Free Web NovelChapter 352: Chapter 352: Is My Father Back?
"We absolutely cannot let the beastmen from Tiger Beast City get any closer."
Huang Ying frowned in displeasure. "Kunqi, what do you mean by that?"
Kunqi’s face was grim. "We can’t let Tiger Beast City find out that Wing Beast City’s Crystal Stone has been brought out. Young City Lord, I don’t care what you’re thinking. This is absolutely out of the question!"
’I need Tiger Beast City to take the blame for this. After all, the female protagonist still needs to build relationships with the villains. What if they end up hating her because they think her home, Wing Beast City, was responsible for their father’s death?’
"It’s not like the Crystal Stone can’t be regenerated. Besides, the beastmen from Tiger Beast City are already waiting outside the Black Panther Tribe’s territory. Do you really think they won’t sense the Crystal Stone’s power?"
Kunqi’s expression changed drastically. "What?"
"Kunqi, the very fact that I could bring out the Crystal Stone means my father must have approved it. Your job right now is to follow my orders!"
Kunqi’s expression was grim, but he couldn’t find a way to refute Huang Ying’s words.
Sunxiao and Sangze had heard their entire conversation.
Sangze clicked his tongue. "Look at that, Big Snake. She’s even lying to her own people just to deal with us."
Sunxiao remained silent, his expression stern, but the look he gave Huang Ying grew even sharper.
"Are you really so suppressed you can’t move an inch?"
Sangze arched an eyebrow. "Don’t you believe me, Big Snake? It seems you have a lot of confidence in my abilities."
Sunxiao’s cold eyes narrowed. Sangze had neither admitted nor denied it, leaving his true thoughts a mystery.
"Big Snake."
"Speak."
"To be honest... it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the day."
Confusion flickered in Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes. "You’re not going to die."
Sangze gave him a wicked, unrestrained smile and fell silent.
Kunqi had no choice but to obey Huang Ying, changing direction and heading toward Mr. Bai and his group.
"Mr. Bai, the Wing Clan is here."
Mr. Bai had just stepped out of the cave when he sensed an unusual power. His expression shifted slightly as he looked up at the horizon.
The sky was turning a fish-belly white, illuminating the approaching figures of Huang Ying and her retinue.
"That’s strange... why do I feel my strength draining away...?"
"I feel it, too. What’s going on?"
Mr. Bai’s expression turned grim. Just as he was about to order everyone to fall back, Huang Ying’s group flew down and landed in front of them.
"Where are you headed, Mr. Bai?"
Mr. Bai glanced at Huang Ying for only a moment before his gaze landed on the tightly bound Sunxiao and Sangze. He quickly noticed something was amiss.
"The Crystal Stone..."
Even someone as composed as Mr. Bai now looked at Huang Ying’s group in disbelief.
"You used a Crystal Stone that suppresses beast soul energy?!"
Huang Ying smiled nonchalantly. "What’s the big deal? It’s just one Crystal Stone. It’s not like Wing Beast City is all out."
Mr. Bai was even more shocked. If Crystal Stones were that easy to obtain, Tiger Beast City wouldn’t still have only one.
’How could Wing Beast City possibly have another one?’
’A single Crystal Stone like this requires sacrificing several 10-star beast soul beastmen to create!’
’Does Huang Yue really have that kind of nerve?’
Mr. Bai slowly reigned in his thoughts.
"The City Lord of Wing Beast City is certainly generous. Since you have a Crystal Stone in hand, why come looking for Tiger Beast City? With a Crystal Stone and your own beastmen, can’t you take down the Black Panther Tribe by yourselves?"
"We’ve always worked together, and I know Tiger Beast City has a vendetta against Qiao Xixi and her people. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get your revenge. Don’t say Wing Beast City never did anything for you."
Mr. Bai had no intention of leading the charge, but that didn’t mean he would do nothing. "What’s your plan?"
"I want you to take those two males and negotiate with Qiao Xixi. Tell her to get the hell out of the Black Panther Tribe. If she refuses, with the Crystal Stone in play... won’t they be completely at your mercy?"
Mr. Bai’s gaze landed on Sunxiao again. "You want us to go?"
Huang Ying nodded. "That’s right. Wing Beast City provided the Crystal Stone and even captured the men for you. All you have to do is talk. That isn’t too difficult, is it?"
Mr. Bai weighed the pros and cons, trying to figure out Huang Ying’s true objective.
’Based on the terms she’s offered, there’s really no downside for us. I could even use this as a chance to bring those unusual cubs, along with Sangze and his people, back to Tiger Beast City.’
’But would Huang Ying really be this accommodating?’
"If you’re not willing, I won’t force you. After all, like you said, we’ve already done most of the work. We don’t really need you anymore."
Mr. Bai was silent for a moment before looking up. "Fine, I’ll agree to your terms. But first, you have to tell me your objective."
"They’ve captured my cub, Yaya. I need you to get her back. If they deny it, then you do what you have to do."
This reason made Mr. Bai lower his guard slightly. He knew how precious the phoenix lineage was.
"Fine."
Mr. Bai didn’t step forward himself. Instead, he had the Golden Eagle Beast behind him grab the vines that bound Sunxiao and the others.
Mr. Bai leaped onto the Golden Eagle Beast’s back. "Move out! To the Black Panther Tribe."
The Golden Eagle Beasts beat their wings, carrying the beastmen of Tiger Beast City away.
Kunqi looked at Huang Ying. "Young City Lord, are you really comfortable entrusting Yaya’s rescue to Mr. Bai? He’s from Tiger Beast City."
"What’s the rush? We’ll just follow them and see what happens."
Kunqi was not at all reassured. As they moved away from the Crystal Stone, a good deal of his beast soul energy returned, and his flight speed increased considerably.
「In the inner city of the Black Panther Tribe.」
When Jin Ling awoke, the first thing he saw was Qiao Xixi sleeping soundly in his arms, along with their tiger cub, who had nearly rolled off the bed.
He rose carefully, tucked the blanket around Qiao Xixi, and then picked up the tiger cub, placing it beside her.
Once certain that mother and daughter showed no signs of waking, he dressed and went outside.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw Ma Qing in the courtyard, speaking with Feiyan with a grim look on his face.
After Ma Qing left, Feiyan quickly turned and headed upstairs.
"Mr. Bai is here with beastmen from Tiger Beast City. I’ve already had Ma Qing give the order for no females or cubs to leave their homes. You stay in the inner city and protect Xixi. Xijing and I are going out to check on the situation."
The gilded gold pupils contracted, radiating a potent killing intent.
"Alright."
Just as Jin Ling finished speaking, Xijing emerged from his room and turned his face in Feiyan’s direction.
"I heard everything. Let’s go."
Feiyan nodded. Just as he was about to head downstairs, Qiao Yi emerged from his room.
"You all go. I’ll watch over things here."
Before, Feiyan and the others would have certainly questioned Qiao Yi’s ability to do so. But having witnessed his true strength, they knew that leaving him to stand guard would make Qiao Xixi and the cubs even safer.
"Then we’ll have to trouble you, Langqi."
"Go on."
The three males turned and headed downstairs.
Qiao Yi’s wolf-like eyes were heavy with thought. He walked to the cubs’ room, and the moment the door opened, his expression shifted to a kind, benevolent smile.
But before he could speak, he heard Sangqi’s urgent voice. "Langqi, is my father back? I think I can sense his presence."
