Free Web NovelChapter 379: Chapter 379: Let’s Make a Bet
"Xixi, even though I can’t see, it won’t be a problem. Please don’t leave me behind when you go to Beast King City, okay?"
Qiao Xixi hadn’t expected him to think she would leave him behind. Instead of explaining immediately, she feigned annoyance and huffed, "In that case, I’ll have to think about it."
"Xixi..."
"Come on, let’s go. We’re going to inspect all the water sources in the tribe today."
Xijing pressed his lips together. After quickly composing himself, he tightened his grip on her hand and continued walking forward.
Qiao Xixi didn’t know if it was because of her words, but she noticed that Xijing was much more sure-footed than she was for the rest of their walk.
After they had inspected all the water sources and returned to the inner city, Xijing told her to go back to the house and rest while he turned and went into the kitchen.
Qiao Xixi followed him in. "I’ll help. You have to cook for so many people."
"Xixi, it’s okay, I can do it. You can try my cooking tonight."
Qiao Xixi wanted to say that using the fire would be inconvenient since he couldn’t see, but seeing how insistent he was, she didn’t say anything more.
"Alright. I’ll be in the living room. Just call me if you need anything."
"Mhm."
Just as the meal was almost ready, the cubs started trickling back in.
Sangze also returned behind the cubs. He came up to Qiao Xixi, looking a bit helpless. "Xixi, I was going to pick some fruit for you today, but on my way back, I saw the cubs training and went over... so... I got back late."
Qiao Xixi held out her hand. "So, where’s the fruit?"
Sangze quickly pulled a few large, red fruits from his clothes and placed them in her hand.
Qiao Xixi picked one up, wiped it on her clothes, and took a bite. The fruit had a texture a bit like an apple—tart, sweet, and very crisp. She liked it.
"Delicious."
Seeing Qiao Xixi eating happily, Sangze’s tense nerves finally relaxed.
He couldn’t help but go over today because he had noticed that Sangqi tended to lose control when he got aggressive during practice. He was worried, so he went to guide him. Fortunately, with his guidance, Sangqi was able to gain a bit more control. He didn’t want a cub of his to turn out like that.
By dinnertime, Jin Ling and the others still hadn’t returned.
As the time to head to Beast King City drew closer, their training sessions grew longer and longer. Often, they wouldn’t be back even after she had gone to sleep, and they would already be gone when she woke up.
That night, after Qiao Xixi had lulled all the cubs to sleep, she saw a figure moving outside her door.
She tucked the tiger cub in, then got up and opened the door.
Hearing the sound, Xijing turned. "Xixi?"
"Mhm." Qiao Xixi walked up to him, frowning as she looked at his increasingly dry lips.
"Haven’t you soaked in the Salt Crystal Water yet?"
Detecting the annoyance in her voice, he grabbed her hand in a slight panic. "I’ve already filled the tub in the bathing room. I’ll go in a bit."
Qiao Xixi didn’t believe him. She pulled him toward the bathing room. "I’m going to take a look."
"Xixi..."
Qiao Xixi pushed open the door to the bathing room and went to the tub. It was filled with plain water; there wasn’t any Salt Crystal in it at all.
Now Qiao Xixi was genuinely annoyed. Xijing was a merman. Although his beast soul energy allowed him to live on land normally, it was on the condition that he soak in Salt Crystal Water within a certain period to replenish his energy. Otherwise, his body would easily run into problems.
Caught, Xijing didn’t argue, simply saying, "Xixi, my body is fine."
He felt that it took too much effort to transport the Salt Crystal. With more and more beastmen in the tribe now, the Salt Crystal was needed in many other places. He didn’t want to waste it on his own baths.
But Qiao Xixi didn’t care about all that. Compared to others, she was far more concerned about her own mates and cubs.
"I still have plenty saved up. Just use it."
After speaking, Qiao Xixi went straight to a nearby shelf, took out a bucket of Salt Crystal, and poured it in. Once the crystals dissolved, she pulled Xijing over and reached out to tug at his clothes.
Xijing’s breath hitched, but he didn’t stop her.
Xijing’s light blue Jue Sha Clothes felt soft to the touch, but when she tried to pull them, she discovered that the seemingly thin Jue Sha was incredibly tough.
"What kind of clasp is this? Let me see how to open it..."
There was a very complicated-looking clasp on Xijing’s chest. Qiao Xixi fiddled with it for a long time but couldn’t get it open.
Xijing leaned down so she could see it more clearly.
"Can’t get it? Let me."
But Qiao Xixi stopped his hand. "It’s just a little clasp. I refuse to believe I can’t open it."
Qiao Xixi stood on her tiptoes, observing it closely, her face almost pressed against Xijing’s neck.
Her warm breath, carrying a faint, fresh scent, puffed against Xijing’s skin. Xijing’s Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably.
"Got it."
Qiao Xixi let go, and the Jue Sha Clothes fell open, revealing a fair, well-built chest.
Both Sunxiao and Xijing were very fair, but Sunxiao’s fairness was a translucent pallor, as if he hadn’t seen the sun in a long time. Xijing’s fairness, however, was like the luster of a sea pearl.
"Quick, get in and soak."
Qiao Xixi gave him a gentle push but found that his skin was scalding hot beneath her palm.
She made a small sound and was about to pull her hand back when he grabbed it.
"Xixi, stay with me, please?"
Qiao Xixi blinked mischievously. "Okay. I’ll help you."
Perhaps out of shyness, a faint blush spread across Xijing’s lustrous skin.
He let go of her hand and gently undid the Jue Sha Skirt at his waist. The skirt fell, revealing everything.
Qiao Xixi let out a small gasp and quickly covered her eyes with her hands, but she couldn’t resist peeking through a gap in her fingers.
’Oh my god, those legs are a mile long... So nice. And they’re all mine!’
Xijing sat down in the tub. The energy released by the dissolved Salt Crystal quickly filled his body, making him let out a soft, comfortable sigh.
"Xixi?"
Qiao Xixi didn’t respond.
Xijing turned his face quizzically in Qiao Xixi’s direction. He could clearly sense that she was still there.
"Xixi?"
Still no answer. Xijing frowned. Just as he was about to get up, he sensed Qiao Xixi approaching. He stopped moving and waited quietly to see what she was up to.
Qiao Xixi came up behind him, picked up the wooden ladle nearby, and poured water over his shoulders.
"Xijing, do you want to know what I look like now?"
Xijing froze, his muscles tensing up.
A flicker of sadness crossed his face, but he quickly concealed the emotion.
"I do. Xixi, I’ll find the Regeneration Flower. I’ll definitely recover. You... please don’t despise me, okay?"
Qiao Xixi’s soft palm landed gently on his shoulder. ’What a silly fish. If I despised him, why would I have made him my mate?’
"Xijing, want to make a bet?"
"Hm?"
"I bet that when you open your eyes in a little while, you’ll be able to see everything."
"What?"
