Chapter 236: Reunion Amidst the Falling Snow

The first snow of the season fell lightly in the dark night, covering the blue-tiled roofs of Beast City with a thin layer.

Wofu, Walter, and Anthony ran ahead, followed by Arthur, Ian, and several other Divine Energy Warriors; everyone rushed hastily through the darkness, their breaths turning into plumes of white smoke.

"Why can I suddenly not sense their aura anymore?" Ian asked while running and scratching his head, his worried expression clearly showing.

"They probably pasted invisibility arrays on themselves," Arthur immediately speculated, his voice steady although his footsteps did not slow down at all. "Just keep running in the direction you just sensed; it can’t be wrong."

Although Wofu was still a white tiger cub, his body not fully recovered after many days of imprisonment, his four small legs still tried their best to run along without falling behind, occasionally slipping on the thin snow layer, tumbling several times then scrambling up to continue running, refusing to let anyone carry him.

Beside him, Walter sat on Anthony’s back, his sharp eyes emitting a red light, scanning the darkness ahead, an indescribable feeling rising in his heart. He was afraid this was just a dream, afraid that if he slowed down a beat everything would vanish.

Behind, the Divine Energy Warriors assigned to follow also did not dare to be negligent; some used Divine Energy to scout the path, some held torches to illuminate; the group thus threaded through the snow-covered forest, their speed so fast that no one even bothered to notice branches and leaves brushing against their bodies.

The group bypassed a snow-covered white tree line, finally seeing a thin patch of snow ahead with a few footprints left. It seemed this place was their initial location; although they had carefully erased the footprints, a few still remained. Fortunately, they arrived early; if they arrived a bit later, the snow would cover everything, and finding people would be more difficult.

Examining the traces, everyone quickly found the correct direction. Wofu called out loudly while running, his voice still tender because his body was still in a cub form: "Chief, Priest, Draven..."

Ahead, the ears of several beastmen twitched slightly. Aaron walking in front suddenly stopped, turning his head to look around.

"What’s wrong?" Draven, who was holding the hands of two Rabbit clan children leading them, saw Aaron stop and asked in wonder. Aaron raised his index finger to his lips, signaling Draven to be quiet.

He tilted his ear to listen, then transformed back into his beast form, his fox ears twitching slightly.

"Someone is calling us... Not just one person...?" Joy suddenly appeared on the Silver Fox’s face: "It is our clan members! I hear Colton’s voice!"

The Crimson people were overjoyed, their eye sockets wet. Several people slightly tightened the straps tying the ash urns on their backs. The Rabbit clan people did not have as many worries as them, only nervously holding each other’s hands.

"Draven! Chief! Priest! Where are you everyone?!" This calling voice was extremely tender, yet clear and forceful. Aaron took off his invisibility amulet, shouting loudly:

"We are here!"

He had just finished speaking when he heard countless hurried running footsteps toward this side. Under the flickering torchlight, Aaron’s group saw familiar faces, their emotions suddenly bursting. Everyone simultaneously tore off their invisibility amulets, letting out joyous howls.

"Ah ah ah, Captain Anthony! I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you again!"

"Captain Walter! I miss everyone so much!"

"Boo hoo hoo! Second Brother, I was scared to death; later on I won’t dare to go out of the tribe anymore!!!"

Everyone reunited, their emotions bursting. They hugged each other crying like rain; the Rabbit clan people standing nearby watched with tears welling up in their eyes. Walter hugged Finnick and Ryder, sweeping his gaze around once. He saw many unfamiliar faces but did not see the two most familiar faces anywhere. His heart skipped a beat, his voice slightly trembling:

"Where is the Chief? Where is Kaelen? Why are there only you people left???"

Draven raised his head from the white tiger cub’s wet fur, sniffing and saying:

"They stayed in the Eastern continent to handle some matters; they will return later."

"Eastern continent?"

Aaron wiped the tears at the corners of his eyes, saying: "We will tell everyone after returning; it is not very convenient here."

He pointed at the Rabbit clan people, saying to Anthony: "These are our new clan members, Eastern continent people. They do not endure cold well; please help us arrange shelter for them."

Arthur only then stepped out: "Return to the City Lord’s mansion first; whatever matters can be discussed later."

Wofu rubbed his head against Draven’s chest, emitting soft purring sounds, seemingly having many things to say but not knowing what to say. Edward emerged from Ryder’s space, entering the spiritual herb. The boy found it inconvenient to interrupt Uncle Wofu and Uncle Draven’s joy of reunion, therefore he sluggishly climbed onto Arthur.

