Chapter 486: I’ve Failed You
"Qiao Ang!"
Qiao Xixi grasped Qiao Ang’s small hand. It was ice-cold. ’This little rascal, he must have been scared half to death himself.’
"Mother." Qiao Ang wriggled down from Feiyan’s back and immediately burrowed into Qiao Xixi’s arms.
Qiao Xixi quickly hugged him tight, afraid he might accidentally fall again.
Qiao Ang buried his little face in Qiao Xixi’s embrace, and smelling his mother’s scent, he began to cry even harder.
Qiao Xixi’s heart ached for him. She didn’t press him about how he had been captured by the Hunting Eagle Beast, but simply patted his back and soothed him in a gentle voice.
"Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. Your mother and father are both here."
Feiyan’s heart also ached watching his own cub’s small body tremble with sobs. When he turned and saw that Sunxiao had simply snapped the Hunting Eagle Beast’s neck, he actually felt it was a pity. ’Bullying my cub and getting away with just death? It got off easy.’
After crying for a while and venting all his anxiety, Qiao Ang finally lifted his head from Qiao Xixi’s arms. "Mother, when... when did you get back?"
Qiao Xixi gently wiped the tears from his face. "We left Beast King City yesterday and figured we’d reach the tribe around tonight. Can you tell Mother what just happened?"
Leaning against Qiao Xixi, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed, Qiao Ang said in a muffled voice, "Well, I went out hunting with Uncle Ma Qing and Qiao Lie with the Hunting Team, and then... that cunning Hunting Eagle Beast grabbed me!"
"But I wasn’t scared! I didn’t even struggle. I was just waiting for it to take me to its nest so I could take care of it myself!"
Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but chuckle. One moment he was a pitiful, sobbing mess, and the next he was fiercely declaring he was going to take care of the Hunting Eagle Beast.
"If you were caught by the Hunting Eagle Beast, Uncle Ma Qing and the others must have been worried sick."
Qiao Ang tilted his little head and thought for a moment. After he was snatched, he seemed to recall hearing Uncle Ma Qing’s panicked shouts.
"We’ll keep an eye out in a bit to see if they’re chasing after you down below."
"Mhm."
Meanwhile, Ma Qing was indeed frantic. The problem was that they were all Land Beasts; no matter how fast they ran, it was useless. The Hunting Eagle Beast had vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.
Just as Ma Qing and the others were chasing in despair, they looked up and saw several members of the Phoenix Wing Clan circling in the sky.
While Ma Qing and his group were still confused, they thought they faintly heard Feiyan’s voice.
"Feiyan?"
’Was I hearing things?’
It wasn’t until the Phoenix Wing Clan members in the sky descended and Feiyan leaped off one of their backs that Ma Qing was certain he hadn’t misheard.
Seeing Feiyan should have made Ma Qing happy, but right now, his scalp tingled with dread.
’How am I supposed to tell him that Qiao Ang was snatched by a Hunting Eagle Beast!’
"Ma Qing."
"Young Clan Leader, I’ve failed you!"
Feiyan: "..."
"Uncle Ma Qing, I’m over here."
Qiao Ang jumped down from the back of a Phoenix Wing Clan member and was caught by Feiyan.
Ma Qing looked up in shock. Seeing Qiao Ang held safe and sound in Feiyan’s arms, he nearly burst into tears.
"Qiao Ang, are you alright?!"
"I’m fine, Uncle Ma Qing. While I was in the air, I ran into my father and mother. They rescued me from the Hunting Eagle Beast’s claws."
Ma Qing really was about to cry. "It’s my fault. I didn’t protect you."
"Uncle Ma Qing, I’m a big cub now. I don’t need you to protect me."
Feiyan had no intention of blaming Ma Qing. "Alright, it’s already dark. Everyone should head back quickly. The mountain forest is dangerous at night."
"Okay, I’ll go tell Qiao Lie. He’ll be thrilled to see you."
Qiao Lie had also given chase after learning Qiao Ang had been taken. He was still running along behind them when, from a distance, he spotted the Phoenix Wing Clan members circling in the sky.
Just as he mistook them for the Hunting Eagle Beast that had captured Qiao Ang, a familiar voice drifted down from the sky.
"Qiao Lie."
Qiao Lie froze and looked up in astonishment.
"Father!"
As a Phoenix Wing Clan member descended, Sunxiao jumped off its back and landed in front of Qiao Lie.
Qiao Lie blinked hard several times. Once he was sure he wasn’t dreaming, he stood rooted to the spot, overcome with emotion.
"Father, you’re really back!"
Looking at his own cub’s small, restrained face, Sunxiao’s heart finally softened, and he stepped forward to pick him up.
Qiao Lie’s little body stiffened for a moment before relaxing against Sunxiao’s shoulder.
"Father, Qiao Ang was taken by a Hunting Eagle Beast. I have to go save him."
"Your Father Feiyan has already rescued him."
Qiao Lie paused for a moment. "Is everyone back? Where’s Mother?"
"Qiao Lie, Mother is here."
Qiao Lie turned to see Qiao Xixi walking toward him.
He stared with wide, crimson eyes filled with an unconcealable hope.
How could Qiao Xixi possibly resist such a look? She quickened her pace and held out her arms to him.
Qiao Lie pressed his lips together, but in the end, he couldn’t fight the longing for his mother. He turned and buried himself in her embrace.
Feeling the warmth of his mother’s body, Qiao Lie’s eyes reddened, but he held back his tears and refused to let them fall.
’I’m a big cub now. I can’t just cry whenever I want.’
Qiao Xixi had been suppressing her own longing for the cubs. Holding Qiao Lie now, she couldn’t stop herself from planting two big kisses on his cool little cheeks.
"Mother missed you all so much."
Qiao Lie’s little face turned red from the kisses. "I... I also... missed you."
Behind them, Feiyan had already flown over with Qiao Ang on the back of a Phoenix Wing Clan member.
"Xixi, let’s head back to the tribe first."
"Okay."
Sunxiao carried Qiao Xixi and Qiao Lie back onto a Phoenix Wing Clan beast, and they flew toward the tribe.
Both little ones wanted to sit with Qiao Xixi, so Sunxiao could only shield them from behind to prevent them from falling.
The Phoenix Wing Clan flew swiftly, arriving directly over the inner city.
The patrolling Wing Clan members in the tribe noticed the commotion and immediately flew over to investigate. Only after seeing it was Qiao Xixi and her group did they withdraw.
After getting off the Phoenix Wing Clan beast, Feiyan said gratefully, "Thank you all so much. Everyone must be tired after flying for so long. Let me take you to a place in the tribe to rest."
Several of the male Phoenix Wing Clan members nodded. "Then we’ll be in your care."
Feiyan led the male Phoenix Wing Clan members to find lodging in the tribe, while Qiao Xixi and Sunxiao took the cubs downstairs.
Feili was just about to put the cubs to bed when he heard the noise from above and immediately sent someone to check.
But before the person he sent could return, Qiao Xixi and her family were already coming down the stairs.
"Feili Father Beast."
Feili started, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Xixi... you’re back!"
Qiao Xixi nodded, noticing that Feili was thinner than when they had left.
"Feili Father Beast, you’ve worked so hard during this time."
Feili waved his hand dismissively. Before he could even speak, the cubs, having heard the commotion, came running out of their rooms.
"Mother, Mother is back!"
"Mother!"
"Mama!"
Qiao Xixi knelt down and caught Qiao Qiao, Xiya, and the little tiger cub in a full embrace as they rushed toward her.
"Oof!"