Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off-Chapter 456: Only You...My Mate

Su Mingxuan followed behind Lan Shun, his feet moving mechanically, but his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through his ribs.

Every time he turned a corner or saw a flash of a female’s robes in the distance, his breath hitched. He felt like if he blinked, she would suddenly appear in front of him.

He was beyond nervous.

The word "anxious" couldn’t even describe the storm inside him. It had been twenty long years.

Twenty years of silence, twenty years of guilt, and twenty years of wondering if the woman he loved was even still breathing.

Now, he was walking toward her. He felt like he might actually pass out before they reached their destination.

Lan Shun walked ahead, his back straight and his pace steady.

He glanced back occasionally at the trembling man behind him. He didn’t offer any words of support or comfort.

In his heart, he still felt a deep sense of disdain for Su Mingxuan.

To Lan Shun, a male who couldn’t protect his female was a failure. He detested weakness, and Su Mingxuan’s past suggested a man of low caliber who had been easily swept away by the schemes of the Black Temple.

However, beneath that cold exterior, a small flicker of pity existed.

After learning the truth of what had happened all those years ago, how Su Mingxuan had been a victim caught in the crossfire of the Black Temple’s obsession with Wang Mulan...Lan Shun understood that the man had been dealt a cruel hand by fate.

Lan Shun remembered the many nights he had spent by Wang Mulan’s side. He remembered her teary whispers in her sleep, the way she called out names from her past, and the deep, lingering sadness that never truly left her eyes.

Even after living with Lan Shun and her other husbands for so long, Su Mingxuan still held a massive place in her heart. She had never truly let go.

If she sees him, she will be heartbroken to see what he has become, Lan Shun thought, his expression faltering for a moment. But she will also be happy. Perhaps seeing him alive and well will finally lift the heavy veil of guilt from her mind.

Wang Mulan had always blamed herself for the tragedy that fell upon Su Mingxuan.

She believed his suffering was her fault because the Black Temple wanted her.

If she knew that he was here and that their baby girl was also alive and well, she would surely find the peace she had been searching for.

But there was a problem.

"She isn’t here," Lan Shun said suddenly, his voice echoing in the quiet corridor they were walking through.

Su Mingxuan stopped dead in his tracks. His face went pale. "What? Is she... is she alright?"

"She is fine," Lan Shun replied coldly, though he slowed his pace.

"It is the time of the Ritual. Every year, before the cold season arrives, the Priestess must travel to the White Temple to pray for the longevity and well-being of the Dragon Beast City. She is there now, offering sacrifices to the Beast God to ensure we have enough food and safety for the winter."

Su Mingxuan felt a wave of disappointment so sharp it made his stomach turn. He had worked himself up to the point of collapse, only to find she was miles away.

"She traveled there with her second husband, Ying Feng," Lan Shun continued.

Ying Feng was a powerful Hawk beastman. He was swift and protective, the perfect guardian to escort the Priestess on her sacred pilgrimage.

"She has been in a fragile state lately," Lan Shun added, his voice softening just a fraction.

"The disappearance of Lan Yue has taken a great toll on her. She has become thin and even rarely smiles. She had spent days crafting a high-level protection talisman for our daughter—one that would only trigger in the face of mortal danger to teleport her to a safer place. When it was triggered by Lan Yue, Mulan felt as if a piece of her soul had gone with it."

Su Mingxuan listened, his heart aching for the woman he had lost.

He could imagine her, pale and worried, praying at an altar for a daughter she feared was in great danger. He wanted to run to her. He wanted to tell her that Lan Yue was safe and Su Qinglan was also very good, and that their daughter was strong and had built a family of her own.

"I will send a message to the White Temple immediately," Lan Shun said, turning toward a large stone archway that led to the central hub of the city’s administration.

"I will tell her to return as soon as possible. With the news of your arrival and the safety of the child, she will likely fly back on Ying Feng’s back without stopping to rest."

Su Mingxuan nodded, unable to find his voice.

He leaned against the cool stone wall of the hallway, trying to steady his breathing. He hadn’t met her today, but the hope was no longer a flicker...it was a roaring fire.

"Thank you," he whispered, though he wasn’t sure if Lan Shun heard him.

Lan Shun didn’t look back. He had a city to manage and a message to send. But as he walked away, he hoped that the arrival of this ghost from the past would be the medicine Wang Mulan needed.

The Dragon Beast City was a place of strength, but even the strongest walls couldn’t protect a heart that was breaking from the inside out.

Su Mingxuan stood alone in the hallway for a long time, looking out at the sprawling city. He would wait. He had waited twenty years; he could wait a few more days.

He looked up at the sky, wondering if, somewhere out there, Wang Mulan was looking at the same clouds, unaware that her world was about to change forever.

"The sky carries my longing, the wind whispers your name... but it is still not enough. I want you...only you...before me."

Su Mingxuan muttered, his gaze fixed on the rolling clouds in the sky. Without noticing, a tear slipped from his eye.