Chapter 4: First Encounter with the Wolf Clan

Xiao Yi regained her composure and looked closely, only to be startled.

The creature that had just bitten her and pulled her to safety—the one she thought was a black-furred fox—was clearly a black wolf!

As she stared in shock and confusion, the black wolf stepped back, shook off his soaked fur, and reverted to his human form.

The area where the Patriarch resided was off-limits to everyone; even ordinary white foxes required special permission to enter, let alone their sworn enemy, a black wolf. How could a black wolf appear here?

Xiao Yi was stunned, and Xiao Ru’s brow was knit tightly. He had assumed some blind, meddlesome white fox had dared to invite disaster by diving into the water to save Xiao Yi. To think it was a black wolf!

To sneak into the main residence of the Fox Clan in broad daylight and act with such provocation—was this not an act of war? Did they think the Fox Clan had no one left to defend it? Furthermore, if not for the bitter war against the Black Wolf clan all those years ago, his sister would never have been left without care, leading to her years of wandering.

Mulling over the cause and effect, Xiao Ru looked at the black wolf with unconcealed murderous intent, wishing nothing more than to eradicate him on the spot.

Unlike Xiao Yi and Xiao Ru, Xiao Qiang—who had just been about to complain to her brother when Xiao Yi emerged from the water—was so terrified by the sight of the black wolf's face that she cut her words short, burying her head deep in Xiao Ru’s chest.

Xiao Qiang’s abnormal behavior naturally drew Xiao Ru’s attention. His sister was trembling in his arms, as if her cold-sickness had returned. His heart ached as if it were being sliced by knives.

"Little sister, was it Xiao Yi who pushed you into the water?" Xiao Ru asked, though he already knew the answer. Who else could it be but her? She was the only one who would be jealous of his sister.

"Big brother, I don’t know what I did to make her suddenly fly into such a rage," Xiao Qiang whispered, clinging tightly to him. "But please, don't be angry, brother. Perhaps she had some hidden reason?"

Xiao Ru’s chest heaved. He took a deep breath, patted his sister’s back, and consoled her, "Don't worry, little sister. I will seek justice for you. I will make sure Father and Mother see exactly what kind of creature they have been raising!"

However, the immediate priority was to deal with the black wolf. Xiao Ru sized him up, and within a moment, he had made his plan. The wolf’s stature was only slightly larger than that of an average fox; he was not a threat.

Waiting for Xiao Qiang to cover her eyes and move a safe distance away, Xiao Ru stopped holding back. Veins bulged on his hands as they transformed into beast claws, and he launched a lethal strike.

Seeing Xiao Ru’s claws coming for him, the black wolf instinctively wanted to retaliate, but his thoughts shifted abruptly. He realized he was here for the sake of marriage; he had a request to make and ought to keep a low profile and perform a good deed. He immediately ceased his resistance.

"Young master, please calm down. I bear no malice," the black wolf said, hurriedly pulling Xiao Yi up from the ground. "I just arrived and saw two people fall into the water from afar. I only wanted to help. You saw it yourself—I just saved her."

However, he could not have foreseen that Xiao Ru would ignore his explanation, his murderous intent undiminished. The black wolf had no choice but to dodge the strike, shifting slightly to the side.

This left Xiao Yi to take the full force of Xiao Ru’s claw.

In an instant, the skin on Xiao Yi’s right arm was shredded, the wound deep enough to reveal the bone. Stunned by the sudden attack, Xiao Yi had not even processed what happened. It was only when blood began to gush from the wound that the pain arrived, sharp and delayed, causing her to double over.

As she looked up at the hate-filled eyes of Xiao Ru, she felt an overwhelming sense of irony. The one who saved her from the water was an enemy she had never met, while the one who kicked her into the water and inflicted such a grievous wound was the brother she had lived with for over a decade.

There was no chill deeper than this.

Xiao Ru’s strike had been lightning-fast; wounding Xiao Yi was not his original intent. He lowered his gaze to see the scraps of flesh from her arm still clinging to his claws, and he froze for a moment. Looking up to see her eyes brimming with tears, his heart skipped a beat.

