Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Su Qinglan Is Missing

Hu Yan was still running.

His breath came out in ragged bursts, his chest heaving as his strong legs carried him across the rugged mountain path. The endless forest stretched far ahead, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

His mate’s mark was glowing as he used it to reach her as far as possible.

That faint light was the only thing keeping him from breaking down completely. It was proof that she was still alive... somewhere.

He had already lost sight of that damned owl beastman long ago. The moment the sky darkened, that winged beast had vanished like smoke into the horizon. Hu Yan had tried to chase him, but no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t reach him.

Now, the only thing he could rely on was the mark’s faint pull, her presence calling to him from far, far away.

But the farther she was, the weaker it became. Her scent, her warmth... everything was fading.

And that terrified him more than any wound on his body.

"Useless... I’m so useless," Hu Yan muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with frustration. His golden eyes dimmed with pain. "I couldn’t even protect her... and now she’s gone."

The words echoed again and again in his mind, making him hate himself more than anything.

He stumbled once, catching himself against a tree, leaving behind a bloody handprint. His golden-striped fur was matted with blood... some dried, some still fresh. The ferocious beasts that had chased him earlier had not let him go easily.

They tore into him whenever he slowed, biting, clawing, leaving deep gashes across his back and arms. But Hu Yan didn’t fight back. He didn’t even look at them.

He just kept running. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Even if his claws broke. Even if his lungs burned. Even if his vision blurred.

He ran.

Because the thought of losing her was worse than death.

"I couldn’t protect her from danger... I couldn’t even stand between her and another beastman," he whispered hoarsely, his voice shaking. "What kind of beast husband am I...?"

He gritted his teeth, tasting blood in his mouth, his jaw trembling with guilt as his mind flashed with her terrified expression when she was clutched by that owl beastman.

He forced his body to move again, each step heavier than the last, but he didn’t care.

His entire body screamed in pain, but his heart screamed louder.

"I’m sorry, Qinglan... I’m sorry..."

His voice broke as the wind carried his words away into the dark night.

---

Rong Ye and Han Jue were busy digging a hole inside the thick trunk of a giant tree. It was hard work, but both of them were excited, as this was going to be their new home.

The sound of claws scraping against wood echoed softly in the quiet forest. Everything was peaceful. The breeze carried the faint scent of leaves and earth.

But suddenly, Rong Ye stopped. His furry ears twitched.

"Han Jue," he said slowly, turning his head, "don’t you feel... something’s off?"

Han Jue paused too, his claws halfway into the bark. "What do you mean?"

Rong Ye frowned. "It’s already so late. Hu Yan and Su Qinglan should’ve come back by now. Every day they came before sunset. But look, it’s already going to be dark."

Han Jue’s blue eyes shifted toward the horizon. The sky had already turned orange, and the first stars were starting to appear. His chest tightened a little.

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