Chapter 226 Fate

Little White and Little Black were naturally adorable. Their presence attracted the attention of Qian Guang and Liang Fu, who couldn’t help but look at them a few more times. Once they learned the true identities of the two little creatures, their interest in them increased even more. Not to mention Liang Fu, even Qian Guang, this big man, found himself playing with them.

Little Black, this little fellow, seeing familiar faces around, especially those who were often with Su Zhi, understood that they posed no harm to it. Therefore, whenever Liang Fu and Qian Guang tried to engage with it, it would respond enthusiastically, bouncing around happily. It would dart towards them one moment and then leap away the next, as if chasing after a butterfly if one happened to flutter by.

Little White, on the other hand, was different. It raised its small phoenix-like eyes and looked up at Qian Guang and Liang Fu with a clear expression of arrogance. With just one glance, it turned away, not even bothering to look at them.

“Oh, Sister Zhao, I just adore these two little fellows so much! How could they be so endearing? You’re with them every day, so surely every day is filled with smiles,” lamented Liang Fu. “Ah, if only they were by my side. But alas, they are sacred beasts. If they were ordinary little dogs, I would definitely beg you for one, even if I had to spend silver coins to buy it.”

As Little Black bounded off again, Liang Fu watched and remarked, She truly adores these two little wolves. But she also understands they are offspring of sacred beasts, not something you can simply buy with money. So all she can do is sigh.

Qian Guang couldn’t help but entertain similar thoughts. His gaze lingered on Little White, pondering how even a young wolf cub like this displayed such presence. What would an adult sacred beast be like? He imagined having a sacred beast by his side. He wouldn’t even need to take it out; just the rumor of its presence would make people look at him differently. “That’s the person who can raise a sacred beast,” they would say. Such a person wouldn’t be ordinary.

The reason why they were called sacred beasts was because they were different from ordinary wolves. While ordinary wolves could be hunted and killed, sacred beasts couldn’t be harmed. Even if one killed a person, it could only be caught and handed over to the authorities in the capital. It was against royal law for ordinary people to try to capture a sacred beast for display. However, if a sacred beast willingly chose to be with a person, that was a different story.

One could imagine that a person a sacred beast chose to follow would undoubtedly command respect and admiration.

With this thought, Qian Guang’s gaze towards Su Zhi gained another layer of consideration. He thought to himself that this woman was not only skillful and exceptionally intelligent but also someone who could command the respect of a sacred beast.

Qian Guang and Liang Fu knew that the White  wolf had gone into the mountains to hunt. They planned to wait for its return before leaving, so they continued to stroll around the garden, playing with Little White and Little Black.

Just as the time of Shen Zhongshi passed, Big Grey started barking loudly.

Another round of barking echoed in the garden, but this bark was distinctly different from Big Grey’s. It was Big Black’s bark.

Little Black was on the ground, biting on a twig. Upon hearing the bark, it immediately lifted its head and joyfully ran in the direction of the sound.

Little White also ran over, moving with extreme grace. It was much prettier than Little Black, but its speed was no slower. Despite being still young, it already bore the shadow of a white wolf.

Big Black and White Wolf had returned. There was nothing to fear.

Su Zhi heard Big Black’s voice and looked over to see two figures, one black and one white. She then smiled at Qian Guang and Liang Fu.

As Su Zhi finished speaking, the maid next to Liang Fu exclaimed in alarm, quickly stepping back. She had seen the white wolf and was frightened by it.

The white wolf was large, though not fat, and appeared very agile. Its white fur shone brightly in the sunlight, like a piece of fine white silk. Yet, one could also see how smooth and clean its fur was as it swayed in the wind.

Upon hearing Su Zhi’s reminder, both Qian Guang and Liang Fu were indeed startled when they saw the white wolf. Their faces paled, especially when they felt the piercing gaze of the white wolf. They dared not move, fearing that any movement might result in the sacred beast biting their necks in the next moment.

The white wolf glanced at them, then lowered its head to affectionately lick Little Black at its feet. Meanwhile, Little White went over to lick Big Black, and Big Black responded in kind, their movements incredibly gentle.

Big Grey stood beside them, wagging its tail, and also came over to lick Little Black. After a glance from the white wolf, Big Grey retreated to the side. Big Grey didn’t cower like other dogs might in the presence of the white wolf, but it was still afraid. However, it was braver in approaching, unlike other dogs that lacked the courage to even come close.

This, Qian Guang observed, his eyes fixed on the white wolf, watching as it interacted affectionately with its offspring yet still exuded an intimidating aura. He tried hard to keep his voice steady. Truly, it was a sacred beast.

