I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Chapter 185: Chapter 185

"The children are incredibly healthy," the physician confirmed, releasing her wrist and patting her hand. Lin Wan let out a long, relieved breath that she had been holding, her shoulders relaxing instantly. "And what about my own health?" she asked. "I feel a bit stronger today than I did last week, but I want to be absolutely sure."

The physician nodded in agreement as he began packing his medical instruments back into the wooden box. "You have indeed gained a good amount of strength," he confirmed. "But you must continue to eat well and avoid any unnecessary stress." She gave him a helpless look, gesturing toward the high stone walls. "Avoiding stress in a place like this is quite impossible," she noted.

The physician smiled knowingly, though he did not comment on her words. "The babies are growing much faster than we originally expected," he mentioned casually. Lin Wan’s smile slowly faded at his words, a sudden wave of anxiety washing over her. "Is that bad news?" she asked, her voice dropping as she instinctively placed both of of her hands over her stomach.

The physician shook his head quickly to reassure her. "No, it is not bad news at all. However, it means they might arrive a few weeks earlier than we planned." Lin Wan stared at him in surprise, her heart fluttering. Sister Yun immediately stepped closer, her face tight with worry. "Is there any danger to her or the children if they come early?" the maid asked.

"There is absolutely no danger as long as Lady Lin continues to rest," the physician explained seriously. "But I must warn you very strictly against climbing steep stairs, running, or experiencing any sudden emotional excitement." Lin Wan nodded, promising to do her best to stay calm and quiet. The physician offered a reassuring bow and promised to return the next morning.

After he left, Lin Wan remained unusually quiet, her gaze fixed on the tiny blue shirt lying in her lap. Meanwhile, in the freezing northern mountains, the Silver Leopard army had already resumed its difficult march.

The thick snow crunched loudly beneath thousands of marching feet as the warriors moved in perfect, silent lines. Behind them, the heavy supply wagons rolled steadily, their wooden wheels groaning.

High above the army, Wei Xiang flew through the gray clouds in his massive, majestic bird form. His sharp eyes swept across the jagged mountain ridges, searching for any signs of an ambush.

He circled the area once more before diving down, shifting back into his human form as he landed gracefully right next to Patriarch Wang. "Everything is quiet," Wei Xiang reported, wiping frost from his brow.

Wang paused his steps, looking ahead at the empty snowy path with a suspicious frown.

"It is too peaceful," he muttered. Wei Xiang agreed, crossing his arms. "The empty roads make me highly uneasy. Cassian is not the type of leader to leave these main mountain paths completely unguarded. He must have a reason for letting us march this far without a single fight."

One of the clan elders stepped closer, his brow furrowed with deep worry. "Do you think they have prepared an ambush for us further ahead?" he asked. Wei Xiang nodded his head. "I believe their soldiers are simply hiding, waiting for us to enter a specific area. They want us to feel safe so that we let our guard down before they strike."

Wang quietly agreed with the assessment, his dark eyes focusing on the distant horizon. "Cassian wants us to keep walking, so we will continue forward," he said. Wei Xiang looked at him, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You already know exactly where he plans to strike us, don’t you, Patriarch?" Wang pointed toward a narrow, jagged valley located a few miles ahead.

"That narrow valley is surrounded by high cliffs," Wang explained. "It is the perfect place to trap a large marching army. If we enter that area without preparation, their spirit cannons will destroy us from above."

Wei Xiang studied the terrain in the distance, realizing the danger. "If we know about the trap, then Cassian must know we are prepared for it," the young Roc noted.

The two men exchanged a brief, serious look, understanding that the outcome of this battle would be decided long before their swords actually crossed.

Around noon, a scout rushed toward them from the rear of the army, dropping to one knee before Wang. He reached into his leather vest and pulled out a small scroll. "A message from our spies inside the Citadel, Patriarch," the scout panted.

