"Qiao Lie, stop!"
Hearing the voice, the small, crimson python, Qiao Lie, paused and glanced back at Qiao Xixi.
After seeing Qiao Xixi, his vertical pupils grew even colder, and he turned his head and bit down.
"Qiao Lie!"
Qiao Xixi rushed over, scooped Qiao Lie up, and grabbed his head as he tried to attack the white bear cub.
Freed, the white bear cub scrambled up from the ground and ran away.
Qiao Lie saw the cub take the fish beast from the ground. Angrily, he flicked his forked tongue at Qiao Xixi, then transformed into his human form in the blink of an eye.
The little guy's long, crimson hair was casually draped over his gaunt shoulders, and his pair of red, vertical pupils stared coldly at Qiao Xixi.
Below the corner of his eye was a red, fang-shaped mark that made his little face look even colder.
However, when he bared his teeth, the two small canines he revealed added a touch of cuteness to his cold little face.
Qiao Xixi sighed to herself. 'My three cubs are so good-looking.'
Qiao Lie spoke coldly, his childish voice lower than the freezing temperature.
"Stupid female, you made me lose my food!"
Qiao Xixi snapped back to reality and frowned. "Did you catch that fish beast?"
Qiao Lie's vertical pupils grew even redder. "He caught it, but I snatched it, so it's mine."
In the minds of Wandering Beastmen, if you wanted something, you took it. Once you snatched it, it was yours. This was one of the reasons other beastmen detested them.
In fact, it wasn't just Qiao Lie; the original owner of this body had done this sort of thing plenty of times herself.
But being naturally small and delicate, she could never win against other female Wandering Beasts, so she could only bully her own cubs and steal their food.
At this thought, Qiao Xixi's expression softened.
"From now on, don't snatch other beastmen's food. Mother caught some fish beasts. Come back with me and eat."
Qiao Xixi reached for Qiao Lie's hand, but he coldly dodged her, took a few steps back, and stared at her with his chilling, red eyes.
"Stupid female, you wouldn't be kind enough to give me food. What wicked scheme are you plotting now!"
Qiao Xixi opened her mouth to speak, but a crisp voice suddenly rang out in her mind.
"DING DONG. Congratulations, Host, you have been bound to the Cub-Raising System. I am System Fairy, and I am happy to be of service to the Host."
Qiao Xixi: ???
"As long as the Host completes the tasks assigned by the system, you will receive system rewards."
"System task loading complete. Please have the Host make cub Qiao Lie apologize to the white bear cub and establish a correct moral outlook for the cub. Task difficulty: two stars."
Qiao Xixi was so moved she almost cried. 'Damn it, I have a cheat system too!'
'A Cub-Raising System... so I just have to raise a few little cubs.'
'This was what I planned on doing anyway. Now I get to guide the cubs correctly so they don't turn into villains, *and* I get rewards. What reason is there not to do it!'
"What if I don't complete it?"
"The Host will receive an electric shock punishment."
Qiao Xixi: "..."
Qiao Xixi looked at Qiao Lie, who was staring at her coldly. She squatted down, trying her best to look like a loving mother.
"Qiao Lie, you just hurt the white bear cub. His father and mother will definitely come looking for trouble soon. You should come back with me first, so they don't drag you away."
Qiao Lie's handsome brows furrowed, and he pressed his small lips together tightly.
'Even though I don't know what this stupid female is planning, she's not wrong. That white bear's mother is known for beating other beastmen.'
Qiao Lie shot Qiao Xixi a glance and started walking ahead.
Qiao Xixi didn't mind. 'First, I'll get him back home. We can talk then.'
When Qiao Xixi walked into the ice cave, she saw the two little ones, Qiao Ang and Qiao Qiao, clutching fish beasts and gnawing on them.
Seeing her return, they both clutched their fish beasts warily, looking for a chance to escape.
Qiao Xixi didn't scold them.
"You can each have one fish beast today. We'll eat the rest tomorrow."
She had originally thought the food would last for two days, but the priority right now was to get the little cubs to lower their guard around her.
Qiao Lie gave Qiao Xixi a wary glance, but he couldn't resist the temptation of food. He grabbed a fish beast from the ground and began to eat it in big mouthfuls.
Watching the three little cubs devour the meat, the look in Qiao Xixi's eyes softened.
She was so hungry her stomach was growling. Just as she picked up a fish beast and was about to eat, a roar came from outside the entrance.
Her face tightened, and she immediately stood up.
"Qiao Lie, you get your ass out here!"
Qiao Xixi glanced back at Qiao Lie.
Qiao Lie's cold little face became even more frigid, and his red eyes instantly became vertical slits.
"Don't be afraid. Mother will go out and see what's happening. You all fill your bellies first."
After saying this, Qiao Xixi walked out.
Just as she stepped outside the ice cave, Qiao Xixi saw a male and a female White Bear Beastman, both of whom were incredibly burly.
The female White Bear Beastman was wrapped in thick, white animal hides that made her look like a bundled-up dumpling. She looked very sturdy, and her two pointed ears pricked up when she saw Qiao Xixi.
The male White Bear Beastman was even larger than the female. His round eyes glared angrily at Qiao Xixi, and just by standing in front of her, he exuded an overwhelming pressure.
In front of the two adult bear beastmen was a white bear cub who was quite a bit taller and stronger than Qiao Lie and his siblings.
His face was round, and his body was solid with muscle. There was a ring of soft, white fur on his hands, and right now, it was all standing on end because he was angry.
When the female White Bear Beastman saw Qiao Xixi come out, she glared.
"Qiao Xixi, your snake brat injured my cub! Hand that vicious snake brat over right now!"
Qiao Lie was in the wrong, so even though Qiao Xixi was unhappy with how the woman spoke about her cub, she still softened her voice.
"I already understand what happened. It's true that my Qiao Lie was wrong, and it was also my failure as a mother. I apologize to you."
Qiao Xixi's attitude stunned the family of three White Bear Beastmen.
This sort of thing had happened before, and every time, Qiao Xixi would just throw out whichever cub they were after and let them do as they pleased.
They would just let their own cub beat up hers, and the matter would be considered settled.
But today, Qiao Xixi had actually taken the initiative to apologize.
Inside the ice cave, Qiao Lie listened to Qiao Xixi's words, expressionlessly ate the last bite of meat, and then stood up.
Seeing Qiao Lie get up, Qiao Qiao blinked her big, clear eyes and tilted her little head.
"Third Brother, you should find a chance to slip away. Otherwise, that stupid female will definitely hand you over to that family of stupid white bears."
Qiao Ang nodded in agreement.
"Last time, you were beaten so badly your snake tail almost broke off. The stupid female threw you outside the ice cave in disgust. If I hadn't found you in time, you would have frozen to death. If you don't manage to run away this time, you might not make it out alive."
Qiao Lie's expression grew even more sinister. He stood up and watched the situation outside, looking for a chance to slip away while Qiao Xixi wasn't paying attention.
But the moment he ran out, Qiao Xixi snatched him up with her quick reflexes.
Qiao Lie froze in terror. "Stupid female, let me go!"
Qiao Xixi gave his bottom a gentle pat and lowered her voice.
"Don't run. Listen to me. I promise they won't hurt you."
Qiao Lie didn't believe her at all and struggled to get down.
"Qiao Lie, just trust Mother this once. I'll catch more fish beasts for you tomorrow."
Qiao Lie pressed his small lips together tightly, his blood-red pupils growing even more vivid.