Chapter 621 - 618: The Eve of Departure

Chapter 621: Chapter 618: The Eve of Departure

He delayed no longer, striding toward Shuang Hua’s stone house.

From a distance, he could see figures bustling about in the clearing in front of Shuang Hua’s house. Wanwan was with Hua Han, helping Shuang Hua process a pile of beast meat and berries.

And Shuang Hua’s home, just like the last few times he had visited, showed no lasting signs of a male’s presence.

Seeing Bai Wanwan also getting her hands dirty, Jiao Yuan instinctively wanted to go over and help.

He had just picked up a hide that needed skinning when, before he could do anything, a hand reached out from the side. It was the male named Qiu Gang.

"Let me," Qiu Gang’s voice was quiet but firm as he reached for the hide.

Almost by reflex, Jiao Yuan’s wrist tensed. He gripped the hide tightly, his tone carrying the authority of a superior. "There’s no need. I’ll do it."

As the Flood Dragon Clan Leader, he naturally exuded a powerful, oppressive aura.

However, Qiu Gang didn’t shrink back from his presence. His hand remained on the hide, a silent expression of his persistence.

Jiao Yuan’s brow furrowed at once, a strange fire of irritation flaring up in his heart.

’What right does this plain-looking, unremarkable male have to appear by Shuang Hua’s side time and time again?’

His eyes darkened. The formidable aura of a Red Rank Powerhouse erupted from him, no longer restrained, crashing toward Qiu Gang like an invisible tide.

The two males faced off. One was majestic and handsome, with an intimidating presence; the other was ordinary in appearance, yet refused to yield an inch.

Over a single animal hide, they were locked in a tense standoff right at Shuang Hua’s door. The very air seemed to freeze.

Shuang Hua was already displeased by Jiao Yuan’s arrival, only managing to endure it because Wanwan was present.

When she saw him releasing his oppressive aura on her own turf—and against Qiu Gang, who had been quietly helping her all this time—the dissatisfaction simmering within her instantly ignited.

She shot to her feet and strode over to Jiao Yuan, her expression grim.

Seeing her approach, Jiao Yuan assumed she was coming to mediate. He instinctively began to retract his aura to avoid frightening her, also hoping to use this chance to say a few words and ease the tension between them.

However, before he could speak, Shuang Hua’s cold voice rang out, laced with obvious distance. "Let go."

Her gaze fell on the hand Jiao Yuan used to grip the hide. "I don’t need your help here. Qiu Gang is the one who usually does this work."

Her words drew a clear line, making it plain who was needed here.

Hearing Shuang Hua personally confirm that he was the one who usually did these chores, Qiu Gang couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning up in a simple, satisfied smile.

Jiao Yuan froze for a moment, and in that instant, Qiu Gang took the hide back.

He could only watch as Qiu Gang carried the hide to the side and began skillfully processing it. As for Shuang Hua... from beginning to end, her gaze didn’t linger on him for a single second, as if he were a completely superfluous presence.

The emptiness in his hands, combined with Shuang Hua’s icy attitude, was like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, the chill seeping straight to his heart.

He watched Shuang Hua’s back as she turned to leave after speaking. An indescribable emotion seized him, and he couldn’t help but blurt out, his voice tinged with a harshness he himself didn’t recognize.

"Shuang Hua," he called out to her. "Are you... avoiding me?"

Shuang Hua’s steps halted. She turned halfway to look at him, her eyes as calm and rippleless as a deep, cold pond in late autumn.

"It’s good that you understand." Her voice remained flat, but every word was clear and piercing, like an Ice Cone. "You come to the Tiger Clan to see Wanwan, and I can’t stop you. But I hope that from now on, you won’t appear near my home again."

Don’t appear near my home again...

Those words were like a red-hot needle, precisely piercing the softest part of Jiao Yuan’s heart, bringing a sharp, lingering pain.

He stared blankly as Shuang Hua turned away without a second thought, returning to Wanwan’s side to continue her work, as if he were merely an insignificant passerby.

’Why does this hurt so much?’

Jiao Yuan thought, bewildered.

They had grown up together, chasing each other playfully through the clan, sharing secrets. They had once been partners who could talk about anything.

Even though they had grown distant and cold for various reasons after growing up, it had never been like this...

Shuang Hua’s eyes held a repulsion that bordered on disgust.

Thinking that he might rarely see her again in the future, and that even if they did meet, she would treat him just like any other unfamiliar male...

An unprecedented, immense sense of loss washed over his heart.

He stood rooted to the spot, watching that busy, resolute back.

For the first time, he clearly realized that some things, perhaps, had already been completely lost while he wasn’t paying attention.

Jiao Yuan silently walked over to Bai Wanwan. His tall figure cast a long shadow in the setting sun, exuding an unspeakable loneliness.

Bai Wanwan watched him from the corner of her eye and sighed softly to herself.

She quickened her pace, deftly finishing the last of the chores before dusting off her hands.

"Aunt Shuang, Uncle Qiu Gang, we’re done here, so we’ll be heading back now." Her voice was bright as she smiled and bid them farewell.

Shuang Hua looked up and gave her a gentle smile. "Wanwan, thank you for your hard work. Go on back and get some rest."

Her gaze swept past Bai Wanwan and paused for a fleeting moment on Jiao Yuan behind her, her smile tightening slightly.

Just then, Qiu Gang, who was moving stones nearby, lost his grip and nearly dropped one on his foot.

Shuang Hua walked over with a worried expression. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

Qiu Gang shook his head, his face flushing red. ’I’m so useless, making a mistake on such a small task.’

But the female didn’t seem to mind, only caring if he was hurt.

Jiao Yuan watched all this happen. His Adam’s apple bobbed, but in the end, he said nothing, merely retracting his gaze in silence.

Bai Wanwan took it all in. Not lingering any longer, she tugged on Jiao Yuan’s sleeve and said softly, "Father Beast, let’s go."

"Mm," Jiao Yuan grunted in acknowledgment, turning to follow his cub’s steps.

The atmosphere on the way back was a bit heavy.

Even though Hua Han chattered with Bai Wanwan from time to time, the low pressure emanating from Jiao Yuan was too palpable.

It wasn’t until they were almost back at their temporary cave that Jiao Yuan seemed to snap out of his own world, his pace slowing slightly.

Bai Wanwan felt it was time to get down to business.

She stopped and turned to Jiao Yuan. "Father Beast, Chou Rong and I are leaving the clan in a couple of days. Will you be returning to our own clan, or will you stay here for a while?"

Hearing this, Jiao Yuan barely hesitated.

He looked up, the confusion in his eyes fading, replaced by a deep and resolute fatherly love.

"Do you have to go?"

"Yes." The single word made it clear she wouldn’t change her decision.

He looked at his cub and sighed. "If you’re gone, I’ll have to watch over the little ones myself. I’ll stay for a while longer."

She’d never had a father, but through the Father Beast of this body’s previous owner, she was starting to feel that paternal love.

"Okay, then I’ll have to trouble you with the little ones. We’ll be back as soon as we can."