weddingnovel Chapter 326: You’re All Still a Bit Lacking
Chapter 326: You’re All Still a Bit Lacking
Qiao Xixi answered without hesitation.
"Never."
"What? You don’t resent him?"
Qiao Xixi came to his side and leaned gently against the hallway railing. She shook her head as she gazed at the cozy courtyard.
"I’ve experienced what it’s like to survive out there alone with Qiaoqiao and the others, so I know it truly wasn’t easy for my father to raise me. How could I possibly blame him?"
When she was raising Qiao Ang and the others, she merely had to avoid harsh weather and beast attacks. Her father, on the other hand, had to fend off those strange beastmen who were trying to capture them.
If it had been her, with no special advantages, she wouldn’t have been able to protect her cubs at all.
"My father was injured many times for my sake. A few times, I thought he was going to die. I was so scared back then. But my father is truly incredible. Even when he was so badly hurt, he gritted his teeth and pulled through for me."
Lately, she often dreamed about things that happened in the past.
Her father’s image grew clearer and clearer in her mind. The longing that surged from the bottom of her heart made her eyes redden and her throat tighten.
"I always wonder... if it weren’t for me, would he still be alive, living freely in this world..."
Teardrops overflowed from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Qiao Xixi looked at Qiao Yi through a blur of tears.
"So, Langqi, how could I possibly blame him? He was so good..."
Qiao Yi’s fists, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly. It took all his strength to suppress the urge to step forward.
"Silly cub, your father would never have wanted a life without you."
"Langqi, tell me, is my father still alive?"
"He..."
Qiao Xixi stared straight into his eyes, as if unwilling to miss any emotion in them.
Qiao Yi quickly averted his gaze. "I don’t know either. Perhaps... he died a long time ago. Don’t think about it anymore, Xixi. You just have to remember that everything your father did for you, he did willingly."
Qiao Xixi pressed her lips together, her eyes gradually dimming.
"Since he’s already dead, what does it matter if you know about the past or not? Don’t think about it anymore. You’ve built up the Black Panther Tribe very well. Just stay here and live a peaceful life. That’s enough."
Qiao Xixi responded in a low voice, "Okay. I have an appointment with Gu Man today. She should be here by now. Langqi, I’m heading out."
Qiao Yi nodded. He was also afraid that if Qiao Xixi pressed the issue any further, he would lose control of himself.
"Go on, but don’t wander off, even within the tribe."
"Mm."
Qiao Xixi wiped the tears from her face and turned to go downstairs.
Only after her figure disappeared from the courtyard did Xijing emerge from around the corner.
"Father, seeing Xixi so upset must be hard on you, too."
Qiao Yi let out a heavy breath.
"Xijing, those people are more terrifying than you can imagine. I absolutely cannot put Xixi in danger just because of my own feelings."
Qiao Yi looked at Xijing. "After observing for the past few days, I’ve concluded that you all are barely qualified. Feiyan’s abilities are still lacking and must be improved. I can’t have someone who isn’t very bright and isn’t strong enough protecting Xixi."
"Jin Ling... he’s a bit stronger than the rest of you, but he’s too indulgent with Xixi. Letting her have her way with everything is also not acceptable."
"As for you... sigh. It’s my fault. I should have chosen better ones for Xixi back then."
Xijing: ...
"And the other two are probably about the same as you lot."
Xijing didn’t argue. He figured that if his Xiya grew up and took a male as a mate, he would also find fault with that male in every possible way. Even if the other party was truly outstanding, in a father’s eyes, he would still be full of flaws.
"Father, we will work hard to become stronger."
"Hmph. What are you still standing around for? Hurry up and follow her. How can you be at ease with no one by Xixi’s side?"
Of course Xijing wasn’t at ease. If he hadn’t been talking to Qiao Yi, he would have already left with Qiao Xixi.
"I’ll go after her."
Qiao Yi watched his retreating back and shook his head. "Honestly, these kids..."
Meanwhile, Jin Ling had already taken the little tiger cub and Mo Yan to the mountain behind the tribe.
"Uncle Jin Ling, I know Long-eared Rabbit Beasts have been spotted up ahead. We can go take a look over there." Mo Yan pointed in a direction for Jin Ling.
Jin Ling nodded, suppressing his tiger beast aura, and walked in that direction while holding the little tiger cub.
Just as they approached, Jin Ling heard a faint rustling from the dense bushes.
Although reluctant, Jin Ling put the little tiger cub on the ground and patted her little head.
"An’an, there’s a Long-eared Rabbit Beast in the bushes. How about Father teaches you how to catch it?"
The cub was active and very curious. Hearing Jin Ling’s words, she immediately changed into her beast form, excitedly pawed at the ground, and eagerly faced the bushes, wiggling her little butt and assuming an attack stance.
Seeing this, Mo Yan carefully moved to the other side of the bushes to block them off, preventing the Long-eared Rabbit Beast from escaping.
A single, fluffy, pinkish-white ear poked out from the bushes. The little tiger cub’s eyes lit up, and with an "AWOO!" she pounced.
The Long-eared Rabbit Beast was startled and turned to run.
Seeing this, Mo Yan immediately stepped forward and blocked it.
"AWOO!"
The little tiger cub pounced again, but still missed.
AWOO!
’The cub was angry!’
When the Long-eared Rabbit Beast tried to flee again, the little tiger cub let out a howl, leaped up, and swatted the beast with her paw.
"Awoo~ Rab-bit, rab-bit!"
’I caught it!’
The cub happily lifted her paw, only to find the Long-eared Rabbit Beast was motionless, with blood bubbling from its mouth.
The cub poked it uncertainly with her paw.
’Why isn’t the bunny moving? I want to play with the bunny.’
"An’an, this Long-eared Rabbit Beast is dead."
An’an’s paws were too strong. With one swat, she had shattered the Long-eared Rabbit Beast’s bones.
’Dead??’
The cub’s world came crashing down again.
Jin Ling walked over, picked up the horribly killed Long-eared Rabbit Beast, and tied it to his waistband.
"An’an, if you want to catch things alive, you have to control the strength of your paws. Come here, Father will teach you."
Determined to catch a Long-eared Rabbit Beast, the cub studied very diligently.
Once she had more or less learned the technique, the cub was eager to go, wanting to show off her new skills immediately.
Just then, another faint rustle came from the bushes.
After confirming there was no dangerous aura nearby, Jin Ling stood up and stepped back a little.
"Go on, An’an."
The little tiger cub lowered her body, her gilded golden eyes fixed on the bushes.
When another stir came from the grass, she pounced with an "AWOO!".
"AH!"
A sudden, bloodcurdling scream came from the bushes.
Jin Ling’s pupils shrank. He immediately rushed forward and scooped the little tiger cub out of the grassy thicket.
Mo Yan also rushed forward, stepping in front of the little tiger cub in a defensive stance.
A pair of wings flapped out from the grass, revealing themselves.