The old eagle sensed someone approaching. It was just about to spread its wings and fly away with the wild chicken, but the moment it got distracted by the person, it loosened its grip, and the flapping chicken tried to escape.
Unfortunately, the chicken wasn't agile enough, and with panic clouding its judgment, it flapped a few times and fell straight to the ground.
Wen Nuan: "…"
Wen Nuan didn't care about the old eagle. As soon as the wild chicken escaped from the eagle's claws, it darted off like a chick, scrambling away in fear.
"Wild chicken, where do you think you're going!" With a loud yell, she rushed forward.
The mountain chicken was startled by her voice and ran even faster.
Because it ran too fast, one of its feet slipped slightly, and it fell to the ground. But it was quick to react—immediately bouncing up, flapping its wings midair, flying a meter or so before landing again.
Wen Nuan rushed after it but ended up empty-handed.
A wild chicken in the forest like this one was rare, and it was a white one at that. It quickly vanished into the woods.
She hadn't had chicken in ages—how could she not be tempted? Wen Nuan hurried after it, completely forgetting she was supposed to check on the eagle.
The old eagle got up from the ground and tried flapping its wings again, wanting to fly, but it was likely too nervous to make the effort. It only managed to lift a little before falling back down.
Wen Nuan noticed the eagle and crouched down.
The eagle let out a sharp cry, eyes fierce and filled with fear, shrinking its body. It tightly tucked its wings under itself, as if it didn't know anything.
Wen Nuan: "…"
Was she that scary?
To the point of terrifying it like this?
She softly patted the eagle's back and said, "Relax, I don't eat eagle meat. Let me take a look at your wings—maybe I can help you heal."
She just wanted to see if the injury would keep the eagle from flying again.
Wen Nuan's voice was gentle and clear, like a flowing stream in summer, soothing to the heart.
She gently pulled the eagle into her arms.
The eagle's body stiffened for a moment, but it didn't resist.
Wen Nuan carefully examined its wings—no external injuries.
She checked the bones of the wings and found them to be intact and flexible.
"Your claw is poisoned. You must've been bitten while catching a snake!"
What kind of poison, Wen Nuan couldn't tell at first glance. But based on the situation, she guessed it happened when the eagle caught the snake.
Logically speaking, the eagle had been poisoned, but its claw wasn't numb or lifeless, and it wasn't life-threatening either.
The old eagle shook its head, eyes full of resentment—someone must have been testing poison on its claw and trying to make an antidote!
The antidote still hadn't been produced even after a year!
Seeing the eagle's reaction, Wen Nuan blinked in surprise: "You can understand me?"
The eagle nodded.
Wen Nuan: "…"
"Let me see if I can detoxify it for you." Wen Nuan placed her hand on its claw, and a faint stream of purple energy flowed gently from her palm, slowly merging into the eagle's claw and gradually enveloping its whole body.
The old eagle leaned against Wen Nuan's embrace without moving, closed its eyes, and enjoyed the sensation.
Wen Nuan carefully observed the change in the purple energy.
She didn't notice that, in the grass not far away, a gray wolf was curiously watching her.
Of course, it was the same wolf that hadn't yet managed to spit out the snake and die, so she didn't sense its presence.
The purple energy soon faded.
Wen Nuan patted the eagle's claw and said, "Try and see if you can move now."
The eagle flapped its wings and instantly rose into the air.
It flapped around midair for a while before flying two full circles.
Wen Nuan smiled and didn't expect the purple energy to actually detoxify the poison.
Though the poison was fairly mild.
Wen Nuan raised her hand and waved: "Alright, now you can go catch wild chickens again!"
The eagle dove down, circled around Wen Nuan once, cried out, and then soared straight up into the sky.
This girl really was something—not only could she concoct medicine, she could even grab chickens for the eagle to eat!
After the eagle flew off, Wen Nuan picked up her bamboo stick, stood up, and turned to leave.
At that moment, a gray wolf emerged from the bushes.
Wen Nuan sensed movement behind her and her heart skipped a beat. She turned quickly and saw a wolf, eyes narrowed and tail wagging, about to leap at her.
But the wolf didn't pounce. Instead, it flopped directly to the ground, showing a submissive posture. With a pitiful expression, it wagged its tail and whimpered twice.
Those poor little eyes looked just like the eagle's earlier.
Wen Nuan: "…"
At this moment, Wen Nuan was completely speechless. What exactly was going on here?
Was this mountain some sort of immortal realm?
Do the animals here all need to undergo cultivation?
The big gray wolf did its best to show goodwill. It lifted its head and looked in the direction where the eagle had flown.
Wen Nuan didn't understand why, but she felt like she could comprehend the wolf's expression!
She cautiously asked, "Are you hurt too? Do you need my help to heal?"
The big gray wolf shook its head, then turned and looked toward a certain direction.
Wen Nuan: "…"
As expected, it was another wolf that could understand human speech.
She continued probing, "Is someone in your family sick? Do you want me to treat them?"
The gray wolf nodded, then glanced back at its own back, signaling for Wen Nuan to climb on.
Wen Nuan: "…"
Was this wolf about to carry her into the wolf pack?
Wen Nuan couldn't help but think of the storybook wolves. Was this big gray wolf trying to trick her like in those tales?
Was it a scammer wolf?
Wen Nuan: "Quick, bring it here! I want to hunt!"
Her body was still weak. She could probably handle one wolf, but not a whole pack.
Though clearly, this wolf didn't seem to have any malicious intent.
The big gray wolf acted as if it had seen the guard that Wen Nuan represented. It pulled in its front legs and wagged its tail rapidly while lowering its head.
Wen Nuan could only think of three words: You're perfect!
Perfectly done!
In the end, Wen Nuan didn't even know how she ended up riding on the back of a wolf!
The big gray wolf carried her through the mountain and finally arrived in front of a vermillion-painted courtyard. It let out a howl.
Wen Nuan looked at the copper ring on the vermillion doors—there was a golden lion head biting the ring, its eyes glittering fiercely
"Is this a wolf's den?
'Nonsense! This is clearly someone's house.'
She knew that door knockers in ancient times had different levels of status.
This golden beast-shaped door knocker clearly belonged to a high-ranking residence.
"Who lives here?"
'I've never heard anyone in the village say there are people living in the mountains '
At that moment, the door opened.
Before Wennuan could see who opened it, the big gray wolf had already dashed inside with her.
The housekeeper rubbed his eyes: "Did I just see the big gray wolf bring back a wife?"
"No way, cough cough, how can a wolf bring back a wife!"
He quickly chased after them.
The prince hated women the most!
The big gray wolf brought Wennuan to a pavilion.
The pavilion stood in the middle of a lush green lake. The lake was deep, filled with withered lotus, the banks covered with yellowed leaves—it was easy to imagine how vibrant and full of life it had once been.
In the pavilion sat a beautiful young man reading a book.
The man sat beside a dressed in a long robe of silver-grey, draped in a cold aura that seemed to emanate from the early frost—just like the chill of late autumn. Just standing nearby made one feel cold and distant, as if looking from thousands of miles away, unable to look directly.
At that moment, he turned his head, his deep eyes sharp like blades, his features strikingly handsome, with a clear and noble aura between his brows.