Chapter 521 - 518: Wanwan Said It Herself?

Chapter 521: Chapter 518: Wanwan Said It Herself?

Bai Wanwan nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, right now."

’I miss the cubs and Chou Rong,’ she thought. ’As for Hua Han... I can’t find him here, and I don’t have any other ideas. I’ll just have to let the Tracking Bird keep searching for now.’

"Alright." After getting her confirmation, Zhu Xiu nodded. "Then let’s go."

The group quickly packed their simple belongings.

Under the silent, watchful guard of her powerful Beast Husbands, they quietly left the magnificent side palace where they had been staying. They made their way along a crystal corridor, heading for the exit of the Merfolk Palace.

’As for Jiao Yin... I already gave him a formal farewell a few days ago. I don’t want to bother him again while he’s busy dealing with the threat from the Crocodylus porosus Clan.’

Outside the corridor, glowing corals of every color swayed gracefully as vibrant schools of fish darted about.

Just as they were about to leave the Royal Palace grounds, Jiao Yue happened to come around a bend from a side path. She was laughing and chatting with a female Merfolk she knew.

Jiao Yue’s eyes immediately fell on Bai Wanwan’s party. Seeing them with the cubs and clearly preparing for a long journey, the smile on her face instantly froze.

She quickly whispered a few words to the female beside her before hurrying over alone, her face a mask of surprise and sorrow.

"Sister Wanwan! You... Where are you all going?"

She stopped in front of Bai Wanwan, panting. Her azure eyes were filled with urgency and confusion.

Shuang Hua, who was standing beside Bai Wanwan, had a good impression of the lively, straightforward young Merfolk and answered with a smile in Bai Wanwan’s stead. "Jiao Yue, we’ve been imposing for quite some time. It’s time for us to go back. Thank you for the Merfolk Clan’s warm hospitality during our stay."

"Don’t be so formal, Aunt Shuang. You can all stay a while longer."

"That won’t be necessary..." Shuang Hua said with a gentle laugh.

Jiao Yue turned to Bai Wanwan, her voice laced with a subtle urgency. "Sister Wanwan, you’re... you’re leaving? My brother... does he know? Why isn’t he here to see you off?"

’She knew, instinctively, that if her brother knew about this, he would absolutely be here.’

Bai Wanwan looked at her anxious expression and sighed inwardly.

She softened her voice and explained, "He doesn’t know we’re leaving today. But I already gave him a formal farewell a couple of days ago."

Her tone was as calm as if she were discussing something utterly trivial.

Jiao Yue reached out and grabbed Bai Wanwan’s wrist, her grip tight as if that alone could keep her there.

Her eyes reddened almost instantly, and her voice caught in a sob. The guilt from the drugging incident, mixed with the sorrow of this farewell, washed over her.

"Sister Wanwan... Why... why are you leaving already? You haven’t even decided how to punish me yet... You said you’d punish me next time, how can you go back on your word?"

Her tone was a mix of pouting and pleading, a desperate attempt to express her deep reluctance to let her go.

Seeing her like this, Bai Wanwan couldn’t help but smile. She gently flicked Jiao Yue’s forehead with her finger. "Next time you think about doing any ’good deeds,’ remember to discuss it with me first! As for your punishment... I’ll tell you what I’ve decided next time I come to see you."

Jiao Yue’s previously dim eyes instantly brightened. "Sister Wanwan! Really? You’ll come back?"

Her voice was filled with surprise and hope.

Bai Wanwan deliberately put on a serious expression to tease her. "Hmm... we’ll see. It depends on how busy I am."

Sure enough, the light in Jiao Yue’s eyes dimmed visibly, and her face fell.

She tugged on Bai Wanwan’s sleeve, speaking urgently. "Sister Wanwan, please wait, just for a little while! I already sent someone to get my brother. He’ll be here any minute!"

Bai Wanwan gently shook her head. "There’s no need, Jiao Yue. Your brother is king of his clan and has much to attend to. Besides... we’ve already said our goodbyes."

She tried to keep her tone light.

However, before the words were even out of her mouth, the sound of someone rapidly cutting through the water came from the distance.

It was Jiao Yin, rushing toward them at top speed...

As he drew nearer, his ice-blue eyes fixed on Bai Wanwan, swirling with an intense, undeniable longing and reluctance to let her go.

He was followed by several Merfolk guards, who carried a number of large, lustrous shells. Inside were treasures so rare they were seldom seen even in the deep sea.

There was shimmering Jue Sha, a silk that repels water; enormous, perfectly round pearls with a dazzling luster; and various oddly-shaped undersea spirit plants and minerals that emanated a soft glow.

"Wanwan," Jiao Yin’s voice was tinged with a faint hoarseness. His gaze swept over the gifts before returning to her face, full of cautious tension. "Please... accept these. The sea isn’t like the land. Perhaps... perhaps you and the cubs will find a use for them."

’These were treasures he had meticulously collected over his long life, originally meant for his future Wife. Now, even though they could not be mated, he wanted to give them all to Bai Wanwan.’

’He was terrified she was still angry about what had happened and would refuse his gesture.’

Bai Wanwan looked at the extravagant gifts—enough to make any female gasp—and of course understood their value and the sentiment behind them.

She lifted her gaze to meet Jiao Yin’s worried one. Her heart softened, and it was as if a sliver of light had pierced the heavy mood of her departure.

She didn’t refuse. She simply gave a small nod and said to Yan Lie beside her, "Yan Lie, take them."

Yan Lie stepped forward crisply and took each of the precious shells.

Seeing Bai Wanwan accept them so readily, the tension in Jiao Yin’s heart finally eased. He couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning up in a relieved smile.

"We’re leaving now..." Bai Wanwan said softly, giving Jiao Yin one last look.

Jiao Yin couldn’t make her stay. He could only manage a soft reply. "Take care of yourself."

Yan Lie noticed the softening in Wanwan’s demeanor and clapped Jiao Yin on the shoulder. "Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of her."

"Alright. I’m counting on you, then."

Bai Wanwan had already turned and started walking away, with Xin Feng and Yan Lie lagging behind.

"Protect your people well. When we have time, we’ll come back with Wanwan for another visit."

A bitter smile touched Jiao Yin’s lips. ’Wanwan... will she really come back?’

’But either way, he was grateful for the sentiment.’

"Thank you."

Xin Feng said no more. He glanced at his Wife, who was already some distance away, then gave Jiao Yin a nod and turned to follow.

Jiao Yin remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the direction Bai Wanwan had gone, long after her figure had completely vanished from sight.

Seeing her brother’s devastated expression, Jiao Yue’s heart ached for him. She tried to comfort him, "Brother, don’t be so sad. Sister Wanwan told me herself that she’d be back."

’She deliberately left out Bai Wanwan’s "we’ll see," wanting only to give her brother a little hope.’

Jiao Yin froze at her words. Light flared anew in his ice-blue eyes, the profound sorrow and longing in his expression swept away by a wave of stunned surprise. "Wanwan told you that herself?"