Chapter 29: Another Call Part 1

The Snow Wolf didn’t respond to the human’s question. She just kept whining “wu wu,” shaking her head, and tearing viciously at her prey.

Ji Yingran came up behind the wolf and curiously peered ahead.

“What are you biting so furiously?”

When she finally made out what the Snow Wolf was savaging, Ji Yingran’s eyes froze for a moment.

The Snow Wolf’s claws pinned down an Arctic Wolf that was long dead. Even in death, the Snow Wolf wouldn’t let up. She ripped and tore at the corpse relentlessly.

She shredded it to pieces, biting off all four limbs and ripping open a massive gash in its belly. The surrounding snow was stained bright red…

The gruesome scene made Ji Yingran frown instinctively.

Just then, the Snow Wolf’s sharp fangs sank deep into the prey’s neck. With a savage yank, she tore the Arctic Wolf’s head clean off its body.

The once pristine and beautiful Snow Wolf was now splattered with blood across her face, her ferocious gnashing only adding to the terror…

Ji Yingran took a step back. She had to admit, for a split second, she was truly frightened by the Snow Wolf.

Ji Yingran had never seen this ruthless, brutal side of her before. Normally, she was all adorable pride and tsundere charm. Who could have imagined this ferocity when she hunted?

One bite, and she’d ripped off the head. Ji Yingran touched her own neck, feeling a sudden chill.

The Arctic Wolf was mangled beyond recognition, but Ji Yingran could still vaguely make it out—it was the one that had tried to attack her that morning.

The Snow Wolf had dragged this wolf back to vent her rage, avenging her human.

Wolves avenging humans… one ought to thank her, even be touched. But the bloody spectacle made it hard to feel anything but revulsion.

Mid-tear, the Snow Wolf noticed the human. Her icy gaze swept over, framed by that blood-smeared face.

Ji Yingran’s throat tightened in fear as she swallowed hard.

The Snow Wolf seemed oblivious. She patted the mangled Arctic Wolf with her paw and lifted her chin repeatedly, as if to say: She’s dead. I got revenge for you.

Ji Yingran’s words of thanks caught in her throat. She couldn’t hide the fear on her face.

The Snow Wolf tilted her bloody head to one side, eyeing the human in confusion.

Why did the two-legged beast look scared?

The Snow Wolf couldn’t figure it out. Even back in the mountain cave, she was still puzzled. While licking the blood from her fur in a cleaning ritual, she kept stealing glances at the human keeping her distance.

The Snow Wolf pretended not to care, focusing intently on grooming her coat. But her peripheral vision kept drifting to the human.

What was with this two-legged beast? She was always so clingy before. Today she stayed way back, and didn’t even thank her for the revenge…

The wolf was unhappy. Unhappy, and a bit aggrieved too.

Hateful two-legged beast. Inexplicable two-legged beast. This Wolf wouldn’t pay her any mind!

Ji Yingran kept her distance from the wolf, sitting alone in the corner.

When she glanced at the Snow Wolf, the wolf was licking away industriously—paws, then face. But the more she licked, the messier the blood smeared.

The white wolf had somehow turned into a red one.

Blood-soaked and terrifying. Remembering how she’d torn into the Arctic Wolf made it even more chilling. But this wolf had done it all purely to avenge her human.

This wolf who loved cleanliness so much, who dirtied herself like this just to get revenge…

She must have tracked the Arctic Wolf’s scent all the way here.

Ji Yingran sighed softly. The wolf was so good to her, and here she was, ungratefully scared of her.

Ji Yingran stood and walked toward the wolf.

The Snow Wolf paused her grooming and whipped around, presenting her wolf rear to the human.

The wolf was mad, clearly refusing to acknowledge her.

Ji Yingran crouched down and gently patted her butt.

The Snow Wolf leaped up and spun around, glaring furiously: Rude human, patting a wolf’s butt again. Believe it or not, I’ll bite you.

Before the Snow Wolf could snap, Ji Yingran spoke first. “Thank you for just now. Thank you, Wolfie, for getting revenge for me.”

The Snow Wolf’s angry expression faltered. She snorted through her nose, still grumpy and unsatisfied.

“I should have thanked you right away, but… I’m a bit of a coward. You were covered in blood after shredding that wolf like that, and I got a little… scared of you.”

The Snow Wolf pouted, displeased.

“Fear’s just instinct—who made me such a scaredy-cat? But I know you meant well. I’m not blaming you, and I’m not saying you went too far with the gore. I was just shocked by the sight. Sorry for looking so frightened and hurting your feelings.”

The Snow Wolf snorted coldly again: This Wolf isn’t hurt. This Wolf doesn’t have a fragile heart like that.

“So we’re good now? You accept my apology, Wolfie?”

The Snow Wolf turned her head away. No.

Ji Yingran extended a hand. “If you forgive me, give me a high-five.”

The Snow Wolf kept her head turned, ignoring her.

Ji Yingran gave an awkward smile and started to pull back.

At that moment, the wolf’s paw lightly tapped her hand.

Ji Yingran blinked, then grinned. “You forgive me!”

The Snow Wolf: “Hmph.”

Ji Yingran instinctively wanted to hug her, but that full-body blood made her hesitate.

“You know, licking alone won’t get all that blood off. Don’t you know a cleaning spell? Or we could go wash at the hot spring.”

Sensing the human’s distaste, the Snow Wolf bared her teeth in fury.

Ji Yingran touched her nose. “No, I don’t think you’re dirty. See? Now you’re mad again.”

