Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Luo Qianyu never imagined that the charmed start he encountered after transmigrating into the book, which had allowed him to live freely and comfortably for two years, would lead to his death here.

And such a hopeless way to die—being torn apart and eaten alive by wolves.

His survival instinct made him prop himself up on his elbows. Just as he was about to run, he felt a rush of air behind him.

*Help!*

His foot sank into the soft snow. When he turned back, he threw up his cloak sleeve to shield his face, sensing the wolf right above him, looming over him.

This was the stance of a predator that has its prey completely cornered.

He froze in place, tightly closing his eyes, waiting for the agony of being torn apart to come. Yet, after a moment, the expected bite never arrived.

Luo Qianyu cautiously lowered his arm and lifted his gaze, only to meet those pale blue eyes.

Luo Qianyu held his breath, his lashes fluttering.

His body was shaking.

The wolf's nose brushed against his neck, its cool, animal breath sweeping past his ear. Its massive paws pressed down beside him, pinning him firmly. He couldn't even pull his cloak free, forced to remain rigid as the wolf sniffed him carefully all over—like an animal awaiting slaughter.

His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.

He surreptitiously tightened his grip on the folding fan in his sleeve, his fingertips just about to exert force and lift it, when suddenly, a strange, wet sensation touched his chin.

The wolf had actually stuck out its tongue and licked him.

The sudden sensation made his eyes fly wide. The motion forced his chin up, and he let out a soft "mmph."

Luo Qianyu froze in shock. Before he could recover, a tongue swept past the corner of his eye, gently wiping away the frozen droplets and the tears he couldn't hide.

Still dazed, the next moment, something warm and wet brushed across his cheek—his face had been licked too. Seeing that cold nose tip about to move next to his lips, his mind went blank. Instinctively, he raised his hand and clamped his hand on the wolf's jaw.

His fingertips touched soft fur and slightly hard bone, and he stopped breathing altogether.

Luo Qianyu was shocked too.

Seizing the moment the wolf paused, he shoved himself back through the snow, only for his back to hit a cold stone wall—trapped.

Just then, the massive silver-white wolf suddenly turned and walked in the opposite direction from him.

Only then did Luo Qianyu notice it was favoring its right hind leg, each step somewhat hesitant, clearly an old injury.

His Adam's apple unconsciously bobbed. The urge to escape screamed in his heart, but as his gaze swept over the surrounding, motionless wolf pack, he crushed it.

The alpha had moved, but the pack hadn't dispersed. Trying to escape now would undoubtedly be seeking death.

Soon, the wolf turned back. Luo Qianyu's heart pounded wildly, cold sweat dampening his clenched palms, when he suddenly noticed something in the alpha's mouth.

It was the heavy fur cloak that had slipped from him when he fell earlier.

Luo Qianyu was astonished. Hesitantly, he took it and hurriedly wrapped it around himself. The thick fur enveloped his chilled body, but he was even more confused.

What did this mean?

It wasn't planning to eat him?

Or was it returning his clothes first so he wouldn't freeze, to fatten him up for later, to be eaten slowly in the future?

Luo Qianyu couldn't help but study the alpha again. Its fur was thick, a blend of wildness and steadiness. Its gaze was too calm, it seemed almost human. Could it be... it had an owner?

But what kind of reckless, suicidal person would keep a wolf as a pet?

Before he could figure it out, the giant wolf suddenly approached him again.

This time, its target went straight for his neck. Luo Qianyu's heart tightened. Just as he was about to shrink back, the collar of his clothes at the nape of his neck was suddenly clamped in the wolf's jaws.

Before he could struggle, his body felt light, and the next second, he was steadily hauled onto the wolf's back.

The sudden height made the youth gasp in surprise.

Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck.

The wolf gathered itself and leaped forward. Its four paws crushed the thick snow as it carried Luo Qianyu charging across the frozen plain.

A biting wind laden with snow whistled past his ears. Fortunately, the thick cloak kept the piercing cold at bay.

At that moment, that odd feeling in his heart grew stronger. Luo Qianyu even began to suspect this seemingly human-like wolf could actually understand him. Gritting his teeth against the wind and snow, he said, "You... where are you taking me?"

Naturally, there was no answer. Only the howling wind and snow responded. After a long silence, Luo Qianyu's voice grew softer and softer: "...I need to find my Crown Prince brother."

