Chapter 509: Chapter 508: She’s Afraid He’ll Run Away

Sweet Ring snorted haughtily. ’Let’s see if this little cub can actually keep his promise.’

After resting for a moment, the little cub shot up and slapped his head. "Oh no! I didn’t bring up the bamboo tube I used to get water for my brother."

Sweet Ring tilted her head. ’Why does he need water from the lake?’

As if sensing her confusion, the little cub explained, "Water Monster Lord, our tribe reveres Luoyue Lake as a Divine Lake. They say its water can cure all illnesses.

Our people rely on Luoyue Lake, and both females and cubs rarely get sick. If someone isn’t feeling well, drinking more of the water and resting for two or three days is usually enough to recover.

C-could you help me get the bamboo tube?"

He felt embarrassed as soon as he said it, scratching his head with a sigh. "Never mind. I’ll find something else to hold water and tie some vines to it."

Sweet Ring understood now. ’So Luoyue Lake is rich in Spiritual Energy. While not as potent as a legendary ginseng, drinking it long-term can still strengthen one’s body.’

She swam to the lake’s edge and shook her head. The Si Teng vine coiled around her promptly shot out, stirred the water for a moment, and finally retrieved the bamboo tube from the bottom of the lake, still full of water.

The little cub’s eyes went wide. ’So this is the "Water Monster"! Such abilities are incredible.’

Hugging the bamboo tube, the little cub smiled with pursed lips and tried to negotiate with Sweet Ring. "Water Monster Lord, your appearance is too conspicuous. If you come to the tribe with me, people will definitely mistake you for a malevolent beast and try to kill you.

How about you wait here? I—I’ll definitely be back within one Beast Hour!"

Sweet Ring had no intention of waiting around bored for a whole Beast Hour. She immediately swayed her body, shrinking until she was as thick as a finger, and slithered onto him.

The little cub froze, not daring to move. His body was still soaked, and an autumn breeze sent a shiver through him, raising goosebumps all over his skin. He could clearly feel the "Water Monster" darting across his body, like a sharp piece of metal scraping against his skin, threatening to break the flesh and draw blood at any moment.

With practiced ease, Sweet Ring first climbed onto his shoulder, then tried hanging around his neck. She coiled herself into a slender necklace. If you didn’t look too closely, no one would ever guess she was a living creature; she looked just like a metallic totem chain.

HISS...

Hearing Sweet Ring’s deceptively fierce hiss, the little cub was jolted back to reality, a pained smile twisting his face. ’The "Water Monster Lord" is certainly keeping a close eye on me. Is she afraid I’ll run away?’

"Okay, let’s get this water to my brother!" The little cub nodded, clutching the full bamboo tube and hurrying toward the tribe.

He had just been through a life-or-death experience, and his heart was filled with both a fear of death and a lingering attachment to this world.

But if only one of them could live, he was willing to be the one taken by the Beast God.

The little cub’s expression grew solemn, his gaze heavy. He whispered earnestly, "Water Monster Lord, my brother is sick. He won’t taste good at all. Please, just eat me, okay?"

Sweet Ring just dangled from his neck, not making a sound. ’I’m the aloof "Water Monster Lord" now. Heh, with a title like that, I might as well scare him to death. Let him keep misunderstanding. I’d like to see how far this little male will go for his brother. Is he really willing to feed himself to me? I certainly wouldn’t do that for my own brother.’

The tribe wasn’t far. After walking for just a quarter of an hour, Sweet Ring saw them returning from the sky one after another... lions with wings?!

The little cub, perhaps thinking his time was short, had become quite the chatterbox. He started telling her about his tribe: the Winged Lion Tribe.

"Our Winged Lion Tribe is famous throughout the Luoyue Mountain Range." Although he was always bullied by his clansmen, the little cub’s face still held a smile of vicarious pride. "Lions are already the kings of the savanna, and we have wings. Aside from not being good in the water, we rarely meet a worthy opponent in the sky or on land.

My Father was once the number one Warrior of the Winged Lion Tribe, but we made enemies of the Winged Tiger Tribe from the Cangyue Continent. When he led a hunting party, they were ambushed. To protect his clansmen, he was torn apart by the Beastmen of the Winged Tiger Tribe...

My Mother was taken, and the other fathers were killed... Everyone says my brother and I are cursed stars..."

A lonely look crossed his face. "Our family used to be so happy. Father was strong, Mother was beautiful and gentle, and the other fathers were good, too. But... I just want my brother to grow up safe and healthy.

If I get the chance, I want to become strong and rescue Mother... I heard she isn’t happy there, that those people just treat her like a tool for bearing cubs...

Last winter, Mother had someone send us a lot of food. Otherwise, my little brother and I wouldn’t have made it this long. But it seems she secretly sent us her own rations. The males who claimed her were so angry they tormented her until she was barely recognizable..."

Sweet Ring flicked her tongue out. ’What "cursed star"? Everyone in this world has their share of good luck and bad. It all just depends on how others spin it.’

Her eyes brightened slightly as she swung her head. ’Heh, we’ll see who the real cursed star is. Besides, happiness is all relative.’

’After seeing how others live, I feel pretty darn happy with my own life!’

When the little winged lion cub returned to the tribe carrying the bamboo tube, he was still soaking wet. The Beastmen of the tribe—male and female, young and old—all gave him a wide berth, as if he were a walking plague.

He was already used to it. He silently lowered his head and hurried toward a low-lying cave in the farthest corner. In autumn and winter, the ground was cold and damp, making it unsuitable for living. But as two young cubs without the protection of an adult Beastman, they could only live in abandoned caves. This one had originally been used to raise wild fowl. It was a shallow cave that offered little protection from the raging autumn winds. They might not even survive the coming winter.

Before he even got close, he heard a young, weak cough from inside—a string of coughs that sounded as if the person could stop breathing at any moment.

"Is... is that you, big brother?"

"It’s me," the little cub said, taking a deep breath before walking in with a smile. He held up the bamboo tube. "Little Lin, look! I brought back Holy Water! You’ll feel better after you drink it. I’ll get you more every day for the next few days.

And I had good luck today. I met a trader. He agreed to let me travel with him. The journey is a bit far, so I might not make it back before the rainy season and the coldest season.

While I’m gone, you stay with Nanny Qiu. Father was a hero of our tribe; they won’t really let you starve to death.

When I come back, I’ll be as strong as Father, and we’ll rescue Mother, okay?"

His smile was filled with excitement. If Sweet Ring wasn’t positive she was still coiled around the same cub and had been conscious the entire trip, she would have sworn she’d blacked out and missed something.

’This little cub’s acting is on par with my Father Xiao Cheng!’

Jing Lin nodded happily along. "Go ahead, big brother. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. When you get back, tell me about the world beyond the Far East..."