Chapter 026: The Black Wolf Has Come Again

Fortunately, after twenty minutes or so, the hands of Cao'er and Zhao Yue'e began to return to their normal color. In such a harsh environment, any ailment could prove fatal; Su Yanwen could not afford to take any risks.

He dumped everything he had gathered onto the ground. Seeing the tender blades of grass, Cao'er asked cautiously, "Father, are these for us to eat?"

"No, they are for the rabbits," Su Yanwen said with a smile. "From now on, this kind of grass will be used to feed the rabbits."

He then brought out the cage that Dalang had made. "This is their home. Until we build a house, we cannot let them run loose."

Cao'er was even happier than if she had found a treasure. She hopped with excitement, "That's wonderful! Now the bunnies have a home, and they have their own beds, too."

Clumsily, she took the cage and placed the little rabbits inside. She squatted beside them to feed them the grass, whispering as she did so, "Eat up, bunnies, grow up fast, then lay eggs, and the eggs will hatch more bunnies..."

Watching Cao'er mumble to herself, Su Yanwen felt completely lost in the moment. He realized he was truly hooked. This daughter—he was determined to cherish her.

Fortunately, the wounds on his hands were healing, allowing him more range of motion with his hunting knife. He deftly whittled the tips of several branches. Zhao Yue'e watched his skilled movements with suspicion, her brow furrowing deeply when she saw a strange bow taking shape.

Noticing her confusion, Su Yanwen explained, "Uncle Wang gave me some ox sinew, and it just so happens to be perfect for this. I know it’s cold in the mountains, but don't be afraid. I’m going to hunt some wild ducks later; that will keep us warm."

Zhao Yue'e did not look reassured; her brow remained tightly knitted. Su Yanwen offered no further explanation. He picked up his tools and headed out of the cave under the cover of darkness. It was cold in the winter, and wild ducks were not active at night. As long as he could locate their nesting grounds, he was certain he could land one per arrow.

Holding a torch in one hand, Su Yanwen slowly crept toward the nesting spot he had spotted earlier that day. Among the reeds by the riverbank, the green heads of the ducks shimmered faintly in the dark. Not daring to be careless, he quickly extinguished his torch. It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. He nocked an arrow, watched carefully, and fired whenever he caught a glimmer of light.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Even with his skill, external factors made it impossible to guarantee a perfect hit every time. The bow wasn't perfectly calibrated, and the darkness made it difficult to pinpoint the targets. Still, every third shot or so, the shrill cry of a duck rang out. He went through all twenty arrows he had fashioned. The ducks by the water were startled and scattered in every direction.

Even though it was dark, he managed to bag a few more before they could react. Once he was out of arrows, Su Yanwen relit his torch and ran quickly toward the bank. To his relief, the harvest was plentiful. He had caught five ducks. One more, wounded, had fluttered across the river and landed in the shallow water, flapping its wings and making a continuous splashing sound.

It would take over ten minutes to circle around to the other side of the river. Su Yanwen tied the ducks together with a rope and hoisted them up. Just as he was about to head over, those glowing green eyes appeared again.

A black wolf, pitch-black all over and larger than a tiger, walked toward the riverbank with a leisurely, confident gait. It tilted its head to observe the flapping duck, then suddenly shifted into a predatory stance. With a violent lunge, it snapped its jaws around the wild duck's neck. As it opened its mouth, its fangs were visible and terrifying.

Su Yanwen stepped back in shock. Even separated by the water, he felt the raw, savage intensity of the beast. Even with his knife and bow, he stood no chance in a direct confrontation.

*Gulp.*

Su Yanwen swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs. The sensation was chilling. Had this black wolf been lurking here since last night? Su Yanwen didn't dare to breathe, standing frozen as he locked eyes with the creature. The wolf glanced at him once, then turned and vanished into the forest with the duck in its jaws. Whether it was intimidated by his torch or simply had no interest in hunting him, the immediate danger had passed.

Su Yanwen dared not let his guard down. He hurried back to the cave and stoked the campfire at the entrance until it blazed brightly.

"Father, these ducks are so beautiful!" Cao'er exclaimed.

Su Yanwen was still shaken, his face covered in sweat despite the freezing temperature. His breathing remained ragged, and he kept his eyes darting toward the entrance, his hand gripping his hunting knife tightly, ready for a fight to the death. Even though Cao'er was young, she sensed the shift in the atmosphere. She obediently shut her mouth and retreated into the shadows.

"What is wrong?" Zhao Yue'e asked in a low voice.

Su Yanwen didn't want to frighten them, so he shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I was just checking to see if there were any large animals outside. We had a good haul today; we'll have duck for dinner."

Su Yanwen forced himself to relax. Even as he turned to smile, the veins in the hand clutching the knife stood out prominently.

"Father is the best," Cao'er said, a satisfied smile on her face. "I love this place so much. I have Father, Mother, and the bunnies." She gestured toward the ducks, the remaining fish, and some berries, stretching her arms wide to emphasize, "And food that we can never finish. It’s so happy here." She cupped her cheeks and spun in a circle. Compared to the daily hunger, the constant beatings, and the endless chores of the past, this felt like a dream.

Zhao Yue'e could not help but show a happy smile as well. She sighed deeply and remarked, "Everyone in the village is starving to death. They would even fight over a decent piece of tree bark. Who would have thought that the mountains we were all so terrified of would hold so much food?"

It should have been a joyous occasion, yet when Zhao Yue'e looked at Su Yanwen, that look of suspicion returned to her eyes. She whispered, "Husband, you... you are truly brave. A place where no one else dares to go, you dare."

"Of course," Su Yanwen said with a casual shrug. "Coming here, I actually feel like I've come home."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yue'e turned pale. She quickly lowered her head and grabbed a duck, intending to hold it over the fire.

"Stop, wait!" Su Yanwen said, hurrying to intervene.

Zhao Yue'e looked at him, confused. "This is the fastest way to remove the feathers."

"Oh, no," Su Yanwen said. "The most precious part of these ducks is the feathers." He picked up a duck and began plucking the soft down, setting it aside. "This duck down is warmer than cotton. If we mix it with cotton and use it as filling for our clothes, we won't feel the cold at all."

"My father is so smart, he knows so much!" Cao'er gave him a thumbs-up and, squatted down beside him, began to imitate him, carefully setting the soft down aside.

*Thump.*

The duck in Zhao Yue'e's hand fell to the ground. She stared at Su Yanwen in terror, her voice trembling as she asked, "You... you are not my husband. Who... who exactly are you?"