Heart to Heart

After several years of development, the wolf pack had grown increasingly large. Wolves now surrounded the group on all sides, any ordinary person would have been scared out of their wits at such a sight.

Upon seeing Qibao, Bai Shuang and Bai Xue affectionately approached her, rubbing their bodies against her legs. Even Qibao struggled to keep her balance as they pushed against her.

Su Chenyu rubbed his hands together enviously and asked: "Qibao, why are those white wolves so huge, like little calves? They're enormous! Can't you give me one? I promise I'll treat it well. What do you say?"

"No way! White wolves are our family now. How could we just give one to you?" Xiaowu interjected before Qibao could respond.

Bai Shuang, Bai Xue, and their two children, Bai Tian and Bai Yan, all stared warily at Su Chenyu with cautionary expressions. Their unspoken message was clear: You can forget about getting one of us!

Qibao smiled and said: "You don't even need me to tell you—just look at them! They clearly don't want to go with you! And for me, they're not pets—they're partners and family."

Relaxed, Bai Shuang leaned in and licked Qibao's hand.

Su Chenyu sighed, sounding disappointed: "Alright! You're right, of course!"

Over the years, whenever Qibao visited the mountain, she'd bring out spirit water from her space and share it with the wolf pack. Following their leader's lead, the wolves grew trusting and fond of her.

Some half-grown pups even sought Qibao's touch, enjoying when she stroked their fur.

This scene left Su Chenyu speechless, surprising even Jing Chen.

To everyone's amazement, Qibao climbed onto Bai Shuang's back, looking utterly at ease.

"That..." Su Chenyu stuttered.

Xu Wenwu chuckled: "Don't even think about it. The white wolf only lets Qibao sit on its back."

The sight was truly enchanting, like something from a fairy tale.

A young girl, dressed in a light yellow corset, with fair skin and delicate features, rode on the back of a snow-white wolf. They strolled leisurely through the forest. The wolf sometimes sped up, sometimes stopped to look around, looking just like a scene from a painting.

Su Chenyu murmured: "If I didn't know Qibao, I'd swear I'd met a forest nymph!"

It wasn't surprising. Qibao practiced different cultivation techniques than most people. The spiritual energy she had made her seem ethereal, almost like a celestial being. That was one of the benefits of having so much spiritual energy.

Jing Chen was just as shaken. Qibao stood out among all the women he had ever met. He felt the gap between them growing ever wider—not in terms of status or position, but as vast as the difference between mortals and deities. It made him want to explore her mysterious nature.

Xiaowu couldn't resist the urge to use his qinggong technique and followed the White Wolf. Seeing him, the others also activated theirs.

"Hey, hey, hey! Wait for me! I don't know qinggong!" Qian Xuedong exclaimed, breaking into a run. He stood out among their group in more ways than one, so it was no surprise that his voice rose.

Noticing his plight, Xu Wenwu had no choice but to pause and wait for Qian Xuedong.

"You're really dependable, Wenwu!" Qian Xuedong said gratefully.

Without a second word, Xu Wenwu grabbed Qian Xuedong's shoulder. With a forceful push from his toes, he carried Qian Xuedong and leaped onto a nearby tree.

"Ah!" Qian Xuedong's face paled with fear. His legs flailed in mid-air, finding no purchase.

Only when he felt solid ground beneath his feet did the sense of weightlessness subside. He calmed his nerves, slapped his chest, and said with some frustration: "Wenwu, couldn't you have warned me? You gave me quite a scare!"

Xu Wenwu rubbed his nose: "My apologies! Next time, I'll definitely let you know ahead of time."

The wolf pack ran after them, and their commotion sent the small animals in the forest running in fear.

Unfortunately, they couldn't outrun the fierce wolves.

The group finally stopped at a flat, low spot and found a place to sit on the ground.

There was no need for them to catch their own prey—the wolf pack had already provided plenty of food.

They took out everything Mrs. Wang had prepared and placed it on a cloth spread on the ground.

Then they built a fire nearby. After finding a small stream, they cleaned the game and began roasting it over the flames.

The wolf pack lay down to rest in the area around them, with only a few rowdy, half-grown pups continually bounding around Qibao and the others, clearly enjoying themselves.

As the meat cooked, the group ate the fruit Mrs. Wang had provided, chatting leisurely as they waited.

"Big Brother Su, I know you come from a well-off family." Third Brother asked curiously. "But have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

Su Chenyu shrugged. "Yeah, there's so many things I'd like to do. But I've got responsibilities. My family relies on me, so I can't just do whatever I want like you guys."

"Oh... That's really too bad!"

Su Chenyu popped a grape in his mouth and said between bites: "There's nothing to feel bad about. Since I've enjoyed this life of wealth, I have to accept the responsibilities that come with it. I wouldn't change it for the world."

"That makes sense. We can't choose our family or our life. All we can do is follow our hearts."

"Big Brother Jing, what do you want to do in the future?"

Jing Chen thought for a moment before saying: "Next, I might want to join the army and toughen up."

When Xiaowu heard this, he put his fruit back on the plate and his eyes lit up: "Big Brother Jing, can I come with you?"

Jing Chen raised his eyebrows: "You're too young to join the army."

Xiaowu protested: "I'm only 12, but my martial skills are top-notch. Besides, I just want to toughen up too."

Jing Chen explained: "Once you join the army, you can't leave. I could help you join, but I don't know if Grandpa Xu and the others would agree."

Xiaowu said: "Grandpa and the others will definitely agree. Besides, our Dragon Soul Nation doesn't have a war to fight right now. I'd just be following along with the soldiers' training!"

Jing Chen said: "There's no certainty in life. What if war does break out someday? Wouldn't you worry about your family?"

Xiaowu patted his chest: "Even if there's a war, it would be worth it to serve our country and use all my training for something good."

"Fifth Brother, joining the military isn't a small matter." Xu Wenwu said: "You should go home and talk this over with your grandfather first."

Xiao Wu said: "I know, Big Brother, I will tell grandpa, as long as Grandpa agrees, Big Brother Jing, will you take me to the army with you?"

Jing Chen nodded: "Yes, as long as Grandpa and the others are okay with it, I'll take you along."

Xiaowu nodded happily.

"Fourth Brother, I've never heard what you want to do most." Xu Zhiyong said.

Xu Siyuan rarely spoke, as if he kept everything inside. He was the most mysterious of the brothers.

"I just want to travel and see the world." Xu Siyuan said: "To open my eyes and learn more about life."

Xu Wenwu frowned: "Fourth Brother, I know you have your own thoughts, but we're family. I may not know you as well as you think. Don't keep things to yourself and make the family worry."

Xu Siyuan said: "Big Brother, I understand, and I won't do anything to worry the family."

Xu Wenwu nodded: "It's not just me. The dean has also told me several times that among all his students, you're the one best suited for scholarly pursuits!"

"I know the dean is just looking out for me." Xu Siyuan said "but my heart isn't set on that path. I'm sorry to disappoint him."