Chapter 264: Chapter 264: I Don’t Have a Name

They walked for nearly five days before finally emerging from the mountain forest.

A vast grassland stretched out before them. This part of the journey wouldn’t be long; they just had to cross it and one more mountain to reach the Black Panther Tribe.

After several days of travel, the cubs had all become visibly stronger.

The grassland was easier to traverse than the mountain forest, but the sun was growing fiercer. As noon approached, everyone was starting to feel dizzy from the heat.

Jin Ling glanced at the cubs, who were so hot their tongues were lolling out. "We should find a place to rest," he said.

Sunxiao, in his enormous snake form, slithered at the front of the group. He raised his long body to survey the area but couldn’t find any shade. However, he did spot a low-lying pool up ahead where they could wash up and cool down.

"Let’s keep going a little further."

"Okay."

Over the past few days, the young black dragon had been eating his fill. With Sunxiao and the others keeping watch at night, he could also get a good night’s sleep. As a result, even though the constant travel during the day was exhausting, his body had recovered significantly.

The pool ahead was quite large. It seemed to be fed by a running spring, and the water looked rather clean.

Xiya was a sea beast and simply couldn’t withstand the scorching sun. She had been feeling miserable for a while now.

Qiao Xixi’s heart ached for her. She had Sunxiao carry Xiya, using his large tail to shield her from the sun, but even so, Xiya was still suffering.

"Xiya, will fresh water be okay?"

Xiya took large gulps of Spiritual Spring water, glanced at the pool, and nodded. "It’s not as effective as seawater, but it will help."

"Then you should get in for a soak in a bit."

Sunxiao placed Xiya on Jin Ling’s back, then turned and slammed his long tail onto the water’s surface.

A loud SLAP sent a huge splash into the air.

Sunxiao slapped the water several more times. Only after confirming there were no beasts hiding in the pool did he let the cubs go in.

The cubs, who were already sweltering, cheered and jumped into the water. Despite the blazing heat, the pool was surprisingly cool, likely because a mountain spring fed into it.

When the little tiger cub saw her older siblings go in, she began to yelp impatiently.

Jin Ling shifted into his human form and carried her toward the water.

"Xixi, want to take a dip?"

Qiao Xixi was hot too, but she didn’t feel like getting in just then. "I’ll just soak my feet at the edge. Look at you, your hair is already soaking wet from the heat. You should get in."

Feiyan wanted to stay with her a little longer, but he was also unbearably hot, so he went into the water as well.

Qiao Xixi buried a Long-tongued Vine seed in the soil, and the vine quickly grew into a large parasol, shielding her from the sun. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Once she was out of the sun, Qiao Xixi felt much more comfortable.

The young black dragon cautiously approached the pool, his eyes filled with longing. He was so, so hot.

Qiao Xixi glanced over and saw him hesitating at the edge of the water. Though she had planned on giving him the cold shoulder, she couldn’t help but soften. "If you’re hot, just get in."

The young black dragon hadn’t expected Qiao Xixi to speak to him. For the past few days, this beautiful female had barely glanced his way; her eyes were almost always on her own cubs.

In that moment, he truly envied her cubs. He used to dream of having a mother like her and a brave beastman father to protect him.

But dreams eventually end, and when he woke up, he was still just an abandoned cub.

’They say mothers have a soft spot for pitiful children,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’I guess I’m no different.’

"I... I can?"

The last line of defense around Qiao Xixi’s heart crumbled. "Of course you can. Go on."

A smile suddenly blossomed on the young black dragon’s gaunt little face. Qiao Xixi noticed that the smile lines at the corners of his mouth were quite handsome. ’He’s the male lead, after all,’ she mused. ’Even in such a sorry state, his face still holds up well.’

"What’s your name?"

The young black dragon stopped in his tracks. Qiao Xixi’s question made him nervously clutch the hem of his clothes again.

"I... I don’t have a name."

The answer surprised Qiao Xixi. To think that the great male lead of the story didn’t even have a name as a child.

’System, what’s the male lead’s name?’

’His name is Qingtian, given to him by the female lead.’

Qiao Xixi frowned. ’I need to keep him far away from anything related to the female lead.’

Qiao Xixi looked at the young black dragon. "How about I give you a name?"

The young black dragon nodded eagerly. "Okay."

"How about... Mo Yan?"

’Host, why did you choose that name for the male lead? Does it have some special meaning?’

Qiao Xixi denied it. ’Nope. It just sounded good.’

System: ...

But Mo Yan was overjoyed. He had a name!

After thanking her, Mo Yan happily jumped into the water.

As soon as he left, Qiao Xixi felt a cool sensation from behind. She quickly scooted back, leaning into Sunxiao’s embrace.

Having a snake-husband around certainly had its perks. They were really great for cooling off in hot weather!

"If it gets too hot, bring the cub over to me."

Qiao Xixi leaned lazily against him and hummed in agreement. Jin Ling’s body was indeed like a furnace; even the little tiger cub was getting restless from the heat.

"Mhm."

Jin Ling and Feiyan watched over the cubs in the water while Sunxiao stayed with Qiao Xixi. Sangze patrolled the surroundings, guarding against any approaching beasts.

Even though he was also suffering from the heat, he didn’t dare to let his guard down for even a moment for the sake of his family’s safety.

Qiao Xixi was leaning against Sunxiao, drowsing off, when she was suddenly jolted awake by a tremor from the ground beneath them.

Sunxiao and the others had already reacted.

"A large herd of beasts is heading this way! Everyone, get out!"

Qiao Xixi was instantly wide awake. She immediately dug up the Long-tongued Vine’s fruit and called for the cubs to get ashore.

The little tiger cub was happily playing in the water when her father suddenly picked her up. Her little hand loosened its grip, and the dragon horn Mo Yan had given her fell into the water.

"AWOO! AWOO! AWOO!"

The little tiger cub was frantic, thrashing about and trying to get back into the water.

Mo Yan had been watching the little tiger cub. Seeing her distress, he quickly swam over.

"Don’t worry, I’ll get it back for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shifted into his beast form and darted underwater to search for it.

Jin Ling, holding the little tiger cub and carrying Sangqi, didn’t notice that Mo Yan was still in the water.

It wasn’t until everyone was on the shore and ready to retreat that they realized Mo Yan was missing.

The males scanned their surroundings warily. They were indifferent to the young black dragon who had inexplicably started following them. If not for Qiao Xixi, they wouldn’t have given him a second glance—they might have even killed him if he got too close.

This was the law of survival in this world: cubs without protection almost never lived to grow up.

"It’s a Wild Bull Beast Group! We need to find a place to hide," Sangze said, watching the stampeding herd. "Let’s go, now!"

Having lost her beloved toy, the little tiger cub cried unhappily, wanting to go back toward the pool.

Only then did Qiao Xixi realize Mo Yan wasn’t there.

"Mo Yan!"

Mo Yan burst out of the water, the dragon horn held firmly in his mouth.

Qiao Xixi’s expression changed as she saw the Wild Bull Beast Group charging toward the pool. "Quick, get out!"