Chapter 144: He Isn’t a Dumb Leopard, Is He?
When Qiao Xixi and her group arrived at the crimson-painted stone house, a bird-like beast-kin dressed in reddish-brown hides, with a circlet of brown feathers on his head, was counting colorless Crystal Stones.
Jin Ling stepped into the house first and asked, "Excuse me, are you Chao Bai?"
Chao Bai looked them up and down, then nodded as he put away the Crystal Stones in his hands.
"You’re outsiders, looking to rent a stone house?"
Jin Ling nodded. "Do you have anything suitable?"
"We do. We have all kinds of stone houses here. There are quite a few of you, and I have one that would be a perfect fit. The price isn’t cheap, though—it’ll be three colorless Crystal Stones a day."
Three colorless Crystal Stones a day was too expensive. Even if Qiao Xixi’s group could afford it, they couldn’t spend their money so freely. They still didn’t know how long they would need to stay.
"Could you give us a better price? We plan on staying for a relatively long time."
Chao Bai pondered for a moment before saying, "How about this: I have a smaller place. If you take that one, I can give it to you for 20 colorless Crystal Stones for 30 days."
Jin Ling thought for a moment, then nodded. "Take us to see it."
"Follow me."
Chao Bai led them to a back row of green stone houses and stopped in front of the very last one.
"This is it. You can go inside and take a look."
Curious, Qiao Xixi led the cubs inside. It was a two-story stone house with a total of six rooms. There were enough rooms, though they were a bit small. But since they were here on business, the accommodations were more than sufficient.
"Xixi, are you satisfied with it?"
Qiao Xixi nodded. "This will do."
Jin Ling went outside with Chao Bai to finalize the details. It was actually quite simple—all they had to do was hand over the Crystal Stones.
While there was still daylight, they began to clean the stone house. It came with stone beds, wooden tables, and chairs—it was actually quite well-furnished.
It was the first time the cubs had seen a house like this in a tribe, and they couldn’t help but gawk at it with curiosity.
After everything was clean, Qiao Xixi took the animal hides out of her storage space and spread them over the beds. She carefully placed Sangqi on one and tucked him in.
Once the house was clean, Sunxiao went out to get acquainted with the surroundings. Feiyan watched over the cubs to make sure their playful energy didn’t lead them to wander off. Jin Ling was in charge of making dinner for the night.
"There’s a small courtyard out back. We can start a fire and cook there."
Qiao Xixi followed Jin Ling to the backyard. The courtyard wasn’t large and was enclosed by a stone wall. To the right was a smaller, simpler stone hut—the kitchen.
"Okay, I’ll get the food out."
The two of them entered the kitchen, which Jin Ling had already tidied. It wasn’t large, but it could accommodate a few people without issue. A pile of firewood was stacked inside, likely left by the previous tenants.
Qiao Xixi took out cooking essentials like oil and salt from her space and set them on the stone table, along with some meat.
"I can handle this," Jin Ling said. "You’re tired from the journey. Go get some rest."
Qiao Xixi wasn’t actually tired, but she was a little worried about Sangqi upstairs, so she didn’t insist on staying.
"Okay. Call me if you need help."
"Alright."
When Sangqi woke up, he found that the comforting scent that had soothed him was gone. A never-before-seen panic and rage flared in his jet-black eyes.
’He knew it. She was lying to him too. She was a huge liar!’
He struggled to push his body up, but his lower half wouldn’t move. He could only use his forelimbs to painstakingly drag himself forward.
THUD.
Losing his balance, he fell heavily from the bed.
But as if he felt no pain, he let out a muffled grunt and started crawling toward the door again.
’He had to find her. She had to be his mother.’
When Qiao Xixi went upstairs, she saw Sangqi painstakingly dragging himself forward. Each movement tugged at his wounds, but even as they split open and stained the floor with blood, he showed no signs of stopping.
Qiao Xixi’s eyes stung, her heart aching at the cub’s fortitude and determination.
She hurried over and knelt. "Sangqi, why are you out of bed? Stop moving! Your wounds have reopened."
Sensing Qiao Xixi’s scent, Sangqi looked up in surprise.
’She... she hadn’t left?’
’Why?’
"Don’t be scared. I’ll have Qiaoqiao come and heal your wounds. It won’t hurt in a little while."
Qiao Xixi thought he was just distressed from the pain. She carefully lifted him back onto the bed and took out some Spiritual Spring water to rinse his wounds.
Sangqi’s jet-black eyes remained fixed on Qiao Xixi. He was much more lucid now and could clearly sense her scent. ’Is she really my mother?’
’But then why did she leave me before?’
’Does she hate me and my father, just like those other beast-kin?!’
How could Qiao Xixi know what the little cub was thinking? After gently placing him back on the bed, she went to the doorway and called for Qiao Qiao.
Hearing Qiao Xixi’s call, Qiao Qiao came running up on her short little legs.
Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang followed close behind.
Three small, round heads peered curiously over the edge of the bed.
"Mother, is he awake?"
"Yes, but Sangqi is badly injured, and it looks like his wounds reopened. Qiaoqiao, can you help heal him?"
"No problem, Mother! Leave it to me."
Sangqi watched the three little heads surrounding him and instinctively put his guard up.
’They all call her Mother. They’re her cubs, too. But why? Why does she keep them with her, but not me?’
"Sangqi, my name is Qiao Qiao. I’m going to heal you now, so you can’t attack me, okay?"
Sangqi looked up at Qiao Qiao. ’Will she really heal me? Isn’t she worried that I’ll steal our mother’s affection once I’m better?’
Seeing Sangqi’s lack of reaction, Qiao Ang wrinkled his little nose. "Mother, he can’t talk, and he doesn’t understand what we’re saying. He isn’t a stupid leopard, is he?"
The black fur all over Sangqi’s body bristled. He pushed himself up on his forelimbs, trying to rise as he glared furiously at Qiao Ang.
’Who’s a stupid leopard? I’m not stupid! I’m not an idiot!’ He looked at Qiao Xixi in a panic. ’Is Mother going to throw me away again because of this?’
’I won’t let her!’
"GRRROWL!"
Sangqi lunged, snapping his jaws at Qiao Ang.
But he was no match for Qiao Ang. With a quick squeeze of his little hand, Qiao Ang pinched Sangqi’s mouth shut.
"Hehe, you really are silly. Go on, try your hardest. See if you can open your mouth."
Sangqi: ...
MMPH! MMPH! MMPH!
Qiao Ang’s cheerful grin faded into a look of dismay. "Oh no. He really is a little dummy."
"Who’s a little dummy?" Feiyan asked, walking in.
Qiao Ang pointed a small hand at Sangqi. "Sangqi."
Feiyan snorted. "Then his father must be a big dummy, or how else could he have a son who’s such a little dummy?"
Qiao Xixi: ...
"Alright, that’s enough. All of you go help in the backyard. I see we don’t have much firewood. Feiyan, take Qiao Ang and Qiao Lie and go find some more."
Qiao Xixi shooed them all out.
On the bed, Sangqi was trembling with rage.
’I’m not a dummy, and neither is my father! We’re not!’
Qiao Xixi watched as a faint black aura began to emanate from Sangqi’s body, her eyes widening in surprise.