Free Web NovelChapter 380: Chapter 380: Can’t Bear to Leave the Cubs
"So, is it a bet?"
A glimmer of hope rose in Xijing’s heart, but he felt the chances were slim.
"Can I... really?"
"Of course. So, are you in or not?"
"I’m in. I believe in Xixi... Mmph!"
The words had barely left his lips when Qiao Xixi’s soft lips pressed against his. Xijing’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively stood up in the water and pulled her into his arms, gradually deepening the kiss.
As he deftly parted her lips, Xijing felt something small being pushed into his mouth.
A bitter taste quickly spread through his mouth. Before he could figure out what it was, Qiao Xixi’s body was pressing almost completely against his.
Xijing’s attention was immediately diverted. He lifted her up with one arm, their breaths mingling and swirling, heating the cool Salt Crystal Water.
Their breathing grew heavier. Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, Qiao Xixi struggled in his arms.
"Xixi?"
Xijing’s grip on her tightened. He didn’t want it to end just yet.
"Let’s reveal the answer first."
Qiao Xixi took a deep breath, suppressing the misty haze of passion in her eyes before getting off him.
Xijing froze. He thought her words had just been part of their flirting.
"Sit back down in the water first."
Xijing obediently sat down in the water. Qiao Xixi came up behind him and slowly untied the Jue Sha from his eyes.
His long fingers subconsciously brushed over his closed eyelids.
Qiao Xixi moved to stand in front of him and said softly, "Try opening your eyes."
His feather-like eyelashes trembled. Xijing nervously gripped the edge of the wooden tub and slowly opened his eyes.
Perhaps because it had been too long since he’d been exposed to light, a blinding halo pierced his pupils the moment he opened his lids, making him shut his eyes again instinctively.
But he quickly realized something, and his heart began to pound wildly.
He tried to open his eyes again. This time, the harshness of the light had faded, replaced by the soft, warm glow of the sea pearls.
The blurry figure before him gradually came into focus. Her flower-like smile was reflected deep in his azure pupils, and the image quickly overlapped with the one in his memory.
Unable to control himself any longer, Xijing stood up and swept her into his arms.
"Xixi, I can see! I can really see!"
Qiao Xixi steadied him by his shoulders, a smile spreading across her own face as she watched his.
’The system’s medicine really is effective. It’s a good thing the cubs completed that rank-up mission and got me an extra 500 points. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have had enough to scrape together the 1000 points needed for the medicine to treat Xijing’s eyes.’
"Can you see me? Do I look any different from before?"
Xijing set her down and carefully cupped her face, gazing at her intently as if to etch her very being into his soul.
"You’re even more beautiful."
Qiao Xixi was satisfied. Only after she saw that the dryness on Xijing’s lips had faded did she return to the room with him.
That night, Xijing kept his eyes open the entire time, his gaze sweeping over every inch of her skin. At first, Qiao Xixi would protest, ’Staring at me like that is embarrassing!’
But in the end, her protests were futile.
With his sight restored, Xijing was exceptionally fierce that night. He was like a savage beast that had suddenly regained its vigor, satisfying her body and soul again and again until the energy she’d absorbed was about to overflow, and she finally surrendered and fell into a deep sleep.
Xijing’s ragged breathing gradually steadied. He lay beside her, scooping her into his arms with a long sweep of his arm.
Even though he felt physically exhausted, he was unwilling to fall asleep just yet. Instead, he gazed intently at the peaceful sleeping face in his arms, only drifting off as dawn broke.
The next morning, a revitalized Qiao Xixi opened her door, only to be met by Sangze’s dark, mocking eyes.
Before he could say something wild, Qiao Xixi launched a preemptive strike, throwing herself into his arms and planting a kiss on his cheek. "That’s your punishment for not staying with me in the inner city yesterday."
The devilish look in Sangze’s eyes vanished instantly. Seeing Qiao Xixi’s face so close, his heart began to race.
"Xixi, I... I was wrong. I’m willing to accept my punishment."
But as soon as the words were out, his shy demeanor vanished. His devilish eyes bore into her with an aggressive intensity. "Hm? Little female, I don’t like this kind of punishment."
"If you don’t like it, then get away from me!" His devilish expression instantly twisted into one of flustered anger.
Qiao Xixi silently pulled away from his embrace.
’He’s having one of his fits again. Time to bail.’
Sangze might have been a bit crazy, but he never neglected his duties.
When Qiao Xixi got to the kitchen, she found he had already made breakfast.
Before long, she heard the cubs getting out of bed.
"Father, you can see with your eyes now?"
"Yes, Xiya. Father can see you now."
"Ah, that’s wonderful! Father’s eyes can see!"
Hearing the commotion, Jin Ling and the others got up as well.
Xijing regaining his sight was a good thing for all of them.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day of their departure for Beast King City arrived.
A few days prior, Kunlin had returned to Wing Beast City, saying he needed to select some Wing Clan males to escort them to Beast King City.
The day before their departure, Kunlin finally returned with several members of the Wing Clan.
Knowing that their mother and fathers were about to leave them, the cubs clung to Qiao Xixi all night. It was a good thing her bed was big enough, or it wouldn’t have been able to hold so many of them!
Looking at the cubs sleeping higgledy-piggledy on her bed, Qiao Xixi felt extremely reluctant to leave.
She had no idea how long it would be before she could return from this trip.
She gently caressed the cubs’ soft little faces, unable to resist giving them several kisses.
"Jin Ling, why don’t you and Feiyan stay behind? I’m worried about the cubs being here in the tribe without us."
Qiao Xixi looked at the males sitting silently in the room.
They had to set off before dawn. After all, it was the hot season, and the sun would become scorching not long after sunrise. Flying without any cover would be incredibly uncomfortable from the heat.
Feiyan heard her and said, "Xixi, my father is in the tribe. He won’t let any harm come to the cubs."
If it were any other matter, it might have been fine, but they were heading to Beast King City. They would be facing many unknown, powerful forces, and not a single one of her mates would feel at ease staying behind.
Qiao Xixi squeezed the little tiger cub’s soft hand. ’Truthfully, my cubs’ star-ranks aren’t low anymore; they have some ability to protect themselves. But... what mother can ever truly let go of her children?’
Sensing Qiao Xixi’s presence, the tiger cub rolled over and snuggled deeper into her embrace.
"Momma... Momma..."
The childish murmuring caused the defensive walls she had just built up to crumble once more.
Qiao Xixi sighed softly and kissed the little face again and again. It wasn’t until the sky began to show the pale light of dawn that she finally steeled herself and sat up in bed.
After tucking the cubs in, she opened the door and walked out.
Sunxiao and the others were already waiting outside.
Just then, a figure emerged.