As soon as the words fell, the Arctic Wolf's figure paused.

It turned its head, its pale blue eyes looking at the youth. After a moment, it turned back and continued running forward.

He didn't know how much time had passed. Hazily, the sky had turned completely dark.

Luo Qianyu only felt that he was no longer on the jolting ride on the wolf's back but against a cold stone wall. Outside, he could just make out the sound of wind and snow blowing past stone edges. He seemed to be in a cave.

There was no fire in the cave, only darkness. He could vaguely make out several dark shapes lying in a corner—other sleeping wolves. There were also figures outside the cave entrance, and the alpha he encountered during the day was right beside him.

He still felt cold, but his body was burning fiercely. His consciousness was hazy. At some point, he instinctively leaned toward the wolf, drawing warmth from its thick fur.

But he burned even hotter.

Before dawn, he felt himself being lifted again.

The youth was limp with fever, without even the strength to hold onto the wolf's neck. The breath from his lips was scalding, condensing into white mist.

The Arctic Wolf plowed through the snow, stopping before a simple wooden hut.

Several strings of dried game meat hung outside the hut, and the door was darkened—a hunter's home. It gently lowered itself, carefully depositing the youth from its back onto a pile of dry grass in front of the door. The youth's eyes were tightly closed, his face pale as snow, his breathing faint.

Satisfied he was safely placed, the Arctic Wolf lifted its head toward the wooden hut and let out a long, drawn-out howl.

The howl pierced through the chill of the early morning, echoing through the silent mountain forest. Then it turned and melted away into the woods behind the hut, leaving no trace.

"Who the hell is howling like they're mourning at this hour!" Immediately, a hunter's rough, hoarse curse came from inside the hut, followed by the sound of a wooden bolt being drawn.

The hunter rushed out, gripping a thick wooden club, his brow furrowed. The hunter's wife, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, followed behind, peering out.

But after scanning the area outside the door, they saw no sign of a wolf. Instead, they found a person lying on the dry grass pile.

"Oh my, there's someone lying here!" the hunter's wife cried out first.

The hunter also put down his club and leaned over to take a closer look. "Dead?"

"He's still alive! Feel his chest—it's warm!" The wife reached out to check Luo Qianyu's breath, then touched his chest, urgently saying, "Get him inside, quick! He'll freeze to death if we leave him out here any longer."

The hunter hurriedly bent down and picked up Luo Qianyu. The young man was light, but his whole body was frighteningly hot.

The two of them hurriedly carried him into the inner room. The hunter's wife fetched a bowl of warm water and slowly fed it into Luo Qianyu's mouth with a spoon, then carefully removed his chilled, damp blue outer robe.

The robe's fabric was fine, with an extraordinary pattern—clearly not from an ordinary family. She deftly tucked two thick quilts around him before straightening up.

"Look at this robe, blue, and the fabric is so precious," the hunter stared at the unfolded robe, frowning. "Around here, only the generals of Zhao wear this color."

"Should we... report it to the authorities?"

"Report what?" The wife reached out and touched Luo Qianyu's burning forehead. "Look at him, he's just a teenager, frozen like this and burning up with fever. He looks like he's come from the Frigid North... By the time the slowpoke officials get here, he'll have long stopped breathing."

"The Frigid North?" The hunter's face fell. "Those people from the Frigid North who returned to our town a while back—didn't they also get hypothermia, then came down with a raging fever? Several of them ended up dying! This... what do we do?"

The woman said, "Fetch a doctor."

The hunter: "That means a trip into town. Where's the money for that?"

The wife hesitated a moment, her gaze sweeping lightly over Luo Qianyu. Suddenly, she spotted the jade hairpin in his hair. The hairpin was pure, lustrous white, extraordinary at a glance, must be worth a fortune.

She carefully pulled out the jade hairpin, clutched it in her hand, and said to her husband, "Use this. Pawn it. We'll use the money to save him first."

At the crack of dawn, the hunter tightly wrapped the unconscious youth in thick cloth, hoisted him onto his back, and hurried toward the city.

The youth was still out cold, his breath was fever-hot, and it was a wonder if he'd make it through the night.

