Chapter 484: We Must Become Stronger
When Qiao Xixi opened her eyes again, it was already bright daylight outside.
She sat up and smelled the aroma of roasting meat coming from outside.
Feiyan was no longer in the shelter, but Sangze was still lying safely beside her. She reached out to touch Sangze’s forehead, and only after confirming his temperature was normal did she get up and leave the shelter.
Once outside, Sunxiao walked over and pointed to a large leaf pouch nearby, which was filled with clean water.
"You’re awake. I’ve brought back some water. Go wash up."
Qiao Xixi grunted in acknowledgment and went to freshen up.
After cleaning up, she sat down next to Feiyan, who was roasting meat. She picked up a branch to poke at the fire, quickly flipping over a piece of meat that was about to burn.
After eating their fill, they prepared to continue their journey. If all went smoothly, they would be able to return to the tribe before dark.
With Sangqi’s condition still unknown, Qiao Xixi just wanted to get back as fast as she could.
Soon, they set off again.
Just after Qiao Xixi and the others left, Huang Yue’s group arrived at their resting place from the previous night.
Looking at the empty shelter, Huang Yue turned to Kunlin. "Kunlin, they’ve already left. It looks like they have an escort from the Phoenix Wing Clan, so they probably don’t need our help. We should hurry back to the city, too."
Earlier that morning, Kunlin had mentioned that he was the one who had escorted Qiao Xixi to Beast King City, so he felt he should offer his help for her return journey as well.
Thinking back to how they had disturbed them last night, Huang Yue didn’t object and came along.
He simply hadn’t expected Qiao Xixi’s group to set out so early.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Kunlin’s dark eyes. "Alright."
Meanwhile, the cubs in the tribe had no idea that the mother they missed so dearly was already on her way back.
"Qiao Lie, Qiao Ang, are you two going hunting with the Hunting Team again today?"
The two youngsters stopped at his words, looking back at Feili and nodding.
"Grandfather, we already made plans with Uncle Ma Qing yesterday. He’ll be waiting for us at the main gate."
With his usual stoic expression, Qiao Lie nodded stiffly. "We need to get stronger."
For cubs, hunting was an excellent way to train and become stronger.
Feili was gratified by the cubs’ maturity. It was a good thing for male cubs to want to become stronger, and he wouldn’t hold them back.
"Then you two must be extra careful. Don’t wander off from the team, understand?"
"We know, Grandfather Feili. We won’t wander off."
"Go on."
Just as Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang were leaving, Qiao Qiao came out with an animal-hide pack on her back.
"Qiaoqiao, where are you going?"
Qiao Qiao looked at Feili. "Grandfather, I’m going to treat a sick little cub in the tribe."
Feili looked at her with a gentle expression. "What’s this about? Tell your grandfather."
"Yesterday, Yuyu told me that a little black bear cub who lives next door to him was injured. Even after the witch doctor checked on him, he’s still whimpering in pain. I feel so sorry for him, and I want to see if I can help."
"Are you going by yourself?"
Qiao Qiao shook her head. "Yuyu is probably waiting for me outside already! Don’t worry, Grandfather, Qiaoqiao can protect herself. I always keep the Bubble Fruit that Mother gave me with me!"
With the recent increase in the tribe’s population, Feili had added several more patrol teams, so he was confident in the tribe’s security.
"Alright, you can go. Just don’t wander outside the tribe."
"I know!"
After watching Qiao Qiao leave, Feili turned, went upstairs, and pushed open the door to Sangqi’s room.
"Grandfather Feili."
Xiya, who was standing by the bed, lifted the little tiger cub off Sangqi’s bed.
The little one reached out her tiny hand, trying to poke her brother, but Xiya quickly intercepted her.
Feili took the tiger cub from Xiya, gently pinching her chubby little cheeks. "Are you bothering your brother Sangqi again? He’s sleeping. Why don’t our little An’an go play outside with Sister Xiya for a while, hmm?"
"AWOO~!"
The little cub whimpered and reached for Xiya.
Xiya quickly took her in her arms.
"Grandfather Feili, what’s really wrong with little brother Sangqi? Why is he still asleep after all this time?"
Feili frowned, his voice low. "Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. I’ll have the witch doctor come by again in a little while. Be a good girl and take your little sister out to play for now."
Xiya nodded and carried the tiger cub out.
Feili didn’t dare tell the cubs about Sangqi’s condition, fearing it would only make them worry.
The beastmen the tribe had sent to Beast King City hadn’t returned yet, and he had no idea how Xixi and the others were faring.
His thoughts in turmoil, he reached out, using his beast soul energy to probe Sangqi’s condition. To his astonishment, he found that Sangqi—whose beast soul energy had been steadily leaking—was now enveloped by a mysterious power. The leakage had stopped completely.
Feili was stunned. Over the past two days, besides himself, the cubs were the ones who had entered this room most often. No one else had been here. ’How could Sangqi’s body have changed so drastically in such a short time?’
’Could it be that Xixi and the others found something out?’
Feili couldn’t make sense of it, but this was a good thing for Sangqi. He had to get the witch doctor over immediately to find out what was happening.
「Elsewhere.」
Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang walked to the tribe’s main gate and met up with the Hunting Team waiting there.
"Uncle Ma Qing, we’re here!"
Seeing the two youngsters run over, Ma Qing quickly waved them closer.
"Okay, everyone’s here. Let’s move out."
"Uncle Ma Qing, where are we hunting today?"
"We’re going to the woods behind the tribe today. The cold season is almost over, so a lot of prey animals are starting to come out. That stretch of forest is quite dense, so we should be able to hunt more game there."
"Okay."
Once they reached the forest in the back mountains, Ma Qing had everyone split into small groups to search for tracks.
"Qiao Lie, Qiao Ang, you two stick with me."
"Okay."
The two youngsters shifted into their beast forms and followed Ma Qing’s group, sniffing the air for the lingering scent of prey.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, Ma Qing suddenly halted.
"Wild Bull Beast tracks here. Stay alert, it’s likely nearby."
"Right."
Soon, Qiao Lie caught the scent of the Wild Bull Beast. He followed it, slithering slowly deeper into the vegetation.
Qiao Ang searched the area as well. When he made a discovery and turned to tell Qiao Lie, he found his brother was already gone.
He didn’t panic. Instead, he stared warily in the direction where the scent was growing stronger.
He crept through a patch of tall grass and peered through a gap in the blades. Sure enough, a jet-black Wild Bull Beast was grazing just a short distance away.
He quickly dropped to the ground, pinning his tail down, his eyes locked on the Wild Bull Beast.
Just as he was about to charge, having found the perfect moment, a figure swooped down from the sky, diving straight for him.