Chapter 462: Lying in Wait
Inside Beast King City, Qiao Xixi and Xijing had chased their target halfway across the city. Just as they were about to close in, they suddenly discovered the coordinates on the map had vanished.
Qiao Xixi stopped in surprise.
"Little Yao, why have the coordinates disappeared?"
"Host, the target has used something to conceal the power of the Dark Primordial Stone."
"You can’t find it anymore?"
"Correct. There wasn’t much energy left in the Dark Primordial Stone to begin with. If the target hides that energy within their own beast soul and suppresses it with an even more powerful beast soul, I won’t be able to detect it."
"How powerful does a beast soul have to be to suppress this power?"
"At least 9-star."
Qiao Xixi frowned. ’After obtaining that dark power, the culprit definitely won’t linger in Beast King City. They’ll try to find a way to leave quickly.’
So, it made sense for them to head to the main gate of Beast King City and wait there.
Although there were many powerful males in Beast King City, not just anyone could reach the level of 9-star.
"Xijing, the target’s location is gone. It’s very likely they’ve used their own power to suppress the aura of the dark power. Let’s go to the main gate and wait. We’ll see if we can find them."
"Okay."
Qiao Xixi checked Sunxiao’s and the others’ locations and saw they were still in the royal palace. She was very worried about them, hoping with all her heart that they were all right.
’And Yun Ji...’
By the time they reached the main gate of Beast King City, the sun was about to set.
Qiao Xixi discovered that the city gate was actually closed.
They casually approached to inquire and learned that not long after they had left the royal palace, a Wing Clan beast-soldier from the palace had come with a message. He said something had happened at the palace and ordered them to close the city gate, permitting no one to leave.
The beast-soldiers on guard duty had closed the gate upon receiving the order and hadn’t opened it since.
Qiao Xixi looked at the towering city gate that reached into the clouds. With Wing Clan beast-soldiers standing guard on the walls, it was impossible for the culprit to have left silently through the sky.
’So, in all likelihood, that person is still inside Beast King City.’
If she just lay in wait, Qiao Xixi would still worry about the situation in the palace. But if she didn’t wait here, she feared the culprit would escape.
’Even though the remaining power from the Dark Primordial Stone isn’t much, I still don’t want to leave any loose ends.’
In the end, after discussing it with Xijing, Qiao Xixi decided to find Xueche.
Qiao Xixi returned to the stone house where they had stayed when they first entered the city. She took out the bell Xueche had given her and shook it.
’I wonder if Xueche can still show up as quickly as before.’
Qiao Xixi put the bell away. Xijing had already gone to the backyard to start a fire and cook.
The place had been empty since they left, and the door wasn’t locked. If they couldn’t get back to the royal palace tonight, they would have to make do here.
On the way here, Xijing had bought some beast meat from a street vendor, enough for them to eat.
"Little Yao, how are my father beast and the others? What’s the situation at the palace right now?"
She could only see that Sunxiao and the others’ location was still at the palace, but she couldn’t know the specifics of their situation.
"Host, I’ve checked. Their life signs are normal."
’That means they aren’t in any mortal danger for now.’
’In any case, that’s good news.’
Just as Xijing came out with the cooked beast meat stew, a knock came from the door.
Xijing put down the stew and said, "I’ll get the door."
"It’s probably Xueche."
Sure enough, when the courtyard gate opened, Xueche walked in, breathing heavily. The moment he saw Qiao Xixi, his eyes lit up.
"Qiao Xixi, I never thought I’d see you again."
Looking at his youthful, slightly boyish face, Qiao Xixi also felt a sense of a daze. It felt like a long time had passed since they last met.
"I know. Sit down and have something to eat first."
Xueche wanted to refuse, but the fragrant aroma of the meat made him sit down anyway.
Xueche drank a bowl of the stew, a satisfied look on his face. His gaze then fell on Xijing, and seeing the obvious scars on his face, he asked with some concern, "I heard that on the day of the sacrificial ceremony, you all went to the Thunder-swallowing Forest. What’s the situation over there now?"
Inside Beast King City, they could only get bits and pieces of news. He knew that the beastmen who came for the ceremony had all gone to the Thunder-swallowing Forest. When he found out, he’d felt terrible for a long time and had even wanted to go to the Thunder-swallowing Forest to find Qiao Xixi and the others.
But his father beast found out what he was planning and stopped him. He was shocked when the bell rang today, and he dropped everything to rush over here.
Seeing Qiao Xixi, he was truly overcome with joy.
Qiao Xixi put down her bowl and said, "We did indeed enter the Thunder-swallowing Forest and encountered many monsters, but we were lucky and made it out safely."
"We also found the reason why there were so many monsters in the forest. But just as we were about to purify the Dark Primordial Stone that was giving the monsters power, someone suddenly appeared and snatched the scattered dark power. Xijing and I chased that person out of there."
Xueche listened intently. As she finished, his clear eyes and handsome brows tensed up.
"So, did you find him?"
Qiao Xixi shook her head. "We lost his trail, but we’re certain he’s still hiding somewhere in Beast King City."
"Qiao Xixi, is there anything I can do to help you?"
Qiao Xixi ladled another bowl of stew for him. "We came to you because we need a favor. We need you to watch the city gate and see if any beastmen with a 9-star beast soul try to find a chance to leave Beast King City."
’It’s not a very smart plan,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’After all, high-level beastmen can hide their auras. But I can’t think of a better way right now.’
’Knowing the Beast King’s personality, he won’t open the gates easily until he catches me. That’s exactly why I want Xueche to help lie in wait for the culprit.’
Her reasoning was that the culprit would definitely be anxious to leave. So, while the gate was closed, they would look for an opportunity to get out, and in doing so, they might reveal themselves.
"Okay, I understand. I’ll be sure to carefully check every beastman who wants to leave the city for you."
"Thank you."
After they finished eating, Qiao Xixi took out a bag of Crystal Stones and handed it to him. It mostly contained low-tier and colorless Crystal Stones.
"Xueche, take these. With Crystal Stones, you can get food, so you won’t have to go out hunting. You can also give some to the beast-soldiers who give you a hard time. They’ll leave you alone for the sake of the Crystal Stones."
The words of refusal were on the tip of Xueche’s tongue, but he swallowed them back down. Qiao Xixi was right. Even in Beast King City, Crystal Stones were precious.
"Alright, I’ll take them. If I notice anything unusual, I’ll shake the bell."
"Okay."
As Xueche was leaving, Qiao Xixi gave him some dried meat as well. She watched him walk into the distance before closing the courtyard gate.
"Xixi, what are you planning to do next?"
Qiao Xixi’s brow furrowed slightly as she said in a low voice, "I’m going back to the royal palace."