I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Wang turned slightly in his saddle, his voice calm yet carrying absolute authority. "Cold doesn’t care about sides or loyalties. Hunger doesn’t either. We’re here to settle a war, not to leave a trail of frozen corpses in our wake."

The elder bowed his head in deep shame. "I understand, Patriarch."

Wei Xiang smiled, his eyes flashing with faint lightning. "I’ll handle the delivery myself. It’ll go faster."

Without waiting another second, Wei Xiang transformed once again. Blue lightning flashed brilliantly across his body, illuminating the dreary white landscape.

The enormous Azure Lightning Roc rose into the cloudy sky with a powerful beat of its wings before disappearing toward the western cliffs.

Several younger soldiers watched his graceful ascent with awe and admiration. One quietly muttered, "The Young Master has really changed over the past few months."

Another warrior nodded in agreement. "He used to be so quiet and tense all the time. He smiles much more now."

A third soldier laughed softly, leaning on his spear. "Only when the Patriarch talks about Lady Lin or when he thinks about bringing her back."

The nearby warriors chuckled in unison. Even Wang heard their hushed chatter. He said nothing to reprimand them, but the corner of his lips lifted almost invisibly beneath the shadow of his high collar.

Several hours later, inside the warm, luxurious halls of the Supreme Citadel, Cassian sat behind a massive dark wood desk.

He finished reading another detailed intelligence report before folding the parchment and placing it neatly on the polished table.

Shadow Guard Captain Ronan entered the quiet study, his soft steps making almost no sound against the thick carpets. He bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."

Cassian looked up, his golden eyes cold and sharp. "What is it?"

"The physicians have completed today’s examination of Lady Lin," Ronan reported smoothly.

Cassian waited, his body subtly leaning forward in his chair. "Go on."

Captain Ronan continued, " Alaric reported that Lady Lin and the three cubs remain in excellent health. The babies’ spiritual energy is stable and growing exceptionally dense."

Cassian finally relaxed his posture slightly, a subtle release of tension in his shoulders. "Good."

"There is, however, one specific recommendation from the medical team," Ronan added.

Cassian raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"The physicians strongly believe she should avoid any form of emotional stress or anxiety during this late stage of her pregnancy."

Cassian gave a quiet, humorless laugh that lacked any real mirth. "Avoid stress? In the middle of a war where two massive armies are about to clash outside her doorstep?"

Ronan remained completely silent, knowing better than to offer a foolish answer to a king’s rhetorical question.

Cassian leaned back in his heavy leather chair, staring at the high stone ceiling for a long moment. "Increase the number of hidden Shadow Guards around the inner gardens. Make sure the palace feels as normal as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And..." Cassian paused, his voice dropping slightly. "No one is allowed to disturb her with news of the army’s movements unless it’s absolutely necessary. If any elder attempts to speak to her about the war, execute them on the spot."

Captain Ronan bowed even deeper, acknowledging the absolute command. "It will be done exactly as you order."

As the captain turned and reached the carved wooden doorway, Cassian suddenly spoke again, his tone strangely subdued. "Has she smiled today?"

Ronan stopped in his tracks, clearly surprised by the unexpected question coming from the ruthless sovereign. He paused for a brief moment before answering honestly. "Yes, Your Majesty. She sat in the garden for a while and smiled when the children kicked."

Cassian turned his gaze toward the tall arched window, watching the endless grey sky. "...I see."

The room became completely quiet once more. Outside, snow continued falling over the majestic towers of the Supreme Citadel.

Far beyond those frozen mountains, the distance between Lin Wan and those who were marching across the world to reach her had grown shorter once again.

The afternoon sun hung low above the sharp snowy peaks, casting long, dramatic shadows across the vast courtyard of the Supreme Citadel.

Inside the inner palace, the atmosphere was far calmer and warmer than the freezing, weapon-bristling tension outside the outer walls.

The hearth burned brightly, filling the room with the sweet, soothing scent of burning pine wood and dried herbs.

Lin Wan had just finished her midday meal of warm soup and soft steamed rice when Physician Alaric arrived, accompanied by two younger assistant physicians carrying wooden medicine boxes.

Sister Yun gracefully stepped aside from the door, bowing her head. "Alaric."

The elderly physician bowed politely in return. "My Lady."

Lin Wan smiled faintly from her seat by the fire. "You’ve become much busier these days, Doctor."

