Chapter 441: The Beast King’s Older Sister
Yaoxi had no idea why the Beast King had suddenly ordered Qiao Yi’s capture all those years ago. She assumed he’d fallen into such a state because the Beast King had misunderstood the circumstances of him saving her.
Even though Qiao Yi had made it clear it had nothing to do with her, she still felt deeply guilty.
Seeing Yaoxi cry so miserably, Qiao Yi was at a loss. He only had experience placating female cubs, not grown females.
He could only steel himself and change the subject. "Does the Beast King still give you a hard time?"
Hearing this, Yaoxi wiped the tears from her eyes.
"It’s fine. I’m used to it. She can’t actually kill me. After all, I’m still her older sister."
Qiao Yi frowned. Just by looking at Yaoxi, he could tell her life wasn’t easy.
"Was that your little female cub just now? She’s absolutely beautiful. You’ve taken wonderful care of her." After she spoke, something seemed to occur to Yaoxi, and she stood up anxiously.
"I have to get back. A few days ago, Yu Ling asked me to make her a beast-hide skirt, and I have to deliver it today. Are you staying here for a while? I’ll come see you when I have time."
Qiao Yi stood up as well. "Be careful."
Yaoxi pressed her lips together and nodded. "Okay."
Yaoxi pushed open the door, and Qiao Xixi nearly fell inside. Luckily, Jin Ling grabbed her with his quick reflexes.
Qiao Xixi steadied herself and gave a slightly awkward smile. "I was just coming to ask Father what we’re having for lunch."
How could Qiao Yi not see through Qiao Xixi’s little ploy? "This is your Auntie Yaoxi. Jin Ling, go pack up some of the meat we stewed this morning for Auntie Yaoxi to take home."
Jin Ling acknowledged the order and went to the back courtyard.
Yaoxi waved her hands, trying to refuse.
Seeing this, Qiao Xixi smiled. "Auntie Yaoxi, my father stewed a lot. We won’t be able to finish it all anyway, so please take some."
Refusing again would have seemed ungracious, so Yaoxi said, "Well, thank you so much."
"Auntie Yaoxi, have you always lived in the Royal Palace?"
Yaoxi nodded. "Yes, for many years now."
Qiao Xixi blinked. ’If she’s lived in the Royal Palace all this time, she must know it very well.’ Just as she was thinking this, she saw Jin Ling walking over, carrying a huge bundle of meat.
Jin Ling was nothing if not earnest; the large bundle he carried had enough meat to feed Yaoxi for two days.
"This... This is far too much." Yaoxi noticed the amount and grew even more embarrassed.
Qiao Xixi smiled. "That much meat must be heavy for you to carry, Auntie Yaoxi. Why don’t Jin Ling and I walk you home?"
Jin Ling immediately understood what Qiao Xixi was getting at. "Yes, this meat is quite heavy."
Qiao Yi frowned but didn’t stop them in the end. "Don’t wander off."
"We know, Father."
Sunxiao, who had just finished eating, was walking over from the back courtyard, so Qiao Yi told him to go along with them.
Naturally, Sunxiao didn’t refuse.
Qiao Xixi took the initiative to link her arm through Yaoxi’s as they walked out of the residence.
"Auntie Yaoxi, where do you live?"
A look of shame flickered across Yaoxi’s face as she pointed toward a remote area ahead.
"It’s a bit far. Why don’t you just give me the bundle? I can get back on my own."
"Oh, we couldn’t possibly do that. Father would surely scold me if he found out. By the way, Auntie Yaoxi, how did you and my father meet? Why have you always lived in the Royal Palace? Are you part of the royal family?"
Yaoxi looked at Qiao Xixi. ’She’s not just beautiful,’ she thought, ’her voice is also so sweet and gentle, completely different from Yu Ling.’
"I’m the Beast King’s older sister, but we have different fathers. Many years ago, your father saved me when he was leading the beastmen guards to repel the Demon Clan. We met back then."
’The Beast King’s older sister, yet she’s fared so poorly for so many years that she doesn’t even have a mate to look after her.’ Qiao Xixi felt there was definitely more to this story.
"Do you live alone, Auntie Yaoxi?"
Yaoxi nodded. "Yes. I don’t have a mate. The Beast King forbids any male from forming a mate bond with me."
Qiao Xixi was surprised. "Do you have a grudge against the Beast King, Auntie Yaoxi?"
Yaoxi’s brow furrowed slightly as she nodded, but she clearly didn’t want to elaborate. "Yes."
Qiao Xixi sensed her reluctance and didn’t press the issue. Instead, she just said, "Don’t worry. I have a grudge against her too."
Yaoxi’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Xixi, can you tell me what that’s about?"
Qiao Xixi tilted her head. "She just doesn’t like me." The matter of her being the Fountainhead wasn’t public knowledge, and she felt there was no need to tell Yaoxi.
But that was a reason Yaoxi seemed to understand perfectly.
"Don’t be sad. You’re such a good person, she’s bound to see your qualities eventually."
Qiao Xixi shrugged nonchalantly. ’Who needs the Beast King’s approval? Whether she likes me or hates me, it’s all completely irrelevant to me.’
"Xixi, this is my place."
Qiao Xixi snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. She was stunned to see the dilapidated stone house before her.
This stone house was far more dilapidated than the houses of the beastmen soldiers they had passed earlier. Outside, there were two large pits filled with water, with several wooden buckets and beast-hide clothes placed by their edges.
Yaoxi hadn’t wanted Qiao Xixi and the others to accompany her precisely because she didn’t want them to see her in such a wretched state.
"You can just leave the bundle here. My place is too messy, so I won’t invite you in to sit."
The truth was, there weren’t even any decent stools inside—there was nowhere to sit at all.
Without a change in expression, Jin Ling took the meat inside and set it down, then glanced at Qiao Xixi, awaiting her lead.
Qiao Xixi didn’t want to make Yaoxi any more uncomfortable. "Well, Auntie Yaoxi, we won’t disturb you any longer. We’ll be heading back now. We’re staying at the Feather Palace for the time being, so please come find us if you need anything."
"Okay, I will."
Just as Qiao Xixi was about to leave, she reached the doorway and saw a group of people approaching.
It was a squad of beastmen soldiers. As they drew nearer, Qiao Xixi could see a female in an orange-red feathered robe surrounded by them.
Her chin was tilted slightly upward, her eyes filled with arrogance. Upon closer inspection, Qiao Xixi noticed that her features bore a striking resemblance to the Beast King’s.
Qiao Xixi remembered her father mentioning that the Beast King and the Shaman Doctor had two cubs together. One was Yu Ye, and the other was named Yu Ling—the Beast King’s two most doted-on children.
As the procession drew near, Qiao Xixi recognized the scent of the Beast King’s and the Shaman Doctor’s bloodlines.
’This female has to be Yu Ling.’
The party came to a halt before Qiao Xixi’s group. As they had approached, Sunxiao and Jin Ling had already subtly positioned themselves in front of Qiao Xixi.
The beastmen soldiers stopped and parted to either side, allowing Yu Ling to slowly emerge from their ranks.
Her hair was lavishly decorated with multicolored feathers and Crystal Stones, creating a dazzling sight. She had even adorned her orange-red feathered robe with feathers of other colors. Standing there, she looked just like a proud, rainbow-colored phoenix.
Yu Ling walked right up to Qiao Xixi, her slender, phoenix-like eyes sweeping over her from head to toe. Then, covering her nose and mouth with one hand, she took a step back, her eyes filled with disdain.
"The scent of the Exile Flower... It’s... so foul."
The moment she said this, the eyes of both Sunxiao and Jin Ling darkened.