19: Chapter 19 Personally Raising

Sang Qing tightened her grip on the Little Cub in her arms and sighed helplessly.

She had acted impulsively earlier, but what else could she do? She couldn't just watch this Little Cub go to meet the beast god.

Ah, she's already brought it back. What else is there to say? It's not like she can return it.

Returning home, Meng Lai saw Sang Qing holding a Little Cub in her arms that wasn't even as big as his fist. He hissed in surprise, "Qing Qing, where did you steal this Little Cub from? You should have stolen a bigger one!"

It's so small. How are we supposed to raise it?

It would be better to wait until he forms a Pair Bonding later and give his own cub to his sister.

Sang Qing was speechless.

Meng Qi gave his son a displeased kick in the backside, looking at him with disdain, "Stolen? This is Nina's cub."

Meng Lai grimaced, clutching his backside, his eyes wide with shock, "Nina's cub? Huh? Qing Qing, why did you bring Nina's cub back?"

Did Nina give her cub to Qing Qing? That couldn't be.

Sang Qing raised an eyebrow, carrying the Little Cub into the house, "Because this cub is too small. They said it wouldn't survive and were going to abandon it, so I had no choice but to bring it back and raise it myself."

Of course, she wasn't raising it for free. They would have to pay a ransom later.

Meng Lai followed behind Sang Qing, scratching his head in confusion, "Huh? If it won't survive, why did you bring it back?"

What if something happens to the Little Cub... "Oh, brother, stop asking so many questions. Come on, turn into your Beast Form and help keep the cub warm. I'm going to make some rice soup." Sang Qing's head ached from his loud voice.

Why so many questions? She was already tired of hearing them today.

She urged Meng Lai to quickly lie down on the bed. It was so late; they needed to get the Little Cub settled so they could sleep.

"Huh?" Meng Lai was at a loss. He was supposed to keep the cub warm?

No, he had never taken care of a Little Cub before. Oh, wait, he had taken care of Qing Qing before, but that was a very, very long time ago.

He was just about to refuse when Sang Qing shot him a sharp glare.

Meng Lai pouted, reluctantly transforming into his Beast Form and curling up on the bed into a semicircle. Sang Qing gently placed the Little Cub in the middle. Looking at its peaceful sleeping face, her heart softened.

It would definitely get better.

As soon as Sang Qing left, Meng Lai stared at the tiny bean in his arms with his big, round eyes, his brows furrowed like tangled rope. It was so small.

But it was quite cute.

While making the rice soup, Sang Qing bought two sets of cute pink baby clothes and a diaper from the System Mall for the Little Cub.

As for why she wasn't feeding it formula, she figured her rice soup was probably much more nutritious than formula.

Besides, buying formula would be a waste. Tomorrow, she could just go ask Nina for some milk. Saving points was a virtue.

Carrying the rice soup, Sang Qing walked in and snatched the Little Cub from Meng Lai's embrace.

Meng Lai was already extremely sleepy. He opened his eyes to look and prepared to roll over to help, "Sister..."

"Go to sleep. I'll make you something delicious tomorrow morning." She could manage on her own.

Sang Qing carried the Little Cub to her bed. First, she changed the cub's clothes, then took out a Lung-strengthening injection and administered it.

The little one felt the pain and wriggled its body in grievance. Just as it was about to open its mouth and wail, a spoonful of sweet rice soup plugged its tiny mouth.

After feeding the Little Cub, Sang Qing placed the sleeping baby on the bed, covered it with a beast hide, and then went to settle Sophia.

Although she had brought Sophia back, she wouldn't let Sophia live in the same room with them. For tonight, she could make do in the kitchen. Tomorrow, she would have Meng Lai build a separate shed for her in the back.

There seemed to be an empty Treehouse nearby; perhaps Sophia could live there. She would ask her Father to inquire with the chief tomorrow.

Stretching, Sang Qing glanced at the Little Cub whose breathing was gradually steadying and closed her tired eyes.

In the morning, sunlight poured down, and the peaceful and tranquil Wildcat Tribe was greeted with explosive, joyous news.

Nina had actually given birth to four Little Cubs last night.

Four! What a concept. Some females couldn't have four in three years, yet Nina managed it in a single birth.

The area outside Nina's home was packed with Tribesmen. They all wanted to see Nina and the four cubs she had given birth to.

But Sang Qing had instructed last night that Nina needed proper rest, so Nina's Mother only brought out three of the cubs to show everyone for a few moments.

"Why are there only three cubs?" A young female, after playfully teasing the distinctly different-looking cubs, asked Nina's Mother with a smile.

