Chapter 12#

Young Wolf: Idiot, afraid of dogs, afraid of wolves…#

Xiao Cuan did go hunting.

He woke up before dawn, while Yanzhi was still asleep.

Leaning on the couch, he held Yanzhi and absentmindedly pinched his face and hands.

Yanzhi was fast asleep, eyes closed, nestled defencelessly in his arms, obedient and gentle.

Xiao Cuan pinched him like a doll for a while before making a plan.

Leaving Yanzhi on the couch, he got up, left the tent, called out the names of several generals, and sent his personal guards to fetch them.

Before long, a dozen generals in armor, carrying bows and arrows and leading warhorses, had assembled.

Just as dawn was breaking, Xiao Cuan grabbed the reins, flipped onto his horse, and led the group up the mountain.

Xiao Cuan excelled in archery and horsemanship, even surpassing the generals present. When he had personally led expeditions in the past, he was always the commander-in-chief.

However, riding alone today, he felt his arms were strangely empty.

Xiao Cuan lowered his eyes, released the reins, and folded his arms across his chest. He rode like this on the rugged, uneven hillside, staying perfectly steady.

An official plucked up the courage to ask, “May I ask Your Majesty, what is the purpose of this mountain excursion…”

Xiao Cuan said indifferently, “To hunt a fierce tiger.”

Tigers were hard to come by. It wasn’t until evening, after the group had crossed two mountain peaks, that they found some droppings containing fur deep in the forest.

Xiao Cuan sat up straight, one hand gripping the reins and the other taking down his bow and arrow, ready to strike.

The next instant, a wild wind rose, kicking up withered leaves and dust in the forest and blowing them into their faces.

Everyone’s eyes were blurred. Before they could see the scene clearly, Xiao Cuan frowned, moved swiftly, and nocked an arrow.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—three sounds.

Three iron arrows were fired in succession, disappearing into the grass.

Two arrows hit the tiger’s eyes directly. Roaring in pain, the tiger rolled to the side, dodging the last arrow.

The last arrow embedded itself in a tree trunk, piercing straight through a towering ancient tree that would take two people to encircle.

Only then did the accompanying generals react, raising their weapons and pulling out ox-tendon ropes.

Xiao Cuan said calmly, “Don’t damage the fur.”

“Yes!”

Even if it was blinded, a tiger was still a tiger, its aura undiminished.

Several generals tied the ox-tendon ropes into knots and threw them out forcefully, trying to loop them around the tiger’s neck. However, because the tiger was struggling frantically, they failed several times.

Xiao Cuan couldn’t watch any longer. He took a rope from them and threw it forward.

The rope looped around the tiger’s neck. Once it was tight, the tiger stumbled, shaking its head and charging straight forward in an attempt to break free.

Xiao Cuan held the rope while mounted on his horse, being pulled forward as if he were walking a dog.

Finally, Xiao Cuan yanked the rope back sharply. The tiger was pulled back and crashed heavily into a thick tree trunk with a loud thud.

After several rounds of this, the tree trunk snapped, and the tiger lost consciousness.

Xiao Cuan dismounted, stepped forward with his blade, and pierced the tiger’s throat with one stroke.

Finally, he ordered several generals to take the tiger down the mountain and have craftsmen skin it and de-bone it. He wanted to see the tiger skin that evening.

The official asked if he wanted to keep the tiger head attached to the skin.

Xiao Cuan thought for a moment and finally said, “No need.”

That idiot Yanzhi—if the tiger head were placed in front of him, he’d be so scared he’d wail and cry, unable to sleep all night.

Better not; just let him sleep on the tiger skin.

Generally, a mountain range occupied by a tiger wouldn’t have other large prey, but Xiao Cuan didn’t want to head down the mountain just yet.

Thinking of Yanzhi’s red-rimmed eyes and his pitiful appearance as he hid in a corner, he felt uneasy.

So, Xiao Cuan led the men to wander around the mountain.

As they wandered, they found the cave where the tiger had lived.

Inside the tiger’s den, fresh bones were scattered about, likely prey the tiger had eaten not long ago.

The officials couldn’t identify what kind of animal the skeleton belonged to. Xiao Cuan took one look and said indifferently, “It’s a wolf.”

Leaving the cave and continuing forward, another strange sound came from the grass.

A newly born, pitch-black wolf cub stumbled out.

It was probably starving and exhausted. It crawled to the front of Xiao Cuan’s warhorse, collapsed, and whimpered like a puppy.

Xiao Cuan pulled the reins to a stop, stared at it for a while, then dismounted, pinched the back of its neck, and picked it up.

He wasn’t doing this out of the kindness of his heart, nor did he want to raise another puppy. He already had his “puppy,” Yanzhi.

