Jin Ling positioned himself in front of Qiao Xixi, blocking the fiery gazes of the other males.
"Let’s go upstream. The water is clearer, and there are more fish-beasts." ’And fewer beastn,’ he thought.
"Okay."
Qiao Xixi held the cubs’ hands and happily walked upstream.
Jin Ling took off his upper-body beast-hide tunic, grabbed a wooden basket, and went under the water.
Qiao Xixi, anwhile, spread the beast hides on a large rock in the water, preparing to wash them.
"Mother, Qiao Lie and I want to go play in the water."
Qiao Ang had a restless and playful nature. Since the temperature wasn’t too low, he wanted to dive right in the mont he saw the water.
Qiao Xixi saw that this part of the stream wasn’t too deep, so she agreed.
"You can’t run off. You have to stay near , understand?"
"We know, Mother."
Qiao Ang stripped off his beast-hide clothes, his little bottom bare, and jumped into the water. Qiao Lie followed him in.
Seeing her brothers having so much fun, Qiao Qiao wanted to play too.
"Mother, I want to go too."
Qiao Xixi found a smaller, shorter beast-hide tunic and helped her put it on.
"Go on."
"Yay!"
Qiao Qiao also dashed joyfully into the water.
Watching the cubs play so happily, Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but smile.
As the cubs were happily playing in the water, Qiao Ang felt sothing bump against his bottom from underwater.
He looked into the water curiously and saw a Triangular Horse Beast subrged there. It was its horn that had bumped him.
Qiao Ang’s little brow furrowed. He grabbed its horn and lifted it out of the water.
Ever since awakening their beast souls, the cubs had beco much stronger than before. Although he couldn’t compare to an adult beastman, he was still very powerful for a cub of his size.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let go!"
The cub that was lifted up was a pure white Triangular Horse Beast. Gripped by Qiao Ang, it kicked its four legs in a panic.
Qiao Xixi heard the commotion and looked over. The Triangular Horse Beast cub had transford into its human form—a small, pale, and doughy-looking little bundle.
"What’s wrong?"
Qiao Ang said, a little upset, "Mother, he bumped my bottom just now."
Worried it was unsafe for them to be fighting in the water, Qiao Xixi had them all co ashore.
The Triangular Horse Beast, his bottom bare, wasn’t afraid when he saw Qiao Xixi. Instead, he stared at her with curiosity.
"You’re so pretty."
Qiao Xixi raised an eyebrow. ’Is he trying to butter up right off the bat?’
"You bumped my cub’s bottom just now, did you know that?"
The little cub shook his head and looked at Qiao Ang apologetically. "I’m sorry. I thought you were a Fleshy Fish-Beast."
Qiao Xixi held back a laugh. The Fleshy Fish-Beast was a type of fish-beast that looked remarkably like a peach, which did bear so resemblance to a bottom.
Seeing his sincere apology, Qiao Ang lifted his chin haughtily.
"I’m not a Fleshy Fish-Beast. I’m a mighty snow fox cub."
"I’m sorry, Brother Snow Fox."
"I forgive you! Mother, we want to play so more."
Qiao Xixi told them to be careful.
The three cubs cheered and dashed back into the water.
The Triangular Horse cub saw how much fun they were having and wanted to join in.
But he had just taken a step with his short little legs when he pulled back again.
Qiao Xixi noticed his hesitation. ’This little cub is quite shy,’ she thought.
"What’s your na? And where is your father?"
In the tribe, it was often the males who took care of the cubs.
The little cub rubbed his nose and said in a muffled voice, "My na is Tata. My father went hunting, and my mother doesn’t like ."
Looking at his soft, doughy appearance, Qiao Xixi’s heart softened. ’Maybe all mothers have a soft spot for pitiful cubs like this.’
"Tata, you ran off again!"
An angry shout suddenly ca from behind her.
Qiao Xixi turned to see Gu Man rushing over like a whirlwind. She snatched Tata up and gave his little bottom a few hard smacks.
"Ow, that hurts! Mother, I know I was wrong! I won’t do it again... SOB SOB SOB..."
Gu Man was furious. She spanked him several more tis until his little bottom turned red before she stopped.
Tata pouted pitifully, looking utterly miserable.
"The next ti I catch you running off to play by the stream alone, I’ll tan your hide."
Just as Qiao Xixi was about to ddle, she heard Gu Man continue, "Have you forgotten last ti, when you were almost dragged away by a Big Fish Beast in the water? And the ti before that, you were tangled up by a snake-beast. If your father hadn’t arrived in ti, you’d be gone! And the ti before that..."
Tata’s sobs grew quieter and quieter.
Qiao Xixi tactfully kept quiet and silently continued washing the beast hides.
She could tell that Gu Man’s eyes were filled with worry for Tata. It didn’t look like she disliked him at all.
"I... I won’t do it again, Mother. Please don’t be angry, okay?" Tata sobbed, hugging Gu Man’s leg and sniffling. Gu Man’s heart imdiately softened.
"Don’t do this again."
"Okay, Mother. Tata wants a hug from Mother."
Gu Man picked him up, not forgetting to rub his sore little bottom with her hand.
Qiao Xixi thought to herself, ’Even Qiao Qiao would have to give this cub a thumbs-up for his wheedling skills.’
Gu Man held her cub, kissing and nuzzling him for a long while before finally looking at Qiao Xixi.
"Thank you for getting my cub out of the water. He loves water and is always running into it. He’s had several close calls, so I have to be strict with him."
This incident changed Qiao Xixi’s opinion of Gu Man a little. Although she seed flamboyant and bossy, her character didn’t seem bad.
"There was just a small misunderstanding earlier, but it’s all sorted out."
"Mother, can I go play with my friends?"
Tata looked enviously at Qiao Ang and the others splashing around in the water. He really, really wanted to join them.
Gu Man hesitated, but then she rembered her beastman mate would be here soon, so she decided not to restrict him.
"Alright, but don’t get into any trouble."
"Okay!"
Having gotten permission, Tata joyfully jumped into the water and headed toward Qiao Ang and the others.
"Qiao Xixi."
Qiao Xixi looked at Gu Man in confusion.
"Hm?"
Gu Man lowered her head, kicking at the mud at her feet, and spoke as if she had mustered all her courage.
"About what happened before... I’m sorry. I’m sincerely apologizing this ti. You’re pretty nice and smart... though not as pretty as ."
Qiao Xixi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Who apologizes while complinting themselves at the sa ti?’
"But what I admire most about you is that you can actually make Sunxiao listen to you. You have no idea how difficult he is."
Qiao Xixi realized she didn’t know much about Jin Ling and Sunxiao’s past. They never brought it up, so she never asked too many questions, but it would be a lie to say she wasn’t curious.
"How so?"
Gu Man recalled, "I saved his life, and he still treats like this! Hmph. Back when Sunxiao collapsed outside the tribe’s entrance, he almost died. I was the one who was kind enough to bring him back to the tribe."
Qiao Xixi thought, ’Sunxiao’s star-level is very high. It would be difficult for him to be so gravely injured unless he suffered a devastating blow. Could it be that his star-level dropped too quickly after a great battle, and his body couldn’t handle it?’
"And then what happened?"
Gu Man frowned, the mory seeming to affect her mood.
"Later, he was saved by the Feili Father Beast and the witch doctor, but then sothing suddenly happened to the tribe."
"Sothing happened?"
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