The silence that followed the departure of Davy and the herb doctor was thick, but it was no longer heavy with the suffocating pressure of a life-and-death crisis.

Instead, it was a quiet, intimate tension that seemed to vibrate between the two figures remaining in the dimly lit cottage.

Lin Wan was still being held firmly in Long Zhan’s arms, her back pressed against his broad, solid chest. The heat emanating from his body was like a furnace, wrapping around her and grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt since her separation from Wang and Qin Mo.

Despite the initial shock of her unmasking, Lin found herself sinking into the comfort of his embrace. His arms felt like impenetrable walls, a fortress that promised to keep the world’s chaos at bay.

However, as the reality of the situation fully settled and as the memory of his "Get out!" roar to Davy played back in her mind—she realized just how close they were. Her heart gave a flutter, not of fear, but of an overwhelming bashfulness.

She reached up, her small hands gently tapping on Long Zhan’s forearm, motioning for him to let her go. She could feel the slight hesitation in his muscles, a split-second where he seemed to tighten his grip as if he were reluctant to part with the sensation of her weight against him.

To Long Zhan, holding Lin Wan felt as natural as breathing. Her body was soft, fitting perfectly into the contours of his own, and the faint scent of her skin, now amplified by the spiritual nectar, was more intoxicating than any wine in the North.

But he was a gentleman, and he respected her silent request. He slowly uncurled his arms, allowing her to slide away from him on the edge of the bed.

Once she was free, She quickly raised her fingers to her hair, which had been a tangled mess after her collapse. Her eyes widened as her hands moved through the strands.

The texture had completely transformed; it felt like spun silk, entirely tangle-free, voluminous, and impossibly soft. It was as if the Golden Marrow Fruit had polished her from the inside out.

Her face burned with a deep shade of pink, the heat radiating all the way to the tips of her ears. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him directly, instead lowering her eyes to the rough-hewn floorboards, her mind a frantic mess of thoughts.

She felt exposed, not just because her mask was gone, but because of the way he had looked at her—as if he were seeing something sacred.

Long Zhan, sensing her distress and knowing he had committed a significant transgression by removing her mask without permission, reached over to the furs where the silk cloth had fallen.

He picked it up with a reverence that was uncharacteristic of a warrior of his stature. He held it out to her, his head bowing slightly in a rare gesture of humility.

"I apologize, Female Lin," he spoke, his voice low and sincere. "I acted on a selfish curiosity. I should not have moved your veil while you were unable to defend your privacy."

Lin took the mask from his hand, her fingers briefly brushing against his, sending a jolt of electricity up her arm. She managed a small, shaky breath. "It’s okay," she whispered, finally stealing a glance at him. "And... thank you. Thank you for saving me. And for saving my baby."

She couldn’t bring herself to play dumb. She knew that the herb doctor had shouted the truth for everyone in the house to hear, and she knew that the incredible surge of energy she felt in her veins didn’t come from simple rest.

Long Zhan had used something precious to keep her stable, and she wasn’t the type to act like she was entitled to his treasures, just because he’s now her guardian beast.

"I will definitely repay you for the medicine," she added firmly, her modern sense of independence flaring up. "I don’t know how yet, but I won’t forget this debt."

Long Zhan’s expression softened, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "You do not need to repay me, Lin Wan. I have sworn a vow before the heavens and your tribe. It is my job as your guardian to take care of you and your future cubs. A guardian’s life is tied to the one he protects."

He paused, his violet eyes twinkling with a sudden, playful light, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere that had settled between them. "Besides," he added with a soft huff of amusement, "I can’t have you dying just when I became your guardian. It would be quite embarrassing for my reputation if my charge vanished on the very first night."

The absurdity of the statement, coming from a man who looked like he could battle a god, caught Lin off guard. She let out a soft, musical laugh that rippled through the quiet room.

To Long Zhan, the sound was like the first rainfall after a century of drought—clear, beautiful, and utterly life-giving. He felt a strange tugging in his chest, a realization that he was far gone. If this was how he was going to feel every time she smiled or laughed, his life as a cold, detached ruler was officially over.

"Uhm," Long Zhan started, clearing his throat to regain his composure. "Do you need anything right now?"

"Huh?" Lin looked up, blinking.

"Like... are you hungry?" he asked, his gaze drifting toward her midsection before quickly snapping back to her face. "I have heard that females get hungry quite often while they are with cubs. Your body has been through a great deal of strain tonight."

"No, I’m not hungry," Lin said quickly, her pride making her want to appear strong. But just as the words left her mouth, a loud, cavernous grumble echoed from her stomach, betraying her completely.

