’Xijing didn’t understand. His destined mate clearly wasn’t Qiao Xixi, so why was he aroused when she touched his Jue Pearl?’

Qiao Xixi looked at Xijing. ’He doesn’t seem very happy, does he?’

She patted Xijing’s hand, and he snapped back to reality. The spot she had touched felt seared, sending a wave of heat through his entire body.

"I’m fine. I was just surprised, that’s all. Thank you... Qiao Xixi."

’And here I thought he didn’t want it.’

"Don’t mention it. Besides, I’m not helping you for free."

"I will repay you."

Qiao Xixi took out the Jue Pearl. Its smooth, supple texture was so captivating she couldn’t bear to part with it. She couldn’t help but secretly stroke it again.

Xijing’s entire body went rigid. His pearlescent white skin flushed a visible crimson.

A low, muffled groan escaped his throat. He frantically reached for Qiao Xixi’s hand. "No, don’t..."

Qiao Xixi was baffled. "What’s wrong?"

Xijing panted softly, his chest rising and falling dramatically.

’A man this beautiful and fragile, so close... I really, really want to have my way with him!’

The moment the thought surfaced, Qiao Xixi cut it off and shook her head hard.

’Calm down, calm down. The guys back home are already a handful. Lust is a blade hanging over your head. Amen to that.’

’But this pearl feels so nice... If I give it back, I won’t get to touch it anymore.’

Qiao Xixi gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Ngh!"

Xijing cried out softly, grabbing her hand and snatching the Jue Pearl back.

Qiao Xixi laughed awkwardly. "It really is a nice item, heheh."

Xijing pressed his lips together, struggling to keep his voice steady. "Thank you. I... I just felt a little unwell. I’ll be fine after some rest."

"Alright, I’ll leave you to rest then. I’m going to make some food."

"Auntie Xixi, let me help you."

"Okay~"

Only when Qiao Xixi was a safe distance away did Xijing place the Jue Pearl from his palm into the water beneath him...

With a flick of his finger, the seawater swirled to envelop him, and the lustrous Jue Pearl erupted in a blinding flash of light.

Qiao Xixi watched in amazement. "Xiya, with the Jue Pearl, will your father’s body be able to recover completely?"

Xiya nodded, then shook her head. "Father’s Beast Soul Star Level can be restored, but his eyes... they still can’t."

’He’s blind? Won’t that be a problem?’

"Little Demon, does the System Shop have any medicine that can cure Xijing’s eyes?"

"Yes, Host. But it costs 1,000 points, and you don’t have enough right now. Also, this medicine can’t be bought on credit."

"What’s the rush? Did I say I was going to buy it on credit?"

’Uhh...’

’As if you haven’t done that plenty of times before!?’

"But Auntie Xixi, even though Father’s eyes still can’t see, his Perception Skill is very strong. His daily movements won’t be affected."

"Okay."

Qiao Xixi lifted the bamboo basket she had left in the seawater yesterday. It still held the fish and shellfish she’d caught, and to her surprise, a few octopuses had joined them.

"How about we make a seafood hotpot for dinner tonight?"

Qiao Xixi had already snuck out her stone pot, bowls, and chopsticks. ’Xijing can’t see anyway,’ she thought, ’and Xiya is easy enough to manage. With all this great seafood, I’m not about to sell myself short, even with limited supplies.’

She set the stone pot between two large rocks and filled it with water from her Spiritual Spring. Once it was boiling, she tossed in the cleaned seafood. When it was nearly cooked, she took out some dipping sauce from her storage space and poured it into a stone bowl.

Qiao Xixi picked up a piece of squid with her chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, blew on it to cool, and popped it into her mouth.

"Delicious!"

"Auntie, can we eat now?"

Xiya was already drooling with anticipation.

"You can. Go ahead and try some. The meat is even better if you dip it in this sauce."

"Okay."

Xiya eagerly picked up a piece of squid and, copying Qiao Xixi, began to eat.

"Mmm, this is so good."

Qiao Xixi placed several more pieces in her bowl. "If you like it, have as much as you want. There’s plenty more."

"MEOW."

The tiger cub had woken up and was mewling with its mouth wide open.

Qiao Xixi picked her up and rubbed her tiny belly. "Are you hungry? Just a second, Mommy will feed you right away."

"MEOW."

The cub’s fur had started to grow in. You could really see her handsome tiger father’s genes at work in the little one. ’When she grows up,’ Xixi thought, ’who knows how many males she’ll captivate.’

Once she’d had her fill, Qiao Xixi lay down to nurse the cub. It had been a long day, and she was exhausted. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

Xiya glanced at the sleeping Qiao Xixi and the tiger cub, then carefully draped an animal-hide blanket over them.

A splash sounded from behind her. Xiya turned to see Xijing surfacing. He walked slowly onto the shore, his enormous fishtail replaced by a pair of long, well-defined legs.

"Father, your Beast Soul Star Level is finally restored! This is wonderful!"

Xiya threw herself into Xijing’s arms, overcome with emotion. Only she knew how hard it had been for them to survive after her father was injured.

Xijing gently stroked Xiya’s little head. "I’s sorry, Xiya. I made you suffer."

Xiya shook her head. "It’s all thanks to Auntie Xixi. I wish she were my mother."

As soon as the words were out, Xiya quickly looked up at Xijing. She knew her real mother was a different Land Beast, a fact that made her miserable because she did not like her mother at all.

"Father, are you still going to look for my mother?"

Xijing pursed his lips, but Xiya could tell he was looking in Qiao Xixi’s direction.

"Xiya, Father must find her!"

Xiya’s head drooped, her spirits plummeting. ’If Father finds my mother, does that mean I can’t be with Auntie Xixi anymore?’

The thought made Xiya terribly sad.

Xijing kept his attention fixed in Qiao Xixi’s direction, so he didn’t notice his daughter’s change in mood or realize she had completely misunderstood him.

"Xiya, what were you two eating earlier?"

"Seafood hotpot. Auntie made it and left a lot for you. Go on, Father, you should eat."

"Alright."

Xijing also loved Qiao Xixi’s cooking. He was very curious how she knew so many recipes for such delicious food.

After showing Xijing how to eat, Xiya dejectedly went and lay down beside Qiao Xixi. She had been sleeping like this for the past few days; being close to Qiao Xixi gave her a great sense of security.

Xijing ate his food in silence, not making the slightest sound.

’Before, I was certain that woman was Xiya’s mother. But Qiao Xixi’s appearance has shaken my conviction. No matter what, I have to find her. Not just to resolve my confusion, but also to...’

The aura around Xijing darkened, and the faint blue halo enveloping his body intensified.

Xijing set down his bowl and chopsticks. Following her scent on the air, he walked over to Qiao Xixi’s side.

’In truth, I’m impatient to test my theory.’

He gently took Qiao Xixi’s hand and placed it on his Jue Pearl.

The instant her soft fingertips made contact, his breathing grew ragged.