Within minutes, the tribe leader gathered a dozen strong beastmen—wolves, foxes, bears, and even two elk warriors. Their footsteps were heavy and determined as they prepared to go down the mountain.
Hu Yan adjusted his hold on Su Qinglan, making sure her leaf raincoat covered her fully. He held her like the most precious treasure in the world. Rong Ye walked beside them in his beast form, his fur shining under the light drizzle.
And together, the group started their descent toward the foot of the mountain... toward the stranded rabbit tribe, the drowning world outside the dome, and whatever strange danger was waiting at the boundary.
Su Qinglan held her breath as they walked.
Something big was going on around her mountain, and she was going to see it with her own eyes.
The group slowly descended the mountain. Even though the rain was light inside the strange dome, the ground was still slippery and soft.
Mud clung to the rocks, and the narrow paths were dangerous. Beastmen could handle such conditions, but Su Qinglan was different. She was soft and delicate, and one wrong step could hurt her.
So Hu Yan held her tightly in his arms, walking carefully as if each step was precious. Rong Ye stayed close to them the whole time, almost sticking to Su Qinglan’s side so he could grab her or protect her if anything dangerous happened.
The rest of the beastmen spread out around them, creating a protective wall as they moved downward.
After some time, they reached the foot of the mountain. And that was when Su Qinglan finally saw it clearly... the strange "dome."
It was not a real wall or shield, but the difference between inside and outside was so strong that it created an illusion.
On one side, inside the dome, the rain was gentle and soft like mist. On the other side, the rain crashed down heavily, flooding the entire land.
The boundary was almost invisible, like a thin transparent curtain, but she could feel that the air changed sharply when she looked at it.
Outside the dome, everything was drowned. The ground was muddy, water reached their ankles, and the wind was colder. Inside, it felt warm and alive. It truly looked like a miracle.
And just ahead, leaning against the thick roots of giant forest trees, she saw a pitiful group huddled together. Beastmen of all sizes. Some of them were tall, short, mixed types, prey and plant tribes. They were all squeezed under the trees, trembling.
She saw two or three small cubs pressed into their fathers’ arms, their tiny bodies shaking from cold and fear. One little goat cub cried weakly, while another rabbit child curled into a tight ball.
Su Qinglan’s heart melted instantly. She felt as if something soft inside her chest cracked open.
When she saw the small shivering cubs, her maternal instinct reacted strongly. She was pregnant, so her heart felt heavy and protective. She could not bear seeing tiny younglings like that.
There were rabbits, deer, moles, even a few porcupines and otters. All of them were shocked, frightened, and clearly exhausted.
As they approached, she also noticed Han Jue standing near a tall man... no, a tall rabbit beastman. He had powerful legs, long ears, and a soft fur coat that was soaked from the rain. His shoulders were broad, and despite his wet and exhausted look, he stood straight like a leader.
Han Jue waved at them at the first sight. "Leader! Over here!"
The rabbit beastman turned quickly, and his eyes widened when he saw Su Qinglan in Hu Yan’s arms.
When Su Qinglan found Han Jue looking toward her, she waved her small hand at him like a little lover greeting excitedly, and despite his exhaustion, his eyes softened instantly. But he still looked worried. As Su Qinglan approached, he hurried toward her, his brows slightly frowned.
She gently pushed Hu Yan’s arm and pointed at the ground. "Put me down. I can walk here. It’s not like I will drown."
Hu Yan looked like he wanted to protest, but she was right... the rain here was light. And she was wearing the sturdy sandals Rong Ye had made for her.
So he reluctantly bent down and placed her carefully on the ground. She stood firmly, straightening her little leaf raincoat.


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