Chapter 79: Taking in the Snake Hatchlings

Hmm.

Facing Leng Xiu's question and the surprise in Yun Li's eyes, Mu Qing gave a slight nod.

Then he saw curiosity appear on Yun Li's face, something flashing quickly in his eyes, and he suddenly said, "These two snake hatchlings have been well raised; A Li, do you want to touch them?"

Yun Li watched the two snake hatchlings from a distance, finding them rather delicate and handsome, so she was quite moved by Mu Qing's suggestion.

"Do they have venomous fangs? If I touch them, will they bite me right away?"

Although Beastmen have strong constitutions and a venomous snake bite might not be fatal, the pain is inevitable.

Hearing the female's words, Leng Xiu averted his gaze from examining the two hatchlings, lifted his eyes to meet Mu Qing's calm stare, and, perhaps having thought of something, did not interject.

It was the sleepy‑bug Leng Xiao, who had already quieted the rustling, that came over holding a wooden bucket containing the hatchlings and asked, "What snake hatchlings? Which Snake Beastman's family lost their own offspring?"

Having said that, he cast a doubtful glance at the two small snakes on the ground, then looked at Mu Qing.

Are Snake Beastmen really that unreliable? Even their own offspring can be lost?

Or perhaps Snake Beastmen have a habit of abandoning their young, yet the four wolf pups of their family still seem to like Mu Qing quite a lot?

Ignoring Leng Xiao's words, Mu Qing said to Yun Li with certainty, "One of them has grown venomous fangs, but if you want to touch it, I won't let them bite you."

Yun Li's eyes instantly brightened, and Leng Xiu whispered, "We'll catch them; if they really want to bite, they'll bite us."

Yun Li laughed, "Alright, be careful; they all still look small."

Hearing the female's final remark, Mu Qing's lips barely lifted in a faint smile.

But when Mu Qing and Leng Xiu tried to grab the two little snakes, the black one was clearly quite frightened; the moment it was seized, it turned its head to bite.

As a result, Mu Qing pinched its head, forced its body into a straight posture, and handed it to Yun Li so she could see it more clearly.

The other deep‑gray little snake was also a bit stressed, but its courage was clearly less than the black one's; after a brief struggle when seized, it dared not move.

Yun Li looked at the more "fierce" snake in Mu Qing's hand, and finally silently reached for the deep‑gray snake first.

Needn't say, the deep‑gray snake's scales felt quite nice to the touch.

"They both look quite handsome."

Yun Li, while stroking and observing the two hatchlings, said, "It's already so late now; we certainly can't find their parents. How about we keep them and raise them for a few days?"

Speaking that, after touching the deep‑gray snake and finding she hadn't been bitten, the female quickly reached for the black snake as well.

The black snake was highly aggressive; when Yun Li touched it, the black snake, which had only been flicking its tongue, immediately opened its mouth, revealing a darkened interior.

Something seemed to flash through Yun Li's mind, but she wasn't a specialist in snakes; otherwise she would have recognized it as the highly venomous Black Mamba.

She stroked the black snake's chin, occasionally grabbing a handful of its body, startling the snake so much that it forgot to flick its tongue.

Perhaps no female had ever touched it so intimately before, and from her tone, she seemed intent on taking in him and his brother?

The black snake looked a bit bewildered.

Mu Qing and the others also showed astonishment on their faces, especially Mu Qing, whose voice was full of incomprehensible words: "A Li, do you want to keep them?"

Yun Li was also surprised at how shocked he was; she had already gotten used to his beastly body, and they were just two snake hatchlings—she wasn't afraid of them. Seeing them homeless now, why not take them in?

"Is it not allowed? Or do you find it troublesome?"

Mu Qing quickly denied, "Of course not, I just…"

Just too delighted!

He knew that A Li was gradually getting used to his beastly body, but he was well aware that A Li liked him at this moment, which is why she accepted his beastly form.

But if A Li later had another Beast Husband, her heart would gradually shift away from him; would A Li then develop a prejudice against the snake hatchlings?

"Mu Qing is just very happy; you don't dislike snake hatchlings."

Leng Xiu explained for Mu Qing, "He fears that you might later not like being born with snake hatchlings."

Hearing that, Yun Li laughed helplessly, "I think as long as the young aren't insects or rats, I shouldn't really dislike other offspring."

"Just two snake hatchlings; if A Li wants to raise them, go ahead, it's not like she can't afford it."

Leng Xiao finished, glancing at the two snakes and then at the four hatchlings sleeping soundly in the wooden bucket, murmuring in a very low voice, "But a scaled youngster can't be prettier than a furry one."

Leng Xiu glanced at Leng Xiao; though his face showed little expression, he wholeheartedly agreed with the remark.

Mu Qing naturally also heard Leng Xiao's comment, but he didn't mind much; knowing that A Li held no prejudice against the snake hatchlings made him feel as if another burden had been lifted.

Yun Li, however, looked helplessly at Leng Xiao and said, "Our hatchlings are, of course, good‑looking."

She simply thought the two snake hatchlings were also quite attractive.

Leng Xiao's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he burst into laughter, amused by her words.

Leng Xiu's mouth twitched slightly, clearly delighted by Yun Li's praise of their hatchlings.

"Then them, A Qing, keep an eye on and take care of them."

After finishing stroking the two snake hatchlings, Yun Li was extremely sleepy.

"Alright! You go to sleep first."

Mu Qing had originally planned to care for the two snake hatchlings himself; Yun Li's acceptance and unexpected decision to take them in already made him very happy.

Moreover, although seeing the two snake hatchlings reminded him of his own past when his mother had secretly abandoned him, these hatchlings weren't born of A Li, so his kindness was limited.

If A Li wanted to care for them, he still feared the little black snake might bite A Li indiscriminately.

Thus the two snake hatchlings were taken by Mu Qing for care; as Yun Li's drowsiness rose, she also transformed into a beast form, leapt onto Leng Xiu's body, and quickly fell asleep.

That night, aside from the Snake Beastmen of Youbuluo still searching everywhere for the missing hatchlings, the other Beastmen enjoyed a night of pleasant dreams.

The two snake hatchlings, having been searched for by their own tribe all night, woke up the next day to the scent of meat; instinctively they swam out of the temporary nest Mu Qing had made for them last night—a soft beast hide—and gathered beside Mu Qing.

They remembered him as the "great good person" who fed them meat last night and let them have a good sleep.

However, Mu Qing was evidently still busy, so he only glanced at them and said, "Hold on, I'll finish grilling this and then feed you."

The two little snakes looked at the sizzling, oil‑dripping roast over the campfire, then at the female already eating and the four wolf pups.

They decisively swam toward the four wolf pups, but before reaching them, a pair of large hands seized them.