I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 183: Chapter 183

Large metal cooking pots were placed above the roaring flames, sending steam into the night air.

While some warriors sat together sharpening their heavy weapons, others checked the wooden wheels of the supply wagons.

Wei Xiang landed gracefully beside Wang after completing another long scouting flight, his large wings tucking tightly against his back.

"There are far more patrols in the area today," Wei Xiang reported, brushing the frost from his dark hair.

Wang looked up from his seat on a fallen log. "Are we getting closer to their main defenses?"

"Yes," Wei Xiang nodded, his expression serious. "The guard presence has doubled since yesterday. The enemy is definitely expecting us."

An elder walked over to their side, his face grim. "Patriarch, our western scouts have just returned. They found several abandoned villages along the path."

"Were there any survivors?" Wang asked.

"No, they were completely empty," the elder explained. "And there are no food supplies left behind. Cassian has emptied every storage house and moved the civilians deep inside his territory."

Wei Xiang frowned, his fist clenching. "He wants to starve us out. He does not want us living off the land as we march."

"He is trying to drag this out," the elder agreed.

Wang stood up, his face expressionless. "Cassian planned this. He knew we would have to march through these valleys."

"He never leaves anything to chance," Wei Xiang sighed, shaking his head.

Just then, a young soldier approached the group, bowing deeply. "Patriarch, the evening meal is ready for the warriors."

Wang shook his head. "Tell the men to eat first. Do not wait for me."

The soldier hesitated, looking between Wang and Wei Xiang. "But... what about your own meal, Patriarch? You must eat."

"I am not hungry," Wang claimed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The soldier bowed again and quickly left the area. Wei Xiang remained standing beside Wang, his arms folded across his chest as he stared at the older man.

"You have skipped three meals already," Wei Xiang pointed out, his voice sharp with concern.

"I am fine," Wang insisted, not looking at him.

"You are not fine," Wei Xiang countered, stepping into his line of sight. "You won’t be of any help to Wanwan if you collapse from exhaustion before we even reach the gates."

Those blunt words finally made Wang pause. He looked at the young Roc in silence, his dark eyes staring at him for several long seconds.

"Do you believe she is alright?" Wang asked quietly, his voice suddenly sounding much older.

Wei Xiang smiled sadly, looking down at the snow beneath his boots. "I have to believe it, Otherwise... I would not have the courage to keep walking toward that fortress."

Wang understood exactly what he meant. He turned his gaze toward the northern horizon, where the distant Citadel lay hidden among the snowy, jagged peaks.

"Wait for me a little longer, Lin Wan," Wang whispered into the cold night air.

Night settled heavily over the northern mountains, and the Silver Leopard camp slowly grew quiet beneath the glow of the burning campfires.

Warriors gathered in small, tight groups to eat their warm meals before returning to their guard duties. The patrols changed shifts in complete silence, while active scouts continued coming and going through the dark forest.

Inside the warm command tent, Wang stood over the large map spread across a wooden table, surrounded by several of his clan elders. Wei Xiang stood to his right, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he listened to the discussion.

An elder pointed a wrinkled finger at a narrow mountain pass on the map. "If we continue through Frost Ridge, we will reach the outer walls of the Citadel in three days."

"That is too dangerous," another elder immediately shook his head, gesturing wildly. "Those high cliffs are perfect for an ambush. We will lose too many of our brave warriors before we even see the gates."

A third elder spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Perhaps we should move further east? It is a safer route, even if it adds another two days to our journey."

Wang remained completely silent throughout the entire debate, his eyes scanning the marked paths.

Wei Xiang looked between the different routes on the map. "The enemy has probably already guessed every single path we might choose. They are not stupid."

"He is right," one elder sighed in agreement. "Cassian is never reckless. He will have prepared defenses at every single entrance to the valley."

Another elder turned to look at Wang, waiting for his decision. "Patriarch, what are your official orders? Which path do we take?"

Wang slowly rolled up the leather map, his grip firm and absolute. "We will continue forward through Frost Ridge as originally planned."

The elders exchanged worried, frantic glances, but no one dared to speak up against him.

"We do not have two days to waste," Wang repeated his command firmly, his voice low but powerful.

No one questioned him again. The heavy silence in the tent was finally broken by Wei Xiang, who adjusted his weapon belt with a sigh.

"I will fly ahead again before sunrise to check the cliffs for any hidden traps," Wei Xiang promised.

Wang nodded once. "Do not get too close to their magical barriers."

Wei Xiang smiled faintly, a brief flash of amusement in his eyes. "You have already told me that six times today, Patriarch."

"Then I will tell you a seventh time," Wang replied without missing a beat.

The corner of Wei Xiang’s lips lifted into a genuine smirk. "The Patriarch is truly becoming an old man. You worry too much."

Several of the surrounding elders looked completely horrified by his words. In their clan, no one dared to joke with the fierce Patriarch in such a casual manner.

To their absolute surprise, Wang simply let out a quiet, tired breath. "If I am becoming old because I worry, then you should stop giving me reasons to worry about you."

The elders stared at the two of them in shock as the heavy atmosphere inside the command tent relaxed for the first time all day.

Back inside the Supreme Citadel, Lin Wan had already returned to the quiet safety of her bedroom. She sat on a cushioned chair beside the arched window, looking out at the bright crescent moon hanging above the snowy mountains.

She placed her warm hand gently over her stomach, rubbing the fabric of her dress. "You have been very quiet today, babies" she whispered.

A tiny, distinct kick answered her touch, making Lin Wan let out a soft, breathless laugh.

"Oh, so you are awake now," she smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Another gentle kick followed, stronger than the first. Lin Wan leaned back against the wooden chair, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

"I am sorry," she murmured to her stomach. "I have been worrying too much lately. I must be making you restless." She gently rubbed her stomach in circular motions. "I just want all of this to end soon. I do not want you to grow up in a world filled with constant fighting and war."

The baby kicked once more, bringing a warm, genuine smile to her face.

"You must be incredibly stubborn," she joked softly. "Just like your father, but mummy doesn’t want that, your father is very annoying, and I cannot have my babies be like him."

She froze as the small smile slowly disappeared from her face. The word ’father’ echoed in her mind, leaving a sudden, painful ache in her chest.

For a long, quiet moment, no words came to her as her thoughts drifted back to the peaceful, sunny days they had all shared together in the Lower Realm before everything went wrong.

She quickly shook her head to stop the painful memories from overwhelming her, just as a soft, polite knock sounded on her bedroom door.

Sister Yun entered the room carrying a small ceramic bowl of warm soup. "You should drink this before you go to sleep, Lady Lin. It will help you rest."

Lin Wan accepted the warm bowl with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Sister Yun."

The older woman watched her quietly for a few seconds, noticing the sad look in her eyes. "You miss them very much, don’t you?"

Lin Wan did not try to pretend otherwise. She stared down at the swirling soup. "I do."

"Do you miss all of them?" Sister Yun asked softly, her voice filled with gentle curiosity.

Lin Wan lowered her eyes to the floor, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I do not miss everyone the same way. But yes... I miss my family."

Sister Yun understood her meaning immediately and chose not to press her with any more difficult questions. Instead, she sat down on the edge of the bed, folding her hands in her lap.

"When I was a young girl, I spent a very long time waiting for someone," Sister Yun said, her eyes looking distant.

Lin Wan looked up from her bowl with interest. "You did?" It appears the female here don’t really care about having so many beasthusbands like the female if the lower realm.

"Yes," Sister Yun nodded. "My loved one left our village to fight in a clan war. He promised he would return before the first winter snow."

Lin Wan’s expression softened with deep sympathy. "What happened to him?"