I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 180: Chapter 180

The war horn echoed through the northern mountains long before dawn broke over the horizon. Its deep, rumbling sound rolled heavily across the deep valleys, cutting through the frozen forests and passing over countless beast clans sleeping beneath the thick snow.

The entire mountain range seemed to tremble under the weight of that single, ominous note, signaling that the uneasy peace was officially over.

Inside the massive walls of the Supreme Citadel, the atmosphere shifted instantly as every guard straightened their posture and gripped their weapons.

Messenger hawks shot into the dark sky one after another, carrying urgent letters to different outposts across the territory.

The peaceful morning that everyone expected disappeared in a matter of moments, replaced by the tense energy of a fortress preparing for an immediate battle.

Lin Wan woke up to that distant, echoing sound, her eyes slowly opening in the dim light of her bedroom. She remained completely still under her heavy blankets, holding her breath as she listened intently to the freezing morning air.

Another horn sounded from much farther away, confirming that her mind was not playing tricks on her.

She could not see the distant battlefield from the high window of her stone tower, but a sudden weight pressed down on her chest.

She slowly sat up against her pillows, placing one trembling hand gently over her stomach. A strange wave of restlessness washed over her, and she wondered why her body felt so unusually tense.

There was no answer to her silent question because Weiwei remained completely quiet. That familiar, comforting voice inside her mind had not spoken for many long days, and the sudden emptiness left her feeling terribly isolated in this large room.

A gentle, rhythmic knock came from the heavy wooden door, breaking the heavy silence that surrounded her. Sister Yun called out from the hallway, her voice soft as she announced that it was finally time for breakfast.

Lin Wan cleared her throat to find her voice, wrapping her warm blanket tighter around her shoulders before telling the older woman to enter the room.

Sister Yun walked into the room followed by several young maids, each carrying a wooden tray filled with steaming food. The meal looked almost identical to the breakfast they had brought her yesterday.

There was a bowl of plain rice porridge, a few soft steamed buns, a bowl of clear broth, and a small ceramic plate filled with fresh green vegetables.

Fortunately, the mild smell of the food no longer made Lin Wan feel sick to her stomach, which was a massive relief. She quietly thanked the older woman with a small nod before picking up her spoon to begin eating. The warm food helped to calm the shivering inside her body, though her mind remained completely focused on the strange sounds outside.

Halfway through her meal, Lin Wan suddenly paused with her spoon in midair and turned her head toward the frost-covered window.

She looked at the younger maids who were busy arranging clothes and asked them gently if they had heard the loud horn. The girls stopped their work and looked at each other with confused expressions, shaking their heads as they asked what she meant.

The room became incredibly quiet as the maids looked down at the floor, refusing to meet her gaze. Sister Yun stepped forward and answered very carefully, forcing a warm smile onto her weathered face.

She claimed that the northern army was simply conducting their usual morning military drills, urging the young lady not to worry about the noise.

Lin Wan slowly lowered her spoon back into the bowl, repeating the words with a clear note of doubt in her voice.

The older woman kept her calm smile steady, nodding her head to confirm the false story. Lin Wan stared at her for several long seconds, noticing the slight twitch in the maid’s fingers, and knew instantly that she was lying.

Still, she decided not to expose the old woman, choosing instead to quietly continue eating her breakfast in silence.

At the exact same time, the outer stone walls of the Supreme Citadel were already crowded with thousands of heavily armored soldiers. Rows of warriors stood in perfect, rigid formations, their armor gleaming coldly under the dim morning sun.

Massive spirit cannons were being rolled onto the high battlements by teams of strong men, their dark metal barrels pointing toward the snowy plains below.

Ancient defensive arrays began to glow with a faint blue light beneath the thick layers of winter snow, humming with spiritual energy. Cassian walked slowly along the highest path of the wall, his heavy black cloak trailing behind him as he inspected the defenses. His golden eyes swept over the landscape, taking in every detail of the preparation.

