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Chapter 111: Lightning Leopard Cubs

Clay walked over to Ashura with a slightly awkward air, punched him lightly on the shoulder, and said, “Ashura, what level are you really at? If we had known you were this strong, we wouldn’t have been so on edge!”

Ashura flashed a flashy grin. “I’m just a bit better in real combat, that’s all. I told you I’d never lead you to your deaths, yet taking down the Red-Lotus Serpent King this smoothly even surprised me; I didn’t expect it to be fighting the Lightning Leopard…”

He broke off, then, after a few quick blinks of movement, dashed to the Lightning Leopard lying motionless on the ground.

The beast was barely breathing now, its abdomen rising and falling faintly as though death were moments away.

Feeling elated, Ashura called to the others, “We’ve hit the jackpot… two tier-6 Beasts!”

The others realized the same and hurried over, excitement rising; Christine stroked the huge head of the Lightning Leopard and sighed under her breath, “What a wonderful mount this would have been, what a pity.”

Suddenly the Lightning Leopard’s previously shut eyes flew open, each as big as a fist, and its sharp slit pupils made Christine recoil in fright until she stumbled into Ashura’s arms.

Everyone panicked and drew their weapons, bracing themselves, while Clay raised his battered shield to stand in front of his sister.

Ashura wrapped his left arm around Christine’s waist, savoring the softness of the beauty in his arms, and held a blade ready in his right.

Christine’s pretty face flushed crimson as she tried to stand, yet her whole body felt limp and she lacked the strength to leave his embrace.

The Lightning Leopard, like Christine, could not get up; it struggled a few times, then gave up, the ferocity in its eyes melting into helplessness and a touch of sorrow.

After watching for a moment, Ashura set the lovely woman aside, strode forward to stand a yard before the Lightning Leopard, and locked eyes with it for a long while.

The beast’s gaze no longer held malice; instead a faint plea appeared as it raised the forepaw that protected its belly.

Seeing this, Ashura seemed to understand; his expression grew complicated, he sighed softly at the Lightning Leopard, and nodded.

He then stepped forward, used his blade to open the Lightning Leopard’s abdomen, and, amid the crowd’s cries, removed two wriggling lumps of flesh… two Lightning Leopard cubs.

It turned out that the Lightning Leopard had been close to giving birth and thus greatly weakened, and it had been discovered by the Red-Lotus Serpent King that had fallen from the cliff above into its territory; the serpent had seized the chance to kill the Lightning Leopard, devour its flesh, and claim the land.

The serpent launched its attack today while the leopard was in labor, and Ashura’s squad happened to stumble upon the battle.

The Lightning Leopard had held back in the fight only to protect the cubs in its belly.

At last, while being crushed in the serpent’s coils, it was the first to release its bite on the serpent’s vital spot, for it knew that if it kept struggling the two cubs inside would be strangled first.

Having given up hope, the Lightning Leopard expected the worst end, yet Ashura’s squad appeared and killed the Red-Lotus Serpent King.

However, many of its bones had already been broken by the constriction, and shards had pierced its organs; its life was now at its last flicker.

Even so, it kept its forepaws clasped over its belly until that silent exchange of gazes, when it begged Ashura to rescue its young.

Though it was a Beast, everyone felt the greatness of a mother’s love.

Ashura held the two blood-soaked cubs before the Lightning Leopard’s eyes, letting its slowly dimming pupils see the offspring it had fought to protect.

The Lightning Leopard tried to extend its tongue to lick the cubs, yet even that small motion was exhausting.

Ashura moved the cubs to its muzzle; the beast cast Ashura a grateful look, lowered its head to kiss the two cubs, and then fell silent forever.

The party fell into silence; tears streamed down Luna’s face as she suddenly missed her own mother and yearned to return to her side.

Ashura picked the cubs up again; the little creatures had opened their eyes and were surveying the world with curiosity, occasionally licking his palm as though they already felt close to him.

Turning to the others, Ashura said, “Time to divide the spoils. Clay, I have the Red-Lotus Serpent King beast core you two need… name your price.”

But the siblings gave no reply; they just stared at the two cubs in Ashura’s arms, practically drooling.

Clay was the first to snap out of it; he nudged Christine’s elbow, bringing her back, and the two exchanged a flurry of silent looks.

At last Christine seemed to reach a decision; she flipped the blonde hair on her chest, swung her long legs, and walked to Ashura’s side.

She wrapped both arms around Ashura’s and, in a coy tone, said, “Ashura, we don’t want the Red-Lotus Serpent King’s beast core; we want those two Lightning Leopard cubs. Of course we’ll show our sincerity… please?”

With that she shook his arm vigorously, her ample bosom heaving with each swing, and Clay, standing nearby, felt goosebumps rise all over.

Since the day she had taken up a knight’s lance, his sister had never acted like a dainty woman, let alone coquetted with a man like this.

The sudden waves made Ashura a little dizzy, yet he still leaned his arm forward to feel the surge as much as possible, for he was no saint.

After enjoying the softness for quite a while, Ashura finally said, as though with great reluctance, “I know you two want the cubs as mounts, and I’m personally fine with that, but you’ll have to ask the others, and you must offer enough sincerity so we can split things fairly.”

Clay and Christine immediately turned to the others in excitement; Rock’s opinion needed no asking… Ashura’s word was his will.

Luna, ever the quiet wallflower, kept sneaking glances at Ashura and clearly had no opinion of her own.

As for Jella, she was glaring at Christine’s hands wrapped around Ashura’s arm; Christine promptly let go and, without a word, tugged up her slipped breastplate.

Only then did Jella pout and say, “Since you two need the cubs most, they can go to you. I happen to know the market price for tier-6 Beast cubs… especially Lightning Leopards suitable for mounts… opportunities money can hardly buy!”

Clay immediately added, “Rest assured, everyone. From this trip to the Beast Forest my sister and I will take only these two cubs… nothing else… and we’re willing to pay 2,000,000 gold coins for them!”

“We don’t have that much on our crystal cards right now, but if you leave your card codes we’ll have the funds transferred the moment we get back; we swear on the honor of the Kekkao family!”

With those words, Clay and Christine each produced a token bearing their family crest.

Jella recognized the famous emblem of the Kekkao family and regarded the siblings with added respect.

Seeing that no one objected to the price, Ashura handed the two cubs… still licking his arm… to the siblings.

The brother and sister held them as though they were priceless treasures, elated beyond measure.

Clay went further and said to Ashura, “From now on you’re my best brother; my sister and I owe you a huge favor. If you ever need my help, just say the word!”

Ashura thought to himself, “I don’t really need you; what I want is your sister, but how do I say that…”

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