Wei Xiang stepped closer as Wang unrolled the small scroll, his eyes scanning the thin paper. "What does it say?" Wei Xiang asked, his voice tense. "The spy reports that Lady Lin was examined by the royal physician again early this morning," Wang replied. Wei Xiang frowned. "Why are they examining her every single day? Is she unwell, or is something else happening?"

An elder nearby let out a worried sigh. "It seems Cassian is taking extraordinary care of her health." Another elder snorted in disbelief, shaking his head. "The Manticore King merely fears losing his most valuable hostage. He wants to ensure she remains healthy so he can use her against us when we arrive." Wei Xiang remained silent, thinking back to the previous reports.

He remembered the reports of gentle treatment and the special orders forbidding anyone from raising their voice near her. "None of this fits a standard hostage situation," Wei Xiang muttered, looking at the Patriarch. "What do you think, Wang? Why is he doing this?" Wang paused for a long moment, his eyes staring at the snowy mountains. "I do not believe Cassian is pretending," he said quietly.

The surrounding elders looked surprised by his words. "Do you truly believe the Manticore King cares for her?" one of them asked. Wang slowly turned his gaze toward the north. "I believe his feelings have become incredibly complicated. He did not expect to care for her, but now he does." Wei Xiang lowered his eyes, hoping that the King’s complicated feelings would keep her safe.

The army continued their silent march through the falling snow, their steps heavy but determined.

Far ahead, hidden beyond the frozen mountains, the Supreme Citadel waited in absolute silence.

The afternoon sun eventually disappeared behind thick, dark clouds, leaving the entire fortress covered in a pale gray light. A cold wind swept through the stone courtyards, rustling Lin Wan’s thick white cloak.

Lin Wan stood in the courtyard with Sister Yun, holding a small wooden basket filled with colorful cloth scraps, needles, and threads.

She walked over to the ancient pine tree and sat down on the stone bench. Sister Yun smiled as she watched her. "Are you going to attempt to sew that tiny shirt again, Lady Lin?" the older woman asked.

Lin Wan pulled the tiny, crooked blue shirt from her basket. "I refuse to let my children wear something that looks this terrible," she declared with a small laugh. "I must fix these crooked seams." Sister Yun covered her mouth to hide her amusement. "You have never sewn a single piece of clothing before. It is only natural that your first attempt is not perfect."

"That is true," Lin Wan agreed, her eyes softening as she touched the fabric. "But I want to make something with my own hands. My own mother used to sew all of my clothes when I was a child." Sister Yun’s smile softened with deep sympathy. "Your children will treasure this shirt more than anything else because their mother made it with her own hands," she assured her.

Lin Wan smiled, feeling a bit of her confidence return as she threaded her needle, she already had plans on making fir the triplets and the two eggs.

Before she could make her first stitch, a young palace maid hurried into the courtyard with a warm tray. "Lady Lin, the kitchen has just prepared some fresh, warm pastries for you to try," she announced. Lin Wan laughed softly. "It seems everyone is suddenly very worried about feeding me."

"These are His Majesty’s strict orders," the maid explained with a polite bow. "He wants to make sure you have everything you need."

Lin Wan let out a quiet sigh at the mention of Cassian’s name. Sister Yun offered to carry the heavy tray back to the room, but Lin Wan slowly rose to her feet. "I would like to walk to the kitchen myself," she said.

The palace kitchen was much larger than Lin Wan had expected, filled with busy servants carrying heavy baskets, ceramic bowls, and steaming metal pots. The rich, sweet smell of freshly baked pastries filled the warm air.

As soon as Lin Wan walked in, several cooks immediately stopped their work and bowed deeply to her. An elderly cook walked over with a warm smile.

"We prepared these golden pastries specifically for you, Lady Lin," the old cook said, lifting a white cloth to reveal the warm treats.

Lin Wan took a small bite of the soft pastry, enjoying the sweet taste as it melted in her mouth. "They are delicious," she praised. Another cook smiled proudly. "His Majesty asked us to prepare a different menu for you every single day."