rabbit before him was still alive. To that black panther, such a weak animal wasn't even worth hunting.

"If you stay with us, no one will pick on you anymore, and you'll be much safer."

The little rabbit thought about it. Would living with a wolf and a black panther really make him safer?

——

Chen Zui had gone far from the tree hole. "That rabbit is a transmigrator. Does he have a system or any missions?"

Ao Tian: "No, and after transmigrating, he lost his original memories. So he's always believed he's just an ordinary little rabbit. Saving Hui Xue was simply because he's kind-hearted."

Ao Tian noticed that Chen Zui seemed even more annoyed after hearing this.

Chen Zui looked at the prey that had appeared before him. "He's this world's main character, so even if he's just a rabbit, he won't die, right?"

Ao Tian: "Correct."

——

After thinking it over for a while, the little rabbit decided to listen to Hui Xue. For some reason, this wolf made him feel trustworthy. He took off his small backpack, which contained some fruits, and pulled out the biggest one from the bottom, carefully wiping it clean.

"When he comes back, I'll give this fruit to him."

Small animals needed to offer tribute to gain protection from beasts.

Hui Xue smiled slightly. He actually felt the little rabbit didn't need to do this—the black panther probably wouldn't care whether he stayed or left.

He noticed a dark shadow approaching in the distance and looked over. It was Chen Zui returning. The black panther walked with a calm, slow pace, like the king of this forest.

But when Hui Xue clearly saw the prey in the black panther's mouth, his pupils shrank, and his expression turned grim.

The little rabbit held the bright red fruit, larger than his own head, and was so nervous his little legs trembled.

Chen Zui arrived at the tree hole and dropped the prey he was carrying.

When he saw the prey, the little rabbit loosened his grip. The fruit rolled away, landing beside the three rabbit corpses, stained even redder by the blood. Terrified, he fell back onto the ground, trembling as he stared at the rabbit corpses, pitiful tears welling in his eyes.

The black panther's ice-blue eyes betrayed no emotion as he looked down at the rabbit and the wolf.

The little rabbit let out a scared shriek, turned, and ran away, abandoning his backpack and fruit.

"Bai Rongrong!"

Hui Xue shouted the little rabbit's name and was about to chase after him but was blocked by Chen Zui.

Hui Xue looked up at Chen Zui. "You did that on purpose, didn't you!"

He never expected a black panther to bully and scare a little rabbit in such a way. It was just... Hui Xue was at a loss for words, but it didn't seem like something a black panther should do—unless this panther, despite his size, was actually only one year old.

Chen Zui: "Roasted rabbit is even tastier than roasted chicken. Want some?"

Hui Xue's angry expression instantly turned to one of innocence.

The fire crackled. One rabbit was still roasting, while Chen Zui and Hui Xue each held a roasted rabbit. Hui Xue devoured his portion ravenously; it was so good he almost ate his own tongue.

Chen Zui: "If your rabbit friend was still here, I wonder what he'd think seeing you like this."

Hui Xue paused mid-bite, looking sheepish. If Bai Rongrong were still here, he would never eat... but it's so delicious!

Chen Zui tossed the last rabbit to Hui Xue. Although his saliva had healing powers, Hui Xue's injuries still needed proper nourishment.

Hui Xue wolfed down the entire roasted rabbit, his stomach bulging slightly. Without exerting force, his abdominal muscles weren't as tight, making it look like you could pinch a handful of soft flesh.

Full and feeling drowsy, he watched a butterfly beast-person fly past outside, envying its beautiful wings.

He wondered where Bai Rongrong had gone. But considering the black panther's temper, it was indeed better for him not to stay.

I hope he's okay.

Chen Zui: "Come here."

Hui Xue didn't go over obediently but instead grew wary. "What for?"

Chen Zui's tail suddenly lashed out, wrapping around Hui Xue's waist and pulling him close.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Chen Zui: "I told you, I'm keeping you so we can mate."

His sharp claws gently traced Hui Xue's cheek. A little more pressure, and they would cut his face.

Hui Xue went quiet.

The rule in this world was survival of the fittest.

Unless it was life or death, there was no need to resist fiercely. Surviving was all that mattered.

Besides, this was just natural—mating was their instinct. Everyone did it when they came of age.

But wolves were different in one way: a wolf had only one mate for life.

He looked at the imposing black panther before him.

He didn't know how panthers were about these things...

Hui Xue's prolonged silence seemed like tacit consent.

The panther's dangerous-looking claw gripped Hui Xue's furry wolf tail, stroking it all the way to the base.

One claw lifted, its sharp tip now a tool to pry open the entrance, easily disappearing into the crevice.

Pressing against it.

The massive beast and the comparatively slender beast-person—Hui Xue was practically sitting on the black panther's forelimb.

Chen Zui: "Until your injuries heal, I won't actually take you."

Hui Xue looked at him in surprise.

Ao Tian: "Favorability: 2%."