Beauty and the Beasts

Molly’s interest was piqued, and she went to the waterhole and plucked out a weed to brush her teeth.

Bluepool floated to the surface upon seeing Bai Qingqing. Before he could speak, Molly got excited at the sight of him. “Merman! You finally came out. I’m so fond of you.”

Bai Qingqing face-palmed. Bringing her to eat weeds was only an excuse to come see Bluepool, wasn’t it?

Seems like Bluepool was really popular here!

In order to help him shake off his bachelor status, Bai Qingqing decided to build up a good relationship with this female named Molly.

Bluepool instantly dodged and said impatiently, “I’ve told you I’m Bai Qingqing’s male. Stop hanging around the water all day long.”

“Liar! I don’t see your spousal mark on Bai Qingqing’s body.”

As she spoke, her gaze even roamed up and down Bai Qingqing’s body. She added, “Although I don’t see the leopard male’s spousal mark on her body either, they must be spouses since she’s even given birth to his cubs. That means his spousal mark must be on her chest. So, yours definitely can’t be on her chest. You’re lying to me.”

“Us merfolk won’t leave spousal marks,” Bluepool said irritably, then cast a pleading look at Bai Qingqing. “Tell her I’m your mate.”

“Ooh…” Bai Qingqing avoided Bluepool’s gaze as she thought to herself that this young lady was pretty quick-witted.

“Look. I was right, wasn’t I? Bai Qingqing is not admitting to it,” Molly said gleefully.

“Pa!”

Bluepool slapped the water surface angrily, before plunging his head into the water, creating ripples that formed and vanished.

“Aye! Why did he go down?” Molly moved towards the water with a dejected expression.

Bai Qingqing gazed at the water surface. Seems like Bluepool was truly annoyed.

“Bai Qingqing, was what he said true? Mermen won’t leave spousal marks on a female?” Molly asked uneasily.

Bai Qingqing shook her head. “Seems like they won’t.”

Molly looked even more frantic now. She anxiously grabbed Bai Qingqing’s hand and asked, “Then, was he telling the truth? Is he really your mate?”

Bai Qingqing shook her head again.

Molly let out a huge exhale. “Great.”

Bai Qingqing, however, couldn’t bring herself to be happy. Not great at all. Bluepool didn’t seem interested in Molly at all. Should she not force him in that case?

Molly said, “I’ll bring you on a tour around the village. Perhaps we might even get to see the Flos Eriocauli.”

Parker’s eyes instantly lit up. “Where?”

“What is Flos Eriocauli?” Bai Qingqing asked.

“Flos Eriocauli is a flower that has aphrodisiac effects on the tiger tribe. It smells awesome,” Molly explained with great enthusiasm as she pointed ahead. “It’s just over there. There’s a large patch in our village. They bloom from the light rainy season to the cold season, and they have a longer flowering phase than any other flower.”

Despite some awkwardness, Bai Qingqing did feel curious about the appearance of those flowers. Hence, she followed Molly.

“I heard from my father that they chose to move here because of this patch of Flos Eriocauli. Also, because the waterhole in this village is deep, there isn’t any fear of water shortage during the hot season.”

On the way there, Molly spoke of the various advantages of this village. Amidst her introduction, the three of them arrived at a white and green world.

It took about half an hour to travel from the residential area to the Flos Eriocauli field. Gazing far ahead, one could see a large and vast field of white flowers with a hint of green. Even from a great distance away, one could detect their faint fragrance.

“So pretty!” Bai Qingqing exclaimed in surprise as she let go of Parker and ran ahead.

“Don’t exercise too vigorously, else you will go into heat!” Molly shouted from behind.

Bai Qingqing abruptly halted in her footsteps and daren’t move anymore.

The area over which the Flos Eriocauli field occupied astonished even Parker, who let out an astonished gasp.