Chapter 230
Lang Shui didn’t disturb the two sleeping cubs. After talking to Bai Luo, she planned to return to her own cave. However, she couldn’t stop thinking about the scene where Lang Qi refused to leave the little rabbit’s side. She felt that this cub didn’t seem like her own anymore.
Shaking her head, she pushed away these disorganized thoughts and returned to the cave.
Completely different from Lang Shui’s mood, Lang Huo felt a bit pleased when he confirmed that the cub wasn’t returning. Although the cub had stopped allowing them to feed it after the age of one, and even slept far away from them, it was still in the same cave. The fact that Lang Qi hadn’t changed into his human form hadn’t affected his alertness—just a slight movement of the wind or grass would immediately wake him up, even if there were several objects between them.
Lang Qi hadn’t returned for three days, and Lang Huo had already mentally ignored this cub. As long as the cub was in the tribe, it was safe. As for where the cub ate, Lang Huo didn’t care as long as it wasn’t starving.
Of course, this line of thought shouldn’t be shared with his mate.
………
The snow season in Beast God Continent was extremely cold, and few beastmen were willing to leave their caves. The tribe’s food was stored at the base of the mountain, with hunted prey frozen in the snow to preserve until next year when the snow melted. However, most of the time, the prey was consumed before the snow even melted. On snowy days, everyone preferred to stay in their caves, but the energetic young cubs liked to run outside all day long.
Before Lang Qi changed into human form, he didn’t enjoy this activity, and after changing, he was even more unwilling to go outside. He spent each day in the cave, watching the little rabbit, feeding it with Bai Luo, and fighting with Hei Jian over the little rabbit. As winter passed and spring arrived, the weather warmed up, and the little rabbit had become rounder than when it was born. But the beastmen in the tribe only knew that Bai Luo had given birth to a second cub, and in the several months since, they hadn’t even seen the cub once.
Part of the reason was that many people didn’t want to leave the cave, but the biggest reason was Lang Qi.
Whenever someone entered the cave, regardless of who it was, Lang Qi would immediately hide the little cub and only bring it out after the person left.
When Bai Luo saw this for the first time, he was quite surprised, but seeing how carefully Lang Qi moved, he thought about it for a moment and didn’t oppose Lang Qi hiding the cub.
Newborn cubs shouldn’t be exposed to too many people, especially those who came in from outside the cave, covered in frost and snow. Since beastmen have strong hands, even though the cubs had gotten used to the tribe’s members, Bai Luo still didn’t let anyone hold the cub. It wasn’t until all the snow outside had melted, and green shoots began to appear at the base of the mountain, that everyone finally saw the little cub born in winter.
The tiny cub was unlike any other cub in the tribe. Even the newly birthed sub-beasts and female beastmen were moved when they saw the little rabbit. It was simply too obedient and adorable. Most cubs in the tribe were mischievous, but this one was exceptionally well-behaved. The most well-behaved before was Hei Jian, and now there would be another one.
When the little rabbit, held by Bai Luo, saw so many people around, it stretched out its claws and grabbed Bai Luo’s hand, trying to walk back. Lang Qi immediately rushed to hold the cub when he saw the change in it. He quickly wrapped it in animal skin to prevent anyone from looking at it.
Seeing Lang Qi’s swift and protective actions, Lang Shui turned and walked away. She couldn’t bear to watch anymore. With how protective he was, anyone who didn’t know better would think Lang Qi was the little cub’s older brother. Lang Huo, observing his mate’s retreating figure, pondered. He thought Lang Qi’s recent behavior was because he wanted a new sibling. But since they didn’t have one, he had gone to the Shaman’s house. As for the cub not returning home, Lang Huo felt comfortable about it, but his mate wasn’t pleased. Lang Huo decided to follow his mate and discuss his guess. Once a new sibling came, the cub would return home.
Lang Huo was determined in his thoughts.
When the cub was born, it could only eat one or two types of food. As time passed, the variety of foods it could eat gradually increased. No matter what Bai Luo prepared for the cub, Lang Qi would always check it first, making sure it was safe for the cub before giving it to him. Bai Luo often felt like he wasn’t as careful as Lang Qi in taking care of the cub, even though the food he provided was just right for the cub to eat.
Lang Qi took great care of the cub, who wasn’t much younger than him, from the time the cub drank milk to when it could eat the same variety of food as he did.
