Beauty and the Beasts

Bai Qingqing gazed at the waterfall quietly for a moment. Seeing that Cortis didn’t return, she briskly strode up to the side.

 If she was not going to run away now, then when?

 Using her hand, Bai Qingqing tested the strength of the waterfall. The instant she extended her hand, she nearly collapsed from the weight.

 Retreating several steps, she gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and dashed out.

 “Splash!”

 Ripples exploded across the lake. Then, after a while, her head burst out from the surface.

 Bai Qingqing spat out a mouthful of clear water and gasped in big breaths.

 When she entered, she hadn’t realized that the stone cave was a lot taller than the water surface. It was only when she jumped out that she did. Leaping into the water from a tall height made her sink to the depths of the water, with the waterfall’s water continuously raining down upon her, making it extremely difficult for her to float to the surface. Thankfully, she was a pretty good swimmer, else she would have drowned.

 1Bai Qingqing didn’t dare stop. Huffing and puffing, she swam to the shore, and the minute she hit the shore she got up and started running.

 

She could no longer care about the wild beasts and poisonous bugs in the forests—what could be more tragic than landing in the hands of a homeless beast? She’d count herself lucky if she managed to escape back to the village. And even if she died trying, she’d have no regrets.

 It was morning when she left the village, and the sun was on the east side. They had walked against the sunlight. It was evening now and the sun was on the west side. Hence, she should be back-facing the sunlight.

 After roughly gauging the direction this way, Bai Qingqing ran as fast as she could.

 When Cortis returned with an adult antelope to the lake, before he even entered the cave he sensed that Bai Qingqing wasn’t around anymore.

 Tightening his tail, the thoroughly dead antelope spewed out the filthy blood from its internal organs, then, with a bang, its body exploded, causing bloodied water to splatter all around.

 “Ssss—” Cortis flicked out its tongue to capture the scent of a female.

 Its large snake body pressed upon the grass patch that had the lingering scent of a female before it speedily gave chase.

 Barefooted, Bai Qingqing stepped on the forest ground that had withered tree branches and rotten tree leaves scattered all over. The sharp objects on the ground pierced her feet and, with each step she took, she left a bloody footprint.

 She was feeling frustrated over not wearing shoes in order to fit in in the tribe. If only she still had her shoes on.

 Hearing a slithering sound from behind, the alarmed Bai Qingqing instantly turned her head around, only to see the head of a snake moving in the grass.

 Her pupils dilated. Time seemed set to slow motion as she watched while the black and red snake got nearer and nearer to her, yet her body was so stiff that she couldn’t move an inch.

 

The speed of time wouldn’t slow down because of one person’s sense. The very next moment, Bai Qingqing was curled up by the tail of the snake and whisked off the ground.

 Cortis transformed his upper body into human form as he curled Bai Qingqing to face him. With red lips that looked like it had lipstick on, he said in a chilly voice, “You won’t be able to escape.”

 The blood drained from Bai Qingqing’s face, her clear large eyes filled with despair as she gazed at Cortis.

 Perhaps she would only be free of all this if she died.

 The air was filled with the sweet scent of blood. Cortis flicked out his tongue, suddenly looking panicked. He instantly hugged Bai Qingqing to his chest.

 “You’re injured?” Cortis sounded very anxious, as though the cold-blooded person earlier was another person.

 Bai Qingqing was baffled by Cortis’s sudden change. It was only when he raised her foot to check her wound did she snap out of her daze and hurriedly held her skirt down.

 “Ssss—” Holding Bai Qingqing’s foot, Cortis licked away a trace of blood with his tongue, the heartache in his eyes growing more evident now.

 Her injury was so severe. He ought to bring her along to hunt. This way, Xiao Bai wouldn’t have tried to escape and got injured.

 Bai Qingqing was speechless.

 Bai Qingqing shrunk her foot back. What’s going on here? Didn’t he look furious just a moment ago? And isn’t this just a minor injury?

 It seemed like males were protective of females everywhere in this world, and even the homeless beasts weren’t an exception.