Chapter 75
Although the cave entrance was sealed, Lang Qi was dissatisfied with the current location.
He carried Bai Tu deeper into the cave, past the bed where the two cubs were sleeping, and into the innermost section.
This cave, while home to Bai Tu alone, was also where he stored many herbs. Bai Tu had expanded the space with the help of the Rabbit Tribe, redesigning it to include several distinct areas, including two or three separate bedrooms.
The innermost area was where Bai Tu planned to build a heated kang bed.
The outer rooms were too close to the cave entrance, and even though there were wind-blocking walls, winter drafts and the comings and goings of others still made it cold. This particular section, however, was protected by two wind-blocking walls that completely shielded it from the cold and frost outside.
The advantage of this area was its insulation; the downside was that it was too insulated.
While it was cool in the summer, no wind could reach it at all.
Bai Tu had mostly used it for storage, but recently, he had cleared it out in preparation for the heated kang bed. Occasionally, Lang Qi would rest here, where a bamboo mat and some fur had already been laid out.
Once inside, Bai Tu removed the muzzle. It was designed to prevent biting in beast form, but in human form, it was pointless.
Lang Qi allowed Bai Tu to remove the muzzle, his eyes full of unrestrained joy.
The area was secluded and carried Bai Tu’s scent—it was perfect.
Satisfied, Lang Qi immediately resumed what he had been trying to do earlier. Now that they wouldn’t be interrupted, and they were in his territory, his excitement only grew.
Bai Tu belatedly realized he might have dug his own grave. Sealing the cave could indeed protect everyone else if Lang Qi went berserk, but in his current state… My lips are going to get chapped at this rate!
He raised his hand to push Lang Qi away, but his action was misinterpreted as rejection. Lang Qi’s previously calm eyes began to darken, the red hue creeping back in.
“You’re biting too hard!” Bai Tu snapped angrily, exasperated. What’s with all the biting?!
Lang Qi blinked in confusion at his outburst, then released Bai Tu’s lips. He glanced at the now-reddened corner of Bai Tu’s mouth, then leaned in to place two soft, careful kisses there, treating it like a precious treasure.
Bai Tu’s irritation evaporated almost instantly.
He let out a silent sigh, resigning himself to the situation. He’s really not in his right mind, is he? This wasn’t something the clear-headed Lang Qi would ever do.
Even though Lang Qi wasn’t thinking straight, Bai Tu still was.
He pushed at him again, but it was no use. Lang Qi didn’t even register the resistance.
His attention was entirely focused on Bai Tu, his kisses trailing from the corner of Bai Tu’s lips to his ear. There, he gently took Bai Tu’s soft earlobe into his mouth, careful not to hurt him.
A tingling sensation coursed through Bai Tu’s body, and his hand reflexively tightened on Lang Qi’s shoulder.
The faint pain from Bai Tu’s grip was nothing compared to the scorching heat building within Lang Qi.
The restlessness that had been simmering earlier now surged like a tidal wave, stronger than ever before.
Kissing was no longer enough to satisfy him, yet he couldn’t find any way to vent his growing frustration. His agitation deepened, and Bai Tu’s ear quickly became marked with a few small, red impressions.
“Ow!” Bai Tu hissed, glaring at Lang Qi. “What are you, a dog?! It’s all biting, biting, biting!”
Lang Qi didn’t seem to hear the words.
His blood-red eyes were fixed on Bai Tu, and he only registered that Bai Tu was speaking to him. With a low, affirmative grunt, he responded as if agreeing.
Realizing that reasoning was pointless, Bai Tu gave up entirely. Fine. Do whatever you want. It’s not like I’ll lose a piece of myself.
Lang Qi continued biting and nuzzling, but the agitation inside him only grew.
His body burned as if it were on fire, the heat consuming him. He rested his forehead on Bai Tu’s shoulder, his voice laced with a hint of grievance. “Tu…”
Bai Tu was caught off guard by Lang Qi’s pitiful tone, and his heart wavered.
He had never had a boyfriend, and Lang Qi didn’t have a mate either. Maybe this isn’t such a loss after all… Bai Tu thought.
He had already mentally prepared himself to risk his life; sacrificing something else didn’t seem like such a big deal in comparison.
Before Bai Tu could continue deliberating, Lang Qi gave him no time to hesitate.
He pressed Bai Tu onto the bed, surrounded by their combined scents, which made Lang Qi feel an unparalleled sense of security. He kissed Bai Tu’s lips again and again, his joy evident but also tinged with a growing hunger for more.
“Tu… Tu…” Lang Qi mumbled, his movements clumsy and unsure. Growing increasingly impatient, he nuzzled against Bai Tu, unable to figure out what to do next.
Bai Tu closed his eyes, letting out a silent breath as his hands slid down from Lang Qi’s shoulders.
Lang Qi’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. “Mm…”
Lang Qi was a diligent student.
After being guided by Bai Tu, he had mastered the art of improvisation, repeatedly refining and reinforcing his understanding.
He studied the “material” thoroughly, inside and out, leaving no detail unexplored. When he was finally satisfied, he “carefully closed the textbook” with a sense of fulfillment.
Outside the cave, there was some noise.
Lang Qi glanced down at Bai Tu, who was still in his arms, and gently kissed away the tear stains at the corners of his eyes. He rose carefully, covering himself with a fur pelt as he stood.
Outside, Lang Ze and a group of younger wolves had been struggling for ages to haul a large, flat stone up to the cave entrance. With this stone, they would finally be able to see inside!
The stone blocking the entrance had been pushed all the way in earlier, making it impossible to move from outside.
To open it now, someone inside the cave would need to push it out. The younger wolves, frantic after hearing what sounded like Bai Tu’s muffled cries of pain earlier, were like ants on a hot pan.
When no response came from inside despite their shouting, they resorted to hauling up a heavy stone slab to create a viewing platform. It had taken them forever to find a stone that was both flat and sturdy enough for the job.
Now standing atop the stone, Lang Ze peered through the narrow gap used for light and passing food. When he finally spotted his brother, he was overjoyed.
“Big Brother!” he called excitedly.
Lang Qi, however, wore a frosty expression. “What do you want?”
Lang Ze’s grin froze. “Big Brother?”
Lang Qi’s patience wore thin, and he repeated coldly, “What do you want?”
That was when Lang Ze realized something terrible: his brother had transformed back into human form, but he hadn’t fully recovered—he didn’t recognize him!
Lang Ze felt like his world was falling apart. His brother, who had been his pillar of strength, didn’t even know who he was anymore!
Just as tears were about to spill from Lang Ze’s eyes, another thought struck him. “Where’s Tu? Where’s Tu?!” The cave had been sealed for so long, and now his brother was the only one inside. Did that mean… Bai Tu had been eaten?!
The more Lang Ze thought about it, the more horrified he became.
Under the moonlight, he scrutinized Lang Qi’s expression, which only made him more certain that his brother looked like a guilty culprit. Tears began to flow uncontrollably. “Big Brother… where’s Tu?”
Lang Qi didn’t answer him. Instead, his attention shifted to the stove nearby, where fragments of Bai Tu cooking flashed through his mind. After a moment, he spoke. “Send food.”
“Huh?” Lang Ze’s crying abruptly stopped.
“Food. Enough for two people and the cubs.” When Lang Qi mentioned the cubs, a complicated expression flickered across his face.
He didn’t like the two cubs, but if he abandoned them, Bai Tu would be upset. Giving them to someone else wasn’t an option either—his mate’s cubs couldn’t be raised by anyone else.
“Huh? Oh!” Lang Ze finally understood.
Bai Tu was fine; he was just hungry. Relieved, he jumped off the stone and called for the others to head to the kitchen to fetch food.
Before the younger wolves could descend, Mao Lin arrived, carrying food for two people as well as ingredients for the cubs’ meals. Seeing the wolves fussing around the cave, she asked curiously, “What are you all doing?”
“We’re checking on my brother!” Lang Ze answered, grabbing the food and preparing to climb back onto the stone to pass it through the gap.
Lang Zuo, proud of their ingenuity, added, “We spent ages finding this stone! It’s perfect!”
The cave was high up, and thinner slabs of stone wouldn’t have worked. This one was nearly half a person’s height and big enough for several people to stand on at once.
Mao Lin glanced at them, then at the large stone, before recalling Bai Tu’s frequent exasperation.
She tilted her head and asked seriously, “Why didn’t you just stand on each other’s backs to look inside?”