However, he could let his “puppy” raise a “little puppy.”

A family of three—it sounded quite nice.

Now he could go back.

Xiao Cuan bundled the wolf cub in his armored cloak and set off for the camp with his group.

From the sun setting in the west to the moon reaching mid-sky.

When the group returned to the camp, it was already the third watch (around midnight to 2 AM).

Subordinates brought over the processed tiger skin. Xiao Cuan dismissed everyone, carrying his bow and arrows with the tiger skin draped over his shoulder. Holding the wolf cub in one hand, he lifted the tent flap with the other and looked inside.

Well, well. That heartless puppy Yanzhi had actually fallen asleep.

A single candle stood on the small table by the couch, burned down very low, looking as if it were about to go out.

Yanzhi was hugging a pillow, lying by the edge of the couch. He wasn’t sleeping soundly; he looked like he might fall off the bed if he turned over.

The candle flame flickered, casting a dim yellow light on Yanzhi’s face, highlighting his slightly furrowed brow and the unnaturally faint flush on his cheeks.

Xiao Cuan strode forward and stood before the couch.

He reached out, originally intending to pinch Yanzhi’s face to wake him up.

Then he changed his mind and thought about pressing his cold armored sleeve against Yanzhi’s face to freeze him awake.

On second thought, that wasn’t good either.

He had a better way.

Xiao Cuan bent down, circled his arm around Yanzhi’s waist, and lifted him up directly.

Yanzhi almost woke up, struggling and letting out a few whimpers.

Xiao Cuan expertly covered his eyes and pressed him back into his dream.

Holding Yanzhi in one arm, he took the trophies he had brought back and threw them all onto the couch.

The entire tiger skin, thrown on.

The newborn wolf cub, thrown on.

Wild fruits he had picked on a whim, thrown on.

The couch was packed full of things Xiao Cuan had brought back from his hunt.

That was about enough.

Finally, Xiao Cuan placed the greatest trophy he had hunted in this world—Yanzhi—in the center of the bed.

Perhaps the tiger skin was a bit prickly, as Yanzhi curled up his body as soon as he was placed on it, tucking his hands under his head.

Clad in armor, Xiao Cuan stood before the couch, admiring and playing with the trophy that belonged solely to him, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

Not bad, very good!

This was his treasure vault.

Xiao Cuan watched for a while, finally pinched the flesh of Yanzhi’s cheek, and then turned to sit on another small couch.

A servant came in once, left some food, and went out.

He sat with his legs apart, taking a bite of a meat pancake and a sip of meat soup, his eyes never leaving the bed nearby, like a dragon guarding its treasure.

Before long, Yanzhi was pricked by the tiger fur. He called out “Your Majesty” and opened his eyes.

Xiao Cuan took a bite of the meat pancake and chuckled lowly.

At least he had some conscience, knowing to dream of his Emperor.

Immediately after, Yanzhi was frightened out of his wits by the tiger skin beneath him and startled by the wolf cub under the blanket.

Xiao Cuan walked over to him, pinched the wolf cub by the scruff of its neck, shook it in front of him, and asked pointedly, “Did you give birth to this?”

Yanzhi hadn’t fully woken up yet. He stared at him blankly, his eyes wide. He subconsciously touched his own abdomen and asked doubtfully, “I gave birth to it?”

Seeing him acting foolish, Xiao Cuan continued to tease him, “I said a few days ago you were pregnant, but you denied it.”

“I didn’t…” Yanzhi realized belatedly, “I didn’t give birth to it. I can’t give birth to puppies…”

“A puppy will naturally give birth to a puppy.” Xiao Cuan moved the wolf cub closer to him. “Since you birthed it, you raise it.”

“No! I don’t want to!” Yanzhi panicked, turning to flee. “I didn’t give birth to it…”

Xiao Cuan grabbed his collar and pulled him back, forcefully stuffing the wolf cub into his arms. “I say you birthed it, so you birthed it. Give it something to eat.”

“I don’t want to…”

Yanzhi’s struggle was insignificant in Xiao Cuan’s eyes.

His resistance was quickly suppressed.

Xiao Cuan sat on the couch and continued eating his late-night snack.

Yanzhi sat nearby, holding the “puppy.”

He held the “puppy” with arms outstretched, keeping it as far away from himself as possible, even trembling involuntarily.

Just then, Xiao Cuan broke off a piece of meat pancake and handed it to Yanzhi, telling him to feed the dog.

Yanzhi took the meat pancake and carefully offered it to the “puppy.”

The “puppy” sniffed, moved closer to his hand, and opened its mouth.

As his finger was surrounded by a warm sensation, Yanzhi dropped the meat pancake into its mouth like throwing a stone, hurriedly withdrew his hand, and rubbed it haphazardly on his clothes.

