“35,” replied Mitchell.

  Bai Qingqing was shocked to hear that Mitchell was so young. A 35-year-old four-striped beastman would be considered a genius on land.

  Mitchell could see what Bai Qingqing was thinking and said self-deprecatingly, “I became a four-striped beastman at 28, only a few years later than Winston. But actually, I really admire him. He did it with his own efforts, whereas I obtained most of my powers with my father’s help.”


  As for the leopard beastman, Mitchell could tell that he was like him, similarly forcibly leveling up. Hence, he didn’t think very highly of Parker.

  Though Bai Qingqing looked like she didn’t care, her ears were pricked as she collected all this information.

  “Whenever my father looks at me he will think of his mate, so he took great care of me. He has used countless transparent crystals to help me become a four-striped beastman.”


  Mitchell said, “As repayment, I’ve been helping him look for soul crystals.”


  Bai Qingqing probed, “How old…… is your father? How many years has it been since he became a stripeless beast?”


  Though Mitchell saw right through Bai Qingqing, he didn’t hide the truth from her. Because the truth induced even greater fear in others.

  “I’m afraid even he isn’t sure how old he is. But once every century, the three moons will turn full once. Every time that happens he will make a marking. There are five such markings by now. As for capability……”


  Mitchell raised his brows in pride as he said, “He became a stripeless beastman right when he made the second marking.”


  Bai Qingqing widened her eyes. Five hundred years old!

  She had always known that so long as one was formidable enough, he would be able to live on. But she hadn’t imagined that there existed someone so formidable that had lived for more than five hundred years!

  There were indeed crouching tigers hidden dragons in the beastman world. Bai Qingqing felt that she had come into contact with truly formidable beastmen, but she had no idea how many of such beastmen there were.

  Now, the most important thing was, could Curtis defeat him?

  This Saint Zachary’s talent definitely paled in comparison to Curtis’s, for he only became a stripeless beastman after he turned at least one hundred years old.

  But, the opponent was advanced in age! It had been more than three hundred years since he became a stripeless beastman.

  Forget it, it was better not to trifle with someone so difficult to deal with. It would be wiser to make a deal if it was possible.

  Shortly after, the meat was cooked, and Bai Qingqing started eating it from the stick. Due to her hunger, even if the roasted meat was devoid of flavor, she still relished eating it.

  After eating her fill, Bai Qingqing made a bed on the icy rock and sat upon it, then secretly started feeding An’an.

  One tended to feel sleepy in a cold environment. As Bai Qingqing quietly breastfed the baby, her whirling mind seemed to become frozen, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

  Mitchell put out the fire, gripped the black crystal on his chest, and spaced out staring at Bai Qingqing.

  “What should I do?” Mitchell seemed to be mumbling to himself, and at the same time, seemed to be conversing with the black crystal.

  “Although Dad takes great care of me, this matter concerns his spouse. He probably won’t be willing to relent. Can I only let them make a deal, then send Qingqing back?”


  The black crystal’s energy sparkled briefly, as though responding to his question.

  Mitchell seemed to hear something, for he sneered. “You indeed have selfish intent and don’t wish for Bai Qingqing to leave. But only then can I feel reassured keeping you around.”


  The black crystal sparkled once more.

  Mitchell said, “Well, then. I’ll heed your words—do nothing and bid my time, for now, interact more with her in the hopes that she will grow to accept me. After all, she has already accepted that feral snake beastman, which means that there’s hope for us.”


  Bai Qingqing had been feeling grateful towards Shuu, but unbeknownst to her, he and Mitchell had long been locusts tied to one rope[1].

  Through Shuu, Mitchell got to experience love; on the other hand, using Mitchell’s body, Shuu got to interact with his beloved. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but he might not necessarily succeed in helping her escape from the underground palace.

  [1] in the same boat