Beauty and the Beasts

As the sun started shining more brightly, the fog dissipated.

Parker took out an ax and placed it by his waist on his skirt. He said to Bai Qingqing, “It’s going to rain for a long time during the rainy season. I’ll go out and chop us some firewood.”

Bai Qingqing said, “Chop more willow branches. I’ll come with you.”

If she went along too, she could help to carry more firewood. She heard that during the rainy season, it would rain heavily continuously for three months. They would surely need to stock up firewood. This was no minor task.

Parker smiled and said, “Of course, come along if you wish.”

The two of them went out the door, with Cortis quietly following behind.

Walking in the center, Bai Qingqing could sense other beastmen sizing her up. She turned around, looked at Parker and Cortis next to her, and realized with a shock that she was now no different from the females here—going out with an entourage.

The three of them went out of the City of Beastmen and came to a thick forest.

Parker took out his ax and started chopping the firewood. Cortis glanced at his surroundings, then removed his skirt and transformed into his half-beast form, using his tail to curl around a willow branch, snapping it just like that, causing the trees to shake and make loud rustling noises.

The trees in this forest weren’t very big and had plenty of branches, which made it convenient for chopping firewood. But many thin and tough tree branches had fallen upon the ground. Bai Qingqing didn’t have shoes on, and her soles weren’t as thick as the males, so it was basically impossible for her to walk.

She followed behind Parker and helped to pick up the tree branches, using vines to bind them together.

As he chopped the firewood, Parker said, “Don’t come near me, lest you be hurt by me.”

“Okay,” Bai Qingqing responded. Only when Parker moved on to chop another tree did she walk over to pick up the firewood.

Parker was helpless. He suddenly saw something, so he pointed at the root of a tree and said, “Qingqing, this tree is infested with worms. Come here and dig for the worms to eat.”

“Eat worms?” Bai Qingqing wasn’t sure she heard correctly. She walked over and took a look.

Parker raised his ax and chopped at the root of the tree. Several fat white worms the size of a finger came tumbling out. Parker raised one up and handed it to Bai Qingqing. “This worm is very nourishing. Hurry up and eat it. I’ll help you dig more.”

Bai Qingqing was so startled she retreated several steps, tree branches pricking at her soles and causing her pain. She repeatedly waved her hand and said, “I’m not eating that. Don’t give it to me.”

Parker gazed at Bai Qingqing with pity in his eyes and was prepared to place the worm into his mouth when Bai Qingqing shrieked out loud and yelled, “You shouldn’t eat that too!”

That fat worm wriggled about in Parker’s hand. Parker’s hand halted about five centimeters away from his mouth—the worm only had to lunge forward and it would touch his lips.

Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but swallow her saliva. She felt like a worm had squirmed into her throat, and it made her feel super disgusted.

Beastmen were probably used to eating such stuff. Bai Qingqing merely said though, “I’m scared.”

Upon hearing this, Parker instantly tossed the worm away. “I won’t eat it, then.”

He then stomped the worm to death.

Bai Qingqing’s eyes widened as she stared at Parker’s foot. She could imagine that worm turning into a pile of goo underneath Parker’s foot. This thought made her feel terrible.

A large tree branch with luxuriant tree leaves fell from the skies. Bai Qingqing looked up upon hearing the sound. Cortis was curled around the tree trunk looking down at her.

“There are eggs. Do you eat them?” Cortis asked with uncertainty. He had originally wanted to directly take them down, but when he heard Bai Qingqing reject the worms that the leopard offered to her, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

They are similarly sticky foods. Will Xiao Bai like them?

Bai Qingqing’s eyes lit up. She raised her head and walked towards that tree Cortis was on.

“Yes! What egg is that?” Hesitation flashed across Bai Qingqing’s eyes, then she said, “Forget it. This is others’ offspring. When you guys hunt, you don’t even capture the young ones.”