Xiao Cuan glanced at him, seemingly finally understanding: “Afraid of dogs?”

“Yes…” Yanzhi nodded. “When I was little, I was chased by a dog.”

At that time, he was only four or five years old. He was carrying a bamboo basket up the mountain to gather firewood when he encountered a large dog on the mountain path.

The big dog belonged to a wealthy family in town. It ate better than he did, was well-fed and sturdy, and saliva dripped from its mouth.

Yanzhi turned and ran, but in his panic, he slipped and rolled down the hillside, eventually falling into the river.

Fortunately, the big dog didn’t chase him further. He clung to his bamboo basket, drifting in the water until his mother fished him out.

Since then, he had been very afraid of dogs and water.

Yanzhi pursed his lips, gathered his courage, and handed the “puppy” to Xiao Cuan. “Your Majesty, I… I can’t raise a puppy. Could you…”

“No.” Xiao Cuan refused flatly. “You won’t raise what you birthed? Bad puppy.”

“It clearly wasn’t me who birthed it. Clearly… clearly Your Majesty birthed it…”

“Hmm?” Xiao Cuan frowned.

Yanzhi changed his words: “Your Majesty picked it up.”

Xiao Cuan lowered his eyes, broke off another piece of meat pancake, and fed it to him just as Yanzhi had fed the dog.

Yanzhi held the meat pancake in his mouth, looking at him pitifully, and called out again, “Your Majesty…”

Xiao Cuan wiped his lip with his thumb and gave a light scoff. “Fine. We’ll find a wet nurse for it and assign two servants.”

Yanzhi finally felt relieved and smiled through his tears. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“New people are about to enter the palace. I found a ‘son’ for you, and yet you didn’t want him.” Xiao Cuan pinched his chin and pulled him close. “Keep this ‘puppy’ well. If you miss me, hold the ‘puppy’ and come to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to seek an audience, saying tearfully—”

“‘Your Majesty, the little puppy misses Your Majesty.’”

“Then won’t I see you? I’m specifically teaching you ways to compete for favor, yet you won’t learn. What exactly do you want to do?”

Yanzhi sniffled.

Now, he couldn’t say for sure what he wanted to do.

Before, he wanted to serve by His Majesty’s side forever to repay his life-saving grace, but now…

He kind of wanted to go out of the palace to have some fun.

He was surprised to find that on the day His Majesty wasn’t in the camp, staying by himself, joining in the fun, and reading storybooks actually seemed quite nice.

Of course, he wasn’t so foolish as to say these words to His Majesty and provoke his anger.

Yanzhi lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and changed the subject: “Has Your Majesty already chosen the candidates for the palace?”

“Stop inquiring about such things.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Cuan put down his bowl and spoon, stood up, and ordered, “Remove the armor.”

“Yes.” Yanzhi placed the “puppy” on the couch, got up, and unfastened the buckles on His Majesty’s armor.

The armor was covered in blood, with dried dust stuck to it. Just standing in front of Xiao Cuan, Yanzhi could feel a chilling murderous intent washing over him.

He rubbed his eyes and helped Xiao Cuan remove the armor.

Xiao Cuan briefly wiped his body with the cold water Yanzhi had used for washing, changed into clean clothes, and prepared to go to bed.

Dawn was already breaking; if he didn’t sleep now, he wouldn’t get the chance.

Xiao Cuan placed the wolf cub by the couch to let it sleep, then held Yanzhi and lay down.

Yanzhi’s head rested on his chest. He blinked and watched the wolf cub intently, afraid it would suddenly jump onto the couch and give him a “crunch” of a bite.

The wolf cub also stared at him with wide, glowing eyes, watching him curiously.

Seeing his fear, Xiao Cuan said coldly, “What are you afraid of? Its teeth haven’t even finished growing; how could it bite you?”

“Mm…” Yanzhi nodded, forcing himself to close his eyes and ignore the “puppy.”

After an unknown amount of time, just as Yanzhi was about to fall asleep, the chest he was leaning on suddenly vibrated.

He heard His Majesty ask—

“Idiot, are you afraid of wolves?”

“What?” Yanzhi woke up in a daze and looked up.

“You’re afraid of dogs, so are you afraid of wolves?” Xiao Cuan looked down at him.

For a moment, his eyes seemed to glow in the dark, just like the wolf cub’s.

“Yes…” Yanzhi doubted if he had seen correctly and said hesitantly, “Even more afraid…”

“Useless idiot. Afraid of this, afraid of that. Afraid of dogs, afraid of wolves. There’s nothing in this world you’re not afraid of.”

For some reason, His Majesty was angry again.

Finally, he cursed him, pressed down on his head, and covered his eyes.

“Go to sleep.”