Su Zhi smiled and said, “Originally, I named it Big White, but that didn’t seem quite imposing enough, so I decided to call it White Wolf instead. It doesn’t pay much attention to people, but it’s very intelligent. Sometimes, I even treat it like a person. It can sense who is good and who is bad. When my close acquaintances come to our house, it just gives them a glance. But when someone like my third sister-in-law comes, its eyes become sharp as knives. If anyone gets too close, it will give a warning.”

Su Zhi’s words were meant to convey to the two of them not to assume that sacred beasts are easily approachable. She also wanted to make it clear that sacred beasts are intelligent and not to entertain any devious thoughts.

Liang Fu sighed and said, “Sister Zhao, I believe you. Just now, it felt like the sacred beast looked at me, and its gaze seemed like a warning. It was quite frightening. But I’m not a bad person. Could you please tell it not to glare at me anymore?”

Su Zhi chuckled and replied, “The white wolf was indeed giving a warning because you are strangers. But rest assured, as long as you have no ill intentions, it won’t harm you. You can trust it completely in this regard. The people in Riverside Village are used to them now. As long as they don’t get too close, nothing will happen.”

Liang Fu nodded and said, “Sister Zhao, can you touch the sacred beast?”

Yueyue chimed in, “Mom and Dad and we can touch the others, but White Wolf doesn’t like us to touch it. Whenever we try, it moves away. It only allows Mom to touch it, and it even initiates contact with Mom. Big Black, Little Black, and Little White are the same. They all like to be close to Mom. Even the dogs in the village don’t bite Mom. They’re very affectionate towards her.”

Su Zhi was speechless. She knew that these animals liked to be close to her because she possessed a spiritual spring, which instinctively attracted animals. But hearing it put this way by Yueyue made it sound like she had a special affinity with dogs, which was somewhat amusing and puzzling.

Qian Guang and Liang Fu looked at Su Zhi with some surprise. They weren’t laughing at Su Zhi because of Yueyue’s remarks, but rather, they felt she was incredibly fortunate to have earned the favor of sacred beasts.

Liang Fu exclaimed, “Sister Zhao, there’s a warm aura about you that makes people feel at ease. The first time I saw you, I felt a fondness for you. You seem like a gentle spring breeze, like a warm ray of sunshine. I knew then that you must be a person with a kind heart. And it seems my intuition was right. Otherwise, why would the sacred beasts, which are so difficult to get along with, be willing to follow you and live in this garden? Moreover, they even brought a ginseng for you. It’s truly a blessing for you, Sister Zhao.”

Qian Guang nodded in agreement, “Shen Fourth Sister-in-law is indeed a person with a good heart and blessed fortune. Even the sacred beasts are willing to follow her.”

Su Zhi was at a loss for words after being praised by the two. While she couldn’t claim to be an absolutely good person, she also wasn’t bad. Regarding fortune, she knew she was indeed very fortunate. Otherwise, how could she have come here after death and received the magical spiritual spring and the Lotus as well as a good husband, Shen Zi’an?

“You’re flattering me,” she replied.

Su Zhi didn’t say anything else. If they wanted to think of her that way, she figured there was no harm in it. It might even prevent them from thinking that sacred beasts were something anyone could obtain. Plus, it might encourage them to be more sincere in their interactions with her in the future, knowing they wouldn’t try to take advantage of her.

The cousins begged Su Zhi to let them get closer to the sacred beasts. Though they were a little afraid, seeing that none of the people in the garden feared the sacred beasts biting them reassured them. They also wanted to get closer to the sacred beasts.

Su Zhi exchanged a few words with the white wolf before stopping with the two cousins about two meters away from it.

Big Black ran over to Su Zhi and nudged her knee with its head, showing affection.

Su Zhi patted its head.

Liang Fu looked at Big Black and remarked, “No wonder the sacred beast chose a dog as its companion. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful black dog that doesn’t look dirty at all. Its eyes are like black jade, bright and gentle.”

Big Black glanced at Liang Fu, let out a bark, then ran back to the white wolf’s side.

Yueyue clapped her hands and chuckled, “Aunt Liang, Big Black is agreeing with you.”

Liang Fu widened her eyes and said, “Does it understand? Does it know I was praising it?”

Yueyue lifted her chin proudly and said, “Of course! White Wolf, Big Black, Little Black, and Little White are all very clever. They understand everything we say.”

Big Grey barked excitedly nearby, then approached Yueyue, wagging its tail and looking at her with wide eyes while barking.

Xinger remarked, “Big Grey is clever too.”

Qian Guang and Liang Fu exchanged a glance, both feeling incredibly surprised. If sacred beasts were known for their extraordinary intelligence, they could attribute it to their nature. However, the animals in Shen Zi’an’s household, whether wolves or dogs, were all so intelligent. They were at a loss for words.

Su Zhi watched from the sidelines, wondering whether showcasing the intelligence of these animals was a good or bad thing. But since it had already happened, she decided to just go along with it.