Beauty and the Beasts

[Strengthen the defense of this village over this period to prevent the invasion of the scorpion tribe.]

[Yes.]

Three hundred tiger beastmen replied in unison.

No emotions could be detected on Winston’s face as he faced his fellow beastmen. His vision swept over the tigers before he led them in planning the new guard stations.

After she finished feeding the kids, Bai Qingqing was on her way to the waterhole to check on the water wheel when she ran into Molly.

Molly was dressed in a snow-white coat, which added a hint of elegance to her ordinary looks. In the village, her clothing was the most glamorous among young females.

When she saw Bai Qingqing, Molly asked her, “Goodness, was the tiger king really looking for you? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“You didn’t ask.” Bai Qingqing felt euphoric at the sight of the water wheel moving in the distance.

Molly asked noisily, “Are you going to become mates with the tiger king?”

“No,” replied Bai Qingqing.

“Ah?” Molly’s face fell.

Bai Qingqing cast her a strange look, then pulled her towards the waterhole. “Why this expression?”

Molly instantly shut up.

“If you refuse to tell me, I won’t play with you anymore.” Bai Qingqing threatened.

In this world, females were extremely bored. Bai Qingqing’s threat worked on Molly.

She looked conflicted as her petite face scrunched into a bun. She gazed around, and only upon seeing no one else around did she edge closer to Bai Qingqing and whisper, “If you won’t accept him, my father is going to make me become mates with him, to make the tiger king stay.”

Bai Qingqing was speechless.

“What’s wrong with the tiger king? He’s so capable. Is there a need to look so disdainful?” Bai Qingqing’s displeasure showed in her tone.

Molly said, “It’s not that I disdain him. Sigh.”

She kicked a pebble and said, “If you don’t want him, I’ll just take him. At most, I won’t open my eyes when we mate. I can even do it with my back facing him.”

Bai Qingqing: … Why did the topic suddenly become sexual?

She rolled her eyes at Molly. She then thought of her own predicament, which made her let out a helpless sigh.

The only thing Bai Qingqing found comforting was that her mates weren’t superficial—Curtis had thought she was an ugly girl when he snatched her away. As for Parker, well, it wasn’t like there was any way to verify it now.

She felt that Winston was truly a good male. Even though he wasn’t good-looking, his outstanding character made him good enough for anyone.

If this were the modern age, she would even feel it was a waste to pair him up with Molly.

“Don’t worry. Winston isn’t casual in such matters. Even if you consent, he might not necessarily agree.”

“Really?” Molly sounded delighted.

As they spoke, they reached the waterhole. The water surface bubbled, and a smudge of blue gradually came into view. Molly fell silent, turned around, and fled immediately.

Bluepool floated to the surface and, after casting a glance at the fleeing Molly, revealed a satisfied smile.

“Look at this thing, it’s still spinning.” He marveled.

As the water fell from the wheel, the momentum it created lifted the new water, and the cycle repeated continuously.

If one looked carefully, he would notice that a layer of thin ice had formed over the stems of the tree branches stained with water at the start, after prolonged exposure to the air.

Bai Qingqing beamed and nodded satisfactorily as she gazed at the water wheel. “Other than that, did you discover anything else?”

“What?”

Bai Qingqing raised a brow and indicated for him to look at the water.

Bluepool watched the moving water surface and saw that the spot furthest away from the water wheel already had a paper-thin layer of ice formed over it. The nearer it was to the water wheel, the narrower the surface of the ice, forming the shape of an arc.

His eyes suddenly widened. “This can prevent the water from freezing!”

“Bingo!” said Bai Qingqing with a smile.

“What go?” Bluepool said. “Come again? I didn’t hear you clearly.”