Chapter 187: What Have You Done for the Tribe?
On the day of the succession ceremony, Qiao Xixi woke up bright and early.
She opened her eyes to see several little heads gathered by her bed, beaming at her.
Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but laugh. "Why is everyone up so early?"
Qiao Qiao gave the sweetest smile. "The fathers said that after today, Mother will be the Clan Leader of the Divine Leopard Tribe! Mother, once you’re the Clan Leader, does that mean we’ll never be chased away by anyone again?"
"Of course! The Clan Leader is the most powerful beastman in the tribe. Who would dare chase us away?"
Hearing her cubs’ innocent words, Qiao Xixi’s heart ached a little. ’Back then, we were just adrift like rootless duckweed,’ she thought. ’We just wanted a safe place to stay but were never welcomed. Now, we’ve finally, truly settled down.’
"That’s right. No one can make us leave so easily."
Jin Ling pushed the door open and walked in. "Xixi, you’re awake. Cubs, go eat breakfast first. We need to head to the altar soon."
"Okay."
Sangqi led his younger siblings downstairs.
Qiao Xixi sat up, looking at him with wide, expectant eyes.
Jin Ling skillfully helped her change into her beast-hide clothes. His eyes were lowered, focused on tying her belt as if he were performing the most wonderful task in the world.
"Jin Ling."
Jin Ling looked up, his gilded eyes filled with tender love. "Nervous?"
Qiao Xixi buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled. "A little. It’s just... thinking about everything we’ve been through, and now that we’ve suddenly settled down, it feels a bit unreal."
His warm palm patted her back gently, again and again, giving her the most tender and steadfast strength. "So, Xixi, the fact that you’ve come this far—from being misunderstood and unaccepted—doesn’t that just prove how incredible you are?"
"So, don’t be nervous. You deserve the very best."
Qiao Xixi’s eyes suddenly reddened. Jin Ling could always instantly perceive the complex emotions she hid deep in her heart.
"Mm."
After breakfast, the family set off for the altar.
When they arrived, Sangze had already prepared everything.
"Xixi, in a moment, the priest will pray to the Beast God. After that, you’ll have to wait for the tribe’s beastmen to issue their challenges. Don’t be afraid. I... I may not be your mate, but I will help you."
"Thank you, Sangze."
When a few of the Clan Elders saw Qiao Xixi arrive, they couldn’t help but snort and roll their eyes at her.
But just as they did, they felt a chilling gaze fall upon them.
The Clan Elders turned and were met with a pair of crimson snake pupils. Terrified, they shrank back and quickly looked away.
"If we go through with this later, are you sure Qiao Xixi’s mates will let us off the hook?"
"What’s there to be afraid of? Didn’t the Clan Leader say this is all according to the rules? It’s not like we’re the ones stirring up trouble."
"You’re right."
The Clan Elders had indeed kept their promise to Sunxiao. They had spread the word throughout the tribe that the new Clan Leader’s succession ceremony would be held today. As a result, the tribe’s beastmen had gathered early, and the area around the altar was packed.
Standing on the high altar and looking down, she saw a dense sea of heads, stretching almost as far as the eye could see.
As Qiao Xixi stood on the altar and listened to the priest announce that she was to become the Clan Leader of the Divine Leopard Tribe, many of the beastmen below erupted in an uproar.
"Who is this female? How did she suddenly become the Clan Leader?"
"I heard Sangze is giving the position of Clan Leader to her. Is she Sangze’s mate?"
In the beastmen’s understanding, if Qiao Xixi was Sangze’s partner, then it wouldn’t be strange for him to give her the position of Clan Leader.
The priest held multicolored leaves and circled Qiao Xixi, chanting an incantation she couldn’t understand.
After some time, the priest gestured for Qiao Xixi to kneel and bow before the Beast God Statue.
After she had done this, Qiao Xixi stood up. A Clan Elder stepped forward and said, "Before you can become Clan Leader, please answer a question for us. This is a question that every succeeding Clan Leader must answer, and the answer must be acknowledged by the beastmen of the tribe."
Qiao Xixi looked at the Clan Elder and nodded. "Ask."
"Tell us, female Qiao Xixi, what contributions have you made to the Divine Leopard Tribe? What have you done for the beastmen of the tribe that would make everyone revere and feel grateful to you?"
After asking, the Clan Elder raised his chin, looking quite pleased with himself.
This couldn’t be called him deliberately making things difficult for Qiao Xixi; it was a tradition of the tribe. Therefore, not even that giant python or Sangze could find fault with him.
"That’s right! What have you done for the tribe?"
"Probably nothing, right? Can a female who has done nothing for the tribe really be a good Clan Leader? If it won’t work, we should just replace her."
"Exactly! Replace her, replace her! At the very least, it should be a Sacred Female, and she’s not a Sacred Female."
Hearing the beastmen’s voices of dissent, Feiyan’s eyes filled with brutal hostility. He couldn’t stand to see Qiao Xixi being bullied like this. He was about to step onto the altar but was stopped by Jin Ling.
"Don’t be rash. Trust Xixi."
Feiyan recalled what Qiao Xixi had said before they left and suppressed his anger.
Sunxiao’s gaze remained fixed on Qiao Xixi. Even Sangze was so nervous his palms were sweating; he didn’t want to see Qiao Xixi put in a difficult position.
But he glanced at Jin Ling and the others and, seeing they weren’t reacting, he restrained his own displeasure.
The cubs all clenched their little fists, staring intently at Qiao Xixi. If any beastman dared to harm their mother at this moment, they would charge forward immediately!
"Female Qiao Xixi, please answer." Seeing that Qiao Xixi remained silent, the Clan Elder’s expression grew even more smug. He didn’t believe for a second that Qiao Xixi could come up with an answer.
Qiao Xixi smiled, calm and composed. "Clan Elder, as long as I have contributed to the tribe, will you no longer question me?"
"Naturally."
"But, if you’ve done nothing, how can you expect us to willingly submit to you?"
"The Clan Elder is right! Hurry up and tell us what you’ve done for the tribe."
"Yeah, hurry up and say it!"
Qiao Xixi raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. She suddenly called out in a loud voice, "You all tell them what I have done for the tribe."
At Qiao Xixi’s words, the Clan Elders looked down from the stage in surprise.
A red rabbit female, perched on her mate’s shoulders, suddenly shouted, "Clan Leader Qiao Xixi cured our cubs of the rotten gut disease!"
"That’s right! Clan Leader Qiao Xixi saved my cub!"
"I want Qiao Xixi to be our Clan Leader!"
The shouts grew louder and louder, leaving the other, uninformed beastmen completely shocked.
Qiao Xixi could actually cure the rotten gut disease?
How is that possible?!
"This is impossible! It must be a lie!"
The Clan Elders refused to believe it. No one in this world could cure that disease.
"We can all prove it."
"Yes, we can all prove it."
Qiao Xixi watched the pale-faced Clan Elders with a leisurely expression.
"Clan Elders, does curing the rotten gut disease count as my contribution to the tribe?"
"This... well..."