64: Chapter 64 What I Saw in My Dream

"What?" Sang Qing, with her back to him, continued packing cabbage into baskets without looking up.

"It's Qing Que. He's broken through to the Fifth-Rank Warrior level." Meng Lai, plucking at a cabbage leaf, ventured cautiously.

"Oh!" So what? It had nothing to do with her.

Sang Qing's lack of significant reaction was within Meng Lai's expectations.

"Many females in our Tribe are planning to pursue Qing Que now." Meng Lai spoke up again.

Not only that, but a Fifth-Rank Warrior is also a very popular presence in the forest. Once news of Qing Que's breakthrough spreads, even more females will likely seek a Pair Bonding with him.

"Oh!" So what?

Sang Qing still had the same reaction.

This wasn't right. Meng Lai stared at her, puzzled. Did she not want to form a Pair Bond with Qing Que?

"Qing Que asked me to ask you if you're willing to form a Pair Bond with him!" Meng Lai mustered his courage, braving the risk of a beating from his younger sister, and cautiously posed the question.

He hadn't expected Qing Que to actually have his sights set on his sister. And despite having broken through to the Fifth Rank, Qing Que still harbored such thoughts—it wasn't easy.

"Oh!" So what?

Wait, what?

Sang Qing straightened up, a flicker of astonishment crossing her face.

Had she heard correctly? Qing Que had her brother ask that?

Sang Qing frowned and turned to look at her brother. "Are you sure he said that?"

"Of course. Would I lie to you?" Meng Lai thumped his chest, speaking with full confidence.

"Hah!" Sang Qing scoffed and snorted lightly. "Coward. He can't even ask something like this himself?"

He knew he'd have no face to stand before her, didn't he?

No matter how many ranks he broke through, she would never like a beast as arrogant and self-centered as Qing Que.

"You don't agree?" Meng Lai analyzed his sister's mood; it wasn't hard to see her dislike for Qing Que.

If that was the case... things wouldn't be easy for Qing Que.

"Why should I agree? I don't like him." Sang Qing bent back to her work, her face devoid of any extra expression. "Brother, just tell him to give up on that idea."

Qing Que? He wasn't even as good as Feng Yuan. At least Feng Yuan knew to give her gifts.

No, wait. That's not right. Both of them were no good.

One was an arrogant jerk, the other a shameless rogue.

"But Qing Que is already a Fifth-Rank Warrior. He can protect you very well." Meng Lai, for the sake of his long-time friendship with Qing Que, was willing to put in a good word for him.

Sang Qing raised the cabbage in her hand and threw it at Meng Lai, glaring at him irritably. "Then why don't you form a Pair Bond with Nina? She has a sixth-level fertility value."

Her brother really was unreliable.

It seemed her plan was correct. Once she earned enough to buy a villa, she'd live alone.

Meng Lai fumbled to catch the cabbage Sang Qing threw, giving an awkward smile. "Well, that's true."

Forget it. A friend wasn't as important as a sister. He'd better shut up quickly and not risk angering Qing Qing further, or he might not get any dinner.

Meng Lai wisely stopped talking, pushing Sang Qing to go rest. He finished the remaining work by himself.

Only then did Sang Qing give him a slightly better look.

In the kitchen, Sang Qing forcefully pressed the blanched cabbage into jars, filling three large jars completely.

"Brother, help me move these jars to the storeroom." She wasn't comfortable leaving them in the yard; better to move them to the storeroom. Even though it was almost filled with the jerky Sophia made, there was still some space left.

Next time she went to the Market, she'd have to bring some jerky to trade.

Aqi hadn't come to the Tribe to trade jerky lately. She wondered what he was busy with.

"Coming, coming!" Meng Qi dropped the half-eaten chestnut in his hand and dashed into the kitchen.

Looking at Meng Lai's powerful arm muscles, Sang Qing suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, brother. How do you feel after eating those two pills?"

She had almost forgotten about that.

"Feel? Not much. Just seems like my strength increased a bit. Nothing else really." Meng Qi effortlessly lifted a heavy jar weighing two to three hundred pounds, his expression unchanged.

He shook his head at Sang Qing, speaking casually.

No change? That shouldn't be. Were the body tempering pills ineffective?

Sang Qing walked out of the kitchen, sat on a small stool by the door, picked up a handful of chestnuts, and began peeling them thoughtfully, popping them into her mouth.

"System!"

"[Host, please understand the meaning of the body tempering pill. It does not take effect immediately but gradually improves physical aptitude.]"

Oh, so that was it.

Then she wouldn't worry. She'd observe for a while longer.

As the sun was about to set, Meng Qi walked into the yard carrying a bulging animal skin bag, a faint smile on his face. "I'm back!"