*What is this?* he thought. *She is only an adopted daughter. Why am I being affected by her?*

The black wolf was highly skilled, and his previous evasion was merely to avoid ruining the upcoming nuptials. Seeing the wound on the woman's arm, he realized that the white fox before him was not playing around. His hands gradually began to shift into beast form. He told himself he had already been courteous and patient enough. Although he was on someone else’s territory, if this white fox insisted on being relentless, he would have no choice but to finish him.

Xiao Ru sensed the change in the black wolf’s aura and quickly steadied himself, assuming an attack stance.

At that moment, the Patriarch arrived just in time, blocking Xiao Ru and pinning him in place. "My son, stop at once! That is an envoy from the Black Wolf Clan! Do not act recklessly!"

"An envoy?" Xiao Ru’s hands slowly returned to their original form, but he frowned deeply. "Father, why did you never tell me?"

"I intended to explain it to you tomorrow, but it seems you met by coincidence today," the Patriarch said, stealing a glance at his wife and signaling to her.

With the Patriarch mediating, the tension was momentarily diffused. The black wolf immediately reined in his energy, hiding the murderous look in his eyes. He bowed slightly and approached with a polite smile. "You must be Master Xiao Ru, the son of the Patriarch. My apologies for the lack of ceremony. I am Shen Lan, an envoy of the Black Wolf Clan. Greetings."

"Since everyone is here, I will speak plainly. My young master heard that Patriarch Xiao agreed to the previous arrangement, so he sent me here to exchange this token of betrothal."

With that, the black wolf, Shen Lan, pulled a rose-gold hairpin from his robe and presented it with both hands.

"Betrothal?" Xiao Ru frowned, looking at his parents for an explanation, but his mother was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Xiao Qiang.

"Yes. Does Master Xiao not know? The Patriarch has already accepted my young master’s request to marry your sister."

Shen Lan had come to the White Fox family personally to ensure the rose-gold hairpin was placed in the hands of the future mistress of the Wolf Clan. The Wolf Clan took marriage very seriously, and Shen Lan was surprised to see the look of shock on Xiao Ru’s face.

"No..." Xiao Ru began to protest, intending to say that his parents would never allow his sister to marry into a distant land, especially not to the Wolf Clan, but he was interrupted by his father.

The Patriarch stepped forward, reaching for the hairpin in Shen Lan's hands. "Forgive us, Envoy. My son is very close to his sister and is simply afraid that she will not be able to visit often once she is married. That is why he is a bit resistant."

"Oh, I see. Master Xiao, you may rest assured. The Wolf Clan is loyal to its partners; we will never let your sister suffer." Shen Lan pulled his hand back, keeping the hairpin, and tucked it back into his robe. "My apologies, Patriarch Xiao. My young master specifically instructed me to deliver this hairpin personally to your daughter."

The Patriarch withdrew his hands awkwardly and chuckled. "Of course, of course. It is just that my daughter is shy. Could we have her prepare herself today and present the hairpin at the welcoming banquet tomorrow?"

"That is acceptable. In that case, I shall impose on your hospitality for today," Shen Lan said after a moment's thought.

The Patriarch, all smiles, led Shen Lan away from the lake pavilion toward the East Court. Before leaving, Shen Lan seemed to sense something and turned back to look at Xiao Yi, who was clutching her arm and licking her wounds. "That young lady just now was injured on my account."

Fearing that Shen Lan might press the issue, the Patriarch quickly said, "Oh, it is nothing serious. Someone will take her to be treated. Envoy, do not worry."

Once the Patriarch and Shen Lan had departed, Shen Lan felt more at ease. Though he was cold-hearted, the white fox’s features were delicate, and he felt a lingering sense of regret for the injury she had sustained.

As the two men walked away, Xiao Yi watched as Xiao Ru slowly approached her. He said nothing, but as he raised his right hand, she couldn't help but flinch and squeeze her eyes shut.