Chapter 272: Getting Closer and Closer...

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Getting Closer and Closer...

Jin Yi ignored him, his gaze sweeping the area, but he saw no sign of Bai Wanwan or Zhuo Ling.

A group of males surrounded him, but Jin Yi appeared perfectly composed, showing not a hint of fear.

After scanning the area, his gaze locked onto Xiong Zong.

"Where are the females?"

Xiong Zong grinned, revealing stark white teeth. "So, you really do fancy one of the two females we captured?"

With that, he turned and said something to a male beside him. The beastman listened, then turned and entered the cave.

Bai Wanwan was straining her ears to listen to the commotion outside when she heard a series of approaching footsteps.

She and Zhuo Ling were yanked off the ground by a male and roughly dragged outside.

Bai Wanwan wrenched her arm free. "I’ll walk myself."

After being in the dark for so long, she couldn’t immediately adjust to the sunlight outside.

She squinted for a moment before opening her eyes fully.

Zhuo Ling, however, was already rushing toward Jin Yi, overjoyed.

But she had only taken two steps before Xiong Zong grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back.

She lost her footing and collapsed onto the ground.

Tears welled in her eyes, her face a mask of wretched pity.

"Jin Yi, save me..."

Jin Yi grunted in acknowledgment, but his gaze quickly swept over Bai Wanwan.

He saw that aside from being a little dirty, she didn’t seem to be harmed in any way.

He breathed an inexplicable sigh of relief.

Xiong Zong turned his head as well. His gaze swept over Zhuo Ling on the ground, then landed on Bai Wanwan, who was standing silently.

With a smile, he looked back at Jin Yi, his expression taunting. "Young Clan Leader, I’ll give you a chance. Pick one of the females, and I’ll let her go. How about it?"

"Xiong Zong, I can agree to any condition, but I must take both of them."

"Rules are rules." Xiong Zong raised a finger, wagging it back and forth. "I’ll release one first. As for the other... that will depend on your own abilities."

He deliberately drew out his words, savoring the struggle that flashed in Jin Yi’s eyes.

A dead silence fell outside the cave; even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Jin Yi secretly weighed his options. ’If I choose Bai Wanwan, will Xiong Zong go back on his word?’

The seconds ticked by, but Jin Yi still hadn’t made a final decision.

Bai Wanwan remained silent. Whatever decision Jin Yi made, it wouldn’t surprise her.

’After all, Zhuo Ling is the one he wants as his mate.’

Xiong Zong was growing impatient. "Haven’t you decided yet? If you don’t, I’ll decide for you."

Jin Yi’s brow furrowed. Finally, he made a desperate gamble.

"Let Bai Wanwan go."

Zhuo Ling, still sitting on the ground, looked up in disbelief. Her voice turned shrill. "Jin Yi, are you really abandoning me for her?"

Not wanting Xiong Zong to see through his plan, Jin Yi frowned slightly. "I’m not abandoning you. I will save you."

"I don’t believe you! You’ve fallen for Bai Wanwan! You said you wanted me as your mate, have you forgotten?"

Jin Yi’s frown deepened.

Xiong Zong, however, was enjoying the show. "So, she’s the female you like?"

Jin Yi didn’t deny it. He didn’t know what Xiong Zong was planning, but his instincts told him not to reveal his true feelings.

"Xiong Zong, I expect you to keep your promise. I’ve made my choice. You can let her go now."

"Hahaha!"

Xiong Zong suddenly erupted in laughter, then fixed his gaze on Jin Yi. "Since the Young Clan Leader has chosen to release her..."

...but his finger suddenly pointed to a male beside him. "This female... is a gift to you!"

The male beside him heard Xiong Zong’s words, his face a mixture of disbelief and delighted surprise.

His eyes were practically glued to Bai Wanwan, and drool nearly dripped from the corner of his mouth.

’Should I redeem an item?’ Bai Wanwan wondered. ’The timing doesn’t seem quite right.’

’Even with a single-use item, I might not be able to escape this encirclement.’

In the moment she hesitated, the male was already in front of her, reaching out his hand.

"You dare!"

Jin Yi could no longer remain calm. He instantly shifted into his beast form, lunged in front of Bai Wanwan in a flash, and snapped his jaws at the approaching male.

The male barely dodged, but Jin Yi’s teeth still sank into his shoulder, making him howl in agony.

He tried to launch an attack on Jin Yi, but their power levels were completely different.

The Golden Lion tossed its head, sending the male flying like a rag doll.

Xiong Zong watched the entire exchange before finally speaking. "Jin Yi, you’ve injured one of my tribe’s Beastmen again, and this time, right under my nose. Do you really think I’m going to let you leave now?"

The living conditions in this region were growing harsher, and the Bear Clan had long harbored ambitions of annexing the Golden Lion Tribe.

If he could kill Jin Yi to make an example of him, perhaps more of the Golden Lions would surrender in the future.

Jin Yi didn’t deign to respond. Shielding Bai Wanwan with his body, he glanced back at her.

"Stay behind me and don’t move."

"Okay. Don’t worry about me."

Bai Wanwan gritted her teeth. ’Looks like I have no choice but to spend these Points today.’

As she answered Jin Yi, her fingertips were already swiping rapidly through the air.

The Bear Beasts closed in around the Golden Lion, their heavy pants and growls filling the air. No one paid any mind to the seemingly harmless female.

Her fingers flew across the screen before she finally selected the King Cobra’s Shared Talent.

The instant she pressed the redeem button, a violent power flooded through her body like a bursting dam.

The power was so turbulent it made her fingertips go numb, as if a great, awakening serpent was coiled within her, flicking its tongue, eager to strike.

"Host, release it! Release it now!" Hua Sheng’s urgent warning exploded in her mind.

Bai Wanwan’s pupils contracted. On pure instinct, she splayed her fingers.

In an instant, a foul wind kicked up as a visible, dark-green toxic mist billowed out like a tidal wave, withering all plant life in its path.

"Jin Yi, move!"

The Golden Lion’s agile form dodged in perfect sync with her warning.

The toxic mist whistled past his mane, surging straight toward the pack of Bear Clan members.

Xiong Zong and the other High Rank Beastmen retreated in horror, but the Bear Beasts below Green Rank had no time to react before the toxic mist engulfed them.

ROAR!

Seven or eight of the Bear Beasts collapsed, one after another. They clawed madly at their swelling throats, letting out bloodcurdling howls.

After a few moments, their convulsing bodies fell silent. All that remained were their heads, corroded beyond recognition and emitting thin wisps of smoke.

Jin Yi seized the opportunity to break through the encirclement, flashing to Bai Wanwan’s side like a bolt of golden lightning.

Before he could even speak, the female had already leaped nimbly onto his lion back, her movements fluid and graceful.

It was only then that they realized Zhuo Ling was nowhere to be seen.

"She’s a smart one."

The distant trees cast dancing shadows, but there was no sign of Zhuo Ling anywhere.

A glint shone in the lion’s eyes. Jin Yi hesitated no longer, his powerful hind legs tensing to spring.

But just then, an earth-shattering roar erupted behind them.

Xiong Zong charged after them, his eyes bloodshot, each footfall making the ground tremble. "Kill them! Kill them all!"

Jin Yi knew that last move had utterly enraged Xiong Zong. If they were caught, not even she would survive.

Bai Wanwan glanced back from time to time. The distance between them and Xiong Zong’s pursuing males was rapidly shrinking...