Chapter 554 - 551: Finally Found

Chapter 554: Chapter 551: Finally Found

"Wanwan, are you ready? We can leave now," came Xin Feng’s gentle voice.

"I’m ready!" Bai Wanwan replied, waving goodbye as Shuang Hua hurried her along.

With a tacit understanding, Yan Lie bent down and transformed into a majestic, giant Snow Leopard, his fur as white as snow and gleaming in the sunlight.

Bai Wanwan nimbly sat sideways on the Snow Leopard’s broad, soft back, wrapping her arms around his strong, warm neck.

"Hold on tight, Wanwan," Yan Lie’s deep voice rumbled.

"Let’s go!" Zhu Xiu gave the order and was the first to glide out, following the trail of special markers Yin Ze had left the night before.

Xin Feng followed closely, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.

With Bai Wanwan on his back, Yan Lie pushed off with all four paws, his form a flash of white lightning as he leaped forward. He followed steadily from the rear, his pace incredibly fast yet exceptionally smooth.

Following the clues Yin Ze had left, they sped off toward the unknown, soon vanishing into the dense forest outside the tribe.

Under the tight protection of her Beast Husbands, Bai Wanwan traveled through the dense, primitive jungle.

Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky. Only scattered patches of light filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the lichen and moss below.

The air was filled with the mixed scents of earth, decaying leaves, and some unknown wildflower.

A night and a full day had passed, and Bai Wanwan was still on edge. She didn’t know if Yin Ze had found Hua Han, let alone what condition he was in.

She could only try her best to calm herself and suppress her burning anxiety.

They hurried on their way, barely stopping to rest.

Zhu Xiu’s Snake Tail navigated the complex terrain with ease, clearing the most efficient path. Relying on the agility of the Wolf Clan, Xin Feng frequently leaped to high vantage points to confirm their direction and watch for danger. Meanwhile, Yan Lie carried Bai Wanwan steadily, his powerful endurance as a Snow Leopard ensuring they kept up their pace.

Even so, it took them nearly two days of following the increasingly fresh markers left by Yin Ze to finally reach a small, extremely secluded settlement hidden in a mountain hollow.

The clan was very small. Their stone huts were low and crude, and there weren’t many Beastmen in sight.

Their attire was clearly different from that of the Tiger Clan Tribe, appearing more primitive and crude—even more so than the Cat Clan’s had been.

Upon seeing Bai Wanwan’s party—whose powerful auras marked them as outsiders from a strong tribe—the local Beastmen’s faces filled with panic and fear. They scattered like frightened animals, ducking into their huts or hiding behind trees, daring only to peek out at the newcomers.

Xin Feng reverted to his human form and took a few steps forward. He made his expression and tone as friendly and harmless as possible, addressing an old Beastman hiding behind a stone hut. "Excuse me. We mean no harm. We just want to ask—have any unfamiliar male Beastmen appeared near your clan in the last few days?"

They had followed the trail all this way, and it was somewhere near here that the tracks disappeared.

Most of the Beastmen continued to shrink away, not daring to answer.

Xin Feng waited patiently, his gaze gentle.

After a good while, a young male Beastman, his face showing more curiosity than fear, cautiously pointed toward the back of the settlement. "You... you could ask over there," he said in a low voice. "I think I heard that Ah Lo, a female, found a male outside a few days ago. He was... badly injured."

When Bai Wanwan heard this, it was as if she’d seen a glimmer of light in the darkness.

But then, she registered what he’d said about the male being badly injured.

She quickly slid off Yan Lie’s back and hurried on foot in the direction the young Beastman had indicated.

The settlement was tiny; you could nearly see from one end to the other at a glance.

"Slow down, Wanwan," Zhu Xiu cautioned from behind her, his Snake Tail slithering as he silently kept pace.

Yan Lie and Xin Feng immediately moved to flank her, one on her left and one on her right, like her most loyal guards. They protected her in the middle while warily eyeing the local Beastmen, whose gazes were still filled with fear and curiosity.

"Don’t worry," Xin Feng soothed in a low voice. "We made it here, and Yin Ze’s latest marker was nearby, so he has to be here. With him around, Hua Han couldn’t have gone far, and he’ll be fine."

Just as he said that, a familiar figure emerged from behind a low stone hut up ahead—it was Yin Ze!

"Yin Ze!" Bai Wanwan shouted happily, waving as she picked up her pace.

Yin Ze heard his name and spun around. A flicker of surprise crossed his ice-blue eyes before he hurried over to steady Bai Wanwan, who was slightly out of breath from her rush.

"Wanwan? How did you all get here so quickly? I’ve found Hua Han. I was planning to bring him back after his condition stabilized a bit."

"You found him? He’s really here?" Bai Wanwan grabbed Yin Ze’s arm, desperate for confirmation.

"Yes, he’s inside." Yin Ze nodded, gesturing toward the entrance of a nearby cave, which looked even cruder than the stone huts. "Follow me."

He turned to lead the way, and Bai Wanwan immediately hurried to keep up.

However, Yin Ze’s steps seemed heavy. He turned his head slightly, his voice low and grave. "But, Wanwan, Hua Han’s condition... is a little strange. You need to be prepared."

Bai Wanwan stopped short, her heart clenching as if squeezed by an invisible hand.

She turned her head and stared intently at Yin Ze. "Strange? What do you mean strange? Is he badly injured?"

’As long as he’s still breathing, I can save him.’

Yin Ze pursed his lips, seeming to choose his words carefully before deciding to be direct. "I’ve checked his external wounds; they’re healing and not life-threatening. But... he doesn’t seem... to recognize me. He doesn’t respond to any of my questions. It’s like... he’s completely forgotten everything."

’He doesn’t recognize him?’

’Amnesia?’

Bai Wanwan’s heart sank. ’Could it be that Hua Han suffered a serious head injury and lost his memory, just like I did?’

All sorts of terrible possibilities flooded her mind.

"Just take me to see him," she said, trying her best to remain calm.

Yin Ze grunted in agreement and said no more, quickening his pace. He led her and the closely following Zhu Xiu, Yan Lie, and Xin Feng to the mouth of the cave.

A female Beastman was standing at the entrance to the cave.

She had healthy, honey-colored skin and wore a crudely sewn Beast Skin Skirt. When she saw Yin Ze return, a bright, enthusiastic smile lit up her face. "Yin Ze, you’re back!" she called out happily. "I was just about to..."

But before she could finish, her eyes fell on the person behind Yin Ze: the stunningly beautiful Bai Wanwan, with her extraordinary air, followed by several male strangers who radiated immense power.