Chapter 5: Be Good, Call Me Mother

Qiao Xixi hurriedly set down the animal skin bag on her body.

She backed up, took a running start, jumped, and landed back on the ice block.

"Qiao Lie, come to Mother quickly! Mother will carry you across!"

The three cubs were utterly astonished to see Qiao Xixi jump back again.

Qiao Lie thought he had misheard; this stupid female who hated them actually hadn't intended to abandon them.

"Hurry up!" The distance was growing larger, and she wasn't even sure she could make the jump!

Without time to think, Qiao Lie wrapped himself directly around Qiao Xixi.

Following the same method, Qiao Xixi carried him to the opposite bank.

"Wait here for Mother. Mother is going to bring Qiao Qiao and the others over."

Qiao Lie pursed his lips and nodded.

Qiao Xixi jumped back again and brought Qiao Ang over.

There was still one more.

As Qiao Xixi jumped back once more, her claws suddenly slipped, and she nearly fell into the water.

However, her tail touched the water, and the cold made her shiver uncontrollably.

The three cubs' eyes went wide with shock.

They disliked Qiao Xixi, but they didn't want to see her die either.

"Stu... stupid female..."

Seeing Qiao Xixi struggling to cling to the ice block, Qiao Qiao ran over crying, biting at her claws in an attempt to pull her up.

Gritting her teeth, Qiao Xixi used the momentum to finally scramble up.

"Don't cry, Mother is fine. Quick, come to Mother."

Qiao Qiao climbed onto Qiao Xixi.

Looking at the increasing distance, Qiao Xixi's expression darkened. After backing up a significant distance, she took a rapid running start and leaped.

Qiao Qiao closed her eyes in terror.

It wasn't until they landed safely that Qiao Xixi slumped into the snow.

"Stupid female..."

Looking at the collapsed Qiao Xixi, Qiao Qiao transformed back into human form. She wanted to step forward, but hesitated and remained where she was.

She didn't know why Qiao Xixi hadn't abandoned them; she found it strange, but she also felt a little happy.

Qiao Xixi caught her breath and also transformed back into human form; she was still used to being in human state.

After putting on her animal skin clothes, she looked at the three cubs and said, "I'm fine."

After she spoke, there was a heavy silence.

Because their home was gone.

Qiao Qiao fidgeted with her small hands, her youthful face full of distress.

"Where... are we going to go?"

Qiao Xixi frowned.

They were rogue beasts, despised by the beastmen of the tribes and beast cities, forced to wander the outskirts; otherwise, she wouldn't be staying in the harsh conditions of the ice plains.

But the ice plains were no longer sustainable for their survival; she had to take the cubs and leave.

"We'll head south. If we encounter a tribe, we'll find a way to make them give us a place to stay. We'll just focus on surviving this cold season first."

The cubs looked at each other, surprised that Qiao Xixi was actually willing to take them along.

"Stupid female, are you going to take us with you?" Qiao Ang couldn't help but ask.

As soon as he asked, Qiao Xixi flicked his forehead.

"What do you mean 'stupid female'? I am your Mother. Of course I'm taking you."

*Ding-dong!*

"System Task: The Host must get the three cubs to call her 'Mother.' Completing the task will grant a system reward. Task difficulty: Three stars."

Qiao Xixi hummed. This task wasn't difficult for her.

Seeing that the three cubs remained silent, she intentionally put on a stern face and said, "Come on, say 'Mother'."

Qiao Qiao froze for a moment, her small rosy mouth parted, and finally, she forced a smile and spoke in a crisp voice.

"Mother."

Qiao Xixi smiled and rubbed Qiao Qiao's soft little ear.

"Qiao Qiao is so good."

Being rubbed made Qiao Qiao's face flush instantly, and her large azure eyes grew even brighter.

She blinked her large eyes at Qiao Xixi; this stupid female was really strange today.

But she seemed to like this version of her a little bit.

Qiao Ang snorted. Qiao Qiao, that little traitor, was the best at pretending; he certainly wouldn't call this stupid female Mother!

Qiao Lie didn't say anything either, but his gaze toward Qiao Xixi grew heavy.

Qiao Xixi curled her lip, suddenly feeling that there was a reason this task was rated three stars!

She didn't force them immediately, merely saying, "The mountain has collapsed, it's not safe here. Let's leave first."

Qiao Xixi searched through the original owner's shallow memories and found that her mind was filled with nothing but food and the powerful males of the tribe, knowing nothing of anything else.

Only one blurred memory recorded a forest area, which should be in the direction behind this ice mountain.

The ice mountain was massive; they walked until dawn without managing to go around it.

Qiao Xixi took out the remaining fish beast and divided it into four portions.

This was their only food; after this meal, there was no telling where the next one would come from.

But if they didn't eat, the cubs' small faces would turn pale; if they didn't replenish their energy, she worried they wouldn't be able to hold on.

"Wait here for Mother. I'm going to see if there's any prey around here."

With that, Qiao Xixi stood up and left.

As soon as she left, the cubs didn't touch the fish beast meat in their hands.

Qiao Qiao spoke with a sob, her large, watery azure eyes turning dim.

"I knew she didn't want us anymore."

Qiao Ang clenched his small fists.

"She even lied and said she wouldn't leave us!"

Qiao Lie pursed his lips, his red snake-like pupils revealing a suppressed sorrow, but it was quickly replaced by indifference.

How could Qiao Xixi know that she had been misunderstood by the cubs just for going to find food?

She walked on the snow, looking out at a vast expanse of white; aside from her, there were no traces of any living creature.

Where was she supposed to find food?

Just as she was feeling disappointed, a massive commotion suddenly came from behind her.

Hiding behind the ice mountain, Qiao Xixi watched the scene unfolding not far away, and her hair stood on end!

On the snow ahead, a massive, golden-shimmering Golden Tiger Beast was biting the neck of a deer beast.

Blood dripped from the deer beast's neck onto the snow, staining it a bright crimson.

Subconsciously, Qiao Xixi touched her own neck and swallowed hard.

At this moment, she clearly realized the brutality and terror of the beast world.

The deer beast in the Golden Tiger Beast's mouth soon lost its life.

The Golden Tiger Beast did not immediately drag the deer beast away, but instead suddenly turned and left.

Looking at the deer beast so close at hand, Qiao Xixi frowned in conflict.

The food was right in front of her—should she take it or not?

If she didn't, she and the cubs would have nothing to eat; if she did, what if the Golden Tiger Beast returned midway?

Ultimately, Qiao Xixi's hunger for food overcame her reason.

She darted toward the deer beast, took out an ice knife, and cut off one of its legs.

She quickly buried the severed leg in the snow to let it freeze, so that it wouldn't leave a trail of blood when she ran later.

Then, she took a piece of pure white animal skin from her person and placed it beside the deer beast, treating it as payment for the leg.

Once the leg was frozen, Qiao Xixi didn't linger for a second; she hoisted it up and ran back, not forgetting to cover her footprints along the way.

Not long after she left, the Golden Tiger Beast returned. As he approached the deer beast, the pressure surrounding his body became heavy.

His golden eyes stared gloomily at the deer beast that was missing a leg.

His prey had been stolen!

(End of Chapter)