Chapter 238: Chapter 238: I Refuse to Believe She’ll Never Come Out

"I’ve found it! That system has been reactivated. I’m tracking its location right now."

Huang Ying was furious. If Qiao Xixi were standing in front of her, she would have slapped her to death without a second thought!

"Her location is in the sea, likely heading toward the salt field. I sense she’s been back for some time now. But this might not be a bad thing. It looks like she’s already developed feelings for the villains. All you have to do is capture her and torture her to death, and the villains will absolutely go dark in a heartbeat!"

Huang Ying’s eyes lit up. "You’re right. Once I have her, how could those villains not submit obediently!"

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Huang Ying turned and walked out of the cave.

"Mistress, where are we going?"

"To the salt field."

Huang Ying had just stepped outside the reef cave when she stopped again. "Seeing how they’re running circles around those fools from Tiger Beast City, it’ll be difficult for just the two of us to capture her. First, send a message to the Wing Clan members nearby. Tell them to come and assist me."

Fenglin was filled with questions, but he knew Huang Ying wouldn’t answer him even if he asked. He could only obey. "Alright, I’ll go summon them now."

Meanwhile, the island where the salt field was located was also in chaos.

The same drug used on Jin Che and his men had also been used on the beastmen guarding the salt field.

As they leaped into the sea to cool their unbearable, feverish heat, they were ambushed and killed by the merfolk lying in wait.

In an instant, crimson blood stained the coastal waters red. The scent of blood also attracted numerous sea beasts, which tore at the beastmen’s corpses, leaving them with no chance of survival.

"Stay out of the sea! All beastmen, head for the woods! There’s a water source there."

The tiger beastman in charge of the salt field, Hei Li, wore an extremely grim expression. His worst fears had come to pass: the merfolk had attacked when their defenses were at their weakest.

Xijing emerged from the water, and a melodious song filled the air.

Startled, Hei Li immediately covered his ears and fled frantically toward the woods.

As he ran, he took out a beast-bone whistle and blew it. Soon, a Golden Eagle Beast swooped down from the sky.

Hei Li leaped onto the Golden Eagle Beast’s back and shouted urgently, "Go! Back to Tiger Beast City! Return to Tiger Beast City at once!"

The Golden Eagle Beast flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

Xijing led the merfolk ashore. The slaughter lasted from day until night.

When Qiao Xixi and the others arrived, they were met with the overwhelming stench of blood. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But after they came ashore, they couldn’t find a single beastman’s corpse.

"Xixi, you’re here."

Xijing emerged from the darkness. There wasn’t a single trace of blood on him; he was surprisingly clean.

"Xijing, are you all okay?"

Xijing nodded. "I’m fine. We had few casualties. It’s all thanks to the powder you gave me, which threw them into disarray and allowed us to successfully reclaim the salt field."

’That powder, the one that makes beastmen unbearably hot upon contact, wasn’t cheap,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’I had to empty my points account again just to buy that stuff.’

’But looking at it now, it was a great value for the price.’

Their previously discussed plan was for her group to draw the bulk of the enemy’s forces on the other island, while Xijing and his people took the opportunity to seize the salt field.

This time, they were outnumbered and seemed to be at a greater disadvantage, but the geographical environment allowed them to turn the tables and claim victory.

"It’s dark. Let me take you to rest first."

Qiao Xixi had wanted to go see the salt field, but the cubs had barely rested for a whole day and night. Their faces now showed clear signs of exhaustion, so she didn’t refuse.

"Okay."

Qiao Xixi and her group were led to a wooden cabin in the woods. This must have been where the beastman guards used to live. Since it was mostly occupied by males, it had a heavy, rank odor inside.

Jin Ling and Feiyan went ahead, threw out all the blackened beast hides from inside, and laid down fresh ones before letting Qiao Xixi and the cubs enter.

Sunxiao brought over some clean water for them to wash up with. Afterward, he had all the cubs get into bed to sleep with Qiao Xixi.

"You all should take turns resting, too. Don’t overexert yourselves."

Qiao Xixi knew they would definitely be discussing their next steps together, but she was worried they would work themselves to exhaustion.

Sunxiao nodded. "Go to sleep. We’ll all be standing guard outside."

"Mm."

Qiao Xixi thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but as soon as she lay down, surrounded by the scent of the cubs, drowsiness washed over her.

Qiao Xixi was surrounded by the cubs, who all seemed unable to sleep unless they were clinging to her. She shifted her body helplessly, but the moment she moved, the little tiger cub snuggled closer again.

The older siblings gave the best spot to their youngest sister. The little tiger cub burrowed into Qiao Xixi’s embrace, nuzzling against her and breathing in her sweet motherly scent. After finding a comfortable position, she closed her eyes as well.

"Host, Host, Host! It’s me, Demon Three, I’m back! I’ve recovered all the lost data! Host, wake up, Host!"

After the cabin door closed, the five males stood guard outside. None of them seemed inclined to speak.

Feiyan glanced at Xijing and frowned. "What are you still doing here? Don’t you have matters at the salt field to attend to?"

In response to Feiyan’s question, Xijing simply replied, "Ximing is handling the salt field. I’m here to watch over... Xiya."

If he had said he was watching over someone else, Feiyan would have surely lashed out. But since he said he was guarding his own cub, Feiyan could only swallow his anger and sulk.

A pair of crimson, serpentine pupils and a pair of molten-gold eyes both swept a cold glance over Xijing.

They shared a common goal and could be allies in battle, but their relationship would go no further.

Sangze suddenly looked up at the sky and immediately spotted two figures—one white, one fiery red.

"It’s those two idiots from the Wing Clan again."

Jin Ling and the others followed Sangze’s gaze and, sure enough, saw two Phoenix Beasts circling in the sky.

Back on the island, Jin Ling had noticed them as well. They had seemed to be with Jin Che’s group, but when Jin Che’s forces met with disaster, they hadn’t lifted a finger to help. That made their purpose for being here highly suspicious.

"They’re from Wing Beast City. What do they want?"

Jin Ling said grimly, "Wing Beast City buys Salt Crystals from Tiger Beast City."

"I doubt it’s that simple. If they only wanted to buy Salt Crystals, they could buy them regardless of who controls the salt field. There must be some shady business going on."

Huang Ying stared down coldly at the wooden cabin below, her eyes also landing on the group of males.

"Host, don’t act rashly. Those males all have very high beast soul levels. If you try to use force, you’ll most likely be torn to shreds."

Huang Ying’s gaze grew even colder. "Do you really think I’m that stupid? I refuse to believe she’ll stay in that cabin forever."

Huang Ying flapped her wings, changed direction, and flew off into the distance.

Watching them fly away, the males didn’t let down their guard. With a flash of a dark shadow, Sangze gave chase.

"I’ll go see what tricks they’re trying to pull."