Chapter 338: Whatever You Want to Do, I’ll Be with You

Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Whatever You Want to Do, I’ll Be with You

They walked, stopping every so often, their conversation never-ending.

In just that short walk, their bond seemed to have deepened considerably.

Their hands were clasped as they left a long trail of footprints in the snow.

Gradually, the outline of the stone house in the distance grew clearer. When she looked up and saw the tall figure leaning against the doorframe, her eyes instantly brightened.

"Zhu Xiu’s awake!"

Overcome with joy, her first instinct was to dash over to him.

But then she remembered Jin Yi was still beside her, his hand still holding hers.

"Jin Yi, Zhu Xiu is awake. I’m going to go check on him."

A faint smile touched Jin Yi’s lips. "Alright. I have some things to take care of anyway. You go on."

"Okay, then. Come back soon."

With that, she walked briskly toward Zhu Xiu.

Jin Yi stared at his empty palm, where her warmth still lingered.

He watched Bai Wanwan throw herself at Zhu Xiu like a fledgling returning to its nest, her fiery red skirt billowing behind her, vibrant and passionate.

The sense of loss was fleeting. He knew very well that Wanwan wasn’t his Mother.

’Even though she loves Zhu Xiu, she also loves Xin Feng, Yan Lie, and me.’

’As long as I have a place in her heart, what is there to be sad about?’

A smile slowly spread across his lips as he turned and walked away.

Zhu Xiu’s strong arms firmly caught the figure that launched herself at him, and a familiar, chilly aura instantly enveloped Bai Wanwan.

His large hand rested on the small of her back, slowly tightening its grip.

Zhu Xiu pulled his gaze away from Jin Yi’s retreating figure in the distance.

"What were you just up to?"

His deep voice, tinged with the hoarseness of someone who’d just woken up, rumbled from above her head.

Bai Wanwan tilted her face up, the tip of her nose brushing against the new stubble on his chin. "I went with Jin Yi to his Mother’s house..."

She paused abruptly, her fingers unconsciously toying with the Bone Ornament on his chest. "Um... Zhu Xiu, I have something to tell you."

"Mm." Zhu Xiu’s gaze swept over her slightly trembling eyelashes. "Go on. I’m listening."

In truth, between the faint scent of a Golden Lion on her and the way they had been holding hands as they walked, he had already figured most of it out.

"I... I’ve bonded with Jin Yi," she said, forcing herself to sound as calm and natural as possible. "And I gave birth to a litter of his cubs..."

Zhu Xiu felt the body in his arms tense slightly. Looking down, he saw she was sneaking glances at his expression.

He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I hear he already has Orange Rank Talent Power?"

His reaction was completely different from before, and Bai Wanwan certainly wasn’t about to ask him why he wasn’t angry.

She quickly went along with his line of questioning. "Yes. Perhaps it was a blessing from the Beast God. He got sick, and when he woke up, he had successfully ranked up."

"Mm. That’s a good thing. With him helping us protect you and the cubs, things will be safer."

Bai Wanwan opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed the words she was about to say.

She took his hand and started leading him inside. "It’s so great you’re awake. I have something I need to tell you."

"Alright. Let’s talk inside."

Zhu Xiu led her inside, handing her a cup of water he had poured earlier.

Bai Wanwan had just been putting on an act, and her mouth was dry, so she immediately took the cup and drank it all down.

When she finished, she noticed Zhu Xiu was still staring at her. She wiped her mouth. "Stop staring. I just angered Jin Yi’s Mother until she fainted, so I was a bit thirsty."

Zhu Xiu raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You made Jin Yi’s Mother faint? What happened?"

Bai Wanwan gave him the highlights. When she finished, Zhu Xiu asked, "Feel better now? If not, I can help you let off more steam."

Bai Wanwan had no doubt. ’If I were to kill someone, he would be right behind me, setting the fire.’

’If she just nodded, Jin Yi’s Mother might not live to see the sunrise.’

"That won’t be necessary. Even though she’s detestable, she is still the Jin Cang Clan Leader’s Wife, and Jin Yi’s Mother. I already gave her a good scare. It’s enough to just avoid her in the future."

"Are you feeling sorry for Jin Yi?"

Zhu Xiu’s sudden question put Bai Wanwan on guard. "You are all my Beast Husbands. I can’t stand to see any of you being bullied. This time, I just happened to run into Jin Yi’s Mother. If I ever see your Mother and Father Beast, I’ll be sure to teach them a harsh lesson on your behalf."

Only then did a smile touch Zhu Xiu’s lips. "Good. I’ll give you a chance one day."

Bai Wanwan pulled him to a seat. Yan Lie emerged from the back room holding a cub and couldn’t help but comment, "The cubs have been so naughty lately. They’re always trying to run outside."

Zhu Xiu looked at him. "Thank you and Xin Feng for helping take care of Wanwan and the snake cubs while I was gone."

"What’s there to thank me for? We’re family. It’s what we should be doing."

Yan Lie didn’t have time to sit and talk with Wanwan; the cubs around him were already making another break for the door.

He had no choice but to scold them sternly.

Zhu Xiu retracted his gaze and looked back at Bai Wanwan. "What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?"

Bai Wanwan held his hand and spoke slowly. "A lot happened while you were hibernating. I’ve already discussed it with the Clan Leader. In the future, my and Jin Yi’s cub will become the Clan Leader of the Golden Lion Clan. The Bear Clan remains a persistent threat."

"Mm. What do you want to do? I’ll help you."

Bai Wanwan’s expression grew solemn, her tone turning grim. "Before we leave, I want to settle things with the Bear Clan."

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting one half of Zhu Xiu’s face in a golden light that made him look mysterious and handsome.

The enmity between the two clans had lasted for hundreds of years, and not even the last great war had been enough to end it.

’But if this is what Wanwan wants to do... I’ll help her resolve these issues.’

"How do you want to handle it?"

"We strike first. If we can kill their High Rank Males in a single blow, the rest will be no threat. Then the Golden Lion Clan can keep them suppressed."

"Alright. Whatever you want to do, I’ll do it with you."

After the snow melted, blades of grass began to sprout, and patches of green could be seen around the Golden Lion Tribe.

Morning sunlight streamed through the stone window, and the entire house bustled with activity.

The older cubs were now of an age to learn hunting in the mountains. Every day before dawn, they would excitedly swarm their Father Beasts, chattering and asking endless questions about the forest.

Jin Yi finally had some free time recently and was also learning to care for the cubs at home.

The four Beast Husbands arranged a rotation: each day, two would take the older cubs into the mountains to hunt, while the other two stayed behind to guard Bai Wanwan and the little ones.

Bai Wanwan sat on a stone stool, packing beast hides and stone tools into a Beast Skin Bag one by one.

Shi Hua pushed the door open and came inside. Seeing that Bai Wanwan was busy, she immediately went over to help.

"Sister," Shi Hua began hesitantly as she helped her organize things. "How about... I go with you? When you’re all busy, I can help you watch the cubs."

Bai Wanwan’s hands paused.

She and her Beast Husbands would have been completely overwhelmed this past snow season without their help.

She had, in fact, considered bringing Shi Hua’s family along so they could all look out for one another.

But she knew better than anyone that her identity as a Holy Female was a persistent danger.

If she were ever exposed, Shi Hua’s family would undoubtedly be dragged into the mess.