Lang Ze froze mid-motion, food in hand. He turned to gape at Lang Zuo, who stared back at him, equally stunned.
“Yeah… why didn’t we just stand on each other’s backs?” Lang Zuo muttered, dazed.
Mao Lin: “…”
*
Inside the cave, Lang Qi lifted the two food trays with ease. The cave sloped upward from the entrance, so while Lang Ze needed to stand on the stone slab to look inside, Lang Qi only had to raise his hands slightly to reach the trays.
As usual, dinner was mostly meat. Lang Qi divided portions from each dish and placed all the fruit onto a fresh tray, which he then carried deeper into the cave.
The two cubs, who had woken up hungry, had completely forgotten the events of the morning.
They whimpered at the sight of their uncle, wanting him to take them to Bai Tu, but Lang Qi didn’t even spare them a glance.
The little wolf cubs pitifully clung to the edge of the bed, letting out soft whimpers as they called for Bai Tu.
Exhausted and aching all over, Bai Tu vaguely heard the cubs’ cries. He mustered all his strength to open his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Lang Qi approaching with food.
When Lang Qi noticed Bai Tu had woken up, he set the trays down and helped him sit up, adjusting the fur blanket covering Bai Tu. Seeing the new marks on Bai Tu’s body, Lang Qi’s eyes darkened slightly. Without a word, he scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to Bai Tu’s lips.
Bai Tu, his throat hoarse, tried to ask about the cubs. But as soon as he opened his mouth, the spoon was there.
Helpless, he swallowed the porridge, only for Lang Qi to immediately scoop another spoonful, leaving him no chance to speak.
The warmth soothed his sore throat a little, so Bai Tu drank a few more mouthfuls. When Lang Qi tried to feed him again, Bai Tu caught his hand and croaked, “What about the cubs?” His two precious cubs—where were they?
Lang Qi didn’t look pleased with Bai Tu’s concern for the cubs. Setting the spoon down, he replied coldly, “They’re not dead.”
Bai Tu: “…”
He exhaled deeply and decided to let it slide. Just like earlier in the day, he chose to tolerate Lang Qi’s behavior since he was still recovering.
Lang Qi stood up, walked outside, and disdainfully grabbed the two cubs before tossing them into Bai Tu’s arms.
The cubs were dizzy from being thrown, but they quickly scrambled upright. When they saw Bai Tu, they pounced on him with all four paws, accidentally tugging the fur blanket covering him.
Lang Qi’s expression darkened, and he immediately picked up the cubs again, setting them aside.
He then carefully adjusted Bai Tu’s fur blanket, wrapping it snugly around him before placing the cubs back on the bed. His eyes, filled with a silent warning, locked onto the cubs.
The cubs, unlike Bai Tu, couldn’t understand his glare. They simply wriggled their way back to Bai Tu.
Bai Tu reached out and scooped them up, gently defending them. “They didn’t mean to.”
Internally, he couldn’t help but think, Is this really their uncle? Did he hit his head and forget who he is?
Lang Qi shot the cubs another frosty glance but refrained from acting further, mostly out of consideration for Bai Tu. He picked up Bai Tu’s half-finished porridge and resumed feeding him.
“I can feed myself,” Bai Tu said, but seeing the displeased look in Lang Qi’s eyes, he quickly relented.
“Fine, fine, you feed me.” He was too tired to argue anyway. If Lang Qi wanted to serve him, so be it.
The smell of food reached the cubs, who couldn’t help but start whining. Their last meal had been around noon, and by now, they’d normally have eaten three times.
Bai Tu, feeling sorry for them, rubbed their heads and asked Lang Qi, “Did the cubs’ ingredients arrive? Are there any clean chopsticks and spoons?”
Even if he couldn’t cook them a separate meal right now, he could at least give them some porridge.
Lang Qi’s tone carried a hint of warning. “You eat first.” This food was for Bai Tu, not the cubs.
Though Lang Qi had returned to human form, his stubbornness remained unchanged.
Bai Tu sighed and quickly finished his meal, asking tiredly, “Happy now?” He decided that once Lang Qi fully recovered, he’d make him relive every one of these absurd moments.
Satisfied, Lang Qi collected the dishes and brought over some porridge from his own food tray for Bai Tu to feed the cubs. Then, he stepped outside, eating as he worked to prepare a separate meal for them.
