Chapter 44

Ye Baizhi blinked her bright eyes as she gazed at Ye Wulan.

Ye Wulan’s stare was unwavering, his eyes carrying an innate tenderness, as if charged with an electric pull—an allure that seemed capable of stealing souls. He curled his lips slightly and said in a slow, deliberate tone, “In a valley.”

Ye Baizhi’s lashes quivered, and she silently mused: What a menace. But she kept her expression composed and spoke calmly. “To be honest, Master Healer, the plant in the middle is rapeseed. When it matures, it produces rapeseed seeds, which can be used for oil extraction.”

“The oil can be used for cooking.”

“Fresh rapeseed can be eaten as a vegetable.”

“This is a great find.”

“So I’d like to know the exact location—once the seeds mature, we can harvest them for oil production.”

Ye Wulan’s voice softened. “Alright.”

“After you’ve given birth to your child, I’ll find time to take you there.”

Only then did Ye Baizhi remember—she was carrying a child. She placed her hand on her stomach and suddenly felt a movement inside. Her expression lit up with surprise and disbelief.

Ye Baizhi looked up at Ye Wulan, as if about to ask him something.

Ye Wulan spoke slowly. “Six days.”

“What?” Ye Baizhi didn’t understand what he meant.

Ye Wulan continued, “In six days, he will be born.”

Ye Baizhi’s eyes widened in astonishment. Could he really predict the time so precisely?

It made her recall what Xue Youchen had told her before. His origins—was he truly from the Enchanter Demon tribe?

If that was the case, then his words must be true.

Ye Baizhi realized she needed to prepare for the baby’s arrival in the coming days.

“Thank you!” No matter what, she had to express her gratitude.

Ye Wulan seemed unwell, his face turning even paler. “Cough…”

Ye Wulan coughed violently, and Ye Baizhi felt as if he might cough out his very lungs. He seemed severely unwell. Yet, before transplanting the talent bone for her brother, he had been fine. Was it because performing the transplant had drained too much of his strength?

“Doctor, are you alright?”

Ye Wulan curled his lips into a faint, enigmatic smile—part ethereal, part devilish. “It’s nothing.” He paused, his eyes curving into an elegant arc, shimmering like waves in the moonlight. “Miss Ye, are you worried about me?”

Ye Baizhi didn’t know how to respond. But Ye Wulan didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he lifted his gaze to the sky and murmured, “Miss Ye, I should take my leave.”

“Take care.” With that, he departed.

Before long, Xue Youchen emerged from the house. “Master Ye has left?”

“Yes. He looked quite unwell.”

Xue Youchen’s cold gaze flickered slightly. “Kasai carries half of a demon bloodline. Although the talent bone was retrieved from him, it still carried a trace of demonic energy. To purify that energy, fully bind the talent bone to your brother, and restore his strength, Ye Wulan had to use his own power.”

“That’s why he’s so weakened.”

Xue Youchen had just been inside, channeling his strength to reinforce Ye Chuan’s body. However, after witnessing Ye Wulan’s bone transplantation process, he fully understood the price that had been paid. If he could, Xue Youchen would have used his own power—but some things could only be done by a healer. No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t ensure the seamless fusion of Ye Chuan’s talent bone.

“He just said six more days—then the child will be born.”

Xue Youchen’s eyes, picturesque in their beauty, softened into a gentle smile. “If he said so, then there’s no doubt.”

The power Ye Wulan had just demonstrated made Xue Youchen almost sure—he was one of the legendary Enchanter Demon tribe. Logically, he should be wary of everyone and never openly reveal his clan’s abilities. But he still revealed it, and Xue Youchen saw it. Lowering his gaze to Ye Baizhi, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that Ye Wulan had no feelings for his Ah Zhi.

Just as Xue Youchen was about to speak, Xue Lei suddenly appeared, kneeling respectfully. “Master, urgent news from the Misty Forest.”

“What happened?”

“The demonic energy in the Misty Forest is growing stronger. The demonic beasts have been fiercely attacking the barrier, weakening it, and the corruption is spreading…”

“The tribe elders are urgently summoning the council to reinforce the barrier and protect the borders. If left unchecked, the entire northern region of the Beast Continent will be in grave danger.”

This was a crisis of utmost urgency. If the barrier collapsed, the demon race would invade the Beast Continent, wreaking havoc upon beast clans, and all tribes would face destruction.

Ye Baizhi’s expression shifted drastically.

Xue Youchen couldn’t bear to leave Ye Baizhi—his gaze filled with worry as he looked at her. At the same time, he knew that if the barrier collapsed, she would be in danger, and the Rabbit Tribe would not be spared from the demons’ wrath.

Ye Baizhi spoke firmly. “Go.”

“I understand. Don’t worry about me.” Although she hated to part with him, she knew that as the king of the Northern Region, this was his duty.

If she were strong enough, she would go with him. But right now, she only had first-tier wood-based abilities. Additionally, she constantly needed to transfer energy to her second brother to help him recover.

Xue Youchen stepped forward and held her tightly, carefully avoiding her stomach. His eyes were filled with deep reluctance.

Ye Baizhi embraced him just as tightly. “Don’t let anything happen to you.”

She knew reinforcing the barrier wouldn’t be easy. It had been sealed long ago by powerful Snow Wolf tribe elders. It was said that many from the Snow Wolf tribe had sacrificed themselves back then.

She wanted to be selfish and keep Xue Youchen by her side, but she knew she couldn’t. She wished she could accompany him to the border, yet reason told her that, with a child in her womb, she couldn’t go somewhere so dangerous—especially that close to the demonic energy.

The Snow Wolf tribe’s ice-based power could counteract some of the demonic energy. But her true form was that of a rabbit beast, and her abilities were wood-based—not ice-based.

Xue Youchen gently smoothed her hair, tucking it behind her ear, gazing at her as if trying to imprint every detail onto his soul.

“Okay.”

…

Once Xue Youchen left, Ye Baizhi felt a lingering emptiness.

For the past few days, he had always been by her side—they had been inseparable. Even at night, she had slept in his embrace, so she had grown used to his presence. Now, with him suddenly gone and possibly facing danger at any moment, a deep unease settled in her heart. She could only busy herself to keep from dwelling on it.

…

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, six days had gone by.

That night, the sky was filled with flashing lightning, followed by a torrential downpour. Unable to sleep amidst the rumbling thunder, Ye Baizhi suddenly felt something stir in her abdomen. Before she had time to prepare, she gave birth to a small Snow Wolf.

It happened effortlessly.

Yet, the moment the little Snow Wolf was born, a pure blue radiance surged from its body, shooting straight into the sky. The force it unleashed was overwhelming. It was as if the very essence of the world’s energy had converged upon her. Throughout the Beast Continent, all beastmen witnessed this celestial phenomenon. It sent shockwaves through every faction across the land.

“A pureblood beast—a natural spirit body!”

Meanwhile, masked black-clad beastmen silently infiltrated the Rabbit Tribe. Just as they approached Ye Baizhi’s cave with murderous intent, Ye Wulan appeared, holding a black umbrella, descending like a phantom from the heavens—eliminating the assassins in an instant.

At that moment, even as he dispatched the killers, his presence was breathtaking—an intoxicating blend of mesmerizing allure and ruthless bloodshed.