Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

Fatigue washed over Ruan Qiuqiu. This time, Mr. Big Bad Wolf had used a substantial amount of demonic power. Despite her subconscious efforts to stay awake, she quickly succumbed to a deep slumber.

The muscles in her arms, which had been supporting her body, relaxed, and she naturally leaned back. The mischievous wolf, who had deliberately lulled her to sleep, didn't let her fall onto the cold, wet snow.

Instead, he carefully knelt on his right leg, his crippled left leg trailing behind him. He cautiously used the relatively clean sleeve of his hide coat to shield his dirty paw as he gently pressed against Ruan Qiuqiu's shoulder, guiding her as she fell back to rest against his thigh.

Ruan Qiuqiu, lost in her dreams, wasn't jolted awake. She didn't notice that the pitiful wolf, who had appeared behind her like a phantom just moments before, began to uncontrollably bleed once he confirmed she was asleep.

Mr. Big Bad Wolf's current appearance was exceptionally wretched. Large and small cracks marred his once handsome face. His narrow, star-like eyes seemed filled with blood. His thin lips, no longer pale, were stained a dark red by the foul blood continuously seeping from within him.

His body was covered in wounds and cracks of varying sizes, the oozing blood staining the clothes and trousers she had made for him. Even the fur on his fluffy tail, the one he had just used to playfully swirl the snowflakes and create the illusion of snowfall, had turned a dark red.

A violent cough erupted from Yuan Jue's chest. He turned slightly, his dark eyelashes trembling, striving to prevent his blood from further staining Ruan Qiuqiu's clothes. Hides were scarce at home, and even if washed, they wouldn't dry quickly. As a considerate wolf husband, he couldn't keep coughing up blood.

"Cough…"

Despite his best efforts to control his injuries, Yuan Jue couldn't completely suppress the demonic energy rampaging within him. Attacking Lu Ziran with demonic energy had been his first attempt at using it, and he had nearly lost control due to overwhelming rage. Although Ruan Qiuqiu's "performance" had allowed him to expel the demonic blood from his heart, the aftereffects of overuse were severe.

The demonic energy in his bloodline was indeed unique. After attacking Lu Ziran, it had actually devoured a significant amount of the old lion's cultivation, converting it into usable pure spiritual energy that flowed back into his body.

However…

His body, already severely injured and not yet healed, couldn't withstand the influx of demonic energy followed by the surge of spiritual energy. The clash between the two forces caused nearly half of the meridians in his body to rupture, resulting in excruciating pain. His demon core shattered, leaving only a small fragment.

But thanks to the spiritual energy, although he was in agony and his demon core was almost gone, the demonic power he could wield was unexpectedly abundant.

Enduring the pain for a moment, until the demonic blood stopped oozing from his smaller wounds, Mr. Big Bad Wolf slowly raised his hand, wiped the blood from his lips, and gave a slight smile.

Although the strengthened demonic energy within him hadn't pressed its advantage and completely consumed the remaining demonic part of him, and even obediently retreated into his bloodline, ceasing to spread, and even sharing most of the spiritual energy converted from Lu Ziran with his shattered demon core, Yuan Jue knew this was only temporary.

He had nearly lost control of his surging killing intent after just his first use of the demonic energy. Perhaps one day, he would completely transform into a big bad wolf who knew only slaughter and no tenderness.

He knew he likely couldn't return to how he was before.

But he didn't regret it.

A considerable amount of the demonic energy that had attacked Lu Ziran remained within the lion. Though it was now beyond his control, if not expelled promptly, it would cripple a significant portion of the old lion's cultivation.

This was the price Lu Ziran had to pay.

That lion dared to say he would cherish Ruan Qiuqiu more. As if she needed his affection!

He even dared to try to touch her with his filthy hands.

Damn him.

Yuan Jue narrowed his long eyes, the corners tinged with crimson. The bloodlust in his eyes hadn't fully receded, making him appear terrifying and monstrous.

But the sleeping Ruan Qiuqiu couldn't see his battered and ugly appearance.

Mr. Big Bad Wolf hesitantly raised his hand. His long fingers involuntarily brushed against Ruan Qiuqiu's hair, which had fallen onto his knee. He caressed it gently, appearing calm, yet his entire being seemed shrouded in a bloody shadow.

What did Lu Ziran's affection even mean? The lion's words were sweet, but was his affection only worth a pig's trotter?

He claimed he would give her a good life, ensuring she was well-fed and clothed.

As if only the fat lion could do that, and not he, the big bad wolf?

That detestable Lu Ziran stood before his little wife, showering her with sweet nothings as if he truly cared for her.

What did that lion know about affection? How dare he speak of loving her?

Damn him!

Damn him!!

She was his, his little wife.

His.

What did the lion's affection even count for? Clearly, his affection was…

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, like a clap of thunder, like lightning splitting through dark clouds, abruptly shattering the darkness in his heart. It dispelled the confusion and anxiety that had plagued him for days, unraveling the tangled, messy enigma.

His…

Affection.

The restless nights found their answer; the anxious, troubled emotions found their source.

It was as if a warm lamp had suddenly ignited at the end of an eternal polar night, its gentle light illuminating a monster covered in sharp barbs, a creature lost in the abyss, knowing only destruction and hatred.

