Chapter 194: Going for the Jugular Already?
When Qiao Xixi woke, dressed, and opened her door, she saw Sangqi anxiously pulling Qiao Qiao by the hand as they hurried downstairs.
"Sangqi, Qiaoqiao."
Hearing Qiao Xixi’s voice, the two cubs stopped and looked at her.
"Mother, you’re up. You have to be careful when you walk." Acting like little adults, the two cubs immediately came over to support her, one on her left and one on her right.
Qiao Xixi let them. "Why were you two in such a hurry just now?"
The rims of Sangqi’s eyes turned red. "Father Beast is injured. I wanted to have Sister Qiaoqiao go and heal him."
"What happened?" Qiao Xixi asked, worried.
Sangqi shook his head. "Father Beast said he doesn’t know. I only discovered it when I woke up this morning."
Qiao Xixi followed them downstairs to Sangze’s room.
"Father Beast, we’re here."
Sangze was just getting out of bed and was surprised to see Qiao Xixi and the others.
"Xixi, what are you doing here?"
Qiao Xixi walked to his bedside. "Sangqi told me you were injured."
Sangze scratched his head in confusion. "To be honest, I don’t know what happened either. But the wound is fine now. You don’t need to worry."
Still worried, Qiao Xixi pulled back the blanket to take a look. The wound looked severe, but it had indeed stopped bleeding and was beginning to scab over.
But she was still uneasy, so she had Qiao Qiao use her ability to treat him.
"Father Beast Sangze, do you feel better now?" Qiao Qiao asked, pulling back her little hands and looking up at Sangze with wide eyes.
Sangze looked at the adorable Qiao Qiao, then glanced at Qiao Xixi, and immediately flushed.
’He... he wasn’t Xixi’s mate, yet Qiao Qiao was calling him Father Beast. Should I correct her?’
’But for some reason, hearing Qiao Qiao call him Father Beast made him feel so happy.’
So, for the first time, Sangze brazenly chose not to correct Qiao Qiao.
"Sangze?"
"Ah? Xixi, I’m much better."
Sangze immediately got off the bed and paced a circle around the room.
"See? I can walk without any problems at all."
Qiao Xixi nodded. "As long as you’re okay. Let’s go downstairs for breakfast."
"Okay."
As Qiao Xixi turned away, her lips pressed into a thin line. ’The Sangze I see now has no idea how he got hurt. That means his hapless nighttime persona is the one who sustained the injury.’
’But given his strength, who could possibly inflict such a massive wound on him?’
Combined with Sunxiao’s strange behavior last night, Qiao Xixi felt they were definitely hiding something from her.
The whole family was present for breakfast.
As Jin Ling ladled some broth for Qiao Xixi, he noticed she seemed distracted.
After the meal, Jin Ling glanced at Feiyan, who took the hint and led the cubs out back to train.
Only Qiao Xixi, Jin Ling, Sunxiao, and a hesitant Sangze remained in the room.
’Xixi definitely has something to discuss with Jin Ling and the others,’ Sangze thought. ’It’s not appropriate for me to be here. But... my leg feels a little uncomfortable again. I guess I’d better just stay put for now!’
Qiao Xixi’s gaze swept across their faces, and she got straight to the point.
"Aren’t you going to tell me what happened?"
Jin Ling sighed. "It’s nothing major. People from Tiger Beast City have just arrived in the tribe."
Sunxiao nodded. "After all, we have a new Clan Leader. It’s normal for them to come and assess the situation."
Watching the two males put on an act, Qiao Xixi became even more convinced that something was amiss. "Then why was Sangze hurt? Could an ordinary beastman even injure him?"
When the topic shifted to him, Sangze was bewildered. He quickly looked to Jin Ling and Sunxiao. ’I can’t just say whatever comes to mind,’ he thought. ’I’ll definitely say the wrong thing.’
Sunxiao said calmly, "He had a small conflict with the beastman sent from the Beast City."
But Qiao Xixi shook her head. "I know better. They came for Sangze."
"Forbidden Drugs and Forbidden Techniques are difficult to obtain, even for major tribes. The drug used on Sangze must have come from the Beast City or even Beast King City."
In truth, Qiao Xixi had deduced this from Sangze’s injury. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for them to attack him. It’s not like Sangze was a mindless lunatic who would attack any beastman he saw.
"Are they... trying to capture Sangze?"
"Yes. And they’re probably... also targeting Sunxiao and Qiao Lie."
Since Qiao Xixi had already figured out so much, Jin Ling felt there was no longer any need to hide the truth.
Qiao Xixi’s expression hardened. "Damn them!"
Jin Ling’s eyes grew dim. "Tiger Beast City has always been relentless in its pursuits."
Qiao Xixi frowned, already calculating their odds if they were to confront Tiger Beast City head-on.
As if guessing her thoughts, Jin Ling’s voice grew heavy. "Tiger Beast City has at least five times as many high-level beastmen as the Divine Leopard Tribe. We stand no chance in a direct confrontation."
A cold light filled the depths of Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes. "The City Lord of Tiger Beast City is incredibly ambitious." As he spoke, his indifferent gaze landed on Jin Ling. "You, of all people, should be well aware of that, Jin Ling."
Qiao Xixi looked at Jin Ling in astonishment. "Jin Ling, you’ve dealt with Tiger Beast City before?"
Jin Ling nodded. "Yes. But don’t worry, Xixi. The Divine Leopard Tribe is no ordinary small tribe. As powerful as Tiger Beast City is, they won’t make a move against us so easily or so quickly."
Qiao Xixi nodded. ’If brute force won’t work, we’ll have to outsmart them. The only way to stop them from acting rashly is to make them fear us.’
Jin Ling and the others didn’t want Qiao Xixi to worry about these matters, so after seeing her back to her room to rest, they resumed their discussion on how to proceed.
Of course, Qiao Xixi wasn’t just going to lie down and do nothing. It wasn’t in her nature to simply give up and wait for the worst to happen.
"Imp, tell me. What is Tiger Beast City’s fatal weakness?"
"Eh? Host, you’re going for something that big right from the start!"
"Didn’t you say you’d help me reach the pinnacle of the beast world? Are you planning to do it with just your words?"
"Er... don’t be hasty, Host! I’ll look it up for you right now."
Just as Qiao Xixi lay down on the bed, she felt the cub in her belly give a little kick.
She gently stroked her belly, soothing the baby. "Don’t be afraid. Mother will protect you."
As if sensing her reassurance, the cub nudged against her palm from within.
"Host, I can’t find a fatal weakness that would be a one-hit kill for Tiger Beast City. However, I did find something that would have a massive impact on them if it were severely damaged."
"Tell me."
"Tiger Beast City has a vast salt field in the western sea. The reason Tiger Beast City has been able to develop and expand so rapidly is entirely thanks to this salt field."
"Salt Crystals are a rare commodity in the beast world. While they can be refined from Grass Fruits, the quantity is far too small. A coastal salt field is another story. Tiger Beast City has relied on its salt field to attract a large number of high-level beastmen and acquire the Crystal Stones needed to raise beast soul levels. In just a few short years, it grew to become the foremost of the three great Beast Cities."
"Are you suggesting I should seize their salt field?"
"Nope, Host! With the Divine Leopard Tribe’s current strength, you could never take it from them. But the Sea Clan can!"