Alaric chuckled softly, his long white beard shaking slightly. "His Majesty insists that I examine your condition every single day without fail. I can’t afford to be lazy even if I wanted to."

Lin Wan sighed helplessly, though there was no real anger in her eyes. "I’ve noticed. He’s remarkably persistent."

The old physician gestured gently toward the long leather couch near the window. "May I examine your pulse, Lady Lin?"

Lin Wan nodded cooperatively and slowly stood up, letting Sister Yun support her arm as she moved to the couch. She sat down carefully, adjusting her heavy robes.

One of the younger assistant physicians, a attentive young woman, carefully placed a soft silk cushion behind Lin Wan’s back to support her posture.

Alaric sat on a low wooden stool beside her. He placed two fingers lightly on her delicate wrist, closed his eyes, and began channeling a thin, gentle thread of diagnostic spiritual energy into her body.

The entire room fell into a respectful silence. Sister Yun held her breath slightly, while the two younger assistants watched their master with deep attention.

After several long moments, Alaric opened his eyes, a genuine and satisfied smile breaking through his wrinkled face. "The three cubs are exceptionally healthy. Their heartbeats are strong, steady, and perfectly synchronized."

Lin Wan lowered her head, looking down with deep affection as she gently touched her rounded stomach. "They’ve been moving almost constantly all morning."

Alaric laughed warmly. "That only means they’re growing stronger and developing their natural spirit channels early. It’s a sign of incredible vitality."

The younger female physician, Mira, couldn’t help but smile as she stepped forward with a warm tray of tea. "They’re quite lively, Lady Lin. They’ll surely grow up to be grand figures."

Lin Wan let out a breathless chuckle, her fingers tracing soft circles on her belly. "I don’t think they ever sleep in there. They’re constantly fighting for space."

The quiet room filled with genuine, relaxed laughter, briefly washing away the heavy gloom that hung over the rest of the kingdom.

After checking her pulse once more to ensure her internal spiritual channels weren’t overwhelmed by the babies’ energy, Alaric looked at her with a serious, professional expression. "My Lady, despite your excellent health, you must continue resting as much as possible. No unnecessary long walks, no heavy lifting, and absolutely no emotional excitement or stress."

Lin Wan smiled helplessly at his strict tone. "I’ll try my best, Doctor."

Alaric raised a bushy white eyebrow in mock sternness. "’Try’ isn’t good enough, Lady Lin. You must obey."

Sister Yun nodded immediately in full agreement with the doctor. "I’ll make sure she listens to your orders, Physician Alaric. I won’t let her wander around in the cold wind.

Lin Wan looked between the strict old physician and her hopelessly protective attendant before raising her hands in defeat. "Fine, fine. I surrender to both of you."

Everyone laughed again, the lighthearted atmosphere making the grand room feel much more like a loving home and less like a gilded prison.

After the physicians carefully gathered their medicine boxes and took their leave, Sister Yun helped Lin Wan move back closer to the wide glass window. Outside, gentle, silent snow continued to drift down from the heavy clouds.

Lin Wan rested both hands on her stomach, looking out at the endless white expanse. "I wonder..."

Sister Yun looked over from where she was folding a soft wool blanket. "What is it, my lady?"

Lin Wan hesitated, her eyes filled with a quiet, sorrowful depth. "Do you think... they’re frightened?"

"Who, my lady?"

"The soldiers standing outside on the battlements," Lin Wan whispered softly. "The guards who have to stand in the freezing wind, waiting for a war they didn’t ask for."

Sister Yun walked over slowly, standing beside her chair and looking through the frosted glass toward the distant, towering outer walls. "They’re Beastmen, Lady Lin. Of course they’re frightened beneath their heavy armor. But they’re also loyal to their kingdom. They’ll stand where they’re ordered to stand, and they’ll fight to protect their homes."

Lin Wan remained completely quiet for a long time, her heart aching for the innocent lives caught in the middle of grand political struggles. "I don’t want anyone to die because of me. I don’t want mothers to lose their sons, or wives to lose their husbands."

Sister Yun looked down at her with deep compassion, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lady Lin... sometimes, even when no one wants war to happen, it still comes. It’s the tragic nature of this world."

Lin Wan lowered her eyes, staring at her lap. "I know. But... there has to be another way. There’s always another way if people are willing to listen."

Sister Yun couldn’t answer her, because deep inside her own heart, she wished for the exact same miracle.