The Snow Wolf wasn’t just mad—she swatted the human’s face with her paw, five or six times in a row.

Ji Yingran quickly backed away. Any more, and she’d have another red mark on her forehead.

The wolf didn’t extend her claws, just used her meaty paw pads, but her strength made it hurt plenty.

“This spice jar tipped over. I’ll clean it up.” Ji Yingran made an excuse to retreat.

She pretended to tidy up, wiping here and there.

After busying herself a bit, she looked back. The once blood-smeared wolf was spotless again.

All the stains had vanished.

Ji Yingran was astonished. “You really do know a cleaning spell! That’s amazing.”

Every time the wolf used her supernatural ability, Ji Yingran found it fascinating.

The Snow Wolf ignored her.

But Ji Yingran wanted to chat. She squatted nearby, chattering away. When the wolf got fed up, she’d swat her.

A swat would quiet Ji Yingran briefly, but soon she’d sidle back for more talk.

She wasn’t a chatterbox, but with no phone or entertainment in the cave, what else was there? Staring into space, or talking to the wolf—that was it.

She’d napped already, so sleep wasn’t an option. Chatting it was.

Ji Yingran chatted about everything under the sun, even telling the wolf stories. Like Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf grandma…

“Wolfie, in fairy tales, you’re the villain—the really evil kind.”

The Snow Wolf narrowed her eyes dangerously.

“Kidding! See, you’re mad again. Friends can talk about anything without getting upset right away. No swatting!”

The Snow Wolf eyed her grumpily, paw raised and ready.

Ji Yingran chuckled softly. “Not just fairy tales—wolves are usually villains there. And there are tons of idioms about wolves too. Want to hear?”

The Snow Wolf rolled her eyes: This two-legged beast is annoying the wolf to death. Can’t that mouth shut up?

Ji Yingran rattled them off. “Like heartless ingrate, in cahoots like thieves, harboring wolfish ambitions, letting the wolf into the house. Oh, and ungrateful white-eyed wolf.”

The Snow Wolf had enough. She bared her fangs.

Ji Yingran flashed a placating smile. “Okay, okay, I won’t say more. Sorry!”

She’d riled the wolf, and she slid right into apology.

They bantered back and forth like that, and time passed easily enough.

Ji Yingran went to the cave mouth to check the weather outside.

The misty sky from before had turned to blazing sunshine. The weather here changed on a dime—one day brought clouds, snow, rain, clear skies, gales, all in rotation.

Ji Yingran couldn’t help marveling at her timing for climbing the Snow Mountain. The weather had always been fickle, but never this extreme.

Was she lucky or cursed?

She called back into the cave. “Wolfie, it’s sunny out. Want to come bask?”

Ji Yingran knew the wolf loved sunbathing. On sunny days, she’d flop into the snow, rolling blissfully when she got really happy.

No sound from the cave. The wolf had heard, but this one loved playing hard to get.

Always upholding her aloof persona, she’d feign indifference at every turn.

Ji Yingran leaned against the entrance, silently counting down.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Countdown over—the wolf emerged.

Ji Yingran chuckled softly. Just as expected. Shout for her, and she’d pause five seconds before sauntering out casually.

No one knew what the Snow Wolf was putting on such airs for. There was no one else around, yet she insisted on maintaining her idol image.

“Our pretty Wolfie finally came out to bask in the sun, huh? I thought you didn’t hear me,” Ji Yingran teased.

The Snow Wolf kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to even glance at her as she strode right past.

Ji Yingran hurried after her. “I’ll sunbathe with you.”

Only then did the Snow Wolf deign to look her way, though her eyes brimmed with disdain. She had no desire to share the sunlight with this human. Scram. Don’t act like we’re close—we aren’t.

Her expression screamed contempt, yet when the human didn’t immediately follow, the Snow Wolf deliberately slowed her pace, waiting just a little.

When the human still hadn’t caught up after a moment, she grew annoyed.

“You go ahead and sunbathe. Don’t wait for me—I’m going back to grab some sunglasses,” Ji Yingran said.

The Snow Wolf felt displeased. What a fussy human.

She sauntered along at a leisurely pace before selecting a perfect spot. With a lazy flop, she sprawled out, looking utterly content.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. Her golden wolf eyes flicked toward a spot to her left.

The Arctic Wolf she had killed was still lying there amid a patch of crimson blood. Remembering the human’s timid nature, she figured the sight might frighten her again later.

What a troublesome human. Zero points.

Before long, the Snow Wolf settled back down and resumed her lazy sunbathing.

That human, however, was getting noisy.

“Hey? Where’s that Arctic Wolf you tore to shreds? It’s gone.”

Not only had the wolf vanished, but even the surrounding bloodstains had disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed.

The Snow Wolf shot her an impatient glance. Noisy, noisy, noisy. Keep it up, and I’ll bite you.

Ji Yingran stood where the Arctic Wolf’s body should have been, looking around carefully. She couldn’t find the slightest trace.

After a moment of surprise, realization dawned. She turned her head toward the sunbathing wolf nearby.

Because she had mentioned being scared of gore, the wolf had quietly cleaned up the bloody mess while she wasn’t looking.

The wolf was afraid of scaring her again.

Warmth bloomed in Ji Yingran’s heart. How thoughtful this wolf was.

She hurried to the wolf’s side, crouched down, and enveloped her in a big hug.

The Snow Wolf wriggled in protest. What are you doing? Who said you could hug a wolf?