Beauty and the Beasts

Before the two of them reached their house, they heard the cuckoo noises of the short-winged bird. Several little animals of different species peered from outside, yearning to enter, but didn’t quite dare to. Upon seeing them return, the little cubs fled and vanished in an instant.

“Pff.” Bai Qingqing sputtered with laughter. She swung her legs gently to indicate for Cortis to set her down.

“Surely those fellows weren’t thinking of eating the short-winged bird?” Bai Qingqing said as she walked into the house. “The short-winged bird hasn’t been fed. It must be hungry.”

As Cortis entered, the cuckoo noises stopped abruptly. Suddenly, it was all silence.

Unaware of what was going on, Bai Qingqing asked, “Where’s the short-winged bird? It’s so frightened of you that it’s gone silent.”

“Cuckoo!” The short-winged bird shrieked twice as Cortis grabbed it by its legs and brought it to her.

Bai Qingqing widened her eyes. Only after a long while could she see the silhouette of the short-winged bird. “What does it eat?”

“Anything. Short-wing birds are omnivorous birds,” Cortis said.

Bai Qingqing’s first instinct was to feed it rice. But she very quickly recalled that rice was very precious here, so she thought of the fishes in the fish baskets. “Let’s see if it eats fish.”

“Okay.”

Cortis went into the water to retrieve the fish baskets, while Bai Qingqing washed the pork belly by the river, before smearing some salt on it. She had used a very little amount of salt, thinking that the temperature at night was lower, so it probably wouldn’t go bad that easily.

Cortis took out the fish, but the short-winged bird refused to eat.

The two of them guessed that Cortis’s presence was scaring it, so they left the fish before the short-winged bird, then just locked it outside.

When Parker returned, Bai Qingqing had just finished showering. She felt a little panicked staying alone in the darkness alone with Cortis. Seeing that Parker had returned, she instantly greeted him. “Parker, you’re back.”

At the sight of his female, Parker was suddenly overwhelmed with an urge. He ripped off his skirt and with a roar, pounced towards her, nimbly transforming into a leopard as he flew through the air.

Seeing a black figure fly towards herself, Bai Qingqing raised her hands to shield her head by reflex. She silently scolded Parker. This darned leopard, is he trying to crush me to death?

“Pa!”

Parker didn’t manage to pounce on Bai Qingqing, but instead, was sent flying towards the wall by the snake’s tail.

“Roar—” Having fallen in the heap of grass, Parker rolled around to ease the pain.

Bai Qingqing hurriedly rubbed the leopard’s tummy. She looked up and said to Cortis, “Stop beating him up all the time.”

Upon hearing the female reproach that snake beastman, Parker suddenly felt that his body didn’t ache anymore. In fact, he even felt thankful to the snake for beating him.

As Bai Qingqing was rubbing his tummy, the soft and furry tummy under her palms suddenly became hard-rock abs. She instantly retracted her hand.

Parker flipped over, pinning Bai Qingqing under his body, and said, “Don’t fall for that wolf. I tell you, dogs can’t change their habit of eating feces. That’s even more so for wolves! Moreover, they like to eat that of their beloved female. If you accept him, be careful he’ll come to our sandpit to steal your feces.”

Bai Qingqing was speechless.

Cortis was speechless as well.

Bai Qingqing’s mouth twitched and she screamed internally, Damn, so hardcore! I totally couldn’t tell!

But Parker, you’re really good at smearing others. Don’t mention finding a wolf mate, she couldn’t even look a wolf beastman straight in the face now.

“Did you hear that?” Parker shifted Bai Qingqing’s face to face him, asking seriously.

“Are you serious?” Bai Qingqing still didn’t dare to believe this.

“I’m serious. If you don’t believe me, ask Cortis.” Parker looked towards Cortis and winked his eyes so hard it was as though he was having spasms.

From the darkness came Cortis’s calm voice. “Yes.”

Bai Qingqing broke down. Such a handsome guy, and he actually likes to eat feces?

No way. It was making her change her outlook on life.

Parker cast a gleeful glance at Cortis. This was the first time Cortis felt that this leopard was somewhat useful.