Upon reaching the city, the hunter didn't look for a doctor first. Instead, he turned directly into a pawnshop at the street corner. Behind the counter, the shopkeeper was squinting as he clicked beads on an abacus. Seeing someone enter, he didn't even look up. "What've you got?"

"Boss, take a look at this. It's a fine piece." The hunter carefully leaned Luo Qianyu against the counter, took the jade hairpin from inside his coat, and handed it over.

The shopkeeper lifted an eyelid, glanced at the hunter's coarse clothes, and sneered, "What kind of treasure could *you* have? Don't try to fool me with some junk you picked up somewhere."

Despite his words, he slowly reached out and took the hairpin.

The moment it was in his hand, the shopkeeper's expression changed. He brought it close to the window light, squinting for a closer look.

The jade was translucent and flawless, with a delicate texture—it was actually a rare piece of imperial warm jade! The shopkeeper's eyes widened instantly, and he straightened up.

He quickly schooled his features, placed the hairpin back on the counter, and deliberately frowned. "Just average. The material is passable, the carving is so-so. I'll give you three taels of silver."

The hunter: "That much!"

The shopkeeper's heart skipped a beat, inwardly cursing: Damn it, I offered too much!

The shopkeeper deftly weighed out the silver, handed it to the hunter, then swiftly wiped the hairpin and tucked it into his robe, his heart leaping with joy.

This was a rare, excellent piece.

Perfect for the top courtesan at the Drunken Spring Pavilion—sure to win her favor!

.

Drunken Spring Pavilion.

The lights weren't fully doused yet. Su Hongying had removed her makeup and splendid attire, throwing on a plain cloak, and slowly walked into the inner room.

Inside, a brazier glowed warmly. The woman stood by the window, gazing outside as snowflakes drifted down. On the table, a pure white jade rabbit was burying its head, sneaking a drink of water from a teacup.

As soon as Su Hongying entered, she felt the tense atmosphere in the room and quickly bowed her head in greeting. "Chief."

The woman turned around, her brow furrowed with impatience, her red lips parting. "This damned snow has been falling for six days already."

"When will we finally reach Zhao?"

"Chief, we're close to the Frigid North. The weather's treacherous, but I believe it will stop soon." Su Hongying lowered her eyes and replied. "At our pace, we're only six or seven days' journey from Zhao."

Just then, the jade rabbit on the table suddenly stopped moving, hopped down the small stool onto the floor. Taking advantage of Su Hongying and the Chief conversing, it moved with barely a sound, hopping a few times to the doorway, ready to leap out.

Liu Cixue snorted coldly. "Time waits for no one. He's slippery, hiding for three years at a time. If we're not careful, he'll slip right through our fingers. We must get him in our grasp to feel at ease."

As she spoke, a soft silk ribbon flew from her sleeve. One end wrapped around the jade rabbit that had already slipped out of the room, the other end held in Liu Cixue's hand.

The jade rabbit whimpered as Liu Cixue picked it up and cradled it in her arms.

Liu Cixue stroked the rabbit's soft, snow-white fur while glancing sideways at a painting hanging by the window.

—The painting depicted a beautiful youth in martial attire, riding a horse. A light blue cloak billowed in the wind, a delicate forehead ribbon adorned his brow. He held the reins, his dark hair unbound, cascading over his snow-white neck—aloof and noble.

"He's now disguised as the Third Prince of Zhao. If not for this painting, I'd have thought he was no longer in this world." Liu Cixue's finger slowly traced from the dark hair in the portrait down to the neck, then from the shoulder to the waist, finally resting on the ankle. "We depart tomorrow, whether the snow stops or not."

Su Hongying was taken aback, about to speak in persuasion. "Chief, traveling in the snow is too dangerous. Should we—"

"Don't speak out of turn." Liu Cixue cut her off. "You may leave."

"Yes." Su Hongying lowered her gaze.

Just as she lifted the curtain, she saw the madam bustling over, shouting, "Miss Su! Miss Su!"

Su Hongying quickly stepped forward, blocking the madam's path to prevent her from barging in, and asked in a low voice, "Mama Zhang, what's the matter? Why so flustered?"

The woman's face beamed with a smile as she pulled a brocade box from her robe and handed it over. "Someone just sent you a gift! Said they want to meet you tomorrow. I took a peek just now—it's a jade hairpin inside. Looks priceless at first glance, might be a rare treasure! I don't know much about these things, but you take a look and see if it's good!"