Nina's Mother's expression stiffened, her heart filled with sorrow, but she explained tactfully, "There's one more Little Cub, but it's too small to be brought out."

Ah, she didn't know how Nina's last Little Cub was faring. If only the beast god could show it some mercy.

Carrying the selected beautiful beast hide, Cree walked toward Sang Qing's house with a heavy heart.

He couldn't imagine how painful it would be when he saw his Little Cub's corpse in a moment.

Although he and Nina already had one cub, it was a male, far less beloved by him than a female cub would be. And yet... All the way, Cree sighed repeatedly. The closer he got to Sang Qing's house, the harder it was to move his feet.

As he neared Sang Qing's home, Cree walked dejectedly, immersed in the grief of his cub's presumed death, when two voices in conversation suddenly reached his ears.

"Hahaha, Qing Qing, look quickly! Her paw is moving!"

"Brother, keep your voice down. Don't disturb the Little Cub's sleep."

In front of the Treehouse, Sang Qing was cutting meat with Sophia. Hearing Meng Lai's loud exclamation, she turned her head and scowled, repeatedly urging him.

Wasn't he supposed to go hunting? Why was he still dawdling here? Father would probably be back soon from chopping trees.

Meng Lai lay on the soft beast hide, poking the Little Cub's arm, his mouth curling into a grin, "Got it, got it."

The Little Cub was so adorable; he just wanted to look at it a bit more.

On the soft beast hide, the Little Cub, wearing only a diaper, curled up into a ball, its tiny hands clutching the edge of the hide, basking in the sun's rays, humming comfortably.

It still wore a specially made little beast-hide eye mask from Sang Qing. Its somewhat yellowish hair was frizzy and messy, but its little face had already lost last night's paleness, gaining a rosy hue.

Cree rubbed his eyes, staring at the scene before him in disbelief.

His cub... his cub was still alive... Meng Lai sensed a male presence and turned to see Cree, veins bulging at his temples, his face twisted in a fierce expression.

"Qing Qing, it's bad! Cree is here to snatch the Little Cub!"

Shielding the Little Cub, Meng Lai howled at Sang Qing.

Cree: !!!

Sang Qing: ???

Putting down the knife in her hand, Sang Qing looked at the teary-eyed male, "Cree, what are you here for?"

Cree strode over to the Little Cub, staring intently at its tiny body again and again, then excitedly sought an answer from Sang Qing, "Alive... still alive..."

"Yes, I told you it wouldn't die." Sang Qing wiped her hands and walked over. Seeing Meng Lai's protective stance, she shook her head in amusement.

Cree was the Little Cub's biological Father. Why did it seem like Cree was the thief now?

Cree tightly clenched the beast hide in his hand, red veins appearing in his eyes, his expression grave, "Sang Qing, my cub can survive, right?"

"Barring any accidents, it should." Sang Qing nodded, a gentle smile on her face.

Hearing this, Cree immediately jumped for joy, "Really? That's wonderful! My cub isn't dead, not dead."

He hardly knew what to say, his heart overflowing with excitement, "Sang Qing, thank you, thank you. I, I need to go tell Nina."

Cree danced about, lacking the steadiness of an adult male, and started to run home.

"Wait!" Sang Qing called out to stop him in time.

Cree slammed on the brakes and looked back at her, "What is it, Sang Qing?"

"Bring me some milk. The Little Cub needs to drink." Since Cree was going back anyway, it saved her the trip.

"Oh, oh, okay, okay." Cree noted Sang Qing's request and ran off cheering.

Seeing that Cree wasn't there to snatch the cub, Meng Lai breathed a sigh of relief, "Qing Qing, I'm off to hunt."

"Go on, be careful." Sang Qing adjusted the Little Cub's position.

Time to sun its bottom.

After steaming the meat strips, Sang Qing taught Sophia how to use the kitchen utensils and explained the situation in the Tribe. She told her that no Tribesmen or other beasts were allowed to enter the Treehouse without permission or take anything from the house.

Sophia nodded seriously, committing everything Sang Qing told her to memory.

The aroma of meat floated in the air. After finishing her tasks, Sang Qing found two beast hides for Sophia, telling her to make clothes herself. Then, she lay down on a beast hide with the Little Cub to sunbathe.

She said she was sunbathing, but she was actually buying clothes in the Mall.

However, although the dress sizes in the Mall were large enough, the length and waist didn't fit the physique of females in the Beast World and needed modification. So, she had to negotiate with the seller to change them into custom-made dresses for bulk wholesale.

