Chapter 543: Why Are You Trembling?

Chapter 543: Chapter 543: Why Are You Trembling?

Fengxuan froze, then bolted forward without even looking back.

But before he could take more than a few steps, a massive tail wrapped around him and dragged him back.

Fengxuan looked up and met a pair of crimson, serpentine eyes.

"Why are you trembling, Priest Fengxuan?"

Fengxuan’s lips trembled uncontrollably, especially when he saw the silver glint of the massive python’s fangs.

"I... I beg you... let..." Before he could finish his stuttered plea, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted.

Sunxuan loosened his tail in disgust, tossing the man to the ground like a sack of trash.

Qiao Yi walked over and glanced down. "Why didn’t you just swallow him whole?"

Sunxuan shot him a look of displeasure. "You think I’ll eat just anything?"

Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right. I almost forgot. Yun Ji said we need to keep him alive for questioning."

With that, he walked over to Fengxuan and raised his hand. With a few sharp cracks, he struck Fengxuan’s body, and the man jolted awake in pain.

He tried to move, only to find that his limbs were useless. Qiao Yi had broken his arms and legs!

Qiao Yi stood and waved to the beast soldiers behind him. "Drag him away and lock him up."

Two beast soldiers stepped forward and hauled Fengxuan off the ground like a rag doll.

Back in the city, the chaos had subsided, and the challenges for the new City Lord were set to continue.

However, Yun Ji’s appearance made the beastmen in attendance hesitate to step forward again. They had no need to question a City Lord who had been endorsed by the revered Priest.

With no one else coming to the stage, the challenge concluded.

To prevent the earlier chaos from erupting again, Jin Yao dismissed the crowd.

Once most of the crowd had dispersed, Qiao Xixi and her companions came down from the rooftop.

Qiao Xixi took Zhenzhen’s hand. "Zhenzhen, it’s still early. How about we go for a stroll through the streets?"

Zhenzhen suddenly frowned, her expression worried. "Xixi, I think I just saw Qingluan. He looked like he was hurt. I want to go check on him."

’Qingluan was here? I didn’t even notice.’

"Do you know where to find him?"

Zhenzhen nodded. "I do. I know where he lives."

"Alright, then we’ll walk you over."

But Zhenzhen shook her head. "There’s no need, Xixi. Qingluan’s house is very close, just around the corner. Don’t worry about me, I can go by myself."

Qiao Xixi wanted to insist, but Zhenzhen said firmly, "Xixi, I... I have the courage!"

’Hearing that, Qiao Xixi understood immediately. Zhenzhen had mustered up the courage to confess her feelings to Qingluan. It really wouldn’t be right for the two of them, as outsiders, to be there. What if they were both too shy to say anything?’

"Okay, then. I’ll watch you walk over."

Zhenzhen nodded and, as if she’d made a firm decision, headed toward a stone house not far away.

Qiao Xixi watched from where she stood, waiting until Zhenzhen had nearly reached the stone house before preparing to leave with Xijing.

"Xixi."

Qiao Xixi turned at the sound of her name and immediately saw Jin Ling walking toward her.

"Jin Ling."

’They hadn’t seen each other in days. He looks thinner,’ Qiao Xixi thought.

When he reached her, a gentle smile touched Jin Ling’s eyes.

"You weren’t hurt just now, were you?"

Qiao Xixi shook her head. "I’m fine. Are you done with everything? Has your brother completely taken over the inner city’s affairs?"

Jin Ling nodded. "He’s been involved for years, so it won’t be difficult for him to take the reins."

"Would you like to see the inner city?"

Qiao Xixi didn’t have anything else planned, so she agreed.

"Yes, let’s go have a look."

Jin Ling led the two of them down a less crowded path toward the inner city.

The beast soldiers guarding the gate saw Jin Ling and saluted respectfully, allowing them to pass.

Tiger Beast City’s inner city was much larger than a typical tribal settlement. While it wasn’t as majestic as Beast King City, it still possessed the imposing aura of a proper Beast City.

Jin Ling led them straight to the City Lord’s palace.

As soon as they entered, Qiao Xixi saw a tall figure with his back to them, speaking with Yun Ji. Hearing their approach, the man turned around.

A smile lit up his face the moment he saw Jin Ling.

"Brother."

Then, his gaze shifted to Qiao Xixi.

"So this is my brother’s mate?" Jin Yao walked up to Qiao Xixi, his expression turning serious.

"I heard from my brother that you were the one who saved him. Thank you."

After speaking, Jin Yao crossed his hands over his chest and gave Qiao Xixi a formal bow of gratitude.

’His eyes are so clear,’ Qiao Xixi thought, curious. ’He doesn’t seem like he’s been corrupted by Jin Wei at all.’

"Meeting Jin Ling was my good fortune as well."

"You said the same thing he did." Jin Yao looked at Jin Ling. "Now I finally understand why you didn’t want to stay in Tiger Beast City, Brother."

Jin Ling’s expression remained unchanged, his voice tinged with an indifference to power. "This position suits you."

The smile on Jin Yao’s face slowly faded. "Rest assured, Brother, I won’t disappoint you. Mother is waiting for you both. You should go see her."

Qiao Xixi glanced at Yun Ji, who gave her a slight nod.

When they stepped outside the main hall, Xijing stopped. "Xixi, we’ll wait for you here."

"Alright."

Jin Ling took Qiao Xixi’s hand, leading her through the vast palace.

"Jin Ling, did Jin Yao never take the forbidden medicine?"

Jin Ling hummed softly in agreement.

"He was the last cub our mother gave birth to. To protect him, while she was pregnant, she took some kind of medicinal herb she’d found."

That herb made the fetus appear extremely weak.

"Even with the forbidden medicine, Jin Wei only wanted to use it on strong cubs. When he saw that the newborn Jin Yao was barely breathing, he turned and left without a second glance."

"So our mother raised Jin Yao in secret within the city."

As Jin Ling spoke, Qiao Xixi couldn’t sense any fluctuation in his emotions. ’This is the calm that comes after achieving a great revenge.’

"Our mother protected him well."

"To keep Jin Wei from discovering Jin Yao’s existence, she did everything she could to conceal his aura."

"He has a natural aptitude. After he awakened his beast soul, our mother sent him to the Great Elder and begged him for his tutelage."

"Qingluan’s grandfather?"

Jin Ling looked at her, a little surprised. "Xixi, you know Qingluan?"

Qiao Xixi held his arm and smiled. "Mhm, I only learned of him a few days ago." To prevent her mate from getting the wrong idea, she quickly added, "You remember Zhenzhen, don’t you? He’s the male she likes, and she’s been visiting me these past few days."

Jin Ling had a vague memory of the frail female. "Yes, Qingluan is the Great Elder’s eldest grandson. Jin Yao grew up with him and only returned to Tiger Beast City a few years ago."

’So, Qingluan probably came back to Tiger Beast City to protect Jin Yao,’ she realized.

The Great Elder was displeased with Jin Wei’s actions and had always hoped Jin Yao would one day overthrow him. That’s why he was so dedicated to his tutelage over the years.

The two continued talking, and before they knew it, they had arrived before the doors of a great hall.

Two Tiger Clan females stood guard outside the doors.

Just as they reached the doors, they heard the sound of crashing and smashing from within.

Startled, Qiao Xixi looked at Jin Ling in astonishment.