Chapter 266 - 268: Vicious Mother

Chapter 266: Chapter 268: Vicious Mother

Even after speaking with Bai Meng, Su Luoluo still felt a little uneasy.

Being out in the open while her enemy lurked in the shadows was the most difficult situation to defend against. All she could do was remain on high alert.

After some thought, she decided to start preparing her own meals.

Sickness enters through the mouth, after all. If someone wanted to make her infertile, the simplest and most direct way to damage her body would be to poison her food.

Her body had recovered enough now that she was perfectly capable of cooking for herself.

If she cooked for herself, her food would pass through fewer hands, making it safer.

Besides, she was craving something different.

Cai Xia was a good cook, but she was getting a little tired of eating the same things all the time.

In addition to being careful about her food, Su Luoluo went to the Ring-tailed Lemur Tribe to find Si Cheng.

Su Luoluo got straight to the point. "I need you to have someone watch my things. I had a dream where the Heavenly God warned me that someone is trying to harm me."

Hearing this, Si Cheng’s expression instantly grew grim. "Rest assured, leader. I’ll assign people to watch everything carefully."

After giving her instructions, Su Luoluo went to pick some vegetables. Beastman cubs grew so fast; in just a short time, her little ones were already starting to grow teeth. She could make some baby food for them.

...

Lan Ya went to the plaza, clutching a talisman that was emanating black smoke. Cai Xia was there, cooking.

Lan Ya walked over and asked Cai Xia, "Which bowl is Su Luoluo’s? I’ll take it to her."

Cai Xia was in the middle of stir-frying some vegetables. She stopped, surprised. "What did you just say? You’re going to take food to Luoluo?"

’Since when has she been so nice to Luoluo? She barely showed any concern when Luoluo was pregnant with the cubs, and now she wants to bring her food?’

Lan Ya knew how strange she must have sounded. She cleared her throat, her expression a little unnatural. "Su Yang said that giving birth to the cubs was hard on Luoluo, so he told me to check on her more often."

That explanation dispelled much of Cai Xia’s suspicion.

Su Yang had always felt that Lan Ya wasn’t kind enough to Su Luoluo and often urged her to treat their daughter better.

Seeing that Lan Ya had apparently taken his words to heart, Cai Xia replied with uncharacteristic gentleness, "Luoluo just came by. She said she isn’t eating here today; she wants to make her own food."

At those words, Lan Ya’s face instantly darkened.

’That Su Luoluo is always so difficult,’ she thought. ’So high-maintenance, even about a simple meal.’

Seeing that her plan to poison the food in the plaza had failed, Lan Ya turned and headed for the outdoor kitchen.

’That damn brat, Su Luoluo, is so guarded,’ Lan Ya cursed inwardly. ’I don’t know if I’ll even get a chance to use this talisman.’

Muttering curses, Lan Ya neared the kitchen, only to be surprised to find that Su Luoluo wasn’t there.

Her eyes lit up. This was the perfect opportunity.

’The outdoor kitchen is empty right now. If I put it in something, Su Luoluo will never notice.’

She glanced around the kitchen. Su Luoluo’s table was covered with all sorts of bottles and jars. One pot stood out for its unique design; it had an upturned spout and a small teacup resting on it.

She remembered seeing Su Luoluo drink from that little cup before.

At that thought, she pulled the black talisman from her robes, took out a torch, and set the talisman alight.

The Ring-tailed Lemur Beastman watching her saw this and frowned. "Priest, Lan Ya is about to harm the leader. I’ll go arrest her now."

"Wait," Si Cheng said. "Don’t tip our hand yet. Let’s see what she’s planning to do."

Si Cheng couldn’t understand it. ’How could Lan Ya, Su Luoluo’s own mother, treat her this way?’

’Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own young. But Lan Ya...’

After the black talisman had burned to ash, Lan Ya opened the pot’s lid, tipped the ashes inside, and gave it a few good shakes. She wiped down the table, and once she was certain she had left no trace, she glanced around one last time before leaving, relieved.

Not long after, Su Luoluo returned with the vegetables she had gathered.

She had just set her things on the ground when Si Cheng approached her, his face grave. "Leader, we’ve found the person behind the poisoning."

Su Luoluo was surprised. ’I thought it would take longer. I didn’t expect them to be found so quickly.’

"Who is it?"

"Your mother, Lan Ya," Si Cheng said, his voice full of pity.

"Lan Ya?" Su Luoluo didn’t seem as conflicted as Si Cheng. Her expression was neutral, showing only a hint of surprise, not pain.

’Lan Ya being the poisoner is a surprise,’ she thought. ’I can’t figure out why she would try to make me infertile.’

’We’ve had our conflicts, sure, but not enough for her to want to end my bloodline!’

"Where did she put it? What kind of poison was it?"

Si Cheng lifted the lid of the pot. "In the water. It wasn’t poison, but a black talisman. I examined it. This talisman doesn’t look like something an ordinary Witch Doctor or Priest from the Lower Domain could create."

"I don’t know what the talisman does yet, so you should still be careful, leader."

"A talisman?" Su Luoluo nodded, then frowned and let out a derisive laugh. "It seems Lan Ya was just a pawn."

’Si Cheng might not know what this is, but I do.’

’Still, I don’t get it. Why go to all this trouble just to stop me from having more cubs?’

All at once, someone came to mind.

She turned and ran toward his room. Pushing the door open, she found it empty. She paused, then asked Si Cheng, who had followed her, "Have you seen Fu Feng?"

Si Cheng shook his head. "I don’t think I’ve seen him at all today."

Su Luoluo’s brow furrowed. ’Where has that flashy peacock gone now?’

...

「Tianwu Mountain.」

Fu Feng glanced left and right. Seeing no one around, he retracted his wings after landing on a Parasol Tree.

’Good, no one’s here. Otherwise, I’d just get dragged back again.’

’The Phoenix Wood Core from these trees is the best for calming the mind. When I was little and couldn’t sleep, Mother would use the core to make a pendant for me to wear.’

Seeing that he was alone, Fu Feng relaxed and chopped down a tree, then began to gouge at it with his claws.

「Heavenly Pool.」

Fu Yao was preening his feathers when a noise made him frown. "What is that racket?"

A Bird Beastman waiting nearby bowed his head and reported, "The Young Master has returned. He’s carving Parasol Tree Wood right now."

"He’s back, so what? Why does he have to make such a huge ruckus?"

"Leader, shall I summon the Young Master for questioning?"

"Question him about what? That brat is nothing but trouble. I tell him to practice his skills, and he complains one place is too dirty and another stinks. Just let him stay in the Lower Domain a while longer. I could use a few days of peace and quiet."

"Understood. Also, the Xuan Bird clan sent someone over. They’re asking when the contract ceremony with the Young Master will be held."

"Contract? What contract? With that arrogant Fire Bird of theirs? What’s so great about it?"

"Put it off. Tell them the Young Master isn’t here, so it can’t be held."

’Honestly, it’s one annoying thing after another. It’s all getting in the way of my nest-building.’

Fu Feng finished carving the Phoenix Wood Core, then flapped his wings and flew back to the Wolf Clan Tribe.

He had just landed when he saw Su Luoluo pacing in front of his room. A smile spread across his face as he walked over. "Luoluo, were you looking for me?"