Chapter 150: No Longer Cubs of 2 or 3
DING DONG
"System mission dispatched. Mission with super-multiplied rewards. Host, please take cub Qiao Lie to find the Sacred Crystal as soon as possible. Mission difficulty: 5 stars."
Qiao Xixi’s eyes snapped open, and she sat bolt upright in bed.
She had figured out the system’s pattern for dispatching missions by now. Every task it assigned was likely related to some impending danger.
"Is there a problem with the Curse Stone inside Qiao Lie?"
"That’s not it, Host! The problem is with Sunxiao. He’s been affected by a Dark Stone from the Black Water River. The cracks in the Curse Stone inside him are getting bigger, and he’s starting to lose control. If he loses control completely, cub Qiao Lie will be affected too."
"What? Sunxiao is losing control?"
"Yes, Host."
"Are he and Feiyan still in the Hopeless Abyss?"
"They are."
"I understand."
Qiao Xixi immediately got out of bed. The moment she opened her door, she saw Jin Ling walking over.
"Jin Ling, Sunxiao and the others are in trouble."
A flicker of change passed through Jin Ling’s eyes, but he calmly took Qiao Xixi’s hand to soothe her.
"Calm down. First, tell me what’s going on."
Qiao Xixi told Jin Ling what the little spirit had said.
After hearing her out, Jin Ling’s expression darkened.
The last time Sunxiao lost control in the Silver Tribe, they had to team up with many of the tribe’s males just to restrain him. If he lost control again, the Sky-Swallowing Giant Python’s energy within him would surely be released in greater amounts. Subduing him would not be so easy.
But no matter what, they had to find him first.
"Xixi, don’t worry. I’ll go find them."
Qiao Xixi gripped his hand. "I’m going with you. I have a system mission to complete. I have to take Qiao Lie to find the Sacred Crystal, or he’ll be in danger too."
Jin Ling turned his palm over, gripping Qiao Xixi’s hand tightly. The tension at the corners of his eyes betrayed his inner struggle.
The situation in the Hopeless Abyss was unknown and fraught with danger. He didn’t dare let Qiao Xixi and the cubs go, especially since he was the only one with them now.
At that moment, a thought suddenly surfaced in Jin Ling’s mind. ’Just having the three of us as her mates is still too few.’
More than fearing someone else might capture her attention, he just wanted her to be safe.
"Jin Ling, I know what you’re worried about. I’ve actually grown a lot more Bubble Fruits these past few days. I have the ability to protect myself."
’The problem is Sangqi and Qiao Ang. I don’t want to take them, but there are no familiar beastmen here in the Divine Leopard Tribe, and I’m not comfortable leaving the cubs behind alone.’
As she struggled to decide, Qiao Xixi turned to see the cubs standing behind her.
They had actually heard the entire conversation.
Qiao Ang clenched his small fists, his little face more serious than ever before.
"Mother, Father, we’re not little two or three-year-old cubs anymore. We’re four now! We want to go with you."
Qiao Qiao nodded hurriedly. "We’ll go together!"
Qiao Lie’s cool little face was also filled with determination. "I need to find my father and the Sacred Crystal."
Sangqi also struggled to crawl out of his room, his dark eyes fixed on Qiao Xixi.
"I want to be with Mother!" As if afraid Qiao Xixi would disagree, Sangqi added, "Mother, I can’t die. I’m going too."
The cubs moved forward and surrounded them, four pairs of eyes staring pleadingly at Qiao Xixi.
Qiao Xixi felt a surge of strength flow into her body, and her gaze gradually grew resolute.
"Alright. Mother will take you with me."
’Better to risk it all than leave the cubs behind to worry and be afraid.’
The worry on Jin Ling’s brow gradually eased. ’No matter the outcome, as long as we can be together, there’s nothing to worry about.’
Having agreed to let the cubs go, she was responsible for their safety. Qiao Xixi immediately went to the system’s shop and spent all her points on items.
"This is Transformation Powder. After you rub this powder on your body, for fifteen minutes, any beast that smells you will only detect the scent of plants."
’Qiao Xixi had only just discovered this item. It had cost her 300 points, but it was a potential lifesaver in a critical moment. She had to have it.’
"There’s also this Dull Liquid—one bottle for each of you. These are Bubble Fruits; you’ve seen their power before. And finally, this is a Direction Pointer. It can only be used once, and I’ve already set its direction to the Divine Leopard Tribe. Once we’re inside, if we get separated, you must immediately follow the pointer back to the Divine Leopard Tribe. Do you all understand?"
Qiao Xixi distributed the items to the cubs and Jin Ling. Jin Ling tried to refuse, but Qiao Xixi forcefully stuffed his share into his hands.
"The sooner we leave, the sooner this is over. Let’s go now."
"Okay."
Once they were ready, Qiao Xixi applied the White Cat Qi Powder on all of them and made a few alterations to their appearances before they left the courtyard.
Many beastmen came and went in the Divine Leopard Tribe every day, so no one would pay them any mind. With their scents concealed, they successfully left the Divine Leopard Tribe and arrived at Black Mountain.
When they had passed by Black Mountain before, they had felt an uncomfortable, suffocating pressure, as if they were being crushed by a large rock. This time, as they drew closer, the feeling was even stronger.
Jin Ling shifted into his beast form and carried Qiao Xixi and the cubs forward in the direction indicated by the little spirit.
Black Mountain wasn’t the Hopeless Abyss itself, but a stone mountain that lay between the Divine Leopard Tribe and the Hopeless Abyss. After bypassing Black Mountain, they finally saw the entrance to the Hopeless Abyss, hidden deep within the forest.
The moment they stepped into the mountain forest, the surrounding light dimmed. Even though the sun was high outside, its golden rays couldn’t penetrate here.
This time, Qiao Lie and the others didn’t huddle in Qiao Xixi’s arms. Instead, they watched their surroundings vigilantly.
In the gloom, pairs of strangely colored eyes stared coldly in their direction, waiting for a chance to strike.
For safety, Qiao Xixi took out a torch and lit it.
The moment the bright yellow flame flared to life, many of the glares from the darkness vanished.
"Host, a Demonic Beast is approaching from the front. Veer toward your ten o’clock."
"Okay."
"Jin Ling, go this way."
Jin Ling didn’t ask questions, simply heading in the direction Qiao Xixi indicated.
As they ventured deeper, with the little spirit’s guidance, they didn’t encounter too many Demonic Beasts or Mutant Beasts. The few scattered ones they did see didn’t dare to approach after Jin Ling unleashed his powerful beast soul energy.
"Host, take that small path ahead. It’s the fastest way."
After they took the small path, they found their surroundings had become frighteningly quiet.
At that moment, Sangqi, who was nestled in Qiao Xixi’s arms, looked at her with confusion.
’Why does Mother know to take this path?’
’Could Mother have been here before?’
After passing through the narrow path, a cloud of black mist rushed toward them.
Jin Ling immediately released his beast soul energy, shielding them from the mist.
"Mother, the Black Water River is just ahead. You must be careful."
As soon as the words left Sangqi’s mouth, the Black Water River appeared before their eyes.
"Mother, look! What’s that?"
Qiao Xixi followed Qiao Lie’s pointing finger and saw a figure lying on the distant bank.