To distract Qi Zhenzhen, Luo Wanqing clung to the topic of wolves, asking, "Wolves are fierce animals, can you really communicate with them? Will they believe human words? What do you mean by holy wolves, are they taller and more imposing than ordinary wolves, or do they have horns on their heads?"
Qi Zhenzhen explained each question, and Luo Wanqing became increasingly interested. What began as an attempt to divert Qi Zhenzhen's attention had now become genuine curiosity.
"Are wolf packs like us humans, with each member having their own role? Is there a wolf king and a wolf queen? Can their offspring directly inherit the position of wolf king?" Luo Wanqing pressed.
"Most of the time, the wolf pack operates under absolute rule. That is, the wolf king holds the dominant position, and all other wolves in the pack obey the wolf king. Occasionally, a holy wolf can influence the wolf king's decisions. As for your question about the wolf king's offspring inheriting the position, that doesn't exist. In the wolf tribe, only the most valiant wolf can become the wolf king. If the old wolf king dies, the warriors of the wolf tribe will fight for the position of wolf king. The strongest wolf will become the new wolf king. Most of the defeated wolves will leave the pack; as for where they go, I'm not entirely sure," Qi Zhenzhen shared what she knew.
"I really want to see it for myself," Luo Wanqing sighed.
"Aowu! A mere human, wanting to visit our wolf tribe, you must be dreaming." The wolf cub in Qi Zhenzhen's arms growled low.
Qi Zhenzhen poked the little wolf's head. It was fortunate that Luo Wanqing couldn't understand; if she could, Qi Zhenzhen felt these two would surely start arguing.
After recovering for seven or eight days, Gu Sinian, though still thin, had regained his mobility. During this period, the barbarians who had fled into the forest were also captured with the help of the brown bear tribe. The barbarians were not as fortunate as Gu Sinian and his companions. Due to their shorter stature, they had inhaled more miasma when entering Death Valley, leading to a period of hallucinations and infighting. Only eight of them emerged unharmed.
Among these eight was the barbarian leader, which was considered a success of the pursuit.
The barbarian leader was handed over to Yan Dalang for disposal. With the matters at Baicaotang concluded, Qi Zhenzhen and her group returned with them.
Before leaving, Qi Zhenzhen, unable to refuse Luo Wanqing's pleas, visited the holy land of the wolf tribe once more. Under Ye Bai's ravenous gaze, she gathered a significant amount of medicinal herbs from the holy land. Luo Wanqing treasured them as if they were her own, wishing she could hold them while sleeping.
The return journey was slower, taking a full twenty days before the group finally reached the capital.
When they were still thirty li from the capital, Qi Zhenzhen bid farewell to Gu Sinian, Luo Wanqing, and the others. She was being sent to the estate to reflect on her mistakes and could not simply return openly.
"I'll go to the Marquis's mansion and bring you back as soon as possible," Gu Sinian said.
Qi Zhenzhen hummed in response and headed towards the estate with Erxi.
She didn't know how to face Gu Sinian, so she had been evasive throughout the journey back, avoiding contact whenever possible.
Luo Wanqing rode her horse to Gu Sinian's side and remarked, "You've lifted a rock only to drop it on your own foot. If you ask me, you have no one to blame but yourself. What were you thinking? If you liked her, even if Zhenzhen didn't like you at the time, you should have pursued her with all your might. But you, you poured a basin of dirty water on yourself, thinking you were clever."
"Lu Chen has arrived," Gu Sinian blurted out.
Luo Wanqing immediately tensed up, looking around. "Where? Where? I don't see him? Gu Sinian, are you playing the 'boy who cried wolf' trick on me again?"
"Before we returned, I sent word to Lu Chen. Although the journey from Nanchang to Dafeng is long, twenty days is sufficient. He should be waiting at Baicaotang by now. Tell me, after meeting Lu Chen, should I say you were invited to the border to help, or something else?" Gu Sinian said unhurriedly.