Chapter 203 - 202: A Kiss Will Make It Better

"Alright, it’s settled then. We’ll leave you to your private affairs."

Xiong Jiaojiao glanced at the Beast Husbands behind her with a knowing look, then pulled away the few who still wanted to say something and left.

Chu Liangyu found this amusing and didn’t mind her teasing, simply watching their retreating figures quietly.

Faintly, Chu Liangyu could still hear Flower Branch’s somewhat unhappy complaint, "Sister Jiaojiao, I haven’t even had a chance to speak with the Chieftain. Why did you pull me away?"

"Exactly, I wanted to say a few words to the Chieftain too," Cao chimed in from the side, equally disgruntled.

Xiong Jiaojiao knew her actions were a bit arbitrary, but she understood how they felt. So, she patiently explained, "Didn’t you notice something was off with the Chieftain’s Beast Husbands?"

Xiong Jiaojiao had high emotional intelligence. When speaking about Chu Liangyu to others, she always referred to her as the Chieftain.

It wasn’t for any other reason, just to give everyone the impression that she was strictly professional and wouldn’t show favoritism based on their personal relationship.

This was also to help Chu Liangyu establish a good image within the tribe.

The two thought back for a moment, then shook their heads in unison and said together, "Our attention was all on the Chieftain. How could we have noticed anything else?"

"We’ve all returned to normal, but those few are still in their beast forms. The Chieftain must have noticed and is about to deal with it."

After explaining, Xiong Jiaojiao concluded, "So, to avoid delaying her from handling things, I was in a hurry to pull you all away."

"Oh... so that’s what was going on."

It dawned on the two of them, and their displeasure faded with the explanation.

Indeed, Chu Liangyu was just about to investigate the reason for her Beast Husbands’ abnormality.

Once the surrounding crowd had mostly dispersed, Chu Liangyu finally turned to face them.

"Female Master."

Before she could even speak, they all called out in unison.

Feng Qiwu and Yu He had stopped fighting the moment she approached. Now, they looked like well-behaved children, waiting for Chu Liangyu to speak.

It would have been more convincing, however, if one ignored the injuries on their bodies.

Chu Liangyu’s gaze swept over them, a hint of a smile at the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.

A mischievous glint flashed in Feng Qiwu’s eyes. He padded forward on his claws and used a wing to nudge Chu Liangyu in Chi Yizhong’s direction.

He wanted to make Chi Yizhong look like a fool, but what he said was, "Female Master, for some reason, the few of us can’t change back into our human forms."

"Chi Yizhong took the most tribulation lightning. You should check on him first and see what’s wrong."

On one occasion when Chu Liangyu accompanied Chi Yizhong back to the sea, Yu He had tagged along.

Therefore, he knew perfectly well that Chu Liangyu was aware of what Chi Yizhong’s beast form looked like.

Seeing that Feng Qiwu would not only fail to put Chi Yizhong down but might even embarrass himself, a gloating expression appeared on Yu He’s face.

"Alright."

The first time Feng Qiwu had seen Chi Yizhong was at sea. He had only seen a silhouette from afar and didn’t know what his full form looked like.

Seeing it by chance this time, he was shocked. He wanted Chu Liangyu to see it too, secretly hoping to witness Chi Yizhong fall out of favor.

Who would have thought Chu Liangyu’s expression would remain so calm? She didn’t show the slightest hint of disgust at Chi Yizhong’s ugly beast form.

Not only that, but Chu Liangyu’s face was filled with concern as she carefully asked Chi Yizhong how he was feeling.

Feng Qiwu’s mouth fell open. He suddenly froze, feeling as if he had just handed an opportunity to his rival.

’Stupid, absolutely idiotic!’

Feng Qiwu was filled with regret. He stepped directly between the two, glancing at Chi Yizhong out of the corner of his eye, and said, "Female Master, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him. Come check on me instead. I ache all over."

Seeing that his expression didn’t seem fake, Chu Liangyu began to examine his condition as well. She asked a few questions but found nothing abnormal.

"You all come over, too. I’ll check on all of you at once."

Yu He reacted instantly, reaching Chu Liangyu’s side first and shoving Feng Qiwu aside. "Female Master," he said, "don’t pay any attention to Feng Qiwu. He was just faking it."

Chu Liangyu nodded and began to examine everyone’s condition. However, as she finished checking on all of them, her brow furrowed involuntarily.

Her eyes showed confusion and a strange look.

When Chu Liangyu had first noticed they were slow to change back to their human forms, she’d sensed something was wrong and had sprinkled some extra Power of Creation on them.

But, there was still no change.

And her examination just now had revealed nothing out of the ordinary, either.

"How strange. You’re clearly not injured anymore, so why can’t you change back into your human forms?"

Chu Liangyu couldn’t help but voice her bewilderment, her gaze resting on them, full of confusion.

"It’s nothing to worry about. Perhaps we’ll recover after a little more time."

Seeing that she had finished her examination, Cang Yu retracted his claws and offered a casual word of comfort.

"Other than not being able to change back to our human forms, we don’t feel any ill effects. You don’t need to worry, Female Master."

He Yushu walked forward with a smile, spreading his wings to show her.

"Right, right, you’re all fine, but I’m not! My head hurts!"

Feng Qiwu, who had been pushed out of the group, squeezed his way back in. He moved close to Chu Liangyu and rested his phoenix head on her shoulder, putting on a frail and weak act.

Chu Liangyu flicked his head, a little skeptical. "Really?" she asked.

"Really!"

Chu Liangyu saw through his little scheme but didn’t expose it directly. Instead, she asked, "Then what will make your head stop hurting?"

Feng Qiwu nuzzled her shoulder and said with a grin, "It’s not hard. A kiss from my Female Master will make it all better."

"So just one kiss will make the pain go away?"

The Phoenix had lost quite a few feathers, but his beast form was still quite handsome. Acting cute with Chu Liangyu now, he looked exceptionally well-behaved.

Chu Liangyu smoothed his feathers. She was inexplicably touched by his somewhat clumsy performance, and her heart softened.

"Yes, one kiss and the pain will be gone."

Feng Qiwu didn’t even blush. He knew his little trick had been seen through, yet he still shamelessly pressed his request.

"Alright."

Feng Qiwu froze for a second, clearly not expecting her to agree so easily.

His entire phoenix head remained on Chu Liangyu’s shoulder, not moving at all.

But just then, Chu Liangyu turned her head and planted a kiss on his face.

It was very light, like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface.

Yet even so, an exceptionally brilliant smile spread across the Phoenix’s face.

It was just that it was hard to see clearly, obscured as it was by his feathers.

Feng Qiwu let out an excited cry, then began to nuzzle Chu Liangyu’s neck nonstop, trying the same trick again. "Oh dear, my head still hurts. How about another kiss, Female Master?"

This blatant attempt to take a mile after being given an inch made the others grind their teeth, wishing they could pluck all his feathers out.