Though the types of food were similar, the proportions of each food and the total amount of food were completely different.
Lang Qi looked at the bowl of green food in front of the little rabbit, then glanced at his own bowl, decisively swapping the food between the two. He then stared at his own food, grimacing as he took a bite.
The taste of this food was completely different from what he had eaten before—bitter and unappetizing. Lang Qi felt like he didn’t want to eat, but looking at the remaining food in his bowl, afraid Bai Luo would give it to the little rabbit, he resolutely closed his eyes and kept eating.
Not seeing the grass, it was a bit easier to eat this time, and Lang Qi kept going, one bite after another. When he finished, he realized Bai Luo still hadn’t returned. He let out a deep sigh of relief and then turned his attention back to the little rabbit eating.
The little rabbit, looking at the food in front of him, which was no lighter than his own weight, hesitated for a long time but still didn’t start eating.
Noticing that the little rabbit was looking around but not eating, Lang Qi grew anxious and decisively scooped a large spoonful of meat and held it to the little rabbit’s mouth.
The little rabbit looked at the piece of meat, which was bigger than his mouth, opened his mouth, and bit down, holding the spoon’s handle to stop Lang Qi from taking it. The little rabbit then slowly ate it.
The little rabbit was small and, due to his species, ate much slower than Lang Qi. It took a long time for him to finish a piece.
Lang Qi kept an eye on the spoon, and when it was empty, he immediately scooped more for the little rabbit.
When Bai Luo entered, he saw Lang Qi feeding the little rabbit spoonful after spoonful of meat. In front of the two cubs, the food Bai Luo had prepared for the little rabbit was all gone, leaving only Lang Qi’s food.
After preparing the cub’s food, Bai Luo had stepped outside briefly to hand over some medicine. He gave the instructions in just a few sentences.
The little rabbit ate slowly, so it couldn’t have finished the food so quickly. And since it was still eating, it meant that the food Bai Luo prepared wasn’t for the little rabbit.
Bai Luo was a bit surprised that Lang Qi had eaten all the little rabbit’s food. He suspected that Lang Qi wanted to eat plants, so that evening, he added some to Lang Qi’s meal.
Lang Qi, eager to feed the little rabbit, quickly finished his food. Observing the speed at which he ate, Bai Luo became thoughtful.
Wolves generally disliked eating plants, and in the Blood Wolf Tribe, only sub-beasts willingly ate plants. The rest would even frown when having to take medicine.
Bai Luo hadn’t expected Lang Qi to like plants so much.
The next day, there was a third of the meal in Lang Qi’s bowl made up of plants. Lang Qi: “?!” If this continued, he would end up eating the same food as the little rabbit! He scowled and finished all the plants, then started feeding the little rabbit again, just like yesterday.
Bai Luo raised the food in his hand and said, “This is for the cub.” The little rabbit, eager to please his father, ate happily. After three meals of vegetables, Lang Qi stood there, stunned.
……
Since the cub’s birth, Lang Qi had barely left its side. Even when he had to go out, he would return within half a day at most.
At first, Hei Xiao was also in the cave with Bai Luo and the little rabbit. Lang Qi and Hei Xiao often competed for the little rabbit’s attention, but soon Hei Xiao was taken away by the Eagle Tribe.
Bai Luo had almost been kidnapped by a beastman with ill intentions, but luckily, he had met the leader of the Black Eagle Tribe and the leader’s mate. The Eagle Tribe had saved him, and despite the two tribes being far apart, they kept in regular contact. Fortunately, the Eagle Tribe could fly, so the travel time was quick.
After the snow season, the leader of the Eagle Tribe came again, saying he wanted to take Black Jian back to their tribe for a while. His own cub wasn’t listening well, and Black Jian was very obedient—he would make a good example.
Bai Luo asked Hei Xiao for his opinion, and after receiving his consent, he agreed to the Eagle Tribe leader’s request, letting Hei Xiao stay with the Eagle Tribe for a few days.
With Hei Xiao gone, Lang Qi was the happiest. Finally, no one was competing with him for the cub.
But before Lang Qi could enjoy it for long, as he was playing with the cub, he heard his father Lang Huo’s voice.
Lang Huo had come to deliver good news: “Qi, you’re about to have a little brother or sister!” Soon, you won’t need to look at other people’s cubs anymore.
Lang Qi looked at Lang Huo, thinking about those dirty, rolling-around little wolf cubs.