She stood at the end of the road, a smile gracing her features, holding that lamp.

His fear of forgetting every moment spent with her, his fear of her secretly touching his tail, his displeasure at hearing the words "snail wolf," his rage at seeing Lu Ziran try to touch her…

It turned out that this special feeling he had for her was affection. Love.

But he was no longer a pure-blooded wolf.

He was half-demon, half-demon, a monstrous existence.

When had he started to love her? He had realized it so late.

Bloodlust flickered in his eyes. Yuan Jue felt a terrible dryness in his sockets. His pointed wolf ears twitched rapidly, and a thin film of moisture gathered in his unfocused eyes.

His long eyelashes, dampened by the moisture that must have condensed due to the cold, clumped together, mixing with the still-wet blood on his cheeks. Large tears streamed down his face, accidentally landing on Ruan Qiuqiu's.

Ruan Qiuqiu, who had finally found a comfortable "pillow" and was soundly asleep, dreaming of pulling on wolf fur, felt something cold. "…"

She felt as if she had been instantly transported from a warm, comfortable bed to the outdoors, where a torrential downpour had begun. Like the heavy snow before she fell asleep, it cascaded down, assaulting her face, which had already been accidentally scratched.

She fluttered her eyelashes, but sleepiness overcame her. Her consciousness drifted, wavering between wakefulness and slumber.

Mr. Big Bad Wolf refused to acknowledge that the "waterfall rain" in his little wife's dream was his doing. He pressed his lips together, aggrieved and self-conscious, his fingers continuously wiping away the bloodstains on her face.

Only his sharp, blood-stained canines were visible as he spoke, his voice low and hoarse, terrifyingly so.

In the darkening snowy landscape, he softly asked the person he had put to sleep, "…Am I ugly?"

Because of the demonic energy, his face was covered in scars, and his tail had lost its former vibrant color. He felt changes in his appearance, an itching and aching in his forehead and back. Perhaps later, he would grow monstrous horns and scales like a demon.

Yet, his crippled left leg remained unchanged, showing no signs of regeneration.

He must be very ugly. Even he found himself repulsive.

Seeing that Ruan Qiuqiu was sleeping soundly and only fluttering her eyelashes in response to his words, Mr. Big Bad Wolf, both helpless and unwilling, asked again, "…Am I scary?"

His voice, reaching Ruan Qiuqiu's rain-soaked ears in her dream, transformed into the continuous, whimpering "awoo awoo" of a small wolf cub.

In fact, the big wolf, who had awakened to his special feelings for his little wife, was indeed acting like a spoiled child.

While casting a gentle sleep spell to prevent her from seeing him, he secretly asked if he looked terrible, and then mercilessly splashed her face with warm "waterfall rain"…

Fortunately, Ruan Qiuqiu was dreaming, and what she saw was a pitiful little wolf cub.

She fluttered her eyelashes and turned her head, her cheek instinctively rubbing against Mr. Big Bad Wolf's leg. She didn't notice the wolf suddenly freeze, his muscles tensing.

She reached out a sinful paw towards the fluffy tail of the wolf cub in her dream—

"Cute…" she murmured about the little wolf cub's tail.

Ah, the little wolf cub's fluffy tail was so cute.

Forcefully ignoring Ruan Qiuqiu's hands grabbing at the snow on the ground, Mr. Big Bad Wolf blushed furiously, feeling a burning heat where she rested against his leg.

He stopped the "rain" and, despite the pain wracking his body, carefully pinched Ruan Qiuqiu's clothes between two fingers, avoiding touching her skin as much as possible. He lifted his little wife, who, although slightly dirty from being outside, was still much softer and sweeter-smelling than he was.

Then, he extended the other two fingers of his other hand, supporting her waist. In this awkward manner, he carried her back into the cave—

He was a gentleman wolf; he wouldn't take advantage of her.

…

The sky darkened. The clouds, briefly tinged with sunlight, were quickly pushed aside by dark, thunder-filled storm clouds.

A cold wind rustled through the mostly bare trees.

Lu Ziran, the lion, ran for fifteen or sixteen kilometers without stopping until he sensed his cultivation level had stabilized. He collapsed to the ground, realizing his cultivation had regressed to the middle stage of the second rank. Not only that, but the demonic energy from that high-rank transparent demon hadn't completely vanished from his body!

He had lost two entire major ranks!

Lu Ziran was filled with fear and regret. He feared the high-rank transparent demon, not mentioned in the "dream," would continue to pursue him. He regretted ever coming to the Flame Wolf Tribe.

Amidst the overwhelming fear and regret, he felt only a sliver of guilt towards Ruan Qiuqiu. He had finally realized that woman was somewhat special. He had planned to take her back, care for her through the winter, and then have her die for him during the beast tide.

But now, she had died prematurely, sacrificing herself to lure away that high-rank transparent demon.

At least she died a worthy death.

He couldn't return to the Flame Wolf Tribe for now. Revenge was a dish best served cold. Once his strength increased, or he found a powerful backer, he would return to avenge the loss of his cultivation!

Lu Ziran, resilient and adaptable, spent only half a second mourning the "deceased" Ruan Qiuqiu before gritting his teeth and turning back, eager to return to the safety of the Wind Lion Tribe.

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