Chapter 525 - 522: The Coming Storm

Chapter 525: Chapter 522: The Coming Storm

Xin Feng sat beside Zhu Xiu, his posture refined and gentle. He shook his head lightly, picking up where Yan Lie had left off. His tone was mild, yet carried a hint of subtle gravity. "Yan Lie, you’re right, foreign beastmen are indeed common. But this time, coming back, haven’t you noticed their numbers are a bit unusual?"

At his reminder, Yan Lie paused in his teasing of the cubs.

He frowned, carefully recalling the scenes he had witnessed since entering the tribe. His expression gradually grew serious. "Now that you mention it... it’s true."

In the past, when they had lived in the Golden Lion Tribe for long periods, they had often seen foreign beastmen, but the proportion had never been this high.

Walking through the tribe, it was already considered a lot if one out of every ten beastmen they met was a foreigner.

But today, from the moment they entered the tribe until now, just among the beastmen they could see, nearly half were unfamiliar faces exuding the auras of different races!

Most of these foreign beastmen looked exhausted, their eyes wary. Some even bore unhealed wounds. They looked more like... they were fleeing a disaster, rather than simply traveling or trading.

The males’ conversation was soon interrupted by Shi Hua’s Beast Husband. "Are you used to eating raw meat or cooked food?"

"Either is fine."

Shi Hua had already instructed that new Beast Husband of hers to prepare a lavish meal. Knowing Bai Wanwan’s eating habits were different, she had specifically told him to roast the meat until it was thoroughly cooked and fragrant.

Bai Wanwan didn’t stand on ceremony with Shi Hua. They were, in a way, returning home, and Shi Hua was one of her best friends. Accepting this warm hospitality with open arms was the best way to respond.

However, as the sky began to darken, Jin Yi’s figure appeared at the doorway.

"Wanwan, Father Beast wants us to come over for a meal."

Bai Wanwan was taken aback. "Can’t it wait until tomorrow night?"

"It’s already been prepared. We can eat as soon as we get there."

"Alright, then." Bai Wanwan stood up decisively. "Shi Hua, since Jin Cang Clan Leader has already prepared something, don’t have your Beast Husband go to the trouble. We’ll head over now and come back tomorrow."

Since it was the Clan Leader who wanted to see them, Shi Hua couldn’t insist they stay. She could only say, "Alright then. The Clan Leader wants to see you. I’ll wait for you to come by when you’re free."

Shi Hua walked them all the way to the door, reluctantly holding Bai Wanwan’s hand. "Sister Wanwan, this time... when are you leaving again?"

Bai Wanwan patted the back of her hand reassuringly. "We’re on a tight schedule this time, so we can’t stay for too long, but... we’ll be back again after a while."

’Can’t stay for too long...’

Shi Hua was heartbroken to hear it, but she knew that with Sister Wanwan’s several Beast Husbands in different tribes, she must be very busy.

Despite her reluctance, she could only let go of her hand.

Bai Wanwan saw the change in her expression and patted her hand again. Only then did Shi Hua manage a smile once more.

"Okay, Sister Wanwan. I’ll wait for your return."

Led by Jin Yi, Bai Wanwan and her large family made their way to the spacious stone house where Clan Leader Jin Cang had specially prepared a banquet.

The inside was brightly lit, and a long stone table was laden with all sorts of delicacies. Many were foods Bai Wanwan remembered enjoying, a clear testament to the host’s thoughtfulness.

The moment Jin Cang Clan Leader saw Bai Wanwan, he let out a hearty laugh, his booming voice filled with joy. "I’ve been waiting forever for you all to come back!"

He looked lovingly at the litters of cubs following Bai Wanwan, patting each of their little heads. Then, he asked with a hint of confusion, "Huh? Why didn’t you bring the little lion cubs back? I’ve really missed them."

Bai Wanwan quickly explained, "Clan Leader, we didn’t come from the Tiger Clan this time. We ran into some trouble midway and ended up here after detouring from another place. Next time! We’ll definitely bring all the lion cubs to see you next time!"

"Good, good, good!" Jin Cang Clan Leader clapped his hands and laughed. "You must all be hungry, right? Don’t just stand there, sit down and eat! I had the beastmen prepare some easily digestible minced meat and fruit puree for these little cubs, too."

The atmosphere at the dinner was lively and harmonious, filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

Jin Cang Clan Leader was enthusiastic and generous, constantly urging them to eat more.

After the banquet, the Clan Leader personally arranged spacious and comfortable lodgings for them.

However, on the way back to their lodgings, the observant Bai Wanwan noticed that Jin Yi seemed to be in low spirits, not nearly as cheerful as he had been at the banquet.

She deliberately slowed her pace to walk beside him, gently taking his hand. "What’s wrong?" she asked softly. "You’ve seemed to have something heavy on your mind ever since we left Father Beast’s."

Jin Yi squeezed her soft hand, remaining silent for a moment before lowering his voice. "Today, Father Beast told me... a lot of foreign beastmen have come to the tribe recently."

"Hm?" Bai Wanwan didn’t understand what he meant at first.

For a large tribe like the Golden Lion Tribe, it was common for foreign beastmen to visit or trade. It wasn’t anything unusual.

Jin Yi knew he hadn’t been clear. He gathered his thoughts and added, "These beastmen... their tribes... they were attacked. Their homes were destroyed, and they could only flee in a panic to seek refuge with nearby tribes."

"Was it the Wandering Beasts?" Bai Wanwan’s first thought was of those ferocious and chaotic packs.

Jin Yi shook his head, his brow tightly furrowed. "No. According to them, they were attacked by other, well-organized tribes of a similar size. And these incidents of entire tribes being destroyed, with survivors scattering and fleeing... it seems like more than one has happened recently."

He paused, his tone growing heavier. "In the past, there were often skirmishes and battles between tribes over prey, territory, or water sources, but they usually showed some restraint. It was rare to see this kind of... attack that bordered on annihilation. Recently, these situations seem to be increasing at an abnormal rate..."

His voice wasn’t loud, but Zhu Xiu, Xin Feng, and Yan Lie, who were walking beside them, all had sharp hearing. They turned to look at him, their expressions turning serious.

Xin Feng mused, "This... is indeed rather peculiar. It reminds me of what Jiao Yin once said about the Crocodylus porosus Clan’s recent behavior being extremely abnormal. His Merfolk Clan and the Crocodylus porosus Clan have always kept to themselves, each occupying their own part of the sea. Even when there was occasional friction, it was always within manageable limits. But recently, the Crocodylus porosus Clan seems to have gone mad, launching frenzied attacks on the Merfolk Territory again and again, regardless of the cost, even while suffering heavy casualties."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Xiu’s eyes. "Different places, but during the same period of time, one after another, these abnormally fierce and reckless tribal conflicts appear..."

Yan Lie also furrowed his brows. "Could there be... some connection behind all this?"

The powerful males exchanged glances, a vague sense of unease rising in all of their hearts.

It was as if an invisible net was slowly being cast, a shadow they had yet to fully grasp silently spreading to every corner of the Beast World Continent.

However, the clues were fragmented, and for the moment, they couldn’t grasp the thread hidden in the depths. All they could feel was an oppressive atmosphere, like the calm before a storm.

Bai Wanwan wrapped her Jue Sha Skirt a little tighter around herself.

The evening breeze seemed to carry a chill with it, weighing heavily on one’s heart.