The evil female is weak and the males of the whole continent are out of control and fall.

Chapter 685 Waiting for the Verdict
Bai Wanwan was sitting beside Jiao Yuan's bed, speaking softly to Jiao Yuan, who had just woken up.

"Wanwan, your father is feeling much better now. Although he still aches all over, it's definitely not going to kill me. Don't worry, with a couple more days of rest, he'll definitely be fully recovered!"

Although Jiao Yuan's voice was still a little weak, his spirits were obviously much better. He tried his best to make his tone sound relaxed, not wanting the female cub to worry.

Bai Wanwan carefully observed his complexion and then cautiously examined the horrifying wound on his waist and abdomen. She was relieved to see that the area where the skin had been torn open was now covered with a thick, dark red scab, and the surrounding swelling had subsided considerably.

The highly effective wound medicine was indeed amazing, and because she was on the scene at the time, she applied it almost immediately, which prevented irreversible consequences.

She couldn't imagine whether she could have saved her father and Ember Shadow if the bleeding had continued a few minutes later...

"That's good. Father, are you hungry? I've made some meat porridge."

"Speaking of which, I'm actually quite hungry." Jiao Yuan rubbed his stomach and smiled.

"Feeling hungry is a good thing; it means your body is recovering. You've just woken up, and your stomach is still weak. Drink some nutritional supplements and meat porridge first, and you can have the rest in a couple of days when you feel better..." Bai Wanwan patiently instructed her repeatedly.

Just then, familiar, hesitant footsteps came from behind.

Although she didn't actively go out to talk to Jiaoyin, she knew in her heart that, given his personality, he would never leave so easily after discovering the existence of the cubs.

Jiaoyuan naturally also saw Jiaoyin standing at the door, looking at her cub with a complex and deep gaze, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

To his surprise, the merman chieftain was allowed to enter.

A knowing glint flashed in his cloudy yet shrewd eyes, and he then coughed knowingly, saying to Bai Wanwan:

"Ahem, Wanwan, you go ahead and do your work. Father Beast is fine here; just have Yanlie bring the food in for me in a bit."

Upon hearing this, Bai Wanwan slowly stood up.

She didn't turn around to look at Jiaoyin immediately, but with her back to him, she gently replied to Jiaoyuan, "Okay, then Father Beast, you should rest well."

After speaking, she turned around and looked calmly at Jiaoyin, who was standing at the door with her body slightly tense.

His silver hair was wet from the rain, with a few strands sticking to his forehead, making him look somewhat disheveled. But his usually deep eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, gazing at her intently with a pleading look.

The two were a few steps apart, and the air seemed to freeze.

The glow of the fire pit danced on the wall, illuminating their silent, gazing figures.

Jiaoyin's Adam's apple bobbed, a thousand words stuck in her chest, yet she didn't know where to begin.

Bai Wanwan stood there quietly, seemingly waiting, or perhaps just giving him a chance to speak.

This brief silence was filled with silent tension and an impending emotional outburst.

"Wanwan, I...I have something I want to say to you alone."

As Jiaoyin spoke, her silver-blue eyes stared intently at her, filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Bai Wanwan looked up at him; his tension and anticipation were almost palpable.

She didn't respond immediately, but silently stared at him for a few seconds. Her gaze was so calm that it made Jiaoyin's heart sink little by little.

However, just as he was about to be crushed by the silence, she finally moved. "Come with me." Her tone was emotionless, and after saying that, she turned around and walked straight towards the stairs leading to the second floor.

Jiaoyin felt a surge of joy, as if she had been instantly scooped from an ice cellar into a hot spring.

Without hesitation, he followed closely behind her, afraid that if he slowed down even a step, she would change her mind.

Bai Wanwan led him to her room.

The room was decorated in a warm and comfortable style, and the air was filled with her unique, faint fragrance that haunted his dreams.

She walked to the window, pointed to a sofa covered with soft snow beast hide near the hearth, and simply said, "Sit."

Jiaoyin did not sit down immediately.

His gaze lingered on her almost greedily, from her slightly thin back to her calm and composed profile when she turned around.

Even though they already have a child born of blood, everything is still unsettled, their status is uncertain, and the past barriers remain.

He took a deep breath, mustered all his courage, and took a small step forward, his voice low and full of emotion: "Wanwan... I know, you... gave birth to a litter of cubs that belong to us."

As he said those words, the tiny glints in his eyes flickered intensely, filled with indescribable love, immense gratitude, and the joy of becoming a father for the first time.

Bai Wanwan didn't look at him; her gaze was fixed on the leaping flames, and her tone revealed no emotion: "Why did you come here? Aren't you worried about your people?"

Jiaoyin immediately explained, "Everything is fine in the clan. Among the newly grown cubs, a very promising Crimson-rank male has emerged. He is calm and composed, so I have temporarily entrusted the clan's affairs to him. I... I heard that you encountered a powerful enemy, and I was really worried, so I rushed over to check on the situation."

His gaze remained fixed on her as he added, "I can only feel at ease when I see you're alright."

"Now that you've seen it all and understand the situation," Bai Wanwan finally turned to look at him, her gaze clear and sharp, and asked directly, "When do you plan to leave?"

These words were like a needle, gently pricking the softest spot in Jiaoyin's heart.

Almost instinctively, he took a few big steps to stand in front of her, so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.

He lowered his head and looked deeply into her eyes. All the tension, fear, anticipation, and longing that had been suppressed for too long finally broke through the dam of reason and surged out.

“Wanwan, I…” His throat tightened, his voice hoarse but filled with undeniable determination, “I don’t want to leave.”

He paused for a moment, as if using all his strength to say what he was about to say, his heart pounding wildly in his chest like a drum, so loud that he could hear it clearly.

"I want to stay with you and our cubs from now on."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Only the crackling of the burning flames and the thunderous pounding of his own heart could be heard.

Jiaoyin held his breath. Although he tried his best to remain calm on his handsome face, his slightly pursed lips, his gently trembling eyelashes, and the almost undisguised fear of rejection deep in his eyes revealed his inner tension.

Like a prisoner awaiting final judgment, he presented her with his humblest yet most fervent hopes without reservation.

(End of this chapter)