Chapter 554: Think Clearly Before You Speak

Downstairs, Qiao Yi had just come out of the shower when Feiyan cornered him outside the door.

One look at him and Qiao Yi knew what he wanted to ask.

“Don’t worry. Xixi and the others are safe in Tiger Beast City right now. They should be back before long.”

During dinner, Qiao Yi had already given a general summary of Qiao Xixi’s situation in Tiger Beast City, but Feiyan hadn’t told him that Sunxiao and the others had headed for Elephant Beast City.

Feiyan was wondering how he could explain Sunxiao’s actions to Qiao Yi in a more plausible way.

‘Judging by Qiao Yi’s reaction, he must not know about Qiao Xixi’s system.’

Seeing Feiyan’s conflicted expression and his silence, Qiao Yi frowned. “Stop dithering. If you have something to say, spit it out.”

Feiyan clenched his fists before finally saying, “Sunxiao and Sangze went to Elephant Beast City.”

Although he had already sent people after them, based on his understanding of Sunxiao and Sangze, the pursuers most likely wouldn’t be able to catch up.

Qiao Yi’s expression faltered. “What are they doing in Elephant Beast City?”

Feiyan could only say, “Yesterday, we suddenly sensed that Xixi might not be in Tiger Beast City anymore, so we guessed she might have gone to Elephant Beast City.”

After he finished speaking, Feiyan looked up at Qiao Yi, only to find him staring as if he were looking at an idiot.

Qiao Yi snorted. “If you’re going to lie to me, at least think it through first.”

Feiyan choked. ‘Was I that obvious?!’

Qiao Yi crossed his arms and glared at him, not rushing him, just waiting to see what other nonsense he could come up with.

Under Qiao Yi’s intense gaze, Feiyan had no choice but to tell the truth.

“Father, it’s not that I wanted to hide this from you. It’s mainly because this involves Xixi…”

When it came to matters concerning Qiao Xixi, Qiao Yi grew serious.

“If you can’t talk about it, then don’t. Just tell me the result.”

Feiyan frowned. “It’s just that we all mistakenly thought Xixi had gone to Elephant Beast City alone. We were worried something might happen to her, so Sunxiao and Sangze left for Elephant Beast City immediately.”

Qiao Yi’s expression darkened. He probably understood that the part Feiyan couldn’t talk about was *why* they had mistakenly thought Qiao Xixi went to Elephant Beast City alone.

“When Sunxuan and I arrived, Xixi was still in Tiger Beast City.”

Qiao Xixi was almost always accompanied by Jin Ling or Xijing. And taking a huge step back, even if she had been abducted, there’s no way Jin Ling and Xijing would have had no reaction.

At the very least, their locations wouldn’t still be in Tiger Beast City.

But she was his child, after all. Even though he felt it was unlikely, the worry still crept into Qiao Yi’s heart.

“Send someone to Tiger Beast City at once to confirm Xixi’s situation.”

Feiyan said, “I’ve already sent someone. They haven’t returned yet.”

“Alright. Let’s get some sleep for now.”

Feiyan nodded. Knowing that Qiao Xixi was currently safe, he felt relieved as well.

「The next day」

Before the sky had brightened, the Wing Clan members patrolling above the tribe saw a black halo of light streak across the sky and crash heavily into the forest.

If they hadn’t heard the huge crash from the forest, they would have thought their eyes were playing tricks on them.

“Quick, go see what that was!”

“It couldn’t have been a rock falling from the sky, could it?”

Several of the male patrollers quickly ran into the forest. From a distance, they saw that a large crater had been smashed into a clearing.

In the crater was a dark, unidentifiable lump.

“It’s a male from the Wing Clan.”

Hearing the noise, Yun Qiong stood up from the crater and shook the dust from his body.

His form was enormous. With a single shake, a cloud of dust billowed toward the male patrollers, choking them and making it impossible to open their eyes.

“So this is the Black Panther Tribe.”

By the time the dust settled, Yun Qiong had shifted back to his human form. He was tall, so much so that even standing before burly bear beastmen, he would look half a head taller.

“Who are you?”

Yun Qiong dusted himself off. “My name is Yun Qiong. I’m here to find Qiao Yi. Um, that is, your Clan Leader’s father.”

Hearing this, the males looked at each other. This Wing Clan male’s origins were unknown; they didn’t dare bring him directly into the inner city.

“Come out with us and wait. We’ll go make a report.”

Yun Qiong didn’t refuse and followed them out of the forest.

When the beastman from the patrol team came to deliver the message, Qiao Yi was making breakfast for the cubs.

Sunxuan stood by Qiao Lie’s side, seemingly unable to get enough of the sight, his eyes constantly fixed on him.

“Who did you say? Yun Qiong?”

There was astonishment in Qiao Yi’s voice. Even Sunxuan’s attention was drawn over by the name.

“Why would Yun Qiong come here?”

Qiao Yi told them to bring Yun Qiong over immediately.

“Could the Holy Priest have sent him to protect the cubs?”

As the two were speculating, Yun Qiong walked in. He looked at the cubs swarming around Qiao Yi with some astonishment.

“These are all your grandcubs?”

Qiao Yi placed the cooked meat on the table and told the cubs to sit down first.

The cubs immediately offered to help.

Yun Qiong took it all in, shaking his head in amazement. “Amazing. People with cubs really are different.”

Then, his gaze shifted to Sunxuan, who was trailing a little snake cub. His eyes widened. “You have one too??”

Sunxuan gave him a cool glance. “I do.”

Yun Qiong’s feathers practically bristled. “Well, I’ll be. Every last one of you…”

Qiao Yi came out with bowls and chopsticks, interrupting him. “What are you doing here?”

Yun Qiong said, “I’m here to take you to Elephant Beast City.”

Qiao Yi paused. “What for? To Elephant Beast City?”

Yun Qiong didn’t actually know what for either. He just said, “Right now, the Holy Priest and your child have all gone to Elephant Beast City. They told me to come get you, and to bring your grandcubs along.”

“Bring the cubs?”

“That’s right. This was requested by your child, the female Qiao Xixi.”

Qiao Yi’s face fell. Of course, he didn’t think Qiao Xixi would do something that disregarded the cubs’ safety. He was just confused and worried. After all, Elephant Beast City was not a good place.

“Alright. Let’s eat first. We’ll leave as soon as we’re full.”

Yun Qiong took a seat at the table, looking up at the cubs who were staring at him. After a moment’s thought, he grabbed some meat from a plate and put it in their bowls.

“Here, cubs, eat up. You need to be full to go hunt beasts with your Grandpa Yun Qiong.”

The cubs looked at Yun Qiong, then back at Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi had no appetite, but he didn’t want his mood to affect the cubs.

“Eat first.”

Feiyan rushed back when he heard of Yun Qiong’s arrival. After understanding the reason for his visit, he pulled Qiao Yi aside.

“Father, is it possible he’s lying?”

Qiao Yi glanced at Yun Qiong, who was eating even more enthusiastically than the cubs, and shook his head.

“He wouldn’t. We’ll leave once the cubs have finished eating. Go and prepare some supplies now.”

“Okay.”

Lost in thought, Qiao Yi felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down and saw the little tiger cub, who had crawled over at some point.

Qiao Yi picked her up and pinched her little cheek. “What is it, An’an?”

The little tiger cub tilted her head, then suddenly began to babble and wave her arms and legs.