Originally, the cubs could stay inside the cave while Ashi worked at the entrance, watching the outside world.
But ever since the last unexpected visitor incident, Ashi always remembered to close the fence tightly whenever he went out, to prevent the cubs from getting hurt.
The cubs looked at the closed fence and gathered together. Da Mao said solemnly, “Now it’s just the three of us left at home. Should we play something fun?”
Er Mao asked cautiously, “Big brother, what fun do you want to play?”
Da Mao stretched out his little wings and nodded at Er Mao and Rong Rong. “Let’s have a fight. You two team up against me one-on-two. If you win, I’ll call you both Big Brother and Big Sister!”
Rong Rong’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Big brother, are you going that far?!”
The three of them often argued about these titles, fighting fiercely. The losers had to call the other two brother or sister. Er Mao and Rong Rong often couldn’t resist the temptation—they wanted to be the boss!
Da Mao was full of confidence. “This time, I will definitely beat you until you admit it!”
Er Mao and Rong Rong exchanged glances, quickly seeing the burning fighting spirit in each other’s eyes, and nodded together, agreeing, “No problem, let’s fight here!”
The items padding the bottom of the bird’s nest were too soft, making it hard to stand firmly while playing here. Similarly, being pushed down wouldn’t hurt much.
Nearby, there were dolls about their size, so they didn’t have to worry about bumping into anything.
Plus, none of them were very strong yet. They just pushed each other over and pinned each other down.
“One, two, three, start!”
At Rong Rong’s command, she and Er Mao charged in the same direction, trying to pin him down.
Da Mao was the big one. When they were born, they were all about the same size, but for some reason, as he grew, Da Mao grew his body but not his brain.
Compared to the clever Er Mao and smart Rong Rong, Da Mao, who was twice the size of an ordinary cub, didn’t seem so smart.
Da Mao stood his ground, waiting for their attack, not afraid of their teamwork at all. He even felt a bit proud—facing two opponents alone was so impressive.
Soon, Ashi returned with some medicinal herbs. Seeing the cubs tangled up and fighting fiercely, he glanced over. They were still just playing.
Ashi crushed and dried the herbs, scattering them in every corner of the cave to keep a faint herbal fragrance.
Their cave never had a single fly or mosquito.
Compared to other beastmen caves, theirs was exceptionally clean, mainly because A Yue and Ashi were neat freaks. Naturally, the cave was tidy, making it especially comfortable for the beastmen living there.
Da Mao eventually won. A tuft of fur stood upright on his head as he struggled up onto the bird’s nest, looking down proudly.
“Admit it today, right? I’m forever your big brother!”
Er Mao and Rong Rong panted, lying at the bottom of the bird’s nest, conceding, “Big brother, you’ll always be our big brother!”
Having gained this promise, Da Mao happily climbed down and lay between Er Mao and Rong Rong, equally exhausted.
He had successfully established his position as leader today.
Since Rong Rong spent the longest time with Da Mao and Er Mao, it was inevitable they were influenced by her, becoming smarter and more mature than ordinary cubs.
A Yue and Ashi, as new parents, watched their cubs and couldn’t help but think they were the best in the world.
They didn’t constantly watch the cubs, so when they noticed the cubs were cleverer, they just thought the cubs were simply smarter.
After Ashi finished scattering the powdered herbs, he took a moment to rest and then came over to the cubs to teach them.
He asked, “If a stranger beastman comes up to you with food, saying that your father and mother sent him to take you to them, what would you do?”
Da Mao was the first to answer. “Eat the meat, then follow him to find father and mother.”
Ashi didn’t comment, turning to Er Mao.
Er Mao thought carefully before answering, “If it’s a familiar beastman, I’d eat the meat and follow him.
But if it’s a stranger, I wouldn’t leave with him. I’d go closer to places where there are more beastmen.”
Rong Rong sighed quietly and said seriously, “I wouldn’t go, no matter who it is. Even familiar people might trick us and hurt us.”
Ashi looked at Rong Rong with delight. “Da Mao, Er Mao, and Rong Rong’s answers all have some sense, but Rong Rong’s is the best choice.
Except for me and your mother, and each other, you can’t trust anyone too much.
When dealing with others, always keep an eye out.
If something feels wrong, refuse immediately. Understand?”
The cubs nodded obediently, trying hard to remember what Ashi said.
Ashi fetched some meat and fed the cubs, praising them, “Good job.”
“It’s okay if you can’t remember everything right away. Take your time. I’ll teach you often. For now, just learn a little. When you grow up, you’ll remember naturally.”
The cubs had just finished playing and eating. Their little heads started drooping as they listened to Ashi’s words, about to fall asleep.
