Chapter 48: The Injured Wolf
Chapter 48: The Injured Wolf
Xiang Ling quickly stood up from where she was sitting on the stairs and looked around the backyard. Her senses were on alert to grab any sort of movement as she searched for what just caught her attention for a fleeting second.
For the next couple of moments, everything was silent and calm, making her wonder if she was overthinking. However, the moment she turned to return inside the manor, her heightened hearing picked up the noise that came from somewhere near the backdoor.
She didn’t waste any time and immediately rushed toward the direction of the sound, curious to find out the source behind it. She opened the back door and stepped outside, her eyes frantically searching the area. The moonlight was casting eerie shadows around her.
Xiang Ling’s eyes quickly scanned the illuminated area until they caught a glimpse of something white rushing behind a bush near the edge of the woods. Intrigued, she followed.
The chase led her deeper into the woods that was standing behind the manor, until she finally caught up with the source of the movement. A gasp of surprise escaped her lips as her gaze fell on the huge white wolf. It had vibrant gray eyes that reminded her of a certain someone. Its thick white fur was stained with blood with visible injuries on its leg and shoulder.
With caution in her steps, Xiang Ling approached the injured creature. She maintained enough distance to make sure that the wolf wouldn’t feel threatened. As she took another step closer, the wolf growled but its voice came out weaker, making Xiang Ling realize that weakened by pain and exhaustion, it no longer posed a real threat to her.
She extended her hand slowly, her movements deliberate, to convey her intentions of peace. "Don’t be afraid. I will not harm you. Let me tend to your injuries."
The wolf’s wary gaze met hers, and as Xiang Ling continued to approach, it seemed to sense her genuine concern. She gently touched its head, feeling the coarse fur under her fingertips. The wolf’s tense muscles relaxed slightly, accepting her presence.
"That’s right. Relax." She kept coaxing the wolf as she rubbed its ears and patted its head to win its trust. She waited for a minute to make sure that the wolf was no longer wary of her before she took a closer look at its injuries.
Realizing the severity of its injuries, Xiang Ling knew the woods were no place for the wounded animal. "Let me take you somewhere safe first." With determination, she guided the wolf back to the Summer cottage inside her space, where she could tend to its wounds.
Inside the cozy refuge, Xiang Ling carefully examined the wolf’s injuries. The wounds were deep, and the telltale signs of poisoning lingered in its bloodstream. She wasted no time, retrieving the herbs she had gathered and stored for emergencies in the Summer Cottage. After using the limited amount of herbs for the past couple of days that she had kept in the Summer Cottage, she was almost running out of them.
To keep the herbs available for such emergencies, she would either need to buy them or would have to earn access to the herb valley in her space by fulfilling one of the wishes of the previous owner of her body. But that was a concern for the future.
With practiced hands, she cleaned the wounds, her touch gentle yet firm. The wolf winced but remained still, as if understanding her efforts was meant to heal, not harm. Xiang Ling infused the herbs into poultices, applying them to the injured areas with precision.
As the herbal remedies took effect, Xiang Ling tapped into her spiritual power, channeling healing energy into the wolf’s body. A soft glow surrounded her hands as she worked, her focus unwavering despite the late hour.
The wolf’s breathing eased, and the tension in its frame gradually melted away as healing energies flowed through its veins. Xiang Ling’s brow furrowed with concentration, her connection with the spiritual energy guiding her every movement.
With the worst of the injuries addressed, Xiang Ling reached for a small vial containing a potent healing pill. She administered it to the wolf, watching carefully as it swallowed the medicine.
Silence enveloped the cottage as Xiang Ling waited, her heart heavy with concern for her unexpected guest. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until, at last, the wolf’s breathing steadied, its once-labored breaths now deep and even.
"Let me help you channel your spiritual energy. Try to heal your internal injuries." She presented the offer to the wolf and it nodded its head in approval.
Sitting beside the wolf in the lotus position, she called out her spiritual power and channeled it into the wolf. Her bright blue and silvery energy turned black and silvery as it surrounded the wolf.
Time passed as the two of them kept channeling their spiritual energy and by the time they finished, an hour had already passed. Opening her eyes, Xiang Ling took another look at the wolf’s injuries and internal energy. A smile bloomed on her lips as she realized that the wolf was now fully healed.
"You are healed. Are you still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" She asked just to make sure that it was indeed completely healed. The wolf shook its head in negative, allowing Xiang Ling to let out a deep breath of relief. Her gaze landed on the dried blood and dirt that was still covering its fur and she had a sudden idea.
"You need a bath. Let me go and make preparations."
The wolf watched as the woman said the words out loud and disappeared inside one of the rooms. It kept wondering if what it heard was right or not. The woman couldn’t be talking about giving it a bath, right?
Its question was soon answered when Xiang Ling returned to the room while chirping happily. "Come here, let me help you tidy up. You need to get rid of that blood and dirt to look pretty."