Chapter 559: Must Leave Now

Qiao Xixi hugged the cubs and cried for a good while, venting the emotions she had suppressed for so long. Finally, she sniffled, picked up an animal-skin handkerchief, and wiped the tears from the cubs’ faces.

“I’m sorry, cubs. Mother frightened you last time. But rest assured, I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry.”

But no matter what she said, the cubs clung to her tightly. Left with no other choice, Qiao Xixi led them to sit down on the animal-skin blanket.

“Did you run into any danger on the way here?” she asked.

Xiya shook her head. “No, Mother. With Grandfather and the others protecting us, the journey went very smoothly.”

Mo Yan stood off to the side, looking somewhat at a loss as he watched Qiao Xixi speak so gently to Qiao Ang and the rest. In truth, he missed the Clan Leader too, but he didn’t feel he had the right to step forward. Even so, a tiny trace of disappointment couldn’t help but well up in his heart.

As if sensing his thoughts, Qiao Xixi looked up and waved him over. “Mo Yan, what are you still doing standing there? It’s freezing! Come here and warm up.”

Mo Yan’s dim eyes lit up. His body honestly obeyed, stepping forward to sit down right beside her.

“The Clan Leader smells so nice, and she’s so warm,” he thought.

Hearing that the crying inside the cave had stopped, Sunxiao and the others finally walked in. Qiao Xixi tried to stand up as soon as she saw them, but the cubs were still holding onto her, rendering her completely immobile.

“Sunxiao…” She shifted her gaze and landed on Sangze. His heterochromatic eyes were currently staring at her with a wicked smile. Pausing slightly, Qiao Xixi turned back to Sunxiao. “Sunxiao, is Sangze back to normal?”

Sunxiao walked toward her, desperately wanting to reach out and pull her into a hug. However, seeing the circle of cubs around her, he had no choice but to temporarily give up the idea. “He’s still fluctuating. Not completely normal yet.”

Sangze wasn’t happy about that. “Don’t spout nonsense, big snake. I was perfectly normal the whole time I was with you.”

Sunxiao didn’t even spare him a glance, but Sangze wasn’t exactly wrong. Ever since Sunxiao had found him, Sangze had been normal for the vast majority of the time.

Qiao Xixi took the initiative to grab Sunxiao’s hand. “Hurry up and tell me, what happened after you found Sangze? Why did it take you so long to return to the tribe?”

“We were trapped by beastmen from another tribe,” Sunxiao explained. “They thought Sangze had killed their cubs.”

Sangze walked over to the campfire and casually tossed in a few sticks of firewood, making the flames roar higher. “It wasn’t me.”

“I examined the dead cubs,” Sunxiao added. “It really didn’t look like his doing.”

However, the males of that tribe didn’t see it that way, so they continuously blocked their path as they tried to return. Of course, given their strength, shaking them off quickly wasn’t difficult. But when the males chased after them a second time, Sunxiao and Sangze found themselves trapped in an illusion.

Qiao Xixi was somewhat surprised. “Could it be Kunlin’s doing from back then?” After all, the monster in the Thunder-swallowing Forest had been capable of creating illusions.

Sunxiao nodded. “It’s highly likely.”

If that was the case, then everything made sense. At that time, Kunlin had wanted to use the opportunity to stay in the tribe, so he had created trouble all around it. That included finding a way to trap Sunxiao and Sangze, all to reduce the resistance he would face when taking her away.

“I’ve already obtained the formula for the forbidden medicine, but we’re still missing one ingredient. Once we find it, the prescription will be complete,” Qiao Xixi said, pulling out a piece of parchment and unrolling it. On it was an illustration of the Cloud Mist Fruit.

Sunxiao took the parchment and examined it. “Cloud Mist Fruit.”

“Yes. I heard there are plenty of them in Elephant Beast City. Once we reach their territory, we’ll search for the Cloud Mist Fruit first. We need to resolve Sangze’s issue before doing anything else.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Sangze leaned over, bumping Sangqi aside with his hip. Sangqi puffed up his little cheeks, his eyes filled with accusation toward his unreliable father.

“I knew it,” Sangze said. “My little female cares about me the most.”

Qiao Xixi didn’t push him away. Instead, she turned and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Mhm. I care.”

Sangze’s heterochromatic eyes instantly widened. He pulled her into his arms, intending to kiss her back, but before his face could even get close, his mouth was covered by a chubby little hand. The tiger cub had just been sucking on his fingers, so this sudden block smeared a handful of drool all over Sangze’s lips.

Sangze’s brow twitched. He pinched the little guy’s hand with two fingers in disgust, feigning viciousness. “Little brat, if you act up again, I’ll eat you!”

The tiger cub simply stared back with wide eyes, not showing the slightest hint of fear.

Seizing the opportunity, Sangqi shoved his smug father aside and quickly pulled the tiger cub into his arms. “Father, don’t be mean to An’an. An’an is very timid.”

“You stinky brat, who exactly is your father here?!” Sangze thought, so exasperated he almost laughed.

The safe arrival of the cubs filled the cave with warmth. However, Qiao Yi’s sudden appearance quickly shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

“The white mist is getting thicker. We must leave this place immediately.”

Seeing Qiao Yi’s grim expression, Qiao Xixi knew the situation was serious. “Father, what is this white mist?”

“It’s frost,” Qiao Yi replied. “The thicker the mist, the colder it will get. It will reach its maximum density tonight. When that happens, even with a fire, you won’t necessarily be able to withstand the extreme cold.”

“But Yun Ji hasn’t returned yet…”

“Let Yun Qiong wait for him here,” Qiao Yi said in a deep voice. “Move quickly. We set off in a moment.”

Qiao Yi rarely spoke to Qiao Xixi in such a commanding tone. The fact that he was doing so now meant the situation was definitely much worse than they realized.

“Okay.”

Jin Ling and the others didn’t dare delay. They gathered everything in the cave that needed to be packed and let Qiao Xixi store it in her spatial dimension. Since it was too cold outside, Qiao Xixi also brought out the extra-thick animal-skin coats from her space and handed them out for everyone to wear.

Once they were fully prepared, Qiao Xixi and the group walked to the cave entrance. In just that short amount of time, the white mist had completely shrouded the massive boulders above their heads, making it nearly impossible to see the path ahead. With such low visibility, even flying would be incredibly dangerous.

“Little Demon, plot out a clear route for me to fly over Fire Feather Mountain.”

“You got it, Host. The route has been sent to you.”

“Good.”

Qiao Yi walked over with several members of the Phoenix Wing Clan. “Their beast forms are quite large. It’ll be more stable for you to ride on their backs.”

Jin Ling nodded. He picked up Qiao Xixi and leaped onto the back of a Phoenix Wing Clan male. Just to be safe, Qiao Yi instructed them not to all sit together.

Sunxiao picked up Mo Yan and handed him to Jin Ling, who hauled the boy up beside him and made him sit securely.

Sangze swept his arm down and scooped up Sangqi. Feiyan also picked up Qiao Ang and Qiao Qiao, holding one in each arm.

Xiya looked around with wide eyes. She hadn’t seen her father since earlier and was incredibly anxious, but she didn’t dare show it, afraid of making Qiao Xixi and the others worry.

“Where’s Xijing?”

“I’m here.” Xijing emerged from the white mist.

Seeing him, Xiya’s eyes instantly lit up. “Father!”

At the sight of his cub, Xijing’s stern brow softened. He walked over and picked Xiya up.

“Father is here.”

“Father.”

Everyone was settled, but just as they were preparing to take off, a biting, frigid wind swept over them.