Chapter 78: Chou Rong’s Past

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Chou Rong’s Past

"Chou Rong, who is this?"

Aunt Lu walked out of the house, pushing aside Chou Rong, who was blocking Bai Wanwan.

Chou Rong sighed in resignation and stepped aside.

Aunt Lu grabbed Bai Wanwan’s hand and studied her carefully. "You’re the tiger cub’s Mother, am I right?"

It was easy to take a liking to someone who was so openly kind.

Bai Wanwan was no exception, and a smile spread across her face. "Yes, I’m the tiger cub’s Mother."

Having received her confirmation, Aunt Lu reached out her other hand and grabbed Chou Rong. "Now that you have a female and a cub, your Father Beast will certainly be happy for you."

Bai Wanwan glanced at Chou Rong and noticed that on his usually expressionless face, his lips were pressed into a tight line.

Aunt Lu noticed his mood as well and sighed.

"What’s past is past, Chou Rong. You have to look forward. You have to take good care of your female and cub."

Bai Wanwan quickly tried to explain, "Aunt Lu, he and I..."

But before she could finish, Aunt Lu placed her hand on top of Chou Rong’s.

Her face was kind, her eyes crinkling when she smiled. She looked at the two of them as if they were her own cubs.

"From now on... you two must live a good life together."

Bai Wanwan felt a bit awkward. She and Chou Rong knew best what their relationship really was.

’We aren’t partners, what kind of life are we supposed to live together?’

She peeked at Chou Rong, hoping he would explain, but when she looked up, she found him staring right at her.

She quickly blinked at him, but Chou Rong just kept staring without saying a word.

She then tickled his palm with her finger where their hands were pressed together.

But all her little gestures were completely lost on him; Chou Rong didn’t react at all.

Aunt Lu, however, saw everything clearly. Mistaking it for a bit of playful affection between two young beastmen, she smiled and patted the backs of their hands. "Seeing you two like this, Chou Rong’s Father Beast would be overjoyed if he knew."

Bai Wanwan forced a smile and nodded awkwardly.

Suddenly, the sound of a cub came from inside. Bai Wanwan’s attention was immediately drawn away, her gaze passing over Aunt Lu toward the stone house.

The tiger cub ran to the doorway for a glimpse, but before Bai Wanwan could get a clear look, it was gone again.

Aunt Lu chuckled and pulled her hands back. "Oh, I got so caught up in talking that I forgot. Quick, come in."

Bai Wanwan’s heart raced with excitement. The moment Aunt Lu stepped aside, she pulled her hand away from Chou Rong’s and walked quickly inside.

The other cubs in the basket heard their brother’s voice and all stood up straight, jumping about excitedly inside.

Chou Rong stood at the door, looking down at his hand. After staring for a moment, he curled his fingers into a tight fist.

"Tiger cub, come here. Your Mother is here."

The tiger cub could already understand some simple words. It circled Bai Wanwan curiously three times, then twitched its nose.

Seemingly recognizing her familiar scent, it suddenly pounced and hugged Bai Wanwan’s leg, beginning to nuzzle her affectionately with its head.

’This really is the cub I gave birth to. Even after so many days apart, he still recognizes me.’

Watching its adorable nuzzling, Bai Wanwan’s heart nearly melted.

She immediately set the basket on the ground and picked up the tiger cub with both hands.

The moment the tiger cub was in her arms, it started wagging its tail excitedly.

The other cubs clambered out of the basket, and smelling their sibling, they all climbed onto Bai Wanwan, piling on top of their brother in a playful heap.

Bai Wanwan burst into delighted laughter, kissing one and then hugging another.

Watching from beside Chou Rong, Aunt Lu’s eyes grew red. She turned to him and said, "Chou Rong, you have better taste than your Father Beast. You’ve found a good female. Seeing how good she is to the cubs, you two will surely be very happy in the future."

Chou Rong’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Wanwan. The scene reminded him of his own childhood.

Aunt Lu was right. Regardless of what Bai Wanwan might have been like before, she was indeed a good Mother.

’My cub is fortunate, having come from her belly.’

Aunt Lu also sensed that something was off between Chou Rong and Bai Wanwan. She tugged on Chou Rong’s arm. "Is there something going on between you two? I think that if there’s a misunderstanding, you must clear it up. If you miss out on such a good female, you’ll definitely regret it later."

"Aunt Lu, you know I still have things to do," Chou Rong said, pulling his gaze away from Bai Wanwan.

Aunt Lu’s brow tightened. "Must you insist on doing those dangerous things? You have a female and a cub now. You have a responsibility to care for them. If something happens to you..."

Aunt Lu couldn’t continue. "All of that is in the past, Chou Rong. Just live a good life."

’Live a good life...’

Chou Rong lowered his gaze. ’I don’t have the right to live a good life, and Bai Wanwan isn’t my female.’

Bai Wanwan’s heart and eyes were filled with her cubs. She was happily playing with them when she looked up and realized Chou Rong and Aunt Lu were gone.

Turning her head to look, she saw Chou Rong standing outside the main gate.

The snow had stopped, but it was still thick on the ground. He stood as if he couldn’t feel the cold at all.

He stood motionless in the snow.

Aunt Lu soon came out from an inner room, holding a stone basin filled with fresh meat.

"Come, come, time to eat. You must be hungry after traveling so far."

Bai Wanwan wasn’t hungry; the sight of raw meat was enough to make her feel full.

But the cubs pounced on it excitedly. The two little Cat Cubs even scrambled over the rim and into the basin to feast.

"Look at that, the cubs are starving."

Aunt Lu gently stroked a Cat Cub’s head. "Eat up. Eat and grow up big and strong."

Bai Wanwan glanced at Chou Rong outside and asked Aunt Lu in a low voice, "Aunt Lu, can you tell me about Chou Rong?"

Aunt Lu was a bit surprised. "He hasn’t told you?"

Bai Wanwan smiled and nodded. "No, he’s never told me anything."

Aunt Lu looked at her, then shook her head after a long moment. "If he doesn’t want to tell you, it’s because he wants to spare you the worry. In that case, I can’t tell you either. But don’t worry about him. Chou Rong’s Talent is powerful. He’ll protect you and the cubs."

＊＊＊＊＊＊

「Elsewhere」

Zhu Xiu and Yin Da were nothing but a pair of blurred afterimages.

Xin Feng wanted to go forward and help, but his Talent Power was slightly weaker. He couldn’t keep up with their speed and could easily end up hurting his ally by mistake.

All he could do was stand by and wait anxiously.

Snow kicked up from the plains flew through the air as the sky grew darker and darker.

Suddenly, Yin Da was flung away. When he landed, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood, staining the snow-covered ground.

Yin Da didn’t even dare to pause. He immediately flipped over and scrambled to his feet, staggering as he tried to flee for his life.

But a black shadow rapidly coiled around him.

"AH! Zhu Xiu, I surrender! Can’t you just let me go?"

Yin Da had already realized the terror of Zhu Xiu’s power. If the fight continued, only death awaited him.

Seeing that Zhu Xiu remained silent, he struggled, trying to escape.

But the King Cobra opened its beastly maw and bit down on his abdomen.

In an instant, the life of the king of Wandering Beast City was extinguished.

Xin Feng watched this from a distance, shocked to his core by Zhu Xiu’s power.

Just as he started to approach Zhu Xiu, the King Cobra suddenly turned its gaze. Its long tongue flicked out, and its scarlet eyes locked onto him, filled with bloodthirsty cruelty.