Chapter 239: Chapter 239: The Priest and Xuan Li's Fate

But is that possible?

Heiyan Shanmai's Heiyuan is neither close to the resource‑rich Dongyuan nor near the Northern Wasteland and Southern Barbarians where wandering Beastmen often roam; on the contrary, it is quite close to the Western Desert, where vegetation is scarce, the people are fierce and xenophobic.

Consequently, because of everyone's impression of the Western Desert, Heiyan Shanmai rarely receives people from elsewhere, and a Beastman whose strength is at least Blue Rank is already a rare occurrence; a second such Beastman would mean that more and more outsiders will come here in the future.

After all, Yun Li knows from Moluo that Blue Rank Beastmen and Purple Rank Beast Person, even when outside, are among the top‑tier Beastmen, which means that whether among wandering Beastmen or Tribe Beastmen, they are the ones who enjoy the continent's premier resources.

Especially the latter; they almost receive the entire Tribe's provisions, so why would they go to a remote corner to suffer needlessly?

"Don't worry, I've instructed them; this time you don't have to follow too closely, just trace the life traces of those Beastmen along the way is enough."

Having the experience of losing them last time, Ji Xuan is clearly much wiser this time.

The route they need for exiting the mountain is not aimed at those nomadic Tribe Beastmen, so even if they are being tracked, they don't have to tail them as tightly as when hunting prey; it's enough to confirm the places they pass and ensure it's a safe exit route.

That way it won't attract their attention, nor cause unnecessary casualties.

Yun Li nods at the words, "Those Beastmen are, after all, from outside; we don't know what methods they might have behind the scenes, so it's better to be cautious."

Ji Xuan gave a "hm" and then changed the subject, "Xuan Li has recently been learning to fly; would you like to go see the Priest?"

"He's only a little over two months old and already wants to learn to fly?"

Yun Li couldn't help laughing at that, "The other hatchlings aren't as eager as he is."

She said as she stood, looping her arm around Ji Xuan's, "Come on, come on, let's go see him; a day without seeing him, I already miss him."

It's a good chance to go over to the Priest and chat, and then bring Xuan Li home together.

"A Li is only thinking about the hatchling? Nothing else on his mind?"

Ji Xuan, who had clearly followed Yun Li to the doorway, suddenly stopped for some reason; under the female's surprised gaze, he raised his hand and shut the door that had been wide open.

The male forced the female against the wall; Yun Li was compelled to look up, she lifted her foot, lightly pressing the tip of her toe against the male's calf, saying with a laughing tone:

"What are you doing? Want to fight?"

If it were just after they had formed a Mate Bond, Ji Xuan hearing the word "fight" would surely raise an eyebrow, not understanding why he would want to fight his own female, but now, hearing such words, he simply reached out to the female's hair and gave a soft "hm".

"A Li doesn't want to stay here?"

He said as if they hadn't fought like this before; Yun Li let out a soft hum, then wrapped both hands around the male's neck and kissed him directly.

Ji Xuan lowered his head to match her, his palm quickly resting on the female's waist; a scorching heat rose from her waist, and Yun Li instinctively lifted her leg and hooked it up.

In the quiet surroundings, for a moment only the rapid "thump thump thump" of two hearts could be heard.

Soon after, the room filled with the harsh scraping sounds of tables and chairs being moved.

……

"Why are you so late? Xuan Li has already eaten at my place."

The two‑month‑plus eagle hatchling has no ability to recognize its parents; it only knows to follow whoever feeds it.

So when the Priest feeds it, Xuan Li tends to want to stay there and not leave; Yun Li, watching the hatchling hop and dart behind the Priest, couldn't help laughing:

"What are you doing? Not going home, just staying with the Priest?"

Ji Xuan replied to the Priest at that moment, "Something came up suddenly; I came over after finishing it."

"Hmm, next time come earlier."

The Priest glanced at them, didn't ask what the matter was, bent down, grabbed the hatchling's wing and was about to hand it to its mother.

But the action startled the hatchling, whose other wing kept flapping nonstop.

Yun Li quickly went up to catch the hatchling, cradling it and cooing, "Good boy, tomorrow we'll come back to the Priest; you've had the Priest with you all day, so let him have a good rest tonight."

She herself didn't mind leaving the hatchling here overnight, only fearing that if it wakes up at night it would keep the Priest from sleeping.

"Priest, I've troubled you again today."

The female thanked the Priest, "But he's such a hassle for you now; when he grows up, feel free to ask for anything you need from him."

The Priest, accustomed to her occasional thanks, simply shook his head lightly after hearing this, "Take him home and raise him well; when he grows up, it'd be nice if he could occasionally remember to visit me."

He himself also grew up from a hatchling, so he knows that after the hatchling transforms and gets peers of the same age, he can't look after it all the time; not spending every day with friends and forgetting to go home is considered well‑behaved.

Yun Li's face still wore a smiling expression, "In that case I might beat him up; after all, the Priest has cared for him since he cracked his shell, and if he shows no gratitude at all, it would be too cold‑hearted toward the Priest."

The Priest sighed helplessly, "He's still so young; how could he remember?"

Although those words sound comforting, if the hatchling truly refuses to come to him in the future, can he still force it to see him?

"He just doesn't remember now; eventually he'll have to remember."

Ji Xuan also spoke from the side, "A Li and I are usually busy, and we have many hatchlings at home, so these years the Priest will still need to look after him more."

A hint of surprise flashed in the Priest's eyes, and then, as if recalling something, he couldn't help but laugh, "

If I didn't know, I'd have thought you wanted to hand the hatchling over to me to raise."

"You say that, but the Priest is already raising him, aren't you?"

Anyway, when the Priest has free time he can take him along; if you find him mischievous and annoying, we'll bring him back home; it's only a few steps from our house to yours.

Yun Li doesn't know why Ji Xuan occasionally sends Xuan Li to the Priest for care, but she thinks there's no problem with the Priest and Xuan Li becoming close.

On one hand, the Priest holds a special position in the Tribe, so if he watches Xuan Li grow up, Xuan Li will always have the Priest by his side no matter what; on the other hand, she feels that the Priest, always living alone as a Beastman, might be too lonely, and having a hatchling nearby could make him much happier.

The Priest was momentarily stunned by Yun Li's remark "You're not already raising him," and after a while he looked at Ji Xuan, sighed as if in compromise, and said:

"You female and you share the same mind. Fine, when you're busy, just keep sending him over."

He had entertained this speculation before, but now that Yun Li spoke up, he finally could be sure that these people intend to entrust Xuan Li's future teaching to him.

As for himself, having raised Xuan Li for so long, even if he hesitated at first, he now finds it hard to let go.