Chapter 499: There’s a Way to Find Him
"Mother, there are so many Crystal Red Fruits here."
Qiao Xixi snapped out of her daze and quickened her pace, joining her cubs to pick the fruit.
By the time the bamboo baskets they had brought were nearly full, Feiyan walked over, holding the tiger cub. The basket on his back was already brimming with fruit.
"Xixi, you’ve picked so much fruit."
"Yes, Father Beast. This Crystal Red Fruit is so sweet."
Qiao Qiao, just like Qiao Xixi, had no resistance to fruit. She picked up a Crystal Red Fruit, wiped it on her clothes, and began to munch on it enthusiastically.
The moment the tiger cub saw Qiao Xixi, she whimpered to be let down from Feiyan’s arms. She crawled to Qiao Xixi’s feet, her chubby little paws pawing at her leg.
Qiao Xixi took a Crystal Red Fruit, crouched down, and held it to the cub’s mouth. The little one bit into it, then turned and waddled away.
"Anything unusual nearby?"
Feiyan shook his head. "This area is very safe. Fierce beasts rarely come this way."
This stretch of mountain forest was the closest to the tribe, and it was the favorite gathering spot for the females and cubs.
To ensure the safety of the females and cubs, the patrol team had left their scent all around this area. The fierce beasts would smell it and stay away in fear.
Soon, all the bamboo baskets they had brought were full.
"It’s getting late. We should probably head back."
Feiyan nodded and took out a bamboo whistle, blowing it sharply. The females in the forest who heard the whistle would start heading back toward the tribe on their own.
Feiyan wore two baskets, one on his back and one on his front, yet still had a free hand to pick up the tiger cub, who was getting sleepy after her full belly.
Qiao Xixi and the others shouldered their own baskets and started walking toward the tribe.
On the way back, many other females were also walking in the same direction.
Qiao Xixi saw that their baskets were also full of fruit and couldn’t help but marvel at how rich in resources this area was. ’No wonder Sanggu wanted to increase his own power and expand the tribe’s territory before,’ she thought. ’With the resources just around the tribe, it would be more than enough to establish a Beast City right here.’
As they were about to reach the tribe, the patrol team that had escorted them for protection began to count the females who had gone out.
"Hm? Are we missing one? Did any of the females return earlier?"
The patrol team counted again and realized the numbers were off.
The beastman guarding the tribe’s gate shook his head. "No."
The patrol team had no choice but to count one more time. "We’re still missing one."
"It’s Shuangrong! Shuangrong is missing."
Qiao Xixi, who was walking at the very front, heard the commotion behind her and stopped. "What’s wrong?"
A beastman from the patrol team said, "Clan Leader, a female named Shuangrong hasn’t returned."
Qiao Xixi frowned slightly. She had a vague impression of Shuangrong, having seen her at Gu Man’s home. She seemed to be the sister of one of Gu Man’s beastman husbands.
Qiao Xixi’s gaze swept across the females. "Was anyone with Shuangrong just now?"
The females shook their heads. Then, a yellow fox female suddenly spoke up. "Clan Leader, I was with Shuangrong. While we were picking fruit, Shuangrong said she was a bit tired and wanted to rest. She went and sat down under a tree, so I kept picking fruit. But when I finished and went back, I didn’t see her. I just assumed she had left early."
Qiao Xixi asked for the detailed location where the two had separated and ordered the patrol team to go search for her immediately.
The sky was about to turn dark. It was very dangerous for a delicate female to be lingering in the forest alone.
Qiao Xixi’s gaze swept out, passing coldly over Huang Ying, who was being held in Yuanling’s arms.
Huang Ying suddenly felt an icy gaze fall upon her and shivered instinctively.
Qiao Xixi frowned at the way Huang Ying looked like she wanted to hide. ’Judging by Yuanling’s posture, she’s probably been holding her this whole time. Besides, I probably startled her earlier, so she wouldn’t have an immediate reason to harm one of the tribe’s females. It’s highly unlikely she’s responsible for Shuangrong’s disappearance.’
Qiao Xixi withdrew her gaze and told everyone to head home first.
By the time they returned to the inner city, the sky had already darkened.
"You’re back."
Hearing the noise, Feili came out from the first-floor kitchen.
"Feili Father Beast."
"Grandfather, we picked lots and lots of fruit today, look!" Qiao Qiao put down her bamboo basket, picked out the biggest fruit, and ran over to Feili.
Feili took the fruit with a kindly expression, wiped it on his clothes, and popped it into his mouth.
"Mmm, sweet. It’s delicious."
Grinning, Qiao Qiao followed Feili into the kitchen to help, but Feili shooed her out.
"A little female cub like you should be resting. You don’t need to do these things."
"But I just want to help Grandfather! Qiaoqiao doesn’t want to see Grandfather work so hard."
Feili’s heart melted at her sweet words. "Alright, alright. Then you can help Grandfather by watching the fire."
After putting the bamboo baskets away in the storage room, Feiyan also walked into the kitchen.
"Father Beast, let me do it."
Feili’s eyes widened, and he shooed him out as if he were a fly. "Go, go, go. If you have so much energy, go chop some firewood. We’re about to run out. We don’t need your help in here."
Feiyan looked reluctant and reached for the ladle. "I’ll go in a bit. I need to let Father Beast have another taste of my cooking."
Feili smacked his hand and drove him out completely. "I’d like to live a few more years, thank you! I want to see my dear grand-cubs grow up."
Feili grumbled under his breath. A few moments later, the loud sound of chopping wood came from the courtyard.
Listening to the father and son bicker, Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but smile. She wrung out a warm, damp animal-hide cloth and wiped the tiger cub’s face and paws.
"You’re such a little rascal. Look, your little face is all smudged."
The little one’s eyes were closed, and she whimpered, leaning against Qiao Xixi. She wasn’t fully awake yet.
Qiao Xixi had no choice but to carry her upstairs to sleep on the bed.
When she came out, she pushed open the door to Sangqi’s room and went inside.
The father and son were still there, their eyes tightly shut, showing no signs of waking up.
’System, will Sangze and his father not wake up until this matter is resolved?’
’Based on their current condition, that’s most likely the case. But don’t worry too much, Host. At least their conditions are relatively stable for now. I haven’t detected any signs of their beast soul energy leaking.’
Qiao Xixi nodded. ’I just hope things are going smoothly on Jin Ling’s end.’
’If I had known, I would have gotten the formula for that forbidden drug from Sanggu back then. We let them get away so easily, and now we don’t even know where they are.’
’Host, it’s not that hard to find Sangze’s Father Beast.’
Qiao Xixi’s eyes lit up. ’You have a way?’
’Hehe, of course, Host! Otherwise, why would I even level up?’
’Tell me, quickly.’
’You just need to take some of Sangze’s blood, then infuse it with the energy from your Spring of Life to use as a beacon. You’ll be able to find him that way.’
’What do I need to do?’
’First, get the blood. Then, take a lock of hair from your head that matches Sangze’s color.’
Hearing this, Qiao Xixi took a bone needle and gently pricked Sangze’s finger. A bead of blood quickly welled up on his fingertip. Then, she took a bone knife and cut off a lock of her black hair. Following the system’s instructions, she dripped the bead of blood onto the black hair.
’Now, silently repeat the incantation after me.’