The biting cold was relentless on a snowy night, but Eldest Senior Brother and the others paid no attention to the chill. Their focus was entirely on the unexpected guests not far away.

The standoff continued, the tension so thick that it seemed like a single spark could ignite it at any moment.

Such a dangerous situation hadn't occurred for the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe in a long time.

Even when the Flying Snake Tribe attacked twice, and the Bone Tribe seized the opportunity while Han Cheng, Eldest Senior Brother, and the others were away, it had never felt as tense or as dangerous as this.

A long, mournful wolf's howl suddenly pierced the silence, and a wolf slowly walked from the back of the pack, pushing its way to the front.

Eldest Senior Brother tightened his grip on his shield, focusing intently on this wolf. If he wasn't mistaken, this one was the alpha wolf of the pack.

Another howl rang out, and leading the charge of over a dozen wolves, Fu Jiang, the divine beast raised by the Divine Child, threw its head back and howled in unison. It then began to sniff the air, its behavior alert.

After sniffing for a while, Fu Jiang suddenly became excited, let out a few excited growls, and dashed toward the perimeter of the wolf pack.

"Fu Jiang!" Eldest Senior Brother called out anxiously.

The tribe had long since accepted this divine beast as part of their family, and the Eldest Senior Brother couldn't bear anything to happen to it.

Upon hearing the call, Fu Jiang stopped, turned its head, and gave a few more growls as if communicating something. Then, it turned and continued its journey forward.

As it passed over the area where bamboo spikes were set as traps, it effortlessly leaped over them. Fu Jiang had grown clever, especially when it came to remembering traps.

Behind Fu Jiang, the pack of dogs followed their leader and left the protective boundary of the camp.

Eldest Senior Brother, Second Brother, and the others kept their weapons ready, watching Fu Jiang closely, prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice.

However, what happened next was entirely unexpected.

Fu Jiang and the alpha wolf met in the middle, and after sniffing each other, the once fearsome wolf, with its proud and menacing demeanor, immediately changed. It began making a soft, affectionate noise that only those from the Green Sparrow Tribe would recognize—a sound that indicated friendliness.

The alpha wolf, tail wagging, hopped around Fu Jiang, and the two began playfully rolling on the snow. The alpha even exposed its belly—a vulnerable position typically reserved for showing submission or a lack of defense.

Seeing this sudden and drastic change in behavior left Eldest Senior Brother and the others, who were ready to attack at any moment, utterly stunned.

What happened to the tension? What happened to the standoff?

Had the wolves decided to talk it out instead?

The entire scene was baffling—not only to Eldest Senior Brother and his group but also to the wolves surrounding them. Their alpha, once known for its fierceness, was now acting completely uncharacteristically.

Two female wolves who usually stayed close to the alpha lowered their heads in embarrassment, as if unable to look at their leader’s shameless behavior.

The awkwardness didn't stop there.

After a short while of play, Fu Jiang turned to the group, howled, and then galloped toward Eldest Senior Brother and the others.

The alpha wolf followed closely behind.

Eldest Senior Brother and the others stared in stunned silence at the scene before them, clearly confused about how things had turned into what they were now.

"Little Fu?"

Seeing the alpha wolf wagging its tail, Eldest Senior Brother suddenly remembered something and blurted out in disbelief.

The once intimidating alpha wolf became even more submissive when the words "Little Fu" were spoken. It wagged its tail and started jumping around, rubbing its body against Eldest Senior Brother’s legs, making a soft, affectionate whimpering sound. The wolf was so eager to please it was almost embarrassing—looking completely un-wolflike.

The wolves at the outskirts of the camp, too, turned their heads away, unable to watch this shameful display.

Acting like this toward another wolf was one thing, but now it was fawning over a group of two-legged monkeys. As the alpha’s underlings, they were utterly mortified.

But Little Fu showed no signs of realizing the situation’s absurdity. After a bit of playful hopping and jumping around Eldest Senior Brother and the others, it suddenly heard the call of the deer and dashed off toward the herd.

The Deer Lord remained as proud and aloof as ever. After calling out a few times to the excited Little Fu, it lowered its head and began a mock duel with the dog.

Among the entire tribe, only Fu Jiang, the older dog, and the five younger dogs, the "Five Little Fus," were considered worthy opponents for the Deer Lord. However, the third and fourth generations of dogs didn’t stand a chance. The Deer Lord would completely ignore them.

After a brief mock duel, the Deer Lord emerged victorious. Little Fu was lightly swatted on the rear several times, but instead of retreating, it became even more energetic, leaping around playfully.

At this point, many wolves turned their heads in embarrassment, pretending not to notice.

However, their discomfort didn’t last long. When the humans brought out dried meat, a highly tempting treat, even the wolves couldn't resist.

The elders of the Green Sparrow Tribe had a deep affection for Fu Jiang and the Five Little Fus, not only because they had spent the most time with the tribe but also because, back in the day, when Fu Jiang was missing, the elders had missed the dog terribly.

Now that Little Fu had unexpectedly returned, Eldest Senior Brother, Second Brother, and the other elders were overjoyed. They quickly offered the long-awaited treat to their beloved dog.

Little Fu got a share, and even the surrounding wolves, led by their now utterly shameless alpha, were given some of the delicious food.

The power of food was undeniable. After distributing the dried and canned meat, Little Fu’s followers stopped acting like lost puppies and eagerly hoped that the two-legged monkeys would offer more.

They no longer felt embarrassed to join in the shameless line of wolves.

The newcomers to the Green Sparrow Tribe had no idea what was happening. They couldn’t understand why things had turned out the way they had.

It wasn't until they heard from the Eldest Senior Brother and the others that the alpha wolf was a lost dog from the tribe that everything clicked.

What was supposed to be a fierce battle between humans and wolves had unexpectedly turned into a family reunion, and it was entirely beyond anyone’s expectations.

As dawn broke, the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe began to light fires, wash up, and prepare breakfast. Little Fu, the long-lost dog, was still excited and energetic, running around without a trace of wildness.

As the daylight grew, Eldest Senior Brother and the others could see Little Fu more clearly. The dog appeared strong and healthy, though one of its ears had a sizable chunk missing—a sign of the difficulties it had endured while being away from the tribe.

Despite the hardships, Little Fu hadn't forgotten its past. It had been the leader of a fearsome wolf pack in the wilderness. But here, in the presence of Fu Jiang and the elders, it had once again become the playful dog that could be kicked and teased without a care.

Home will always be the harbor of our hearts no matter where we are. Even if we are at the ends of the earth, turning back will always lead us toward home.

That home, bathed in the moonlight, is simple and peaceful. It rests somewhere on this earth and lives in your heart, for it is the place that will forever keep you warm.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay