Chapter 267: Chapter 267

The bit of affection he had felt due to association was now completely shattered. The rıghtful source is 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩

His icy gaze swept over, causing the four cubs to shiver collectively.

Nan Mo communicated with everyone telepathically, "Daddy is too scary; maybe we should just give up."

Dongchi clenched his teeth, "No, in front of Mom, he’s just a paper tiger!"

Bei Ji chimed in, "Yeah, we’re four adorable little ones. I refuse to believe we can’t win against a lousy dad!"

With that, Dongchi didn’t give up and transformed into his snake form, coiling himself around Si Yan’s arm.

Si Yan was overjoyed.

Then, all four cubs simply transformed into their snake forms and wound themselves around Si Yan.

They had always preferred their snake forms, especially when they were relaxed in body and mind by Si Yan’s side; they liked it even more then.

They affectionately rubbed against Si Yan, who couldn’t resist it, and she said, "Then you all stay here and sleep."

The cold-blooded snake Beastman felt this wasn’t going to work. He stepped forward and asked, "Yan Yan, what about me then?"

Si Yan stammered, "Ah, this..."

Si Yan was caught between a rock and a hard place. Finally, she simply said, "Although the bed is a bit small... but... how about we all squeeze in together and sleep?"

Upon hearing this, the four cubs clung even tighter to Si Yan, refusing to let go.

The snake Beastman was rendered speechless again. An eyesore. All I need is my Mistress; what’s the use of cubs? They’re a complete eyesore.

Jin Kun, the third eldest of the Jin Family, found Jin Yang and Jin Yao.

Jin Yang strode over and called out, "Third Brother!"

Jin Yao ran over with a giggly smile and hugged Jin Kun’s waist tightly. "Third Brother!"

Jin Kun patted Jin Yao’s head and smiled. "I saw your opening act. How’s the Heavy Wood I sent you?"

Jin Yao, still hugging Jin Kun’s arm, swayed it playfully. "I knew Third Brother loved me the most."

Jin Kun picked Jin Yao up, sat down, and placed her on his lap.

Jin Yao leaned against Jin Kun’s chest, and he took the opportunity to kiss her cheek.

They didn’t see anything inappropriate about their actions.

Jin Kun stroked Jin Yao’s face and asked affectionately, "Yao Yao, Fourth, did you guys figure out what Fifth and Sixth are preparing to do?"

Jin Yang shook his head. "Sixth and her group brought back some Red Earth Fruits, a few large black rocks, yellow mud, and a pile of wood. I can’t tell what she’s planning."

Jin Yao said, "Third Brother, since they’ve collected Red Earth Fruits, they’re probably making some dried Red Earth Fruit. As for the rocks, mud, and wood, I can’t tell either."

Jin Kun looked adoringly at Jin Yao. "Sixth grew up in the countryside, so she doesn’t know how to make much. At most, she’ll just play with rocks and mud. She hasn’t had the formal training of a Witch Doctor Priest like you did. Yao Yao, you’ll definitely win."

Jin Yao was very happy with Jin Kun’s affirmation. "Mhm, Third Brother!"

Jin Yang added, "Third Brother, Fifth and Sixth aren’t coming home anymore."

Jin Kun said, "Fifth has always been a loner. Just let him do whatever he wants out there. As for Sixth... after all, she carries the blood of the Golden Dragon clan; she’ll come back sooner or later."

"All in all, we’re guaranteed to win this Wan Cheng Gathering at Myriad Beasts City."

The next morning, Wang was still visibly unhappy on the way to the venue with Si Yan.

It was all because last night, all four cubs had turned into their snake forms and clung to Si Yan, refusing to let go.

He had waited for them to fall asleep, intending to gently move them away.

But the slightest movement would wake them up.

And then the four cubs would glare fiercely at him!

Wang had never been so angry before!

He wished he could take each of them over his knee and spank their bottoms!

Faced with this "family conflict," Si Yan wore an expression of helplessness; she could only try to mediate.

Wang was not someone to be trifled with, and the four cubs were so adorable; of course, she couldn’t bear to see them upset.

