Chapter 170: The Cub Changes Teeth

"How's the talk going?"

By the time Yun Li and the others returned, it was already dark.

Mu Qing and Leng Xiu had long finished the tasks Yun Li assigned; after they got home they fed the several cubs, bathed them, and only then saw Yun Li and Ji Xuan return.

But after bringing Yun Li back, Ji Xuan left again; he still needed to discuss the specific details of establishing a market with his father and the priest, since he has always overseen the tribe's patrol team.

Once the market is established, the patrol team's duties will increase, and he must arrange personnel and other preparations in advance.

"It's fine; the talks are almost done."

Mainly because the Silver Eagle Priest was very supportive, and the other dissenting beastmen, after listening to her market proposals all afternoon, had much weaker objections.

Even if they still didn't support it in their hearts, they wouldn't easily raise objections again.

Also, Axuan's father, appreciating Yun Li's contributions in tailoring and salt‑making, values her ideas, so it seems a market will appear in the tribe soon.

If the market appears, then they will have to keep a closer watch.

Distracted by these thoughts, Yun Li scanned the area, didn't see Leng Xiao, and couldn't help asking, "Where's A Xiao? Why don't we see him?"

"He probably felt a bit unhappy staying home with the cubs today; after Mu Qing and I returned, he went out."

As soon as Leng Xiu finished speaking, Yun Li saw Mu Qing emerge holding the constantly wailing eldest cub, while the other three cubs followed closely behind Mu Qing.

"What's wrong?"

As the cubs' father and mother, Leng Xiu and Yun Li hurried forward to ask with concern.

"It lost a tooth."

Mu Qing said this while setting the eldest down, and the moment it was set down, it wailed and leapt into Yun Li's arms.

"Wuwu~"

The eldest buried its head in its mother's lap, crying while wriggling nonstop.

Seeing the cub's tears spill out, Yun Li's heart softened further, "It's okay, it's okay, mother and father are here. You just lost a tooth; you'll lose more later, don't be afraid."

"Awo"

The eldest, feeling aggrieved, called out to its mother, then to its father.

Leng Xiu touched the cub's head, "It's fine. I'll get something to eat for it; otherwise it just crying nonstop won't help."

Since it's not even a year old, it might not understand words, but feeding it is the most effective way to coax it.

"Alright, go quickly."

When Yun Li said this, she was already holding the eldest by the neck and pressing her face to the cub, trying to lessen its fear through close contact.

"Aowoo"

But the other cubs, seeing the eldest being pressed against its mother, also crowded up.

Yun Li had to hold the eldest with one hand while soothing the other cubs with the other.

Especially the third and fourth cubs, who tried to push the others aside; as for the second cub, after being pushed away it seemed already accustomed, turned and ran to Mu Qing, and after receiving his pat it chirped happily twice before going to greet Leng Xiu.

Um, more precisely it was greeting the meat in his hand.

"Aoa!"

The second cub shouted at Leng Xiu, and the eldest and fourth cub seemed to receive some signal.

The two cubs instinctively turned their heads toward Leng Xiu, but as the fourth turned, it was pushed aside by the third.

"Awo!"

The fourth, once pushed aside, without hesitation lunged at the third.

"Hey, stop fighting!"

Seeing the third turn and pounce on the fourth, Yun Li subconsciously loosened her grip on the eldest's neck, and with that slack, the eldest ran off.

He ran to Leng Xiu's side and, together with the second cub, buried himself in gnawing the spare ribs.

Yun Li, finding the scene both funny and sad, stood up, but perhaps because of the meat scent, after the third knocked the fourth down and wrestled with him for a while, he ran to snatch ribs from the two older brothers.

The fourth, crying plaintively, waddled to Yun Li's side; Yun Li smiled, squatted down again, scooped him into her arms, lowered her head to press faces with the fourth, and gave him a kiss.

Then the fourth's ears snapped upright, and its tail wagged joyfully.

"Happy now? Then go eat with your brothers and sisters,"

Yun Li said that, but while holding the fourth she vigorously scratched him, making the fourth, who had liked mother a lot, soon want to avoid her.

Seeing him want to hide yet hesitating, Yun Li was instantly delighted and, still holding him, rubbed her face against him twice hard.

Who knew, when she looked up, she saw Leng Xiao carrying a prey, his face twisted in a sour expression as he stared at her and the fourth.

Yun Li hadn't opened her mouth to tease him about an adult beastman being jealous of his own cub, when he asked, "Is he nice to touch?"

"Why only touch the cubs, not him?"

"Why? Why?"

Leng Xiao wasn't jealous of his own cubs; he thought that, in Yun Li's eyes, the cubs were so important that when they grew up they'd be driven out of the house, and later the ones staying by A Li's side would still be them.

The cubs would only stay by A Li's side for about ten years.

But he couldn't help envying his own cubs; after all, they could freely have A Li turn into a beast form to play with them, and often be hugged, petted, and kissed by A Li.

Envy!

When he looks back, he'll also hug the fourth.

"Nice to touch!"

Unaware that Leng Xiao had already taken a liking to the fourth, Yun Li smiled at him, "What prey did you catch outside the tribe? You happened to bring it back as an extra meal for the family."

"It's a moo‑moo beast, I didn't catch it. It was grabbed by Ge and the others while they were out today searching for that half‑beast's whereabouts; they said its meat tastes pretty good, but it's herd‑living and temperamental, not easy to catch."

If you catch one, a bunch of other moo‑moo beasts will chase after, and luckily they're eagle‑beastmen who can shift into beast form to grab and run; otherwise even a Qing Rank beastman would be in danger being pursued by a swarm.

Leng Xiao said this while setting the prey down, then called out to his brother to hand him the bone knife.

Leng Xiu glanced at the prey he brought back and said, "Later I'll go with you to the riverbank to process it."

If, as Leng Xiao said, this moo‑moo beast is indeed a rare find, they can handle it a bit more carefully to make sure they have a good meal tonight.

Leng Xiao casually replied to his brother with a single word, and Mu Qing said at that moment, "I'll go get a basin."

Leng Xiao immediately said, "No need," "Carrying a basin is inconvenient; I'll just tie it up with vines and bring it back later."

Because the moo‑moo beast's hide is quite tough, he'll also strip it off then wrap the meat in the hide, so there's no worry about the meat getting dirty from the vines and having to wash it again later.

Nevertheless, Leng Xiu and Mu Qing still brought out two large stone basins; the Bone Knife used for processing was hanging on Leng Xiu, and he took Mu Qing's basin, then gestured to Leng Xiao, saying:

"Let's go, finish the processing early and come back early; A Li is still waiting to eat."

"Alright, I'm coming."

Speaking, Leng Xiao waved his hand to Yun Li, and then hoisted the prey onto his shoulders.

The two walked out of the courtyard together.