Chapter 196: Chou Rong’s Identity

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Chou Rong’s Identity

Yan Lie escorted the Clan Witch to fetch the previous Clan Witch.

Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu stood vigil over Bai Wanwan.

Suddenly, Xin Feng lowered his head, pressing his ear to Bai Wanwan’s chest. His expression changed drastically. "Wanwan!"

His urgent, hoarse cry made Zhu Xiu’s heart sink. He immediately began to check Bai Wanwan’s condition.

Finding nothing different from before, he turned to Xin Feng. "What were you shouting about?"

Xin Feng also noticed that Wanwan’s heartbeat had returned.

His expression faltered. "Just now... It might have been my imagination."

The two males said no more, forcibly suppressing the unease in their hearts.

After a long while, Yan Lie returned with two Clan Witches. The Clan Leader of the Golden Lion Tribe followed behind them.

Jin Cang urged the elder Clan Witch, "Please, examine Bai Wanwan at once."

He already knew from the Clan Witch that Bai Wanwan was not doing well.

This was a Holy Female!

A Holy Female who could elevate a large tribe into a Super Tribe.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch something happen to her. He had to save Bai Wanwan’s life.

The previous Clan Witch was elderly, her steps unsteady as she walked.

Hearing the Clan Leader’s command, she let the other Clan Witch support her as she approached the stone bed.

Xin Feng moved aside to give the elder Clan Witch room to work, but he remained at the bedside, his eyes fixed on Wanwan’s face.

The elder Clan Witch was an aged female, her face a web of wrinkles, but her gaze was sharp.

She sat by the bed and carefully examined Bai Wanwan, then closed her eyes as if sensing something.

Then, her brow furrowed deeply.

The hearts of all the males present clenched.

Xin Feng’s lips thinned into a line. "Clan Witch, what is wrong with our female?"

The elder Clan Witch withdrew her hands. Slowly, she turned and shook her head at them, a look of confusion on her face.

"Her body is fine, but her Divine Soul is unstable. It’s like... like that of a dying Beastman."

The three males—Zhu Xiu, Xin Feng, and Yan Lie—looked as if they had been dealt a heavy blow. Their faces turned deathly pale in an instant.

"Impossible... She was perfectly fine a moment ago," Yan Lie murmured, stumbling back two steps.

Zhu Xiu’s nerves were stretched taut. "Clan Witch, are you certain?"

Worried that she might have been mistaken, the Clan Witch examined her again.

She spoke again, her tone even graver than before.

"Her Divine Soul is indeed unstable, as if being pulled by some force, ready to leave her body at any moment. I have only ever seen this condition in Beastmen on the verge of death."

"Then what do we do? Is there any way to save her?" Yan Lie asked frantically, his voice trembling.

The elder Clan Witch shook her head. "I can only use some herbs to temporarily stabilize her Divine Soul. Whether she wakes up, however, is up to her."

Jin Cang, who had been waiting quietly to the side, looked incredibly grim upon hearing the elder Clan Witch’s words.

"Clan Witch, you must find a way to save Bai Wanwan’s life, no matter the cost!"

The elder Clan Witch shot the Clan Leader a surprised look.

Zhu Xiu glanced back at Jin Cang as well, but only for a moment before his gaze returned to Wanwan, who looked as if she were merely sleeping.

The Clan Leader had someone escort the two Clan Witches away. When he turned back, he saw a black mist shrouding the Snake Beastman.

Xin Feng noticed and whipped his head around, his eyes narrowing. "Zhu Xiu, calm down!"

’At a time like this, none of the three of us can afford to break down. Wanwan is waiting for us to save her.’

The red in Zhu Xiu’s eyes was now veiled by a thick darkness. He lifted his gaze to Xin Feng, his voice chilling yet tinged with a sliver of clarity.

"I’m fine. I will watch over Wanwan until she recovers."

At first, the three males stood vigil by the bed. But Yan Lie could no longer bear the torment. He turned and slammed his fist against the wall.

He hated himself for his recklessness, for hurting Wanwan so badly.

An oppressive, suffocating atmosphere filled the stone house.

They all held their breath, watching over the faintly breathing Bai Wanwan.

******

It was late at night. In a Super Tribe on the continent’s western edge, several male figures were hurrying through the silent streets.

They passed through one alley after another, finally stopping before a particular stone house.

One of the males stepped forward and knocked three times. The door opened from within.

A male wrapped head to toe in beast hides strode inside.

Only after all the males had followed him into the stone house did the door slowly swing shut.

The male in the lead pulled off his beast-hide cloak, revealing a face of breathtaking, almost inhuman beauty.

"Where are the cubs?"

The male who had been waiting for them in the courtyard immediately led the way.

Chou Rong led the other males, following him past the main stone house. Soon, the whimpering sounds of several cubs could be heard.

Soon, several sturdy tiger cubs came into Chou Rong’s view.

He hadn’t seen them in nearly twenty days. If not for that accident, he wouldn’t have this weakness.

But now, he had no choice but to hide them here.

Chou Rong’s expression was complex. He quickly noticed that the cubs were whimpering continuously. They didn’t seem excited to see him like they used to; instead, they looked listless.

The male caring for the cubs immediately explained, "The cubs have been whimpering all night. I didn’t dare take them to the Clan Witch, so I had no choice but to notify you, Young Clan Leader."

The cubs seemed to become a little more alert then, smelling the scent of their Father Beast.

They got up from their nest and padded over to his feet.

They crowded around Chou Rong’s feet, rubbing against his legs. Despite the affectionate gesture, they didn’t seem excited, but rather sad.

Perhaps it was because of their shared blood; Chou Rong just couldn’t bring himself to be harsh with these cubs.

He bent down and scooped them all up into his arms.

"What’s wrong? Does something hurt?"

"WHIMPER..."

The cubs continued to whine at him, their behavior growing agitated.

"WHIMPER..."

Anyone could see something was wrong with the cubs.

Chou Rong tried to soothe them for a while, but to no avail. He, too, grew worried for their safety.

In an instant, he made his decision. "Ah Ye, go and bring the Clan Witch here."

Ah Ye didn’t move. His face was grave. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up. "Young Clan Leader, fetching the Clan Witch now will certainly draw the Clan Leader’s attention. Your current situation..."

Chou Rong cut him off. "Go. I’ll handle it. He won’t find out."

Chou Rong’s tone was resolute, so Ah Ye could say no more and turned to leave.

After Ah Ye left, Chou Rong patiently stayed with the cubs and comforted them. Their agitation seemed to ease somewhat.

Ah Ye was not gone long and quickly returned with the Clan Witch.

When the Clan Witch saw Chou Rong and the cubs in the house, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly composed herself.

"Clan Witch, please take a look at them. I think they might be ill."

The Clan Witch asked no questions and wasted no words.

She moved over and carefully examined the cubs.

After a short wait, Chou Rong couldn’t help but ask, "Well?"

The Clan Witch stood up, a faint smile on her face. "Rest assured, Young Clan Leader. The cubs are perfectly healthy. This sort of behavior usually means they need their mother’s comfort. They must be missing their Mother."

Chou Rong froze. The image of Bai Wanwan’s stunning face flashed through his mind.