Chapter 81: Chapter 66: I Beg You, Help Her

"Mrs. Li, it’s terrible, terrible! Something’s happened to the young master!"

Because Yu Lan hadn’t shown up.

The Black Panther had fallen into a state of extreme self-loathing, self-pity, and self-destruction.

He hadn’t eaten all day. He just lay listlessly in the iron cage, his eyes wide open, staring silently at the doorway.

He was waiting for Yu Lan to appear.

He hadn’t slept or rested, hadn’t eaten or drunk.

But in the eyes of the Li Family’s Guard Team, who were responsible for protecting Li Yucheng, this was a catastrophe.

From a distance, they could barely even detect Li Yucheng’s breathing. It looked... it looked as if the Black Panther was already on the verge of death.

The members of the Guard Team were scared out of their wits. One group approached the iron cage, while another hurried off to report to Mrs. Li.

At that moment, Mrs. Li was still heartbroken over the letter "Yu Lan" had written to her. ’How could such a gentle, beautiful, and intelligent female do something so insulting?’

Just as Mrs. Li was agonizing over whether there had been a misunderstanding, a guard rushed in to report, and she was instantly thrown into a panic.

"What did you say? Something happened to Yu Cheng?"

"What’s going on? Wasn’t he fine just yesterday?"

Yesterday, he had even taken his first steps out of the cage on his own in years.

Mrs. Li’s heart instantly started racing. Terrified, she scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the castle where Li Yucheng lived.

When she saw the Black Panther lying in the iron cage, its breath faint, Mrs. Li burst into tears.

"Yu Cheng, what’s wrong?"

"How did this happen?"

"Are you hurting somewhere?"

"Tell Mother. I’ll help you."

She turned and shouted at the guards beside her:

"Where’s the doctor? Where is he? When will he get here?"

"Mrs. Li, we sent for Doctor Li the moment we realized something was wrong. He’s on his way now and will be here soon."

All the while, the only reaction from the Black Panther was a slight twitch of his ears when he first heard approaching footsteps, and a flicker of light in his dark blue beast eyes.

But when he saw it was Mrs. Li, he slumped back down in disappointment, completely lifeless and still.

It was as if Yu Lan’s departure had taken all his emotions with her.

Upon hearing Mrs. Li’s promise, the Black Panther’s dead heart gave an imperceptible flutter. After a long moment, a hoarse, strained voice spoke.

"She didn’t come today."

"She promised me."

Though it was a simple statement, Mrs. Li could clearly hear a trace of grievance, confusion, and bewilderment in the Black Panther’s voice.

’Why did she promise to come see me and then not show up?’

’Was it because I did something wrong? Did I make the pretty little female unhappy, so she decided not to come?’

Hearing this, Mrs. Li couldn’t help but raise a hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

Li Yucheng would never know that not only would Yu Lan not be coming today, but she might never come again.

’She wasn’t the one who smashed the Human-shaped Recovery Potion. The so-called promise was just a trick to get away.’

With these thoughts in mind, facing a weak Li Yucheng who had lost the will to live, Mrs. Li still made a promise:

"Perhaps she was just too busy today. She’s been away from home for two or three days, so she must have a lot to take care of." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"You should eat something first. I’ll have someone contact Lanlan, and we’ll know what’s going on soon. Maybe Lanlan will even be here to see you tomorrow."

As long as Yu Lan was willing to appear before Li Yucheng and give him the hope to keep living, even offering up the entire Li Family fortune would be worth it.

Just as she’d hoped, upon hearing this explanation, the Black Panther’s eyes instantly lit up. He tilted his head to look at Mrs. Li and asked anxiously, still a little unsure:

"Really?"

’Can I really see Lanlan tomorrow?’

At this moment, Li Yucheng was just like a small child who desperately wanted candy but was too shy to approach and ask for it.

He liked her so, so much, but he always felt he wasn’t worthy, only daring to stand at a distance and watch other children share their candy with each other.

Seeing this, Mrs. Li nodded emphatically. "Yes, really. Now, eat up, and you’ll definitely see Lanlan tomorrow."

Having received the promise, the Black Panther instantly cheered up.

He stood up inside the iron cage and prepared to go eat from the side.

As his mood improved, his fur, which had looked somewhat dull and withered, regained some of its bright luster.

Looking at him like this, Mrs. Li wiped her eyes again. ’As long as Yu Cheng is okay, a little humiliation is nothing.’

But then, Li Yufei, who had been standing in the corner, refused to accept it.

’Why should her big brother still be so fixated on Yu Lan when she wrote a letter insulting their mother?’

’Li Yucheng should be just like her, full of hatred for Yu Lan. How could he keep such a vicious female in his heart?’

’Besides, the "Hope" potion Yu Lan developed has been exposed for illegally using fraudulent P materials. She’s already been sent to trial.’

’If Mrs. Li really wants to protect her, who knows what price they’ll have to pay.’

Li Yufei would never agree to do that for such a vicious female.

Thinking of this, under Mrs. Li’s horrified gaze, Li Yufei stepped forward and spoke up:

"Big Brother, Mother was just lying to you."

"The ’Hope’ potion that Yu Lan developed is under suspicion for illegally using fraudulent P materials. She’s been arrested and taken to prison, and she’s about to be put on trial."

"Once this is confirmed, the only thing waiting for her is death."

"For a vicious female like her, it’s what she deserves. Did you know she also—"

Before Li Yufei could finish, she was cut short by the Black Panther’s heaven-shaking roar.

ROAR!

It was the full-throated roar of a 3S-level male beast, and visible sound waves seemed to ripple through the air.

It frightened all the birds in the nearby garden, sending them fluttering away in a panic.

"Ah! Big Brother, how could you roar at me like that?"

Li Yufei felt wronged and looked toward the Black Panther.

The Black Panther’s dark blue beast eyes were now fixed on Li Yufei, filled with an icy coldness.

He swiped a front paw threateningly against the bars of the cage.

’Don’t talk about Lanlan like that.’

’Don’t you dare wish death upon her.’

Li Yucheng would rather die himself than let that young, vibrant, beautiful female die before he did.

Besides, he could feel it—the beautiful female was so gentle and kind. She could never do something like illegally use fraudulent P materials.

’Someone must have framed her.’

’I have to save her.’

’But right now, I’m just a Beastman who can’t even return to his human form, locked in an iron cage all year round.’

’The only moments of freedom and comfort I’ve experienced came after Yu Lan appeared.’

’I can’t help her.’

’I’m a useless male.’

’All I can do is watch helplessly as the female I adore is framed by others, completely powerless.’

The Black Panther paced frantically in his cage, his agitation reaching a fever pitch. When he saw Mrs. Li in the distance, he suddenly lunged toward her.

His voice was strained, as if he were weeping blood:

"Help her, Mother. Help her, I’m begging you."