Chapter 398
Hearing this, Idir frowned. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it at the moment. Deciding he couldn’t be bothered, he held Nina’s hand and continued walking. Whoever it was had nothing to do with him.
Nina felt a flash of curiosity upon hearing an unfamiliar female voice, but seeing no reaction from Idir, she let it go. They kept walking, but the beastmen behind them weren’t giving up.
After a flurry of approaching footsteps, a female blocked their path. Nina looked up to see a pretty female staring at Idir, her eyes swimming with joy and longing. Behind her stood a tall, fair-skinned male who, upon closer inspection, actually bore a thirty-percent resemblance to Idir.
“Idir, it’s you, isn’t it?” Penny said, suppressing the rush of excitement and joy in her chest. She had watched this silhouette for so many years; even with the mask on, she could never mistake him.
Idir glanced at Penny. Had he met this female before? He searched his memory and recalled a faint impression—she was a noble female from his tribe. Then, his eyes sparked with surprise as he noticed the male behind her. It was his close friend, Tair.
Was this female Tair’s mate? But how had she recognized him? Either way, he didn’t care to find out.
Tair studied Idir, his eyes narrowing slightly. The build was indeed a dead ringer for Idir, but the aura was completely different.
Without offering an answer, Idir guided Nina to step around them.
But Penny blocked them again, demanding stubbornly, “You are Idir, aren’t you?” She stared at him, obstinately waiting for a reply.
Nina pursed her lips, starting to read between the lines.
Odian raised an eyebrow. Oho, looks like the dead snake’s romantic past has caught up with him.
Idir’s frown deepened as he hesitated over whether to speak. If he opened his mouth, Tair would undoubtedly recognize him. But if he stayed silent and this female kept nagging, what if it upset Nina? He looked down at Nina and made up his mind to speak. Nina’s mood was far more important; he could always figure out how to deal with Tair later.
Just as he was about to speak, Tair beat him to it. “Penny, you must have the wrong person. His aura isn’t Idir’s. He probably just has a similar build p>
Yet, Penny kept her stubborn gaze locked on Idir. “No, it’s him. It has to be him p>
Seeing how this female completely ignored her existence, Nina’s expression cooled. “Excuse me, but you are blocking our way p>
Only when Nina spoke did Penny finally look at her, a flash of pure astonishment passing through her eyes. At the same time, she noticed Odian. This male was remarkably handsome too, easily on par with Idir.
Then, her eyes dropped to Nina and Idir’s tightly interlocked fingers. The sight was an instant eyesore. Who was this female? Why was Idir holding her hand? He used to never let any female get close to him.
A wave of bitterness and jealousy surged in Penny’s chest, and her tone turned sharp. “I am speaking to Idir. What does it have to do with you? The path is wide enough; you are perfectly free to walk around p>
Nina pulled Idir closer to her side. “He is my mate. Your behavior is incredibly rude p>
Idir’s eyes turned icy. This female dared to speak to Nina with such disrespect?
Beside them, Odian’s face darkened as well.
Hearing the word “mate” hit Penny like a bolt from the blue. What did she just say? She said Idir was her mate?
How could that be possible p>
“No… it’s impossible. Idir would never form a bond with another female p>
Staring at Idir in disbelief, she demanded, “Idir, she’s lying to me, right? You aren’t bonded p>
The air around Idir instantly plummeted in temperature, his crimson eyes flashing with a dangerous glint beneath his mask.
Sensing the overwhelming, oppressive aura emanating from the stranger, Tair quickly stepped in front of Penny. He offered Nina an apologetic look and said, “Respected female, I am truly sorry. My mate has simply mistaken him for someone else. We will get out of your way immediately p>
Turning back to Penny, he urged, “Penny, you’ve got the wrong person. That isn’t Idir p>
Penny shook her head frantically. “I haven’t mistaken him! He is Idir.” His silhouette had been burned into her heart long ago; how could she possibly be wrong?
Seeing her stubbornness, Tair had no choice. He tried to pull her away, but when she refused to budge, he had to apply some force, physically dragging her to the side of the path.
Nina swept a cool glance over Penny before leading Idir and the others away.
Penny struggled against Tair’s grip, trying to give chase. “Let me go! I need to go after Idir p>
Tair held her tightly, his voice laced with bitterness. “Penny, it’s been so long. Have you still not forgotten him? Idir was banished. He can never return to Serpent City p>
Penny stared longingly at Idir’s retreating figure. “No… he’s already back.” Seeing him drifting further and further away, she struggled harder, her voice rising in panic. “Tair, let me go, hurry p>
Tair looked toward Idir as well, a dark glint flickering in the depths of his eyes. That brief burst of power just now felt incredibly like Idir’s. Could it really be him? Should he look into this?
He only released his grip on Penny once Nina and her companions had completely vanished from sight. The moment she was free, Penny bolted in the direction they had gone. With a heavy sigh, Tair followed right behind her.
The witch doctor’s residence wasn’t far from where Nina was staying, and the group arrived home in no time.
Penny, who had been tailing them from a distance, managed to catch a glimpse of them entering a courtyard just as she rounded a far corner. She started to rush over, but Tair caught her arm. “Penny, that’s someone else’s residence. You can’t just barge in p>
“But I want to find Idir! I want to get a clear answer,” Penny protested.
Tair felt completely helpless. “Penny, even if he really is Idir, you shouldn’t be chasing him anymore. Didn’t you hear what that female said? He is already bonded. He is another female’s mate.” His eyes swam with sorrow. “Penny, it’s time to forget Idir. There is no future for the two of you p>
Why was it that even though Idir had been gone for so long, she was still so utterly devoted to him? She was obsessed with just a similar silhouette. Yet he had stayed by her side for all this time, and he couldn’t even compete with a mere passing resemblance.
Penny covered her ears, refusing to listen. “I don’t believe it! That female must be talking nonsense. Idir wouldn’t bond with her. Look, he’s wearing a mask and he didn’t admit it himself, so he definitely doesn’t have a partner mark on his forehead p>
“Penny, can you please wake up?” Tair said, a profound weariness in his voice.
Penny stared fixatedly at the courtyard ahead. “I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.” She scanned the surrounding area. “Go ask if there are any vacant houses nearby. I want to buy one p>
She was going to wait for Idir to come out. Until she saw the truth with her own eyes and heard it with her own ears, she refused to give up. With that, she began searching the neighborhood for a property and promptly bought the house closest to Nina’s courtyard.
Once inside, Nina gathered Ming and the others to discuss what they had discovered today.
“Nina, did you find anything out today?” Ming asked.
Nina’s expression turned grim. “I discovered that the beastmen in the city aren’t actually sick. They’ve been poisoned p>
“Poisoned p>
Everyone was visibly shocked. So it was poison all along. Who could be malicious enough to target females and cubs? It was absolutely despicable.