After the wolf king lowered itself before Zhu Jiu, the rest of the pack followed suit, bowing their heads in submission.
For them, this was instinct.
Zhu Jiu wasn't surprised. The wolf king had shown some intelligence—it wasn't foolish enough to fight a battle it knew it couldn't win.
Faced with an opponent as overwhelming as Zhu Jiu, the only logical choice was surrender.
While Zhu Jiu appeared calm, the students behind him were anything but.
"Is this real?"
"The wolves… they're actually submitting to us?"
For the students, wolves were terrifying creatures, even more so now that these were massive, evolved beasts.
The wolf king's majestic and imposing presence had left a deep impression, and yet, Zhu Jiu had subdued it in just a few moves.
They weren't naïve. They knew it wasn't the wolf king's weakness but Zhu Jiu's unparalleled strength that had determined the outcome.
A swipe of the wolf king's claws could sever a tree as thick as a meter in diameter—a terrifying display of power.
And yet, Zhu Jiu, barehanded, had forced it into submission.
His strength was beyond their comprehension.
Even Zhu Jiu himself hadn't fully realized how powerful he had become.
"With Iron Shirt and Wing Chun combined, my close-quarters combat skills are probably stronger than when I use weapons," Zhu Jiu mused.
Gripping the wolf king's neck, he leapt effortlessly onto its back, turning it into his mount.
The students collectively gasped, their faces filled with a mix of admiration and concern.
Would the wolf king retaliate?
To their astonishment, the once-proud beast remained utterly docile, behaving more like a tame housecat than the fearsome predator it was moments ago.
The students didn't understand the rules of the animal kingdom.
In the wild, victory was all that mattered.
There was no such thing as pride among beasts. If a stronger opponent emerged, submission wasn't shameful—it was survival.
The stronger preyed on the weak; the weak bowed to the strong.
Zhu Jiu guided the wolf king in a small loop around the area, testing its capabilities as a mount.
The results left him deeply impressed.
The wolf king's powerful frame and muscular build made it ideal for transportation. Its fur was surprisingly soft and comfortable, and its natural gait absorbed shocks, making the ride smooth even across rugged terrain.
Running through the forest on the wolf king felt akin to riding a heavy motorcycle—fast, exhilarating, and incredibly stable.
As Zhu Jiu enjoyed his new mount, the students could only watch with envy.
None of them dared to approach the other wolves, let alone ride them.
"This wolf king was a good decision," Zhu Jiu thought to himself.
Transportation had been a major issue for their group, and now they had a solution.
Not only would the wolves serve as mounts, but they could also help carry supplies like firewood.
Satisfied with the trial, Zhu Jiu rode the wolf king back to the area where they'd been chopping wood. Along the way, he casually caught two rabbits—if they could still be called rabbits.
Each was the size of a small pig, weighing nearly 50 kilograms apiece.
Zhu Jiu snapped their necks effortlessly and tossed them onto the wolf king's back before returning to the group.
"Start bundling the wood," he ordered.
The students worked quickly, tying the chopped logs into manageable bundles and securing them onto the backs of the other wolves.
Before long, Zhu Jiu took the lead, riding the wolf king while the pack, burdened with firewood, followed obediently behind.
The group returned to Lin Shui School just as dusk began to fall.
"The days are getting shorter," Zhu Jiu muttered, frowning as he noted the early darkness.
He waved off the thought for now, directing the students to unload the firewood. Then, he turned his attention to the wolves.
The pack had proven useful for transport, but keeping them on campus posed significant challenges.
The infected still roamed the area, and feeding the wolves was no small task.
After some deliberation, Zhu Jiu decided to let the pack return to the forest, keeping only the wolf king.
He trusted the wolves' loyalty to their leader. As long as the wolf king remained with him, the pack wouldn't stray far.
Satisfied with the arrangement, Zhu Jiu instructed the students to start moving the firewood upstairs while he rode the wolf king toward the lab.
The heavy lab doors swung open just as he arrived, and a soft, sweet-smelling figure threw itself into his arms.
It was Ruan Qingyan.
"You're finally here," she murmured, burying her face in his chest. "If you hadn't come, I was about to go looking for you."
"Silly girl," Zhu Jiu said with a chuckle, stroking her hair affectionately.
One of the things he admired most about her was her resilience.
In the chaos of the apocalypse, with the rapidly dropping temperatures and all the dangers around her, she hadn't panicked.
She continued her work in the lab, trusting that he would come for her.
It wasn't just strength—it was faith.
Moved by her unwavering trust, Zhu Jiu bent down and kissed her on the cheek, savoring her soft fragrance.
"Scoundrel," Ruan Qingyan scolded, her face turning a deep shade of red.
Though their relationship had progressed, her shyness always made her endearing.
Zhu Jiu, feeling a surge of affection, had to force himself to restrain his growing desires.
After kissing her once more, he draped a coat over her shoulders and helped her onto the wolf king's back.
"Such a big wolf," Ruan Qingyan said, stroking its fur without a trace of fear.
The wolf king narrowed its golden eyes, enjoying the attention like a pampered pet.
"Stop playing," Zhu Jiu said with a laugh. "Let's head back."
Just as he prepared to leave, Ruan Qingyan stopped him.
"Wait," she said, shaking her head. "I can't go yet. My experiment isn't finished."
"Can't it wait?" Zhu Jiu asked. "We have time now, and we've already found an antidote for Fatty."
"An antidote?" Ruan Qingyan's eyes lit up with curiosity before narrowing in suspicion. "That's impossible. How could one already exist?"
"Developing a cure takes time, even in ideal conditions. The apocalypse hasn't been going on long enough for this to be plausible."
Her sharp mind had already drawn the same conclusion Zhu Jiu had.
"Perhaps the antidote wasn't developed after the apocalypse began," Zhu Jiu said grimly.
"You mean…"
Zhu Jiu nodded. "Someone knew this was coming. I captured a man who might have answers. Once things settle, I'll interrogate him."
"I see," Ruan Qingyan replied, her expression thoughtful. "Do what you think is best. I'll continue my research here."
Zhu Jiu sighed, gently rubbing her head. "I'm not worried about the experiment. I'm worried about you."
Still, seeing her determination, Zhu Jiu relented.
"Fine, but be careful. I'll bring you supplies later."
After stealing one last kiss, Zhu Jiu turned the wolf king around and rode off.
Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Ruan Qingyan whispered softly to herself:
"Don't worry. I won't be a burden to you."
Then, steeling her resolve, she returned to her work.