’Just let it all burn. I’m exhausted.’
A fish beast’s tail slapped the back of Qiao Xixi’s hand, leaving a red, fishtail-shaped mark on her fair skin.
Without thinking, Feiyan grabbed her hand and asked nervously, "I didn’t an to. Does it hurt?"
Qiao Xixi felt Feiyan was overreacting and forcefully pulled her hand back. "It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt. Let help you prepare the fish beast at."
"No need. You all just wait. I’ll get it ready for you to eat."
With a wave of his large hand, Feiyan hoisted the fish beast at onto his shoulder and carried it outside the cave.
Qiao Xixi frowned with a hint of worry. She recalled the fruit he had smashed to pieces before... ’I have serious doubts about Feiyan’s cooking skills.’
Qiao Xixi pulled the cubs into her arms to check them for injuries.
"Mama, we’re not hurt. We’re perfectly fine."
Qiao Xixi’s inspection tickled Qiao Ang, and he giggled as he wriggled out of her embrace.
After checking them all over and confirming the cubs were okay, Qiao Xixi had them sit obediently on a pile of leaves.
’I have ready-to-eat at and animal-hide mats in my storage space, but of course, I can’t take them out.’
Before long, Qiao Xixi slled sothing burning, and thick black smoke began to pour into the cave.
Her eye twitched. She quickly got up and went outside, only to see two fish beasts that had been burned nearly to charcoal.
"This fire is too strong! You have to make it smaller, or the fish beasts will be burnt to a crisp and we won’t be able to eat them."
She hurried forward, pulled the charred fish beasts away, and then reduced the fire before placing the fish beasts back over the flas.
"Just keep the fire at this size. If it’s too big, the outside will burn while the inside is still raw."
Feiyan stared at her, his light brown eyes unblinking. Her voice faded from his ears, leaving only the gentle image of her face reflected deep in his pupils.
Qiao Xixi thought she had explained it in great detail, but when she turned and saw Feiyan about to toss the fish beast he was holding right into the fire, she frowned and sighed in resignation.
’If you want sothing done right, you have to do it yourself.’
Qiao Xixi placed three cooked fish beasts on a large, clean leaf and left the rest for Feiyan.
Feiyan had already slled the fragrant aroma of grilled fish and was practically drooling. As soon as Qiao Xixi handed him the fish, he began to eat it in big bites.
Qiao Xixi took the grilled fish back into the cave.
"Co on, let’s eat sothing first."
The two cubs got up from the leaves and glanced outside the cave. Their father was sitting by the fire, eating heartily.
Qiao Qiao used a pair of twig chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish for Qiao Xixi. "You eat, Mama."
"Qiaoqiao, you’re so sweet. Mama can get her own. You and your brother should eat up and go to sleep early tonight. We’ll head back to the tribe first thing tomorrow morning."
"Do you know the way back to the tribe?" Feiyan asked as he walked in, having finished his al.
She knew the way, but she couldn’t say so directly. "We were washed down by the river. If we follow it upstream, we should be able to find the way back."
Feiyan thought so too.
That night, Qiao Xixi lay on the leaves, holding the cubs as they slept, while Feiyan kept watch at the cave entrance.
’I need to get back to the tribe as soon as possible, too. I wonder how my father and the others are doing.’
Feiyan sat leaning against the stone wall, the only sound the even breathing of Qiao Xixi and the cubs.
He glanced back at her. The pale moonlight cast a faint halo around her. Suddenly, the image of him licking her wound flashed through his mind, and his heart began to beat uncontrollably again.
As if possessed, he walked over to Qiao Xixi. Looking at her peaceful, sleeping face, he subconsciously wanted to get closer.
And he did.
But just as he was about to kiss the corner of Qiao Xixi’s lips, two pairs of big, sparkling eyes were staring at him so intensely they might as well have been glued to his face.
’Stupid Father is blushing like crazy but still trying to act calm!’
"Why aren’t you two asleep yet?"
Qiao Qiao giggled. "Father, were you trying to kiss Mama?"
"Go on, go on, we didn’t see anything."
The two cubs covered their eyes with their little hands but couldn’t resist peeking through their fingers.
Feiyan felt like he was going crazy. ’It’s not even my mating season, so why do I always want to be near Qiao Xixi?’
"Go to sleep."
DING.
"System Mission: Please guide the cubs back to the Silver Tribe as soon as possible. Mission Difficulty: Two Stars."
Qiao Xixi had just woken up when she received the mission from her system.
’A two-star difficulty rating. That must an we’ll be able to get back to the Silver Tribe relatively smoothly.’
When Qiao Xixi got up, the cubs were still sleeping sprawled out in every direction. After a quick wash with water from the Spiritual Spring, she walked outside the cave and slled the aroma of grilled fish.
She was a little surprised. She turned and saw Feiyan squatting by the fire, grilling fish.
"You learned! You’re grilling it really well this ti."
Her words stunned Feiyan. He had thought Qiao Xixi would look at him with disdain like before. ’Hmph, don’t think I didn’t see her expression yesterday.’
"You think it’s good?"
Qiao Xixi nodded. She had no reason to lie to him about this.
The gloom on the fox-man’s face vanished, and he decided to grill all the remaining fish beast at!
"Let’s set out after we’ve eaten."
Feiyan nodded.
After the cubs woke up and ate, Feiyan shifted into his beast form and looked at Qiao Xixi.
"Bring the cubs up."
Qiao Xixi didn’t hesitate and climbed onto Feiyan’s back.
"Go straight ahead. I know the way back."
"Are you sure this is the right way?"
Qiao Qiao gave his white fox fur a firm tug with her small hand. "Of course the way Mama pointed is right!"
The big fox fell silent.
Feiyan said that after they were washed over the waterfall, the Mutant Beast had stopped chasing them, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t run into it again on the way back.
According to her system, the waterfall was upstream, and they had been washed downstream after falling. To return by land, they would have to cross the mountain forest, which would take three days to get back to the tribe even if they moved quickly.
Wanting to get back to the tribe sooner, Feiyan traveled at high speed. During a break, he noticed that Qiao Xixi and the cubs looked pale.
As they continued their journey, Feiyan slowed his pace, trying to make his steps smoother.
After nightfall, Feiyan led them to a cave where they could rest.
"Let’s rest here tonight. You all stay in the cave and don’t wander off. I’m going to hunt and will be right back."
Qiao Xixi glanced at the darkening sky. They hadn’t encountered any fierce beasts on their way, but they hadn’t seen any prey either. ’I wonder if Feiyan will be able to catch anything.’
"Be careful."
Feiyan glanced at Qiao Xixi, nodded, and turned to leave the cave.
When Feiyan returned carrying a fish beast, he saw a slender figure standing at the mouth of the cave, gazing out. The mont her azure eyes saw him, they lit up with a brilliant sparkle.
’Was she worried about , so she was waiting for outside?’
The realization ward Feiyan’s heart, and he couldn’t help but quicken his pace.
Qiao Xixi watched Feiyan approach and let out a breath. "You’re finally back." ’Any longer and I wouldn’t have been able to hold it.’
Feiyan walked over, deliberately suppressing his smile. He frowned and said, "Didn’t I tell you to wait in the cave? It’s not safe outside."
"Yes, but I was worried because you weren’t back." ’I wasn’t comfortable leaving the cubs alone in the cave.’
Feiyan was dumbfounded.
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