As for sleeping? We’re just sleeping together... It’s very normal for a daddy, mommy, and cubs to sleep together, isn’t it...

She hugged Wang’s arm, and Wang could only glare at the four cubs in sullen anger.

Si Yan, Tai Seng, and Jin Tong arrived at the venue together.

The Gray Parrot was very interested in what Si Yan had been working on the day before, so he left his seat and walked over to her.

Si Yan asked with a smile, "Does the Wise Gray Parrot also want to come and see?"

The Gray Parrot smiled and said, "I know that whatever you make is definitely extraordinary."

Si Yan laughed nervously. "You shouldn’t say that; it’s my first time making this. I’m quite apprehensive."

The Wise Gray Parrot smiled lightly and said nothing.

Si Yan was already attracting a lot of attention. With the Gray Parrot coming over, even more Beastmen noticed her.

"The Lady of the Lord is approaching that pile of mud."

"I don’t understand, what can you make with mud? Mold a mud figure?"

"The Wise Gray Parrot acknowledges the Lady of the Lord, and the residents of Myriad Beasts City say that the Lady of the Lord is a sage. Let’s pay close attention to what she creates."

Si Yan touched the surface of the small kiln; it had become hard and brittle.

Si Yan said to Tai Seng, "Tai Seng, take a rock and break it open from here."

Upon hearing her, Tai Seng did as Si Yan instructed and broke open the kiln.

A plume of smoke billowed out.

Si Yan quickly went over, about to reach in to take out the charcoal, when Jin Tong stopped her.

"Si Yan, step back. My skin is thick; I’ll do it," Jin Tong said.

After speaking, Jin Tong took out the black substance from the small kiln.

Looking at the pitch-black substance, Jin Tong was extremely curious. What went in yesterday was clearly dry wood; how did it turn into something completely black today?

"It’s not hot." Only then did Jin Tong hand the substance to Si Yan.

Si Yan took the charcoal, a bit excited. She broke it open and saw the thoroughly carbonized core inside.

"We did it!" Si Yan exclaimed excitedly.

Tai Seng, Jin Tong, and the Gray Parrot all crowded around.

The pieces of dry wood had actually all turned into charcoal!

The Gray Parrot asked, "Wise Si Yan, what is this you have made?"

Si Yan answered, "This is charcoal."

The Gray Parrot asked, "Charcoal? Wood turns black and it becomes charcoal? What’s the use of it?"

Si Yan explained, "Charcoal burns longer than wood, and it has fewer impurities, so there’s less smoke when it’s burning. Another important point is that it burns at a very high temperature."

The Gray Parrot looked dramatically surprised. "Really?!"

Although most Beastmen in the Beast World didn’t use fire and even considered it sacred, the sages of Myriad Beasts City did use fire.

The Gray Parrot also regularly used wood for burning. However, wood produces a lot of smoke and burns very quickly, so he could only use it outdoors.

He thought this was a problem without a solution.

He’d never imagined Si Yan could create something .

Si Yan nodded. "If we make enough charcoal and store it, we won’t need to go out frequently to look for wood in winter. Also, when burning it in caves, the problem of thick smoke filling the cave will be greatly reduced. However, when burning charcoal indoors, we still need to be careful about harmful gas production, so we’ll need to construct a chimney."

The Gray Parrot was ecstatic. "This is a wonderful thing, truly a wonderful thing!"

The visiting Beastmen from distant lands, who had also heard their conversation, exclaimed excitedly, "As expected of a sage, to even be able to control fire!"

"The Wise Gray Parrot has already started to popularize the use of fire in Myriad Beasts City. Haven’t you learned it yet?"

"We are so afraid of fire, how could we possibly know how?"

"Then what do you do in winter? It’s so cold without a fire, and the food freezes solid. How do you eat?"

"In winter... we just tough it out."

"What if you can’t tough it out?"

"If we can’t... we die."

"Fire is not as scary as everyone thinks. When you have time, you should learn how to use fire in Myriad Beasts City. At least in winter, it could save many Beastmen’s lives."