Sunxiao lowered his gaze and lifted her face. His own cold, snake-like eyes were reflected in her azure pupils.
"Are you so angry you’re not going to save that fish anymore?"
Qiao Xixi grabbed his hand and said earnestly, "I don’t want Xiya to lose his father, and I don’t want him to die."
Qiao Xixi felt there was no need to overanalyze her feelings. Since she had already decided to go, she would just do it.
"You’ve already made up your mind, so why are you asking ?"
Qiao Xixi straightened up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I’m not alone anymore. You’re my husband, so of course I have to ask you. Besides, you’ve said it before—that no matter what I want to do, you’ll always support ."
The big snake’s coaxing made the coldness in his eyes dissipate, yet he maintained his stoic expression as he pressed his forehead against hers. "Jin Ling said that," he stated coolly.
Qiao Xixi froze. ’Huh? Did I rember that wrong?’
’Whatever!’
"Well, I want to hear you say it."
As soon as the words left her mouth, his cool lips pressed down on hers.
He lifted her into his arms, holding her tight. The possessive kiss slowly devoured her senses, and the embers of passion within her quickly ignited.
"Showing you is better than telling you."
With a sweep of his long arm, the big snake carried her directly into his room.
This ti, afterward, Sunxiao forced himself to go out and fetch water for her to wash up, but as soon as he opened the door, he collapsed in the doorway.
Feiyan heard the commotion and ca out of his room. Seeing Sunxiao collapsed on the ground, he scoffed.
"Looks like all that deer blood he’s been drinking lately went to waste."
Qiao Xixi had no choice but to let Feiyan carry him to the bed. She then turned and went into the stone house where Xiya was staying.
After all the commotion yesterday, Xiya must have been exhausted. He slept soundly through the night and didn’t wake until dawn.
In the morning, after they had eaten their fill, no one went about their business as usual. Instead, they all looked to Qiao Xixi, awaiting her decision.
Qiao Xixi’s gaze swept across their faces. "I’ve decided to go to the Sea Cliff Deep Gully and check things out."
They had all expected this answer.
"I have an Instant Teleportation Card that can send to the Sea Cliff Deep Gully instantly. It will save a lot of ti and help us avoid any dangers along the way."
"I don’t care how we get there, I’m going with you," Feiyan blurted out.
"Xixi, I’m worried about you," Jin Ling said, looking at her.
Sangze pursed his lips and stared at Qiao Xixi, his intention perfectly clear.
Sunxiao remained silent. He had already made his feelings clear last night.
The tribe and the cubs needed soone to look after them, so Qiao Xixi wouldn’t let all of them accompany her on this dangerous trip.
"I’m taking two of you. You’ll draw lots."
Qiao Xixi had already prepared the bamboo slips.
"Whoever draws the long slips will co with . The ones with the short slips will stay behind to look after the tribe and the cubs."
Drawing lots was, indeed, a fair way to decide.
The four males reached out and drew the bamboo slips.
The long ones ended up in the hands of Sunxiao and Sangze.
Feiyan and Jin Ling stared at the short slips in their hands, falling into a brief silence.
"Alright, it’s decided. We’ll set off as soon as possible."
Jin Ling clenched the bamboo slip in his hand. "What do you need? I’ll go prepare it for you now."
"There’s no need. I have food, water, and dicine. I do need to leave so ergency dicine for the tribe, though."
Qiao Xixi got up and went to their food stores to sort things out.
The cubs had been sent away earlier, but they all knew what was about to happen.
"Mother, please take with you. I... I have a Healing Skill. If you get hurt, I can heal you."
Qiao Xixi looked at Qiaoqiao. She had considered this.
But she had no idea what dangers they would face on this journey, and her system points were limited. She didn’t want Qiaoqiao to walk into danger.
"I’d love to take you, Qiaoqiao, but it’s too dangerous there. I would worry too much."
"Mother... you have to co back safely."
"Of course."
Before they left, Qiao Xixi picked up the tiger cub and gave her a couple of kisses on her face.
"Be a good girl at ho and listen to your father, okay? No more running off."
The tiger cub couldn’t speak in full sentences and didn’t even know what was happening, but she could sense that her mother might be leaving.
"Ma... Mama..." The cub clutched tightly to Qiao Xixi’s animal-hide clothes, refusing to let go.
Seeing this, the other cubs unhappily gathered around to hug Qiao Xixi as well.
Qiao Xixi’s heart ached to leave them. After kissing each cub’s face, she steeled herself and placed the tiger cub in Jin Ling’s arms.
"I’ll be back before you know it."
Sunxiao and Sangze were ready.
Qiao Xixi picked up Xiya, who was waiting by her side, and entered the room. She then took out the Instant Teleportation Card and grabbed hold of Sunxiao and Sangze.
"I want to teleport to the Sea Cliff Deep Gully."
The Instant Teleportation Card flashed with a golden light.
Qiao Xixi felt a WHOOSH of wind rush past her ears.
The next mont, their bodies plunged into the icy seawater.
Xiya snapped back to his senses. He tapped his finger in the water, and the seawater enveloping Qiao Xixi and the others rapidly parted.
The water receded, and Qiao Xixi’s eyes flew open.
Sunxiao took out a luminous pearl, its glow illuminating the small space around them.
"Little Demon, are we at the Sea Cliff Deep Gully?"
"Yes, Host. I’ve checked the location data. You are now in the waters of the Sea Cliff Deep Gully."
Qiao Xixi opened the map interface. As she expanded the view of their location, she saw almost no land. They were like a single grain in a vast ocean, frighteningly small.
"You still can’t pinpoint Xijing’s location?"
"Sorry, Host. I still can’t find him."
’Then our only hope is the scale Xijing left behind.’
"Xiya, take out the scale and let’s see."
"Okay."
Xiya took out the scale and let it float in his palm. Soon, the vertical lines on the scale began to shift.
Finally, the lines pointed behind them.
"Is it that way?"
Xiya nodded. "I think so."
"Let’s head over and take a look."
They changed course, swimming forward in the direction the scale indicated.
Aside from the sound of the churning water, there was complete silence.
Qiao Xixi had been in the deep sea before, but she could clearly feel that this ti was different.
Her vision barely extended beyond the halo of light. The place seed devoid of any living presence, and it was eerily quiet.
Ti itself seed to stand still. They had no idea how long they’d been swimming.
"Xiya, are you tired?"
Xiya shook his head. "Mother, I’m not tired. I have to find my father as soon as possible."
In the vast ocean, there were too many unknown possibilities. Qiao Xixi didn’t dare let Xiya stop to rest.
Sunxiao and Sangze flanked Qiao Xixi, one in front and one behind, ever-watchful for any presence in the darkness.
All of a sudden, Sunxiao’s hand, which was holding Qiao Xixi’s, tightened.
"Danger! Be careful!"
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