The water had barely calmed when a dark, powerful shadow cut through the sea toward them at frightening speed.
Xuan Long was in his true form. His long, massive serpent body moved effortlessly beneath the surface, each powerful wave of his tail pushing him forward faster than any of the others. Water parted for him as if it feared him.
But the moment his eyes landed on Su Qinglan, who was alive, breathing, arguing like a cheerful female, something in him softened.
In the next second, his upper body transformed into human form and emerged from the water beside her.
He did not hesitate.
He pulled her straight into his arms.
Su Qinglan barely had time to gasp before she was pressed against a strong, cool chest. Xuan Long’s hand slid protectively around her back, holding her firmly as if confirming she was real.
He lowered his head.
First, he kissed her forehead.
Then her cheek.
Then the side of her face, his lips lingering as if he had been starving.
"Lan Lan... my Lan Lan..." he said in a low, raspy tone, his voice vibrating with restrained emotion. "I missed you so much."
The usual coldness in his eyes was completely gone. There was only raw relief and possessiveness.
Su Qinglan’s heart softened instantly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him back just as tightly.
"I missed you too," she said gently.
Then, she leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
But Xuan Long was not satisfied with a peck.
His fingers tilted her chin upward. Before she could retreat, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply.
This kiss was slower than Rong Ye’s reckless one. It was firm, claiming, and filled with quiet longing. His grip on her waist tightened slightly, as if afraid she might disappear again.
Water lapped around them softly.
Not far away, Han Jue reached them next.
The white wolf moved through the sea with powerful strokes, his silver hair plastered to his forehead. His sharp eyes scanned her body quickly, checking for injuries.
When he saw she was truly fine, the tension in his shoulders finally eased.
Hu Yan arrived almost at the same time, his breath still slightly uneven from swimming so fast.
The moment he was close enough, he reached out and pulled Su Qinglan from Xuan Long’s hold into his own arms without shame.
"Lan Lan," Hu Yan murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion. He was terrified, so terrified of losing her.
His thumb brushed gently under her eye as if confirming she was not some illusion.
Han Jue also swam towards them and hugged her from the side while she was still in Hu Yan’s arms. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her other cheek, his usual calm expression replaced with unmistakable tenderness.
For a moment, she was surrounded in the arms of her loved ones, who cherished her and cared about her.
Only one person remained slightly apart.
Shi Feng had also reached them, water dripping from his golden hair. He stood a short distance away, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Unlike the others, he did not rush forward. He simply looked at her.
There was deep and unfathomable love in his eyes, and they were red around the edges.
Su Qinglan, still half held in Hu Yan’s arms, noticed him. Her smile softened.
"You’re here too," she said gently.
Then she slipped free from Hu Yan’s embrace and swam toward Shi Feng.
The rocky ledge they were standing on was uneven and steep. One wrong step and they would tumble straight into the sea.
But the cubs were clearly not thinking about danger.
They were bouncing in place, tails swishing wildly, golden eyes shining as they stared at the males in the water.
"Awwooo!" Xiao Yi squealed again, jumping up and down.
Hu Yan’s entire expression changed. He had finally dared to relax after holding his precious mate in his arms, but his happiness was so short lived that his sons gave him such a huge terror.
"Why the hell are they standing in such a dangerous place? Does this look fun to them?"
"My cubs..." he breathed, but then he also noticed that they had actually grown noticeably.
In just this short time, their bodies were bigger, their legs sturdier. They no longer looked like tiny fluff balls. They looked like proper little tigers.
His chest swelled with pride so strong it almost hurt.
"They’ve grown well," he muttered, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face.
The cubs were practically vibrating with excitement. They clearly could not wait one more second to reach their fathers.
And then...
Xiao Yi did exactly what everyone feared.
With a loud, fearless squeal, he leaped off the cliff.
All four tiny paws flailed wildly in the air.
"XIAO YI!" Su Qinglan screamed.
Time seemed to slow.
The small orange body dropped straight toward the sea.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off