The cubs’ appetites had grown significantly recently, so porridge alone wouldn’t suffice. Bai Tu fed them a few bites and then held them while waiting for Lang Qi to return.
The exertion from the afternoon had left Bai Tu utterly drained. He had never felt so exhausted, his entire body aching. As he yawned, sleep overtook him, and he quickly drifted off.
Sensing Bai Tu’s steady breathing and familiar scent, the cubs quieted down as well, curling up against him without making a fuss.
When Lang Qi returned with the cubs’ food, he saw the scene and silently lifted the cubs, setting them aside.
He carefully adjusted Bai Tu’s fur blanket before turning back to the cubs.
Holding a bowl of food whose ingredients were unrecognizable, he scooped up a spoonful and pushed it into the black cub’s mouth.
The black cub, caught off guard, opened his mouth to protest, but the sharp look in Lang Qi’s eyes made him swallow his complaint along with the food.
With a pitiful whimper, he reluctantly ate the vaguely familiar but not particularly tasty meal.
The next spoonful went to the gray cub, who was even fussier than his brother.
Smelling the familiar scent of the food, he clamped his jaws shut. But he was no match for Lang Qi’s persistence and ended up swallowing the spoonful anyway.
Alternating bites between the two, Lang Qi finished feeding the cubs.
Their bellies now full and round, he wrapped them in a fur blanket and carried them outside to handle their hygiene.
In a secluded corner of the cave was a small bathroom and toilet made with bricks. The cubs were very familiar with this place. Once Lang Qi finished cleaning them up, they jumped onto the platform and pressed the water-release button themselves. A thick bamboo pipe tilted, dumping a bucket of water over them.
The cubs let out triumphant howls of delight, but when they looked up and saw their uncle’s cold, emotionless stare, the noise abruptly stopped.
They didn’t understand what “illness” was, but they instinctively knew their uncle was dangerous right now and that they had to be careful around him.
Lang Qi heated a pot of water, mixed it to the right temperature, and cleaned the cubs thoroughly before tossing them back onto their sleeping spot.
Then, he mixed another large bucket of warm water, poured it into the nearby pool, and walked into the inner room to pick up Bai Tu, who was still fast asleep.
Bai Tu stirred as he was moved, a faint sense of something being off creeping into his awareness.
When he felt himself lowered into the water, he realized they were in the bathroom. He was relieved that he had built this private space after discovering cement—it spared him the embarrassment of being seen in his current state.
Wanting to bathe himself, Bai Tu quickly realized he was too tired to manage. Forget it. There’s nothing to hide anymore. He’s already seen everything he can and can’t see. With a yawn, Bai Tu closed his eyes and let Lang Qi take over.
Lang Qi washed him with meticulous care, but as he reached Bai Tu’s neck, his gaze darkened, and his hands began to stray.
Before he could go too far, Bai Tu snapped awake and slapped his hand away. “Where do you think you’re touching?!”
In response, Lang Qi leaned in and kissed the corner of Bai Tu’s mouth. “Just once.” He had clearly mastered this line.
“Not even half a time!” Bai Tu retorted, suppressing his frustration. Does this man have no self-awareness?
Lang Qi didn’t reply. Instead, he kissed Bai Tu again, his lips trailing downward. Fresh marks soon overlapped the ones from earlier.
“Stop it…” Bai Tu weakly protested.
“No…”
His refusals gradually dissolved into soft, muffled sounds.
Lang Qi, eager to put his lessons into practice, devoted himself to the “final review session” with unrelenting enthusiasm, repeating his efforts until thoroughly satisfied.
By the end, Bai Tu could barely lift his arms. As he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, the only thought in his mind was regret. I should’ve kicked Lang Qi out and let him cause trouble for someone else—anyone else but me.
Lang Qi held the now-dazed Bai Tu, his heart aching as he kissed away the tears at the corners of Bai Tu’s eyes. He gently dried him with a towel and carried him back to the inner room.
The inner room was the darkest part of the cave, apart from the bathroom. But for Lang Qi, whose night vision allowed him to see clearly in the dark, it was perfect.
Holding Bai Tu in his arms, he couldn’t get enough of looking at him. He wished he could hold Bai Tu close forever, keeping him with him no matter where he went.
“Tu… Tu…” Lang Qi murmured softly, his voice laced with uncontainable excitement.
