I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 181: Chapter 181

Wei Xiang looked toward the distant south, realizing with a heavy heart that the enemy already knew they were coming.

Wang calmly folded the scroll back up, stuffing it into his leather belt while noting that he had fully expected as much from Cassian.

One of the clan elders stepped closer to the two men, reporting another significant problem regarding the neutral clans in the area. He explained with a worried look that those clans had suddenly begun closing their borders entirely.

Wei Xiang frowned deeply upon hearing this, realizing that the surrounding smaller tribes were simply terrified of the upcoming war.

The elder nodded his head to confirm the thought, explaining that no one wished to be caught between two powerful Sovereigns. The risk of being completely destroyed by either side was simply too high for them to take.

Wang spoke firmly to the elder, his voice carrying an undeniable authority that brooked no argument. He stated clearly that they would not force any innocent clans to join their fight or open their gates by violence. He decided that they would simply walk completely around those closed territories, even if it took more time.

The Silver Leopard camp continued moving forward long before the dark winter sunset painted the sky in shades of purple.

Long rows of brave warriors marched through the deep snow in perfect, silent order, their heavy footsteps shaking the frozen ground beneath them. Colorful flags bearing the proud silver leopard emblem fluttered loudly in the cold wind above the moving army.

Wei Xiang flew high overhead in his massive Azure Lightning Roc form, his giant shadow passing over the snowy hills.

His enormous wings cut through the thick grey clouds, bright flashes of blue lightning dancing beautifully between every single feather. From his high vantage point in the sky, he carefully watched the strategic movement of the entire army below.

Absolutely nothing escaped his sharp, predatory eyes as he scanned the ridges and hidden valleys for any potential enemy traps.

A few moments later, he folded his large wings and glided downward, landing gracefully on the snowy ground right beside Wang. The surrounding soldiers immediately stopped and bowed their heads in deep respect to the powerful beast.

The Patriarch stopped walking and turned his head to look at Wei Xiang, who was busy brushing the fresh snow from his broad shoulders.

Wang asked him directly what he had managed to see from high up in the cloudy sky.

Wei Xiang adjusted his heavy cloak, confirming that the Supreme Citadel definitely knew about their approach.

Wang shook his head slightly, muttering that it was absolutely no surprise given the Manticore King’s vast network of spies.

Wei Xiang continued his report, adding that the narrow mountain passes were incredibly heavily guarded by elite soldiers.

He explained that he had personally counted at least six hidden magical formations placed along the main path.

The young Roc warned that the enemy was sitting comfortably behind their defenses, waiting patiently for them to walk into the trap. One of the older elders stepped forward into the circle, his face full of deep anxiety as he looked at the two leaders. He asked the Patriarch if they should immediately change their current marching route to avoid the danger.

Wang unfolded a detailed leather map on top of a large, flat stone, leaning over it to inspect the terrain. His long finger slowly moved across several jagged mountain ranges, tracing the difficult paths available to them. After a long moment of contemplation, he looked up and stated firmly that they would not change their direction.

He explained that if they decided to alter their route now, they would waste another three valuable days wandering through the mountains. He declared that they must continue straight forward, regardless of the heavy defenses waiting for them in the narrow passes. The elder frowned deeply at the decision, worrying about the massive losses their warriors would surely face.

Wang calmly rolled the leather map closed, his grip tight as he looked the worried elder directly in the eyes. He spoke with absolute certainty, stating that they did not travel all this way across the frozen lands just to avoid taking losses. He reminded everyone that they came here for one specific purpose, which was to bring his beloved mate back home safely.

A heavy, profound silence instantly filled the command area, the surrounding warriors holding their breath at his powerful words. Even the most experienced elders lowered their heads in deep respect, unable to find any words to counter his fierce determination. Wei Xiang turned his gaze toward the distant south, his expression remaining perfectly calm on the outside.

However, his tightly clenched fist hidden beneath his dark cloak clearly betrayed the intense emotions swirling inside his chest. He quieted his breathing before asking in a soft, hesitant voice if the Patriarch believed she was truly alright. Nobody answered his question immediately, the cold wind howling loudly through the trees around them.

After several agonizing moments of silence, Wang finally spoke up, his voice heavy with raw emotion. He assured the young Roc that she was definitely still alive, which was the only thing that truly mattered right now. Wei Xiang released a long, slow breath of relief, the heavy tension leaving his shoulders as he nodded his head.

He whispered that as long as she was alive, he would stop at nothing to find her and bring her back to safety.

Wang looked sideways at the young Roc, noticing the fierce, mature glint in his sharp eyes that had not been there before. He remarked softly that the young man had truly changed a great deal since their last journey together.

Wei Xiang smiled faintly at the observation, admitting that he absolutely had to change because he was simply not strong enough before.

He looked down at his calloused hands, stating firmly that he would never make that same weak mistake again in his life. For a brief moment, Wang saw a clear reflection of his own younger self inside the determined eagle beastman.

He recognized the look of someone who was completely willing to cross dangerous worlds just to protect one single female.

He understood that powerful, desperate feeling better than anyone else in the entire world, having felt it every single day since she disappeared.

Just then, a loud commotion broke out at the edge of the camp.

A breathless spy rushed past the guards into the center of the camp and knelt down heavily on both knees before the Patriarch.

He panted heavily, announcing that they had just received an extremely urgent report from their hidden spies inside the Supreme Citadel. Wang demanded to know what the news was, his entire body freezing with sudden anticipation.

The scout took a ragged breath before uttering the word that everyone was waiting to hear, confirming it was about the female. Wei Xiang immediately took a large step forward, his eyes widening as he asked if she had finally left her isolated stone tower.

The scout nodded quickly, explaining that she was seen walking briefly in the beautiful palace gardens earlier that day.

He added that she was completely surrounded by a large group of elite Shadow Guards the entire time she was outside.

Furthermore, the Manticore King himself had personally watched her every move from the highest balcony of the main palace building. The atmosphere in the camp instantly became incredibly heavy, the air thick with a renewed sense of danger.

Wang slowly closed his eyes, his jaw clenching tightly as he absorbed the detailed information about his mate’s captivity.

He muttered darkly that it was clear Cassian still absolutely refused to let her go without a violent fight. The scout hesitated for a moment, shifting his weight nervously before speaking again to reveal more strange news.

He reported that their inner spies had also noticed something highly unusual about the King’s current attitude toward the female captive.

He explained that Cassian no longer treated her like an ordinary prisoner or a common hostage to be used for leverage. Instead, he had ordered the highly skilled royal physicians to remain right beside her day and night.

The scout added that the King had even dismissed several of the regular palace maids who were assigned to her quarters.

He paused for a moment, clearing his dry throat as if he was afraid to say the next part out loud to the angry Patriarch. Wang looked up with a sharp, piercing gaze, demanding that the scout finish his sentence immediately.

The scout lowered his head completely, whispering that the King had strictly forbidden anyone from raising their voice anywhere near her.

Wei Xiang frowned deeply upon hearing this bizarre detail, rubbing his chin as he wondered why a ruthless king would act so gently. No one in the entire camp could offer a reasonable explanation for the strange behavior.

The entire camp fell completely silent once again, the heavy quiet broken only by the whistling sound of the cold winter wind outside. Wang stared intently toward the distant, jagged mountains where the Supreme Citadel stood hidden behind the clouds.

A strange, unfamiliar wave of uneasiness slowly settled deep inside his heart as he thought about his mate.

He could not explain the sudden feeling to himself or to the anxious men standing around him in the snow. But he felt as though something inside the Citadel had already begun to change.