"Father!" Sang Qing, sitting in the yard peeling chestnuts, smiled upon seeing Meng Qi return. She hurried into the kitchen to serve the food and start dinner.

"Qing Qing, I won't eat. I already ate at Jinshi Tribe." Meng Qi, smelling the fragrant food in the air and thinking his cub was probably waiting for him to return before eating, quickly called out.

He set the animal skin bag down from his shoulder and stretched his arms.

Chieftain Xuan Xiao was too enthusiastic. Not only did he invite him and the chief to eat at the Tribe, but he also gave them so much fruit and animal pelts.

Whoever spread the rumor that he was missing was wrong. Chieftain Xuan Xiao was perfectly fine, just had a minor facial injury. Thankfully, the chief was clever; his first words upon arrival were about paying a visit, not directly asking if Xuan Xiao was missing.

"Oh, alright." Hearing her Father's words, Sang Qing put away his eating bowl.

Meng Lai returned from the stream after bathing, carrying an animal pelt. Seeing the animal skin bag at the doorstep, he opened it for a look. "Huh? Where did these fruits come from?"

"Father brought them back." Sang Qing only glanced briefly, not really seeing what was inside. "Come on, let's eat."

"Father's back?" Meng Lai glanced into the house, greeted Meng Qi, then happily sat down to eat.

Meng Qi changed out of the animal pelt he had worn, planning to wash it at the stream. Glancing at his two cubs eating heartily, he reminded them, "Qing Qing, these are Red Berries sent by Chieftain Xuan Xiao. They have a fresh, sweet taste. Remember to eat them!"

"Okay, Father!" Sang Qing readily agreed. But after Meng Qi left, a thought struck her. Sent by Xuan Xiao?

She hoped she was overthinking it.

After dinner, Meng Lai was in charge of washing the dishes. Sang Qing's gaze swept over the animal skin bag. Remembering her Father's instruction, she decided to wash a few berries to taste.

Opening the animal skin bag, Sang Qing was slightly surprised. Weren't these apples?

Such big apples? Sang Qing looked at the red apples, twice the size of her fist, and picked one up to smell it.

It really had the scent of an apple. She'd wash it and try it.

Taking a bite of the large apple in her hand, Sang Qing didn't even peel it, just bit right in.

Mmm, this tasted really good. Sang Qing placed the washed fruit inside the house for the other beasts in the family to try. Biting into the apple, she headed to the stream to continue practicing Star Flow Flying Needle.

At night, when all was quiet, Sang Qing read her skill book for a while before lying down to sleep.

Freed from the constraints of a 996 schedule, Sang Qing could now fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, and she rarely dreamed.

But somehow, tonight she actually had a dream.

In the dream, she fantastically saw Fu Ning's figure. She watched as he transformed into his Beast Form and lay on a giant shell bed, his face pale. He was surrounded by his companions, all looking worried or anxious, their gazes fixed on Fu Ning with deep concern.

However, Sang Qing couldn't hear what they were saying. She only saw Fu Ning's face growing paler and paler, almost matching the color of the pearls piled on his bed.

She felt inexplicably heavy-hearted.

What was wrong with him?

Fu Ning's breathing gradually grew weaker. His Mother was heartbroken, holding his hand as tears streamed down her face.

The others around were probably his siblings; they bore some resemblance to him. They also looked extremely anxious, calling out to him repeatedly.

But Fu Ning couldn't hear their calls. His life force grew fainter, and soon he closed his eyes, his delicate, fragile face completely devoid of color.

Fu Ning? Sang Qing frowned tightly, calling out his name in confusion.

Soon, Fu Ning's body began to dissolve into colorful bubbles before her eyes. As he completely vanished, Sang Qing felt an extreme sense of suffocation and instinctively reached out to grab him. "No!"

No, no! Fu Ning!

Sang Qing jolted awake from the bed, sitting up clutching her chest, gasping for breath.

Huff... huff...

That was terrifying.

What was going on? Why would a perfectly good fish turn into bubbles? So strange!!!

"Qing Qing, what's wrong?" Meng Qi, hearing his cub's cry, hurried over, his face full of worry.

"Father!" Sang Qing reached up to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Seeing the bright daylight outside, she shook her head slightly at him. "I'm fine. I just had a dream!"

But that dream felt so real.

Meng Qi patted her back, his brow relaxing. "It's good that you're okay!"

"Get up. Meng Lai has already made breakfast."

Sang Qing nodded, her heart still pounding with lingering fear. She pushed aside the animal skin blanket, and her violently beating heart eased slightly.

Swallowing hard, Sang Qing looked at her troubled expression in the mirror and shook her head vigorously.

