"Ah? Me? A mate?" Happiness came too suddenly, Ming Xi was a little dazed, pointing at himself foolishly.
"Mm, are you willing?" Qiao Ci was always patient with her cub.
Ming Xi's face immediately flushed red, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness, "But I've been ugly since childhood, and I'm not imposing enough. I'm also just a leopard who can't fully transform into my beast form. Will it affect your dignity..."
"No," Qiao Ci stated directly, without any unnecessary words.
"Um, can I ask you a question?" Ming Xi's gaze struggled for a moment, then he asked with a conflicted expression.
"Mm," Qiao Ci nodded.
"After I become your mate, will you still take other male beasts as mates?" Feeling like he had spoken too directly, Ming Xi explained, "I'm timid, and I'm afraid I can't compete with other brothers. So, during the time we are mates, can you not have anyone else..."
As Ming Xi spoke, his eyes began to redden, as if he had suffered immense grievance.
"Only you, no one else," Qiao Ci sighed, seeing him get angry just by talking to himself.
Ugly since childhood? Did he misunderstand himself?
Can't compete with other brothers? What other brothers!
"Really?" Ming Xi was taken aback that Qiao Ci had directly promised him that he would be the only one.
He wasn't that greedy, actually.
In his long and endless years, he simply wanted to find some fun for himself.
Although he had felt a heart flutter that spanned a thousand years for her, he wouldn't be too demanding. He just wanted to spend some time with her when he was interested.
Because he knew that ordinary beastmen, especially females, were usually cared for by a pack of males. To ask her to only have him was indeed forcing her a bit.
Upon receiving Qiao Ci's affirmative reply, Ming Xi's pupils constricted slightly.
So, he could actually be a little more greedy...
After confirming their relationship with Ming Xi, Qiao Ci quickly had someone move his living supplies to her residence. Thinking of the big hugs tonight, Qiao Ci was radiating joy.
Seeing Qiao Ci move his things over so quickly, the other beastmen looked at her with knowing smiles and envy. Ming Xi couldn't help but secretly glare at Qiao Ci.
With a great enemy at hand, she was so... so eager.
Thinking that he would be sleeping with her tonight, Ming Xi's heart beat faster than usual. This was the first time he had shared a room and a bed with a female beast.
How could he make her think his skills were not novice-like?
After all, the storybooks he had collected said that females liked a lot of variety...
The more Ming Xi thought about it, the more his face flushed and his heart pounded.
Whenever it involved Qiao Ci, he seemed to lose control, but he didn't reject this feeling. In fact, he looked forward to it immensely.
"What's wrong? Your face is so red?" After instructing the beastmen to arrange Ming Xi's belongings, Qiao Ci turned and saw Ming Xi biting his lip shyly, his eyes sparkling. She couldn't help but tease him with a smile.
"It's nothing," Ming Xi replied quickly, afraid that if he answered too late, she would see his impure thoughts.
"Mm, you wait for me at home. I'll go out and take care of a few minor matters and be back," Qiao Ci said, her voice much lighter, thinking of the big hugs tonight. "If you need anything, just ask the other beastmen."
With that, she strode out of the room with her slender, straight long legs.
Ming Xi stood in place, lost in thought.
Looking at Qiao Ci's spirited back, he pressed his tongue against his upper palate, his gaze flickering.
Home?
Their home?
It sounded pretty good.
Ming Xi kept watching Qiao Ci's retreating figure, holding the little tiger cub, unconsciously tugging at its fur. The little tiger dared not speak out in anger.
It wasn't until it noticed the excessive amount of fur on the ground that it realized it was already balding in its youth!
Mustering its courage, it struggled out of Ming Xi's embrace, only to fall with a yelp. The weak, childish cry made Ming Xi, whose gaze was distant, frown.
He glanced at it briefly, and upon seeing its bare little tiger head, his expression became uneasy.
Did he do this?
Absolutely not!
Would Qiao Ci be angry?
Probably not...
Qiao Ci led the beastmen of the Tiger Tribe towards the border with the Lion Tribe.
Without removing the external threat, how could he settle down and start a family?
Therefore, Qiao Ci decided to deal with the Lion Tribe first, to avoid them disturbing his happy time with his cub!
When Qiao Ci arrived, the leader of the Lion Tribe was already at the border with an imposing aura. As expected, Lu Yan was beside the Lion Leader.
She stood by Shi Xiao Tian, leaning in affectionately, whispering something into his ear, which made him laugh heartily. He casually put his arm around her waist and then reached out to pat her small behind.
Qiao Ci watched with amusement.
They really knew how to have fun.
Lu Yan, a transmigrator from modern times, was quite unrestrained.
Seeing Qiao Ci approach, Lu Yan immediately clung tightly to Shi Xiao Tian, looking at Qiao Ci with immense pride and showing off, "Qiao Ci, long time no see."
"Are we familiar with this unrestrained female?" Qiao Ci didn't give her any face at all, directly kicking her to the ground.
"Qiao Ci, stop pretending. Ever since I went to your tribe, you've been bullying and targeting me everywhere. Heh, why are you pretending not to know me now?" Lu Yan said, pulling Shi Xiao Tian, smiling with her eyes curved.
"Didn't you say I didn't have the destiny to be a leader's mate? I'm sorry, I've slapped your face. Xiao Tian gege, as the leader of the Lion Tribe, is my man now~"
As soon as she finished speaking, three bolts of righteous heavenly lightning struck down like meteors, hitting her squarely in the face, and not even Shi Xiao Tian, who was close to her, was spared.
The two of them immediately swayed in the wind. After a long while, a cloud of thick smoke billowed from all their orifices.
Lu Yan foamed at the mouth and convulsed incessantly. The tall Shi Xiao Tian, however, bore the brunt of the heavenly lightning, his powerful beast form even manifesting.
Ming Xi felt his abilities being "borrowed" again. Upon discovering that Qiao Ci was the one who triggered it, he couldn't help but laugh lowly. As expected, only she was the exception.
The beastmen of the Lion Tribe were terrified by this.
Those who could draw divine punishment were sinners. Had the Lion Leader done something unforgivable?
Seeing that the time was right, Qiao Ci loudly declared, "What are you staring at? The Lion Tribe has actively provoked us, why aren't you fighting back fiercely?"
The beastmen of the Tiger Tribe were immediately filled with fervor and roared as they charged towards the Lion Tribe.
Due to their reverence for the gods, the Lion Tribe had already lost their fighting spirit. This war ended almost bloodlessly and swiftly.
The Lion Tribe submitted to fate and obeyed the Tiger Tribe. Qiao Ci selected a beastman from the Lion Tribe as a deputy to manage the Lion Tribe's beastmen.
After the other beastmen left, a small lion cub with a lion-like head sneakily approached the desolate border.
His gaze immediately fell upon the large lion, blackened by the lightning. His immature eyes instantly revealed fierce hatred.