Chapter 394: Snake Clan Beastman

Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Snake Clan Beastman

Bai Wanwan instinctively glanced at Zhu Xiu, only to find his expression calm, not a single ripple in his scarlet snake pupils.

"I’m a Wandering Beast. The other Snake Beastmen have nothing to do with me." His tone was placid, but his words carried an underlying coldness. "Do with them as you please."

’Forget about Snake Beasts he’d never met. Even if it were the kinsmen who had abandoned him, he would tear them to shreds without hesitation if they dared to harm Wanwan or any beastman she cared about.’

Yin Ze’s eyes were red-rimmed. He turned and grasped Bai Wanwan’s hand. "Wanwan, take the cubs and go back to the Tiger Clan first. I’ll come find you after I’ve rescued my Sister."

Bai Wanwan shook her head, her gaze resolute. "I’m going with you."

’She was far from defenseless. At a critical moment, the laser gun in her System Space could be the trump card that turned the tide.’

Just then, Kong Lai staggered over, dragging his wound-riddled body.

His face was deathly pale, and he looked ready to collapse with every step, yet he stubbornly kept his back straight.

"Yin Ze... I’m going with you." His voice was faint, but his gaze was as sharp as a tempered blade. "Even if it costs me my life... I’ll kill that animal with my own hands!"

"How can you go, injured as you are?" Yin Ze frowned, spreading his wings to take flight. "Just focus on recovering. I will bring our Sister back."

Bai Wanwan grabbed his wrist. "We’ll go together. It’ll be safer if we can watch each other’s backs."

She tilted her head up, the morning light reflecting in her eyes. "Yin Ze, trust me."

Yin Ze met her gaze for a tense moment before finally sighing. "Fine."

"Wait."

Bai Wanwan suddenly turned and strode toward Kong Lai, pulling a jar of ointment from her Beast Skin Bag. "Treat your wounds first. Our Sister needs saving, but if you collapse, how heartbroken will she be to come back and see you in this state?"

She paused, then lowered her voice. "Jin Yi and Xin Feng will stay behind to look after the cubs. I’m also asking you... to watch over them for me."

Kong Lai clenched the ointment jar, his knuckles turning white. "I have to go."

His voice was as hoarse as if it had been scraped over rough gravel. "That’s my female... my life. If anything happens to her, I don’t want to live on without her."

Bai Wanwan stared at him for a moment. "You’re determined to go? We’ll bring our Sister back even if you don’t come."

"I have to go."

Seeing no other choice, Bai Wanwan finally nodded. "Alright. Together."

By the time she returned to Zhu Xiu’s side, Yan Lie had already crouched low, ready to set out.

"Jin Yi, Xin Feng, I need you to stay and look after the cubs. It’s not safe to bring them with us. Will you stay here with them and wait for us to return?"

The two males knew that once she made a decision, she wouldn’t easily change it. Even though they wanted to follow and protect her, they couldn’t delay the group any longer.

"Alright. Xin Feng and I will take care of the cubs here and wait for you to come back."

"Okay. Wait for me."

Before leaving, Bai Wanwan had three of the males Chou Rong assigned to her stay behind as a precaution.

She vaulted nimbly onto the tiger’s back, then turned to instruct Jin Yi and Xin Feng, "If there’s any danger, take the cubs and retreat to the Tiger Clan immediately."

Xin Feng looked as if he wanted to say more but held back. In the end, he just said in a heavy tone, "Alright. Be careful."

Time was of the essence. After a quick acknowledgment, Bai Wanwan and the group of beastmen departed swiftly from the Peacock Tribe.

Bai Wanwan lay low on Yan Lie’s back, the wind howling in her ears.

She turned her head to ask Kong Lai, "Where was that Snake Beastman last seen?"

"Black Mountain, to the east..." Kong Lai’s voice trembled, filled with rage at his own incompetence.

"I clashed with him... and I didn’t even last five exchanges. I was too weak."

