Shu Ning was left speechless by his cold words.
A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, and her body went limp.
Without warning, she collapsed forward.
THUD—
Xuan Lin froze, failing to catch her in time.
Once free, the wound she had been clutching immediately began to bleed again.
His gaze fell upon the gruesome claw marks on her back.
Blood dyed her back red, soaking her tattered Beast Clothes.
His eyes darkened.
Though reluctant, he still helped her up, letting her body lean against his.
Then, he pressed the blood-soaked fur back against her wound.
After stopping the bleeding, he breathed a sigh of relief.
His gaze fell on her face, her eyes tightly shut.
Under the moonlight, he realized her face had become so clean.
Beneath her tear-soaked eyelashes, her skin was fair and delicate, but completely devoid of color.
Her lips were pale and dry from blood loss.
She rested peacefully against his shoulder.
He found himself somewhat captivated.
But then he remembered the things she had done in the past, and his expression turned cold and dark again.
“What happened to her?”
Xiao Chong, who had returned with herbs, asked, his eyes darkening as he saw her condition.
“She fainted.”
Hearing that she had fainted, he quickly crushed the herbs, gently applied them to her wounds, and bandaged them tightly.
“Let me take her,” he said to Xuan Lin.
Xuan Lin didn’t hesitate, handing her over to him.
He took the unconscious Shu Ning and gently lifted her into his arms.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Chong said softly.
“Mhm.”
After returning to the Wolf Clan Tribe, the two parted ways.
Xiao Chong carried Shu Ning back to his own cave and gently laid her on his bed.
His eyes darkened as he looked at her pale face, his gaze falling on her chapped lips.
He then went to the river to get some water.
But when he returned, he discovered Shu Ning was gone.
He panicked instantly.
‘She’s awake?’
‘Impossible, she’s too seriously injured…’
‘Someone must have taken her while I was gone.’
At this thought, he grew frantic…
He quickly analyzed who was most likely to have taken her.
In the end, he narrowed it down to two people—Xuan Mo and Mo Li.
This morning, when they were becoming mates, Xuan Mo had come looking for her.
He had been acting strangely then, making him the prime suspect.
At the entrance to Xuan Mo’s cave—
“Xuan Mo, get out here!” Xiao Chong shouted at the cave entrance, the anger in his eyes obvious.
“What is it?” Xuan Mo emerged, bleary-eyed and impatient.
“Is she with you?”
“What are you talking about?”
Xuan Mo ignored him and started to go back inside.
Xiao Chong grew even angrier and lunged forward to grab his shoulder.
Seeing this, Xuan Mo swiftly dodged aside.
“Are you crazy?!”
Xuan Mo was angered by his actions.
“Shu Ning is gone!
Did you take her?!”
“She’s gone?”
Xuan Mo’s sleepiness vanished.
“We were attacked by the Black Bear Clan outside today.
She was wounded and is in serious condition.
Did you take her?”
After speaking, Xiao Chong tried to push his way into the cave.
After hearing his words, Xuan Mo was instantly wide awake, a complicated expression on his face.
“Don’t come in.
She’s not here.”
Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, Xiao Chong turned and left.
Xuan Mo then followed him.
…
Meanwhile, the unconscious Shu Ning was in a warm embrace, being fed water.
“COUGH COUGH…
COUGH COUGH COUGH…” Choking on the water, she slowly opened her eyes.
A handsome face came into view, looking down at her with eyes full of worry.
“You’re awake,” came a deep, magnetic voice.
“Mo Li?”
Shu Ning called out, her voice dry and hoarse.
“How are you feeling?
Any better?”
“A little better.”
Shu Ning felt extremely uncomfortable being held like this, with him looking down at her.
She was both surprised and shy.
‘Doesn’t he despise me?’
‘Why is he now…’
“Put me down,” Shu Ning said, embarrassed.
This was too awkward.
“What’s wrong?
