Zeng Ru's POV

The redness had drained from the day and night was arranging itself around him. Cooling things down, branding and dyeing the evening purple and blue-black. The pale stars were falling into their places. Faint whisperings of the leaves kissed his ears. All about him it was still and hazy.

He gazed from the cliff’s peak to the forest floor, sitting with his legs crossed under him. His eyebrows drew together in appreciation as time advanced and he saw no return of his new companion. His disgruntled expression replaced his usual tranquil features.

「 Naughty brat...I told him not to wander far...」

He clenched his jaw and fists in anger, his eyebrows pushed together and folded the skin on his nose. He had been waiting months in faith and when the wolf pup had arrived his prayers were answered. Something instinctual told him that Ah Zhong would be able to grant his desires, even if he couldn’t he was his last hope.

Zeng Ru stood, his figure began to deform then transform into a black crow. His perspective shifted as he now had more than two eyes to see with. He spread his wings and took to the sky in search of Ah Zhong. In a matter of minutes, he had found the wolf.

Ah Zhong seemed to be staring blankly into the distance muttering to himself.

《 Is he injured? 》

He questioned to himself before descending into the forest, shifting his body back into its human form as he reached the ground. He hurried to the wolf’s side placing his hands on his back, however, nothing in his body seemed to be disturbed.

「 Are you alright? 」

Ah Zhong twisted his head to meet his eyes yet he was unable to answer, he emptied the contents on his stomach onto the elegant silk clothes of Zeng Ru. His lips pressed tightly together as he scrutinized his robe. This particular robe was his favorite gifted to him by his beloved wife. He sighed as there was now nothing he could do to salvage the cloth that was now decorated additionally with stomach fluid.

「 I-I’m fine. 」

Ah Zhong replied before dry heaving.

Zeng Ru took a step back he did not desire to be vomited on again. Ah Zhong’s body swayed, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.

「 Just great! 」

He would have flown into a rage if he had not reminded himself of his priorities. He hoisted the unconscious wolf from the floor walking back to their campsite. He had set up blankets and gathered wood earlier when Ah Zhong was out roaming. Zeng Ru has only allowed such behavior to sate the wolf’s curiosity after all he’d be safe so long as he heeded his warnings. Seeing Ah Zhong’s state now he doubted he had listened to him. He placed Ah Zhong onto a blanket before removing the robe.

A myriad of scars overlaid his chest and well build body, the most distinctive were the deep seeded gashes running along his back. It pained him to torch the fine material, he, however, was disgusted at the thought of cleaning the gunk off. From his hand a black flame formed incinerating the cloth he then lit the wood beside him. He removed another robe from his spatial ring redressing himself.

「 Better! 」

He exclaimed to himself. Zeng Ru then took a stick a began to play with the fire as he waited for the wolf to awaken from his slumber. Bored he yawned and unknowingly drifted to sleep himself.

✦

He dreamed that he was with his family once more. He chased after his daughter who at the time was only tottering, he caught her and tickled her stomach eliciting joyful laughter from her.

〖 Daddy! Daddy stop! 〗

She shrieked and laughed at the same time. Zeng Ru smiled then began to chase his fleeing daughter again.

〖 I’m going to get you! 〗

Before he could continue a voice broke through the laughter.

〖 Alright you two, bedtime. 〗

They both moaned together.

〖 Mommy, I don’t want to go to bed. 〗

Zeng Ru pulled his daughter into his arms and spoke imitating her.

〖 Yeah mommy, we don’t want to go to bed. 〗

Her lips turned into a smile as she watched the two. She folded her arms across her chest feigning anger.

〖 Right now, mister! 〗

Zeng Ru laughed and took his daughter into his hands walking to his wife, he pulled her into a kiss.

〖Yes dear. 〗

She rested her hand on her swollen stomach, touched Zeng Ru bent and kiss her hand. The dream grew fuzzy and faded into another, his wife's hands outstretched fighting two men who restrained her.

〖 Ru’er, Ru’er! Let me go! I need to help him.. 〗

✦

He woke to a wet feeling on his cheeks, tears fell from his eyes. He rubbed them clearing the tears. The sun that was firmly settled in the sky made his squint his eyes. He glanced to the blankets and saw Ah Zhong shifting in his sleep, he stood up and walked over to him.

「 Wake up! 」

He growled nudging the wolf with his foot.

「 I’m up… 」

He groaned sitting up. His fur was sticking up in various places. Zeng Ru frowned now that Ah Zhong had formed his core when he underwent power transfer he’d view most of his memories. He tried to detach himself as that was the past and now it was the present, but it was fruitless.

「 Let begin. 」