"Xixi, what’s wrong?"
The stone house door was pushed open, and Jin Ling walked in under the cover of night.
Qiao Xixi didn’t hide her expression. Instead, she grabbed Jin Ling’s hand and told him the news she had received.
"Jin Ling, do you think Xijing knew there was danger? Is that why he let Xiya leave with ?"
From a father’s perspective, Jin Ling felt that was sothing Xijing was entirely capable of doing.
But he didn’t want to make Qiao Xixi too worried.
"Xixi, the rfolk have existed for many years, and their conflict with the Shark Beasts isn’t new. Let’s get a clear picture of the situation first before we make any plans. Last night, Feiyan already went to find the Wing Clan beastn and asked them to fly to the island to investigate."
Qiao Xixi nodded.
The two spoke in low voices, not noticing that Xiya had opened her eyes behind them.
She bit her lip tightly and buried her small face in the blanket, worried Qiao Xixi would notice her.
Seeing that dawn was breaking, Qiao Xixi had lost the will to sleep. She and Jin Ling quietly left the stone house.
The mont the stone house door closed, Xiya threw back the covers and sat up in bed.
She fumbled for the fish scale Xijing had given her when she left and discovered that it was growing dim.
Xiya’s face turned deathly pale. When a rfolk’s scale gradually loses its luster, it ans their life is fading away!
"Father! Father is in danger! I have to go save him!"
Xiya frantically opened the door and ran out, colliding right into Qiao Qiao.
Thankfully, Qiao Qiao reacted quickly, sidestepping to avoid the full force of the impact.
"Qiaoqiao, I’m sorry."
Xiya was embarrassed for bumping into her. After steadying herself, she grabbed Qiao Qiao’s hand and apologized.
Qiao Qiao looked at Xiya, whose eyes were swollen from crying, and asked curiously, "Sister, what’s wrong? Are you looking for Mother?"
They were used to being with Qiao Xixi, and sotis they would wake up missing her and start to cry. She thought Xiya just wanted a hug from Qiao Xixi.
Xiya pressed her lips together and shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Qiao Xixi’s voice from downstairs.
"Qiaoqiao, are you all up? Co down and wash up."
Qiao Qiao answered, "Coming!"
Qiao Qiao pulled Xiya’s hand and started downstairs. "Sister Xiya, don’t be sad. Let’s go down and have Mother hug you."
Xiya entered the courtyard. She saw Jin Ling gently washing the tiger cub’s face, then she saw Feiyan getting water for Qiao Ang, Sunxiao standing behind Qiao Lie and watching him train, and Sangze teaching Sangqi how to chop firewood...
’My younger siblings all have their fathers with them, but I don’t even know where my father is...’
’I miss my father so much...’
"Xiya, what’s the matter?"
Hearing Qiao Xixi’s voice, Xiya quickly turned and ran back upstairs. She didn’t want her mother to see her crying.
"Mother, I... I forgot sothing. I’ll go get it now."
Qiao Xixi frowned, watching her hasty retreat.
Qiao Qiao was about to speak when Feiyan ca over with an animal-skin cloth to wash her face.
"Were you drooling in your sleep again? What’s this long line next to your little mouth?"
Qiao Qiao’s big, azure eyes widened in a glare. She snatched the animal-skin cloth with her small hands and started wiping her own face.
"I don’t want Father to wipe it, I’ll do it myself!" ’Silly father! I wasn’t dreaming about giant atballs at all!’
"Your Father Jin Ling made your favorite giant atballs this morning."
Puffing her cheeks, Qiao Qiao’s eyes lit up, her attention imdiately captured by the atball soup.
"I want so, I want so! The atball soup Father Jin Ling makes is the very, very, very best!"
After washing up, Qiao Xixi glanced upstairs. "I’ll go up and see why Xiya hasn’t co down yet."
Just as Qiao Xixi was about to head upstairs, she saw Xiya PITTER-PATTERING down.
"Hurry and co eat."
Xiya sat down next to Qiao Xixi with a normal expression, eating the atballs Qiao Xixi served her and drinking the savory soup.
"What is it? Is my face not clean?"
Qiao Xixi noticed Xiya had been glancing at her from ti to ti, and she thought she had sothing on her face.
Xiya quickly lowered her head and shook it. "No, it’s not that. I just think Mother is really beautiful."
’I just wanted to burn my mother’s image into my mind, so I wanted to look a few more tis. I didn’t think she would notice.’
After she finished eating, Xiya said to Qiao Xixi, "Mother, I want to go wait for my father at the gate again today."
Qiao Xixi’s brow furrowed slightly. She quickly suppressed the strange emotion in her eyes, afraid Xiya would notice.
"Alright. Mother will go with you in a little while."
Xiya shook her head. "Mother has a lot to do. I can go by myself."
"Sister, I’ll go with you! But first I have to stop by Yuyu’s house. I need to give him a thank-you gift."
"No, you can’t. Qiaoqiao was just attacked by a Golden Eagle Beast yesterday. Mother can’t rest easy with you two going out alone. So, until the danger has passed, you must have an adult beastman with you. Today, Mother will take you."
Xiya wanted to refuse, but Qiao Qiao had already grabbed Qiao Xixi’s hand.
"Okay, Mother! I love being with you the most!"
Qiao Xixi was so insistent on going because she sensed sothing was very off with Xiya’s mood. She originally didn’t want to let her go out, but she was also worried Xiya would be cooped up in the inner city. She figured she could take her for a walk around the tribe to lift her spirits.
"Xixi, I’ll go with you," Jin Ling said, standing up while holding the tiger cub.
Sunxiao and Sangze’s current task was to go hunting, so Feiyan and Jin Ling took turns looking after Qiao Xixi and the others.
"Okay."
Feiyan stood up and said, "Then I’ll go keep an eye on those beastn from the rchant caravans."
With the tasks assigned, everyone split up and went about their business.
Since Qiao Qiao had said she was going to thank Yuyu today, she went to prepare a thank-you gift on her own.
"What goodies are in this little animal-skin pouch?"
"How did you know there are goodies inside, Mother?"
Qiao Xixi tapped her little nose. "You and your brother are both little foodies. Let’s get going."
The place where Yuyu lived was an area Qiao Xixi had designated for the tribe’s orphaned cubs. Yuyu was one of the older cubs in this group, so Qiao Xixi had put him in charge of helping to look after the younger ones.
When they arrived, Yuyu was just about to head out on patrol. He was very surprised to see Qiao Xixi and the others.
"Clan Leader, what brings you here?" Yuyu asked, crossing his arms over his chest, his young face very serious.
"Don’t be so serious. It’s Qiaoqiao who wanted to see you."
Qiao Qiao stepped forward with her small animal-skin pouch and handed it to Yuyu. "Brother Yuyu, thank you for saving yesterday."
These past few days, thanks to the food from the tribe, Yuyu no longer had to go hungry. His once-gaunt cheeks had filled out quite a bit.
His once-dull eyes had also beco bright and sparkling. Especially when he smiled, he looked like a crescent moon—exceptionally handso.
"Qiaoqiao, I told you it wasn’t necessary... Th-this is what I’m supposed to do."
"Well, then it’s what I’m supposed to do to thank you. Go on, take it."
Yuyu had no choice but to reach out and accept it. Holding the heavy animal-skin pouch and looking at Qiao Qiao’s sweet smile, he was a little stunned.
’I think Sister Qiaoqiao is really pretty, just as pretty as the Clan Leader.’
"Mother, I want to go over to the plaza. Can I?"
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