Chapter 113 Lu Zheng is Jealous, Am I Not the First?

As soon as Lu Zheng entered Peach Blossom Spring, before he could even take in his surroundings, his body acted before his reason, and he suddenly shielded Xia Qianqian tightly behind him, his muscles tensing as he warily surveyed this unfamiliar world.

"It's safe here." Xia Qianqian felt the stiffness in his back and quickly said, "There's no danger, Lu Zheng, let me explain slowly."

Under her reassurance, Lu Zheng's muscles gradually relaxed, but his gaze remained sharp. However, when he saw the scene before him, he was completely stunned.

Beneath my feet lies a path fragrant with the scent of earth, flanked by babbling brooks. Unidentified wildflowers bloom along the banks, and scattered among them are eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs. In the distance, layers of wheat fields stretch out, and beyond them rises a small hill, its trees laden with wild fruit…

Everything here is both unfamiliar and magnificent. He knows the surrounding area well, but where has he ever seen a place like this before?

"Where...is this place?" Lu Zheng finally found his voice. He had lived for more than 20 years and never imagined that such a paradise existed in the world.

"I can't really say what this is, anyway... this is my secret base."

She secretly glanced at Lu Zheng, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he didn't ask any further questions. Her fingertips brushed against a wild rose in full bloom beside her. "Don't worry, it's absolutely safe here."

She smiled at Lu Zheng: "Let's hide here and wait until the people outside disperse before we leave. We have everything here. What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

Lu Zheng didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

Xia Qianqian's eyes were crystal clear, reflecting the streams and wildflowers of Peach Blossom Spring, as well as his shadow.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and Lu Zheng suddenly reached out and gently brushed aside a stray strand of hair from her forehead. When his fingertips touched her bleeding wound, Xia Qianqian flinched, but he withdrew his hand as if burned, his voice hoarse: "Qianqian, such a big secret... you just told me like that?"

This could be a life-saving trump card.

Lu Zheng's eyes welled up with tears, and he solemnly declared, "I swear, from this day forward, I will never tell a second person about Peach Blossom Spring. If I break this promise..."

"Stop talking." Xia Qianqian suddenly reached out and covered his mouth, her palm carrying the fragrance of wild roses. "I believe you."

Just then, a rustling sound of leaves being stepped on suddenly came from behind.

Lu Zheng's nerves tensed instantly. He pulled Xia Qianqian behind him and stood in front of her, grabbing a stone at his feet—the voice was deep and powerful, definitely not that of a rabbit or pheasant!

When I turned around, it was a wolf king!

Its fur was like brocade splashed with ink, shimmering with a faint light in the sunlight. It was nearly half a person tall at the shoulder, with bulging muscles in its limbs. A fluffy tail swept across the ground, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

What's most frightening are its fangs, each as long as a thumb, gleaming coldly in the light, and its amber eyes fixed intently on... Xia Qianqian?

"Watch out!" Lu Zheng's eyes instantly turned red. He had seen wolves in the mountains and knew how terrifying the bite force of this wolf king was; it could break a person's bones in one bite!

She was so close to it, what if she got bitten...?

He lunged forward almost screaming, trying to pull Xia Qianqian away from the wolf king.

But the next second, his movements froze in mid-air.

The once majestic wolf king suddenly calmed down, its amber eyes curving into crescents. It walked a few steps to Xia Qianqian's feet, affectionately rubbing its furry head against her palm, making a soft, purring sound, just like a big dog begging for food.

Xia Qianqian giggled as it was rubbed against her, and bent down to touch its ears: "It's been several days, and you've become more and more handsome."

Lu Zheng: ...

He remained in his forward-leaning posture, watching this bizarre scene unfold before him.

The wolf king, who had just terrified him, was now obediently squatting at Xia Qianqian's feet, tugging at her trouser leg with the tip of his tail, looking docile and begging for a pat.

Lu Zheng wondered if he was dreaming.

Xia Qianqian patted the wolf king's head, looked up at him and smiled with her eyes crinkling: "I forgot to tell you, I also brought the wolf king into Peach Blossom Spring. It's very well-behaved and never bites anyone."

Lu Zheng stared at the majestic wolf king at his feet. He wasn't the first one Xia Qianqian had "brought" into Peach Blossom Spring? Even the alpha wolf had arrived before him?

Lu Zheng felt inexplicably choked up, especially when he saw the wolf king resting its big head on Xia Qianqian's lap, humming softly with its eyes closed, its tail wagging so hard it was practically a fan, which made him grind his teeth in secret.

"I'll show you around." Xia Qianqian was completely unaware of his little scheme, and took his hand, heading towards the other side of the mountain.

Lu Zheng grunted in agreement, took half a step forward, and subtly positioned himself between Xia Qianqian and the Wolf King.

Wolf King: ...

Its amber eyes snapped open, its tail tip swept impatiently across the ground, and two puffs of white breath escaped from its nostrils.

Upon seeing the smugness in Lu Zheng's eyes, the wolf's face wrinkled, and its amber eyes rolled, clearly revealing a hint of disdain: You're a real dog, aren't you? How childish to be jealous of a wolf.

Seeing the wolf king's displeasure, Lu Zheng was in a good mood: He's a human, why would he bother with a wolf?

Thinking this to himself, his left hand honestly reached out and hugged Xia Qianqian's waist, pulling her closer to him.

Xia Qianqian stumbled from his embrace, looking up to meet his smiling eyes: "What are you doing?"

"I was afraid you'd fall." Lu Zheng lowered his head, his nose brushing against the top of her head, his voice low, carrying a hint of smugness from having just "won" against the wolf king.

The wolf king watched the two people's intimate backs, flicked its tail disdainfully, sat down on the ground, and tore the wildflowers to shreds with its claws as if venting its anger: the smell of human jealousy was stronger than the sour bamboo shoots in the mountains.

The two walked side by side down the mountain, completely unaware of the wolf king's resentful gaze behind them.

After walking a few steps, Lu Zheng suddenly stopped, pointed to a few shacks at the foot of the mountain, and laughed: "You certainly know how to enjoy life, you even built a shack here?"

He thought for a moment and said, "When we get out, I'll build you a big brick house with tiled roofs, a hundred times sturdier than this bamboo house, and it'll be warm and cozy in winter with a heated kang bed..."

Before he could finish speaking, a series of footsteps suddenly came from the mountain path.

"Little Fairy!"

At the shout, Zhang San and his men came from another road, carrying a bundle of freshly chopped firewood on their shoulders. Upon seeing Xia Qianqian, he immediately put down his load, grinned, and revealed two rows of white teeth: "You're back?"

Xia Qianqian waved to them familiarly: "Brother Zhang, did you chop so much firewood today?"

Zhang San's gaze fell on Lu Zheng, his eyes lit up, and he smiled and winked at Xia Qianqian: "Little fairy, you've brought another newcomer? This brother looks unfamiliar, is it you..."

again?

Lu Zheng suddenly looked at Xia Qianqian, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief—again?! So he wasn't the first "creature" to enter Peach Blossom Spring, nor was he even the first "human"?!

The smugness I felt from arguing with the wolf king just now instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, leaving me with a sour feeling: Just how many people did Xia Qianqian bring in?