Ashi reached out and covered them with a fur blanket, leaving half the opening for breathing. He whispered, “Go to sleep,” then quietly left.
At this age, it was fine to take the cubs outside.
A Yue and Ashi hadn’t brought the cubs out yet, mainly because the outside temperature was too high and it would be hard on them.
After discussing, they planned to wait for the rain, then take the cubs out to walk around and familiarize themselves with the forest.
Ashi was busy coming and going.
When Rong Rong woke, she noticed two water bags placed in the corner!
Rong Rong immediately turned to Da Mao and Er Mao. “Big brother, second brother, let’s play hide-and-seek?”
“Sure, sure! Who wants to be ‘it’ first?” Da Mao agreed instantly. Er Mao followed along with a nod.
Rong Rong volunteered, “I’ll be ‘it’ first.”
She turned her back, burying her head in her wings, not looking at Da Mao and Er Mao.
They immediately perked up and quickly flew down from the bird’s nest.
After waiting a bit, Rong Rong planned in her mind how to dodge their sight and swap the water in the bag with Spirit Spring Water.
Spirit Spring Water had long-term benefits when consumed regularly. Rong Rong had naturally prepared some early for the family.
“I’m coming to find you,” Rong Rong called out.
After waiting a while longer, she left the bird’s nest and scanned the area, spotting the small mistakes Da Mao and Er Mao made.
But she wasn’t in a hurry to find them. Instead, she went over to the water bags.
She bit the wooden stopper and tried hard to pull it out. It was tightly sealed and didn’t move.
Rong Rong tried for a while but failed, finally giving up reluctantly.
She searched here and there and eventually found Da Mao and Er Mao.
Da Mao eagerly said, “Next, it’s my turn to find you two!”
He picked a corner to wait for them to hide.
Rong Rong patiently played with them for two rounds.
When it was her turn to seek again, she looked at the big water bag and asked, “Let’s take a break from hide-and-seek. Look over there— isn’t there a water bag?”
Rong Rong went to the water bag and suggested, “Let’s try to pull the stopper out.”
She tried first but couldn’t pull it out.
Then Da Mao and Er Mao stepped up. Da Mao gave it his all and finally pulled out the stopper.
He pretended it was easy. “Rong Rong, see? It came right out.”
It was indeed effortless.
Rong Rong leaned in and touched a bit of water with her wingtip, instantly withdrawing all the water.
Then she added plenty of Spirit Spring Water.
Rong Rong smiled brightly and praised, “Big brother, you’re really amazing!”
“Big brother will definitely become the strongest among us.”
She quietly put the stopper back and led the cubs to play somewhere else.
Ashi walked into the cave and immediately noticed the area around the water bag was wet, with little cub footprints on the ground.
He instantly knew the cubs had secretly tampered with the water bag while he was gone and restored it afterward.
But the spilled water on the floor couldn’t be taken back, and the wet stains were obvious.
Rong Rong only realized this when putting the stopper back.
She hadn’t noticed the amount when pouring Spirit Spring Water in, so some water overflowed.
Water spilled can’t be recovered.
Rong Rong glanced at Ashi’s movements nervously.
Da Mao noticed her distraction and frowned, “Rong Rong, why are you distracted when we’re playing?”
“What if Father finds out we played with the water bags?” Rong Rong whispered.
Da Mao and Er Mao instinctively watched Ashi, feeling a bit worried and tense. “W-what should we do?”
The three cubs stood together, looking guilty with their heads lowered, afraid to look at him.
Ashi’s eyes twinkled with amusement, but he put on a serious face. “Why are there two puddles of water on the ground?”
Rong Rong took a few small steps forward and whispered, “Father, sorry. I wanted to tell big brother and second brother to see what was inside, so I asked big brother to help open the cap.”
Ashi scooped the three little ones into his arms and laughed. “There’s only water inside the bag. Next time if you don’t understand something, just ask me. Don’t go fiddling with things on your own. Your little bodies could get hurt.”
Rong Rong immediately brightened. “Thank you, Father! Next time, if we’re curious, we’ll just ask you.”
Ashi silently reminded himself that the main reason was he hadn’t hung the water bags on the wall yet.
He had placed them on the ground temporarily and planned to hang them up later.
Since the cubs saw them, their curiosity got the better of them, and they fiddled with the bags, spilling some water.
The stones on the ground quickly absorbed the small puddles, so Ashi didn’t need to go find sand to cover it.
With the hot weather, it dried quickly.
The cubs played on Ashi’s legs for a while, then voluntarily went down to continue playing inside the cave.
Compared to the bird’s nest, they preferred the big cave.
Rong Rong quietly took a medicinal herb seed hanging on Ashi and hid it in her space, happily playing with the cubs.
She planned to secretly plant the seed tonight, but for now, it was time to play.
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