Chapter 141: He Doesn’t Seem to Be Doing So Well
"Uh, Host, this isn’t a timed mission. There’s no rush."
These words made Qiao Xixi’s heart leap into her throat. ’Is the System issuing a mission like this because my cubs are going to be in danger?’
After they finished eating, Jin Ling spread out the beast-hide mats he had taken out.
"Xixi, you and the cubs should get some sleep."
Qiao Xixi lay down on the mats with her cubs, but her mind kept replaying the system’s words, and she couldn’t fall asleep.
Jin Ling sensed Qiao Xixi’s unease and thought she was being affected by the aura of the Black Mountain. He lay down beside her, his warm palm enveloping her cool hand.
"Don’t worry. Sunxiao and Feiyan will take turns keeping watch tonight. Nothing will happen."
Qiao Xixi nodded. The familiar scent of him calmed her anxious heart, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, Qiao Xixi saw a small, frail figure collapse at her feet.
The little one let out a pained groan, as if enduring immense suffering.
Her heart ached for him. Just as she was about to pick him up to check on him, huge raindrops began to fall, instantly blurring her vision and obscuring the little one’s appearance.
"My cub? My cub?"
"Xixi?"
Qiao Xixi’s eyes flew open to meet Jin Ling’s worried gaze.
"Xixi, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Qiao Xixi shook her head. She glanced at the cub sleeping peacefully in her arms and let out a silent sigh of relief.
"Are you not feeling well?" A warm palm rested on her forehead.
Qiao Xixi pulled his hand down and snuggled into his embrace. "It’s nothing. Maybe the rain is too loud, so I’m not sleeping soundly."
Feiyan and Sunxiao, who were guarding the door and window, glanced back at them.
Feiyan shot Jin Ling an envious look and couldn’t help but mutter, "It must be because Jin Ling’s holding you uncomfortably. If I were holding you, you’d definitely sleep soundly."
As Qiao Xixi closed her eyes again, she decided to pull Qiaoqiao, who was closest to her, into her arms. Feeling the cub’s softness, she was finally able to sleep peacefully.
When she opened her eyes again, it was morning, and the rain outside had stopped.
"Mother, you’re awake."
The three cubs were already sitting in the hut, roasting meat, while Jin Ling was processing their latest kill.
"Did Sunxiao and the others go hunting?"
Jin Ling glanced up at her and said, "Feiyan did. Sunxiao went to scout the surrounding area. Get up and have something to eat."
"Okay."
Qiaoqiao placed a slice of roasted meat on a leaf and handed it to Qiao Xixi. "Mother, eat it while it’s hot."
"Alright."
Just as Qiao Xixi finished eating, both Sunxiao and Feiyan returned.
"The mountain path ahead has some puddles, but it’s not a big issue. We can continue on our way today."
"Good."
After everyone had eaten their fill, Qiao Xixi packed everything into her space, ready to set off.
The sky was still gloomy, giving one the feeling that it was about to rain again.
The only path to the Divine Leopard Tribe led through the foot of the Black Mountain.
Qiao Xixi rode on Feiyan’s back, holding Qiaoqiao, while Jin Ling walked at the very front to clear the way.
They had just entered the forest when they spotted two Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts up ahead, tearing at something.
The Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts heard the noise and looked up at them warily. Their gray fur bristled as they took an aggressive stance.
Upon seeing the Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts, Qiao Lie instantly transformed into his snake form, his pupils narrowing into vertical slits.
"Father Jin Ling, let me handle this."
With that, Qiao Lie slid off Sunxiao’s back and swiftly attacked the charging Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts.
Qiao Ang couldn’t hold back either. "Father, I’ll go help Qiao Lie."
The two cubs now possessed 3-star beast souls. Dealing with two unranked Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts wouldn’t be difficult for them.
"Go on, but be careful."
"Okay!"
Qiao Ang shifted into his beast form as he leaped off Feiyan’s back and pounced forward.
Qiaoqiao was also itching to join in, but Qiao Xixi held her back. "Qiaoqiao, you have a Healing Skill."
"Mother, I can fight too!" Qiaoqiao insisted. She had trained quite a lot during the cold season.
Feiyan, however, didn’t see a problem with letting Qiaoqiao go.
"Let her go. Qiaoqiao is very tough now."
Feiyan wouldn’t joke about his own cub’s safety, so Qiao Xixi didn’t argue further.
"Alright, be careful."
"Mhm!"
Qiaoqiao grabbed a rock from the ground, quickly ran behind one of the Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts, and, while it wasn’t looking, smashed the rock onto its head.
Qiao Xixi: ...
Feiyan flicked his big, snow-white tail in satisfaction and glanced back at Qiao Xixi, raising his eyebrows smugly.
"See? I told you Qiaoqiao was tough."
Qiao Xixi’s lips twitched. In the next moment, she saw that Qiaoqiao, having lunged too forcefully, had stumbled and fallen under a large tree after hitting the Mutated Gray Wolf Beast with the rock.
"Oof!"
Qiaoqiao landed in a pile of grass. The fall didn’t hurt, but she was immediately hit by the thick stench of blood.
Her delicate little nose twitched. She followed the scent, crawling deeper into the grass, and after just a couple of steps, she saw a blood-soaked figure lying there.
Her eyes widened in surprise. Looking closer, she realized it was a black leopard cub, and he already had the air of death about him.
The two Mutated Gray Wolf Beasts from before had been tearing him apart.
"Qiaoqiao, are you alright?"
Seeing Qiaoqiao fall and not get back up, Qiao Xixi rushed over anxiously.
"Mother, I’m fine, but... he doesn’t seem to be doing so well."
When Qiao Xixi turned and saw the small figure lying on the ground, she was too shocked to speak.
’How... how is this exactly like the scene from my dream?’
The black leopard cub was tiny and frail, covered in wounds. Chunks of flesh had been torn from his shoulder and calf, the gashes dripping with blood. It was a terrifying sight.
His breathing was already faint. Qiao Xixi had no doubt that he would die soon.
"Mother, can I save him?"
Qiao Xixi nodded. "Yes."
Qiaoqiao took the black leopard cub’s paw, and a faint blue halo instantly enveloped him.
Sangqi felt his cold body gradually grow warmer. He struggled to open his eyes and saw a faint blue halo, and behind it, the face of an incredibly beautiful mother.
’Who is she? She’s so beautiful. Is she my mother?’
Sangqi felt her lift him into her arms.
’Her embrace is so soft, so warm, completely different from the cold cave where I sleep.’
’I must be dying to be having such a beautiful dream. Only in a dream could I experience this fleeting warmth, because I was born unworthy of anything good.’
"He’s awake! He’s awake! Little cub, can you hear me?"
’Her voice is so nice to listen to. I want to keep listening.’
"Mother, he’s too badly injured. I can’t heal him completely all at once."
Sangqi’s pointed, pure-black ears suddenly perked up. He brandished his sharp claws and lunged at Qiaoqiao.
"Qiaoqiao, look out!"