Always Listen
1624 Words
As she thought about it, Laura subconsciously picked up one of the crystal cores that was as clear as flowing water.
In the next second, something unbelievable happened—
The crystal core in her palm began to dim rapidly, as if its light were being swallowed.
Within less than a few dozen seconds, it had turned completely dull, crumbling into a handful of ordinary stone fragments that shattered at a touch.
Laura stared with wide eyes in shock.
What was happening?
Could she… also absorb crystal cores?
She immediately checked the spiritual spring in her mind — and found that it truly had become larger than before.
Even the spring’s source had grown significantly.
Did this mean that the amount of spring water she could obtain each day would also increase?
Joy bloomed in Laura’s heart. She quickly rummaged through the sack, only to realize that there were very few crystal cores inside — and what she had just absorbed… was the only one that worked for her.
A small wave of disappointment washed over her, but she quickly comforted herself.
People shouldn’t be too greedy.
At least she and the big gray wolf were still alive.
And the food problem…
was finally solved.
When Derek returned, carrying the chill of the winter wind with him, he saw Laura standing at a distance. She was poking the dead beast on the ground with a stick — curious, but too scared to actually look at it closely.
“You’re back?”
The joy in the woman’s voice made Derek’s heart tremble. He instinctively forced out a stiff smile.
“I’ll deal with it.”
The weather was good today. There was no snowfall, and the sun shone brightly — yet with the temperature still so
low, Derek had actually dared to go take a cold bath outside.
Laura could only silently praise him as a real man.
“You should go inside and put on your clothes first. And as for these crystal cores — I probably don’t need them.
You can use them for cultivation.”
Laura’s tone was natural and familiar, as if this was the way things had always been between them.
Listening to her, Derek felt a wave of warmth surge uncontrollably through his chest. He suddenly became shy,
mumbling a reply before quickly turning back inside to dress.
The clothes, warmed by the fire, were soft and comforting. Derek gently stroked the fabric, reluctant to put them
on. He didn’t actually feel cold even without clothes — but he couldn’t bear to refuse Laura’s kindness.
He didn’t quite understand why, but deep inside, a thought had quietly taken root—
He could not refuse Laura.
Whatever Laura did was right.
All he needed to do…
was listen to her.
Derek finally had somewhere to release all the strength he’d been holding in.
Dragging the beast to the stream, he skillfully began to butcher it. Back in the tribe, although he sometimes helped handle the prey that others brought back, he had never once been given the good cuts of meat.
Now, Derek carefully separated the tenderest part of the beast and handed it to Laura.
“This part is the softest. It’s for you.”
Laura took it with both hands, her eyes full of hunger and longing for food.
“Great. Then tonight, we’ll have roasted meat!”
Derek froze for a moment, staring straight into Laura’s eyes. After a while, he finally replied in a hoarse voice,
“…Alright.”
He set aside enough meat for the next few days, then cut the rest into strips to make dried meat for long-term
storage. The internal organs that were hard to prepare, he simply threw away.
As for the beast’s hide — it was a huge piece. Unfortunately, the hide of the Savage Green Beast wasn’t warm.
Derek was just about to throw it away when Laura quickly stopped him.
“Wait — don’t throw it out yet. I can still use it!”
“…Alright.”
Derek didn’t ask further. He tossed the hide aside and watched as Laura squatted down, plucked a strand of
coarse fur, and examined it thoughtfully.
Laura felt that this type of fur would be perfect for making brushes. Although she currently didn’t have any proper glue, maybe she would someday — and then she could use it to make tools for scrubbing things.
With that in mind, she plucked only enough fur to make a single brush before finally allowing Derek to discard the rest.
That night, the two of them had a proper meal.
Derek roasted the meat, while Laura used the hind leg bones of the Savage Green Beast to stew a pot of hot bone soup. Eating roast meat and drinking soup rich in calcium — it was unbelievably satisfying.
Laura had cooked a lot.
