I Transmigrated as a Villainess to Raise Babies, and My Beast Husbands Are Fighting Madly Over Me!

Chapter 289: The Father Beast’s Scent

Bulin waved his hand, signaling the people in his caravan not to make any sudden moves.

He looked at Xiya and smiled. "Ah, a little merfolk cub. Do you like the Coral Horned Beast?"

As he spoke, Bulin took a Coral Horned Beast from his animal hide bag.

"We got this Coral Horned Beast when we were passing by the sea. If you like it, have your father buy it for you. It only costs three colorless Crystal Stones."

Xiya stared at the Coral Horned Beast in his hand, and her eyes immediately turned red. She flailed her arms, trying to grab it, but she couldn’t break free from Ma Qing’s hold.

Ma Qing could also sense that something was wrong with Xiya. ’She’s usually so well-behaved. I wonder what’s gotten into her today. Maybe she misses the sea.’

"Xiya, calm down. If you want it, Mr. Ma will buy it for you."

Bulin smiled and nodded. "We don’t just have Coral Horned Beasts. We have many other goods from the sea. The little cub can take a look if she’s interested."

Ma Qing nodded. "No rush. We’ll look in a bit."

Before long, Qiao Xixi arrived.

"Our Clan Leader has arrived."

Bulin looked over at Qiao Xixi, a little surprised. ’I didn’t expect the Clan Leader of the Black Panther Tribe to be a beautiful female.’

"Clan Leader."

Qiao Xixi nodded. "You’re from the merchant caravan?"

"Yes. We were wondering if the Black Panther Tribe has any goods to trade or purchase. If not, then we’ll be on our way to the next tribe."

"Yes, yes, we do! Clan Leader, there are things we want."

Hearing that the merchant caravan had arrived, many of the beastmen had already rushed to the main gate.

It was quite common for a merchant caravan to visit the tribe.

"In that case, please come in," Qiao Xixi said, looking toward Ma Qing.

Ma Qing nodded and led the way, guiding the caravan to an area within the tribe, a good distance from the residential quarters. This spot was reserved for visiting merchant caravans.

"How long do you plan on staying?"

"Two or three days, probably."

"Alright. We’ll let the rest of the tribe know."

"Mother."

Qiao Xixi looked down at Xiya and noticed she seemed upset. She picked her up and asked softly, "Xiya, what’s wrong? Is there something you want? Tell me what you like, and Mother will buy it for you."

Xiya sniffled and shook her head. "Mother, I just saw they have a Coral Horned Beast, and I smelled my father’s scent on it."

Qiao Xixi was stunned. "Are you sure?"

Xiya nodded. ’I’d never mistake that scent.’

’Logically speaking,’ Qiao Xixi thought, ’merchant caravans travel far and wide, so it’s not impossible for them to have collected goods from the coast.’

"Have you ever seen beastmen from a Land Beast caravan before? Or let me put it this way, do your merfolk people typically buy or trade with merchant caravans?"

Xiya shook her head. "No. The merfolk live almost exclusively in the ocean. The sea provides everything we need."

If the caravan had simply been trading in goods from the sea, Qiao Xixi wouldn’t have thought anything of it. But the fact that this particular item carried Xijing’s scent made her suspicious.

Qiao Xixi gave Jin Ling some Crystal Stones and told him to take Xiya to see if any of the other items from the sea, besides the Coral Horned Beast, also carried Xijing’s scent.

Jin Ling directed Bulin and his caravan to the plaza to begin trading with the tribe’s beastmen.

The area was large and offered a wide, open view.

Meanwhile, having just finished her business, Qiao Qiao emerged feeling utterly refreshed and wonderfully comfortable.

What she didn’t know was that a Golden Eagle Beast was circling high above the tribe, its cold gaze fixed on her.

Jin Wei had already given the order: seize any opportunity to capture Qiao Xixi’s cub.

