Chapter 286: The Snow Stopped, the Sun Came Out
When Evangeline returned to the tent, Genesis was already clinging to The Everwake.
The two of them, one big and one small, their handsome faces so similar they could have been carved from the same mold, were pressed together in a somewhat comical sight. Still, it was a double visual feast. It seemed the father and son had reconciled after their recent talk.
"Mama!" The moment he saw Evangeline, Genesis stretched out his little hands, asking for a hug.
"Your mama is carrying a little one, so she can’t always be holding you. Father will hold you instead." The Everwake pulled him into his arms, his reason perfectly justifiable—so much so that he said it with righteous confidence, making Thorne roll his eyes from the side.
His dark green eyes gazed gently at Evangeline’s still-flat stomach, and he sighed silently.
’These newcomers all have cubs now, but not me. I was the first one to meet Eva, and I’m still the only one without a cub.’
"Has Drake woken up?" Evangeline asked Danton. She hadn’t gone to see Drake since she got back.
Julian, on the other hand, had gone to see his brother immediately before heading off to gather the members of the Goldeagle Tribe.
After leaving the Triangle Abyss, they had come here. Danton had settled them in well, even applying medicine to the injured and poisoned Goldeagle Beastmen.
Danton frowned and shook his head. "Drake’s injuries are severe. The poison from the Corrosive Swarm seems to have a coma-inducing effect. He still hasn’t woken up, but his breathing has stabilized considerably."
"I’ll go check on him," Evangeline said, heading straight for the tent where Drake was resting.
As soon as she lifted the tent flap, she was hit by a thick, medicinal scent.
Although Drake had been unconscious for several days, the powerful self-healing abilities of a Beastman had already closed his gruesome wounds. His handsome face was pale, his chiseled features appearing even colder and harder in repose. His long, golden-red hair fanned out beside his cheeks, making him look like a sleeping beauty.
Evangeline reached out to touch his face, then fed him some Spiritual Medicine. After confirming that his breathing was indeed stable, she turned and left.
Just as she stepped out of the tent, she ran into Julian, who was rushing over.
His expression was a little more relaxed than it had been down in the Triangle Abyss. A glint of light flashed in Julian’s gilded-gold eyes when he saw Evangeline, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He glanced at the tent behind her and asked calmly, "Here to see my brother?"
Evangeline nodded slightly. "He’ll wake up soon. Don’t worry too much."
She was in no mood for small talk with Julian and was planning to go back to continue refining the top-grade spiritual stones.
Julian watched Evangeline walk away, his gaze dimming for a moment. He looked at her retreating back and called out, "Evangeline! Thank you! Thank you for helping the Goldeagle Clan, for saving my brother and our people."
’I owe her more and more.’
Without turning back, Evangeline simply waved a hand at Julian as her figure receded into the distance.
Julian let out a sudden, self-deprecating chuckle and turned to enter the tent.
*
Meanwhile, when Evangeline returned to her tent, the males were still teasing the cubs. The tent was warm and cozy.
Of course, if one ignored Thorne’s occasional jabs at The Everwake, the scene would have been even more harmonious.
Evangeline raised an eyebrow, but before she could speak, Loras had already finished roasting the game and placed it on the table.
"Mama! Come and eat!" the cubs cheered, rushing to the table and feeding each other bite by bite.
The Everwake watched Genesis, a faint smile on his lips. ’The cub has been living so well here.’
The little ones were at a growing age, and they started to get drowsy as soon as they were full.
"Eva..." Thorne looked at Evangeline expectantly.
It wasn’t just Thorne; Danton and Loras’s eyes also held a hopeful glimmer. The Everwake was the only exception. Although he was just as eager, he knew that having just returned, he should try to smooth things over with his companions, so he didn’t press the issue.
He held Genesis, his expression softening as he watched the little one yawn in his arms.
Evangeline glanced at the men, tilted her chin up slightly, walked to the tent flap, lifted it, and said calmly, "The Spirit Stones still need refining. I’ll be sleeping alone tonight."
As her words fell, the faces of all the males in the tent fell. However, seeing the serious expression on their female’s face, they left the tent one by one, taking their respective cubs with them.
Thorne blinked and whispered, "Eva, let me stay with you. I promise I won’t disturb you!"
Evangeline shot him a look. Though she didn’t say a word, her expression said it all.
Thorne heaved a long sigh and said sourly, "That social butterfly sure is lucky..."
’Don’t think I didn’t notice. Down in the Triangle Abyss, that social butterfly took every advantage he could! Heh. A guy who almost made us kill Eva, and he just waltzes in and wins her heart so easily? It’s infuriating!’
Thorne’s eyes narrowed as he secretly plotted. ’Maybe I should sneak into his tent tonight and give him a good thrashing. That would feel good, wouldn’t it?’
But the thought of the illusions caused by The Everwake’s scale powder made his lips twitch in frustrated annoyance.
Evangeline pretended not to hear him. Once everyone had left, the tent fell completely silent.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, and with a flick of her wrist, several top-grade spiritual stones once again began to glow.
’Regardless of whether the ship can get us across the Triangle Sea, it’s a fact that there’s something wrong with this place. Perhaps the Mer Clan can only truly make their home here once the surging undercurrents and sweeping gales are dealt with.’
’However, it’s not yet certain if the Tideborn are in the Triangle Abyss. It will require further exploration.’
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
As morning light spilled into the world, the heavy snow that had fallen for days finally began to subside.
The snow stopped, and the sun came out.
Hearing the joyful cheers outside the tent, Evangeline slowly opened her eyes. The top-grade spiritual stones had retracted their spiritual light; they spun and danced, clearly perfected. But to set up the array, she would need to enter the Deep Sea.
She stepped out of the tent to find The Everwake and the others already waiting outside.
"Eva, the snow stopped!" Thorne’s dark green, slitted pupils were filled with delight. The heavy snows of the Cold Season had finally ceased, which meant the season was nearly over. They would soon be able to cross the Triangle Sea.
Evangeline nodded lightly, her eyes suddenly catching sight of a figure in the crowd.
"Orion?" she said, raising an eyebrow at the figure who radiated an air of dejection.
’As the leader of the Sky-Rend Tribe, why didn’t Orion leave with his people?’
Orion looked up at her, a flash of shame crossing his face. He took a deep breath, stepped out from the crowd, and said softly, "I failed to control my people. I will go with you to bring them all back."
He had known nothing about the Sky-Rend Tribe joining forces with the Mysticeti Tribe to steal the ship.
Thorne looked at his friend, his lips pressed into a thin line, and stepped forward to pat his shoulder.
’The Sky-Rend Tribe had betrayed Eva, but in doing so, hadn’t they also betrayed Orion? For a leader to be kept in the dark by his own people about something so important... clearly, his title as leader of the Sky-Rend Tribe was now in name only.’
Her voice was unhurried. "I’d suggest you prepare yourself. There’s no guarantee they’re still alive."
Evangeline, of course, wasn’t going to take her anger out on Orion. Besides, there was nothing to be angry about.
’They were just a bunch of guinea pigs who volunteered to test the waters.’
