Su Qinglan immediately reached out and patted Liu Shan’s back softly.
"Hey... it’s alright. Don’t cry," she said in a gentle voice, a little panicked herself. She wasn’t good at comforting people, but seeing Liu Shan cry like that made her chest ache.
But Liu Shan didn’t stop. Her tears kept falling, her shoulders shaking as she held onto Su Qinglan tightly, like she was scared Su Qinglan would disappear if she let go.
"I thought... I thought I was going to die..." she whispered between sobs. "When I saw his body... my beast husband’s body... I felt like my world ended..."
Su Qinglan froze for a moment, not knowing what to say. She just kept patting her back slowly, letting her cry.
Liu Shan’s voice trembled as she continued, "He... he was always taking care of me. For so many years. I couldn’t even give him cubs. I was just a burden to him... and still, he protected me till his last breath."
Her lips quivered, her tears falling on Su Qinglan’s shoulder. "And because of me... he died. If not for me, he would still be alive. There’s no one left to carry his line anymore... no one..."
Su Qinglan’s heart clenched hearing her words. She didn’t interrupt. She just sat there quietly, letting Liu Shan pour everything out.
Liu Shan took a shaky breath. "When you found me... I didn’t want to live anymore. I really didn’t. If you hadn’t saved me that day, maybe I would have already followed him..."
Su Qinglan blinked, her throat tightening. "Don’t say that..." she whispered softly.
But Liu Shan shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her trembling hand. "It’s true. But then... my second beast husband... he stayed by my side. He didn’t leave me. He kept whispering things to me, telling me I should live, that he wouldn’t give up on me..."
Her lips trembled again, but this time there was a small, weak smile on her face. "If not for him... and you... I wouldn’t be here now."
Su Qinglan smiled faintly, her hand still on Liu Shan’s shoulder. "You’re stronger than you think, Liu Shan."
Liu Shan shook her head again, tears still glistening in her eyes. "No... I’m not. But when my beast husband told me that you even healed me... that maybe I can still have cubs one day..." she paused, her voice breaking again, "I didn’t know what to say. I still don’t know if it’s true or not... but seeing the hope in his eyes... I just couldn’t destroy it."
Su Qinglan didn’t speak. She just listened quietly.
Liu Shan let out a long, trembling sigh. "I don’t want to die anymore," she whispered. "Because if I die, he’ll die too. I can’t take another innocent life because of me."
Su Qinglan’s eyes softened. She reached out and gently wiped the tears from Liu Shan’s cheeks. "Then don’t die," she said simply. "Live. For yourself. For him. For the ones who care about you."
Liu Shan looked up at her, eyes red and wet. "Thank you... for everything. I really... don’t know how to repay you."
Su Qinglan smiled and shook her head. "You don’t need to repay me. Just live well. That’s enough for me."
For a long while, neither of them said anything. The forest wind blew softly, rustling the leaves.
Liu Shan finally calmed down. She loosened her grip on Su Qinglan and took a deep breath, wiping her face with her sleeve. "I’m sorry... I made a mess again," she said in a small voice.
Su Qinglan chuckled lightly. "It’s fine. Crying sometimes helps. You’ll feel lighter after that."
Liu Shan nodded slowly, a faint smile on her lips now. "Yeah... maybe you’re right."
Su Qinglan stood up and handed her the small bowl. "Here. Eat. You need strength if you want to live."
Liu Shan took the bowl carefully, her hands still trembling a little. "Thank you... really."
"Don’t thank me anymore," Su Qinglan said with a small grin. "If you keep saying that, I’ll start charging you."
That made Liu Shan laugh a little through her tears.
Su Qinglan sat beside Liu Shan for a while, watching her eat slowly. After she finished, Su Qinglan reached out and gently touched her wrist.
She was not checking her pulse or anything; instead, she let the warmth of her healing power slowly into Liu Shan’s body to probe her condition.
Her fingers moved carefully, and she studied Liu Shan’s face. Her color looked much better now. The pale shade was gone, her lips had turned a soft pink, and even her eyes had some light in them again.
Su Qinglan smiled softly. "Hmm... looks like you’re almost completely healed," she said with a nod.
Liu Shan blinked at her. "Really?"
"Really," Su Qinglan said again with a grin. "And now don’t cry anymore, alright? You’re perfectly fine." She leaned closer and poked her lightly on the forehead. "And be a little less of a crybaby."
Liu Shan puffed her cheeks slightly, half embarrassed, half laughing. "I wasn’t crying that much..."
"Oh really?" Su Qinglan raised her brow playfully. "Then my ears must be lying."
Before Liu Shan could reply, a loud voice came from behind them.
"Female Qinglan, you are finally here!"
Both of them turned their heads and saw Zhao Mu coming quickly toward them.
He was carrying a large hunt over his shoulder...some kind of big wild bird...but the moment he saw them, he just dropped it on the ground without care and rushed straight to Liu Shan’s side.
"Is my female alright? Has her illness come back? Did she eat well? Did she rest enough? Tell me, Qinglan female, is she fine?"
His words tumbled out one after another, his eyes filled with pure worry.
Su Qinglan chuckled softly at his nervousness. "Calm down, Zhao Mu. She’s fine. Better than fine, actually."
Zhao Mu let out a long sigh of relief, then crouched down beside Liu Shan, gently touching her shoulder. "Thank the beast God..." he muttered under his breath.
Su Qinglan looked at them both, and her lips curved into a teasing smile. "You know," she said slowly, "if you continue to take care of her like this, and she doesn’t stress about anything anymore, maybe in ten or fifteen days... you’ll already have cubs growing in her belly."