PRAIRIE LION GROUP ARC CHAPTER 2

                                    

                                          

NOTE:
I am really sorry for not updating for so long. I am currently preparing for a competitive exam which is very detrimental to my future. So I've been quite busy. I probably won't have time to update regularly and I will be going on a short hiatus at least until March 2025. Thank you for all your support and I hope I ace my exam.
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Qiao Qixi spaced out for a moment before seriously pondering what to name the little white lion.
He hadn't expected this frail, timid-looking cub to follow him, and yet here it was, quietly trailing him for so long before being discovered. This hinted at untapped potential.
As a white lion, whose survival was already fraught with difficulty, Qiao Qixi decided not to give him a grandiose name. A name too grand might feel burdensome. Instead, he drew on the wisdom of rural elders from his hometown, choosing a "humble" name for better luck.
So, after using The Art of War to outwit seals on Arctic ice, Qiao Qixi now employed folklore and feng shui to name a lion cub in the African savanna.
He settled on Doughball.
Qiao Qixi swallowed hard, briefly daydreaming about the taste of minced meat noodles—a flavor he hadn't savored in ages. Would there be a chance to reincarnate as a human and eat noodles in his next life? He began to indulge in this unrealistic fantasy.
But now was not the time to drool. He needed to focus on hunting.
This was a time of solitary struggle, leaving no room for complacency.
Little Five—or rather, Doughball—lay motionless in the grass, knowing full well that the lion's gaze was fixed on him. Perhaps the cub was both nervous and uncertain.
Fortunately for him, Qiao Qixi simply glanced at him, silently christened him with a practical name, and then turned to resume his trek.
As the big lion's indulgence allowed Doughball to relax, the cub pushed himself up with his not-so-sturdy limbs, his bulging belly comically disproportionate to his skinny frame.
Even so, the white lion was determined to follow the larger lion, keeping a cautious but steady distance.
Truth be told, Qiao Qixi always worried about leaving the cubs unprotected when he went hunting. Having Doughball, the one who seemed least capable of escaping danger, tagging along was actually reassuring.
His only concern was whether Doughball's frail body would give out before they even reached the hunting grounds.
However, as they walked, Qiao Qixi realized his worry was unnecessary. Despite looking weak, Doughball moved with surprising caution and stability.
The little lion had already learned to survey his surroundings instead of fully relying on the adult lion he'd only just begun to trust.
And yet, his willingness to follow proved he harbored a growing fondness for the larger lion, despite his lingering fear.
The two lions continued on their way toward the Arm Brothers' territory. Yes, Qiao Qixi's target for the day was once again the Arm Brothers' turf.
It wasn't his fault the Arm Brothers were too busy courting lionesses to patrol their territory three times a day.
Trailing behind, Doughball sniffed at a patch of grass marked with lion scent. Though the rain had washed it somewhat, the scent remained sharp and pungent.