Chapter 531 - 532: What Is That Thing?

Chapter 531: Chapter 532: What Is That Thing?

Qiao Xixi shot up from the ground.

There were only six of them in total, including the males from the Phoenix Wing Clan. If the Golden Eagle Beasts discovered them and a fight broke out, there would surely be casualties.

Jin Ling heard the commotion and walked over. "I’ll go with a few of our brothers from the Phoenix Wing Clan to lure those Golden Eagle Beasts away. Xixi, you all stay here. Whatever you do, don’t wander off."

Qiao Xixi nodded. "You have to be careful."

Jin Ling grunted in acknowledgment. As the male from the Phoenix Wing Clan, Feather Pavilion, leaped into the air, Jin Ling deftly jumped onto his back.

Qiao Xixi heard the cry of a phoenix ring out in the night sky, followed by another. She looked up and, by the moonlight, saw a flock of Golden Eagle Beasts flying swiftly over the forest.

At some point, Xijing had come up behind Qiao Xixi. He took her hand and led her to a more hidden spot.

The rescued beastmen were also badly frightened by the commotion. Qiao Xixi gestured for them all to stay quiet.

They all huddled in small groups beneath the trees, not daring to let the moonlight touch them, lest the Golden Eagle Beasts discover their location.

Qiao Xixi didn’t let out a breath until the last Golden Eagle Beast had flown past.

Seeing Qiao Xixi’s brow furrowed in worry, Xijing said softly, "The Phoenix Wing Clan is much faster than the Golden Eagle Beasts. They won’t be able to catch Jin Ling."

That’s what Qiao Xixi had just been telling herself. In a direct confrontation, Jin Ling would be at a huge disadvantage against such numbers.

After the Golden Eagle Beasts passed, the forest fell so silent that only the sound of their breathing remained. Many of the weak and exhausted cubs and females had fallen asleep.

A few of the males, having regained some strength after eating, remained vigilant, instinctively shielding the females and cubs behind them.

"Xixi, you should get some sleep, too," Xijing said, leaping up into a large tree with Qiao Xixi in his arms and letting her rest against him.

Although Xijing sympathized with the persecuted beastmen, to him, nothing was more important than Qiao Xixi.

Qiao Xixi leaned gently into his embrace, listening to his strong heartbeat. The tension in her nerves eased slightly.

’But in a situation like this, there’s no way I can sleep.’

Xijing knew she was restless, and he began to gently stroke her back, trying to calm her.

Qiao Xixi suddenly chuckled. When she looked up, she was met with Xijing’s puzzled expression.

Leaning on his shoulder, Qiao Xixi smiled. "When I went back and gave Xiya the gift you’d prepared for her, the little cub was so happy she almost cried. She really loves it. She’s been wearing it ever since."

’A moment ago, seeing those cubs sleeping all huddled together made me think of my own. I couldn’t help but picture their adorable faces.’

’But more than anything, I feel guilty. The cubs must have been terrified when Kunlin took me away like that.’

’Even though I’ve sent them many messages, I still feel I should get back as soon as possible to properly reassure them.’

At the mention of his cub, Xijing’s expression softened.

"She’s always been very sensible."

The words had barely left his lips when his eyes suddenly darkened, and the arm holding Qiao Xixi tightened.

’Host, beastmen are heading this way.’

Qiao Xixi’s heart leaped, and she sat bolt upright.

"Xijing, someone’s coming."

Some of the males resting against the trees also stood up, their expressions wary.

Xijing leaped down from the tree with Qiao Xixi in his arms.

"Xixi, you wait here for me. I’m going to check it out."

"Okay. Be careful."

Xijing nodded, and his silhouette quickly vanished into the dark forest.

Qiao Xixi woke the sleeping cubs and females and had them all hide in one spot. She stood on the perimeter with a few of the combat-ready males, watching for any change in their surroundings.

From the dark forest, Qiao Xixi suddenly heard a terrifying tiger’s roar, which was immediately answered by more furious roars.

Her expression grew grim. ’Xijing must have engaged them.’

’Judging from the sounds, there must be a lot of them.’ Qiao Xixi worried that Xijing would be at a disadvantage, especially since he was alone.

Just as Qiao Xixi was worrying about the situation ahead, a female’s scream suddenly pierced the air behind her.

"AHH!"

Qiao Xixi whirled around. "What is it?"

"It’s him! He’s come back to get me! Help..."

The terrified female screamed, pointing at a dark area in the woods.

"Quiet!" Qiao Xixi’s face grew stern as she stepped forward and covered the female’s mouth. As she held her, she could feel the woman’s fear; her whole body trembled in Qiao Xixi’s embrace.

Qiao Xixi followed her gaze and saw a pair of green eyes staring out from the darkness in the distance.

She quickly let the female go, allowing Zhenzhen to support her instead.

Just as she was about to move forward, she heard the female’s voice from behind, suppressed by fear into a tiny whisper.

"D-don’t go over there... Th-those are really powerful monsters!"

’Monsters again?!’

’As far as I’m concerned, the ultimate monster was Kunlin. What else could possibly be considered a monster?’

The female’s scream made the already tense atmosphere stretch even tighter. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on that pair of green eyes.

"I... I know," a male suddenly stammered, his body trembling uncontrollably. "I’ve... I’ve seen him. H-he’s... he’s the mon-monster they... they raised!" The fear on his face was impossible to hide.

This only made Qiao Xixi more curious. She secretly tightened her grip on the Bubble Fruit in her hand. Staring toward the eyes, before they could get any closer, she suddenly hurled the Bubble Fruit at them.

A loud BOOM echoed through the forest, and Qiao Xixi heard an enraged roar that sounded like a bull, but not quite.

The next moment, she felt the ground tremble beneath her feet.

"MROOOAR!!"

In the faint moonlight, Qiao Xixi saw a behemoth easily topple two massive trees.

The moonlight illuminated its grotesque, chimeric face, allowing Qiao Xixi to make out its form.

It did indeed have the massive head of a bull, but three horns sprouted from its skull. Below a pair of huge eyes were rows of sharp teeth.

Its body was covered in the markings of a deer, and the contours of its enormous muscles looked especially bizarre in the dark.

Most disgustingly, it had the claws of a tiger and the tail of a fox, looking like some kind of monstrosity that had been forcibly stitched together.

’This truly was a monster.’

"What is that thing?"

"MRAAARGH!"

The behemoth threw its head back with a roar and charged toward Qiao Xixi and the others.

"Everyone, take cover!"

Qiao Xixi formed a hand seal.

"Wind, rise!"

A gust of wind lifted Qiao Xixi into the air.

Despite its massive size, the monster was incredibly agile. In the blink of an eye, it charged right up to them.

Qiao Xixi took out a Bubble Fruit and hurled it at the creature.

BOOM! BOOM! The explosions shook the entire forest.

But when the smoke cleared, Qiao Xixi’s eyes widened in shock.