Free Web NovelChapter 386: Chapter 386: Don’t Go, Leave Immediately
The rain stopped just before dawn.
Qiao Xixi had slept soundly while leaning against Jin Ling. When she awoke, she found herself being held by Xijing, lying in the fork of a wide tree branch.
Hearing her stir, Xijing looked down at her.
"Xixi, you’re awake."
Qiao Xixi hummed in acknowledgment and sat up from Xijing’s embrace.
"Where are we?"
Xijing took out a leaf-wrapped package from his tunic, opened it, and handed her a waterskin.
"We’re outside Beast King City."
Qiao Xixi was a little surprised. ’So soon?’
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Xijing explained, "Kunlin and the others picked up the pace after we set out last night. They only found this place to stop and rest a short while ago."
"Actually, that wasn’t entirely accurate. While we are technically outside Beast King City now, it will probably take until tomorrow to actually reach it."
Qiao Xixi nodded. Seeing the sun was about to set, she figured Sunxiao and the others planned to spend the night here before continuing their journey.
Qiao Xixi ate the roasted meat, which was still warm from Xijing’s body heat, and felt full after eating two pieces of fruit.
She realized that besides Xijing, who was keeping watch by her side, she couldn’t see Sangze or any of the others.
"That’s strange. Where is everyone else? Where did they all go?"
She looked around. She could actually sense their presence, but she couldn’t see a single person.
"We’re all here, Xixi. Don’t worry." Just as he spoke, Jin Ling emerged from the woods behind them.
Qiao Xixi was taken aback. ’Why are they hiding so secretively?’
Xijing explained, "We discovered that this forest is teeming with wild beasts. We decided to conceal our presence for safety."
They wanted to conserve their energy. After all, they didn’t know what they would encounter in Beast King City and didn’t want to waste time and stamina fighting beasts.
Qiao Xixi thought they had a point. She just told them to be careful and remained on the branch with Xijing.
"Do you want more?"
Xijing casually took out another leaf-wrapped package.
Qiao Xixi was already full from the first portion. She shook her head. "Have you eaten?"
"Mhm, I’ve already eaten."
Qiao Xixi didn’t believe him. ’Didn’t they say they just arrived? Even if they went hunting, it couldn’t have been that fast.’
Just as she was about to speak, she heard the roar of a beast in the distance.
"MOO!"
Even sitting in the tree, Qiao Xixi could feel a violent tremor. ’With a commotion this big, a Wild Bull Beast Group must be heading this way.’
Xijing immediately pulled Qiao Xixi into a tight embrace.
Kunlin suddenly descended from the sky, landing on the same tree where Qiao Xixi and Xijing were.
"A Wild Bull Beast Group is coming this way! Xixi, get on my back, quickly."
Xijing leaped onto Kunlin’s back, still holding Qiao Xixi.
Qiao Xixi saw that Jin Ling and the others had also mounted the other Wing Clan males.
Just as they left the large tree and flew into mid-air, Qiao Xixi’s sharp eyes spotted a slender figure running toward them.
The scrawny figure was running fast, but compared to the Wild Bull Beast Group behind him, it wasn’t nearly fast enough.
He quickly leaped onto a large tree, but the charging Wild Bull Beast Group began to ram into it like mad.
Qiao Xixi’s heart pounded as she watched. ’At this rate, that slender figure will surely be trampled to death by the Wild Bull Beast Group.’
As Qiao Xixi watched in horror, the tree he was hiding in crashed down. He was thrown violently to the ground, but he quickly staggered back to his feet and continued to run.
Qiao Xixi’s heart was stirred. She was moved by his stubborn refusal to give up, even at the last moment.
Qiao Xixi silently chanted a spell, and suddenly, a gust of wind blew toward the Wild Bull Beast Group.
The Wild Bull Beast Group, which had been charging recklessly forward, was forced to slow down.
Xijing quickly understood Qiao Xixi’s intention. He had Kunlin lower their altitude before jumping down and yanking the small, thin figure up from the ground.
Seeing this, Jin Ling also had the Wing Clan male beneath him lower his altitude. "Xijing, throw him to me."
At his words, Xijing swung his arm and tossed the small figure toward Jin Ling, who reached out and caught him securely.
"Xijing, get back up here, quick!"
Qiao Xixi cried out anxiously when she saw the Wild Bull Beasts were about to resume their charge.
Xijing turned and leaped. Qiao Xixi quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him back onto Kunlin’s back.
The moment Xijing was aboard, the wind died down, and the Wild Bull Beasts continued their frantic stampede.
In the wake of the Wild Bull Beasts, nearly all vegetation and any animals that couldn’t escape in time were trampled flat.
"Let’s find a new place to land."
Kunlin nodded, finally landing by a small stream in a relatively open area.
As soon as they were steady, Xijing jumped off Kunlin’s back with Qiao Xixi in his arms.
Jin Ling also leaped to the ground, carrying the small, thin figure.
But the moment his feet touched the ground, the figure impatiently struggled free from Jin Ling’s grasp.
"Thank you for saving me back there."
Now that he was closer, Qiao Xixi could see what he looked like.
His beast-hide clothes were stained, his hair was a mess that looked like it hadn’t been washed in a long time, and his body was covered in grime. His entire appearance could be summed up in a single word: filthy.
"Did you get separated from your clan? Why are you in this forest by yourself?"
Qiao Xixi asked this because he didn’t seem like a Wandering Beast; after all, his limbs were intact, and he didn’t have the scent of the Exile Flower on him.
"No. I was hunting just now and unexpectedly ran into the Wild Bull Beast Group."
"Where is your home? Where do you live? Why would you be out hunting alone?"
He pressed his lips together, his expression turning cold. "I live in Beast King City. If I don’t hunt, I’ll starve to death. No one gives me food."
Qiao Xixi was very surprised. She had assumed all the beastmen in Beast King City had plenty to eat and drink. How could someone be in such a miserable state? ’Even in a small tribe, a cub his age would be given a piece of meat.’
Of course, Qiao Xixi didn’t know his actual circumstances, so she didn’t press him with more questions.
"So, since you didn’t catch any prey today, does that mean you’ll go hungry?"
He looked at Qiao Xixi and nodded. "Yes, but I’m used to it. Are you... beastmen from a tribe, coming to Beast King City for the sacrificial ceremony?"
Qiao Xixi was surprised he had guessed. There was no need to hide it; after all, all the major tribes were supposed to attend this ceremony.
"Mhm, this is our first time coming to Beast King City. Could you tell me a little about what it’s like there?"
But to her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, his face darkened. "Don’t go. Turn around and leave this place immediately. Never set foot in Beast King City!"
Qiao Xixi was taken aback. "Why?"
He pressed his lips together and averted his gaze, his voice holding a cold gravity that didn’t match his age. "It’s not as wonderful as you imagine, nor is it as simple as you think. If you go, you will be in danger. So, leave, quickly."
"Can you tell me what kind of danger?"
