Chapter 584 - 581: Hua Han Recovers

Chapter 584: Chapter 581: Hua Han Recovers

Outside the stone house, the Leopard Clan’s village, which had just begun to recover, was now in ruins.

Crude shelters had been overturned, and dried meat and animal hides lay scattered on the ground. Wounded Leopard Clan warriors groaned where they had fallen, while other Beastmen formed a human wall, desperately shielding the terrified females and trembling cubs as they retreated toward the safer rear of the village.

The Beastmen controlled by the Dark Energy were now like Fierce Beasts that had been completely unshackled. Their eyes were crimson, their strength and speed had surged far beyond their usual limits, and they felt no pain, fighting with no fear of death.

The Leopard Clan males were holding back. Knowing their kinsmen were merely being controlled, they hesitated to use lethal force, aiming only to subdue rather than kill. But this gave their opponents an opening, and they were wounded one after another, leaving them on the defensive.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the mountain-sized King Cobra swung his massive Snake Tail, sending all the Dark Energy-controlled males who were chasing the Leopard Clan Beastmen flying.

Yin Ze continuously beat his wings, repelling any Beastmen who tried to get near the females and cubs.

Meanwhile, Hua Han and several other males who were already at the Orange Rank had their power greatly enhanced by the Dark Energy, making them exceptionally difficult to handle.

The Beastmen surrounding them were forced to hold back, but they just barely managed to keep them contained.

SPURT...

A Leopard Clan Beastman who got too close was viciously swiped across the chest by Hua Han. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward as the sickening sound of his sternum shattering echoed in the air!

Zhu Xiu turned his head just in time to see it. He held back no longer. His massive Snake Tail rose again and, with the force of a thunderbolt, lashed out, precisely striking the other stubbornly resisting Orange Rank males—all except for Hua Han!

THUD! THUD! THUD!

With a series of dull thuds, the Orange Rank males looked as if they’d been struck by a giant hammer. They coughed up blood, their bones and tendons broken. Instantly losing their ability to fight, they were quickly dragged away and tied up by the nearby Leopard Clan warriors.

Now, only the crazed Hua Han was left on the field, still roaring and struggling.

Zhu Xiu’s enormous snake head turned toward him; he clearly intended to subdue the male himself.

"Give it to me," Zhu Xiu said to a nearby Leopard Clan warrior holding a spare strip of beast hide.

The warrior, stunned by the brutal battle and the cold, murderous aura radiating from Zhu Xiu, froze for a moment. Snapping out of it, he hurriedly tossed the oil-soaked, exceptionally tough strip of beast hide over.

Hua Han seemed to sense the immense threat. His scarlet pupils locked onto Zhu Xiu as he took the initiative and attacked!

He became a crimson afterimage, his sharp claws striking straight for Zhu Xiu’s serpentine eyes.

However, Zhu Xiu was a Red Rank Powerhouse, and the gap in their strength was immense. He dodged the frenzied strike with a simple tilt of his head, his thick Snake Tail toying with Hua Han as it repeatedly parried his wild, chaotic lunges.

When his prolonged assault failed, the frenzied Hua Han switched targets, attempting to charge at the other Leopard Clan warriors who were busy tending to the wounded!

SHRIEK!

A clear, high-pitched cry rang out. Yin Ze, who had been providing support from the air, suddenly dove. His massive wings whipped up a fierce gale, swatting Hua Han as if he were a fly and sending him stumbling right back into Zhu Xiu’s reach.

Zhu Xiu wasn’t going to give him another chance.

Using his absolute advantage in speed and strength, he played a game of cat and mouse, unhurriedly depleting Hua Han’s stamina. He dodged his frenzied claws and teeth while cleverly using his Snake Tail to restrict his movements.

Hua Han’s roars gradually grew hoarse with exhaustion, and his movements slowed considerably.

Finally, after an expert dodge, Zhu Xiu saw his opening. He snatched up the beast hide strip with his tail and, in a flash of lightning, looped, pulled, and wrapped.

The tough strip of beast hide seemed to have a life of its own, instantly coiling around Hua Han’s body and binding him tightly from shoulders to ankles!

ARGH!

Hua Han let out one last, defiant roar before crashing to the ground. His body was tightly bound, leaving only his head free to thrash about uselessly, his scarlet eyes filled with rage and emptiness.

The source of the rampage was finally subdued.

A temporary silence fell over the area, broken only by panting and suppressed groans.

Zhu Xiu’s massive body coiled nearby, his cold, slitted pupils fixed on Hua Han, who was bound tightly and still twitching faintly.

「 」

Inside the house, Xin Feng’s eyes were closed in concentration as he carefully sensed the unprecedented Red Rank power surging within him—a force like a warm current and a raging tempest all at once.

The feeling of power coursing through his meridians lent his usually gentle eyes a new sharpness and confidence.

"Xin Feng, how do you feel?" Bai Wanwan asked with concern, holding his hand.

He opened his eyes, a light seeming to shimmer in their depths. He squeezed her hand back, his smile warm and full of power. "I feel great, Wanwan. Better than ever. Now, I can protect you and the cubs better, just like Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie."

Bai Wanwan looked at the light in his eyes and nodded firmly, her heart filled with relief. "Mhm! With you all here, the cubs and I will be very safe."

Before the words had even left their lips, Hua Han’s familiar yet pain-filled and frenzied roars could be heard clearly from outside.

Bai Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat, and the tension she had just released seized her once more.

She immediately let go of Xin Feng’s hand and, without another word, turned and rushed out the main door.

Xin Feng followed right behind her without a moment’s hesitation, staying by her side like a loyal shadow guard.

The senses of a Red Rank Powerhouse were fully extended, alert for any potential danger.

Bai Wanwan stepped through the door, her eyes quickly sweeping over the chaotic scene. She immediately spotted Hua Han, bound by thick strips of beast hide, still writhing and roaring defiantly on the ground. Coiled nearby was Zhu Xiu, his presence cold and imposing.

The tension in her chest eased slightly.

She immediately raised her voice, her words clear and crisp as she gave orders. "Zhu Xiu, bring Hua Han into our house. Yin Ze, Yan Lie, help tie up all the other controlled Beastmen and take them to where we were holding them before. I’ll be over in a moment to release them from the control."

Zhu Xiu moved at her command. His massive Snake Tail coiled around the tightly bound Hua Han, smoothly carrying him back into the stone house and setting him down on a hide mat in the corner.

Bai Wanwan immediately tried to approach, but Yan Lie instinctively took a step forward, blocking her from Hua Han. His gray eyes were filled with worry. "Wanwan, don’t get too close yet. Those hide strips might not hold him for long. He’s completely lost his mind right now and is extremely dangerous."

Bai Wanwan shook her head gently. Her gaze fell upon Hua Han on the mat. Even though he was bound, he was still glaring at her with hollow scarlet eyes, a threatening growl rumbling in his throat.

"Let me through, Yan Lie."

She gently pushed aside Yan Lie’s restraining arm and walked over to Hua Han’s side. Under Zhu Xiu’s vigilant guard, she slowly knelt.