Chapter 231: Balancing Act

Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Balancing Act

The wild boar chasing them got stuck in the narrow passage, its tusks just inches from Zhu Xiu’s back.

But it bit at empty air, still struggling to push forward, its tusks snapping open and shut.

Xin Feng and Jin Yi were prepared. Working together, they shoved a massive boulder they had hidden in advance toward the cave entrance.

BOOM!

As the last gap was sealed shut, it blocked out the ferocious beasts outside.

Bai Wanwan was about to speak to Zhu Xiu, but he pressed a finger to her lips. "Shhh..."

Bai Wanwan fell still, standing reassured by his side.

None of the males in the cave made a sound. Gradually, the beasts outside, unable to break through the boulder and having lost their target, slowly dispersed...

As the roars of the beasts faded into the distance, everyone gradually began to relax.

"There’s a wider area up ahead where we can rest for a bit."

After Jin Yi spoke, his gaze swept through the darkness, landing on Bai Wanwan, who was being held in the arms of her primary Beast Husband. He then quickly averted his eyes and turned to walk ahead.

Now that they were safe, Yan Lie also wanted to talk with Wanwan for a bit, but he saw her in Zhu Xiu’s arms.

He tactfully turned away. In any case, he had found Wanwan now; there would be plenty of time later.

Seeing everyone walk ahead, Bai Wanwan subconsciously tried to take Zhu Xiu’s hand and follow.

After Xin Feng and the others had walked away, Bai Wanwan stirred but realized the male holding her by the waist showed no sign of letting go.

"Zhu Xiu, they’ve gone..."

She reminded him.

’Good, they’re gone.’

A scarlet light danced in Zhu Xiu’s pupils. Heaven knew the terror he’d felt when he returned to find the beast tide surrounding the Golden Lion Tribe, only to learn that Wanwan, Yan Lie, and Xin Feng were all missing.

He never thought that a cold-hearted, emotionless beastman like him would ever experience such a moment.

He didn’t know if his female was still alive; he just wanted to kill every single beast.

It wasn’t until he found a near-death Yan Lie in a cave that he learned Wanwan was still alive and well.

But she was in extreme danger, because she only had one male left with her.

’Jin Yi isn’t one of us. If they run into danger, will he abandon Wanwan?’

Zhu Xiu assumed the worst of Jin Yi, so he searched day and night.

And today, finally, he had found his female.

"What’s wrong?" Bai Wanwan tilted her head up to look at him.

But it was too dark, and she couldn’t make out the male’s face at all.

"I found you..." A low, hoarse voice rumbled from Zhu Xiu’s throat.

As if still uncertain, his arms kept tightening around her.

Bai Wanwan sighed. ’It’s just like when I saw Yan Lie fall into the ravine with my own eyes, only to see him alive just now.’

’The shock is truly immense.’

’Maybe Zhu Xiu thought I’d died in the beast tide. Seeing me so suddenly, even someone like him can’t calm down right away.’

"Yes, I’m alright. And from now on... our whole family will be alright too."

As she spoke, she raised a hand, tentatively touching his face. She traced his handsome brows and eyes, and once she had located his lips, she stood on her toes and leaned in.

As her lips met his, dry and slightly cool, Bai Wanwan gave him a light kiss.

She took his lower lip between hers, but before Bai Wanwan could take the next step, Zhu Xiu had forcefully lifted her into his arms.

Bai Wanwan instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist.

Zhu Xiu turned the tables, capturing her slightly parted lips with his own, nibbling them, sometimes gently, sometimes hard.

Whenever it started to sting a little, he would gently lick the spot.

As he alternated between fierce and gentle kisses, Bai Wanwan’s scalp tingled.

She was already swept up in Zhu Xiu’s rhythm, her arms draped around his neck, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her breathing ragged.

He pressed her waist firmly against him.

"Wanwan, I found the Ghost Orchid Grass. When you’re better, you can give me a litter of cubs..."

Bai Wanwan sensed his arousal, and her heart felt like a kitten was scratching at it, making her long for more intimacy with him.

But it was clear that neither the place nor the time was right.

"Yes, I’ll give you a litter of cubs..."

Her words were answered by an even deeper and more domineering kiss from Zhu Xiu.

After an unknown amount of time, Bai Wanwan regained a sliver of her senses and pulled his hand out from under the hem of her clothes.

"Stop fooling around. I’ll make it up to you when we get back. They’ve been up ahead for a long time."

’Among the three males up ahead, one of them isn’t my Beast Husband.’

’If we stay here too long, anyone could figure out what we’ve been up to.’

Bai Wanwan didn’t consider herself thin-skinned, but even her face was burning now.

Zhu Xiu had already surveyed the nearby terrain; it was all hard, damp rock.

’My female is delicate. Mating in a place like this would definitely make her uncomfortable.’

Zhu Xiu could only take a deep breath and forcibly suppress his urges.

"Alright, let’s go."

Taking his female’s hand, they walked single file deeper into the narrow cave.

After winding their way through the passages for a long time, they finally heard the voices of the other males in a more open area.

"Wanwan..."

Along with the sound of trickling water came Yan Lie’s slightly plaintive voice.

Although Zhu Xiu hadn’t had his fill, he was in a much better mood and didn’t bicker with Yan Lie.

Bai Wanwan wanted to go and comfort Yan Lie, but her hand was still held tightly by Zhu Xiu.

She turned her head and whispered in Zhu Xiu’s ear, "I’m just going over there for a second."

Bai Wanwan had thought it would take some effort to get Zhu Xiu to let go, but to her surprise, he just grunted lightly and released her.

Bai Wanwan was stunned for a moment. ’The King of Jealousy is being so agreeable today?’

The truth was, Zhu Xiu had already learned from Yan Lie what Wanwan had gone through these past few days. Because he hadn’t been there, it was Yan Lie who had stayed by her side, protected her, and ultimately fell off a cliff to save her.

If it weren’t for Yan Lie, he might not have come back to find an unharmed Wanwan.

Even though he disdained sharing his female with that leopard, he still felt a sliver of gratitude toward him.

"I’ll give you cubs when we get back."

Before leaving, she placated the King of Jealousy one more time, then walked toward Yan Lie.

Yan Lie closed the distance in a few strides and pulled her forcefully into his arms.

"Wanwan."

Feeling his body heat, Bai Wanwan’s heart settled.

For the past few days, the image of him falling into the ravine had been replaying in her mind.

She had just been forcing herself to take comfort, using her willpower to overcome her negative emotions.

But now, he was really standing right in front of her.

Yan Lie was covered in injuries, but at this moment, he couldn’t feel the slightest bit of pain.

He grinned. "I told you I’d come back to you. Wanwan, I did it."

"Mhm."

As the two of them embraced, the other three males watched.

But they each had very different feelings about it.

Zhu Xiu took one look and a dark aura began to radiate from him. He clenched his fists, restraining the urge to drive that leopard away.

Xin Feng, on the other hand, calmly found a rock and sat down. He knew Wanwan wouldn’t forget him; she would definitely come to him afterward.

Only Jin Yi felt an indescribable emotion in his heart, a sense of exclusion, as if he were isolated from their world.