Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Roar~ [Got it.]
The leopard cubs responded obediently as they hugged their mommyâs legs and whimpered pitifully.
âSeriously. Youâre big boys already and youâre still wheedling,â Bai Qingqing said in amusement.
Parkerâs heart also softened; something that rarely happened. He said, âTheyâre asking you when youâll be coming back, whether you can be back by tomorrow.â
Bai Qingqing circled her arms around all three of them and said gently, âNope. I donât know when I will be back too.â
Then, she got to her feet and walked to the window. The cubs trailed after her.
With much effort, Bai Qingqing hoisted up the slightly lighter Third and pointed at the largest moonâthe silver one, which represented the month. Right now it was only a crescent moon.
âJust look at the moon when you miss Mommy. Mommy will look up at the moon when I miss you three too. Since weâll be looking at the same thing, you wonât feel that Mommy is so far away.â
Third widened his eyes and, staring at the silver moon, roared and nodded.
Eldest and Second climbed up to the window by themselves. The three cubs raised their heads in unison and softly howled.
Heart aching for them, Bai Qingqing stroked their heads one by one.
âTomorrow after we leave, you three go live in the tree hole. Itâs nearer to the tribal headâs home there, which makes it more convenient for you to go there and eat. That way you three wonât make a complete mess of our home. Youâre not to make trouble in the tree hole, either. Mommy will check when I get back.â
Bai Qingqing gave them a stern reminder.
Roar!
The leopard cubs agreed unanimously.
At night, Bai Qingqing chased Curtis and Parker out of the nest and slept with her cubs on the grass pile.
...
The next day, before the skies brightened, five young and strong tiger beastmen reported at the stone castle entrance.
Sprawled on the nest, the leopardâs ears pricked up as he tilted his head towards the entrance.
Howl~
The leopard straightened his limbs and got up, then arched his back and stretched lazily.
He then shook his body and stealthily walked out.
âYouâre here.â Parker transformed into a human and greeted them as he opened the door to the yard.
The tiger beastmen, who were also in their human forms, gazed into the yard feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
âHasnât Bai Qingqing woken?â asked one of the tiger beastmen.
Parker said, âIâll go and wake her right away. You guys can come in.â
âItâs alright. No need to wake her up from her sleep,â said another tiger beastman.
Parker ran into the bedroom and quietly walked past the cubs, then crouched down as he reached Bai Qingqingâs side.
As the leopard cubs were deep in slumber and were used to their family membersâ movements, they remained soundly asleep.
âQingqing, wake up. The tiger beastmen are here,â said Parker softly.
Still in a daze, Bai Qingqing perked up immediately upon hearing Parkerâs words. She rubbed her eyes and sat upright.
âNo hurry. Iâll cook for you first. Itâll be hard for you to have a good meal in the desert,â said Parker. After waking Bai Qingqing up, he turned around and left the bedroom.
In order to save time, he cooked a bowl of noodles stewed with preserved meat, which took about ten-odd minutes to prepare.
By then, Bai Qingqing had just finished washing up. Enticed by the alluring fragrance, she took a bite from a slice of the preserved meat. To her surprise, the hard-as-rock meat that she cooked for over an hour yesterday was tender and chewy under Parkerâs skilled hands.
Now that there were instances for comparison, she realized, to her surprise, that her cooking skills were indeed inferior to Parkerâs.
âSmells great. Itâs the smell of smoked meat.â
The tiger beastmen at the door slurped down their saliva. Clearly, they had deliberately filled up their stomachs yesterday, yet it was only early in the morning and already they were feeling kind of hungry.
âGood morning, everyone. Do come in and drink some meat soup.â
A clear, crisp, and pleasant female voice attracted their attention.