To her surprise, the big gray wolf actually finished all of it.
A pang of guilt rose in Laura’s heart.
So… the big gray wolf had never eaten his fill before.
And she had still been making such small portions all this time.
Laura suddenly felt that she had been far too cruel to an injured snow wolf.
She decided that from now on, whenever she cooked, she would always make extra — she must never let the big gray wolf go hungry again.
Unfortunately, they had very few seasonings here. If only she had chili, ginger, garlic, and scallions… That would be perfect.
Thinking this, Laura turned to Derek.
“Derek, if you go out again next time, could you maybe look for some things like this for me…?”
Laura patiently described the appearance of the herbs and spices she wanted. If Derek could find them, she would never again have to eat bland meat.
Derek memorized every detail of her descriptions. He didn’t say anything aloud — but deep down, he had already made up his mind.
Whenever he wasn’t sleeping…
he would go out searching.
And hopefully, he could find what his little wife needed as soon as possible.
If he did…
Maybe she would like him a little more.
Maybe she would think…
that he was better than that “Grey Wolf.”
The big snow wolf thought bitterly.
After dinner, Derek went outside to wash the pot, then brought in some snow and set it over the fire to melt. Laura washed up simply, then crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Once he confirmed she was asleep, Derek took out the crystal cores and began absorbing them one by one. As each crystal core lost its glow, his condition visibly improved — and he seized the opportunity to cultivate as well.
For a while, the cave was wrapped in peaceful silence.
No one knew how long had passed when suddenly, faint sobbing sounds echoed through the cave.
Someone was crying.
But the crying was suppressed, as though the one crying was desperately trying not to make a sound.
Derek opened his eyes and looked toward the only other person in the cave — Laura.
She was curled up under the blanket, her body trembling slightly. It was as if something terrified her… yet she
stubbornly forced her voice down.
Derek’s heart tightened painfully.
He hurried over.
Laura seemed to be trapped in a terrible nightmare. Her face was streaked with tears, her brows furrowed tightly
together. Her lips trembled as if she were whispering.
Derek couldn’t help but lean in closer.
“D-don’t come near me… I’m scared… Someone… please save me…”
Laura’s face was pale as snow. The animal skin blanket seemed to be her only source of safety. Her entire body was wrapped in a sadness that would not fade.
Derek suddenly panicked.
He felt, from the bottom of his heart, that his little wife should never be like this.
She should always be smiling — always chattering away endlessly, eyes sparkling whenever she saw meat.
Not trembling in fear.
Not silently crying.
Not like this.
Recalling how the adults in the tribe comforted wolf pups, Derek carefully placed his arm around Laura’s back and
gently patted it, soothing her as if she were a child.
Laura was having a terrible dream.
In the dream, countless beasts were chasing her. They tore at her, again and again. No matter how hard she ran, she was always caught.
She screamed for help — but Heaven didn’t respond, Earth didn’t respond. No matter how she cried, no one came.
Just when she was about to die —
someone appeared.
She couldn’t see his face.
Everything about him was blurry.
But the moment she was near him —
she felt safe—
so safe that she couldn’t help but collapse into his arms… and sleep peacefully.
In the real world —
Derek froze completely.
Something soft and warm suddenly burrowed into his embrace. She clung to him tightly — as if he were her only salvation — refusing to let go.
The snow wolf felt as if he were taking advantage of her.
But…
he didn’t have the heart to push her away.
He didn’t even dare to breathe.
He held his breath so long that his face flushed red — only then did he finally remember to exhale slowly.
But aside from breathing, Derek didn’t dare move even a single inch.
He was terrified that this was all just a dream born from the winter cold.
And that if he moved…
the dream would shatter.
Laura found a warm place and slept peacefully.
Completely unaware that—
a certain big gray wolf, afraid of waking her, stayed frozen halfway kneeling beside the bed the entire night…
without sleeping at all.
And watched her,
for the whole night.
- Writer
