allonlinenovel Chapter 311: You’re Not Getting Away Tonight
Chapter 311: You’re Not Getting Away Tonight
"Could he have been sent by Tiger Beast City?"
After a moment’s thought, Qiao Xixi quickly dismissed the idea.
’If Tiger Beast City sent someone, it’d either be to gather intelligence or to capture us.’
’But that male didn’t try to hide or act discreetly. And when he saw me, he showed no intention of attacking.’
’That means neither of those was his goal.’
"I’ve already had them go catch more Long-eared Rabbit Beasts. That’s what he’s been stealing to eat."
"Are you planning to use the Long-eared Rabbit Beasts as bait for a trap?"
Jin Ling nodded. From their last encounter, he’d gotten a rough idea of the other’s capabilities. A conventional trap would almost certainly fail to catch him, so this time, he planned to try a different method.
Afraid she would worry, Jin Ling reassured her, "Don’t worry. We’ll catch him."
Qiao Xixi nodded. "Okay."
Qiao Xixi suddenly sniffed the air. "Huh? What’s that burnt smell?"
Jin Ling’s expression changed slightly as he spun around and rushed back to the kitchen.
Qiao Xixi heard a flurry of panicked sounds from the kitchen. "Jin Ling, do you need help?"
"No, it’s fine! You just play with the cubs. It’ll be ready soon."
Qiao Xixi wanted to go in and see, but the cubs were clinging to her, so she could only stay and draw with them.
"Come, let Mommy see what you’ve drawn. Ah, there’s Mommy, and there’s our An’an... Now let’s draw Qiaoqiao, Xiya, and Qiao Lie on there too..."
When Feiyan returned, he saw the beautiful figure he’d longed for day and night sitting with the cubs on a beast-hide mat. He thought he was seeing things and blinked his eyes hard.
When he opened his eyes again and confirmed that everything before him was real, he rushed over impatiently and swept Qiao Xixi straight into his arms.
Qiao Xixi, who had been focused on drawing, let out a small cry of surprise as she was suddenly lifted up.
But after recognizing his scent, she gave the back of his hand a helpless pat. "You scared me!"
Feiyan hugged her tighter, taking a deep breath of her scent from the crook of her neck. His warm lips, beyond his control, began to plant a trail of tiny kisses on her skin.
Only after venting some of the longing he’d felt all this time did he press his face to her ear and whisper.
"Xixi, you’re finally back."
Qiao Xixi turned, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a light kiss on the corner of his lips. Just as he eagerly tried to demand more, she laughingly covered his mouth.
"Stop messing around, the cubs are here."
Feiyan looked up at the cubs.
Qiao Qiao and Xiya quickly covered their eyes with their little hands, pretending they hadn’t seen a thing.
The little tiger cub looked curiously at her sisters, then back at Qiao Xixi and Feiyan, before giggling and covering her own eyes with her little hands.
Qiao Xixi couldn’t help but laugh, gently pushing Feiyan’s hands away.
"The cubs are hungry. Go help Jin Ling."
Feiyan bent down, bringing his face close to hers. "Give me a kiss and I’ll have the strength to go."
"Kiss, kiss, kiss, that’s all you know," Qiao Xixi said, pinching his cheek. When she saw that his skin had turned red from her pinch and he still didn’t make a sound, her heart softened. She cupped his face in her hands and gave him a peck on the lips.
Who knew that this sly fox had been waiting for just that moment. He instantly seized her, locking her in his embrace and gradually deepening the kiss.
"Ooh?"
The little tiger cub uncovered her eyes, which sparkled as she watched them. Who knows what excited thought crossed her mind, but she started to crawl over.
Qiao Qiao quickly grabbed her little sister.
"An’an, you can’t go."
"Awoo?"
Qiao Qiao leaned close to the little tiger cub’s ear and whispered, "An’an, don’t go over there, or Mommy will get shy."
"Awoo awoo?"
