Free Web NovelChapter 396: Chapter 396: You Finally Decided to Appear
The fox female strode to the door of the latrine.
"What’s taking you so long? Aren’t you done yet?"
There was no response from inside.
The fox female frowned. "Are you in there or not?"
Still, there was no response from inside.
The fox female’s expression darkened. She reached out and pushed the door open. At that instant, a gust of wind blurred her vision. When she could see again, she found Qiao Xixi frantically pulling on her skirt.
"What’s wrong with you? Why would you just push my door open? You like the smell in here or something?"
The fox female’s slender, fox-like eyes narrowed. She scanned the room—up, down, left, and right—and only spoke after confirming that there was no way Qiao Xixi could have left.
"I called for you just now. Why didn’t you answer?"
Qiao Xixi shot her a speechless glance. "How was I supposed to know you were talking to me?"
The fox female was at a loss for words. "Fine. They’ve already left. You should hurry over."
"I know."
Qiao Xixi followed her past the pool. The fox female didn’t mention her soaking in it again. ’Her task must be complete, so she can’t be bothered to waste any more time on me.’ Qiao Xixi also played dumb and didn’t ask, instead quickening her pace back to the main hall of the royal palace.
When Qiao Xixi returned, she found Sunxiao and the others standing so close to the entrance they were almost outside the main hall. Seeing her return, the hearts they’d been holding in their throats finally settled.
The Beast King’s gaze swept over the females’ faces, and she stood up, satisfied.
"The Sacrificial Ceremony is tomorrow. To save everyone from excessive travel, you will all stay in the royal palace tonight."
Qiao Xixi went to Sunxiao and the others, whispering, "We’ll talk later."
The males all understood and remained silent.
A beast guard led them out of the main hall. After winding through several long corridors, they finally stopped in front of a palace.
"All the females will be staying in this palace."
Hearing that they would be separated from Qiao Xixi again, Sunxiao and the others’ expressions darkened.
Qiao Xixi grabbed Sunxiao’s arm and lowered her voice. "It’s okay. I’ll come find you tonight."
Sunxiao’s grip on her hand tightened. Qiao Xixi patted his hand reassuringly before letting go and following the other females into the palace behind them.
The moment they stepped inside, the palace gates were shut.
The males weren’t housed far away, just in the building next to Qiao Xixi’s.
After the beastmen left, the smile on the Beast King’s face slowly faded, and her brows furrowed.
The fox female, Yue Li, walked up to the Beast King and bowed. "Beast King, after absorbing the life force from the highly fertile females, the water in the pool has become clear."
Hearing this, the tension in the Beast King’s brow eased slightly.
"This way, our water source can last a while longer. As long as we send them to the Thunder-swallowing Forest to kill those monsters after the sacrifice, Beast King City can return to its former peace."
A slender figure emerged from behind the throne. He was very tall and remarkably handsome, with long, light green hair that cascaded over his shoulders like seaweed. A snake-shaped golden hairpin adorned his forehead, making his pale, serpentine eyes seem all the more bewitching.
A sharp, dark light glinted in his eyes, yet he gazed at the Beast King with heartache.
"If Qiao Yi hadn’t snatched that cub back then, the Beast King wouldn’t have to suffer so much."
At the thought of that past event, the Beast King’s expression darkened again, a hostile glint appearing in her eyes.
"He made his own mistake, so he should be the one to atone for it!"
"Han Lie, didn’t you say it would work as long as I produced an heir of my bloodline with a powerful mate? Why are neither Yu Ye nor Yu Ling suitable?"
Han Lie frowned. "Beast King, not just any cub will do. The only one who can do it is the cub you had with Qiao Yi."
"But Qiao Yi refuses to reveal the cub’s whereabouts. The mortal realm is so vast, where am I supposed to find her?"
Han Lie stepped forward and took the Beast King’s hand reassuringly.
"Has the Beast King forgotten what the beast guards said? They reported that when they went to capture Qiao Yi, a young female was with him. The reason Qiao Yi allowed himself to be captured without a fierce struggle was most likely to protect that young female."
The Beast King shot up from her chair. "Are you saying that young female is the cub?"
Han Lie nodded. "It’s highly likely. The beast guards investigated later. That young female is the current Clan Leader of the Black Panther Tribe."
The Beast King was even more astonished. "She’s the female who has repeatedly thwarted Tiger Beast City?"
A look of excitement appeared on the Beast King’s delicate face. "Quick, bring her to me."
"Beast King, don’t be hasty."
"Why not?"
Han Lie looked up, a cold, calculating light in his eyes. "The Holy Sacrificer has never approved of the Beast King’s methods. If we capture her now... and the Holy Sacrificer finds out, I’m afraid he will intervene."
The Beast King pressed her lips together. "Then let her enter the Thunder-swallowing Forest with the others. It will be the perfect opportunity to test if she truly has the ability. If she does, we’ll make our move inside the forest."
"Very well."
「Night fell.」
After coming out of the bathing room, Qiao Xixi looked up at the high courtyard wall.
"Qiao Xixi, what are you looking at?"
Qiao Xixi turned to the approaching beast guard and collected her thoughts. "Nothing. I was just missing my mates."
Qiao Xixi looked utterly dejected, like a delicate little female who couldn’t bear to be apart from her mates.
Seeing how pretty she was and smelling the pleasant scent on her, the beast guard couldn’t help but soften.
"You’ll be able to see them first thing tomorrow morning. It’s already late. You should go back and get some sleep."
"Okay."
There were many rooms inside the palace. Qiao Xixi was staying in a stone room at the very edge.
She pushed open the door, went inside, and closed it behind her. Then, she walked to the window and pushed it open.
As soon as she opened it, she saw a beast guard patrolling outside.
Qiao Xixi walked over to the illuminating sea pearl and covered it with a nearby animal hide.
The beast guard saw her room go dark and thought nothing of it.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, a sudden gust of wind blew from the corner of the wall. He watched curiously as it swirled the fallen leaves.
"Strange. There wasn’t any wind a moment ago."
"Land!"
Using the force of the wind, Qiao Xixi vaulted over the high courtyard wall and landed steadily in the corner below.
The moment she was out, she ran into a patrolling guard.
The Invisibility Cloak’s duration was limited; she needed to find a place to hide first.
Before time ran out, she ducked into the corner by the adjacent palace’s wall.
"This cloak’s countdown is so useless. Can’t the duration be a little longer?"
"Host, you get what you pay for. There are ones with longer durations, of course, but... that’s a different price!"
The familiar voice suddenly rang out in her mind, and Qiao Xixi’s eyes widened in shock!
"You damn thing, you finally decided to show up!"
"Hehe, Host, did you miss me?"
"I did. I wanted to smash your code to bits!"
"Host, look out! Someone’s coming this way."
Hearing this, Qiao Xixi immediately threw the cloak back on. In the next instant, she saw a figure walking toward her.
When she got a clear look at the person, her eyes widened in shock.
