Chapter 446 - 444: What’s Going On?

Chapter 446: Chapter 444: What’s Going On?

She shifted slightly and immediately felt a large patch of skin beneath the animal hide come into contact with the cool air, and... the warmth of Hua Han’s arm and chest, even through the thin fabric of his clothes!

Bai Wanwan was instantly and completely awake. "Hua Han, what is going on?"

She shoved the male holding her tightly away with all her strength, an almost instinctual reaction. Her face was flushed from the fever, her watery eyes filled with anger.

Hua Han staggered back from her push, struggling to regain his balance. Caught off guard by her accusation, a faint blush crept onto his handsome, jade-like face.

The image of wiping her down flashed through his mind, and he subconsciously avoided her gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times before he spoke, his voice a little hoarse:

"Wanwan... Y-you, don’t be upset. Let me explain."

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "You came down with a terrible fever. You were burning up, completely delirious. I couldn’t wake you, no matter what I did."

He carefully watched her expression before continuing, "I... I was out of options. I remembered hearing the old Clan Witch mention once that for a severe, persistent fever, you can... you can remove their clothes and repeatedly wipe them down with a soft cloth soaked in ice-cold stream water. Especially the neck, under the arms, and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It helps dissipate the heat... and might buy some time..."

A wronged look appeared in his fox-like eyes. "I was just so worried about you. I thought I had to at least try wiping you down to lower your temperature. I’d only been at it for a moment when you... you woke up..."

Hua Han lowered his gaze, looking completely innocent. But in reality, he was hiding the true emotions in his eyes.

He had been wiping her down all night. He had seen everything there was to see, and touched it, too.

But he knew he couldn’t say it out loud, otherwise he’d make her angry.

Bai Wanwan wanted to lash out, to interrogate him, but the genuine worry and concern for her in Hua Han’s voice left her with no grounds to do so.

’Forget it. I’ll just think of him as a doctor. Doctors don’t distinguish between men and women when they’re saving someone’s life.’

’Besides, if he hadn’t helped, the fever might have really fried my brain.’

’I have the system, sure, but it isn’t fully automated. I have to operate it myself.’

’In that state, burning up and half-conscious, there was no way I could have redeemed any fever-reducing medicine to save myself.’

For a moment, a deeply awkward silence descended upon the cave, broken only by their slightly ragged breaths and the pitter-patter of the seemingly endless rain outside the grass shelter.

Bai Wanwan took several deep breaths, pushing down the flush of embarrassment. After all, Hua Han wasn’t her Beast Husband.

"I understand. Thank you. You... could you step out for a moment? I need to get dressed."

She didn’t look angry, and Hua Han felt as if he’d been granted a pardon. He immediately responded, "Alright! I’ll... I’ll go check if the meat broth is ready."

Bai Wanwan was left alone in the cave.

She finally let go of the animal hide and reached for her own underclothes and outer fur robe from a neat pile beside her. Her body ached with weakness, and she dressed herself with some difficulty.

The coarse animal hide chafed against her skin, which was still cool from being wiped down.

After getting dressed, she got to her feet. The cubs were still fast asleep in their nest.

She didn’t disturb them, heading toward the mouth of the cave.

As she reached the entrance of the main living area, she nearly collided with Hua Han, who was carrying a warm stone bowl.

"Careful!" Hua Han steadied her waist with one hand, the other still holding the bowl.

Having just recovered from her illness, she was still too weak to stand properly. It took her a moment to find her balance.

Hua Han helped her to a stone stool. "Here, drink some hot soup first."

Bai Wanwan was indeed hungry. She took the soup, blowing on it before taking a few sips. The warmth spread through her stomach, and she already felt much better.

"By the way, where’s Jiao Yin?"

"Jiao Yin saw your fever wasn’t breaking. He heard from the Lynx Clan’s witch that there’s Silver Leaf Grass in the swamp, so he went out in the rain to find some for you."

’Jiao Yin has also done so much for Wanwan,’ Hua Han thought. ’Besides, I need a powerful ally like him in the fight for Wanwan’s heart.’

’Otherwise... I don’t think I could possibly compete against the six outstanding Beast Husbands by Wanwan’s side all on my own.’

"You’re saying Jiao Yin went to find medicine for me? To the swamp?" Bai Wanwan’s voice was hoarse, laced with a sudden urgency.

"Mm, don’t worry. Jiao Yin is an Orange Rank male. He won’t be in any real danger."

’He’s already gone. There’s no point in worrying.’ But Bai Wanwan couldn’t help feeling that her debt to Jiao Yin was growing ever larger.

’He was the one who saved me from Roger. He was the one who protected me, allowing me to cross the ocean and arrive safely on this continent.’

’And now, because of me, he’s gone out into the swamp in this downpour.’

’I owe him more and more. And to think, when he first asked for my help, I didn’t even want to give it.’

The rain finally subsided. It was no longer a downpour, but had transformed into an endless, bone-chilling drizzle.

But the sky remained as gloomy as if a giant iron wok had been clamped over the world, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe.

Bai Wanwan stood at the entrance of the cave, looking like a bear wrapped in the thick animal hide Hua Han had insisted on draping over her.

Her gaze pierced the gray curtain of rain, sweeping again and again over the muddy village path. With every flicker of a shadow in the distance, with every blurry figure that seemed to draw near, a fresh wave of hope surged within her.

But that hope was like a candle in the wind, guttering and nearly extinguished with each new disappointment.

’With rain this heavy, if there’s a mudslide... even an Orange Rank powerhouse like Jiao Yin wouldn’t be able to fight against a natural disaster.’

"Wanwan, the air is damp and cold. Your fever just broke, and you’re still weak. You can’t get chilled again. Come back inside and warm up," Hua Han’s coaxing voice sounded from behind her yet again.

Bai Wanwan shook her head, merely pulling the animal hide tighter. Her gaze remained locked on the horizon.

Hua Han sighed. He knew he couldn’t persuade her.

He stepped forward, but not to pull her inside. Instead, he unfurled another, larger, drier animal hide and wrapped it securely over the one she was already wearing, bundling her up like a rice dumpling.

Feeling the added weight and warmth, Bai Wanwan finally stirred.

She tilted her head up to look at him. "Hua Han, have you heard any of the tribe’s Beastmen talk about the swamp? Is it dangerous?"

He gave her a small, steadying smile, his voice calm and certain. "Don’t worry. The lynx clan has thrived here for many years. While their overall Beastman Levels aren’t that high, that’s precisely why we know there can’t be any fatal dangers nearby that could threaten a male at the Peak of Orange Rank. Otherwise, knowing how cautious the Lynx Clan is, they would have moved their entire clan long ago."

He paused before adding, "Jiao Yin is very strong. If he promised to bring back the medicine, he will."

Hua Han’s words were logical and clear, carrying a reassuring strength.

The tight knot of anxiety in Bai Wanwan’s chest seemed to loosen just a little.

However, the day passed, and night fell. Jiao Yin did not return.

The next day, the rain continued its endless drizzle. When Bai Wanwan wasn’t taking care of the cubs, she was at the mouth of the cave, watching.

But the heavy weight of worry in her heart grew like a wild vine, threatening to choke her. She owed Jiao Yin far, far too much.