“I will.”
Curtis planted a kiss on Bai Qingqing’s forehead, then steeled his heart before letting go of her and turning to leave.
Parker followed him out and took a look, but ran back quickly and turned into his human form, hugging Bai Qingqing.
“It’s good that we can be alone together.”
Bai Qingqing’s tense heart after so many days relaxed, and she poked Parker’s forehead to push him away, feeling amused. She then helplessly said, “Yes, quickly go and get some rest. I’ll call you if I hear anything.”
“En, I’ll sleep at the entrance.”
Parker licked Bai Qingqing’s face before turning back into a leopard. He had his butt facing her and his head facing the turn, then lay down to sleep.
After feeding An’an, Bai Qingqing felt that her identity as a female was like a bomb. She felt uneasy, so she grabbed a handful of sand and carefully rubbed it onto her face and neck. She didn’t miss out on any spot of exposed skin.
…
Not far away from Bai Qingqing’s residence, a few beastmen hid in a corner and murmured amongst themselves.
“They’ve settled down here?” The four-striped lion beastman asked.
“It’s true!” The beastmen who had been sent out said with certainty.
The four-striped lion beastman then asked, “There’s definitely something strange about these two males. Did you guys hear why they are staying?”
“They’re very wary. We didn’t dare to get too close.”
The four-striped beastman waved his hand. “Forget it, I wasn’t expecting you guys to be of much help.”
“But that snake beastman has left. There’s only the leopard beastman left in the cave. Shall we…”
The lion beastman snorted and said, “I’m afraid of that snake beastman who doesn’t have any animal stripes? Do I have to avoid him if I want to deal with the leopard beastman? Those who can enter through the quicksand are all beastmen with high statuses in Flame City. The Scorpion King set a regulation that we aren’t allowed to attack them. Otherwise, we’ll die.”
These pitiful beastmen didn’t know the secret of the quicksand, nor could they sense that Flame City was moving. All of them thought that the quicksand had flowed in from a certain spot.
“Yes, yes, yes.” The beastman minion quickly replied, “I was too arrogant. It’s because your strength far surpasses that of the leopard beastman.”
The lion beastman looked at the cave and squinted his eyes. “I only want to see if they have brought a female with them. We’ll go and take a look after the leopard beastman comes out.”
…
Although Winston was very famous underground, the world here was too big, filled with passageways everywhere. It was like a maze. Winston also moved around elusively. Curtis asked a few beastmen but didn’t manage to find leads on Winston.
Curtis had rested a lot for the past two days and didn’t feel sleepy. Therefore, he continued his search outside.
After Parker woke up, Curtis still hadn’t returned.
He went to the entrance to relieve himself, then returned to the deepest part of the cave. He took a whiff and knew that An’an had done something bad.
“Why didn’t you wake me when An’an pooped?” Parker took a look at the bulging sand pile in a corner and sat down next to Bai Qingqing. He grabbed her hand and saw that the gaps between her fair fingers were stuffed with sand.
Bai Qingqing didn’t raise her head. She continued to cradle the sleepy An’an.
“I saw that you were deep asleep and couldn’t bear to wake you up. It’s fine. The sand is soft.”
The earth here had a natural illuminating glow that was very light. After staying here for a couple of hours, Bai Qingqing was able to see blurry shadows as well. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to do something like that.
She had brought along a luminous ball, but she was afraid that the light was too strong and would attract attention.
Parker grabbed Bai Qingqing’s fingers and licked them, his heart aching as he asked, “Do your fingers hurt?”
Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but smile, then finally looked up at him. “Do you think I’m made of tofu?”
Parker threw her an unconscious glance, then his expression cracked.