Chapter 212: It’s a Beast Tide!

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: It’s a Beast Tide!

"Wanwan, we should head back."

Yan Lie’s voice was so pristine it seemed to wash away the turmoil in Bai Wanwan’s heart.

He opened his arms and gathered her into his embrace, shielding her from the night’s chill.

Only then did Bai Wanwan realize that the temperature on the plains had dropped sharply. The cold wind swirled, rustling the blades of grass and stinging her cheeks.

"Yes, let’s go back and wait for news," she replied softly.

Yan Lie’s form flickered, and in an instant, he transformed into his beast form.

Under the moonlight, the Snow Leopard’s white fur shone with a cold light, the fluid lines of his muscles outlining a powerful silhouette.

To make it easier for Bai Wanwan to ride, he lowered his body, nearly pressing himself flat against the ground.

Bai Wanwan steadied herself on his furry head and, with a light leap, landed securely on his back.

"Are you settled?"

Yan Lie looked back, his amber beast eyes gazing at her.

Bai Wanwan leaned down and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I’m ready. Let’s go."

Only then did Yan Lie slowly rise, starting with a slow jog before gradually picking up speed.

The night wind howled past their ears, and the outline of the tribe gradually grew clearer in the distance.

Suddenly, Bai Wanwan narrowed her eyes, staring at a figure moving at high speed across the empty plains.

"Is that a Beastman up ahead?"

Yan Lie’s eyesight was far superior to a female’s. His voice came through, clear and bright, as he answered, "It’s a Golden Lion."

Bai Wanwan stared for a moment, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why is there only one?"

She stared at the approaching figure. ’Could it be a male sent by the Clan Leader to find us?’

With this thought, she pushed herself up, about to call out, but then she saw the Golden Lion suddenly erupt, baring its terrifying fangs as it lunged straight for Yan Lie’s throat!

"Watch out!"

Bai Wanwan cried out in alarm, but Yan Lie had already leaped nimbly into the air.

"Hold on tight," Yan Lie’s voice rumbled from his chest.

She clung desperately to his neck, feeling the muscles beneath her bulge with power.

Yan Lie maneuvered carefully, needing to both evade the attack and ensure the female on his back was not harmed.

"We’re temporary guests of the Golden Lion Tribe. We came out tonight because a female went missing..." Yan Lie explained as he dodged.

But the other party paid no heed to Yan Lie’s words, continuing its attack.

"You’re not a Beastman from the Golden Lion Tribe?" Bai Wanwan demanded sharply.

The attacker remained silent, its sharp claws striking again without mercy.

To protect her completely, Yan Lie took a blow to his hind leg, and blood instantly soaked his snow-white fur.

She turned her head to see Yan Lie’s injury. The sight of the gushing blood sent her anger soaring to its peak.

"Who are you? Why are you attacking us?" Bai Wanwan suppressed her fury, her gaze locked on their opponent.

’To fight Yan Lie to a standstill like this, the opponent must have at least a Yellow Rank Talent.’

She had heard the entire Golden Lion Tribe had only a few dozen Yellow Rank Beastmen.

’Why would someone of that status suddenly attack us?’

The two massive beasts were locked in a fierce struggle. Weighed down by his injury and by her, Yan Lie gradually began to lose ground.

Bai Wanwan quietly took a potato from her System Space and hurled it viciously when the attacker was off guard.

The Golden Lion didn’t know what had been thrown at it, but its instincts screamed to dodge.

Yan Lie seized the opportunity, closing the distance in a flash and leaving deep, bloody gashes on the lion’s forearm with his claws.

"Break through! Back to the tribe!" Bai Wanwan urged anxiously.

"Alright."

With Wanwan there, Yan Lie had no desire to prolong the fight.

’Wanwan’s safety is all that matters.’

He quickly changed direction, about to head for the tribe’s side gate, when several more figures flashed out from the shadows ahead.

Bai Wanwan’s heart tightened. She wasn’t sure if the figures rushing over were with this Golden Lion.

’If they’re together, we’ll be surrounded.’

"Change course! Go along the perimeter!"

Yan Lie didn’t ask why. If Wanwan said it, he did it.

He immediately broke into a sprint.

Bai Wanwan looked back and saw the newly appeared figures had already joined the first Golden Lion.

’They really are together!’

They were fanning out to encircle them, clearly intending to cut off their path of retreat.

’Wait a minute...’

Bai Wanwan wasn’t sure what these people were after.

’Could there be Beastmen lying in ambush inside the tribe, too?’

’Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu aren’t here right now. With Yan Lie protecting me, he’ll be at a disadvantage.’

Bai Wanwan gritted her teeth and patted Yan Lie’s neck. "Forget the tribe. We’re heading into the forest."

As long as they didn’t go too deep, they should be able to avoid the beast tide.

They had no other choice.

The Snow Leopard flicked his long tail and bolted toward the vast mountains without hesitation.

Bai Wanwan looked back. The figures pursued them relentlessly, like maggots clinging to a bone.

The snow-white leopard shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, quickly melting into the gloomy edge of the forest.

Only after rushing into the forest did Yan Lie gradually slow down.

"Wanwan, we can’t go any deeper."

"Okay, let’s find a place to hide for now."

The Snow Leopard glanced around, then leaped up with a powerful spring, landing steadily on a thick branch.

Just as Bai Wanwan was about to speak, Yan Lie suddenly went, "Shh," and whispered, "Wanwan, they’re here."

As he spoke, Bai Wanwan felt the male’s body tense up completely.

Bai Wanwan was just as tense. If they were found, going deeper into the forest would be extremely dangerous.

Through the gaps in the leaves, several golden beast forms moved through the woods. Their sharp claws pushed aside the undergrowth, making RUSTLING sounds.

As they drew closer, the CRACK of snapping dry branches grew clearer.

Bai Wanwan held her breath, watching them advance slowly, meticulously searching every place they passed.

Yan Lie paced anxiously on the branch and turned his head to Bai Wanwan. "Wanwan, we have to keep running. Searching like this, they’re bound to find us."

Bai Wanwan knew it would be hard to escape. "Okay," she immediately responded.

The moment Bai Wanwan agreed, Yan Lie leaped out again, a streak of white flashing through the air.

At the same time, a male’s roar sounded from behind them. "Over there..."

Countless branches whipped past Bai Wanwan.

All she could do was duck lower, burying her face in the fur of Yan Lie’s neck.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Yan Lie, look over there!"

Beside the roots of a tree in a small ravine, there was a hollow hidden by weeds. ’Maybe it can throw them off.’

’If they don’t spot us at a glance, the forest is so huge it won’t be easy for them to find us again.’

Yan Lie hesitated for only a second before changing direction and charging toward the hiding spot.

’It might not work, but we have no other choice but to try.’

Any further and they would no longer be at the forest’s edge. He couldn’t risk taking Wanwan any deeper.

They quickly hid in the hollow, covering themselves with leaves and grass.

The abundance of plants in the forest would also help mask some of their scent.

Just as they got hidden, the approaching Golden Lion suddenly stopped, raising a forepaw to halt its companions. "Wait!"

Tu Shan snarled impatiently, "Don’t forget the mission! If you can’t finish it, you can forget about becoming my Wife’s Beast Husband!"

"Shut up!" The Golden Lion’s ears twitched violently. "Listen..."

A faint, eerie shuffling sound in the forest was growing louder and louder...

Jin Xi’s face suddenly turned deathly pale. He yelled at the males beside him, "It’s a beast tide! Run!"