Chapter 66: Fishing in Troubled Waters

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Fishing in Troubled Waters

She decided to play dumb for now. She couldn’t just confess.

"What on earth are you talking about? I don’t really understand."

Chou Rong’s hand slid to her vulnerable neck. He caressed it gently, but the touch was filled with deadly peril.

"You were the female from that night, right?"

’So he really found out...’

She swallowed dryly, forcing herself to stay calm. "Could you be a bit more specific?"

Seeing her still trying to cover it up, Chou Rong snorted in anger. He pointed a hand toward the cubs in the corner. "You gave me four cubs. Is that clear enough for you?"

Bai Wanwan’s eyes went wide. "Four? How do you know? Do you know where the other tiger cub is?"

At the mention of this, Chou Rong’s lips tightened. If he hadn’t gone back then, he never would have known he even had cubs. That one would have been buried forever in the snow.

"You know where it is, don’t you?"

Bai Wanwan forgot all about pretending and grabbed Chou Rong’s arm, demanding an answer.

"I found it in the snow." Chou Rong’s voice was cold.

Bai Wanwan pressed excitedly, "How is it now? Is it safe?"

"Not very safe." He looked down, scrutinizing her face.

"Then why did you come to Wandering Beast City? Where did you put it?"

When it came to her cub, Bai Wanwan’s genuine worry and anxiety were written all over her face.

Once he confirmed her worry wasn’t an act, he forced down the wildfire of his anger.

"If you want to know where it is, you’ll find out after you leave with me."

It dawned on Bai Wanwan, and she asked him directly, "You came to Wandering Beast City for me?"

Unless exiled from their tribes, males were generally unwilling to associate with Wandering Beasts.

In a normal tribe, any association with Wandering Beasts was a disgrace.

And for any ordinary male, this place was a veritable lion’s den.

"The cub is still young. It can’t be without its Mother."

This was the reason Chou Rong had given himself for coming to Wandering Beast City.

A flicker of guilt rose in Bai Wanwan’s heart. ’It seems I imagined him to be more terrifying than he is.’

Chou Rong remained silent. After confirming it had been Bai Wanwan, his lost memories of that night slowly started to return.

Before that night, he had seen Bai Wanwan as an incredibly annoying female, someone he did his best to avoid.

But after that night, Bai Wanwan had seemed like a completely different person, a stranger to him.

Now, the Bai Wanwan before him merged with his memory of her from that night, leaving him with a storm of complex emotions.

Bai Wanwan didn’t know what was on his mind, but she was deeply grateful that he had come into this place all alone to save her.

"Thank you! So, do you have a way to get out?"

"I do."

Bai Wanwan’s eyes lit up. "Then let’s go now?"

Chou Rong shook his head. "We can’t leave now. Yin Da would discover us. We only have one chance. Wait for me to make the arrangements, then I’ll get you and the cubs out."

"What’s your plan? Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked, ready to cooperate.

"No need. You just wait for me with the cubs. When the time is right, I’ll come for you."

"Then you have to be careful. The males in Wandering Beast City are controlled by Yin Da and become deformed and hideous. We... should leave as soon as possible."

’I don’t want to stay in this godforsaken place for another day.’

"That won’t happen. I didn’t drink the water he gave me."

"What water?"

Chou Rong didn’t hide anything. "There’s a hidden spring in Wandering Beast City. When a male drinks from it, his power increases dramatically, but he also mutates and falls under Yin Da’s control."

"But if you don’t drink it, you won’t change, and Yin Da will notice right away," Bai Wanwan pointed out.

"Mm. The transformation into a Wandering Beastman happens within three days of drinking the water. That’s why I need to find a chance to get you out within three days."

Chou Rong stood up. "Yin Da doesn’t trust us yet. He has Wandering Beastmen watching our every move, so I can’t be gone for long. Take care of the cubs. Wait for me."

After speaking, Chou Rong turned and walked toward the head of the bed, near the wall.

The cubs were sleeping soundly.

Chou Rong reached in and stroked each of the cubs.

The feeling of this blood connection was wondrous to Chou Rong.

He had never thought about taking a mate, let alone what his own cubs would look like.

The higher a male’s rank, the more difficult it was to produce offspring. Some mated pairs might not have a single litter even after a decade.

But him... after just one time, Bai Wanwan had given him four cubs.

His gaze softened, and he said in a low voice to the cubs, "Wait for your Father Beast to come get you."

Not lingering, he withdrew his hand and quickly stood up.

Bai Wanwan was still leaning on the edge of the bed, watching him. "You should go before the Wandering Beastmen spot you."

"Mm. Wait for me."

With that, Chou Rong vanished silently before Bai Wanwan’s eyes.

Once his figure disappeared, Bai Wanwan lifted the covers and lay back down.

This time, she felt much more relaxed.

Ever since arriving in Wandering Beast City, her special ability had been recharging and wasn’t much use, forcing her to feign compliance day after day.

Scheming against Yin Da every day to ensure her own and her cubs’ safety was exhausting.

Chou Rong’s appearance allowed her to completely let go of her worries. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Bai Wanwan counted the passing time. She thought she’d have to wait two or three days, but a huge commotion erupted on the afternoon of the very next day.

"What’s happening?"

Bai Wanwan called out to a Wandering Beastman passing her doorway.

The Wandering Beastman hurried past without giving her a second glance.

After a short wait, she saw a dozen more Wandering Beasts marching in formation toward a specific direction.

Beastly roars echoed from all over the city, sowing panic and unease.

Since Chou Rong had told her his plan, she suspected this was his doing.

She immediately went back inside, wrapped the cubs in an animal hide, and placed them in a basket. She also tossed in a few strips of meat, just in case they had no time to stop and feed during their escape.

Time trickled by. Chou Rong still hadn’t come, and an uneasy feeling settled in Bai Wanwan’s heart. She began pacing restlessly around the stone house.

******

Zhu Xiu was in his room, restoring his Talent Power, when he suddenly heard chaotic noises outside.

His eyes snapped open. He pushed the door open and went out.

Fires blazed across Wandering Beast City, and the sounds of battle echoed high above it.

"Second-in-command, the City Lord orders you to the west side of the city at once to eliminate those outsider Beastmen."

A red light flickered in Zhu Xiu’s eyes. He gave an imperceptible nod. "You go on ahead. I’ll be right there."

After the Wandering Beastman departed, Zhu Xiu swiftly shifted into his beast form. His humanoid body became long and slender in an instant. He then shot upward, vanishing into the air in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Xiu reappeared beside the pool inside the stone house.

He stared at the pitch-black stone at the bottom of the pool, his eyes gleaming with resolve.

The King Cobra plunged headfirst into the pool. His Talent Power began to drain away rapidly.

His objective was clear as he dove toward the very bottom.

The black Crystal Stone emitted a faint glow, drawing the King Cobra closer.

Finally, he reached the bottom.

He circled the black Crystal Stone twice, then Zhu Xiu opened his jaws and bit down on it...