Beauty and the Beasts

Now that Parker had returned, Bai Qingqing brought up the topic of Vincent. “Err, Vincent made me eat a green crystal today.”

 “What?” Parker sat upright in shock.

 Vincent actually caught a herbivorous giant beast? He’s so powerful.

 Although herbivorous giant beasts only ate plants, their combative powers were much stronger than carnivorous giant beasts. They were several times larger than carnivorous beasts, and their skin was also tougher and more resilient. Only four-striped beastmen were able to fight them, and even then their chances of defeating such beasts were remote, so it also depended on their luck.

 Cortis said, “In the future when I obtain a green crystal, I’ll return him one.”

 “Mm.” Bai Qingqing nodded. “I didn’t want it either, it’s much too precious. But what effects does a green crystal have, exactly? I merely felt very comfortable all over after eating it.”

 Parker fought to answer. “Ordinary green crystals can increase a beastman’s lifespan by ten years. Look at how young my mother looks. That’s because my father would gift one to her every ten years.”

 “Wah!” Bai Qingqing gasped. “So if one keeps eating it, wouldn’t she live forever?”

 “No idea,” Parker said. “No one can keep succeeding. The longest-lived four-striped beastman in the City of Beastmen only lived to a hundred over years. My father has already lived for seventy-over years. Perhaps anytime now…”

 “Ah, so one has to risk his life to obtain it.” Bai Qingqing was curious about giant beasts. How did the energy crystals in their bodies come about? Is it because they’re too large, that’s why the energy in their bodies are condensed into a crystal?

 “Cortis.” Bai Qingqing crawled to the pile of grass next to Cortis and asked, “You’re so formidable. Have you ever killed a herbivorous giant beast? Have you ever eaten a green crystal? Oh right, how old are you? I’ve never asked you that.”

 Gazing at the female who came up to him, Cortis wanted very much to hold her close to him. But next to him was bare ground. That wouldn’t do. He had to get himself a comfortable nest like that leopard.

 “I’ve killed a few, to keep myself in top form,” Cortis said calmly. Seeing the look of admiration on her face, he suddenly felt pleased with himself.

 “I’m probably forty plus? Haven’t been keeping track.”

 1“Ah!” Bai Qingqing’s face fell. Cortis turned out to be so old! Even older than her father! “I’m only sixteen.”

 Parker also looked at Cortis in surprise.

 They say that snakes are promiscuous by nature. This snake beastman only found himself a female at such an age. Based on his capability, it shouldn’t be hard for him to snatch a female from a village when he was younger.

 But at the thought of how Cortis had four animal stripes, Parker felt relieved. If Cortis became a four-striped beastman in his teens or twenties, that would be unbelievable.

 “Cuckoo!”

 The short-winged bird cuckooed outside the door. It was probably pecking at the food it was given.

 Bai Qingqing sighed with relief. She gently laid on the pile of grass and closed her eyes, then said with a smile, “Great. We should be able to rear the short-winged bird.”

 Without any nighttime activities, Bai Qingqing slept very early. The next day, she was awoken by something touching her lower body.

 “Mm.” Bai Qingqing rubbed her eyes, feeling a cooling sensation beneath her. When she closed her legs together, she felt a cold arm wedged between her legs, making her scream out loud. “Ah—”

 “You’re awake?” Cortis was kneeling down by Bai Qingqing’s side, one hand still tightly wedged between her legs. His eyes were red and clear as he gazed at her. She was unable to draw the connection between those eyes and his obscene act.

 1Bai Qingqing quickly released Cortis’s hand and shifted backward.

 Parker, who was awoken by Bai Qingqing’s screams, jumped up instantly.

 “Roar!” The leopard glanced warily at his surroundings. Is there an intruder?

 Bai Qingqing could feel her underwear hanging on her thighs. Without even looking, she quickly pulled it up. She widened her eyes and glared at Cortis. “What are you doing?”