Chapter 170: Never Been So Rich
"Wow, this little fox cub actually recovered so quickly too."
"This is incredible. If I get sick in the future, I’ll come to them too."
The crowd of beastmen watched as the two cubs became lively and energetic in the blink of an eye, and they were all utterly astonished.
For ordinary beastmen, a Healing Skill was not something they could easily encounter. Now that they had seen it with their own eyes, it would be a lie to say they weren’t amazed.
Qiao Xixi’s gaze swept over the faces of the beastmen, finally landing on a pensive male leopard beastman.
"If anyone isn’t feeling well, you can let us take a look. For one treatment, we just need some food, or a piece of beast hide. If you have colorless Crystal Stones, those are fine too. As long as it’s within our abilities, we can cure you."
As soon as Qiao Xixi said this, many beastmen crowded around, asking for treatment.
However, most of them only had minor issues, which could be healed without draining too much of Qiao Qiao’s energy.
One wave of healed beastmen followed another, and it wasn’t until the sky began to darken that the last patient finally left.
Qiao Qiao collapsed limply into Qiao Xixi’s arms.
"Mother, I’m so tired."
Qiao Xixi was exhausted too.
"You’ve worked hard. It’s getting dark, let’s go home for now."
"Mhm, okay."
Qiao Xixi wrapped up the things they’d received that day in the largest piece of beast hide and carried it on her shoulder as she and Qiao Qiao returned to their rented house.
Just as they closed the courtyard gate, a male leopard emerged from the shadows. After confirming where Qiao Xixi and the others lived, he quickly turned and left.
As soon as he was gone, Sunxiao and Feiyan emerged from the other side with Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang and returned home.
Jin Ling had already prepared dinner. Seeing them return, he brought out the bowls and chopsticks.
When Sunxiao and the others entered the house, they saw Qiao Xixi and Qiao Qiao sitting bonelessly on the stone stools.
Sangqi was leaning against a stone stool, kneading Qiao Xixi’s hand with his two little paws.
Sunxiao strode over to Qiao Xixi and pulled her into his arms, his hand kneading her lower back with just the right amount of pressure. "Today, the fish appeared. It will take the bait soon."
Qiao Xixi knew. She hummed softly in acknowledgment.
A step too slow, Feiyan clenched his fists. ’That damn snake beat me to it again!’
Jin Ling came into the room with a dish and nudged Feiyan. "There’s still a pot of soup. Go get it so we can eat."
Feiyan went to get the soup, cursing under his breath.
Jin Ling saw Qiao Xixi leaning against Sunxiao, so comfortable she was about to fall asleep. He said gently, "Xixi, eat first, then sleep. I heated some water for you. A good soak will wash away your fatigue."
Qiao Xixi opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Okay."
Qiao Xixi got up from Sunxiao’s embrace, picked up Sangqi, and sat down at the dining table.
"Everyone, come and eat. I’m starving."
「Two days ago」, they had returned to the Divine Leopard Tribe from the Hopeless Abyss. Because they had used a powder that altered their scent, the patrolling beastmen didn’t discover their identities.
Over the past two days, Feiyan and Jin Ling had recovered significantly thanks to Qiao Qiao’s treatment. Although their internal injuries weren’t fully healed, their daily lives were no longer affected.
Meanwhile, Sunxiao had been gathering information about the tribe’s situation.
As for the act Qiao Xixi and the others put on today, it was, of course, to make the fish take the bait.
After they finished eating, Feiyan voluntarily cleared the table, Qiao Xixi took Qiao Qiao to bathe, Sunxiao rinsed off Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang in the courtyard, and Jin Ling washed Sangqi in a basin.
Jin Ling noticed Sangqi’s eyes were fixed in Qiao Lie and the others’ direction and couldn’t help but pat his little head.
"What are you looking at?"
Sangqi snapped back to reality, looking up at Jin Ling with his dark eyes.
"Father Jin Ling, if I weren’t a useless beast, could I also help Mother like little brother Qiao Lie and the others?"
’It was because he was a useless beast that he could only stay home and wait for Mother to return.’
"Of course Sangqi isn’t a useless beast."
Sangqi’s eyes widened in surprise. "How could that be? I can’t even stand up."
"But when Mother was in danger, didn’t you do your best to protect her? Even though what you do is different from Qiao Lie and the others, you’re still helping, aren’t you?"
A light gradually returned to Sangqi’s dim eyes. "Really? Was I... was I really helping Mother then?"
"Of course."
Jin Ling lifted him out of the water and wrapped him in a piece of beast-hide cloth. "So, Sangqi, don’t say such discouraging things anymore. Your mother would be heartbroken if she heard you."
"I understand, Father Jin Ling."
"What are you two talking about?"
Qiao Xixi entered the house carrying Qiao Qiao and saw Jin Ling drying Sangqi. After putting Qiao Qiao on the bed, she walked over and took the beast hide from Jin Ling’s hands.
"Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. I left the Spiritual Spring water in the kitchen. You and Feiyan should go drink some more later."
Jin Ling took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. "Mhm. Just now, while I was bathing Sangqi, my sternum suddenly started to hurt. Xixi, could you come and take a look at it for me later?"
Hearing this, Qiao Xixi grew anxious and reached for his chest. "Where? Is it here?"
Jin Ling let her soft little hand roam over his body, his gilded eyes locked on her.
"Is it here? Or... here?"
Qiao Xixi looked up and met his smiling eyes, instantly realizing she had been tricked. She shot him a look of playful annoyance.
"You never learn the good things, only the bad. You were laid up with Feiyan for two days, and you’ve already picked up all his little tricks."
Jin Ling hummed in agreement. "Mhm, he taught me everything."
"ACHOO!"
Feiyan, who was washing the dishes, suddenly sneezed.
’Who’s talking about me? It must be Xixi. No matter what, I’m making Xixi sleep with me tonight!’
Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang also came back into the house, clean now.
Qiao Ang looked back and saw that Sunxiao and Jin Ling were still in the room. He ran over, grabbed their hands, and pulled them outside.
"Father Sunxiao, Father Jin Ling, good night."
SLAM!
The door closed.
Sunxiao: ...
Jin Ling: ...
Sunxiao reached out and pushed the door. ’Well, I’ll be. It’s locked!’
"Alright, time for bed. Which cub should Mother sleep next to tonight?"
Qiao Lie and Qiao Ang exchanged a look, then suddenly pushed all four small beds together.
"Mother sleeps in the middle."
Amused, Qiao Xixi lay down on the bed, and the cubs lay down next to her one by one.
Only when the cubs’ breathing became even and steady did Qiao Xixi enter the system’s store interface with her consciousness.
After completing the previous quest to find the Saint Crystal, she had received the opportunity to use a special privilege—the Freezing Skill. She had already used that privilege in the Hopeless Abyss, which meant she still had the 3,000 points from the reward.
3,000 points!
From the moment she arrived in this beast world until now, Qiao Xixi had never been this rich. She couldn’t contain her excitement, her heart pounding and hands trembling!
"Host, you’re rich now. Is there anything in particular you want?"
There was one thing Qiao Xixi had been yearning for, but she never had enough points to get it. Now, she could finally exchange for it without hesitation.