Chapter 557 - 554: Primitive Instinct

Chapter 557: Chapter 554: Primitive Instinct

Ah Lo looked into Bai Wanwan’s sincere, forthright eyes, then glanced at Hua Han, who was completely unresponsive to her, his entire being clinging to Bai Wanwan. Her heart filled with a sense of helplessness.

She choked back a sob and shook her head. "I... I don’t have any other wishes."

’What other wish could she have?’

When she first found this male by the river, so handsome he made her heart stop, she thought she had struck gold.

Her tribe was too small and remote. She had never seen such a handsome, tall male.

She had fallen for him almost instantly, wanting to hide him away and make him her Beast Husband.

Even after discovering he wasn’t in his right mind, she had cared for him patiently, fantasizing that he would slowly come to accept her...

But the sweet dream hadn’t even begun before his true mate showed up—a Holy Female who was beautiful, powerful, and possessed an imposing aura.

’What could she possibly use to compete?’

"It’s alright," Bai Wanwan’s voice was still gentle but carried the weight of a promise. "A Beastman’s life is very long, and I always keep my word. If you ever need help in the future, you can come to the Tiger Clan Tribe to find me. I’m Bai Wanwan. This promise stands forever."

After speaking, Bai Wanwan gave her a friendly and sincere smile. "It’s getting late. You should go back and get some rest. And thank you, again."

Ah Lo stood rooted to the spot, watching as Bai Wanwan gently guided Hua Han and turned toward the newly assigned stone house.

She watched as Hua Han, a male so tall and straight-backed, subconsciously hunched over slightly, shielding the petite, slender female beside him as he followed her away in a posture of absolute protection.

She knew then that she had lost, completely and utterly.

It wasn’t because the other side had overwhelming numbers, nor was it because of her status. It was because from start to finish, even after losing all his memories, the male’s gaze had never once truly left the female named Bai Wanwan.

After such an ordeal, on top of days of travel and emotional turmoil, Bai Wanwan felt a profound exhaustion, her eyelids growing heavy.

Xin Feng, keenly aware of her exhaustion, came over and urged her in a low voice, "Wanwan, go inside and get some rest. We’ll stand guard out here and keep a close eye on Hua Han."

Bai Wanwan glanced at Hua Han, who was still clutching her hand tightly with a dependent gaze, and shook her head. "It’s fine. I’ll stay here and rest with him. You’ve all had a hard journey for the past two days, you should take turns resting too."

The three males exchanged a look and conferred for a moment.

Ultimately, they decided that Zhu Xiu would stay in the stone house to guard Bai Wanwan and the unpredictable Hua Han, while Yan Lie and Xin Feng would go rest in the adjacent house and they would rotate the watch.

"Zhu Xiu, there’s no extra space to sleep in here. I’ll be fine. Why don’t you go rest with Xin Feng and Yan Lie?"

Bai Wanwan glanced at the simple furnishings inside—just a single stone bed and a few stone stools—and couldn’t help but try to persuade him.

"No," Zhu Xiu refused flatly, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly calm but volatile Hua Han. "We don’t fully understand his condition. His power is considerable. What if he suddenly loses control, or if there are any lingering effects from the Dark Energy? What if he hurts you?"

He walked to the window, pulled a stone stool over, and sat down. His tall, straight figure was like a silent guardian. "Don’t worry about me. I can go days without sleep. Just rest."

A warmth spread through Bai Wanwan’s heart, and she no longer insisted.

She took her usual soft cotton batting, clean sheets, and pillow from her System Space. With practiced motions, she made the stone bed, doing her best to create a comfortable and cozy resting environment.

Once everything was arranged, she turned to find Hua Han still standing quietly nearby, his gaze tracking her every move like a big, bewildered, yet loyal dog.

Her heart softened. She walked over and said gently, "Come, let’s get these dirty clothes off. It’s time for bed."

She moved closer, proactively reaching out to unfasten the rough, tattered animal-hide tunic he wore, which was stained with mud and blood.

This close, she could clearly smell the unpleasant odor clinging to him—a mixture of sweat, medicinal herbs, and the scent of having gone a long time without a proper wash.

She pressed her lips together, her movements pausing for only a fraction of a second before she continued to help him undress.

’Hua Han is usually so meticulous, even a bit of a neat freak. He loves keeping himself perfectly clean, his fur groomed until it’s sleek and shiny.’

’If he hadn’t been so grievously injured and lost his senses, he would never, ever tolerate being in such a state.’

Inside the stone house, Xin Feng had thoughtfully prepared a stone basin with clean water and a washcloth.

Bai Wanwan had already briefly washed up. Now, she wrung the cloth out and began to carefully and gently wipe Hua Han’s face, neck, and arms.

Hua Han stood as motionless as a soulless puppet, letting her tend to him.

When the cool, damp cloth touched his skin, his eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly. His perpetually vacant gaze seemed to waver, showing the faintest flicker of change.

Bai Wanwan didn’t notice this subtle change; she was focused on cleaning him, hoping to make him more comfortable.

As she continued to wipe him down, she suddenly sensed a change.

She quickly looked up, her eyes meeting Hua Han’s.

He was no longer staring blankly into the void. Instead... he was staring directly at her. There was something new in his eyes—a chaotic focus, and even... a trace of primitive desire that he himself likely didn’t understand.

Bai Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. She spoke softly, tentatively. "You’re all clean now. Let’s get into bed and sleep, okay?"

With Zhu Xiu sitting nearby like a sentinel, watching them, she still felt a little uncomfortable.

Even though they were all her Beast Husbands, she still felt awkward being intimate with one while a third person was present.

Hua Han didn’t answer, but he obediently followed her to the bed and lay down.

But after they lay down, the space between them began to shrink as Hua Han unconsciously shifted closer and closer.

...Until one of his arms circled her waist, and... she could clearly feel an obvious change and a searing heat from a certain part of his body.

Bai Wanwan shifted her body slightly, trying to move away.

"Don’t... don’t fidget. You’re still hurt, you need to rest..."

Her voice was quiet, but it sounded crystal clear in the silent stone house.

Sitting by the window, Zhu Xiu immediately shot them an icy glare. His voice was flat. "Wanwan, if he’s bothering you or misbehaving, I’ll haul him over to Xin Feng’s right now."

"There’s no need," Bai Wanwan said, stopping him, feeling a bit awkward. "He... he doesn’t understand anything right now. It’s just... just instinct... I’ll calm him down. It’s fine."

Only then did Zhu Xiu resettle in his seat with a frown, but the wariness in his gaze did not diminish in the slightest.

However, just as Bai Wanwan tried to soothe Hua Han once more and get him to sleep, the hand around her waist began to wander. It moved clumsily but persistently across her waist and back, an awkward yet stubborn exploration.