Chapter 443: Want to Protect You
Yaoxi’s expression softened. "I’m worried Yu Ling will cause trouble for you."
After all, Qiao Xixi had just clashed with Yu Ling.
"She is deeply favored by the Beast King. I’m afraid you’ll be given a hard time by them."
Qiao Xixi hadn’t expected her to think so far ahead. "I know, Auntie Yaoxi. I won’t go running around."
"Good. You all should head back now."
Qiao Xixi and the others didn’t hurry back to Feather Palace. Instead, they wanted to take the opportunity to walk around the royal palace and familiarize themselves with the layout.
The royal palace was huge. Not only was it large in area, but the buildings were also enormous. Just a single palace gate was so tall you had to crane your neck to see the top.
Qiao Xixi and the others circled the outer perimeter. When they tried to head toward the inner palace, they were stopped by beast-soldiers.
"This is the Beast King’s inner palace. No one may enter without the Beast King’s command."
Qiao Xixi glanced at the tightly shut gates. She had no intention of forcing her way in and just circled the Beast King’s inner palace.
"Living in such a huge place all by himself... how extravagant."
After walking for a while longer, Jin Ling asked, "Xixi, are you tired?"
Qiao Xixi nodded. They had been walking for quite a while, covering most of the accessible areas. The places they hadn’t seen were all off-limits.
"I’m tired. Let’s go back."
Jin Ling changed into his beast form and had Qiao Xixi sit on his back.
Qiao Xixi only climbed on after making sure his injuries were truly no longer serious.
Jin Ling’s transformation into his beast form immediately drew the attention of the beast-soldiers. Sunxiao glanced behind them; a squad of beast-soldiers was following them from a distance.
Qiao Xixi didn’t mind. They wouldn’t do anything right now anyway. If they wanted to follow, let them.
It was almost dark by the time they returned to Feather Palace.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Qiao Xixi heard a familiar voice.
"I told you, I’m going to find Shuishui! Don’t try to stop me."
Qiao Xixi slid off Jin Ling’s back and saw Yun Ji walking out.
"Yun Ji, what are you doing here?"
The moment Yun Ji saw Qiao Xixi, he changed direction, strode up to her, and without a moment’s hesitation, grabbed her hand and started pulling her outside.
"Hey, where are you taking me?"
"To my place. You have to stay with me so I can protect you at all times."
But he had only taken two steps before Sunxiao blocked his path.
Jin Ling also shifted back to his human form and, without a change in expression, stepped forward to take hold of the hand Yun Ji was grasping.
"Holy Priest, Xixi is staying here. She’s not going anywhere."
His crimson, snake-like pupils swept coldly over Yun Ji’s hand. "Let go."
Yun Ji frowned in displeasure. "Fine, if Shuishui is staying, then I’m staying too!"
Seeing the auras of the three males rapidly turn cold, Qiao Xixi cast a helpless look toward her dearest father-beast.
But Qiao Yi seemed to be contemplating something and went directly to the back courtyard. Before Qiao Xixi could pull her gaze back, it met Xijing’s smiling eyes.
"Xixi, you’re back. It’s time for dinner."
Qiao Xixi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Great,’ she thought, ’two wasn’t enough, and now the one with a needle hidden in cotton is awake too.’
"Little female, what are you thinking about, hmm? Are you thinking of me?" Black mist suddenly swirled around her. Qiao Xixi gulped.
Yun Ji felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand and subconsciously let go of Qiao Xixi. He frowned and turned to meet Sangze’s deep black eyes, which held a mocking smile.
Qiao Xixi was shielded behind Sangze’s tall figure, while Yun Ji found himself surrounded by the three of them.
’What a scene. If I don’t slip away now, when will I ever get the chance!’
"Xixi, why does he call you Shuishui? It sounds awful."
Feiyan’s voice suddenly sounded from behind her. Qiao Xixi froze on the spot.
The males all turned to look at her at the same time.
Qiao Xixi sniffled, feeling that this couldn’t go on.
She cleared her throat, turned around, and said with a calm expression, "Maybe, probably, it was my old name?"
Yun Ji stated firmly, "What do you mean, ’was’? It still is."
The atmosphere grew tense again.
Qiao Yi’s voice came at just the right moment. "Get ready for dinner."
Qiao Xixi thought her father-beast’s voice was like a sound from heaven!
"Coming! I’ll go wash my hands first."
Qiao Xixi fled as if escaping.
During dinner, Qiao Xixi noticed Sunxuan was there too, tactlessly sitting right next to Sunxiao.
Qiao Xixi had originally wanted to hide next to her father-beast, but after a moment’s thought, she sat down next to Sunxiao instead.
Sunxiao, who usually radiated a ’stay away’ aura, felt the coldness on his face dissipate the moment Qiao Xixi sat down close to him.
After carrying a tureen of soup into the room, Jin Ling naturally sat down on Qiao Xixi’s other side. Feiyan, who entered behind him, huffed and sat down opposite Qiao Xixi.
Xijing and Sangze, both wearing strange smiles, sat down next to Jin Ling in turn.
Yun Ji looked at the only remaining seat, the one farthest from Qiao Xixi. He frowned but still sat down next to Qiao Yi.
Jin Ling ladled out a bowl of soup, first bringing it to Qiao Yi, then ladling another and placing it by Qiao Xixi’s hand.
The moment the fish-beast meat was served, Sunxiao picked up his chopsticks and skillfully began picking out the bones.
Sangze, however, was staring at Qiao Xixi with a burning gaze.
Xijing had already placed a piece of meat in Qiao Xixi’s bowl.
Qiao Xixi kept her head down, focusing only on her food.
Yun Ji glanced at the meat on the table, then at the males around the table, each with their own agenda. He hesitated to pick up his chopsticks.
In the end, it was Qiao Yi who put a piece of meat in his bowl.
"Holy Priest, please eat. Get a good night’s rest after you’re full."
Yun Ji turned to look at Qiao Yi, then glanced at the soup in front of him. After a moment of thought, he picked up a large piece of fish-beast meat and placed it in Qiao Yi’s bowl.
"You eat too."
Qiao Yi looked at the fish-beast meat in his bowl, his eye twitching.
Qiao Xixi gave Qiao Yi a sympathetic look. ’Just eat it, Father-beast. Eating fish-beast meat will make you smarter!’
The meal was both thrilling and satisfying for Qiao Xixi.
Once she had eaten and drunk her fill, Qiao Xixi went to the back courtyard to bathe.
She didn’t know what Sunxuan said to Yun Ji, but at least he returned to the adjacent palace.
When Qiao Xixi came back from her bath, she was a little curious to find that besides Qiao Yi, Jin Ling and the others were gone from the living room.
"Father-beast, where are Feiyan and the others?"
"I told them to wash up and go to their rooms."
’Hm?’
’Since when were they so obedient? How come I didn’t know?’
Qiao Yi looked at her and snorted inwardly. He had settled them with just a single sentence.
"If you don’t hurry up and recover completely, hmph, Beast King City has no shortage of powerful males."
Lying on his bed, Jin Ling closed his eyes, Qiao Yi’s words still echoing in his mind.
They had indeed been more severely injured this time. Although they had recovered a lot, they weren’t completely fine yet.
If a male with a high-level beast soul were to challenge them right now, they couldn’t be completely certain they would win.
In the midst of his thoughts, he heard the sound of his door being pushed open.
His gilt-gold pupils shifted slightly. The moment that slender figure came into view, the light in his eyes instantly ignited.
Qiao Xixi closed the door, scurried directly onto the bed, and threw herself into his arms.