"Lan Lan!" he finally snapped, turning his head slightly but still refusing to look directly at her. "Stop talking!"

His face was completely red now, even his ears burning.

Su Qinglan held her stomach, laughing so hard she almost dropped her fruit. "You’re really too cute," she said between laughs.

Han Jue took a deep breath, clearly trying to calm himself down.

Inside, he was already collapsing. This female... she was really too much. After a long moment, he muttered under his breath, "Foxes are all the same... cunning..."

Su Qinglan immediately stopped laughing. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What did you say?"

Han Jue stiffened.

"I said nothing."

"You said foxes are cunning!"

"No, I didn’t."

"You did!"

"I didn’t."

Su Qinglan squinted at him, then suddenly smiled sweetly.

"Say it again."

Han Jue: "..."

He chose silence.

After finishing washing, he quickly wrapped the hide back around himself, his movements swift and efficient, clearly wanting to leave as soon as possible.

Then, without warning, his body flashed. In the next moment, a huge white wolf stood where he had been.

"Let’s go back," he said shortly.

Su Qinglan blinked, then grinned.

Oh, now you want to escape?

She immediately jumped onto his back, carefully sitting away from the still damp hide he had put on his back.

As Han Jue started moving, she leaned forward slightly and whispered near his ear...

"Han Jue, you’re really good eye candy."

Han Jue’s steps faltered just for a second. Then he continued walking, stiff like a soldier on duty.

Su Qinglan covered her mouth, trying not to laugh again.

"I’m sorry," she added, though her tone had no sincerity at all. "I really couldn’t help it."

Han Jue only huffed and continued ignoring her.

As he carried Su Qinglan on his back and walked steadily toward the Dragon Beast City, she was still smiling, occasionally teasing him in a low voice. But before she could say anything more...

A clear ding echoed in her mind.

Her expression froze.

A blue panel immediately appeared in front of her...

[Emergency Mission Triggered]

[Assist a female of Dragon Beast City in successful childbirth]

[Condition: Critical]

Xuyu immediately chimed in, "Host, a female has been in labor for more than a day. The contractions were prolonged and irregular. The fetus was not descending properly. There were signs of exhaustion, dehydration, and internal distress. If this continues, both the mother and the cub could be lost."

"Host, you have to save the female at any cost. The female is in your Dragon Beast City. Hurry up."

Su Qinglan’s pupils shrank. Her relaxed mood disappeared in an instant.

She didn’t even look at the reward section or more details as a life was at stake.

"Han Jue," she said sharply, patting his back, her voice completely different from before, "turn back to the city. Now. Something has happened."

Han Jue immediately sensed the urgency in her tone.

Without asking anything, his body tensed, and in the next second, he leaped forward at full speed.

The wind howled past them as he ran.

Su Qinglan held onto his fur tightly, her mind already racing.

Difficult labor... prolonged... no proper assistance...

In this world, childbirth was already dangerous. Without proper knowledge, even a small complication could turn fatal.

By the time they reached the city, her expression had already turned serious. Han Jue slowed down only when they entered the outskirts.

Su Qinglan quickly jumped down from his back.

"I don’t know where she is," she said, scanning the surroundings. "We need to find her quickly."

Just as she was about to move, a man rushed past them.

He looked frantic, his hair messy, his breathing uneven, his eyes bloodshot as if he had not rested at all.

He didn’t even notice them at first. He was heading straight toward the city lord’s direction, continuously shouting, "Move away! My female is in difficult labor!"

Su Qinglan’s eyes sharpened.

This must be him.

She stepped forward and blocked his path.

"What happened?" she asked directly. "Is your female in labor?"

The man stopped abruptly, startled.

He looked at her, then frowned deeply.

His voice was hoarse and impatient. "Move. Don’t block my way. My female is in danger."

Su Qinglan didn’t move.

"I am a witch doctor," she said calmly. "I can help."

The man froze for a second. Then his expression turned even worse.

He looked at her young face and shook his head, anger and fear mixing together. "Don’t joke at a time like this. I don’t have time for this."

Han Jue’s eyes darkened.

Before the man could move again, Han Jue stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.

"My female is not joking," Han Jue said coldly. "If you waste time, your mate will die."

The man stiffened. Before things could escalate further, another figure rushed forward.

"Wait!"

An older man hurried over, his expression anxious but more composed.

"Please, let him go," he said quickly. "He is my younger brother. He has lost his mind from fear."

Han Jue looked at him for a moment, then released the younger man.

The older man immediately bowed slightly toward Su Qinglan.

"Female," he said, his voice heavy, "if you truly can help... please come with us."

Su Qinglan nodded without hesitation. "Lead the way."

As they walked quickly through the streets, the older man began explaining everything.

"My mate has been in labor since yesterday morning," he said, his voice strained. "At first, everything seemed normal. The contractions started, and we thought the cub would be born soon."

"But hours passed... and nothing happened."

"Her pain kept increasing, but the cub did not come out."

"We called the tribe’s healer. He tried everything he knew, but there was no progress. My mate grew weaker and weaker. She has not eaten and has barely drunk water. She is losing strength."

His hands trembled slightly as he spoke.

"The healer said the cub is not in the right position... that it is not moving down properly. He said if this continues... both of them..."

He couldn’t finish the sentence. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The younger man clenched his fists tightly, his eyes red.

"I went to the city lord’s house," he said in a broken voice. "I thought maybe the priest could pray to the Beast God... maybe... maybe there would be a miracle..."

Su Qinglan’s expression grew heavier. If not handled properly, this could easily turn fatal.

"How long has it been?" she asked.

"More than a full day," the older man replied.

Su Qinglan inhaled sharply.

"Is she conscious?" she asked.

"She fades in and out," he said. "Sometimes she screams in pain... sometimes she doesn’t even have the strength to make a sound."

Su Qinglan’s steps quickened.

"We need to hurry," she said.

Han Jue followed closely behind her, his expression cold but focused.

Soon, they reached a wooden house at the edge of the tribe.

Even before entering, Su Qinglan could hear a weak, strained cry. It was full of pain.

Her heart tightened. She didn’t hesitate for a second. Pushing the door open, she immediately stepped inside.

"Move aside," she said firmly. "Let me see her."