Every commander along the wall immediately bowed their head deeply out of respect for His Majesty. A young scout rushed forward through the crowd, dropping to one knee with a heavy thud as he gasped for breath. He reported loudly that the Silver Leopard Clan had officially crossed the treacherous Frost Valley.

The scout explained that the enemy had already established three temporary camps in the valley and were busy gathering more allies to join their cause. According to his calculations, the main army was still about four days away from reaching the Citadel gates. Cassian listened to the report without changing his facial expression, his face as cold as the ice around them.

Another scout arrived almost immediately after the first, running up the stone steps to announce that the eastern border remained entirely stable. He also added that the powerful southern tribes had officially declared their neutrality in this upcoming conflict. Cassian nodded his head once, acknowledging the news as he dismissed the tired messenger with a wave of his hand.

Then, a high-ranking Shadow Guard appeared silently from the shadows, leaning in close to whisper directly into Cassian’s ear. The King’s sharp golden eyes narrowed instantly as he heard the secret words, his entire body freezing for a split second. He asked in a low, dangerous voice if the news was absolutely confirmed by their best spies.

The guard affirmed it with a firm nod, stating clearly that the legendary Azure Lightning Roc had been seen flying directly beside Patriarch Wang. Cassian remained completely silent for a moment, his fingers tightening slightly around the hilt of his sword. He realized that Wei Xiang had somehow recovered from his near-fatal injuries much faster than anyone had expected.

His golden eyes slowly turned toward the frozen north, watching the dark clouds gather over the distant mountains. He noted with a small spark of genuine interest that the giant bird had actually managed to survive their last violent encounter. A cold, dark smile touched the corners of his lips as he anticipated the battle ahead.

Meanwhile, the massive Silver Leopard camp was busy preparing to move their forces deeper into the valley. Strong warriors dismantled the large cloth tents with practiced, efficient movements, packing everything onto large wooden wagons. The heavy supply wagons rolled forward in a long line, their wheels crunching loudly against the frozen ground.

Large, muscular snow wolves pulled the heavy carts, their thick fur covered in white frost as they breathed out clouds of steam. The carts were filled to the brim with heavy weapons, iron shields, and preserved food meant to sustain the army during the long winter campaign. The energy in the air was thick with the anticipation of war.

Wei Xiang stood directly beside Patriarch Wang near the front lines of the marching army, his eyes scanning the horizon.

Although most of his severe injuries had finally healed, several thick white cloths were still wrapped tightly around his broad chest beneath his armor. He looked slightly pale, but his posture was completely straight and unyielding.

Wang glanced toward the young man, noticing the faint stiffness in his movements as he adjusted his weapon belt. He suggested in a quiet voice that Wei Xiang should remain behind at the base camp to rest his body.

Wei Xiang shook his head instantly, a stubborn look appearing in his eyes as he insisted on coming along with the main force.

Wang argued back gently, pointing out that his deep wounds had not fully recovered and could reopen during a fierce battle.

Wei Xiang dismissed the older man’s concern with a short wave of his hand, stating that he would rather die on the battlefield than sit idly in a tent. The two powerful males looked at each other in a silent battle of wills, neither one willing to back down.

Wang finally sighed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck as he noted that Wei Xiang had always been incredibly stubborn. Wei Xiang smiled faintly at the comment, replying softly that he had simply learned that trait from watching the Patriarch over the years.

The tension between them melted away slightly, replaced by a deep, mutual understanding.

For the first time in many difficult days, a tiny, genuine smile appeared on Wang’s handsome face. The brief moment of warmth disappeared after only a second, replaced once again by his usual stern expression.

A bird messenger landed gracefully before them, shifting back into human form as he handed over a tightly rolled scroll.

Wang’s expression slowly darkened into a deep scowl as his eyes scanned the urgent contents written on the paper. Wei Xiang noticed the sudden change in his leader’s face immediately, his hand instinctively moving closer to his weapon.

He stepped closer to Wang, his brow furrowing as he waited for an explanation.

Wei Xiang asked in a low voice what had happened to cause such a dark look on the Patriarch’s face. Wang unfolded the paper fully, explaining that Cassian had heavily fortified every single approach leading to the stone fortress.