Hu Jiao Jiao hurriedly put down what she was doing and ran outside. She glanced at the cubs and noticed that Long Ling’er was missing. Anxiously, she asked, “What happened? Why didn’t Ling’er come back with you?”

The cubs all wore grim expressions, their clothes dusty as if they had been rolling on the ground. Before they could answer, Long Yao flew out, crying, “Aow! Aow!” His small eyes were red, and he anxiously circled around Hu Jiao Jiao.

Seeing this, Hu Jiao Jiao immediately knew something had happened to Ling’er. She picked up Long Yao and comforted him, “Don’t worry, Yao’er. Mommy will find Ling’er. Let your brothers explain what happened.”

She then turned to the three cubs for answers.

Long Yu’s face darkened with guilt. He glanced at Hu Jiao Jiao, his voice filled with remorse, “It’s my fault. I didn’t look after Ling’er properly. We were collecting wood, but when I turned around, she was gone…”

Long Zhong also bit his lip hard and spoke in a muffled voice, “We searched everywhere we could think of, but we couldn’t find her. We thought she might have gone home, so we came back.”

From the look on Hu Jiao Jiao’s face, they realized she hadn’t seen Long Ling’er either.

He felt guilty for losing her—how could he let something like this happen?

Hu Jiao Jiao’s expression grew serious. How could Ling’er disappear just like that? She remembered the dream she had about Yao’er being in danger due to his disappearance. But why hadn’t she dreamed about Ling’er this time?

Seeing the cubs’ anxious faces, Hu Jiao Jiao frowned deeply. After thinking for a moment, she asked in a grave tone, “Where did you notice Ling’er was missing? And how long has she been gone?”

“It was in the area where we usually collect wood. She disappeared shortly after we left home,” Long Yu quickly replied, his thoughts becoming clearer.

For some reason, Long Yu was hopeful. Last time, Hu Jiao Jiao had found Xiao Wu. Maybe she could help find Ling’er this time too. How could she just disappear without a trace?

Hu Jiao Jiao’s brow furrowed as a thought struck her. The place where the cubs collected wood was rarely visited by adult beastmen. Only young cubs would go there. Ling’er’s disappearance likely wasn’t the work of an adult. Could a cub have taken her as a prank?

As she considered the possibility, Hu Jiao Jiao’s expression turned cold. If she wasn’t mistaken, Xiong Hua had been released. If Xiong Hua, bearing a grudge, had taken Ling’er as revenge, it seemed the most plausible explanation!

The cubs looked nervously at Hu Jiao Jiao, noting her displeased expression. Were they in trouble? Would she still search for Ling’er, or was she so angry with them for losing her that she would reveal her true nature?

Just as the cubs’ worries intensified, Hu Jiao Jiao suddenly knelt down, her face both serious and gentle as she patted their heads. “Don’t worry, Mommy will find Ling’er. Stay home and wait for me. I’m going out to look for her.”

After reassuring the cubs, Hu Jiao Jiao stood up, preparing to head to Xiong Hua’s home. But as soon as she rose, she felt a tug on her clothes. Turning around, she saw Long Yu stubbornly holding on to her.

“We’re coming with you.”

Even Long Zhong, who usually disliked Hu Jiao Jiao, spoke up with a tense face, “I’m going too.”

Hu Jiao Jiao thought for a moment and then nodded. “Alright, Yu’er and Zhong’er, come with me. Yao’er and Xiuxiu, stay here in case Ling’er comes home.”

She spoke gently, calming the cubs’ nerves. After ensuring they were settled, she took Long Yu and Long Zhong with her to Xiong Hua’s home.

By this time, the beastmen had returned from hunting, and every household was busy preparing dinner. Smoke rose from chimneys, filling the air with a sense of peace.

Xiong Hua’s home, which had burned down, had been hastily rebuilt with the help of a few male beastmen. The new house was small and flimsy compared to the original.

Xiong Hua sat eating roasted meat, cursing at Xiong Zhuang for being useless.

“Xiong Qiu! Get out here!” A sharp, angry voice suddenly came from outside.

Xiong Hua, startled, got up and saw Hu Jiao Jiao storming toward her with the two cubs in tow. Remembering how her last attempt to confront Hu Jiao Jiao had backfired, and how she had been locked up for days, Xiong Hua instinctively shrank back, trying to avoid her.

Beastmen tend to bully the weak and fear the strong. In the past, Hu Jiao Jiao was an easy target because she was meek. But now that she stood her ground, it was Xiong Hua’s turn to be afraid.

Before Xiong Hua could slip away, Hu Jiao Jiao had already entered the courtyard. She quickly spotted Xiong Qiu, who was trying to hide behind Xiong Hua. “Xiong Qiu! Did you take Ling’er? Speak up!”

Long Yu and Long Zhong glared at Xiong Qiu. If looks could burn, he would have been roasted by now.

Xiong Qiu trembled in fear and grabbed Xiong Hua’s clothes, hiding behind her.

Though afraid, Xiong Hua’s temper flared at Hu Jiao Jiao’s boldness. Puffing out her chest, she glared back, “What do you mean by this, Hu Jiao Jiao? Coming here to accuse my cub? Has Xiong Qiu done something to you? Just because you have the chief’s support, doesn’t mean you can bully us!”

Everyone in the tribe knew that Hu Jiao Jiao had the chief’s backing, and no one dared provoke her—not even Xiong Hua. But accusing her cub of such a thing? That was unacceptable!

Hearing Xiong Hua’s words, Long Zhong’s anger boiled over. “Ling’er is missing! Xiong Qiu always bullies us. He must have hidden her!”

“You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting?” Xiong Hua snapped back instinctively, but as soon as the words left her mouth, Hu Jiao Jiao shot her a cold glare, cutting her off.

Xiong Hua nervously avoided Hu Jiao Jiao’s gaze, stammering, “I mean, Xiong Qiu is well-behaved and wouldn’t do such a thing. You’re making baseless accusations!”

Hu Jiao Jiao knew that confronting Xiong Qiu without evidence might seem rash. But the thought of Ling’er being in danger overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t hold back. She shot a cold glance at Xiong Hua. “Can you guarantee he didn’t do it? Let him answer my questions. I’m only asking; I won’t harm him.”

She then turned her sharp gaze to Xiong Qiu.

Feeling Hu Jiao Jiao’s intense stare, Xiong Qiu avoided eye contact, clearly nervous.

Hu Jiao Jiao’s face darkened, and her tone grew serious. “Xiong Qiu, did you do it? Do you know where Ling’er is? Answer me!”