Beauty and the Beasts

Moore flew high up in the air, looking down at the undulating stretch of forest below.

A stream of black smoke rose from the forest. Although there was wind, the smoke didn’t dissipate. It was clearly a smoke signal.

Moore looked at it for a while before flying toward it.

At the place where the black smoke rose, a young leopard that seemed to have just turned of age kept on adding things to the fire.

Moore rested on a branch nearby, looked around, transformed to his human form, and said, “You’re alone? Your father didn’t come?”

Parker immediately looked up and said agitatedly, “I’ve finally found you. My father hasn’t returned to the city yet. Have you found where Qingqing is?”

Parker was still holding onto animal manure that he was burning. No one knew how long it had been since he had rested, and he was in a sorry state, feeling very tired. However, his eyes were still very spirited when he looked towards Moore.

“I came here following the signs you’ve made on the way. How is it? Have you found Qingqing’s traces?” Parker asked anxiously.

Moore didn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes. He stood upright on the branch and said, “I did. They were resting by the river earlier. You’ll be able to find their scent if you follow along the river. But I advise you not to go. Even if you go, you’ll just be courting death. I have a way to save your female.”

Parker was delighted and asked, “What method is it? I’ll go with you!”

Moore took a look at the two animal stripes on Parker’s face, then emotionless said, “No need.”

After saying that, Moore took on his eagle form and flew away.

He couldn’t rely on the leopard tribe, so he could only proceed to his last resort.

Parker was so angry that he gritted his teeth. “Reclusive eagle tribe. It’s no wonder no females want you!”

Parker didn’t pay any heed to Moore’s advice and immediately started to search for the water source.

A beast tide had taken place in the area. He must protect Qingqing!

…

Although the injury on Cortis’s chest wasn’t lethal, the wound was very deep. Bai Qingqing helped him to take care of his wound. The wound started to recover after half a day, and the opening shrank in size.

Bai Qingqing was shocked by the snake beastman’s recovery rate. Based on this rate, he’d take at most two days to completely recover.

The sky gradually turned dark. Cortis carried Bai Qingqing up a stone mountain and took a rest at the gap between two boulders.

“You’ll have to put up with this for tonight. With these huge boulders as protection, the huge beasts won’t be able to dash in,” Cortis looked at Bai Qingqing and said apologetically.

“Safety’s first.” Bai Qingqing waved her hand, not minding it. She then started to clean up a spot to sleep.

“Howl—” A beast howl rang out not far away, and Bai Qingqing found it familiar for some reason. She ran to the gap and looked out.

Cortis swung his tail and brought Bai Qingqing back. Wearing a dark expression, he crawled out of the crack.

“Cortis?”

Bai Qingqing looked at Cortis’s back view, not understanding what was going on. Why did he suddenly become angry? She wasn’t thinking of escaping.

“Qingqing, it’s me!” Seeing that Bai Qingqing was pulled away by the snake beastman, Parker was so angry that he jumped down from the tree, took on his human form, and shouted loudly.

Bai Qingqing’s eyes lit up, and she put up a struggle intensely, managing to slip out from Cortis’s binding.

A yellow-haired young man stood several hundred meters away, his golden eyes shining brightly. At the instant he saw Bai Qingqing, his eyes became even brighter.

“Parker!” Bai Qingqing called out in delight and uncontrollably ran towards him.

Cortis’s gaze sank and he wrapped her up with his tail once again, bringing her into his arms and hugging her with a strong feeling of possession.

The yellow hair on Parker’s head instantly stood up, and he glared at the snake beastman with his golden eyes, releasing a deep growl from his throat.

Cortis looked at the leopard beastman and said coldly, “I should have killed you back then.”