Sangze stared at her, a dazed look in his eyes.
"Xixi, do you... not like ?"
Sangze mustered his courage, finally saying the words he had kept buried in his heart.
He had seen how Qiao Xixi interacted with her other partners, and even at night... those few tis he woke up, he could feel his body react.
But during the day, Xixi never acted that way with him. Even simple, intimate gestures were rare.
When Xixi approached him today, he’d slled Jin Ling’s strong scent on her. For so reason, a bitter feeling had washed over him.
He longed to be close to her like the others, to hold her in his arms. But her gaze rarely fell on him, and he couldn’t help but think, ’Does she not like ?’
Sohow, just now, he had found the courage to ask the question that weighed on his heart.
Qiao Xixi watched him, so nervous he looked like he might tear his clothes from clutching them so tightly. She sighed inwardly.
"Sangze, do you think I don’t like you?"
Sangze bit his lip. When she didn’t answer directly, the light in his eyes slowly began to fade.
"Yeah... I-I’m too weak, and... there are so many things I don’t know how to do. It’s only normal that you don’t like , Xixi."
"Then what would you do if I didn’t like you?"
Sangze lifted his crestfallen gaze, his jet-black pupils shimring with a layer of mist.
"I... I’ll do whatever it takes to make you like , Xixi!"
He nervously grabbed Qiao Xixi’s hand. "Xixi, please, just give a chance, okay? I’ll... I’ll try my best."
Qiao Xixi felt that if she teased him any longer, he might actually start to cry. She suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Sangze froze, staring at her in utter disbelief.
"You silly goose. Who said I don’t like you? From now on, if there’s anything you’re unsure about, just talk to ."
Sangze snapped out of his daze and joyfully swept her up into his arms.
"Xixi, you an... you don’t dislike ! This is wonderful! It’s wonderful!"
Sangze spun her around twice, his ink-black eyes gazing at her with pure adoration. He looked less like a mighty panther and more like an eager, black-furred puppy.
Growing bolder, Sangze leaned in, closer and closer, until all he could sll was the scent mingling between them.
The mont his lips touched the soft ones he had been dreaming of, his heart began to pound like a war drum.
Just as Qiao Xixi thought he would take things a step further, he suddenly let her go.
Even through his dark complexion, Qiao Xixi could feel the burning heat of his cheeks.
"Xixi, I... I’m so happy. Weren’t you heading out? We shouldn’t waste any more ti. Let’s go."
Before Qiao Xixi could react, Sangze had hoisted her onto his shoulder and started walking out.
"Hey, Sangze, slow down!" ’My breakfast is going to co right back up.’
Sangze’s pace was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, they were outside the inner city walls.
"Sangze, put Xixi down, now."
Feiyan tossed aside the stone in his hand, strode over, and rescued Qiao Xixi from Sangze’s shoulder.
Sangze looked at Qiao Xixi, who was looking a little green, and stood there like a child who’d been caught misbehaving.
"Xixi, are you okay? I... I just wanted to get you out here quickly... I..."
Qiao Xixi waved a hand to show she was alright. She leaned against Feiyan’s chest to catch her breath and quickly recovered.
"I’m fine. Let’s get down to business."
Feiyan offered Qiao Xixi a drink from his waterskin. Once he saw that the color had returned to her face, he sent Sangze to go help with the other tasks while he accompanied Qiao Xixi to the waiting beastn.
There was a clearing outside the inner city. Feiyan led her to a patch of higher ground, next to which lay the portioned at Qiao Xixi had requested.
When the waiting beastn saw Qiao Xixi arrive, they all fell silent.
"I’ve gathered you all here today because I have sothing to announce."
"Now that you are all here in the Black Panther Tribe, those who wish to stay must abide by the tribe’s rules. Starting today, I will personally register your residences and place a mark on each of your stone houses..."
Qiao Xixi planned to implent a unified managent system for the tribe’s beastn, similar to a census. She would record how many beastn were in each household to get a clear picture of everyone living in the tribe.
"Cubs under the age of eight who do not have parents to raise them will be cared for by the tribe. We will also have designated male beastn teach them how to hunt. For those who perform well, the tribe will help them Awaken their Beast Soul."
As soon as Qiao Xixi spoke these words, the beastn present were stunned. Even the mbers of the Silver Tribe working nearby looked over in disbelief.
’Help them Awaken their Beast Soul? How?’
Qiao Xixi didn’t elaborate.
"Now, everyone form a line. We’ll start with the cubs. Co and get today’s food."
Feiyan helped Qiao Xixi distribute the food. As soon as the cubs got their share, they eagerly began to eat.
Qiao Xixi didn’t leave. Instead, she stood and observed the cubs’ reactions.
She noticed two or three cubs who didn’t imdiately eat their at but instead carefully tucked it away.
Curious, Qiao Xixi walked over. The nearest was a cub from the Wing Clan. He had a cute circle of orange-red feathers around his ears.
He grew flustered when he saw Qiao Xixi approaching.
"H-Hello, Clan Leader."
Qiao Xixi smiled and patted his little head. "How old are you? What’s your na?"
"My na is Yuyu, and I’m almost seven."
Qiao Xixi was surprised. For a cub who was nearly seven, his fra was much smaller and thinner than Qiao Ang’s.
"Where are your parents? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Yuyu shook his head, his orange-red pupils dimming. "They’re gone. My little brother and sister left with my parents. I... I was the runt, so they abandoned ."
"I noticed you didn’t eat the at you just received. Why not?"
"I... I want to take it back and dry it over a fire so I can eat it slowly. That way, the food will last longer."
Qiao Xixi was surprised. "Who taught you that?"
"I saw so of the older males do it before. Clan Leader, am I... Am I not allowed to?"
"Of course you’re allowed. I think you’re very clever, Yuyu. I’ll rember you. Would it be okay if I asked for your help with sothing in the future?"
"Yes, Clan Leader! I can do anything."
"Alright. Tomorrow, after you get your food, wait for here, okay?"
"Okay."
Qiao Xixi went on to ask a few other cubs about their situations. After chatting with them for a bit, she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her.
"Xixi."
Qiao Xixi turned, a wide smile spreading across her face as she saw who was walking toward her.
Seeing her smile, the person rushed over excitedly and swept her into a hug.
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