Nansi also followed them. Although his beast form was small and not suited for combat, his water attribute allowed him to attack if needed.
"Ah Di, I feel like the weather has become a bit stuffy these past few days. Do you think it's going to rain heavily soon?" Si Lu asked, lying in Bai Di's arms, looking worriedly at the dark, cloudy sky outside.
Of course, she then lowered her gaze to her noticeably protruding belly.
It was obvious she was pregnant.
Her belly was now as prominent as a human's at three months of pregnancy.
It was quite clear.
"Yes, the rainy season is approaching. Once it starts, traveling will become even harder. You can't get wet, and if it rains heavily, the roads will be difficult to traverse," Bai Di said with some concern.
Indeed, the stuffy weather was already a sign.
The rainy season was near.
And it was going to be fierce.
However, they were still far from the seashore!
Bai Di looked at Si Lu's belly, calculating that it had been about a month since she conceived. Judging by the current situation, it would likely be another two months or so before she gave birth. Could they really make it to the seashore before she went into labor?
If they were traveling under normal conditions, there wouldn't be much of a problem; they might even arrive well ahead of time.
But with the rainy season coming, once the rain started, it would continue non-stop for ten days to half a month. Then it would stop briefly, only to start again, continuing until the weather cooled down and winter arrived.
Once it rained, they wouldn't be able to travel.
This…
"And with you pregnant, we need to be even more cautious," Bai Di added.
"Sigh, let's just take it slow."
"It would be best if we make it to the seashore, but if not, we'll just have to give birth along the way. Don't stress yourselves too much; everything will be fine," Si Lu said, patting her belly and offering reassurance as she noticed Bai Di's worried expression.
She knew her partners were all under a lot of pressure, anxious about her impending labor.
But some things were beyond control.
They would just have to let nature take its course.
"Lu Lu, we will protect you. We won't let anything happen to you," Bai Di said earnestly, gripping her hand tightly, his eyes full of determination.
He would ensure Si Lu and their babies' safety.
"Don't stress so much; the babies are healthy. Feel for yourself," Si Lu smiled softly, guiding Bai Di's hand to her belly, her eyes twinkling as she gazed at him.
"Yes, life really is miraculous. I can feel it—the babies are healthy. However, I still can't tell how many there are," Bai Di said.
It was true; it was still too early to determine how many babies there were.
But he could clearly sense that the baby was healthy.
"It doesn't matter. They're all my babies. No matter how many there are, I will love them just the same, even if it's just one," Si Lu said.
She lowered her head, gazing tenderly at her belly, her eyes filled with warmth.
At that moment, she was more gentle than ever, as if a soft halo of light had enveloped her, giving her a divine maternal glow.
Bai Di was momentarily stunned.
This side of Si Lu was so gentle.
"Mm-hmm," Bai Di's gaze remained fixed on her, unable to look away.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Si Lu asked curiously, noticing Bai Di's intense gaze.
His eyes were burning with passion, making her a little uncomfortable.
"Because right now, you're even more gentle and beautiful than ever before," Bai Di said softly.
She would undoubtedly be a loving mother to their children.
Their babies would be fortunate to have such a wonderful mother.
Hearing Bai Di's words, Si Lu's face turned crimson. She didn't respond, but instead, she quietly took out two bright red apples from her storage space. She bit into one herself and handed the other to Bai Di.
Bai Di, holding the large apple in his hand, smiled knowingly.
He understood—she was shy.
The two of them ate their apples in silence, watching the scene outside the tree hollow together.
Before long, the sky grew darker and darker.
Even though it wasn't nighttime yet, the sun had disappeared, and the sky was covered with thick clouds.
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
Soon after, the sound of thunder rumbled through the air.
It was beginning to storm!
Si Lu's expression grew less relaxed.
After all, Cheng Mo and the others hadn't returned yet.
If the rain started pouring, it would make hunting even more dangerous.
"It's going to rain heavily," Bai Di said, staring at the scene outside, the weight in his voice matching the heavy rain about to fall.
"But Cheng Mo and the others haven't come back yet. Do you think something might have happened?" Si Lu asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.
"They'll be fine. They're strong and experienced in combat—except for that pink rabbit," Bai Di reassured her.
He could never bring up that rabbit without feeling irritated.
But when it came to Cheng Mo, Hei Yao, and Song Zhan, he had no worries.
They were all powerful, skilled fighters.
The rain would only be a minor obstacle for them.
"Mm, I hope so," Si Lu nodded.
Indeed, Cheng Mo was steady and reliable, Hei Yao was immensely strong, and although Song Zhan had a bit of a temper, his abilities were formidable. Not to mention, when it came to critical moments, he had plenty of experience to fall back on.
They would be safe.
As for Nansi, with Cheng Mo and the others there, he wouldn't be in any danger either.
Soon, the rain began to pour.
Pitter-patter
The rain hit the leaves and the ground, the sound of the downpour clear even from inside the tree hollow.
"The rain is really heavy!" Si Lu remarked, growing more worried as she looked out at the scene.
With such a downpour, they should be seeking shelter somewhere.
Hopefully, they would find a place to wait out the rain before trying to return.
Hunting could wait—what mattered most was their safe return.
Si Lu couldn't help but worry about Cheng Mo and the others.
"It looks like this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon. But Cheng Mo and the others are probably taking shelter somewhere. Don't worry, they'll be fine," Bai Di said, comforting Si Lu as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
He could see how much she was worrying about them.
Of course, he was concerned too.
But if he showed his anxiety, Si Lu would only become more worried and panic.
So he couldn't let it show.
"Mm-hmm, they'll be okay." Si Lu leaned into Bai Di's shoulder, her eyes fixed on the rain outside.
As time passed, Si Lu eventually dozed off without realizing it.
Bai Di watched her sleep; her brow still furrowed even in her dreams. He gently smoothed it out, feeling a pang of sadness for her.
He carefully carried her to the soft fur bed he had prepared and covered her with clean furs. Then, he sat by the entrance of the tree hollow, keeping watch and staying alert.