Chapter 599 - 596: Wen Xin and Hidden Worries

Chapter 599: Chapter 596: Wen Xin and Hidden Worries

Establishing the Cub Garden for centralized protection, forming reliable patrols, and now starting to root out internal threats...

She was already doing everything she could to prepare for the greater storm that might be coming.

The three males escorted her into the warmth of the house, where the glow from the fireplace dispelled the night’s chill.

Bai Wanwan watched the leaping flames and couldn’t help but murmur, a subtle note of worry in her voice, "I wonder just how chaotic it is outside right now... Jin Yi has been at the Golden Lion Tribe for so long and still hasn’t returned. I wonder if something happened to him."

Yin Ze immediately sensed her low spirits. His large, warm hand enveloped her cool fingertips. "If you’re that worried, I can fly to the Golden Lion Tribe first thing in the morning. I’ll check on the situation and come back to tell you as soon as I can."

He then turned to Hua Han to coordinate. "Chou Rong has beastmen watching over the Cub Garden. Tomorrow, you and Xin Feng should decide which one of you will stay behind to look after the cubs. The other can accompany Wanwan to continue searching for the mind-controlled beastmen."

Hua Han nodded. "I’ll discuss it with Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu later."

Just as he finished speaking, Xin Feng and Zhu Xiu came down from the second floor, followed by cubs of all shapes and sizes.

The cubs swarmed her cheerfully, affectionately rubbing their big, fluffy heads against her legs and arms. They whined and cooed, and the fatigue from her long day of running around instantly vanished.

She smiled, rubbing each of the children’s delightfully soft heads and ears before sitting down on a low couch covered with thick animal hides.

The oldest cubs, who had just been brought back by Chou Rong’s men, immediately squeezed in beside her and started complaining all at once:

"Mother! Father Beast Chou Rong is too bossy! He forced us to come back and won’t let us go out with the Hunting Team!"

"Yeah, Mother! We’re really strong now! We can catch our own prey!"

"Mother, could you please talk to the Father Beasts for us? Even just letting us train near the tribe would be fine!"

Seeing the eager glint in her children’s eyes—their desperation to prove themselves and join the world of adult males—made Bai Wanwan’s heart fill with both pride and worry.

She reached out and stroked her oldest tiger cub’s bristly short hair. Her voice was gentle, but not indulgent. "My cubs, Mother knows you’re grown up now. You’re eager to be as strong as the Father Beasts and contribute to the tribe. But lately, it’s been very dangerous outside, full of unknown threats."

She looked around at the half-grown cubs, her gaze serious. "You are my oldest cubs. You’re role models for your younger brothers and sisters to rely on. During this critical time, staying in the tribe to help me protect our home and look after your younger siblings is an equally important task. It may even require more responsibility and courage. Can you take on this important duty for me?"

Hearing her words, the older cubs felt trusted, like they were being given a great responsibility. They immediately puffed out their chests. Any lingering displeasure from being refused vanished, replaced by a sense of duty, and they all scrambled to nod in agreement.

"Okay, Mother! We’ll listen to you!"

"We’ll protect our younger brothers and sisters and our home!"

"But... Mother," a young leopard cub couldn’t resist asking, his eyes full of hope, "when can we go out hunting? I want to get stronger, just like the Father Beasts, so I can do a better job of protecting you and my younger siblings."

Bai Wanwan smiled and hugged him. "I know. But sometimes, strength isn’t just about attacking. You can use your head to find a way. You can also be patient, find your enemy’s weakness, and then finish them with a single strike. Don’t you think so?"

The cubs nodded, only half-understanding.

Bai Wanwan looked at their energetic faces and gave them what amounted to a non-committal promise. "I can’t say for sure how long it will take. But I promise you, once things outside have stabilized and it’s not so dangerous, I will do my best to convince your Father Beasts to let you go on training hunts within the safe zones designated by the tribe. How does that sound?"

"Yay! Mother, you’re the best!"

"Thank you, Mother!"

"Mother, I love you!"

Having received their Mother’s comfort and understanding—even if it was only a verbal promise—was enough to satisfy the young beastmen.

Bai Wanwan watched the brothers roughhousing with one another. For the most part, they knew when to stop and didn’t impulsively hurt each other.

The smile never left her face. Xin Feng came to her side and reminded the cubs, "If you’re going to wrestle, move away from your Mother. Don’t hurt her."

"We know, Father Beast."

Xin Feng sat down next to Bai Wanwan. "I just heard from Yan Lie. You found one?"

Bai Wanwan smiled and gave him a brief rundown of what had happened that day. Nearby, the air was filled with the cubs’ cheerful laughter and playful shouts.

The door was pushed open, and Chou Rong returned, cloaked in the darkness of the night.

His stern expression softened instinctively at the sight of the warm, cozy scene inside.

The males began preparing dinner with practiced ease, bringing the food they had been keeping warm by the hearth to the table.

During the meal, Chou Rong mentioned some news he’d received that day. "It’s strange. The number of fugitive beastmen on the run, as well as the sporadic attacks, seem to have suddenly dropped off..."

Bai Wanwan paused in the middle of serving herself some food and turned to look at him. "They suddenly dropped off?"

"Yes. Tomorrow, I’ll have the scouts lead a team to check on things farther out."

Bai Wanwan nodded. "Jin Yi still isn’t back, and we haven’t heard anything. I’m planning to have Yin Ze go to the Golden Lion Tribe tomorrow to see what’s going on."

She tried to reassure herself. ’The Golden Lion Tribe isn’t as powerful as the Tiger Clan, but Jin Yi is a Red Rank Male, and the Golden Lion Clan has so many High Rank Talent Beastmen. Even if they ran into some trouble, it couldn’t be anything too serious.’

Despite telling herself this, she couldn’t relax for the rest of the evening.

After the meal, the males efficiently cleared the dishes and wiped down the stone table.

She, in turn, had the younger cubs line up to wash their faces and hands with warm water one by one.

She personally checked that each child had washed their little hands and faces properly. Only after watching them all return to their little nooks and snuggle under their animal-hide blankets did she finally feel at ease.

The older cubs told her, "Mother, you should go get some rest. We’ll watch our younger brothers and sisters. And Father Beast Jin Yi will definitely come back safe. Don’t you worry, Mother."

Bai Wanwan stood at the door, her heart swelling with pride. "Okay, I’m not worried. You all get some rest now."

She slowly returned to her room, where Chou Rong was already waiting for her.

Silvery moonlight streamed through the stone window, casting a soft glow across the ground.

Chou Rong walked over, lifted her into his arms, and carried her to the stone bed.

For once, he didn’t tease or trouble her. Instead, he simply held her slender, soft body securely in his broad, warm embrace as they lay there quietly.

"Go to sleep." His chin rested gently on the top of her fragrant hair.

Neither of them spoke. The only sound in the room was their steady breathing, mingling in the quiet.