Beauty and the Beasts

Bai Qingqing started feeling frantic about her toes again. She hurriedly said to Parker, “Water got into my boots earlier, they feel really cold.”

Parker got anxious and let out a roar, then lowered his head and started licking her feet maniacally.

Winston’s countenance changed greatly as well. “I’ll go boil some water.”

Bai Qingqing was shocked by their exaggerated reactions. Seemed like what Curtis said was true.

But she shook her head and rejected the suggestion. She arched her itchy feet and said, “The frostbite makes one vulnerable to getting scalded. It’s not safe to bathe with hot water. The cubs’ bodies are very warm, I’m much better already.”

It indeed felt warmer after Parker licked it, but it also felt ticklish and prickly. Bai Qingqing had a difficult time enduring it, and her body had also begun heating up. Finally, she retracted her legs.

“Alright, just help me warm them up against your chest,” said Bai Qingqing as she hugged her legs.

Parker crawled over and pressed her half-reddened, slim and petite feet against his chest.

His body temperature was even higher than a cub’s and was able to cover Bai Qingqing’s bare exposed skin. She felt so relaxed that she leaned against the wooden wall.

“Winston, how did you manage to find your way here?”

Winston’s expression darkened as he sat down in the center of the house. “You were seen by the scorpion tribe.”

“How did you know that?” asked Bai Qingqing in shock. “Wait a minute. Didn’t all those who saw me die?”

Something suddenly occurred to her, making her straighten her back. “Don’t tell me some of them escaped. How did you find out about this?”

Curtis knitted his red brows in remorse as he recalled the fighting scene yesterday.

He was certain that those scorpion beastmen had all died, which meant some of them definitely remained in hiding in the sand and didn’t show themselves. He regretted not searching the place carefully.

Winston said, “I infiltrated Flame City in order to find you.”

“Flame City?”

“The city is occupied by rootless beasts—males who have been abandoned by their spouses. That place is inside the desert.”

Winston spoke slowly in his deep voice, “They like to go around abducting females. They behave pretty much like feral beasts and also associate with the scorpion beasts. I immediately rushed here upon hearing news of you from the scorpion tribe.”

At this point, warmth surfaced in Winston’s eyes. He gazed at Bai Qingqing and said, “Thank god it really is you.”

His gaze caused Bai Qingqing’s heart to ache. “It’s been tough on you.”

“Does everyone know it’s her?” asked Curtis suddenly.

The atmosphere in the house plunged to an all-time low all of a sudden. Winston replied bitterly, “The scorpion tribe spoke of it exaggeratedly. Although the rootless beasts in Flame City don’t quite believe them, the more powerful ones amongst them wanted to verify it for themselves. And the scorpion tribe—who were thoroughly convinced—won’t give up easily.”

Bai Qingqing didn’t even have the strength to complain. Had she turned into a femme fatale?

“Then, what are we to do now?” Bai Qingqing smiled bitterly as she lifted Third into her arms. “Are we moving?”

She couldn’t bear to move having just settled down. The water wheel she gave Bluepool hadn’t been used yet, so she wanted to see the effects.

Curtis’s eyes narrowed, and he said, “Why hide? If one appears, I’ll kill one! If a group appears, I’ll slay the entire group!”

That voice brimming with killing intent made Bai Qingqing shiver involuntarily, and she suddenly turned cold.

Winston looked towards him and asked, “Your animal stripes…”

“I had a breakthrough,” replied Curtis.

Parker cast a surprised glance at Curtis, then looked towards Winston.

He’s even revealing something so important to Winston. Seems like Curtis is planning to accept him.

2

Winston’s pupils shrunk, and he said, clearly surprised, “So, when one goes beyond four stripes, all his animal stripes disappear.

“But we can’t be too flamboyant about it. I suspect there are also beastmen with four animal stripes or more in Flame City.”

“Chey!” Parker also transformed into a human.