Chapter 493: This Cub is So Strange
"It was those cubs from the Golden Lion Tribe who hurt my child! I’m going to settle the score with them right now!"
Qiao Qiao had just gotten her footing when she saw a male Long-haired Ape Beast with very long limbs burst out of the house.
He walked to the stone house behind them, calling to the beastmen inside to follow him toward another part of the tribe’s territory.
Qiao Qiao watched them leave, her brow furrowed with worry. "Yuyu, do you think they’re going to fight?"
Yuyu was also a little worried. It was normal for beastmen in the tribe to have conflicts, but things could easily get out of control if too many people were involved on both sides.
"Yuyu, hurry and find the uncles from the patrol team! Tell them to go check it out."
Yuyu hesitated, his brow creased. "Qiaoqiao, I can’t leave you here alone."
"It’s okay. I’ll just stay here and treat the little cub. I won’t wander off. You can fly there, find the patrol uncles, and fly right back. It’ll be quick."
Seeing Yuyu still hadn’t moved, Qiao Qiao gave him a little push. "Go, go! Don’t let them actually start a fight."
Yuyu bit his lip. "Then you absolutely can’t wander off. I’ll be back soon."
"Okay."
Yuyu flapped his wings and quickly flew up into the sky.
Qiao Qiao, carrying her small bundle, arrived in front of that same stone house.
"Auntie, I’m Qiao Qiao. I’ve come to treat your little cub’s injuries."
After she spoke, a female White-haired Ape Beast wearing a gray animal-skin skirt, also with very long limbs, walked out. Her face looked a bit thin, but her eyes were gentle.
"Ah, you must be the little female cub in the tribe with the Healing Skill. The shaman already told me yesterday that you could help my cub get better faster. Come in, quick."
"Okay."
The stone house wasn’t large, and the furnishings were simple, but it was kept very clean and looked comfortable.
On a somewhat old wooden bed, some animal-skin blankets were spread out. A Long-haired Ape cub, who looked to be one or two years old, lay on the blankets.
"This is my cub, Yuanyuan. She was injured by a Golden Lion cub while playing outside yesterday. We’ve already had the shaman look at her, but she’s still in a lot of pain."
Qiao Qiao walked to the bedside. There were several wounds on Yuanyuan’s body. Because of the pain, she was frowning and whimpering even in her sleep.
Qiao Qiao’s heart softened, and she frowned. "Don’t worry, I’ll help her."
"Oh, thank you so much."
Qiao Qiao took Yuanyuan’s hand, and a faint halo of light slowly enveloped the cub.
Wherever the halo touched, the wounds vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The White-haired Ape female at her side stared, her eyes wide with shock.
A moment later, Qiao Qiao pulled her hand back. "There. She should be fine now."
The words had barely left her mouth when Yuanyuan’s eyelids fluttered and opened.
She first glanced at the White-haired Ape female in confusion, then her gaze shifted to Qiao Qiao.
"Yuanyuan, you’re awake! Does your body still feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Yuanyuan, you scared your mother half to death!"
The White-haired Ape female picked up Yuanyuan with a gentle expression.
Yuanyuan looked very thin, with so little flesh on her face that her features seemed large, especially her round eyes. She moved her eyeballs, her gaze landing directly on Qiao Qiao as a strange look flashed in their depths.
To the White-haired Ape female, she just looked like she had woken up and was still dazed.
"Little Qiaoqiao, thank you so much. I’ll go get you some tasty fruits. Please wait here." After putting Yuanyuan down, the White-haired Ape female headed out of the stone house.
Before Qiao Qiao even had a chance to refuse, the woman was already gone.
Qiao Qiao turned to look at Yuanyuan and suddenly met her big, round eyes. Normally, a young cub’s large, bright eyes would be very cute, but when Yuanyuan’s gaze fell on her, Qiao Qiao felt a strange sensation.
"Yuanyuan, how did the Golden Lion cub hurt you? Can you tell me?"
Yuanyuan didn’t speak. She just suddenly reached out, grabbed Qiao Qiao, and pointed a finger toward a small toy made of animal bone a short distance away.
"Do you want that toy? I’ll get it for you."
The moment Qiao Qiao turned around, Yuanyuan’s round eyes suddenly darkened.
Qiao Qiao, completely unaware, picked up the bone toy and handed it to her.
But as soon as the toy was in Yuanyuan’s hands, she dropped a piece of it.
Qiao Qiao had no choice but to bend down and pick it up.
What Qiao Qiao didn’t know was that as she bent down, Yuanyuan suddenly raised the remaining part of the bone toy and viciously smashed it down toward Qiao Qiao’s head!
"Yuanyuan, stop messing around!"
The White-haired Ape female, Yuanling, walked in with the fruit just in time to see this and rushed to stop Yuanyuan.
"Yuanyuan, that’s not how you play with big sister Qiaoqiao."
Having the bone toy snatched from her hand, a flash of malice crossed Yuanyuan’s eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a look of pure innocence as she gazed at Qiao Qiao.
Qiao Qiao was a little confused, but she just thought the cub was playing. After all, An’an also played rough without knowing his own strength.
"Little Qiaoqiao, take these fruits and eat them. Thank you so much."
Qiao Qiao took a few and put them in her small bundle. Her grandfather had her studying with the shaman recently, and the old shamaness had told her that after treating someone, when they offer her something, it’s best to take at least a little.
The items represented their respect and gratitude.
After taking the fruit, Qiao Qiao prepared to leave.
But just as she was about to go, Yuanyuan suddenly reached out and grabbed her animal-skin clothes, pulling right at the collar and choking her so she could barely breathe.
Qiao Qiao frowned, a little angry.
Yuanling was startled and quickly pulled Yuanyuan’s hand away. "I’m so sorry, Qiaoqiao. I don’t know what’s gotten into Yuanyuan today. Maybe she was just frightened."
Qiao Qiao puffed out her little cheeks, stiffly said, "It’s okay," and, not wanting to stay in the house any longer, turned and walked out.
’That cub is so strange. I’d better stay far away from her.’
After Qiao Qiao left, Yuanling put on a stern face and lightly slapped Yuanyuan’s hand.
"Yuanyuan, big sister Qiaoqiao just healed your injuries. You can’t treat her like that, do you understand?"
Held in Yuanling’s arms, Yuanyuan stared at Qiao Qiao’s departing figure, her eyes completely cold.
But she said, haltingly, "Yesterday... she... with Golden Lion cub... hit... me."
Yuanling’s expression changed slightly. "What did you say? She was one of the ones who bullied you?"
Yuanyuan nodded, her eyes certain.
But Yuanling couldn’t believe it. Qiao Qiao seemed so well-behaved and cute. How could she do something like bully her cub?
’But Yuanyuan never lies...’
Yuanling couldn’t figure it out. She had no idea what was going on.
While Yuanling was still confused, Yuanyuan spoke again.
"She... she said... tribe... doesn’t... doesn’t welcome... us... She hates White-haired Ape Beasts... told... told us to get out."
As soon as she said this, Yuanling’s expression instantly turned ugly.