Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 118

118: Chapter 118: Gentle Hands, Quiet Hearts 118: Chapter 118: Gentle Hands, Quiet Hearts Xuan Long sensed something behind him.

The faint sound of vines snapping, the smell of blood spreading through the air.

But he didn’t turn back.

His steps never stopped.

He only tightened his tail slightly around Hu Yan, keeping him steady, and carried Su Qinglan forward without saying a word.

He understood.

Some anger couldn’t be stopped.

Some hatred had to be released.

He had realized she is special, and he would always stand by her in her thin and thick life.

Su Qinglan’s body trembled a little.

The rage that had burned in her eyes slowly began to fade.

The exhaustion was pulling her down again.

She leaned her head weakly against Xuan Long’s shoulder.

Her lashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes.

She didn’t want to see those ugly faces anymore.

Didn’t want to see their broken bodies or the blood that covered the ground.

Because she knew if she kept looking, she might lose all control and chop them into pieces herself.

Her breath came out slow and heavy.

“Let’s just go…” She murmured softly, her voice weak and tired.

Xuan Long said nothing.

His emerald green eyes looked ahead as he carried both her and Hu Yan through the forest path.

Behind them, the smell of blood mixed with the wind, fading slowly into silence.

Only the sound of the leaves brushing against each other filled the clearing.

By the time they reached the cave, the moon had started to appear.

The night air was cold, and the cave walls gave a soft glow when Xuan Long walked inside.

He carefully placed Hu Yan down on the big stone bed.

The tiger’s body was still covered in dried blood, his breathing faint but steady.

Before Xuan Long could even straighten his back, Su Qinglan jumped down from his arms and rushed beside Hu Yan.

Her hands trembled as she touched his fur, feeling the sticky blood beneath her fingers.

“He’s still warm… He has a fever,” she whispered, her voice almost breaking.

Without waiting a second, she ran to the side and fetched a stone bowl.

She filled it with clean water and found a piece of soft hide.

Her movements were hurried, desperate even.

She dipped the cloth and began wiping Hu Yan’s face first, slowly cleaning away the dirt and blood.

The water in the bowl turned red in no time.

She changed it again and again.

Her small hands moved carefully, afraid to hurt him, yet strong enough to keep going.

Xuan Long stood beside her, watching silently.

His chest tightened seeing her so tired, her shoulders shaking each time she pressed the cloth against the tiger’s wounds.

Finally, he reached out and gently held her wrist.

“Enough,” he said quietly, his voice deep and steady, “You should rest.

I’ll clean him.” Su Qinglan shook her head quickly, “No, I can do it… Please, let me…” But Xuan Long didn’t let her continue.

He pushed her aside softly, his eyes firm but gentle.

“You’ll fall before he wakes up,” he said, and took the cloth from her hand.

Even though he didn’t really want to do it…

cleaning another beastman’s body felt strange, but he still couldn’t bear to watch her struggle like that.

He dipped the hide again in the water and began wiping Hu Yan’s fur slowly, starting from the back to his legs.

Every now and then, he had to change the water because it turned too red.

Su Qinglan sat quietly at the side now, her body slumped in exhaustion.

“Eat something,” Xuan Long said without looking at her in a low voice.

“You haven’t eaten since morning.” She blinked and realized he was right.

Her stomach felt empty, but she hadn’t noticed until now.

She didn’t even want to eat… But she remembered she couldn’t skip food because she still has to eat, not for herself but for her cubs.

So she quietly reached for a few fruits from the stone table near the wall and began to eat slowly.

Each bite tasted dull, but she forced herself to finish.

While chewing, she looked at Xuan Long.

He was sitting beside the stone bed, his long black hair falling over his shoulder, his tail resting quietly behind him as he wiped Hu Yan’s fur with careful hands.

His movements were slow and precise but gentle.

Su Qinglan’s eyes softened.

She realized then just how kind he was…

not only to her but to anyone she cared about.

Most beastmen would never bother to help someone from another kind, but Xuan Long did it without hesitation.

In that moment, something warm bloomed in her heart.

A strange desire to protect him, just like he was protecting them.

“I’ll make sure you live a happy life,” she thought silently, her lips curving slightly as she watched him.

Time passed quietly.

The sound of dripping water filled the cave as Xuan Long changed the bowl again and again.

Finally, Hu Yan’s fur was clean.

His wounds looked less frightening now, though some of them were still pink and tender.

Su Qinglan got up and touched one of the healed spots gently.

“It’s still fresh,” she murmured.

“I should bandage it.” She looked at Xuan Long.

“I need herbs.

I’ll go get some.” Xuan Long frowned slightly.

“You’re not going alone.” Before she could argue, he simply said, “I’ll take you.” She sighed but didn’t refuse.

They left together and soon returned with a few handfuls of green herbs Su Qinglan had recognized easily; her plant abilities could sense the ones with healing power.

She crushed them into a paste using a stone and her hands, the smell of fresh herbs filling the cave.

Then she carefully spread the cool paste over Hu Yan’s wounds, layer by layer, until all the open spots were covered.

Her movements slowed down toward the end.

By the time she finished, her eyes were heavy, her fingers stained green with crushed leaves.

Xuan Long placed a soft animal fur beside her.

“Rest,” he said again.

Su Qinglan looked at Hu Yan one last time.

Hu Yan was finally sleeping soundly.

His breathing had become calm and steady, the pain on his face almost gone.

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