I Transmigrated as a Villainess to Raise Babies, and My Beast Husbands Are Fighting Madly Over Me!

Chapter 414: Chapter 414: What’s the Difference Between You and Me

Yun Ji continued working without pause, placing the cleaned fish beast onto a fresh leaf before casually picking up another.

"Never."

The answer didn’t surprise Qiao Xixi in the slightest. He was the Holy Priest. She had long since heard from Jin Ling and the others that the selection process for the Holy Priest was even more stringent and demanding than for the Beast King.

Rumor had it that the Holy Priest was a beastman who could look the Beast God in the eye, one who sat among gods. It was only natural that he would be unfamiliar with mundane things like pots and pans.

"Yun Ji, have you ever met me before?" Qiao Xixi asked, feigning nonchalance.

Yun Ji’s expression faltered for a moment before a faint smile graced his lips. "Yes. I’ve even held you in my arms."

Now it was Qiao Xixi’s turn to be stunned. "You’re... that old?"

The faint smile at the corners of Yun Ji’s eyes faltered.

"No, that’s not what I meant! I mean, you met me when I was a child?"

"Yes."

"Then... do you know why my father took me away from Beast King City all those years ago?"

Yun Ji placed the second cleaned fish beast on the leaf and rose to his feet.

"You finish the rest. I’ll go gather some firewood."

Qiao Xixi glanced at the mangled fish beast and frowned. ’Oh, well.’ She couldn’t hold an otherworldly Holy Priest to such high standards.

"Fine."

Qiao Xixi deftly cleaned the rest of the fish beasts. She pulled a marinade from her personal space and rubbed it onto the meat before wrapping each one in leaves. Then, she tied the leafy bundles together with vines. Shifting into her beast form, she hoisted the bundle onto her back and headed toward the cabin.

The moment she was gone, a crimson-black mist rose from the river’s surface. The mist coalesced into the form of Kunlin. It gazed at Qiao Xixi’s retreating figure and tried to fly after her, but before it could reach her, an invisible barrier slammed into the mist, violently flinging it back.

"Damn you, Yun Ji! Let’s see how long your beast soul’s energy can last!"

Back at the cabin, Yun Ji had already started a fire.

Qiao Xixi carried the fish beasts over and dug a pit beside the fire. She tossed in the leaf-wrapped fish, then raked the burning firewood over the top.

"Oh no! I completely forgot to catch fresh insects for you."

Yun Ji glanced at the roasted insects he himself had tossed into the fire, now burned to a crisp. The corner of his eye twitched.

"There’s no need. I’ll just eat the fish."

"Are you sure? You don’t have to force yourself."

"I’m not!"

"Alright, then."

Qiao Xixi had been working all afternoon, and the small amount of meat she’d eaten that morning had long since been digested. Once the fish was cooked, she devoured an entire one, and even Yun Ji ate a surprising amount.

"We can leave the rest buried in the embers. They’ll stay warm and be good to eat tomorrow."

As dusk began to settle, Qiao Xixi got to her feet.

"Where are you going?"

"This place is supposed to be relatively safe, but I’m still uneasy. I’m going to set some traps."

Yun Ji didn’t stop her, letting her do as she pleased.

When she returned from setting the traps, she found Yun Ji still sitting by the fire. The orange glow of the flames flickered across his body. She wondered if it was a hallucination, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he seemed... paler. Fainter. As if he might disappear at any moment.

Instinctively, Qiao Xixi reached out and touched his shoulder.

Yun Ji’s body went rigid, and he even stopped breathing.

His clear, gentle voice was tinged with a hint of hoarseness. "What is it?"

Qiao Xixi tugged at his feathered robe. It felt smooth and... solid. Full of life. ’Looks like I’m just tired and my eyes are playing tricks on me.’

"It’s nothing," she said. "Just checking to see if you were a monster in disguise."

Yun Ji was left speechless.

"You should go to sleep," he said. "I’ll keep watch tonight."

Qiao Xixi refused without a second thought. This was no time for ’ladies first’. Yun Ji was wounded, and he still had to help save her father. She needed to make sure he recovered as much of his strength as possible.

"I’m not tired. You go sleep." Without giving him a chance to refuse, she grabbed his feathered robe and pulled him toward the cabin.

"You haven’t fully recovered yet. You need to rest well for the next few days. I’ll watch over you."

Yun Ji looked down at the hand pulling him so resolutely, his light-colored eyes widening in momentary shock. "You... will watch over me?"

Qiao Xixi nodded. "Yes, I’ll watch over you."

She pulled him over to the bed and made him sit. "Don’t underestimate me. I have other abilities besides the ones you taught me. So, you can rest easy while I keep watch."

With that, Qiao Xixi turned to leave the cabin.

"Will you... keep watch the whole time?"

"Of course. I won’t leave. Don’t worry."

Qiao Xixi didn’t turn back, so she didn’t see the dazed look in Yun Ji’s eyes as she spoke. ’You won’t leave, no matter what happens?’

Once outside, Qiao Xixi didn’t dare to truly rest. She took out a beast-hide blanket, spread it by the door, and sat down, planning to meditate. But she couldn’t bring herself to close her eyes.

With Jin Ling and the others gone, she couldn’t possibly fall asleep out in the open. She wouldn’t feel safe, even with her eyes closed.

Qiao Xixi sat cross-legged and began to mentally review what she had learned from the scrolls.

Before long, however, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, and her eyelids began to feel heavy.

She fought to keep her eyes open, but the drowsiness was a tidal wave that instantly swept her under.

"Letting a female stand guard for you... Yun Ji, you’ve become more useless than ever."

’Yun Ming. The monster’s voice.’

Qiao Xixi’s eyes flew open to pitch-black darkness. But soon, the black was driven away by a strange, crimson halo. The light gradually solidified into a humanoid shape, finally taking the form of Kunlin before her very eyes.

"Yun Ming."

Kunlin smiled at her. It was the same face as Yun Ji, but the aura was entirely different.

"It seems Yun Ji has already told you about me."

Qiao Xixi rose to her feet, her gaze cold. "He did. He told me all about a monster like you."

"Leave this place now, and I’ll let you live."

As Yun Ming spoke, his gaze shifted to the cabin behind her.

Qiao Xixi’s expression hardened.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Kill Yun Ji, of course. As long as you leave now, I won’t kill you."

He even stepped aside, clearing a path for her.

An astonished look appeared on Qiao Xixi’s face. "You’re... really going to let me go?"

"Of course. I have a soft spot for females."

Qiao Xixi pressed her lips together, as if conflicted. "Fine... I’ll go."

Seeing Qiao Xixi about to leave, the smile in Yun Ming’s eyes grew even more maniacal.

"You don’t care if Yun Ji lives or dies?"

Qiao Xixi lifted her chin. "What is he to me? Why should I care?"

"BWAHAHAHA! Excellent! Truly excellent! Go on, then, female."

Without so much as a backward glance, Qiao Xixi dashed into the forest.

Inside the cabin, Yun Ji stood calmly by the door, listening to the sound of Qiao Xixi’s retreating footsteps. A strange emotion flickered briefly in his light-colored eyes.

"Did you hear that, Yun Ji? In the end, everyone in this world abandons you. What’s the difference between you and me? BWAHAHAHA!"

The black mist burst through the wooden door, coalescing in the darkness into sharp claws that lunged straight for Yun Ji’s heart.