248: Chapter 248 Restraint

After seeing Yan Lie and his older brother off, Bai Wanwan originally intended to turn and go inside, but from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the distance.

Zhu Xiu was walking towards her.

The corners of her lips unconsciously lifted into a smile, and she simply stood at the door waiting for him.

A gentle breeze gradually dispelled the scorching heat of the sunlight.

Zhu Xiu also saw Bai Wanwan standing and waiting at the door.

His mate was exceptionally beautiful, especially when she smiled—her eyes curved into crescents, as if brimming with starlight.

This image had long been deeply etched into his heart, becoming an indelible mark.

Seeing him approach, Bai Wanwan reached out her hand towards him, her fingertips swaying lightly in the air, like a silent invitation.

Zhu Xiu took two steps forward and enveloped her soft hand in his palm.

"What are you doing standing here?" he asked in a low voice, his tone deep, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tenderness.

"I saw you coming back, so I waited for you," she replied, tilting her face up with a smile, her tone light and cheerful.

Zhu Xiu didn't speak, but simply bent down, wrapped an arm around her, and lifted her horizontally into his arms.

Bai Wanwan immediately took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck. "Where are you carrying me off to?"

"Inside to rest for a while."

Just as he spoke, they ran into Xin Feng, who was walking out holding Cubs.

"Who was the Male beside Yan Lie just now?" Zhu Xiu asked casually, his steps not pausing.

"Yan Lie's older brother. He probably came specifically to the Golden Lion Tribe to find him."

Zhu Xiu gave a noncommittal "Hmm" and didn't ask further. He sidestepped around Xin Feng and walked straight inside.

He gently placed Bai Wanwan on the low couch covered with soft beast skin, then crouched down in front of her.

Even in this position, his frame was still imposing. Bai Wanwan still had to tilt her head up slightly to meet his gaze.

Thinking of Yan Lie's unrestrained commotion last night, she felt a pang of guilt and decided to take the initiative.

She raised her hands to cup Zhu Xiu's face, her fingertips gently stroking his tense jawline as she smiled and said, "I have some good news I want to tell you."

Zhu Xiu grasped her wrist, but his gaze fell on her swollen lips, where clear teeth marks still lingered.

Further down, her slender neck was dotted with red marks, as if branded by a beast—a glaring sight.

His eyes instantly darkened, turbulent storms of suppressed emotion churning in their depths.

The hand hanging at his side clenched tightly, knuckles turning white, and the corners of his lips pressed into a cold, hard line.

Bai Wanwan keenly sensed the sudden shift in atmosphere. The air around them seemed to congeal into ice, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

She instinctively gathered the front of her garment, but the next second, she met Zhu Xiu's crimson eyes.

Those eyes roiled with ferocity, possessiveness, and an emotion bordering on loss of control.

Her heart skipped a beat. Steeling herself, she spoke up, trying hard to keep her voice sounding natural. "Zhu Xiu, in a few more months, I'll be able to completely lift the dark curse for you. You won't have to risk searching for energy stones anymore."

These words were undoubtedly tremendous news for Zhu Xiu, yet his expression remained stern and unflinching, showing no ripple of emotion.

He slowly raised his hand, his thumb brushing over the red marks on the side of her neck.

Bai Wanwan's breath hitched as she sensed his surging emotions.

"Does it hurt?"

Zhu Xiu stared at her, the darkness in his eyes growing denser, like a fierce beast lying dormant in an abyss.

Bai Wanwan was immensely grateful that Yan Lie wasn't here right now.

She quickly smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "It doesn't hurt. What news did you find out during your investigation these past two days? Tell me about it."

All she could do now was try to distract Zhu Xiu's attention.

Zhu Xiu was struggling to restrain his emotions, but the bloodthirsty possessiveness of a cold-blooded creature made it impossible for him to simply accept it as if nothing had happened.

Zhu Xiu remained silent for a long time, seemingly having finally adjusted his emotions.

"Hmm, I found some leads. The Golden Lion Tribe has too many Beastmen. I started by investigating the Males around the Females you've had conflicts with. I found that over a dozen Females have Yellow-tier Golden Lions as Beast Husbands. Some also have Beast Husbands from other races."

Bai Wanwan suddenly thought of something and abruptly asked, "Is Zhuo Ling among them?"

Zhu Xiu nodded. "Hmm, she's one of those over a dozen Females."

Intuition told Bai Wanwan that the Males from that day were likely driven by Zhuo Ling. After all, she had already schemed against her back in the Black Dog Tribe.

If it was her...

A sharp glint flashed in Bai Wanwan's eyes. This time, she definitely wouldn't let Zhuo Ling off easy!

"Zhu Xiu, then investigate her Beast Husbands carefully. I suspect it's her."

Xin Feng walked in carrying fruit, placing a stone basin filled with fresh berries on the low table in front of Bai Wanwan.

"Wan Wan, have some fruit."

Bai Wanwan smiled at her. "Okay."

Xin Feng sat down beside them. He had overheard their conversation just now.

"If it is Zhuo Ling, Wan Wan, what do you plan to do?"

"If it's her, I'll return the favor. She wants my life, I'll take hers!"

Bai Wanwan had never been a soft-hearted person. She didn't enjoy scheming and intrigue with others.

But if someone thought she was easy to bully and actively sought to bully her, she would absolutely make them regret it and let them understand the consequences of provoking her.

"Good."

Xin Feng's elegant and refined face remained gentle and amiable, yet he responded to Bai Wanwan's decision to take Zhuo Ling's life without the slightest hesitation.

If even a Male like Xin Feng could be ruthless towards a Female, let alone Zhu Xiu.

He felt no psychological burden about eliminating the Female who had framed Wan Wan.

"But... no rush for now. Zhu Xiu, investigate more carefully, and see what she plans to do next. If she really did it, simply killing her would be letting her off too easily."

"Alright, I'll keep an eye on them."

Meanwhile, under the Clan Witch's attentive care, Jin Yi's injuries were gradually improving.

He wore a beast skin robe draped over his shoulders, the front slightly open, faintly revealing a sturdy chest and abdomen crisscrossed with several hideous scars.

Although the wounds had scabbed over, the scars were still shocking, silently recounting the brutality of that beast tide.

"Has the beast tide... completely subsided?"

His voice was low, his gaze drifting casually towards the window.

"Rest assured, Young Clan Leader, the beast tide retreated long ago. The Tribe is safe and sound," the Male beside him replied respectfully. "The hunting teams have had bountiful harvests recently. Food reserves are ample, and the Clan Members are all at ease."

Jin Yi gave a slight nod, his expression easing somewhat.

After a moment of silence, he asked as if casually, "And Bai Wanwan? How has she been lately?"

"The weather is hot. Female Bai Wanwan rarely goes out, mostly staying at her residence."

A flicker passed through Jin Yi's eyes. His fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the beast skin. He then instructed, "Go to the underground storage and fetch some ice bricks. Deliver them to her."

Zhuo Ling happened to be walking to the doorway. Hearing these words, her steps abruptly halted.

She clenched her fingers, barely maintaining a gentle smile on her face, but jealousy and panic flashed in her eyes.

Jin Yi hadn't visited her since his return, nor had he sent any Beastmen to deliver ice bricks to her.

Why was he instructing Beastmen to deliver them to Bai Wanwan?

In her troubled state of mind, Jin Yi's cool, clear voice came from inside. "Who's at the door?"