No. She had to go ask the Shaman. The merfolk pearl Fu Ning gave her definitely had a problem.

After breakfast, Sang Qing took a basket of cucumbers to the Shaman's dwelling.

The Shaman's cub, A Nonggu, had found a severely injured Peacock Beastman while hunting in the forest yesterday and brought him back. The Shaman had just finished applying medicine when she heard Sang Qing's call from outside.

Glancing at the still-unconscious beastman, the Shaman slowly stood up and walked out with a smile.

Because the one she was treating wasn't from her own Tribe, and he was covered in blood, the Shaman, fearing he might covet her new house, had only placed him in her previous Treehouse.

Exiting the Treehouse, the Shaman waved to Sang Qing. "Sang Qing Child, I'm over here!"

This cub was one who never visited without a reason. Why was she coming to see her so early today? Had something happened?

Sang Qing walked over from outside the new house and greeted her politely. "Shaman!"

"Do you need something? Have a seat." The Shaman gave her a kind look, pointing to a small wooden stool beside her for Sang Qing to sit on.

Sang Qing sat down and got straight to the point, recounting what had happened to her.

Meanwhile, the injured beastman lying inside the house regained consciousness. Hearing a clear, lively female voice outside, his eyes moved slightly.

After listening to her story, the Shaman fell silent for a moment. She took Sang Qing's hand and felt it. "Sang Qing Child, for the Merfolk Clan, the merfolk pearl is their life source. Without it, they will die very quickly."

That's why the Merfolk Clan usually form Pair Bonds within their own kind; it's rare for them to bond with other races.

Moreover, a Merfolk generally wouldn't give their life source to their mate. Extracting the merfolk pearl is an extremely painful process.

She thought what Sang Qing dreamed about yesterday was likely the scene of that Merfolk soon meeting the beast god.

"Huh?" Sang Qing's mouth fell open.

Was Fu Ning out of his mind? Knowing he would die, yet he still gave her his merfolk pearl?

Sang Qing couldn't understand what was going through his head. He seemed like such a shy beastman, yet... "He's gambling. Gambling that you'll soften your heart because, after forming a Pair Bond with him, you could also share the abilities of the merfolk pearl." The Shaman sighed, withdrew her hand, and shook her head calmly. It was unclear whether it was out of helplessness towards Sang Qing or Feeling towards Fu Ning.

One could only say that Merfolk had quite the audacity.

Daring to gamble with his very life.

So that was it!!

"Then let him go die." Sang Qing was cold-hearted and unfeeling. She wouldn't change because of some fish anyway.

Besides, she had no feelings for Fu Ning whatsoever.

The Shaman gave her a disapproving look, her gaze falling on the herbal medicine growing nearby. "If the name you mentioned is correct, I remember Fu Ning should be the cub of the Mermaid Clan Queen. If he dies, the races by the sea and probably you yourself will face great unrest."

So the consequences of his death were severe.

"..." Sang Qing fell silent, her brow gradually furrowing.

What did that have to do with her? Fu Ning was the one who actively gave her the merfolk pearl without even asking for her opinion.

She didn't sow this cause, so why should she bear the fruit?

She refused to accept it!

"Shaman, is there any way to return the merfolk pearl to him?" Clenching her fists, Sang Qing felt agitated.

Next time she saw Fu Ning, she'd definitely give him a few punches.

The Shaman thought for a moment. It seemed there really was no way.

She could only shake her head. However... "Sang Qing Child, actually, you don't need to be too tense. It's just a Pair Bonding. Merfolk have long lifespans. By giving you his pearl, you could gain at least twice the lifespan of an ordinary female. He's not entirely calculating against you."

If there wasn't a bit of sincerity, how would that Merfolk dare to make such a move so easily?

In the Shaman's view, that male, knowing Sang Qing couldn't bear children yet still willing to form a Pair Bond with her, must like her very, very much.

A Pair Bonding might not be such a bad thing.

Sang Qing raised an eyebrow. Really? Increased lifespan?

Then... that wasn't entirely unacceptable. But she had no feelings for Fu Ning at all. How could they possibly form a Pair Bond?

Sighing, Sang Qing pursed her lips, lost in thought.

"Alright, I understand, Shaman. Thank you. I'll head back now." But Sang Qing couldn't figure it out right away, so it was better not to think about it for now.

Fu Ning probably wouldn't die that quickly anyway.

The Shaman nodded with a smile.

After leaving the cucumbers, Sang Qing jogged away.

Because of the matter with Fu Ning, Sang Qing didn't go to the Market for two consecutive days, staying in the Tribe to rest.

Taking advantage of the time, Sang Qing dug a cellar behind the house.