Chapter 439: Father Beast, Lower Your Voice
Qiao Xixi looked at Qiao Yi, getting the feeling her father wasn’t about to say anything helpful.
"What’s on your mind, Father?"
Before speaking, Qiao Yi studied Yun Ji intently, then made up his mind.
"What do you think of the Holy Priest... Mmph!"
Before Qiao Yi could finish speaking, Qiao Xixi clapped a hand over his mouth.
Qiao Xixi quickly glanced at the oblivious Yun Ji. "Father, keep your voice down!" ’Is lusting after the Holy Priest something to be proud of?!’
Qiao Yi read her expression and frowned. ’In his mind, his daughter was the best. Was there any male she wasn’t good enough for?’
Qiao Xixi was truly panicking. ’Even if there’s something wrong with Yun Ji right now, he’s still the Holy Priest. Once I find the source of the Dark Keystone, his beast soul will be released. If I actually do something to him now, how am I supposed to face him in the future?!’
Besides, given his status, if Yun Ji were to form a bond with a female, he would have to pay a heavy price.
’What’s more, I’ve never had any designs on him. At most, I’ve only ever admired his beauty.’
Seeing Qiao Xixi and Qiao Yi huddled so close, Yun Ji’s delicate brows furrowed. In a possessive, almost childish way, he snatched her hand and held it tightly.
"Shuishui, is he really your father?"
Before Qiao Xixi could answer, a clear, chilling voice drifted in from outside the door.
"Shuishui?"
In that instant, Qiao Xixi felt a prickle on the back of her neck. She panicked and tried to pull her hand away, but Yun Ji had it in a death grip and she couldn’t break free.
As the tall, slender figure drew closer, Qiao Xixi felt like she was about to lose her mind.
Qiao Yi watched his daughter being so hopelessly wrapped around her beast husband’s finger and averted his gaze, unable to bear the sight.
His crimson, serpentine eyes landed coldly on the little hand held by Yun Ji. Sunxiao walked to Qiao Xixi’s side, sat down without a word, and simply looked at her with the barest hint of a smile.
Qiao Xixi saw no trace of amusement in his eyes. She gave an awkward laugh and asked solicitously, "When did you wake up? Did you have breakfast? Are your injuries feeling any better?"
"Shuishui, who is he?"
Sunxiao slowly raised his eyes to Yun Ji, then reached out and pulled Qiao Xixi into his arms, staking his claim.
"Xixi, he’s asking who I am."
Qiao Xixi finally managed to wrench her hand free from Yun Ji’s grasp. "Yun Ji, Sunxiao is my beast husband."
Yun Ji stared at his empty hand, and suddenly, his heart felt just as empty. "Beast husband... Shuishui, when did you get a beast husband? Why didn’t I know?"
"Yun Ji, you’ve forgotten a lot, but it’s okay. I’ll tell you everything, bit by bit."
’In truth, many of Qiao Xixi’s own distant memories were also missing. She could only tell Yun Ji what she herself had learned later.’
"Your beast soul is missing right now, which is why you’ve forgotten everything. You’ll remember once it’s released."
Yun Ji listened quietly to Qiao Xixi, saying nothing for a long moment.
Qiao Xixi grew worried. "Yun Ji?"
Yun Ji suddenly looked up, his eyes rimmed with red.
Qiao Xixi was dumbfounded. ’She had seen Yun Ji smile, but she had never once seen him cry.’
Seeing the handsome, elegant Holy Priest—a man as aloof and beautiful as a flower on a high mountain—shedding tears before her, especially when he was looking at her with such accusing eyes, made Qiao Xixi feel utterly guilty.
"So, Shuishui... are you going back on your word now?"
"I..." ’What did I say...? When I was the spring’s source, did I make some kind of promise to Yun Ji?’
’Xiao Yao, help me!’
’Host, you’re on your own for this one. I’m just a string of code!’
Yun Ji gazed at her, his voice choked with emotion. "You said... we would always protect each other."
Qiao Xixi sucked in a sharp breath, feeling the large hand on her waist grow even colder. She didn’t dare meet Yun Ji’s eyes, and she definitely didn’t dare to look at Sunxiao.
In the end, she could only turn a helpless gaze toward Qiao Yi.
In the end, Qiao Yi’s heart softened. He couldn’t bear to see his daughter in such a bind.
"Xixi, Yun Ji has the mind of a child right now. Don’t upset him." Turning to Yun Ji, he added, "Xixi always keeps her word."
At these words, Yun Ji’s expression softened considerably.
The moment Qiao Yi finished speaking, he felt an icy gaze land on him.
Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow, glanced at Sunxiao, and cleared his throat. "I can watch things here. Sunxiao, why don’t you take Xixi back? She didn’t eat much this morning. Get her something to eat so she doesn’t go hungry. And you should eat, too."
Sunxiao’s icy expression thawed slightly.
Qiao Xixi’s eyes widened in silent admiration. ’When it comes to playing the peacemaker, her father is way more skilled than she is!’
As they left the adjacent palace, Qiao Xixi’s heart was still pounding. She had a feeling that being led away by Sunxiao like this meant she was about to face a storm of his anger.
The two palaces weren’t far apart. She had to find a way to soothe the jealous snake on the short walk back.
She wrapped her arms around Sunxiao’s neck and snuggled closer to him.
Her affection made the last trace of coldness vanish from the big snake’s expression.
"Yun Ji suddenly barged into our courtyard early this morning, saying he wanted to move in. Your father followed not long after. I figured you wouldn’t want to see him, and I couldn’t let them stay with us, so I suggested they take the palace next door."
After she finished, Qiao Xixi looked up at Sunxiao and nuzzled her face against his neck. Feeling the strong, steady beat of his pulse, her own heart couldn’t help but race.
"Until Yun Ji’s beast soul returns to his body, we have to make sure nothing happens to him."
’This was a responsibility,’ Qiao Xixi thought, ’one that she had to bear.’
The last of the gloom in Sunxiao’s heart had long since been scattered by her gentle words. As he felt her warm, moist lips against his pulse point, his breathing grew heavy.
"We’ll bear that responsibility for you."
Qiao Xixi smiled and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Okay. We’ll do it together."
Qiao Xixi leaned her head on his shoulder. Just as they were about to reach Feather Palace, a thin figure suddenly shot out in front of them, darting between them and into the palace.
Qiao Xixi froze for a second. Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes narrowed, and holding her, he strode quickly inside.
But to their surprise, though they were only a few steps behind, the person had already vanished.
Sunxiao carried Qiao Xixi to the door of Jin Ling’s room.
"Go inside. I’ll find them."
Qiao Xixi frowned and nodded. ’Feather Palace is way too insecure,’ she thought. ’Didn’t the Beast King send people to keep an eye on us? How are they letting just anyone wander into my palace?’
After telling Sunxiao to be careful, she turned and entered Jin Ling’s room.
The moment the door closed, Jin Ling heard the sound and sat up in bed.
"Xixi?"
Hearing his voice, Qiao Xixi walked to his bedside.
"Jin Ling, you’re awake."
After sleeping for so long, Jin Ling was clearly much more energetic than he had been the day before.
"What’s wrong? Did something happen?"
The words had barely left Jin Ling’s lips when Qiao Xixi heard a cry of pain from the courtyard.