Chapter 135: Framing Her

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Framing Her

Bai Wanwan’s sleep was not peaceful; it was as if she were trapped in a nightmare.

She dreamed that Zhu Xiu had been consumed by the Dark Curse, turning completely into a mindless beast of slaughter. He relentlessly chased her and the cubs, finally opening his massive, bestial maw and devouring them all...

"Wanwan..."

Her heart pounded with fright, but then she heard a gentle, warm voice, like a hot spring washing away the terror of her nightmare.

It was Xin Feng...

Upon this realization, she slowly regained consciousness.

A thin layer of sweat still coated her forehead. Seeing Xin Feng’s handsome face, magnified and filled with concern, she managed a dazed smile.

"It was just a nightmare, thank goodness..."

The dark terror of that moment of being devoured had felt so real that she now felt a sense of relief and surprise, like she’d survived a disaster.

"Did Zhu Xiu go up the mountain?" She sat up, letting Xin Feng help her.

When Xin Feng didn’t answer, she turned to him with a suspicious look. "Hmm? Are you hiding something from me?"

Xin Feng pursed his lips. "Get dressed first. I’ll explain everything slowly."

Just one look at his expression was enough for Bai Wanwan to guess what had happened. Combined with the nightmare she just had, her heart sank.

"His Dark Curse acted up again?"

Xin Feng knew he couldn’t hide it. "Mhm," he confirmed. "It hadn’t flared up when he left. He was afraid he might hurt you and the cubs, so he left ahead of time."

Bai Wanwan was indeed worried, but she knew how to prioritize. Before, she had chased after Zhu Xiu because she was unsure of his condition. Later, when she saw that although he wasn’t lucid, he wouldn’t subconsciously harm her, she had stayed by his side to help him recover.

But now, pregnant with cubs, she wouldn’t take that risk.

"I know. In my current condition, I can’t go with him. Don’t worry..."

As she spoke, a sound suddenly came from outside.

"Is that Shi Hua?"

Bai Wanwan called out.

Here in the Black Dog Tribe, the other females feared her and kept their distance.

And with two powerful males with high Talents in her home, other males wouldn’t dare approach casually.

Her words faded, but there was no response from outside.

Xin Feng said to her, "I’ll go take a look."

"Okay."

Bai Wanwan watched his retreating figure, then pulled the clothes from the nearby stone stool, got dressed, threw back the covers, and stood up to head outside.

When she reached the outer room, she saw Xin Feng opening a beast-hide bundle.

Curious, Bai Wanwan took a few steps forward to get a closer look.

"What is it?"

Just as she asked, Xin Feng finished opening the beast-hide bundle, revealing a jumble of miscellaneous items inside.

’They seem to be clothes, along with some accessories. Could they be from Zhuo Ling?’

’No!’

Everything in the beast-hide bundle was ruined.

Realizing something was wrong, Bai Wanwan walked over, bent down, and picked up a piece of clothing. Sure enough, it was torn at the waist. She immediately picked up another; it was even more tattered, with both sleeves and a piece of the chest missing.

And all the accessories made of Beast Bones and gems were broken.

Not a single item in the entire beast-hide bundle was intact.

"Wanwan, something isn’t right," Xin Feng said, turning to look at her.

Bai Wanwan nodded. "Someone is trying to frame me. While no one’s around, take this hide and throw it out in the mountains."

’Get rid of the evidence first,’ she thought.

"Then you go inside. There’s a bowl of meat on the table. Eat that first. If you’re still hungry, I’ll make you some fish soup when I get back."

"Okay."

After Bai Wanwan agreed, Xin Feng wrapped up the beast hide, shouldered it, and walked out of the stone house.

Just as he stepped outside, Xin Feng froze.

Bai Wanwan, who was about to go wash up, noticed him stop and immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

She walked to the doorway and peeked out, only to see a group of Beastmen heading their way.

’The smell of conspiracy is getting stronger.’

"Xin Feng, don’t go."

Taking the beast hide out to throw away in front of so many Beastmen would be a dead giveaway.

’It’s better to be open about it.’

The Beastmen of the Black Dog Tribe quickly approached, every one of them giving Bai Wanwan and Xin Feng strange looks.

"Clan Leader, I told you so! It was Bai Wanwan who stole them!" Mu Zhi immediately shouted.

"Nothing like this ever happened in our tribe before Bai Wanwan arrived. With her living here, I’m worried my own hunted game will go missing. No, I have to go back and do a thorough count today," another female chimed in.

Shi Hua, who had come out after hearing the commotion, happened to overhear this and immediately ran to Bai Wanwan’s side.

"You’re talking nonsense! Sister Wanwan would never take your things!"

"If she didn’t take our things, then what is her Beast Husband holding? Those were a gift from the Golden Lion Tribe’s Young Clan Leader to Zhuo Ling. She’s got some nerve, daring to take those."

A male from the Golden Lion Tribe stepped forward and looked at Xin Feng. "Those things were a gift from my tribe’s Young Clan Leader to the female Zhuo Ling. They don’t belong to any other female. Please return them to us."

Xin Feng’s handsome face was frosted with cold anger as he tossed the bundle over.

The male from the Golden Lion Tribe caught the beast-hide bundle and walked back to Zhuo Ling’s side.

A smile appeared on Zhuo Ling’s face. "It’s fine now that they’ve been found. I’m sure Wanwan didn’t mean it. I don’t blame her."

"Wanwan, it’s alright. Don’t take it to heart."

Zhuo Ling put on an act of being kind, magnanimous, and unwilling to pursue the matter.

Bai Wanwan just watched as if it were a play. She didn’t believe for a second that they’d cause such a huge scene without having another move waiting for her.

’If they want to act, I’ll play along.’

"I’m not taking it to heart. Since you’ve found the things that someone-or-other left at my door, you can all go home now. I just woke up, and I’m still hungry!"

With that, she linked her arm with Xin Feng’s. "I’m hungry. I want some fish soup."

Only then did Xin Feng’s expression soften slightly. "Alright, I’ll go catch some fish and make it for you."

Shi Hua was completely bewildered, looking from the Clan Leader and Zhuo Ling back to Bai Wanwan.

She was incredibly impressed with Sister Wanwan. ’If I were facing such a big confrontation, I’d definitely be on the verge of tears by now.’

’And Sister Wanwan is still thinking about eating.’

It wasn’t just Shi Hua; the Clan Leader and Zhuo Ling also hadn’t expected Bai Wanwan to offer no explanation and instead be preoccupied with food.

Just as everyone was stunned into confusion, the beast-hide bundle in Zhuo Ling’s hands suddenly slipped.

"Ah!" she cried out in feigned panic, drawing the gazes of all the Beastmen back to her.

"I couldn’t hold on! Tu Shan, come help me."

Her Beast Husband was about to walk over when Mu Zhi, standing not far away, pointed at the things on the ground and yelled, "Everyone, look! All these things are ruined!"

Mu Shan’s eyes lit up, unable to hide the schadenfreude within them.

She said with a smile, "Zhuo Ling, Bai Wanwan tore up all your dresses! You should have just given me those four dresses you offered her yesterday!"

"That’s impossible. Why would Wanwan tear up my dresses?"

Zhuo Ling’s delicate, pretty face was a mask of hurt.

Hearing this, Bai Wanwan pursed her lips.

She had always felt that this female, Zhuo Ling, wasn’t as reckless and shrewish as the other females.

’She really does have a few tricks up her sleeve, to even know how to frame me.’