Chapter 229
Under normal circumstances, when a cub transforms into its human form for the first time, the transformation is unstable. Generally, it only lasts for a few sentences before reverting back to its beast form. The subsequent transformations are usually a little better, improving from a few words to around ten, but still far from stable. In the early stages, transformations back to beast form are typically uncontrollable. Sometimes, a cub might be startled by a loud voice from an adult or suddenly trip and fall, causing it to revert to beast form.
However, after Lang Qi transformed into human form this time, it was surprisingly stable. From the moment Lang Shui was preparing food, he remained in human form. Even after Bai Luo finished eating and Lang Shui fed the newborn rabbit cub, Lang Qi continued to hold his position, firmly occupying the rabbit cub’s space due to his larger size.
Hei Xiao and Lang Qi were about the same age, but Hei Xiao was a sub-beast. When he transformed into human form, he appeared smaller than other male beasts of the same age. This difference, however, was not enough to put him at a disadvantage. What made the difference was that Lang Qi, though later in transforming into human form, was larger and stronger than his peers. With this advantage, not only did he not allow Hei Xiao to approach, but even Lang Shui was not allowed to look at the cub, only permitting Bai Luo to observe for a brief moment.
Bai Luo had seen Lang Qi grow up, and seeing the cub arrogantly guard his newborn sibling, he couldn’t help but laugh, though he didn’t chase Lang Qi away. He just told him that the younger sibling was very small and to be gentle.
Lang Qi obediently replied, “I will.”
Hearing this, Lang Shui: “…” This was definitely not her son.
Normally, when others spoke, Lang Qi would ignore them, and even she and her partner were helpless with the cub. But now, to hear him obediently agree—it was definitely a first.
It wasn’t that Lang Qi didn’t listen; he just selectively listened.
Lang Qi didn’t feel that he had done anything wrong. After agreeing, he continued to stay close to the rabbit cub, overjoyed whenever the cub moved slightly.
Lang Shui waited for a while, and seeing that Lang Qi showed no signs of reverting back to beast form, she reminded him, “It’s time to go back.”
In the tribe, there were many sub-beasts, but among them, only Bai Luo was a sub-beast of the rabbit tribe. Compared to others, Bai Luo trusted her more, so it was her job to help prepare food for Bai Luo.
However, no matter how much she trusted her, Bai Luo would not feel at ease resting with anyone outside of his partner around. So, Lang Shui wanted to leave the cave quickly to give Bai Luo space, but Lang Qi clearly wasn’t cooperating. Upon hearing her words, his ears didn’t even twitch, as if her words were less interesting than the rabbit cub’s breathing.
“Lang Qi.” Lang Shui called to the disobedient cub.
Upon hearing his mother calling him, Lang Qi reluctantly tore his gaze away from the rabbit cub and looked at Lang Shui, nodding slightly: “Okay.” Then he returned to observing the rabbit cub.
Lang Shui stood there waiting for him to come over, but after a long wait, he hadn’t moved at all. Suddenly, she understood his meaning—he wasn’t going back.
Lang Shui: “You’re coming with me.”
Upon hearing this, Lang Qi raised his head, looked at Lang Shui, and shook his head, refusing: “I don’t want to!”
Lang Shui: “This is the healer’s residence. We all need to return.” The healer’s worship space and his residence were places no one else could enter casually. If Bai Luo didn’t need help right now, she wouldn’t have stayed this long. But even though Bai Luo needed assistance, Lang Shui had been in the cave for too long, and now she needed to leave quickly.
Lang Shui wanted to leave, but Lang Qi was clearly not cooperating.
Bai Luo, who had been listening to the conversation, opened his eyes, looked at Lang Qi, and said to Lang Shui: “Let him stay and play for a while.” Many of the cubs in the tribe were raised under Bai Luo’s care, and Lang Qi was no exception. In Bai Luo’s mind, Lang Qi was almost like his own cub, so it was perfectly fine for him to stay here.
Upon hearing Bai Luo’s words and confirming that Lang Qi wouldn’t harm the cub, Lang Shui finally left. Before leaving, she once again reminded Lang Qi: “Don’t touch the cub. If the cub wakes up, tell the healer…”
Lang Qi’s ears twitched, but his gaze was still focused on the rabbit cub.
To everyone’s surprise, Lang Qi, on his first transformation into human form, managed to maintain it for three days.
Generally, cubs that transform later are weaker and their human forms are more unstable. When Lang Qi had not transformed by the time he was three years old, everyone assumed he was a physically weak cub. However, the reality turned out to be the complete opposite.
Even Lang Shui was somewhat surprised, though she spoke of it with a hint of pride. When she mentioned this to Lang Huo, he paused for a moment. It had been three days since he had last seen Lang Qi, and he was beginning to forget what the cub looked like. When they mentioned the fact that the cub hadn’t returned for three days, they exchanged a look and silently agreed to stay quiet.
It was the first time they had encountered a cub who, after transforming into human form, refused to return to its own dwelling, and to top it off, it was their own cub.
In the cave not far from Lang Shui and Lang Huo’s home, the now reverted wolf cub, in his beast form, kept watch beside the rabbit cub. For the past few days, he had stayed there, even sleeping beside the cub. On the first day, Lang Shui tried to take him back, but he noticed and thwarted her attempt. For three days, other than eating and sleeping, Lang Qi had kept his focus entirely on the rabbit cub, never feeling bored and keeping others away from the cub.
Now back in beast form, Lang Qi remained vigilant, glancing occasionally toward the entrance of the cave.
When Lang Shui walked in, hoping to try again, she saw her cub warily staring at her, much like he had done on the day the rabbit cub was born, as if afraid someone might take it away.
Lang Shui abandoned her plan to take the cub away. Seeing that Bai Luo was awake and in good spirits, she asked, “Bai Luo, can we leave Lang Qi here?”
Cubs in beast form tended to be more playful than in human form, and Lang Shui knew her son’s character well. She understood that once he refused, there was little she could do. So she left the decision to Bai Luo.
Bai Luo gently nodded: “Lang Qi is very obedient. He can stay here.”
Hearing Bai Luo’s answer, Lang Qi stood beside the rabbit cub, observing Lang Shui and Bai Luo carefully, trying to decide if they were telling the truth or tricking him.
In the end, trust prevailed. Lang Qi withdrew his gaze, cautiously shifted his position, and lay down beside the rabbit cub to rest.
Even though he seemed quite clever, he was still only a three-year-old cub. After three days of guarding the rabbit cub, when Bai Luo picked it up, Lang Qi just kept watching, barely resting. Now that he was back in beast form, he needed a good sleep.
Most cubs would fall into a deep sleep when they reverted to beast form uncontrollably, but Lang Qi, worried that someone might take him away while he was sleeping, held on and didn’t let himself relax.
When Lang Qi closed his eyes, the sleeping rabbit cub shifted slightly, moving closer to him. As the cub slept, Lang Qi stretched out a paw to hug the rabbit cub.
The rabbit cub, who had been moving around, stopped and snuggled in, feeling completely at ease. On the first day, the rabbit cub had been a bit wary of the unfamiliar scent, but after three days, it had become so familiar with Lang Qi that it knew the cub wouldn’t harm it. The warmth of the other cub made it sleep even more soundly.
When Lang Shui and Bai Luo turned around after discussing things, they saw the two cubs sleeping together.
The pure black wolf cub, just a little bigger than the size of a palm, lay beside the snow-white rabbit cub. Despite their different colors, sizes, and species, the scene looked incredibly heartwarming.