Arthur’s aura was completely different from a few months ago, becoming more condensed. It seemed after his ’death’, Uncle Arthur had also changed accordingly.

"Hmm?" Arthur felt his cheek being tickled, turning his head to look. He saw a blade of grass with a pale green light waving its hands and feet at him, curiously poking it lightly twice. Ryder walked to his side, looked up, then said: "Brother Edward is greeting you."

Arthur’s hands trembled slightly, his voice somewhat shocked: "Edward?! You are saying this is Edward?! The boy didn’t die?!"

Wofu in his mate’s embrace heard that and immediately stood straight up, running down and shouting loudly: "Where is Edward? Where is my nephew?!"

Ryder immediately pointed for Wofu to see: "He is on the shoulder of that Black Wolf uncle over there."

Edward cooperatively waved his two leaves. Wofu choked up, somewhat unable to speak. Draven stepped forward hugging him into his embrace, saying softly:

"Alright, return first; I will tell you the specific situation."

Everyone stirred preparing to set off; right at this moment, an ear-piercing scream rang out in the quiet snowy night:

"Where is Ignis?!"

Finnick stood rooted to the spot amidst the crowd, his two hands trembling feeling all over the tightly tied cloth bag on his back. While walking earlier he had felt the bag seemed a bit light but did not think much; now taking it down to show off to Uncle Walter, he only saw an empty bag. The boy’s face was pale white, his lips trembling violently.

"What?!" Hearing that, Ryder immediately took off his egg bag to check, but the yellow egg inside was still intact; only Finnick’s bag was empty.

The whole group of people immediately went into an uproar. Draven released Wofu, his face changing color. Arthur and Ian also did not have time to think further, immediately splitting people into directions to search. Torchlight illuminated all the snow-covered bushes, the call "Ignis" echoed throughout a forest area, but the response was only the cold howling wind.

Before being opened by Finnick, the bag opening was still sealed very tightly, not even a single tear existed. This could only prove that Ignis had been teleported to another dimension, unknown where.

Finnick collapsed into the snow, his two hands tightly hugging the cloth bag crying bitterly: "I lost Fifth Brother; how can I explain this to our two fathers later on?! Boo hoo..."

Ryder sat down beside him, wrapping his arm around his older brother’s shoulder, also not knowing what to say to comfort him. Everyone’s mood suddenly plummeted; even the slight joy of reuniting was dispelled by this event.

Draven tilted his head up to the sky, looking at the snowflakes flying in the night, opening his mouth wanting to swear but not daring to. Aaron rested his chin on Evan’s shoulder, saying sadly:

"Did the Chief’s family offend the Deities? Why don’t they have a single peaceful day..."

Evan sighed, patting his mate’s silver hair, using gentleness to comfort him.

The snow fell heavier and heavier; wandering outside endlessly was not a solution. Arthur marked the location of the teleportation array, then led everyone back to the City Lord’s mansion.

After the event of crushing the Temple’s and the City Lord’s mansion’s conspiracy that time, the Northern and Southern continents fell into unprecedented chaos. The major factions in the Northern continent, while targeting the fat bait that was Beast City, did not forget to covet the distant Crimson.

Facing the overwhelming crisis, Zale made a bold decision. He secretly contacted Arthur, bringing half of the elite Warriors in the tribe to the Northern continent, aiming to assist Arthur in seizing the Beast City Lord position.

This battle sacrificed many Warriors, but in return, after succeeding, Arthur immediately reestablished the power system, purging the underground factions supporting the old Temple Master. He strictly controlled the connecting path between the Northern and Southern continents, buying time for Zale to promptly establish the Southern Continent Alliance, thereby protecting Crimson’s safety.

The new Temple was also rebuilt, the former Divine Attendants who had left were also found and brought back, choosing the person with perception ability, Ian, to be the temporary Temple Master.

Ian very much did not want this position. According to him, the person deserving everyone’s kneeling worship should be Priest Kaelen instead. However, in the circumstance that Arthur had not truly secured his foothold in Beast City, along with the inseparable interest connection between Beast City and Crimson, Ian decided to take this tiring and unprofitable task upon himself.

Beast City was now built like Crimson architecture; people stepping inside felt as if they had returned to the tribe. The City Lord’s mansion also had a communal dormitory for guests; Arthur ordered people to clean it carefully and light the fireplaces.

Everyone split up staying in these warm houses, everyone’s mood was different, but it seemed all carried a melancholic sadness. That child of the Chief’s family was about to break out of the shell; getting lost at this moment, who knew if he was still safe or not...