I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 184: Chapter 184

"He did not return that winter," Sister Yun explained. "But he did return eventually. It took him five long years to find his way back to our village."

Lin Wan’s small smile began to fade as she noticed the sad look on the older woman’s face. "And were you happy when he came back?"

"By the time he returned, I had already stopped waiting for him," Sister Yun added quietly. "I had moved on with my life."

Sister Yun turned her gaze toward the bright moon shining through the window. "Sometimes, child, the hardest part of loving someone is deciding how long you should keep waiting for them."

Lin Wan quietly held the warm ceramic bowl in her hands, the heat seeping into her cold fingers. "I do not know if I am still waiting... or if I am simply too tired to do anything else."

Far above the bustling palace, Cassian stood completely alone on the balcony of the highest tower. The freezing mountain wind pulled fiercely at his long black robes, but he did not seem to feel the cold at all.

A Shadow Guard appeared silently behind him, kneeling on the stone floor. "Your Majesty, I have the nightly report."

"Speak," Cassian commanded, not turning around.

"The Silver Leopard army has stopped their march for the night," the guard reported.

"They are currently camp-bound approximately three days away from our outer valley."

Cassian nodded slowly. "What of their morale and food supplies?"

"Both remain stable and high, Your Majesty," the guard confirmed. "However, our spies report that Patriarch Wang has not been eating properly. He spends almost all of his time planning their route."

Cassian looked away, a cold glint in his golden eyes. "My rival is pushing himself too hard. He will be exhausted before he even reaches my gates."

"And what of the Roc?" Cassian asked after a moment.

"The bird has not left the Patriarch’s side," the guard explained. "He spends his days scouting our lines and his nights guarding the camp."

Cassian narrowed his golden eyes slightly. "The bird recovered much faster than I anticipated. His resilience is impressive." He looked toward the dark northern peaks. "They have both come for her, then."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard bowed.

"Dismissed," Cassian muttered, waving his hand.

The guard vanished into the shadows of the tower. Once he was completely alone again, Cassian turned his gaze toward the lower tower where Lin Wan was staying. Seeing the faint yellow light still burning in her window, he let out a quiet sigh.

"You are probably thinking about them right now, aren’t you?" he whispered into the cold wind.

Near midnight, the massive Silver Leopard camp had become almost completely silent as most of the tired warriors slept in their tents.

Wei Xiang walked alone beyond the outer edge of the camp, the fresh, deep snow crunching loudly beneath his heavy leather boots.

He stopped beside a frozen cliff that overlooked the vast, dark valley below, the bright moon reflecting beautifully across the white landscape.

He took a slow, deep breath of the freezing air, his chest expanding beneath his armor.

"Lin Wan," he whispered her name aloud into the empty night. He let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh, shaking his head. "It feels like it has been an eternity since I last saw your face."

He looked toward the distant, glowing lights of the Citadel hidden in the mountains. "I was not strong enough to protect you before. I let him take you away from us."

He closed his eyes tight, his fists clenching at his sides as he made a solemn vow to himself. "But next time... next time I will stand directly in front of you. I won’t let anyone hurt you again, no matter what happens to me."

A sudden, cold breeze swept across the mountain peak, rustling his hair. For just a split second, it felt as though a warm hand had gently brushed against his cheek in response to his words.

Wei Xiang smiled to himself, looking up at the stars. "Wait for us a little longer, Lin Wan. We are almost there."

Behind him, completely unnoticed in the darkness, Wang had stopped a short distance away near the tree line.

Wang had only walked out to check the outer patrol routes and had not meant to interrupt the young man’s private moment, but he had heard every single word Wei Xiang had spoken to the wind.

He looked at Wei Xiang’s lonely, determined back for a long moment before quietly turning away to walk back toward the camp.

For the first time in his life, he truly understood that someone else had stayed beside Lin Wan in his absence, and that her heart was no longer empty.

————

Morning arrived beneath a heavy sky covered in thick, dark gray clouds that blocked out the sun. The biting cold wind swept relentlessly through the stone courtyards of the Supreme Citadel, carrying tiny, sharp snowflakes.

These white flakes drifted slowly across the vast palace roofs, dusting the dark tiles with a thin layer of winter frost. Along the high battlements, shivering guards changed their shifts, wrapping their cloaks tightly around their armor to keep out the chill.

Inside her warm bedroom, Lin Wan had just finished eating her hot breakfast. She sat quietly near the large window, a piece of unfinished baby clothing resting gently in her lap.

The tiny shirt was crafted from a beautiful, incredibly soft pale blue fabric that felt warm to the touch. Every few stitches, her fingers would pause, and she would gently rub her rounded stomach with her palm.

A sudden, soft flutter deep inside her belly made her breath catch, followed immediately by another gentle movement.

Lin Wan could not help but smile, her eyes lighting up with maternal warmth as she looked down. "Are you awake already, little one?" she asked in a soft, whispering voice. Another distinct kick answered her question, causing her to let out a quiet, happy laugh that echoed softly in the quiet room.

At that moment, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and Sister Yun walked in carrying a small woven basket.

The older woman paused near the entrance, a warm, curious expression on her face. "I thought I heard some talking in here," Sister Yun noted with a gentle smile. "Who are you sharing your secrets with this morning, Lady Lin?"

Lin Wan looked up, her cheeks flushing slightly as she adjusted the blue fabric in her lap. "I was just speaking to the babies," she explained, her voice filled with gentle affection. "They actually seem to answer me sometimes if I pay close attention." Sister Yun chuckled softly, setting her basket down on the table before walking over to the side of the chair.

"They are smart little ones, just like their mother," Sister Yun said, looking down at the fabric. Lin Wan sighed playfully, pointing at her messy work. "They are probably asking why their mother is making such ugly, crooked clothes for them," she joked. The older woman burst into a warm, genuine laugh, shaking her head as she leaned closer to inspect the tiny, uneven stitches.

"These clothes are not ugly at all," Sister Yun insisted, gently patting Lin Wan’s shoulder. "I would call them unique instead. No other child in the world will have a shirt made with so much love." The two women laughed together, their voices filling the cold, stone room with a sudden warmth that made the heavy feeling of the palace disappear.

Before they could continue their conversation, a young palace maid hurried into the room with a polite bow. "Lady Lin, the royal physician has arrived for your morning examination," she announced quickly.

Lin Wan let out a dramatic, exaggerated sigh, dropping her sewing needle back into the basket. "He was just here yesterday," she groaned, looking toward the ceiling.

Sister Yun smiled knowingly, gently folding the blue fabric to keep it neat. "You know His Majesty has ordered daily examinations to ensure your safety," she reminded her.

A calm, deep voice suddenly sounded from the open doorway as the elderly physician stepped inside. "If His Majesty heard your complaints, Lady Lin, he would probably order me to examine you twice a day," he joked.

Lin Wan quickly covered her face with her hands, letting out a soft groan. "Please do not tell him I complained," she said playfully, peeking through her fingers. "I take my words back completely." The physician laughed, his kind eyes wrinkling as he placed his heavy wooden medical box onto the table. He gestured toward a comfortable chair, asking her to sit down so they could begin.

Lin Wan obeyed, sitting back and resting her arm on the soft cushion of the table. The physician stepped closer, gently placing two warm fingers against her delicate wrist before slowly closing his eyes to concentrate.

The room became completely quiet, the only sound being the soft crackle of the charcoal fire in the hearth. After several quiet moments, the old man opened his eyes and smiled.