Free Web NovelChapter 365: Chapter 365: When Do You Plan to Leave?
Sunxiao’s pupils constricted sharply. "You’ve met... my father?"
Qiao Yi crossed his arms and leaned casually against a large tree. "How did you know he was your father? The Sky-Swallowing Python clan has fallen on such hard times that only your bloodline remains."
Sunxiao’s expression turned frigid. As far as he knew, there were only two Sky-Swallowing Pythons left.
One was him, and the other was Qiao Lie.
The father he could barely remember was long gone, because before him, no Sky-Swallowing Python had ever found a Saint Crystal.
Without a Saint Crystal, death was only a matter of time for them.
But now, Qiao Yi was telling him his injuries were, in fact, the work of a Sky-Swallowing Python.
"You say you’re stronger than him. In that case, I’ll just have to test for myself how capable you really are."
Qiao Yi struck when Sunxiao was almost completely defenseless.
But Sunxiao’s reflexes were incredibly fast, and he was already prepared to counterattack as Qiao Yi closed in.
"Mother, I caught another super-huge fish-beast!"
Qiao Xixi quickly got up from the large rock to take the big fish from Qiao Ang’s hands. Just as she carried it back to the shore, she heard the sounds of a fight coming from the woods behind her.
"I think I hear something from the woods."
Gu Man glanced calmly toward the woods. "That’s not surprising. A lot of males in the tribe use good hunting days to impress a female. They’ll catch prey and bring it back to show the one they’re interested in just how capable they are."
Qiao Xixi had been a Wandering Beast for many years, so this was the first time she had ever heard of such a thing.
Seeing her confusion, Gu Man continued, "But when a lot of males are interested in the same female and she can’t choose, they’ll duel to show her that they’re stronger than their rivals."
Realization dawned on Qiao Xixi. She paid no more mind to the sounds from the woods, focusing instead on watching the cubs play.
"Gu Man, this method your mate came up with is amazing. The cubs have only been at it for a short while and they’ve already caught so many fish-beasts."
"I didn’t expect there to be so many, and for them to be so big, either."
The mesh of the net Gu Man’s mate made was quite wide, allowing the smaller fish-beasts to swim through easily. Only the larger ones were left behind.
Qiao Xixi took out the grass rope she had prepared and strung up all the captured fish-beasts.
"Mother, look, we got a lot of shrimp-beasts too!"
Sangqi walked over carrying a large bucket of shrimp-beasts. To prevent them from jumping out, he had placed a huge leaf over the top and weighed it down with a rock.
"So many! Mother will fry up these shrimp-beasts for you all tonight."
"Yay! I bet Xiya will love them."
’Sangqi is such a thoughtful cub,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’He remembers what everyone likes.’
"So, what does our Sangqi like to eat most?"
Sangqi looked at Qiao Xixi, smiling shyly. "I like anything Mother makes."
Seeing his little face flush red with shyness, Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but pull him into a hug and plant a kiss on his cheek.
"My Sangqi is so adorable."
Overcome with shyness, Sangqi squirmed, turned around, and plunged into the water.
"I-I’ll go catch more shrimp-beasts!"
The reason Qiao Xixi let the cubs play so freely was that they had just been through a major battle. She worried they might have strange emotions building up inside and thought it best to let them play wildly and release those negative feelings through their roughhousing.
That was why she didn’t restrain them today, letting them splash and play in the water to their hearts’ content.
It wasn’t until the sun was about to set that Qiao Xixi had the cubs come ashore.
Qiao Xixi smiled happily at the pile of fish- and shrimp-beasts on the bank. After helping the cubs dry off and change into clean clothes, they each carried the strung-up fish-beasts and prepared to head home.
On the way back, they passed through the small grove of trees.
Qiao Lie sniffed the air, and a flicker of confusion appeared in his eyes.
"I think I smell my father’s scent."
Qiao Xixi was surprised. "Qiao Lie, your father didn’t come over today."
Qiao Xixi looked into the woods and noticed clear signs of a fight. Several trees had been cracked by the force of impact.
She was a little surprised. ’These males really go all out to win a female’s favor.’
Qiao Lie furrowed his brow. He was sure he hadn’t mistaken the scent, but his father hadn’t come to the creek. ’Maybe he just passed through here,’ he thought, and didn’t dwell on it.
Today had been a bountiful harvest, and Qiao Xixi planned on making a huge fish-beast feast that evening.
Two of Gu Man’s mates, who had stayed behind to look after her, helped Qiao Xixi clean all the fish-beast meat.
"Xixi, are we going to cook all this fish-beast meat tonight?"
"Yep, let’s cook it all. We can send some over to the inner city afterward."
’Everyone has been working so hard lately,’ she thought. ’They deserve some extra food.’
"Alright, I’ll help."
"Mother, me too! I want to help!"
"Alright. Then can my adorable little cubs pound all the fish-beast meat into a paste for me?"
"No problem!"
Qiao Xixi divided the fish-beast meat into three portions: one for making fish paste, with the bones set aside for soup; another to be deep-fried; and the rest to be grilled.
Although it was all the same meat, the different cooking methods would create completely different flavors.
In an instant, the area in and around the kitchen was bustling with busy figures.
Qiao Xixi flipped the fish in the wok, scooping out the pieces that were fried to a golden brown on both sides and placing them on a woven bamboo tray to drain.
After mixing the pounded fish paste with Salt Crystal, Gu Man shaped the mixture into balls one by one and dropped them into a boiling pot of water.
Her two mates sat off to the side, grilling fish.
"Xixi, how are you going to cook these shrimp-beasts?"
"We can just fry those directly. They’ll be nice and crunchy."
"Okay."
As the sun began to set, delicious smells wafted through the air. The cubs, who were already starving, stared eagerly toward the pots, practically drooling with anticipation.
Qiao Xixi knew they must be starving after playing all day. She brought the fried fish-beasts and shrimp-beasts to the table, then ladled out a large bowl of fish-ball soup for them to start with.
"Go ahead and eat if you’re hungry. Just be careful, it’s hot."
"Okay!"
Qiao Xixi was hungry too, but she had already snuck a few bites while cooking and was about half-full.
After leaving a portion for Gu Man and the others, she wrapped the remainder in large leaves, preparing to take it to the inner city.
"Xixi, you can just let Bu Xi and the others take it."
"It’s fine. I want to go over there and see how things are. I’ll be back in a little while."
Gu Man knew Qiao Xixi was thinking about her mate, so she didn’t insist. "Alright, then. I’ll look after the cubs."
"Mhm."
When Qiao Xixi arrived at the inner city, she didn’t see Jin Ling or the others. Instead, she saw Kunlin helping out.
She was a little surprised.
"Kunlin."
Kunlin turned at the sound of his name, and his icy expression softened the moment his eyes landed on Qiao Xixi.
But with his naturally cold face, no one else would have been able to tell.
"Qiao Xixi."
"Weren’t you recovering from your injuries at the shaman’s? What are you doing here?"
"I’m almost healed," Kunlin said, his voice as cold as ever. "I came out to get some activity."
Qiao Xixi was quite surprised, but it wasn’t her place to send him away.
She took out a leaf-wrapped bundle and offered it to Kunlin.
"This is some fish-beast meat we made. This portion is for you."
Kunlin hadn’t expected her to offer him food. He had assumed she would shun him because of his older brother and Huang Ying.
"Thank you."
"When are you planning to return to Wing Beast City?"