With the solemn air of a much older cub, Qiao Qiao shook her head. "Be good. You’re still too little to understand."
Xiya curiously parted the little hands covering her eyes. ’I’m a big girl now, but I still don’t understand. Should I ask my little sister Qiao Qiao?’
Just as Qiao Xixi was about to run out of breath from the kiss, Feiyan finally, reluctantly, let her go.
He lowered his gaze to her misty blue eyes, and the passion he had just suppressed stirred to life again.
"Tonight, don’t even think about running."
Recalling her previous behavior, Qiao Xixi lifted her chin haughtily. "Who’s afraid of who?"
Feiyan’s pupils darkened, but he still took a deep breath, released her, and went into the kitchen.
As soon as Feiyan walked into the kitchen, he saw a black, charred piece of meat on the wooden table.
He was surprised, and a little gleeful. "Jin Ling, so even you mess up sometimes."
Without so much as lifting an eyelid, Jin Ling said, "I prepared that specially for you. You have strong teeth; you should like it."
Feiyan was speechless.
’Oh, thank you so much!’
Just as they were about to eat, Xijing returned.
"Father."
Feiyan and Jin Ling both knew that Xijing had returned with Qiao Xixi this time.
Feiyan watched as Xijing skillfully took Xiya’s hand and led her to Qiao Xixi, then nudged Jin Ling.
"Look at this fish. Now that he’s Xixi’s mate, he’s dropped the act. Forget tripping over his own feet—I bet he could thread a bone needle!"
Jin Ling’s expression was serene as he placed the bowls and chopsticks on the stone table.
"Time to eat."
Qiao Xixi pulled Xijing to the dining table, and he sat down beside her quite naturally.
Feiyan glanced at Qiao Qiao sitting on Qiao Xixi’s other side and silently chose a seat close to her.
Just then, Jin Ling had already ladled a bowl of meat broth and handed it to Qiao Xixi.
"It’s Wild Bull Beast bone broth. Your favorite."
Qiao Xixi’s eyes lit up. She held the stone bowl, blew on the surface, and took a sip. The bone broth also contained white fruit, which had a texture similar to daikon radish—her favorite.
"Delicious."
Just as Xijing picked up his chopsticks to get some food, he heard Jin Ling say, "Since this is your first time in the tribe, Xijing, you must need to familiarize yourself with everything."
Xijing paused and nodded. "That’s right."
"Tonight, Feiyan will take you with the inner city patrol to get familiar with the nighttime environment and scents. Or, you could do it in a few days. After all, Xixi said you’ve just been through a major battle and are rather weak. It’s better to rest up first."
Feiyan listened with a confused expression. ’As Xixi’s mate, it’s only right for Xijing to share some of the tribe’s duties.’
’But... the patrol isn’t short-handed right now. Why is Jin Ling in such a hurry?’
Qiao Xixi nodded and said, "Yes, Xijing, your injuries haven’t fully healed yet, have they? You should rest for a few days first."
Jin Ling smiled gently and placed a piece of meat in Xijing’s bowl.
"That’s right, you’re weak, so you should rest. I’ve already prepared a room for you. I’ll take you there in a bit."
The smile on Xijing’s lips stiffened slightly. He could pretend to be frail in front of Xixi, but he absolutely could not let her think he was genuinely weak.
Especially when the words came from another male.
"Thank you for your concern, but my injuries have already healed. I’ll go with Feiyan tonight."
Feiyan looked at Jin Ling, then at Xijing. ’Why do I get the feeling these two just had a fight?’
’No, wait a minute, why is he going with *me*?’
Unfazed, Jin Ling added some diced meat to the little tiger cub’s bowl.
"Does An’an want Father to stay with her tonight?"
"Awoo? Awoo!" ’More meat!’
Jin Ling’s face broke into a broad, fatherly smile. "Alright, Father will stay with you tonight."
"Awoo!"
’This meat is so yummy!’