Chapter 449: Perhaps Related to the Beast Husbands
When Qiao Xixi came out of the secret passage, her hands were red from being zapped.
The inner hall was empty. The Beast King seemed unconcerned now, likely figuring she couldn’t escape and thus letting her wander the palace freely.
Qiao Xixi took out some Recovery Glue and rubbed it on her hands. ’If Sunxiao and the others saw this injury, they would probably tear this bedchamber apart to take me back.’
She hadn’t been able to find a breakthrough, so she didn’t plan on wasting any more time in the Beast King Hall. Besides, her priority now was finding Yu Ye and the others. Her movements weren’t restricted like before; she just had to return here by nightfall.
Qiao Xixi left the Beast King Hall.
The moment she stepped outside, she came face-to-face with Yun Ji.
Yun Ji spotted her and hurried over. "Shuishui."
"Yun Ji, what are you doing here again?"
Yun Ji’s expression was typically cold and aloof, but her words instantly brought a bright, boyish sorrow to his features.
"But we promised we’d always be together. I’ll go with you, wherever you’re going."
Qiao Xixi didn’t refuse him. ’His mind isn’t the same as it was. I can’t lecture him; I have to go along with what he wants and coax him.’
"I’m going to find Auntie Yaoxi. You can come with me."
With Qiao Xixi’s agreement, the gloom on Yun Ji’s face dispersed. "Okay."
Neither of them noticed the figure that emerged from the Beast King Hall after they left.
"Healer?" Noticing that Han Lie hadn’t moved, the beast soldier called out softly.
Han Lie withdrew his cold gaze. He’d been so worried about the two missing cubs these past few days that he’d completely forgotten about Yun Ji.
Han Lie motioned for the beast soldier to approach and whispered a few instructions in his ear.
The beast soldier’s eyes widened in shock, but his gaze fell upon Han Lie’s cold, serpentine eyes, and he quickly lowered his head.
"Yes, I’ll see to it at once."
With that, the beast soldier turned and headed for the inner hall.
A cold sneer flashed in Han Lie’s eyes. ’Yun Ji, it’s time you stepped down from that position.’
When Qiao Xixi found Yaoxi, she was crouching by a pool in front of her house, washing clothes. At the sound of footsteps, she looked up. Seeing it was Qiao Xixi, she stood up happily, wiping her wet hands on her clothes.
"Xixi, what brings you here? Quick, come inside and sit." After speaking, she turned her astonished gaze to Yun Ji. "Holy Priest, you came too? My place is a bit of a mess..."
Sensing Yaoxi’s unease, Qiao Xixi stepped forward and took her hand. "Auntie Yaoxi, I came to see you about something. The Holy Priest was just passing by and came along with me."
The Holy Priest held a very high status among the beastmen of Beast King City. Even the royals wouldn’t dare disrespect Yun Ji, so it was only natural for Yaoxi to be nervous in his presence.
Qiao Xixi noticed this and asked Yun Ji to wait by the door.
Yun Ji didn’t object and went straight to the doorway.
Once Yun Ji was gone, Qiao Xixi could clearly feel Yaoxi let out a sigh of relief. She was a little amused, but then she remembered what Yun Ji used to be like. ’I was a little scared of him too... I can’t blame Yaoxi.’
"Xixi, let’s talk inside."
"Okay."
The two went inside together. Yaoxi took out the few fruits she had left.
"I don’t have much to offer here."
Qiao Xixi, not minding in the slightest, picked up a fruit that looked a little past its prime and took a bite. "Mmm, it’s so sweet."
Qiao Xixi’s natural smile gradually eased Yaoxi’s tension. "Oh, you child... Your father-beast raised you well."
"You’re wonderful too, Auntie Yaoxi."
"Xixi, did you come over today because you have something to ask me?"
Qiao Xixi nodded and told Yaoxi everything she had encountered at the Beast King’s palace over the past few days. After all, Yaoxi herself had once been a potential successor to the Beast King; perhaps she knew more.
After hearing Qiao Xixi’s words, Yaoxi fell into deep thought. After a moment, she spoke, "Sea pearls... Do you have a drawing of those sea pearls? I’d like to see it."
"I do."
Qiao Xixi had already replicated the layout of the sea pearls on a parchment scroll, clearly marking the distribution of the different colors.
"These sea pearls have a total of seven colors inside. I don’t know what these colors mean, or if it’s... random?"
’Actually, I lean toward the idea that these colors have a deeper meaning. Otherwise, why not eight or nine kinds?’
Yaoxi frowned slightly, a hesitant look on her face. "To be honest, I’m not sure either, but what you said reminds me of something."
Qiao Xixi gave her a quizzical look. "What is it, Auntie Yaoxi? Please tell me."
Yaoxi studied the drawing. The six other colored sea pearls surrounded the one in the center. It looked as if the central pearl was absorbing the power of the other six.
"It reminds me of my father-beast. He once told me that I had to find at least six beast-husbands. I was confused at the time, wondering why that specific number. My father-beast just said I’d understand in the future." But, she never expected that "the future" would never come.
’???’
"I don’t know if there’s any connection," Yaoxi said, looking up at Qiao Xixi. "I just think it’s quite a coincidence."
"I can’t think of anything else beyond that."
Qiao Xixi’s head was still spinning when she left Yaoxi’s place.
"Sprite, do you think what Auntie Yaoxi said is directly connected to the sea pearls in that secret passage?"
"It’s highly likely they’re connected."
"How many beast-husbands does Yu Ling have?"
"Host, she has eight, all of them powerful warriors handpicked from all over Beast King City."
Qiao Xixi frowned. ’Yu Ling is definitely being groomed as the next Beast King’s successor. Could her beast-husbands correspond to the colors of the sea pearls?’
"Pull up the files on Yu Ling’s beast-husbands for me. Make it detailed."
"You got it."
"Xixi, where are you going now?"
Yun Ji’s voice pulled Qiao Xixi from her thoughts. She looked up, her gaze meeting his light-colored eyes. Then, seeing the feathered robe he wore, she was subconsciously reminded of one of the colors of the sea pearls.
She shook her head hard. ’This can’t have anything to do with Yun Ji.’
"I want to go back to the Beast King’s inner hall and take another look."
"I’ll go with you."
Qiao Xixi frowned. ’I don’t mind, but I’m worried the Beast King will stop him.’
"Alright. If the Beast King lets you in, you can come."
When they returned to the palace, the Beast King was still absent. Qiao Xixi walked into the Beast King’s inner hall without any trouble.
When Yun Ji tried to follow, the beast soldiers stopped him.
The Beast King had said that the Holy Priest knew nothing of what happened back then, and it seemed he didn’t want him to find out now, either.
Qiao Xixi could only say to Yun Ji, "Wait for me here. I’ll be out soon."
Yun Ji didn’t object. "Alright. Call me if you need anything."
Qiao Xixi nodded and turned to go inside.
What she didn’t know was that not long after she entered the secret passage, a beast soldier approached Yun Ji.
"Holy Priest, the Beast King has said that some matters might be easier to resolve once you are aware of them. Therefore, he invites you to enter as well."