redvbooks Chapter 313: Can You Handle It?
Chapter 313: Can You Handle It?
His azure eyes held a hint of approval as he looked at Xijing.
"How did you recognize me?"
"I scratched you during the day, Father, and recognized your scent."
Qiao Yi walked slowly toward him, frowning at the white gauze over his eyes. "You haven’t forgotten, cub. What happened to your eyes?"
Sensing Qiao Yi’s approach, Xijing lowered his head slightly.
"I was injured back then while protecting Xixi as she escaped."
At the mention of Qiao Xixi, Qiao Yi’s voice softened. "Xixi... she’s braver and smarter than I thought. Have you been well all these years?"
Xijing looked guilty. "I’m sorry, Father. I failed to protect Xixi back then. After I pushed the ice floe she was on out to sea, I lost contact with her while holding back those beastmen. After that... I lost some of my memories. It wasn’t until I met Xixi again recently that I finally remembered what happened."
His succinct words were like bone needles piercing Qiao Yi’s heart.
’He didn’t dare to imagine what Xixi had gone through all these years.’
"Father, what happened back then? Where have you been all these years? And how did you find your way to the Black Panther Tribe?"
Qiao Yi’s eyes instantly darkened. "Back then, after I shook them off, I found Xixi. I realized she also seemed to have lost some of her memories. Afraid that those beastmen would give chase again, I brought her to the Black Panther Tribe. I thought we’d be safe for a while, but who would have thought? After only a few months, they detected my scent and pursued us again."
In his desperation, he took Xixi into the Hopeless Abyss, but his pursuers were determined to catch them that time. He was temporarily outmatched and could only have Xixi hide on her own.
Later, after luring the beastmen away, he went back and retrieved Xixi.
Qiao Yi let out a heavy sigh. "But they found us again. We weren’t so lucky that time. I was captured, so I could only let Xixi escape alone... All these years, they’ve kept me locked up in the Watchtower. I only just managed to find an opportunity to escape."
After he escaped the Watchtower, the first thing he did was look for Qiao Xixi. But as he was passing the Black Panther Tribe, something felt strange, so he snuck in.
Originally, he just wanted to check on the state of the tribe, but then he accidentally caught the scent of Xixi’s bloodline!
"Hmph. That old fox had one of my grandsons on each shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. Didn’t he see my other grandson staring at him so pitifully? Obviously an old fool with no experience raising cubs!"
Xijing: ...
"Father, you’ve been in the tribe this whole time without leaving. You were waiting for Xixi, weren’t you?"
"Of course."
’Though he was surprised and delighted to see his grandsons, he wanted to see his own little female cub even more.’
"Father, you saw Xixi today. Why didn’t you reveal yourself? Xixi would be so happy to know you’re alive."
Qiao Yi let out a heavy sigh. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to acknowledge her; he was afraid that if he let his scent leak, those beastmen would find him.
"I’m afraid it would endanger Xixi." His scent was extremely potent and easily detected, so he had been suppressing it ever since he arrived in the tribe.
"Xijing, don’t tell Xixi about me."
Xijing frowned. "Father, you probably don’t know Xixi’s current situation. Let me explain it to you."
"Mm."
The two of them leaped into a large tree and sat down. A gentle night breeze whispered, and the rustling of the leaves masked the low murmur of Xijing’s voice.
At an agitating part of the story, Qiao Yi’s scent flared for an instant, drawing the attention of the beastmen on patrol.
Qiao Yi quickly suppressed his scent and moved with Xijing to a quieter place.
"You’re saying Tiger Beast City is constantly trying to make a move against Xixi and the others?"
"Yes. There’s a lot I didn’t experience with Xixi myself. Feiyan told me about it."
Qiao Yi’s fists clenched. "Jin Wei is pettier than the eye of a needle. Xixi has made him suffer one defeat after another; he’ll never let it go. Hmph. That useless trash isn’t worth a single strand of my Xixi’s hair."
"Father, you know the City Lord of Tiger Beast City?"
Qiao Yi snorted. "He’s just an old foe I’ve defeated. Tomorrow, think of a way to get me to stay by Xixi’s side."
’He had been afraid of endangering Xixi, but now that he knew her predicament, how could he possibly leave?’
Xijing’s face lit up. "Father, are you planning to tell Xixi?"
Qiao Yi shook his head. "Don’t tell anyone who I am. The beastmen who guard the Watchtower are no simple foes."
Xijing didn’t press the issue. He was well aware of Qiao Yi’s power; if even Qiao Yi said those beastmen were formidable, then their strength was certainly not to be underestimated.
"Father, you’ve already had a direct confrontation with Jin Ling and the others. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to convince them..."
Before Xijing could finish, he felt Qiao Yi’s intense gaze on him and immediately fell silent.
"Xijing, you may be a bit weak, cub, but you’re supposed to be Xixi’s first beast husband. You can’t even persuade her other husbands? If you can’t even manage that, I’ll just find a way myself."
Xijing’s jaw clenched. "That won’t be necessary. Rest assured, Father. I’ll find a legitimate reason for you to live in the inner city."
Qiao Yi patted his shoulder. "Good. I believe in you. Come find me here if you need anything."
"Yes."
When Xijing returned to the inner city, the sky was already growing light.
He had just started up the stairs when he sensed Feiyan’s scent in the hallway.
"Feiyan? Are you waiting for me?"
Feiyan was in high spirits, leaning against the corridor railing with his arms crossed. At Xijing’s words, he rolled his eyes.
"Why would I wait for you? The one I’m waiting for is Jin Ling."
Xijing raised an eyebrow. He could clearly smell the strong scent of Xixi on him.
’What a childish fox. He probably just wants to show off in front of that smiling tiger.’
’But being childish has its uses.’
Xijing walked over to Feiyan’s side, leaned on the railing, and spoke slowly. "The Wandering Beast that’s been stealing food in the tribe recently... I’ve caught it."
Feiyan’s eyes sharpened. "You caught it? Where is it?"
"Calm down. This might be a misunderstanding."
His fox-like eyes narrowed. "A misunderstanding? What are you trying to say?"
"He’s a wandering beastman who saved me and Xixi years ago."
Feiyan’s brows furrowed, and he took a step closer to Xijing. "You’d better be sure about what you’re saying."
Xijing’s expression didn’t change. "Yes. It happened years ago, when I was with Xixi and her father. You don’t know about it, but Xixi should remember."
The suspicion in Feiyan’s eyes didn’t subside. Xixi would have to confirm it herself.
"Where have you put him for now?"
"In an empty hut in the tribe. After daybreak, I’ll have Xixi go see him."
Feiyan was noncommittal, but he didn’t think Xijing would do anything to harm Qiao Xixi.
’It wasn’t that he trusted him so much now. It was just that Xijing had already bonded with Xixi; if anything happened to her, he’d be done for too. Still, the whole thing felt too coincidental. And since Xijing was a schemer, Feiyan’s instincts told him he was hiding something.’
When Jin Ling woke up and opened his door to see Feiyan waiting outside, for the first time ever, his composure cracked.
The sight delighted Feiyan, who would never pass up such a perfect opportunity to mock him.
"Jin Ling, you’re not looking so good. I’ll have the Hunting Team catch you some more Deer Beasts to help you build your strength back up."
The corner of Jin Ling’s eye twitched, and he shot Feiyan a look that could kill.
Pleased with himself, Feiyan trotted off happily to make breakfast.
Jin Ling’s gaze shifted to Xijing. But when he caught the scent on him, his tigerish eyes darkened.