Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Killing the Beast and Attacking the Heart

Qiao Xixi was stunned.

"Xijing, what’s wrong with you?"

Xijing’s face was pale as he forced his body to move, inch by inch, into the wooden cabin.

"Xixi, I feel awful."

"Father!"

Qiao Xixi couldn’t worry about anything else. She rushed forward to help him up from the ground. The moment Xijing entered, he swept his leg back, kicking the door shut.

Outside, a black mist shot toward the cabin door. Just as it was about to touch the wooden entrance, a crimson tail swept out with a SMACK, slapping the mist straight to the ground.

Sangze fell flat on his butt, his mismatched eyes filled with a bloodthirsty chill.

"You big snake!"

Sunxiao retracted his long tail without so much as a frown. "Idiot!"

Sangze scrambled back to his feet, unconvinced. "My, aren’t you getting generous, big snake."

The coldness in Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes deepened.

Feiyan was also furious, but he still watched the disgruntled Sangze with an expression of schadenfreude. "You stupid leopard, he’s a scheming fish. By fighting him directly, aren’t you just pushing him right into Xixi’s arms?"

Sangze gave a cold, wicked smile. "Wow, suddenly everyone’s so magnanimous."

Feiyan snorted, picked up the firewood from the ground, and jutted his chin in Jin Ling’s direction. "See that? Now *that’s* a veteran."

Jin Ling continued cutting the fish beast meat, his expression unchanging, the very picture of a perfect househusband.

Sangze’s face grew even darker.

Inside the cabin, Qiao Xixi and the cubs helped Xijing lie down on the bed. Xiya was so anxious her eyes were red.

"Qiaoqiao, please, take a look at my father. Is he badly hurt?"

"Don’t worry, Sister, I’m on it."

Qiao Qiao took Xijing’s hand. A faint blue halo slowly enveloped his body, but strangely, the light only hovered outside his body, showing no intention of entering it.

Qiao Qiao let out a small "Huh?"

Xiya and Qiao Xixi both stared at her nervously.

"How is he, Qiaoqiao?"

Qiao Qiao released his hand. She glanced at Xijing’s face, which looked so weak he seemed unable to care for himself, then shot a quick look at Qiao Xixi before simply saying, "Your father needs to rest, Sister. His life isn’t in danger."

After she spoke, she pulled Xiya away from the bedside by the hand.

Xiya’s big eyes were filled with concern for her father, and she was completely bewildered as to why Qiaoqiao was pulling her away.

"Qiaoqiao, is my father really okay?"

Qiao Qiao leaned in and whispered into Xiya’s ear, "He’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with him at all. My healing power didn’t even enter your father’s body, which means he’s not injured in the slightest!"

Xiya was stunned. She looked back at her father in disbelief.

’Father is so mean! He actually tricked us!’

"Mother, we’re going to go outside and help with dinner."

"Okay. But don’t run off anywhere once it gets dark, all right?"

"Okay."

Qiao Lie glanced at Xijing, his brow furrowed.

Seeing his younger brother wasn’t moving, Sangqi asked curiously, "Qiao Lie, what’s wrong? Are you sleepy?"

Qiao Lie shook his head. "Never mind. I should stay out of grown-up business."

"Huh?" Sangqi was completely baffled. ’What is my brother talking about? Why can’t I understand him???’

"Qiao Ang, do you know what Qiao Lie is talking about?"

Qiao Ang was munching on some jerky Qiao Xixi had given him earlier. Hearing his name, he looked up with eyes that were even clearer than Sangqi’s.

"What? Is it time to eat? Father Jin Ling said he’s making another big seafood dinner tonight. I’ve gotta go check it out."

Qiao Lie: ...

In a flash, the cubs all ran outside, leaving only Qiao Xixi and Xijing in the room.

Qiao Xixi poured him a bowl of Spiritual Spring water and brought it to his lips.

Xijing gently took her wrist, drinking the water from her hand.

"Xixi, this water is delicious. Thank you. I just feel a little unwell, it’s nothing serious."

"Did you get into a fight with Sangze just now?"

Xijing lowered his head. "Your beastmen are all so powerful. I... I can’t show any weakness in front of them."

"Why? Do you really want to defeat them that badly? Sangze is incredibly strong at night—he kills beasts without batting an eye. And you’ve fought Sunxiao before, too. He’s a heaven-swallowing giant python! He can swallow a 10th-rank beast soul in one gulp. It’s perfectly normal that you can’t beat them."

But Xijing was insistent. "They are all strong... I can’t be too weak either."

Qiao Xixi could somewhat understand Xijing’s competitive nature. In truth, no matter the world, being competitive was a very common and normal mindset.

"As long as you’re okay. When the food is ready, I’ll bring some in for you. You can head back when you’re feeling a bit better."

"Can... can I stay here tonight? I won’t take your bed. I can just sleep on the floor, is that okay?"

’Hiss...’

’Normally, I’d have to say no, but Sangze hurt him. I can’t just be irresponsible about it, can I?’

"You can stay. Xixi and the cubs can just stay outside tonight. Sunxiao has already gone to make a wooden bed," Jin Ling said, walking in with a tray of food.

Qiao Xixi shot Jin Ling a grateful look.

Jin Ling nodded at her, signaling that she could leave this to him.

"The food is ready. Xixi, you go eat first."

"Okay. Well, Xijing, you get some rest. I’ll bring Xiya to see you in a little while."

Xijing turned his face in the direction Qiao Xixi had left. Only when he sensed she was out of the cabin did the look of weakness vanish from his face.

Jin Ling placed the food on the table, his voice as calm as ever. "Do you need me to feed you, or are you going to get up yourself?"

With Qiao Xixi gone, there was no need for Xijing to keep up the act. He slowly sat up in bed and nodded in Jin Ling’s direction. "Thank you, I can manage on my own."

Jin Ling watched him get out of bed and walk to the stool as if on solid ground, then let out a soft chuckle.

Xijing’s movements paused. "What are you laughing at?"

"I’m laughing at your misfortune. You were clearly the first one to meet Xixi, and yet now... you have to resort to such cheap tricks to get close to her."

The faint smile on Xijing’s lips disappeared. The stone bowl in his hand landed on the table with a THUD. He leaned back slowly in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table. In an instant, his fragile, cold aura turned sharp and icy.

If Qiao Xixi were to walk in right now, she would surely be shocked by his current aura. This was a completely different Xijing from the one she knew!

Seeing this completely different Xijing before him, Jin Ling’s expression didn’t show the slightest hint of surprise.

As the leader of the merman clan, how could Xijing possibly be some weakling who would shatter at the slightest touch? His pitiful appearance was just an act he put on for Qiao Xixi.

"Jin Ling, you’re very clever."

Compared to Sunxiao, who looked unapproachable at a glance, the explosive Feiyan who could go off at any moment, and Sangze, who was innocent and harmless by day but crazed by night, Jin Ling’s calm composure allowed him to see the truth of matters much more quickly.

He also better understood the principle of attacking the mind over the body.

Xijing had always felt that he was missing a part of his memories with Xixi. That was why he sought every opportunity to get close to her, hoping to see if it would help him recover what he’d lost.

But even now, he still couldn’t remember a thing.

Jin Ling stood up and pushed the meat broth closer to him.

"This room is all yours for the night. I wish you... sweet dreams."