Are you uncomfortable?”
Mo Li noticed her frown.
“No, I…
I want to lie down.”
She was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl out of her own skin.
“Alright.”
He then gently set her down.
“Mo Li, how did I get here?”
Shu Ning was confused.
She remembered being in the forest with Xuan Lin just a moment ago.
“Who hurt you?”
Mo Li paused, not answering her question, asking one of his own instead.
He had been outside and seen Xiao Chong carrying her.
He had also seen her disheveled hair and tattered clothes.
He was about to go in and question him when he saw Xiao Chong leave the cave.
He went inside and, upon getting closer, realized her face was pale and her clothes were covered in blood.
A wave of complex emotions washed over him, and he carried her away.
“Was it Xiao Chong?” he asked, suppressing the rage in his heart.
“No—”
“Mo Li, get out here!”
Before Shu Ning could finish, she heard a shout from outside.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Mo Li said to Shu Ning and stood up.
The moment he turned, a vicious expression appeared on his face.
He twisted his neck slightly, and it made a few sharp cracking sounds.
Then he strode out.
The look on Mo Li’s face when he came out confirmed to Xiao Chong that Shu Ning was here.
“Is Shu Ning with you?”
“What if she is?” Mo Li’s tone was icy.
“So it really was you!
How is she!?”
Xiao Chong said, trying to go inside.
“She’s fine.
You don’t need to worry about her.”
After saying this, Mo Li turned and landed a fierce punch on him.
Stunned by the sudden punch, Xiao Chong then chuckled lightly, spat out a mouthful of blood, and wiped away the blood remaining on the corner of his lips.
Then he fought back…
…
Xuan Mo, who was standing nearby, was speechless.
Ignoring them, he walked into Mo Li’s cave.
“Xuan Mo…”
Shu Ning pushed herself up, enduring the pain.
Seeing this, Xuan Mo quickly walked to her side, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled her into his arms.
He accidentally touched her back.
Shu Ning winced.
Seeing her wince, Xuan Mo glanced at her back.
He saw that the clothes on her back looked like they had been torn by claws.
They were covered in bloodstains, and a piece of animal hide was wrapped around her waist.
His expression darkened.
He reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of her messy hair behind her ear.
“What’s happening outside?”
Shu Ning hadn’t seen Mo Li return, but instead saw Xuan Mo appear.
“It’s nothing,” Xuan Mo said.
“Oh, I heard someone calling for Mo Li just now.
Was that you?”
The voice hadn’t sounded like his.
“No,” Xuan Mo replied.
“Then who was it?”
“Xiao Chong.”
“Why didn’t he come in?” Shu Ning asked, puzzled.
“They’re sparring,” Xuan Mo said in a flat tone.
“Sparring?”
Instantly, Shu Ning understood.
Frowning, she quickly tried to get up.
“Don’t move.
Just lie down,” Xuan Mo said worriedly.
“Xuan Mo, help me up.”
When Xuan Mo didn’t move, Shu Ning struggled to get up on her own.
Unable to dissuade her, Xuan Mo helped her up.
She still felt dizzy when she stood up.
A moment later, leaning on Xuan Mo’s arm, she walked outside.
“Mo Li, Xiao Chong…” Shu Ning called out hoarsely.
She saw the two handsome men fighting at the mouth of the cave.
Shu Ning facepalmed.
The two paid her no mind and continued to fight.
Seeing that they had no intention of stopping, Shu Ning had a flash of inspiration.
“Xuan Mo, play along with me.”
Xuan Mo: ?
Before he could react, he saw Shu Ning let go of his arm and collapse to the ground.
“Shu Ning!” Xuan Mo shouted, bending down to help her up.
Suddenly remembering what she had just said, he chuckled, then continued to shout loudly.
“Shu Ning, what’s wrong with you?”
Hearing the commotion, the two fighters frowned, stopped what they were doing, and ran over.