It was true she wanted to make money, but she couldn't earn it with a guilty conscience. She still hoped the females could wear dresses and show their most beautiful side.

After finishing her conversation with the seller, Sang Qing felt the ground tremble. She opened her eyes to see a dark mass of beasts rushing toward her.

Sophia, frightened, quickly hid in a corner, her eyes panicked.

Sang Qing's mouth twitched.

Nina's Father and Mother crouched before the Little Cub sleeping soundly, not daring to breathe loudly, their eyes filled with disbelief.

It really was still alive. Wonderful.

Meanwhile, Sang Qing took the beast hide and shell crystal Cree handed over, inwardly praising his straightforwardness.

She liked this kind of direct expression.

Cree looked at her gratefully and handed over the milk.

He knew the Little Cub would have to stay at Sang Qing's house to be raised for a while, so he had discussed it with Nina and specially brought shell crystals and a beast hide.

It seemed he wasn't wrong; Sang Qing did like shell crystals.

After giving the items to Sang Qing, Cree went to watch over the Little Cub.

So good. His Little Cub was still alive.

Leaning against the wall, Sang Qing watched the scene of Nina's family gathered around the Little Cub, her heart slightly moved.

Another day passed. Sang Qing got up early and had just stepped out of the Treehouse when she saw a pile of prey at her doorstep. The blood on the wounds wasn't even dry yet; they must have died not long ago.

Seeing Meng Lai standing nearby, Sang Qing yawned and rubbed the back of her neck, "Brother, why did you go hunting so early in the morning?"

It was true she needed to make jerky, but he didn't need to be so diligent. She hadn't even finished steaming yesterday's meat.

"This... I didn't catch these." Meng Lai shook his head.

He had just gotten up too and was puzzled.

"If you didn't catch them, did Father?" Sang Qing paused and looked at the prey on the ground again.

Meng Qi poked his head out from the kitchen, "Not me either."

But he knew who it was.

"It was that male from yesterday, Master. He brought them before dawn." Sophia walked out holding the Little Cub and spoke softly.

Cree?

He was the only one Sang Qing could think of.

"Leave them for now. He'll probably come again later. We'll ask him what these are for."

Waving her hand, Sang Qing dismissed the matter. She was so hungry; time to cook first.

Sophia was very surprised by her Master's household eating two meals a day.

Because many beast households only ate one meal. No, actually, aside from her Master's house, no other family ate two meals.

But her Master's cooking was really delicious. She had never eaten such tasty food.

After the meal, same as yesterday, Meng Lai and Meng Qi went out hunting, while Sang Qing continued making jerky with Sophia.

As she cut the meat, Sang Qing didn't want to cut anymore. It was too tiring. Cutting meat for two days straight was making her wrists ache.

The profit margin for jerky wasn't high. If sales picked up, the time spent making jerky would be too long, making it not really worthwhile.

Pondering this, suddenly, an idea flashed in Sang Qing's mind. She secretly opened the System Mall and started searching.

Found it! She really did find the shop she needed.

Meat Processing Workshop!

Hehehe, she was such a genius.

She quickly asked if they could do processing for her. She would provide the materials, and the shop would make it for her. That would save her a lot of trouble.

Rubbing her hands together, Sang Qing opened the chat dialog.

Cree walked toward Sang Qing's house with light steps, holding the hand of a male cub who looked about sixty or seventy percent like him. Father and son walked along excitedly.

Thinking he would get to see his sister soon, Clone was very excited.

But he heard from his Father that his sister was very weak. He could only look, not touch.

The Little Cub was still lying on the beast hide sunbathing, same as yesterday. Looking at the cub's pink, chubby little body, Cree's entire heart softened.

"Sang Qing, can I hold her?" Cree crouched beside the Little Cub, gently stroking its soft hair, his gaze as gentle as water.

"No." Sang Qing was preparing to sow seeds in the Vegetable Garden. Carrying a hoe, she passed by Cree, shook her head, and then instructed Sophia, who was drying jerky, "Sophia, keep an eye on the Little Cub. I'll be back soon."

"Yes, Master." Sophia nodded obediently.

Only then did Cree notice that Sang Qing's household had a Slave.

Clone waited eagerly by his sister's side, gently touching her little foot with his hand, "Father, what's sister's name?"

This question stumped Cree. First, he hadn't known Nina would give him another cub this time. Second, the emotional rollercoaster of the past two days had left his brain overwhelmed; how could he remember to name it?

If Clone hadn't mentioned it, he probably wouldn't have remembered for a long time.