I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Morning arrived in a sky covered by thick gray clouds. Snow drifted gently across the cold mountains as the Supreme Citadel slowly came to life.

Inside the palace, Lin Wan had just finished her breakfast when Sister Yun entered the room with a warm cloak folded over her arm.

"Lady Lin," Sister Yun called out softly.

Lin Wan looked up from the book she had been pretending to read. "Sister Yun?"

"The weather is quite calm today," the older woman noted.

Lin Wan smiled faintly. "So can I go walk in the garden again?"

Sister Yun nodded with a smile. "If you are willing, of course."

Lin Wan immediately stood up from her seat. "I have been ready to go out since yesterday."

The older woman laughed softly. "I know you have."

One of the younger maids, Lian, hurried forward to help Lin Wan put on the thick cloak. "You should wear this extra layer, Lady Lin. The wind is a bit stronger today."

Lin Wan thanked her before gently resting both of her hands beneath her rounded stomach. "The babies seem very excited today."

Lian’s eyes brightened with joy. "They moved again?"

Lin Wan nodded with a small, happy smile. "They have been kicking nonstop since dawn."

Sister Yun smiled warmly at her. "They already know their mother likes walking outside."

Lin Wan laughed quietly. "I certainly hope that is the reason."

A short time later, the heavy palace gates swung open. Eight Shadow Guards immediately surrounded the small group in a protective circle, with Captain Darius standing at the front.

"We are ready, my lady," Darius announced.

Lin Wan nodded politely, and they slowly walked toward the inner garden. Fresh mountain air brushed gently against her face, making her close her eyes in relief. "It smells different today."

Sister Yun looked around at the scenery. "The snow is melting faster now."

Lin Wan opened her eyes. Small drops of clear water fell from the green branches of the ancient pine trees. The frozen pond was beginning to show noticeable cracks around the edges.

"It really is melting," Lin Wan smiled softly. "Spring is announcing her soon arrival."

Darius quietly watched her from a short distance away. The woman who had once spent every single day staring helplessly through her tower window now paused to admire melting ice. She was not begging to escape, nor was she arguing with the guards.

She was simply enjoying a quiet morning. For reasons he could not explain to himself, that change made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

Lin Wan slowly walked toward one of the main flower beds, where an elderly gardener was trimming several winter flowers. The gardener quickly bowed to her. "Lady Lin."

She smiled politely at him. "Please do not stop your work because of me."

The old man straightened his back. "I was almost finished anyway, my lady."

She crouched down carefully beside the colorful flower bed. "They survived the heavy snow."

"They are very stubborn little plants," the gardener chuckled. "Flowers are much stronger than they look."

Lin Wan looked closely at the small white blossoms. "So are people."

The old man looked at her for a moment before giving a warm smile. "Yes, Lady Lin. They certainly are."

Lian suddenly pointed toward another corner of the courtyard. "Lady Lin! Look over there, the plum blossoms have opened!"

Lin Wan slowly walked over to the tree. Bright pink flowers decorated the branches despite the lingering cold weather.

She reached out her hand carefully, but stopped right before touching the delicate petals. "They are so beautiful. They bloom before spring truly comes."

Sister Yun stood right beside her. "Some things simply refuse to wait."

Lin Wan smiled softly. "I wish people could be like that."

High above them on a stone balcony, Cassian stood completely still, watching everything quietly.

Captain Rowan approached from behind before bowing deeply. "Your Majesty."

Cassian did not look away from the garden below. "Did the message arrive?"

"It reached the Silver Leopard camp yesterday evening, sire," Rowan reported.

"And?"

"Our scouts believe Patriarch Wang accepted the invitation."

Cassian nodded once. "As expected."

Captain Rowan hesitated for a second. "May I ask a question, sire?"

Cassian glanced at him sideways. "What is it?"

"Why request a peaceful meeting right now?" Rowan asked.

Cassian looked back down toward the garden. Lin Wan was smiling warmly at something Sister Yun had just said, and his severe expression softened for only a brief heartbeat.

"Because if this battle truly begins," Cassian said quietly, "far too many people will die."

Rowan looked surprised. "I thought Your Majesty wanted this war."

Cassian answered calmly, "I prepared for it. I never said I wanted it."

The captain lowered his head in respect. "I understand, sire."