The silence that followed was agonizing. Lin Wan felt as if she wanted to melt into the floor and disappear. She covered her face with her hands again, her muffled voice full of embarrassment. "I... I think that was just the wind."

Long Zhan let out a low, rumbling laugh, the sound vibrating in his chest. His eyes were bright with genuine amusement. "Well, you may not be hungry, but the cub is definitely demanding a tribute."

Lin’s blush deepened until her face was a vibrant crimson. She scrambled to find an excuse to move, to break the focus he had on her. "I’ll go eat some fruits now. It’s too late to start a fire and cook a proper meal, and I don’t want to wake the whole tribe."

Long Zhan opened his mouth to tell her that Davy and the others were already outside roasting the highest quality prime meat for her, but he stopped himself.

He saw the way she was trying to reclaim her space, and he didn’t want to overwhelm her further with his men’s frantic service.

Even though he had been entirely focused on her face, his divine senses were still sharp; he knew exactly what was happening in the yard. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Do you have any fruit here?" he asked instead.

Lin Wan nodded. She thought of the "system space" that Weiwei managed. When she had been packing her things during the trek from the coldera, she had been careful to store away a variety of wild apples, oranges, and berries she had found along the way, keeping them fresh in the stasis of the system.

"Would you... would you like some too?" she asked tentatively.

"I would," Long Zhan replied, his voice warm.

Lin slowly got off the bed, her legs feeling much stronger than they had earlier, though she was still a bit cautious. She walked over to her makeshift closet—a series of wooden crates and woven bags tucked into the corner of the hut.

She turned her back to Long Zhan, making sure her body blocked his view of exactly what she was doing. She didn’t want to explain how she could reach into a small bag and pull out several large, perfectly fresh fruits that hadn’t been there before.

She carefully reached into the void of her system space and brought out three crisp apples and three bright oranges. She made sure not to bring out too many; she didn’t want him to get suspicious of her "bag of holding." Clutching the six pieces of fruit to her chest, she turned back and walked toward him.

She handed him his share—one apple and two oranges—expecting that this would be the natural conclusion to the evening. In her mind, she was thinking that he would take the fruit, excuse himself to join his men outside, and give her the privacy she desperately needed.

She wanted to change out of her sweat-stained feast clothes, wash her face, and process everything Weiwei had told her in peace.

But as she looked at his massive frame still occupying the edge of her bed, she didn’t dare to say it out loud. She didn’t want to sound ungrateful or rude to the man who had just used a "Golden Marrow Fruit" to save her life.

Long Zhan accepted the fruit, but he made no move to stand up. He looked at the small cottage, then at the door where the wind was whistling through the cracks. His brow furrowed.

He knew he should leave, that decorum and her comfort demanded he exit, but the thought of leaving her alone was unbearable. The image of her collapsing in the square was burned into his memory.

"I am worried about leaving you alone tonight," he said, his voice dropping into a serious tone. "The doctor said your energy is split. What if you faint again in the middle of the night? With no one around to assist you, something bad could happen to you or the cub."

Lin Wan felt a fresh wave of guilt. Here she was, trying to find a polite way to kick him out so she could have her "me-time," while he was genuinely concerned for her survival. She looked at his honest, worried expression and felt her heart soften. He wasn’t trying to be a nuisance; he was being the guardian he had promised to be.

"But... there’s only one bed," she said softly, her eyes darting to the small sleeping area. It was barely big enough for her, let alone a 7ft3 Dragon King.

The idea of sharing a bed with him was out of the question—it would be a scandal that even the most progressive beastman wouldn’t tolerate, and her own heart couldn’t handle the proximity.

She started to move toward the floor, thinking of her spare furs. "You can have the bed," she said, her voice hurried. "I’ll place some furs on the floor and sleep there. I’m used to. . ."

Long Zhan stood up abruptly, his height nearly reaching the rafters of the hut. He intercepted her before she could reach the ground, his hands catching her shoulders to keep her upright. As if he could read the self-sacrificing thoughts racing through her head, he shook his head firmly.

"I will sleep on the floor," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You will take the bed. Your body needs the support and the warmth for the sake of your health."

"No," Lin protested, looking up at him. "A man of your ranking, a Dragon Lord... you can’t be sleeping on a dirt floor in a hut like this. It’s not right. What would your men think?"

Long Zhan looked down at her, his violet eyes swirling with a deep, unbreakable resolve that seemed to bind his words to his soul.

"Outside, I may be of high ranking," he replied softly. "But in here, I am your guardian. I belong to you."