He slammed a fist against his chest, the smell of blood from his reopened wound mingling with the stench of regret in the air.

"Stop it! How are you going to save Sister Yin Mei if you tear your wounds open?"

Beside them, Yin Ze remained silent, his gaze fixed grimly on the path ahead.

’He had only one thought right now: he had to bring his Sister back safely.’

Bai Wanwan didn’t disturb him, instead turning to look at Zhu Xiu beside her.

"Zhu Xiu, do you know much about Snake Beastmen? How should we go about searching?"

"We’ll go to the nearest Snake Clan tribe first." Zhu Xiu’s Snake Tail brushed past some dry branches with a soft rustle. "If we don’t find any clues, we’ll search the mountain."

The group traveled day and night, managing to shorten the three-day journey to just two.

As morning mist shrouded the valley, a tribe tucked between two mountains, long deprived of sunlight, gradually came into view.

Jagged stone huts were built flush against the cliff face, never seeing the sun year-round. Even the air was thick with a damp, cold, metallic stench.

As they stepped into the territory, a wave of chilling air washed over them. Bai Wanwan couldn’t help but shiver, but in the next instant, Zhu Xiu’s tail coiled around her and lifted her onto his back.

His Snake Scales were ice-cold, yet they gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

"Don’t be afraid. We’re here." The giant snake suddenly turned his head, his slitted pupils reflecting her tense profile.

Bai Wanwan poked his back with a fingertip. "Yeah... I was just thinking we should visit your birthplace someday."

"What’s there to see? I’ve almost forgotten the place."

"Of course we’re going!" A ruthless look appeared on Bai Wanwan’s face. "I’m not letting you just forget about it. None of those who bullied you are getting away. We’ll go and settle the score properly."

A low chuckle rumbled in Zhu Xiu’s throat as the tip of his tail gently coiled around her ankle. "The King Cobras’ territory is far away, deep within the swamps. But..."

He paused, his scarlet, forked tongue brushing against her earlobe. "Hearing you get so protective of me... that’s more satisfying than razing the place to the ground."

"HISS... HISS..."

A sharp hiss suddenly shattered the tender moment.

Seven or eight large, patterned snakes shot out from the bushes, only to recoil in terror the instant they saw Zhu Xiu clearly.

The instinctive fear from the pressure of his bloodline made them tremble like leaves in the wind.

Zhu Xiu slithered to the forefront, his slitted pupils cold and menacing. "Get your Clan Leader."

The words had barely left his mouth when a Golden Ring Snake hastily scurried into the dense woods.

"D-don’t do anything rash... W-what can we do for you?"

One of the Snake Beastmen on guard mustered up the courage to ask.

"Yes, there is something. A Snake Beastman abducted one of our females. Was it one of your clansmen?"

"No! You must be mistaken."

The Snake Beastman had barely finished speaking when a hunched-backed old man emerged from the trees, leaning on a bone staff.

The wrinkles on his face were as deep as knife cuts. His gaze trembled visibly as it swept over the group. "Everyone... why have you trespassed upon the Snake Clan’s lands?"

"Five days ago, a Snake Beastman abducted a Phoenix female."

Bai Wanwan leaped off the snake’s back, her eyes fixed on the old man. "Hand them over, or do we search ourselves?"

The old Clan Leader slammed his bone staff on the ground and shook his head in denial. "Absolutely impossible! My clansmen have always abided by our rules. We never go out to abduct females."

"Whether you did or not, I suggest you investigate immediately. If you can’t give us a satisfactory answer, then you and your clansmen shouldn’t expect to see tomorrow’s sunrise."

The moment Bai Wanwan finished speaking,

"ROAR!"

Yan Lie threw back his head, his roar shaking dead leaves from the trees.

Zhu Xiu’s Snake Scales took on a cold, metallic sheen as he released the immense pressure unique to a Mutant Beast.

Yin Ze’s wings were fully unfurled, ready for action.

In that instant, the air froze.