Qiao Ci and Ming Xi exchanged knowing glances and followed.
Ming Xi didn't use divine power to scout ahead. Following his beloved to find an answer together seemed like a rather pleasant prospect.
Before long, the little milk tiger arrived at a deep part of the forest. Between two trees, a large grave mound bulged, adorned with several beautifully woven flower wreaths. The mound was free of weeds, suggesting it was recently built.
The little milk tiger let out two soft roars towards the grave. In the next moment, a scrawny, emaciated little lion, slightly larger than the milk tiger, fearfully peeked its lion ears and head from behind the grave.
Upon confirming it was the little milk tiger, its eyes lit up as it ran out, "Little Tiger, you came to play with me again?"
The little milk tiger placed the small bowl by its mouth next to the little lion, signaling it to eat.
The little lion seemed a bit embarrassed and said, "You don't always have to bring me such good food. I can hunt myself, I won't starve. You eat some too, this is too much, I can't finish it all. Really, I just ate a pheasant and I'm full."
The little milk tiger didn't decline and stepped forward to snatch a rib, eating with relish. Only then did the little lion move forward to eat. It tried its best to control itself and not eat too much, but it was truly hungry, and it was also very delicious. Within a few bites, the bowl was empty.
After finishing their meal, the two cubs lay down in front of the grave, chatting idly.
"Little tiger, it's such a shame you're so big and still can't speak."
"When I was your size, I could already comfort my mother."
"My father always liked to drink. After drinking, he'd bully her. If she resisted, she'd get beaten."
"It's good now. She can finally sleep peacefully. No one can disturb her or bully her."
After the little lion finished speaking, it looked at the grave before it, its eyes carrying a maturity that shouldn't be present at its age.
The little milk tiger rested its paws under its chin, lying obediently and listening to the little lion. Although it couldn't speak, it would occasionally nod in agreement, proving it was listening intently.
The two little ones stayed for a while.
Seeing that it was getting late, the little milk tiger got up, shook the grass off its body, and prepared to head home.
Before leaving, it routinely invited the little lion to visit the tiger tribe. The little lion shook its head, "No, without my mother, the lion tribe is no longer my home. The tiger tribe also wouldn't accept the bloodline of the former lion leader. Besides, I want to spend more time here with my mother. I'm already very happy that you can visit me often."
Hearing this, the little milk tiger could only return alone.
Seeing this, Qiao Ci and Ming Xi also left without a sound.
The next day, the little milk tiger, with its head swaying, went to get food with its small bowl. This time, Qiao Ci prepared twice its usual portion. The little spoon, for some reason, had so much extra, and it accepted everything with a grin.
When it went to find the little lion with more food than usual, the little lion, seeing the doubled portion, instantly understood something.
It said enviously, "Your family is so good to you."
The little spoon looked at it, puzzled.
The little lion explained, "Your family must have discovered you were giving me your food, so they prepared double the amount for you."
Only then did the little spoon realize, and it happily urged the little lion to visit its tribe. However, the little lion still refused, "I'm a burden, no one would like to take in a burden... Your family can show me kindness because of you, but I can't push my luck. This is what my mother taught me. Thank you, Little Tiger."
No matter how the little spoon invited it, the little lion refused.
After the little milk tiger left, the little lion looked enviously at its receding figure, thinking that the silly little tiger, though unable to speak, had a family that loved it so much, which was wonderful.
It hoped it could remain so carefree forever.
The little spoon, once again carrying its small bowl, heard Qiao Ci say, "If you really like that little lion, bring it back. We can afford to feed it anyway."
After all, it was the little spoon's first friend, and that little lion was indeed sensible.
The little spoon was also quite troubled, "But it's unwilling to come back with me."
Ming Xi, standing nearby, couldn't hear what the little spoon said but could guess from its expression and offered advice, "You could think of a way, for example, appeal to its emotions and reason... Since you can't speak, just be persistent!"
The little milk tiger's eyes lit up. It grabbed its small bowl and ran off.
That night, the little milk tiger stayed out for the first time.
The next day, it still hadn't returned.
On the third day, it came back, accompanied by a dirty little lion that was taller than it but much thinner.
The little lion nervously greeted Qiao Ci and Ming Xi, "Hello, I'm returning Little Tiger. Please keep an eye on it and don't let it run around, it's very dangerous outside..."
Saying this, it turned to leave.
The little milk tiger let out a series of desperate roars.
Ming Xi, the perfect wingman, chimed in, "Little Spoon hasn't had a playmate since it was little. Could you stay and keep it company?"
The little milk tiger stepped forward and bit into the little lion's fur, sincerely trying to keep it.
The little lion, while nudging away the little milk tiger, debated whether to stay.
It felt that the person in charge here should be the somewhat stern older sister beside it.
Qiao Ci saw the desire and timidity in its gaze and found it amusing. She then spoke, "If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay. You can do some work that's within your ability. The tiger tribe is welcoming."
The little lion's eyes lit up, and it nodded shyly, "Please tell me if you need anything done. I can do many things. If I can't, I can learn."
Who wouldn't like a well-behaved and obedient cub? Qiao Ci had the little milk tiger take it to bathe.
*
After Qiao Ci took over the snake tribe, Lu Yan and the other two were driven far away, with a warning that if they dared to approach and pollute the environment, they would face consequences.
She Qian Shang was severely injured and could barely transform into human form. However, his face had been disfigured by Qiao Ci and was slow to recover, looking rather terrifying.
As for Nan An, he seemed to have some past grievances with the three tigers who had just driven them away. He was severely beaten and was now bruised and battered, looking quite disheveled.
Lu Yan, accustomed to handsome men, found them so ugly at first glance that she couldn't bear to look at them for another moment.
She Qian Shang saw the disdain in her eyes, and a surge of brutality rose within him. He stepped forward and grabbed her by the neck, saying sternly, "Woman, how dare you dislike me? Isn't it all your fault that I'm in this state?"
With that, he reached to tear at her clothes.
Nan An objected and tried to intervene, and the two immediately started fighting. Lu Yan didn't escape unscathed, taking a punch or kick every now and then, her face contorted in pain.
Taking advantage of their intense fighting, she quietly slipped away.
When the two realized she was gone, they immediately stopped fighting and staggered off in pursuit, supporting each other!