Chapter 180: None of This Is Your Fault
In that instant, Qiao Xixi’s scalp prickled with fear.
She scrambled to her feet and ran to Sunxiao’s side. He lowered his body, allowing her to climb onto his back.
Sangze frowned at Qiao Xixi’s eagerness to be with Sunxiao, his gaze turning reproachful as he stared at the scarlet snake eyes.
"Sunxiao, your back looks comfortable. I want a ride, too."
As the black mist drifted toward Sunxiao, he whipped his serpentine head around and opened his massive, bloody maw.
The black mist halted in midair. Sangze’s voice remained full of resentment. "So stingy."
Sunxiao shot him a cold glare. ’If it weren’t for Xixi, I wouldn’t have bothered with this mad leopard’s business. And now he wants to steal her from me? In his dreams.’
Sunxiao shot him one last warning glance, then turned and vanished into the darkness with Qiao Xixi.
Watching them disappear, Sangze’s lips curled into a sinister smile. "Little female, that giant snake can’t stop me."
「As dawn broke」, Qiao Xixi and the others returned to the sacrificial altar.
Of the three Divine Leopard Tribe guards, two had ended up in Sunxiao’s stomach, and one had fled.
With both the heir apparent and the Clan Leader now crippled, the position of Clan Leader was vacant. After all, no tribe would allow a powerless beastman to lead them.
Many beastmen had witnessed the fierce battle last night. The older ones recognized that the one who had defeated the previous heir was Sangze.
Sangze’s eyes fluttered open in a daze. When he was suddenly met with several pairs of eyes staring at him, he was so startled he nearly jumped to his feet.
"Xixi, I... How did I get here?"
When Sunxiao had pulled Sangze from the water yesterday, he had been completely unconscious. After they escaped the water prison, they had hidden near the altar, waiting for Feiyan and the others to retrieve the beast bone.
The moment the beast bone was in her hands, Qiao Xixi had followed the little demon’s instructions. Combining its method with Qiao Qiao’s special ability, she had restored the beast bones to both Sangze and Sangqi.
But by the time she finished, night had already fallen. The one who’d woken up was his malevolent alter ego, not the Sangze standing before them now.
That was why he had no idea what had happened last night.
"Sangze, there’s someone I want you to meet."
Sangze looked at her, confused.
Qiao Xixi stood up, and Sunxiao tossed the Shaman in front of Sangze.
"The Shaman? Y-You... What happened to you?"
The Shaman, trembling, prostrated herself on the ground, her eyes filled with terror. "Young... Young Lord, it wasn’t my fault! It was the Clan Leader! He was the one who wanted to make you the eternally undefeated champion of the Divine Leopard Tribe! I... I only made the forbidden drug because he ordered me to! I told the Clan Leader that no beastman had ever used it, that there could be problems, but he just wouldn’t listen..."
Sangze was naive, not stupid. As he listened to the Shaman’s words, his face turned deathly pale.
"Are you saying... what my father had me take every day wasn’t a tonic, but a forbidden drug?"
"Yes, yes! Young Lord, your innate power was immense from birth. The Clan Leader hoped you could become a warrior who surpassed the tenth rank, so he had me secretly create the forbidden drug. I didn’t know you would turn out like this after taking it..."
Sangze collapsed onto the ground, completely crestfallen. He had always believed his sudden bouts of madness were because an evil beast lived inside him. But now, the Shaman was telling him that the true culprit behind it all was his own father.
His lips trembled, and his voice was strained. "Then... my mother... did she know about this?"
"She didn’t know at first. I’m not sure if the Clan Leader told her about it later."
Seeing Sangze’s anguish, Qiao Xixi’s heart ached for him. "Sangze, you see now, it was never your fault. You suffered for so many years because of their mistakes. Now, I want you to think carefully about what you want to do next. I’ll help you."
"Oh, and he asked me to give this to you."
Qiao Xixi produced a scepter wrapped in beast hide. Legend had it that this scepter was crafted from the bones of a giant beast by the very first Clan Leader of the Divine Leopard Tribe. It held the condensed power of every successive Clan Leader and was the ultimate symbol of the tribe’s authority.
The scepter had indeed been in Sangze’s possession, but it hadn’t been a gift from Sanggu. His other self had snatched it from Sanggu’s hands.
"Xixi?" Sangze stared at the scepter, at a loss.
"Sangze, don’t be afraid. Believe in yourself. We’ll help you."
Sangze looked from the scepter to Qiao Xixi, Jin Ling, and Feiyan. The helpless uncertainty in his eyes slowly settled, and he reached out, closing his hand firmly around the scepter.
"I will become the Clan Leader of the Divine Leopard Tribe. I will protect Xixi, and I will protect Sangqi."
"Father."
A soft voice called out from behind him. Sangze turned to see a miniature version of himself walking toward him.
Perhaps because he hadn’t walked in a long time, his steps were a bit unsteady, but he stubbornly made his way to Sangze’s side, one step at a time.
"Father, I’ll work hard to grow up strong, so I can face any hardships with you, Mother, and my little brothers and sisters."
Tears welled in Sangze’s eyes as he scooped Sangqi into his arms.
"Okay."
Qiao Xixi was overjoyed that Sangze had regained the confidence to face the Divine Leopard Tribe. Right now, no one was more suited to be Clan Leader than him.
With a deadpan expression, Sunxiao kicked the Shaman.
The Shaman was no fool; she understood immediately. "Rest assured, Young Lord. I will tell all the beastmen of the tribe what truly happened back then. You have always been the one most fit to be Clan Leader."
"You’ll have a lot to sort out to become the new Clan Leader, and you’re short on help. Feiyan and I will go with you," Jin Ling offered.
Sangze knew these were Qiao Xixi’s beast-husbands. He was deeply grateful. "Thank you."
"Xixi, you and the cubs should head back with Sunxiao first."
"Alright. We’ll wait for you at home."
Sangqi reached his arms out to Qiao Xixi. Even though he could walk now, he still loved to be held in her arms.
Sangze led the Shaman, Jin Ling, and Feiyan toward the inner city.
Sunxiao, meanwhile, started heading back with Qiao Xixi.
"Sunxiao, what do you think about us staying here in the Divine Leopard Tribe from now on?"
Sunxiao wasn’t too surprised to hear her say this. Ever since she’d mentioned wanting Sangze to become the Clan Leader, he knew she had this in mind.
"The Divine Leopard Tribe is a large tribe with many powerful beastmen. The surrounding area is also rich with food. It is indeed a suitable place to stay."
"So you agree, then."
Sunxiao looked down at her. "I will follow you wherever you go."
Qiao Xixi grinned and hugged his arm. "Then let’s pick a good spot in the next few days and build a new house. I want a home of our very own, and I’ll make it look beautiful."
Hearing Qiao Xixi say this, the cubs all started clamoring with excitement.
"Mother, Mother, I want to decorate my own room, too!"
"No problem. Every one of you cubs will have your own room."
Sunxiao watched Qiao Xixi’s small face, full of hopeful anticipation, and the coldness in his eyes softened.
"Sunxiao, what kind of forbidden drug do you think could turn a normal beastman into... what Sangze became?"