The air was thick with the smell of blood and dirt when they finally reached it. The ground ahead was torn up; it was full of claw marks and broken stones.
Su Qinglan's eyes widened in horror when she saw what was happening in the middle of that chaos.
Because there Hu Yan was surrounded by five stray beastmen.
His whole body was covered in blood. The golden-striped fur that once shone so brightly was gone; it was replaced by dark, wet patches of red clot.
He was breathing heavily, his shoulders shaking, and his claws were trembling. He looked like he could fall at any second, but somehow, he was still standing.
"Hu Yan…" Su Qinglan whispered, her voice trembling, barely a breath escaping her lips.
The moment her eyes found him, her heart clenched painfully. She could hardly recognize him. His right arm was covered in deep claw marks, his tail was limp behind him, and blood was flowing from everywhere.
