The mont Qin Mo’s presence faded from the wooden corridor, the space around Lin Wan seed to change.
It wasn’t quieter. The spring still bubbled softly, steam rising in thin ghost-like curls. But sothing about the air loosened. The invisible pressure that had been sitting on her chest since she stepped into this place eased just enough for her to breathe properly again.
Lin Wan stood there for a few seconds, unmoving.
Then she exhaled.
"That man..." she muttered under her breath. "He’s definitely dangerous."
Not in the obvious way Wang was showing his raw, overwhelming strength.
Qin Mo was sothing else entirely. He’s unpredictable.
And that made him far more unsettling.
Her gaze drifted back to the hot spring.
Steam curled gently over the surface, the golden shimr of the water catching the light filtering through the canopy above. It looked inviting. Almost unreal.
She stepped closer, crouching near the edge.
"It really is a hot spring," she murmured to herself, softer this ti. Making very sure she didn’t say it too loud.
Her fingers hovered over the surface for a mont before she dipped them in.
Warm. Not scorching. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was simply just... perfect.
Lin Wan let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
"So this is what he ant..."
For a mont, the tension in her body eased.
Then...
[Ding! Mission Reminder.]
Lin Wan froze.
Right. That.
"The Second Beasthusband..." she muttered, rubbing her temple. "Seriously, Weiwei?"
No response.
Of course there wasn’t.
Lin Wan straightened, staring into the steaming water.
"You really don’t give easy tasks, do you?"
Her thoughts drifted, unwillingly, toward Qin Mo.
His presence. His strength. That overwhelming aura that made even the air feel like it had to obey him.
And then, Wang.
Lin Wan sighed softly.
This was going to be a problem.
She already knew Wang’s personality. Possessive didn’t even begin to cover it. The idea of him willingly accepting another male into their bond felt almost impossible to imagine, even if he had ntioned personally selecting for her.
But Weiwei had never given her sothing aningless.
And Qin Mo...
sothing about him felt bigger than any high-ranking beastman she had encountered before, not like she has seen much of them anyways.
Lin Wan shook her head lightly, pulling herself out of her churning thoughts.
Focus first, she told herself.
Her eyes flicked to the empty space where the translucent system interface had flickered earlier. The utensils. That part mattered. If she was going to build sothing real here, not just survive but actually develop, she needed tools.
This valley...
Her gaze swept the caldera again.
It wasn’t just beautiful. It was strategic. Hidden and Resource-rich.
And now occupied by soone far more powerful than she had expected.
Lin Wan let out a slow breath.
If she was going to stay here, she needed to understand him.
Because one thing was already certain. Qin Mo was not soone she could afford to ignore.
Ti passed quietly.
Lin Wan remained near the edge of the spring, lost in her thoughts, when the air shifted.
Faint. But sharp.
Lin Wan’s head snapped toward the entrance.
That familiar feeling, Her heart skipped.
"Wang..."
The next second, a blur of silver burst through the entrance of the caldera. The massive leopard form landed with controlled force, golden eyes scanning the surroundings with lethal precision.
And then it locked onto her.
Relief could be seen in the leopard’s eyes.
Wang crossed the distance in seconds, shifting mid-motion into his human form as he reached her.
"Wan’er!"
His hands were on her shoulders instantly, his gaze sweeping over her body as if checking for injuries.
"Are you hurt? Did sothing happen? I ca back and you were gone..."
"I’m fine," Lin Wan cut in quickly, placing her hand over his. "I’m okay, Wang."
Wang didn’t relax imdiately. His eyes narrowed.
Because now he felt it too.
That presence. The air shifted again. Heavy and commanding
And then a voice.
"You move quickly for a rogue ."
Wang froze. Completely.
Lin Wan felt it instantly. The tension in his body didn’t just rise. It changed, it wasn’t aggression, it was sothing else.
Slowly, Wang turned.
Qin Mo stood at the edge of the wooden structure, his expression calm and unreadable. But his eyes were locked on Wang.
And Wang...
For the first ti since Lin Wan had t him, lowered his head.
Then he dropped to one knee.
Lin Wan’s eyes went wide. "Wang?"
"Beast King," Wang said, his voice low and steady, filled with unmistakable respect. "I did not know this was your territory."
Silence.
For a brief mont, even the bubbling of the spring seed distant.
Lin Wan stared at Qin Mo. Then back at Wang.
"...Beast King?"
Her voice ca out quieter than she expected.
Qin Mo didn’t answer imdiately. His gaze shifted slowly to Lin Wan, then back to Wang.
"You recognize ," he said.
"I have seen you once," Wang replied. "During the Mid-Year Festival, four years ago. I ca as part of the Leopard Tribe delegation."
Lin Wan’s mind went blank for half a second.
Beast King?
Her gaze snapped back to Qin Mo.
That explained everything, The presence. The pressure. The way the surrounding air itself seed to yield around him.
This wasn’t just so powerful rogue beastman living alone in the mountains.
This was the Beastman king.
And suddenly, Weiwei’s mission made perfect sense.
A slow chill ran down Lin Wan’s spine.
"You..." she whispered. "You’re the Beast King..."
Qin Mo didn’t deny it. Didn’t confirm it either. But his silence said enough.
His gaze shifted between them again, then dropped slightly. Toward Wang. Toward the subtle closeness between them.
Sothing dark flickered in his eyes. Gone just as quickly as it appeared.
"I saw your markings outside," Qin Mo said calmly. "The drawing of a structure, a dwelling I presu?."
Lin Wan stiffened slightly. The blueprint. Right.
Qin Mo’s gaze returned to her. "This house you intend to build."
Not a question. A statent.
Lin Wan hesitated a mont, then nodded. "Yes."
A pause.
"I am interested in it."
Simple. Direct. But heavy with implication.
Wang’s head lifted slightly at that. Lin Wan felt his attention shift toward her. Waiting. Listening.
He was letting her decide. Even here. Even in front of the Beast King.
Her heart steadied.
She took a small step forward. "It’s not complete yet," she said. "But it is sothing I brought from my holand. A different way of building."
Qin Mo’s eyes didn’t leave her. "Show ."
Not a request.
Lin Wan glanced briefly at Wang.
Wang t her gaze. Then gave a slight nod.
That was all she needed.
"...Alright," she said.
Because this was opportunity. To survive and to grow, And maybe, to reach sothing far beyond what she had imagined when she first ca here.
Behind Qin Mo’s calm exterior, his thoughts were anything but still.
The Beast Shaman’s words echoed faintly in his mory.
"Go to Wanshuo Valley."
"There, you will et the one bound to your fate."
"The one who will walk beside you and reshape the future of the Beastn."
At the ti, he had not believed it.
But now.
His gaze settled once more on Lin Wan. On the way she stood beside Wang. On the unfamiliar scent that refused to align with any tribe. On the strange knowledge she carried. And the blueprint, sothing even he had never seen before.
Qin Mo’s eyes darkened slightly, Interest. Curiosity.
A flicker of sothing uncomfortable stirred as his gaze moved to Wang’s hand, resting close to Lin Wan’s side. Then back to her face.
"So," he murmured inwardly.
"This is Male you spoke of."
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