"No," Cassian replied quietly, turning away from the railing. "You don’t. Prepare everything. The meeting will take place tomorrow."

Far away, the Silver Leopard army had also begun preparing for the upcoming day. Wei Xiang adjusted the tight leather straps on his armor while several younger soldiers packed supplies onto heavy supply wagons.

General Luo walked over to him, carrying two wooden cups of hot tea. "You haven’t eaten anything yet."

Wei Xiang accepted one of the cups. "Thank you, General."

The older general studied his tired face carefully. "You barely slept last night."

Wei Xiang smiled weakly. "I could say the exact same thing about you."

General Luo laughed softly. "That is only because your Patriarch completely refuses to rest."

Wei Xiang looked over toward the large command tent. "Is he still inside?"

"He hasn’t come out since sunrise," Luo confirmed.

Wei Xiang let out a long sigh. "I will go check on him."

Inside the quiet tent, Wang stood alone before the large map spread across the wooden table. He had not even noticed Wei Xiang enter the space.

"What are you thinking about?" Wei Xiang asked gently, walking over.

Wang finally looked up from the map. "The upcoming meeting."

Wei Xiang stood right beside him. "Do you still believe he will show up without a massive trap?"

"I believe he will keep his word," Wang replied steady.

"And if he doesn’t?"

Wang calmly rolled up the map. "Then we will learn exactly what kind of king Cassian truly is."

Wei Xiang folded his arms over his chest. "I still do not trust him."

"I don’t expect you to trust him," Wang said.

A brief silence followed between them. Then Wang spoke again, his voice dropping slightly. "Tomorrow... if things go badly during the meeting..."

Wei Xiang immediately interrupted him. "They won’t go badly."

"You don’t know that for certain, Wei Xiang."

"I know you are coming back alive," Wei Xiang stated firmly, smiling faintly. "Because Wanwan is still waiting for us."

The small smile on Wang’s face disappeared almost as soon as it appeared. He quietly looked toward the south. "I only hope... that she still believes I will come for her."

The afternoon sun remained hidden behind thick gray clouds as a cold wind swept across the wide open plain between the Supreme Citadel and the Silver Leopard army. It was a completely neutral ground that neither side controlled, chosen specifically so that neither leader would have a tactical advantage.

Rows of armored soldiers stood far behind their respective leaders, keeping a strict distance. No weapons were drawn, and no one spoke a word. The heavy silence itself felt far more suffocating than an actual battle.

Wang rode forward on a massive silver leopard before calmly stepping down onto the cold snow.

Beside him stood Wei Xiang in his human form, dressed in dark blue robes beneath a light suit of armor. His severe injuries had mostly healed, but Wang had firmly insisted he wear lighter armor to avoid reopening his wounds.

Behind them stood General Luo, Elder Shen, and six elite Silver Leopard guards.

Across the open field, Cassian approached with Captain Darius, Captain Rowan, General Rurik, and eight Shadow Guards.

The two opposing groups stopped nearly thirty steps apart from each other as the cold wind blew softly between them. For several long, tense moments, no one moved and no one greeted the other.

Finally, Cassian spoke first, breaking the stillness. "You came."

Wang answered calmly, his dark eyes steady. "You expected me to come."

Cassian gave a simple, small nod. "I did."

Wei Xiang quietly watched the Manticore King. This was the very first time he had seen Cassian face-to-face since escaping the Supreme Citadel. His fingers slowly tightened into fists at his side.

Cassian noticed the movement immediately. "So, you fully recovered."

Wei Xiang met his golden eyes without a single trace of fear. "I disappointed you by surviving."

A faint, unreadable smile crossed Cassian’s face. "You survived. That was more than enough."

The words carried no mockery or insult, only plain fact.

General Luo frowned, stepping forward slightly. "This meeting is not about old battles or personal grievances."

Cassian shifted his gaze toward the general. "No, it is not."

His golden eyes returned to fix on Wang. "I asked for this meeting because I want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed between our people."

Wei Xiang almost let out a dry laugh. "You gathered a massive army on our border."

"And so did you," Cassian answered immediately, without hesitation.

Neither side could deny the reality. The chilly air became quiet once again.

Wang finally spoke up, his deep voice carrying across the space. "Say what you called us here to say."