Chapter 612 - 609: Accident

Chapter 612: Chapter 609: Accident

"Us?"

"Yes. But I don’t think it’s safe out there. I’ll go by myself. You should stay in the settlement."

Bai Wanwan agreed. Although things seemed peaceful on the surface lately, the hidden dangers hadn’t been eliminated. She didn’t think it was truly safe outside.

Chou Rong was a Red Rank Powerhouse, but their enemies seemed to have quite a few Red Rank Powerhouses of their own.

She frowned slightly, and after a moment of thought, she asked, "When?"

"It’s still a ways off. I can wait until you’ve given birth to this cub before I leave."

Bai Wanwan nodded. If there was still time, they could plan things out carefully.

***

In the days that followed, Jiao Yuan was completely immersed in the joy of doting on his grandchildren.

When he saw—and identified one by one—Bai Wanwan’s dozens of lively and adorable cubs of all different fur colors, the Flood Dragon Clan Leader, who had seen it all, could barely contain his grin. His usually stern face was now constantly plastered with an almost foolish smile.

One moment, he was lifting a chubby leopard cub high into the air; the next, he was carefully placing the little mermaid baby in the water for a soak; and then he was teasing the Little Phoenix cub with a strange, glowing seashell...

His meticulously styled hair was often messed up by the mischievous little ones, but he didn’t mind in the least.

He had originally planned to stay for only a few days, but now he had thrown all clan business to the back of his mind. He was so happy he never wanted to leave and had no intention of even bringing up the subject of returning.

Six or seven days passed in a flash. News from the outside world trickled in, suggesting that the chaos that had swept the continent had truly and completely subsided.

Many of the small and medium-sized Beastman tribes that had sought refuge with the Tiger Clan were growing restless, their thoughts turning to returning home and rebuilding.

One day, Yan Lie returned from a hunt with a worried look on his face. He found Bai Wanwan to discuss the matter. "Wanwan, my Father Beast and the others see that it’s safe outside now. They’re planning to take our clansmen back to our original territory in the next day or two to start rebuilding. But I... I just have a bad feeling about it. What do you think?"

Bai Wanwan was organizing the cubs’ toys. She paused at his words and looked up at him, her gaze clear and calm. "I feel the same way you do. This peace came too suddenly, too completely. It’s unsettling. The Beastmen controlled by the Dark Energy wouldn’t have just vanished into thin air. The real crisis might not have even fully erupted yet. Why don’t you... try to persuade your Father Beast and the others to stay a while longer? We should wait and see how things develop. Their safety is more important than anything."

Yan Lie nodded emphatically. "Okay! I’ll go make it clear to them right now."

Having her backing gave him more confidence to persuade his clansmen.

Just as Yan Lie left, Jiao Yuan walked in from another room, carrying the little mermaid baby who was most attached to him. His movements were skilled and gentle, practiced over the past few days.

He looked at Bai Wanwan, his tone questioning. "Wanwan, the cub seems a little hungry. He should be able to try some meat now. I’ll go get him some of the tenderest fish to eat. Is that okay?"

Although he thought it was perfectly fine, he deferred to his daughter’s opinion on everything.

Seeing him clumsily yet sincerely try to fit in and care for the cubs during their time together had, without her realizing it, eased the tension between Bai Wanwan and him, and their relationship had grown much closer.

This rare warmth also made Jiao Yuan cherish their time together even more, making him reluctant to leave.

"Okay, but just a little," Bai Wanwan instructed carefully.

"Don’t worry!"

Having received permission, Jiao Yuan’s face lit up with a smile. He headed for the kitchen, holding the cooing mermaid baby.

Bai Wanwan, in turn, went downstairs, planning to go into the courtyard to bring in the blankets and clothes that had been drying.

Just as she reached the door, she ran into Shuang Hua, who had come for a visit.

"Wanwan," Shuang Hua said with a smile, holding out a small stone jar. "These are sweet berries that Qiu Gang brought back from the forest. They looked so fresh that I made them into jam. I brought some for you. The cubs should like it."

Bai Wanwan quickly took it, and upon opening the jar and smelling the sweet, rich aroma, a genuine smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Aunt Shuang. You’re always thinking of us. You’re so skilled; it smells delicious."

Shuang Hua smiled gently. Her gaze drifted past Bai Wanwan’s shoulder, and she caught sight of Jiao Yuan inside, holding the mermaid baby and intently preparing food.

Her expression flickered, and with a hint of almost imperceptible emotion in her voice, she said quietly, "He really is fond of your cubs."

"Yes," Bai Wanwan said, glancing back as well, her tone calm. "The cubs like him too. They’re very close with him."

Because he was genuinely good to the cubs, Bai Wanwan was now a little warmer toward him.

"Aunt Shuang, please come in and sit for a while."

But Shuang Hua immediately shook her head. Her smile was still gentle, but her decision was firm. "No, I just came to drop this off. I should be getting back."

’I don’t want to run into Jiao Yuan,’ she thought. ’I’ve seen enough of him in the past.’

"You should get some rest, too. Aunt Shuang will come see you again tomorrow."

With that, she turned and left with a calm and unhurried gait.

A few more days passed in the blink of an eye. Bai Wanwan’s baby bump was now high and prominent, like she was carrying a round, ripe fruit.

This sent the Father Beast, who had only just managed to ease the tension with his daughter, into an unprecedented state of high alert.

He watched over Bai Wanwan practically every second, his cautiousness making it seem as if she were made of fragile glass.

He blocked all the other Beast Husbands who tried to take the opportunity to get close to Wanwan, leading to a chorus of complaints from the males, who were nevertheless helpless against him.

The sun was bright and warm that day, so Bai Wanwan quickly said to Hua Han, who was beside her, "Hua Han, come take a walk with me outside."

Hua Han’s peach blossom eyes immediately curved into a smile. He answered without hesitation, "Of course. Where do you want to go? I’ll go with you."

However, the moment the words left his mouth, Jiao Yuan, who had been sitting by the window with his eyes seemingly closed in rest, shot to his feet with a SWISH. He strode over to Bai Wanwan in a few large steps, his eyes filled with worry. "Wanwan, you’re about to give birth. You should rest at home. What if... what if you trip and fall..."

He stopped mid-sentence and quickly shut his mouth, but the nervous look on his face didn’t fade in the slightest.

Bai Wanwan smiled a little helplessly and reassured him, "Father Beast, please don’t be so nervous. I went through the same thing when I gave birth to the other cubs. A pregnant female can’t stay cooped up in a room all the time. She needs to get out, soak up some sun, and walk around a bit. It’s good for the delivery and for the cub."

’My constitution is special; I could give birth to healthy cubs even if I never saw the sun for years,’ she thought. ’But right now, I’m just craving the fresh air and open space outside.’

With that said, she simply stood up and started walking out.

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade her, how could Jiao Yuan possibly rest easy?

He immediately declared, "Then Father Beast will go with you!"

And so, with Hua Han on her left and Jiao Yuan on her right, the two flanked Bai Wanwan like a pair of loyal guardian deities, cautiously escorting her out the door.

The air outside the settlement carried the crispness of autumn, and the temperature was perfect for the pregnant Bai Wanwan.

Looking at the rolling mountains in the distance and the orderly scene within the settlement, she felt her spirits lift and her heart fill with joy. She found herself growing more and more fond of this land she was gradually coming to know.

However, just as they were taking a leisurely stroll past the Cub Garden, disaster struck!