Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Am I Your First One?

"Are you okay?"

Jin Ling’s expression was gentle, his arms incredibly strong as he helped Xijing to his feet.

Xijing’s expression flickered for an instant, but he quickly recovered. He pulled his hand from Jin Ling’s grasp before he was even fully upright.

"Thank you. I was just being too careless." As he said this, his face was already turned toward Qiao Xixi.

Qiao Xixi was startled too. ’That fall would have really hurt if Xijing had actually hit the ground.’

"You can’t even see. You should be more careful when you walk next time."

Xiya watched Xijing, her little brow furrowed in confusion.

"What’s wrong, sister?" Qiao Qiao asked curiously, noticing Xiya’s mood.

Xiya said, "Father can’t see, but he can use his Perception Skill to tell where obstacles are... How could he fall...?"

Qiao Qiao blinked her big, round eyes and leaned in to whisper in Xiya’s ear.

Xiya’s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh~~ I get it."

"My fathers are all so petty. So, Sister Xiya, you have to cheer your father on."

Xiya nodded. "Got it!"

Xijing seemed a little embarrassed, a faint blush spreading across his pearly white face.

"Xixi, I heard you ran into some trouble. I rushed over as soon as I was done. Has it been resolved?"

Qiao Xixi nodded. "Yes, it’s resolved. Thank you for your concern."

"You don’t have to thank me. Xiya is the oldest of the cubs, right? Does that... make me the first one you mated with?"

As soon as he said this, the faces of all the males present darkened. Even the gentle Jin Ling’s gaze was as sharp as a blade as he looked at Xijing.

Sunxiao’s crimson pupils were filled with a murderous chill.

Sangze’s eyes went wide with astonishment. He was shocked by Xijing’s audacity to say such a thing in front of Sunxiao and the others.

’Xijing looks so innocent. Could he have said that by accident?’

Feiyan was the most direct. ’This sly bastard, he’s such an actor! Even more of one than Jin Ling!’

"If you have something to say, say it. Why all the nonsense?"

Xijing paused for a moment, then gave a faint smile. When he smiled, it truly gave Qiao Xixi the impression of a hundred flowers blooming in all their brilliant, gentle beauty.

"What are you looking at?" Sunxiao’s cool, indifferent voice sounded by her ear, and Qiao Xixi snapped back to her senses.

’Yikes, my mates’ glares are terrifying.’ She quickly changed the subject with a smile. "Xijing, did you bring something over?"

Behind Xijing, several merfolk were holding large piles of things.

Xijing nodded. "Yes, these are the things you mentioned at the salt fields. See if everything is here."

"Okay."

Qiao Xixi hurried forward. ’I need to get away from this powder keg!’

The things Xijing brought were all there. "Yes, it’s all here. I’ll try it out first thing tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

With their business concluded, Xijing didn’t linger. He knew her mates wouldn’t give him a chance to get close. He simply turned to Xiya and said, "Xiya, be good and stay with your mother. Father will come see you tonight."

"Okay, Father." Xiya, playing her part perfectly, stepped forward and clung to Xijing’s hand. "Then you have to promise you’ll come see me tonight, Father."

"I will."

After Xijing left, Sunxiao and the others fixed their gazes on Qiao Xixi. She bent down, picked up the tiger cub rubbing against her leg, and turned to go inside. "I’m tired. I’m going to take a nap. You guys go play, or get busy. Don’t worry about me."

The door closed, and Qiao Xixi let out a breath. She really was exhausted. Since yesterday, the only rest she’d gotten was a short nap while leaning against Sangze on the way back.

Qiao Xixi had just laid down when Jin Ling pushed the door open and walked in, holding a bowl of soup.

"Eat something before you sleep."

Qiao Xixi was about to say she wasn’t hungry, but the aroma of the meat broth tempted her.

She sat up and, with Jin Ling holding the bowl, ate all the meat and soup.

The tiger cub smelled it too. She kept pawing at Qiao Xixi’s hand, her little nose twitching as she begged for a bite.

Qiao Xixi smiled and poked her little head. "You little glutton, you never learn. Have you already forgotten about that green fruit from yesterday?"

The tiger cub tilted her little head, looking at Qiao Xixi as if trying to understand what she meant.

Seeing the cub didn’t understand, Qiao Xixi deliberately stuck out her tongue and went "HSS-HSS-HSS," mimicking how the cub had reacted to the spicy fruit yesterday.

The tiger cub understood. With a little AWOO, she rolled onto the bed and buried her head in the blankets, seeming to be angry with Qiao Xixi.

"Hahahaha."

Qiao Xixi burst out laughing at the cub’s adorable antics. Jin Ling, feeling sorry for the little one, went to get some fresh meat pellets.

"Our An’an can have some too. Eat up, and then you can sleep with Mother."

Hearing her father’s gentle voice, the tiger cub pawed at the blankets and poked her little head out.

She trotted on her short little legs, warily eyeing Qiao Xixi as she approached her doting father and began happily munching on the meat in the bowl.

"You didn’t come back last night. An’an slept with me, but she started whimpering in the middle of the night, looking for you."

Qiao Xixi leaned against Jin Ling, watching the cub eat heartily and couldn’t help but smile. "She’s never been away from me since she was born, so she’s bound to miss me. It’ll be better when she’s a little older."

Full and satisfied, the tiger cub flopped onto the bed, sleeping soundly on her back with her belly exposed.

’Surrounded by the scents of her father and mother, she feels so safe.’

Drowsiness washed over Qiao Xixi as well. Gazing at the sleeping cub, she leaned against Jin Ling and drifted off to sleep.

Jin Ling placed a kiss on the corner of her lips, carefully laid her down on the bed, and tucked her in before quietly leaving the room.

Qiao Xixi slept straight through until the next morning.

Her hand subconsciously felt around beside her, but none of the cubs were there.

After a good stretch, Qiao Xixi got out of bed, opened the door, and went outside.

The cubs were gone. Outside, only Jin Ling and the little tiger cub, who was circling her father, remained.

"Jin Ling."

Hearing her voice, Jin Ling turned around. "You’re awake. I’ll go get you some breakfast."

"Okay. Where are the cubs and Sunxiao and the others?"

"They went to the seashore and the salt fields early this morning. They said they want to mine more Seven-color Salt Crystals."

Qiao Xixi nodded. She had important business to attend to today as well.

After eating her fill and nursing the cub for a while, Qiao Xixi prepared to start refining the Seven-color Salt Crystals.

"Xixi, look. Is the pot hot enough like this?"

According to the first step in the manual, the pot needed to be heated to over one hundred degrees before adding the Salt Crystals.

"That’s enough. Let’s try it. Put a small portion in."

"Okay."

The temperature was too high, so Jin Ling didn’t let her get close while he stirred. Qiao Xixi stood to the side, preparing the other ingredients, like shellfish powder and crushed coral.

When a strange smell began to waft from the roasting pot, Qiao Xixi poured in the other ingredients and had Jin Ling continue to stir-fry them for a set amount of time before putting the lid on.

"Xixi, how long do we have to wait?"

"According to the manual, we’re supposed to wait until the fire burns out and the pot cools down."

"Alright."

But just as Jin Ling finished speaking, there was a sudden, loud BANG! Startled, he immediately pulled Qiao Xixi into his arms to protect her.