Beauty and the Beasts

Parker took a look at the baby snakes and then bellowed at them. “Roar!”

The pressure from a mature beastman suppressed the baby snakes, and they came to a stop as if the pause button had been pressed. The eggshells that they had been fighting over were practically crushed into snowflakes. Only half an eggshell was sent flying out, creaking as it swayed on the ground.

The baby snake that was the closest to the half eggshell threw a glance at Parker, then his longer and slender body twisted toward the eggshell before coming to a stop. Seeing that Parker didn’t make any move, he quickly dashed toward the eggshell and curled his body inside, leaving half a tail exposed outside as he wore a contented expression.

Bai Qingqing’s lips twitched. Who knew how snakes could wear a “contented” expression. It must be because she had classified baby snakes as young beastmen.

After all, they were living creatures with intelligence.

“Crackle.”

The baby snake curled up in the eggshell wasn’t able to remain content for long. The eggshell that had become brittle after drying out in the shade finally couldn’t withstand his weight anymore and crumbled.

The baby snake fell onto the ground, curling up his neck and looked toward the ground in a daze.

“Ssss—”

The other baby snakes who had been suppressed earlier exploded as if a drop of water had splattered into a pot of hot oil. They raised their heads and charged out toward the baby snake who had crushed the last piece of eggshell, and soon tangled up in a fight again.

They had grown in the eggshells and only knew that the eggshells had been giving them warmth. To them, the eggshells were undoubtedly like a mother, and maybe even the warmest rocking bed.

Seeing their “mother” being crushed, the baby snakes’ eyes turned from a light red to a blood-red color.

“Oh my god, they’re fighting again.” Bai Qingqing wasn’t able to care about being scared and quickly walked toward the baby snakes. Of course, she was still grabbing onto Parker as her shield.

Parker took a look for a moment before saying, “They’re attacking one of the snakes. This is too dangerous.”

Bai Qingqing also realized that and pointed to the snake tail that was swinging everywhere due to being attacked. She said, “It must be the baby snake that was cradling in the eggshell earlier. Quickly grab him out.”

Parker was about to make a move when Bai Qingqing saw that baby snake’s tail swinging very high. She felt too anxious and pinched the baby snake up by his tail.

This snake wasn’t light, as a few other baby snakes were hanging onto him. Bai Qingqing felt scared and shook them a little, and the other baby snakes hanging onto him fell to the ground.

Bai Qingqing heaved a sigh of relief. The baby snake in her hand arched his body upward, raising his head. A hint of red line flickered by his mouth. “Ssss—”

Bai Qingqing was so scared that she immediately shook her hand. The baby snake ended up letting his body fall limp and straightening out, swinging to and fro like a pendulum.

Hmmm? Something like this could be done?

Bai Qingqing’s interest was piqued, and she looked at the baby snake with wide-open eyes. When he arched his body back up again, she shook her hand again.

The baby snake was shaken down again, and he looked toward the ground, letting out a cry. There seemed to be a hint of grievance in his voice. “Ssss—”

Parker couldn’t help but smile, rubbing Bai Qingqing hard on the head. “Who plays with children like this?”

Bai Qingqing paused in her action, explaining guiltily, “What? I’m just afraid that he’ll bite me.”

At the moment when Bai Qingqing paused in her movements, the baby snake gathered a bit of strength and bounced up abruptly, curling tightly around his mother’s hand.

“Ahhh!” Bai Qingqing raised her hand higher in reflex, looking at the baby snake at eye level. “Ssss—”

The baby snake rested his head on Bai Qingqing’s thumb, opening his mouth and hissing weakly. Bai Qingqing could even feel the slight tremble when he was spewing his tongue and hissing. Her heart suddenly felt soft.

“Don’t be scared,” Bai Qingqing said softly, her other hand reaching out to the baby snake’s head, pausing above it for a moment. Seeing that the baby snake wasn’t showing signs of attacking her, she used her index finger to gently rub his head.