Before, Qiao Qiao was always with one or two others, or accompanied by Feiyan’s group, so there was never a good chance to strike. Now, finally, an opportunity had presented itself.

As Qiao Qiao was crossing an open space, the Golden Eagle Beast immediately dove, hurtling toward her.

Just as its talons were about to seize Qiao Qiao, a small, slender figure suddenly swooped in, tackling Qiao Qiao and rolling her to the side, just out of reach of the Golden Eagle Beast’s claws.

Qiao Qiao was startled by the sudden attack, but having been through so much with Qiao Xixi and the others, she calmed down after a moment of panic and glared angrily at the Golden Eagle Beast.

"I hate cub-snatching members of the Wing Clan the most!"

The Golden Eagle Beast knew it had been discovered. It decided to seize Qiao Qiao in one fell swoop, adjusted its position, and attacked again.

"Qiaoqiao, look out!"

Yuyu held on to Qiaoqiao, shifted into his beast form, and flew rapidly toward the tribe’s main gate, letting out a sharp cry into the sky as he went.

"I’m not afraid of it!"

Qiao Qiao clung to Yuyu, pulled out a Bubble Fruit, and threw it just as the Golden Eagle Beast dove at them again.

A loud "BOOM!" from the explosion sent the Golden Eagle Beast reeling backward.

The patrol teams, hearing the cry for help, arrived swiftly.

"It’s a Golden Eagle Beast! Get it!"

Seeing the patrol team arrive, the Golden Eagle Beast didn’t dare to stay and fight. It turned and fled.

"Hmph. It ran off just like that. How pathetic."

Yuyu landed safely on the ground with Qiaoqiao. Qiao Qiao patted the grass and dust from her clothes, not the least bit afraid.

"Are you two alright?" a male from the patrol asked, walking over quickly.

Qiao Qiao shook her head. "I’m fine. Mister, you have to go catch it!"

"Alright, but I’ll escort you back first."

"No way! My big sister Xiya is still waiting for me at the gate."

"Qiaoqiao, I saw Xiya heading to the plaza with the Clan Leader," Yuyu said.

"Huh? They left already? Then I’ll go find them at the plaza."

"I’ll escort you there," the male from the patrol insisted, still concerned. He walked behind them, escorting the two to the plaza.

"Thank you for saving me," Qiao Qiao said, tilting her head to look at Yuyu. She then looked down and rummaged in her little animal-hide pouch. ’Oops,’ she thought, ’I ate all the snacks Mother gave me.’

"What’s your name?"

Yuyu said softly, a bit shy, "My name is Yuyu."

Qiao Qiao’s big eyes sparkled. "That’s a really nice name! You’ve had your Beast Soul Awakening too, so you’re definitely going to get even stronger. Where do you live? I’m going to bring you some yummy treats tomorrow to thank you."

"N-no, you don’t have to! I’m on the junior patrol team now. It’s my duty to protect members of the tribe."

But no matter what Yuyu said, Qiao Qiao was determined to thank him.

’Mother always said you have to show your gratitude.’

When they reached the plaza, they could see Qiao Xixi standing just outside the crowd in the distance.

"Mother!"

Qiao Xixi turned at the sound of her voice and saw Qiao Qiao running over. She let out a small sigh of relief. "Xiya mentioned she forgot to wait for you at the gate, so I sent your father to find you. You didn’t run into him?"

Qiao Qiao shook her head. "Nope! Mother, what’s going on? Why are there so many people here?"

"A merchant caravan is visiting the tribe. Go see if there’s anything you want. Mother will buy it for you."

"Okay, okay!"

"Clan Leader."

"Oh, Yuyu, you’re here too," Qiao Xixi said. "You can go with Qiaoqiao and take a look. If you see anything you want, I’ll buy it for you as well."

Yuyu was embarrassed, but his childlike curiosity got the better of him. He squeezed his way to the front of the crowd with Qiao Qiao.

Qiao Xixi kept her eyes on her cub and Jin Ling, not noticing the male approaching her from behind.