While waiting on the frozen riverbank for the cubs to bring back Hu Yan or Han Jue, Su Qinglan and Xuan Long stood quietly in the crisp afternoon air.
Suddenly, a faint, muffled rustling sound drifted through the chilly air.
Su Qinglan's ears immediately perked up. She turned her head, blinking in surprise, and looked back at Xuan Long.
"Is someone else out here?" she whispered, gesturing towards a thick cluster of snow-covered boulders and frozen bushes just a short distance down the riverbank.
Xuan Long's dark eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the area, but seeing no immediate danger to his female, his gaze quickly returned to her face.
He didn't really care who else was in the forest, as long as he could stay close to his petite female.
Driven by pure curiosity, Su Qinglan took soft, quiet steps towards the direction of the noise, crouching slightly behind a large rock. Xuan Long silently followed her like a tall, protective shadow.