He nuzzled Bai Tu’s face, planted gentle kisses, and even kissed his closed eyelids. His heart felt as if it were wrapped in honey—this person was his now.
In his sleep, Bai Tu vaguely felt like an annoying mosquito was buzzing around him. It would occasionally bite him, over and over again, which was endlessly irritating.
Finally, the “mosquito” settled near his eye. Without opening his eyes, Bai Tu reached up and swatted.
Smack!
The world fell silent.
Lang Qi froze. Bai Tu’s slap wasn’t strong enough to hurt him, but he worried it might have woken Bai Tu. After a few moments, when he saw that Bai Tu remained asleep, he bent down and kissed his hand softly.
Bai Tu, deep in sleep, remained completely unaware.
Exhaustion, coupled with the relaxation from the bath, made Bai Tu’s sleep unusually peaceful. After the initial disturbance from the “mosquito,” his dreams turned sweet.
In his dream, he saw a pure white rabbit hiding a tiny, miniature rabbit in a patch of grass before hopping away. The little rabbit stayed obediently in place, and after some time, a silver-haired young man appeared, carrying a chicken in one hand.
The small rabbit bounded toward the young man, but as it reached him, it tripped over a pebble. In the blink of an eye, the rabbit transformed into a three- or four-year-old child, completely bare, who hugged the young man’s leg tightly.
…
It was an ordinary dream, yet Bai Tu found it incredibly heartwarming. A faint smile unconsciously graced his lips as he slept, the serene image of the dream lingering in his mind.
Lang Qi leaned in quietly and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Bai Tu’s smiling lips. Like a child finally reunited with a long-lost toy, he handled him with the utmost care, afraid that if he blinked, Bai Tu would vanish. But just as he was caught between nervousness and joy, his arms suddenly felt empty.
He’s gone.
Lang Qi’s eyes turned crimson in an instant. Restlessness, rage, and despair—every negative emotion surged to the surface. His human form dissolved, replaced by the massive black wolf.
The black wolf rose to its feet, consumed by the urge to destroy everything in its path. But just as it was about to act, it froze mid-step.
At the center of the bed, a tiny, pure-white rabbit—so small it was almost easy to miss—lay sound asleep. Its round little belly rose and fell with each breath, and its long ears twitched slightly at the sound of movement.
Lang Qi held his breath and slowly crouched down beside the little white ball.
He extended a paw toward it, cautiously trying to touch it. But just before his paw could make contact with the soft fur, he abruptly withdrew.
The little bunny was far too small—smaller even than his paw.
Lang Qi stared at his own massive claws, visibly frustrated. After a moment, his eyes lit up with an idea, and he leaned in closer, tentatively opening his mouth.
His jaws were large enough to envelop the entire bunny, but no—he couldn’t risk it. It was too dangerous. Lang Qi took a step back, suddenly desperate to return to his human form.
However, his emotions had been in turmoil for too long, leaving him temporarily unable to shift back. He barely dared to breathe, circling the tiny bunny anxiously, unsure of what to do. In the end, he settled down beside it, watching it intently, not daring to close his eyes.
As dawn broke and light began to filter into the cave, noises from outside reached his ears.
The cubs in the outer room were awake now as well, adding to the commotion. Lang Qi, who had been staring at the bunny all night, became even more tense.
The outside noise seemed to disturb the little bunny, whose ears twitched more frequently, as though it might wake at any moment.
Panicking slightly, Lang Qi raised both front paws and used their softest parts to gently cover the bunny’s ears.
I touched him!!!
An indescribable wave of joy surged through Lang Qi’s heart, filling him with a happiness unlike anything he had ever felt before. He wanted to run outside and race in circles from the sheer excitement.
Leaning closer, he brought his nose to the bunny’s and gave it a soft nuzzle. He longed to rub its cheeks but was too afraid of hurting it. Instead, he touched his nose to the bunny’s tiny one, his emotions an uncontrollable mix of excitement, delight, and pure elation.
In that moment, his beast form shifted effortlessly back into human form.
Lang Qi carefully cradled the little bunny in his hands, bringing it close to his face. He kissed its long ears, then its soft cheeks. Just as he leaned in to kiss its tiny closed eyes, the bunny stirred.
Bai Tu’s eyes fluttered open.
Lang Qi froze, holding his breath.