Su Hongying took the brocade box and opened it. Inside lay a translucent white jade hairpin.

She was about to ask who sent it when Mama Zhang continued, "The one who sent it is Boss Wu from the biggest pawnshop in the southwest!"

"He's always been generous. What he sends definitely won't be shabby."

Su Hongying looked at the hairpin, but her gaze suddenly froze.

She immediately turned and went back into the inner room, presenting the hairpin to Liu Cixue. "Chief, look at this jade hairpin."

"It's the hairpin the Young Marquis was wearing when he left the capital and discussed the Disguise Art with me."

Liu Cixue's pupils tightened slightly. She took the hairpin and said, "Find out immediately who pawned this hairpin."

"The sooner, the better."

Su Hongying: "Yes."

The Chief turned her back, took a deep breath, her palm involuntarily trembling slightly.

As everyone knew, the Young Marquis had always been playful and restless. It was expected that he couldn't stay put in Zhao. But who would have thought he would actively jump right into her palm?

.

.

Luo Qianyu woke up.

The young man's eyelashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes.

His head ached slightly, his lips were dry, and his limbs felt weak—the clear, floating sensation of someone just recovering from an illness.

His surroundings felt unfamiliar; the first thing he saw was a pale pink bed canopy.

He blinked, bewildered. He seemed to be in an exquisitely furnished boudoir. A dressing table held a mirrored case, and embroidered gauze curtains hung by the window. It was far too refined for an ordinary home; even the pillow and quilt carried a faint, delicate fragrance.

Where was this?

He distinctly remembered being surrounded by a wolf pack, driven back by the lead wolf, on the verge of death.

Then, it seemed he had a dream—an utterly surreal one. In it, the wolf took him to a cave for the night, but his fever grew worse until he lost consciousness. Later fragments involved being left at a hunter's cabin...

Yet the place he was in now was nothing like a hunter's place.

Luo Qianyu pushed himself up on his elbows, but before he could sit up, a voice, cold as a draft, suddenly spoke: "You're awake?"

Luo Qianyu looked up and only then noticed a woman seated on a daybed not far away in the room.

She wore bright, vivid clothing, a plain silk sash cinched at her waist and also lightly tied in her hair. Her skin was fairer than snow, her eyes and brows carrying a hint of lazy allure, so beautiful it was almost blinding.

Yet, though the beauty's eyes curved, they held a distinct chill, captivating and soul-stirring. She parted her lips: "Darling, you've certainly made me search high and low for you."

Luo Qianyu hesitated. "...Who are you?"

Liu Cixue paused, stunned.

Then she chuckled lightly. "Luo Qianyu, now that you've fallen into my hands, playing dumb won't work."

The use of his real name told Luo Qianyu that this person must be acquainted with the original owner. But he was now Xiao Yu, the third prince of Zhao. Suppressing his panic, he replied calmly, "Miss, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I am from Zhao, raised there since childhood. I am not the person you speak of by that name."

The smile completely faded from Liu Cixue's face. This time, she remained silent for a long while.

She suddenly stood up and walked step by step to Luo Qianyu's bedside, as if studying him intently. Her gaze swept from his forehead down to his chin. After another long silence, she said, "You don't remember?"

Luo Qianyu shook his head. "It's not that I don't remember; it's that you've mistaken me for someone else."

Liu Cixue stared at him. "You don't know who I am?"

Luo Qianyu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, a touch of unease creeping in. She looked like a delicate young woman—surely she couldn't be an enemy or a romantic rival. Forcing composure, he said, "Miss, we are strangers. Naturally, I wouldn't know you."

Liu Cixue looked at him and repeated, "You really don't remember."

This time, it sounded almost certain.

The woman lowered her head, her voice very soft, as if murmuring to herself. "No wonder... no wonder..."

Luo Qianyu: "...Miss?"

The next moment, Liu Cixue raised her head, her eyes already brimming with tears.

Tears hung on her lashes, ready to fall, making her eyes appear even more captivating and tender. She frowned lightly, the tip of her nose tinged with red, and even her voice carried a sob, yet her demeanor remained charming and pitiable.

She cried, "Husband, you don't remember your wife?"

"I am your wife!"