"At the ti, I... I was hiding in the tall grass when a snake beastman suddenly ca out. He coiled around and dragged away. The snake beastman handed over to an elephant beastman. I was so scared! He pushed my head under the water... WAHHH... I never want to play in the water again."
Tata’s small body trembled as she sobbed, a clear sign of how terrified she had been.
When Bu Xi heard this, his face filled with rage.
"The Silver Tribe has never had any elephant beastn. The one who grabbed Tata must have co from the Three Stone Tribe. I’m going to find the Clan Leader right now!"
"I’m going too," Gu Man said, standing up with Tata in her arms.
"I’ve already told the Clan Leader," Qiao Xixi said. "He said he would deal with them today. Let’s go over together."
"Alright."
As Qiao Xixi and the others passed through the main square, they saw many of the tribe’s beastn heading west.
Bu Xi stopped a ram beastman to ask, "Where are all of you going?"
"I heard that the outsiders who ca here before hurt one of our tribe’s cubs. Now the Clan Leader has taken the males to drive them out of the tribe. But the outsiders are fighting back. It looks like a brawl has started, so we’re going over to help."
Hearing that a fight might be breaking out, Jin Ling and Bu Xi stopped in their tracks and looked at their partners.
"If a fight breaks out, it’s going to be chaotic. You two shouldn’t go."
"That’s right. You should stay here. We’ll go and check it out."
Gu Man wanted to see the ones who hurt Tata punished with her own eyes, but she knew Bu Xi’s concern was valid.
"Alright, you go see what’s happening. I’ll wait for you at Xixi’s ho."
"Okay."
Since Gu Man had decided, Qiao Xixi had no desire to go watch the commotion either. All that mattered was that the wicked beastn were punished.
She said to Jin Ling, "Alright, we’ll head back and wait then."
"Okay."
After escorting Qiao Xixi and the others ho, Jin Ling and Bu Xi departed.
Since she had so free ti, Qiao Xixi decided to process the bamboo she had cut down earlier.
"Xixi, what are you doing?"
"I need to split these bamboo stalks into thin strips."
"I’ll help you."
"Mother, I want to help too."
The cubs all gathered around curiously.
"Alright, Mother will teach you how."
In her previous life, Qiao Xixi had loved to travel all over the country. During her travels, she would learn traditional skills from the village elders, techniques that were rarely used in modern life. That was how she had learned to weave winnowing pans and bamboo baskets.
She taught the cubs how to use their sharp claws to split the bamboo into thin strips and then sand down any splinters. The resulting strips would then be ready to use.
The little cubs got to work with great enthusiasm. And surprisingly, they were very quick.
Qiao Xixi was very deft with her hands. Taking the strips they had prepared, she quickly wove a bamboo basket.
"What do you think? Is it nice?"
Gu Man took the basket, her face a mask of amazent. "It’s beautiful! And so sturdy. Xixi, you have to teach . I want to learn too."
"It’s not that difficult, really. It’s quick once you get the hang of it."
While the cubs worked diligently on splitting the bamboo, Qiao Xixi and Gu Man focused on the weaving. Before long, they had finished several baskets and winnowing pans.
Qiao Xixi noticed that her hands were much more nimble than they used to be, and she could work much faster as well.
"Alright, this should be enough for now. I’m going to go grind the wheat into flour and make you all sothing delicious."
Gu Man didn’t stop her work, but eagerly replied, "Okay, okay! You go ahead. I’ll co help as soon as I finish up what’s left here."
"No problem."
Qiao Xixi took one of the newly made winnowing pans to the front yard. She poured the de-husked wheat grains from a wooden bucket into the pan and began tossing them into the air to separate the chaff. After repeating the process several tis, she was left with over half a bucket of clean wheat.
The next step was to grind the wheat into flour.
By the ti the flour was ready, the sun was nearly setting.
Qiao Xixi quickly started kneading the dough, planning to make at patties for dinner.
As she kneaded the dough, the rich aroma of wheat made Qiao Xixi’s mouth water, and she had to swallow several tis.
"Xixi, do you need any help?"
Without looking up, Qiao Xixi replied, "Yeah, could you go inside and get so raw at? Oh, and those crunchy fruits. Chop them up and mix them together."
"No problem."
Gu Man would never have done these chores at ho. Her beastman mate did everything for her; all she had to do was sit back and enjoy.
But she found it surprisingly fun to be involved and helping Qiao Xixi today.
Qiao Xixi set the kneaded dough aside, covered it, and went into her stone house. She ca back out with several large bones and began chopping them into chunks.
"Mother, are you cooking now? I can help with the fire."
Qiao Ang suddenly ran over, offering to help.
"Okay, Mother will start the fi—"
"No need. I can do it."
Qiao Ang crouched in front of the stove. With a flick of his small palm, a little fla shot out.
Qiao Xixi knew that Qiao Ang had an Awakened Beast Soul and had inherited Feiyan’s fire ability, but she had never seen him use it before.
Qiao Ang used the small fla to light so tinder and tossed it into the stove. The fire roared to life at once.
"Wow, Qiao Ang, you’re amazing!"
’I’m so jealous,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’I wish I had a special ability too.’
As soon as she had that thought, the little imp’s voice rang out in her mind.
"Don’t be impatient, Host. A portion of your body’s origin has already been activated. Once you activate the rest, you’ll have a chance to awaken a beast soul and a special ability."
’The little imp had made her this empty promise before.’
’Stop trying to fool . I already asked Gu Man. She said not a single female in the tribe has an Awakened Beast Soul.’
"Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Host. You... are different."
’Oh? Do tell.’
"Because you have , your omnipotent system!"
’Then make a 10-star beast soul master right now.’
The little imp went silent.
"I’m, uh, a bit busy. Going offline now!"
Qiao Xixi rolled her eyes ntally.
"Xixi, I’ve finished with the at and the crunchy fruit. What’s the next step?"
Qiao Xixi snapped back to reality. "I’ll take it from here."
She took out a Salt Crystal to season the at filling, then cut the dough into small portions and wrapped the filling inside.
Gu Man learned how to do it just by watching.
Once the patties were ford, it was ti to heat up the pan and fry them.
She poured so oil into the heated stone pot. Once the oil was hot enough, she slid the patties in.
The SIZZLE of the oil and the aroma of the frying patties made Qiao Xixi’s mouth water uncontrollably.
"Mother, what is that delicious sll? It’s amazing!"
Qiao Qiao, who had been playing in the backyard, ca running over as soon as she caught the scent.
Tata, trailing behind Qiao Lie, also stared at the pot with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Mother, Tata wants to eat."
"Just a mont, they’re almost ready."
Qiao Xixi plated the fried patties, waiting for them to cool down a little before handing them out.
"Go on, take them to the table to eat."
"Thank you, Mother~"
The mont the stone bowl was placed on the table, several small hands eagerly reached for it.
Qiao Ang took a bite. The crispy crust, the fragrant and tender at filling, and the savory juices all burst in his mouth at once. ’It’s so delicious!’
The normally chatty Qiao Qiao was too busy taking bite after bite to even speak.
In the blink of an eye, the cubs had devoured all the patties.
Seeing the cubs eating with such gusto, Gu Man couldn’t resist grabbing one for herself. Even though it burned her fingers, she had no intention of letting go.
Gu Man took a bite. As the aromas of wheat and at filled her senses, she was stunned into silence.
"Xixi, this is delicious! It’s so... Mmmph..."
Qiao Xixi’s own mouth was watering. She reached out for a patty herself, but just as she was about to take a bite, the sound of footsteps approached from outside the gate.
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