Chapter 52: I’ll Go with You

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: I’ll Go with You

The enormous King Cobra suddenly transformed into a tall, handsome male as it moved.

Roger’s heart sank.

In Wandering Beast City, the strongest person wasn’t the City Lord, but the inscrutable Second Leader standing before him.

He looked nothing like a Wandering Beast. Any Super Tribe would welcome a warrior this powerful.

Yet he chose to remain in Wandering Beast City.

He gave Roger an impassive glance before striding toward the cave.

The pressure from that single glance felt like a mountain crushing Roger’s back.

In an instant, his back was slick with cold sweat.

But he braced himself and blocked the man’s path.

"If you spare my life, I can lead you to the Holy Female. I know her general direction."

As he spoke, the hand hanging by his side clenched into a fist.

’The Wandering Beastmen wouldn’t let him go even if he led them to the Holy Female. Since that’s the case, I might as well go for broke. Maybe I can protect that young female.’

’If he weren’t afraid of the other man sensing his emotions, he would have started to laugh at himself for one day risking his life for a female.’

His path blocked, Zhu Xiu’s gaze fell upon the male in his way. A faint red light glinted in his pitch-black, slitted pupils.

From that single glance, Roger felt an immense pressure, as if the man had seen right through him.

"Lead me to her?"

Roger forced himself to nod. "If you go with me now, you might still be able to find her."

The moment the words left his mouth, he was struck by an invisible force and sent flying, slamming hard onto the ground.

HACK...

Bright red blood splattered across the snow, stark and garish.

He quickly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and turned to look, only to see Zhu Xiu stepping through the entrance of the cave.

Roger’s face went deathly pale, but he was powerless to stop him.

Bai Wanwan heard everything happening outside perfectly clearly.

She knew this crisis was unavoidable. Holding the cubs close, her mind raced, searching for a countermeasure.

Suddenly, a chill crept up her neck, the kind one feels when targeted by a predator.

She turned instinctively, and her gaze met a pair of black eyes tinged with red.

Bai Wanwan’s heart clenched. ’When did he get in here? I didn’t hear a thing.’

She took a deep breath, trying her best to remain calm.

The man said nothing, apparently sizing her up.

Bai Wanwan was filled with surprise. ’This beastman before me is exceptionally handsome, easily rivaling Chou Rong and Xin Feng.’

’Aren’t Wandering Beasts supposed to be hideous?’

Their gazes locked, and those black, red-tinged eyes radiated an intense aura of danger.

"The Holy Female?"

The man spoke, his voice laced with a hint of amusement and scrutiny.

Bai Wanwan considered for a moment before finally nodding. "Yes, I am."

’These are Wandering Beasts,’ she thought. ’Unlike other males who revere females, in their eyes, females have no status to speak of.’

’If I were just an ordinary female, my fate would probably be even worse.’

’Right now, I’m actually a little grateful to be a Holy Female.’

Zhu Xiu had expected her to scream in panic like other females, or to deny her identity.

He saw the hesitation in her eyes, but it lasted only for a moment before she admitted it.

His gaze swept across Bai Wanwan’s face. "Are you coming out on your own, or do I have to make you?"

Bai Wanwan had already formed her initial impression of him.

She prudently picked up the basket and stood. "No need to trouble yourself. I’ll walk on my own."

"Hn."

Zhu Xiu nodded and turned, leading the way out of the cave.

Bai Wanwan followed close behind. The moment she stepped outside, she saw Roger sprawled on the ground not far away.

He seemed badly injured. Upon seeing her emerge, he struggled to push himself up.

But the pain was clearly immense. He sucked in a sharp breath, his features twisting into a pained grimace.

Zhu Xiu raised a hand, pointed at him, and ordered a nearby Wandering Beast, "Finish him."

With that, he resumed walking.

The Wandering Beasts moved in with a roar, about to strike Roger down.

Bai Wanwan strode forward, blocking the Wandering Beasts.

"I’ll go with you. Let him go."

Roger had already anticipated his fate and held no hope of survival.

Bai Wanwan’s words left him stunned. He forced his eyes open against the pain and slowly tilted his head up to see the young female’s back, standing so close.

He never expected her to plead for him. He thought she must hate him.

It was true that Bai Wanwan didn’t like Roger.

But on second thought, Xin Feng hadn’t returned that night. If Roger hadn’t appeared when he did, she and the cubs would have been devoured by wild beasts.

He had also spent the last few days helping her evade the Wandering Beasts; it was just their bad luck that his entire caravan had been lost in the process.

Of course, she was only doing any of this on the condition that her own life wasn’t at risk.

If Zhu Xiu refused and insisted on killing him, then there was nothing more she could do.

The Wandering Beastman stared at Bai Wanwan with disgust. Had it been any other female, he would have already lashed out with his claws.

But he remembered that the female before him was the Holy Female and couldn’t be killed so casually.

So he turned to look at the Second Leader.

Zhu Xiu had heard Bai Wanwan’s words but didn’t reply immediately.

He slowly turned his head. "Is he your Beast Husband?"

"No."

"Then why do you want to save him?" Zhu Xiu’s voice was unreadable.

"He saved my life. If you agree to spare him, I won’t cause you any trouble on the journey. How about it?"

’Without the strength to fight back, making a scene was pointless. It was better to lie low for now and wait for an opportunity.’

"Bai Wanwan..."

Roger raised a hand, trying to touch her. "You don’t have to do this."

Bai Wanwan ignored him, her eyes fixed on Zhu Xiu.

The atmosphere grew tense. ’If he doesn’t agree, then so be it,’ Bai Wanwan thought.

’Roger... if he dies, he dies.’

"Come here," Zhu Xiu said to her.

Bai Wanwan was completely baffled, hesitating whether or not she should approach.

"Alright. I’ll let him live. You come with us."

Bai Wanwan was a little surprised, but since the deal was struck, she had to fulfill her promise.

"Bai Wanwan, don’t go with them! Wandering Beast City is..."

Before he could finish, he dissolved into another coughing fit, spraying more blood.

Bai Wanwan glanced back at him. Not long ago, Roger had been an incredibly powerful figure in the eyes of the Cat Clan Beastmen. Now, after a single encounter with a Wandering Beastman, he was reduced to this state.

It was a brutal, firsthand lesson in the cruelty of the Beast World Continent: the strong devour the weak.

"Do I have a choice? Roger, just stay alive. Don’t let what I’ve done be for nothing."

With that, she strode after Zhu Xiu.

The other Wandering Beastmen snorted, clearly resentful that Roger was being spared.

But because of Zhu Xiu’s authority, they ultimately let Roger be and followed the main group.

Bai Wanwan was following behind Zhu Xiu when the tall male in front of her suddenly transformed into a King Cobra, its coiled body as large as a house.

Bai Wanwan stumbled back several steps in terror.

’Oh, hell! This was the one thing she was most afraid of.’

’And this one was a super-sized version.’

She had to crane her neck just to see its head.

The King Cobra tilted its head slightly, its scarlet eyes gazing at her with a chilling coldness. "Get on."