Free Web NovelChapter 364: Chapter 364: Many of the Wounds on My Body Were Left by Him
To help Qiao Xixi and her family move back home sooner, nearly every able-bodied male in the tribe pitched in. The only exceptions were those out hunting or on patrol.
While the inner city was being repaired, Qiao Xixi and her cubs temporarily stayed in the stone house next to Gu Man’s.
Initially, Jin Ling and the others had planned to send one of them over each day to look after her and the cubs, but she refused. The cubs were older now; aside from the tiger cub, none of them needed her constant supervision.
Even the tiger cub spent most of her time playing with Mo Yan and the others, only looking for her when it was time to sleep.
There was still so much to do in the tribe; there was no need to waste manpower on her.
"Xixi, everything’s ready. Let’s go."
"Okay."
Gu Man mentioned that her mate had used vines to weave two large nets, fencing off a section of the stream to trap the fish-beasts swimming down from upstream.
They had agreed yesterday to take the cubs to catch fish-beasts.
"Cubs, let’s go!"
The playing cubs heard her and came running over happily.
Tata toddled along behind them.
"Brother Qiao Ang, you guys, slow down! Wait for me!"
"Tata, hurry up."
Watching his friends dash off in a flash, a dejected Tata walked over to Gu Man and hugged her leg.
"Why aren’t you going with your older brothers and sisters?" Gu Man asked, curiously stroking his little head.
Tata drooped his head and mumbled, "Mother, my brothers and sisters are all so amazing. I... I can’t keep up with them. They run so fast. They’re all powerful 4-Star Awakened Beast Souls, and I... I still have nothing..."
There was an unspoken competition among the cubs. Seeing his playmates all grow stronger while he remained an ordinary cub made Tata feel the sting of comparison.
Qiao Xixi walked over carrying a wooden bucket and pinched his still-chubby little cheek, smiling. "Well then, Tata, you’ll have to train hard with your father. If you beat the other cubs in the ring next time, you’ll get a chance to have your Awakened Beast Soul."
Tata’s eyes lit up. "Really? I can become as amazing as the other cubs?"
"Of course. I promise."
"That’s great! I’m going to get strong too!"
His worries dispelled, Tata cheered and ran off to chase after his friends.
After the little one had run off, Qiao Xixi asked, puzzled, "Didn’t I give you the Crystal Stone for the Awakened Beast Soul before? Why haven’t you used it for Tata?"
Gu Man sighed softly. "Tata’s foundation is too weak. I want to wait until he’s a little older."
In truth, Gu Man had her own selfish reasons. Tata was her only cub right now. If he had an Awakened Beast Soul, many things in the future might be out of her hands as his mother.
So, she didn’t want him to become a powerful warrior who had to protect others so soon.
As a mother herself, Qiao Xixi could understand Gu Man’s feelings.
When Qiao Xixi and Gu Man reached the stream, the cubs were already playing happily in the water.
"Alright, a mission for every cub. You all have to catch five fish-beasts before the sun sets."
"No problem! Mission accepted!"
Seeing them having so much fun, Qiao Xixi also sat down on a large rock by the water’s edge, holding the tiger cub.
The tiger cub saw her older brothers and sisters going wild and struggled to get down from Qiao Xixi’s lap.
"Go, go! Bro-bro, Jiejie!!!"
"Mommy will hold you and we can play here. The water is deeper over there."
"No, no!"
The little tiger cub’s round body gave a nimble twist, and she dove headfirst into the water.
"AWOO!"
The tiger cub went into the water so fast that she immediately choked on it. But she wasn’t scared. She quickly got her limbs in order and, with a SPLASH, swam toward her brothers and sisters.
Qiao Xixi immediately suppressed the urge to stop her.
’The cubs will grow up one day. I have to learn to let go at the right time and let them grow.’
The tiger cub doggy-paddled, and in the blink of an eye, she saw a fish-beast swim past her feet. Her eyes widened with excitement. She stopped, silently observing the fish-beast’s path through the water.
When the fish-beast swam toward her feet again, she let out a little roar and slapped her paw down on it.
SMACK! Water went flying everywhere.
Qiao Ang, who had just broken the surface, got completely soaked.
"Hey, what was that?"
The tiger cub’s blow was so powerful it knocked the fish-beast out cold.
The stunned fish-beast immediately flipped over, its white belly showing, and floated to the surface.
"Hahaha."
The tiger cub laughed with delight. She tried her best to drag the fish-beast over to Qiao Xixi with her little paws, but she didn’t know how. Just as she was about to use her teeth, Mo Yan swam over and lifted her out of the water.
"An’an, you’re amazing! You’re the first cub to catch a fish-beast today."
Praised, the little tiger cub was so proud her tail was about to stick straight up. She kept looking toward Qiao Xixi with a smug little face.
Qiao Xixi was amused by her adorable expression.
"An’an is really incredible. Xixi, you sure know how to make them."
Gu Man looked at the tiger cub with envy. An’an wasn’t just healthy; she also seemed very clever. Most importantly, she possessed a level of Combat Power that even most male cubs didn’t have.
She was practically Gu Man’s dream cub!
Qiao Xixi smiled at her. "Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll have more healthy, strong cubs too."
Gu Man stroked her flat stomach wistfully. There was nothing wrong with her body now, but the last incident had still left a considerable shadow on her.
"Can I really?"
"Of course. I promise."
"Yes, I believe in myself too."
"That’s the spirit."
Qiao Yi stood in a small grove not far from the stream, watching the frolicking cubs and the radiantly smiling Qiao Xixi from a distance. Even though his face was hidden in the dim shadows, you could feel the brightness emanating from him.
But soon, Qiao Yi reined in his relaxed aura and turned to look at the person approaching from behind.
His gaze, almost an interrogation, fell upon Sunxiao.
Sunxiao had received this kind of scrutiny from Qiao Yi many times before. Whenever Qiao Yi saw him, he would size him up with that same look.
The meaning behind that gaze was actually very clear: dissatisfaction.
Sunxiao knew for a fact that the male before him did not like him.
"Langqi, who are you seeing when you look through me?"
Qiao Yi didn’t retract his gaze, merely letting out a cold laugh.
"You’re smarter than your father."
The crimson, snake-like pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained indifferent. "As I should be."
The reply seemed to take Qiao Yi by surprise.
"How did you obtain the Holy Crystal to break the curse of the Devouring Sky Python?"
Sunxiao’s snake-like eyes stared coldly at Qiao Yi. ’He even knows about that,’ he thought, and instead of answering, he posed a question of his own.
"You’ve met another Devouring Sky Python besides me."
Qiao Yi snorted. "I have." After speaking, his gaze turned frigid. "Not only have I met him, we fought a back-and-forth battle. Quite a few of the scars on my body were left by him."
