Chapter 523 - 520: Return to the Golden Lion Tribe

Chapter 523: Chapter 520: Return to the Golden Lion Tribe

Sure enough, a moment later, a figure appeared in the flickering light at the mouth of the cave.

Yan Lie returned, bringing a chill of the night air with him. His expression was relaxed as he shook his head at the others. "It’s nothing, just a false alarm. It was just a small flock of Eagle Beasts migrating. They happened to pass over the forest and are already far gone."

"Eagle Beasts, flying in a flock this late at night?" Bai Wanwan muttered. She found it a little strange, but a wave of drowsiness washed over her again.

Xin Feng carefully tucked the soft beast hide around her, his voice gentle as water. "Whatever they’re doing, it has nothing to do with us. We’re here, so don’t be afraid. Wanwan, rest easy and go to sleep."

Enveloped in a powerful sense of security, Bai Wanwan’s faint traces of doubt quickly vanished.

She smiled at Xin Feng with half-open eyes. "Okay."

Her eyelids grew heavy with sleep, and she subconsciously snuggled deeper into Zhu Xiu’s warm, firm embrace, finding a more comfortable position before quickly sinking back into dreams.

The rest of the night passed without incident, and everyone slept soundly until dawn.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the forest. Re-energized, the group set off once more.

"We’re off, my little cubs! Today we’re going to play in the tribe where Jin Yi’s father grew up, how about that?"

The thought of reaching the Golden Lion Tribe and seeing her old friend today made Bai Wanwan particularly excited.

Yan Lie sat down beside her, a wide, sunny smile revealing his white teeth. "This happy just to be going to the Golden Lion Tribe?"

"Of course. Shi Hua is one of the few friends I have."

Her time and energy were completely monopolized by her cubs and Beast Husbands, so there weren’t many other females in her life.

That’s why she especially cherished every female she considered a friend.

Yan Lie took her hand. "Wanwan, when are you going to visit the place I was born?"

His eyes were sparkling, filled with anticipation.

"How about after we get back and see Chou Rong? We can wait a while, then go during the Yan Ji season."

"Alright. Whatever you say, Wanwan."

Yan Lie was delighted with her answer.

The group continued to chat idly.

Sitting atop Yin Ze’s broad, steady back, Bai Wanwan kept looking down, trying to spot familiar landmarks in the scenery below.

Xin Feng carefully held her arm, worried she might lose her balance in her excitement. "Be careful. Don’t lean out too far. You could fall."

Bai Wanwan turned back to him with a radiant smile, grabbing his sturdy arm to steady herself. Her voice was brimming with excitement. "Are we almost there?"

After all, she had lived near the Golden Lion Tribe for a long time, and Jin Cang Clan Leader, Shi Hua, and several other kind Beastmen had left a very good impression on her.

It gave her a special affection for this land.

"Yes, we’re almost there," Xin Feng said, his gaze full of gentle warmth as he watched her rare, unguarded display of emotion.

Suddenly, Bai Wanwan’s eyes lit up. She pointed to a large expanse of puddles shimmering in the sunlight ahead and shouted excitedly, "I recognize this! There are Cannibal Fish in those puddles!"

As she finished speaking, the Phoenix gave a powerful beat of its enormous wings.

They rounded a familiar mountain peak, and the view ahead opened up dramatically.

A magnificent tribe stood on the plain. Its rugged, powerful stone-and-wood buildings stood in dense rows, and a tall totem pole marked the entrance—it was the Golden Lion Tribe!

Yin Ze let out a melodious cry, signaling his descent. He then folded his wings and landed steadily just outside the imposing gates of the Golden Lion Tribe.

This sudden aerial arrival clearly startled the tribe’s guards.

Several strong Golden Lion males immediately emerged from the watchtowers and from behind the gate. Muscles tensed and eyes wary, they took defensive stances, and the atmosphere instantly grew taut.

Jin Yi was the first to leap from Yin Ze’s back, landing without a sound.

He straightened his back, smiled, and called out to the guards in a clear voice, "Bal, Solon! It’s me!"

When the guards saw who it was, their wariness instantly melted into surprised delight. They rushed to surround him. "Young Clan Leader! It’s really you! You’ve returned!"

"This is wonderful! The Clan Leader has been asking about you and the female Bai Wanwan every single day!"

Jin Yi walked forward with a smile, pulling his long-unseen kinsmen into tight hugs and clapping them on the shoulder. Their hearty laughter instantly dispelled the earlier tension.

Just then, with Xin Feng and Yan Lie’s careful assistance, Bai Wanwan slid from the Phoenix’s back to the ground.

Zhu Xiu helped Shuang Hua down as well.

The little cubs were lifted down one by one by their fathers, and they looked around at the new place with curiosity.

"The female Bai Wanwan!"

Seeing Bai Wanwan, the Golden Lion guards immediately recognized the honored female who had once helped their tribe and was, moreover, the beloved of their Young Clan Leader.

Friendly, respectful smiles spread across their faces as they bowed to her.

Bai Wanwan returned their friendly smiles. "Hello. It’s been a long time."

She turned to Jin Yi, who was catching up with his kinsmen. "Jin Yi, you go on ahead. Zhu Xiu and the others can come with me to see Shi Hua’s place. You can find us there when you’re finished."

Jin Yi nodded with a smile. "Alright! I’ll go see my Father Beast first, then I’ll find you at Shi Hua’s house."

After parting ways with Jin Yi for the time being, Bai Wanwan confidently led the others down a familiar path from memory, arriving outside the courtyard of Shi Hua’s home.

However, before even stepping through the gate, she saw a tall, unfamiliar male in the corner of the courtyard, skillfully dressing a recent kill.

His movements were deft and powerful.

Bai Wanwan paused, then hesitated before approaching him. "Excuse me..." she asked tentatively, "is this Shi Hua’s home?"

The unfamiliar male looked up at the sound of her voice. When he saw Bai Wanwan and the companions of extraordinary bearing behind her, he froze for a second. A brief look of flustered uncertainty crossed his face, but it quickly transformed into unmistakable excitement and respect.

He quickly set down his Stone Knife, wiped his hands on his clothes, and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! Honored female Bai Wanwan, this is Shi Hua’s home! P-please wait a moment, I’ll go get my Wife!"

Those two words—"my Wife"—made Bai Wanwan raise an eyebrow. A knowing, gratified smile involuntarily touched her lips.

’Looks like my good friend Shi Hua’s life has had some welcome changes while I’ve been away,’ she thought. ’She has more Beast Husbands to watch over her now.’

Before long, a set of hurried, joyful footsteps could be heard from inside the house.

Shi Hua’s figure appeared in the doorway. The moment she saw Bai Wanwan in the yard, her face lit up with enormous, incredulous joy.

"Sister Wanwan! It’s really you! You’re back!"

Shi Hua cried out in delight, practically running to greet her with a radiant smile on her face.