You Plan to Kill me with Meng?

POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 21

Scars are badges of honor for men, but little Qiao Qixi would rather his little yellow bucket remain unscathed. Fortunately, the bucket was made of thick, resilient plastic and hadn't suffered any damage from Otis's rough handling. Qiao Qixi hugged the bucket, letting out a sigh of relief.

However, his sense of relief was short-lived. The tension between Otis and the mother bear had escalated, and the atmosphere was now thick with hostility. Qiao Qixi couldn't understand how the situation had turned so tense so quickly. Was it because the mother bear had growled earlier?

Sighing, Qiao Qixi thought, *You're both adult bears with cubs—can't you be a bit more mature?* He considered himself a peacemaker and decided to step in. But first, he carefully placed his little yellow bucket out of harm's way, then ran toward the two adult bears.

Otis and the mother bear had their heads held high, growling at each other with varying tones—an intense exchange that seemed like an argument but was actually a form of communication. Otis was asserting his dominance, warning the mother bear not to repeat her earlier actions, or he wouldn't be so lenient. The mother bear, unwilling to back down, made it clear that she would defend her boundaries.

This was undoubtedly a challenge.

Strong as Otis was, he refrained from physical confrontation, perhaps because of the blood relation. Aside from the loud, intimidating growls, he wasn't going to take any drastic action. But even these growls were enough to make the air vibrate, leaving Qiao Qixi trembling. Yet, when he glanced at the other cub, he found the little one calm and unbothered, as if this was a common occurrence.

*If that smaller cub can stay cool, I have no excuse to be shaking,* Qiao Qixi thought, quickly redefining his role. He nudged Otis and let out a soft, pleading sound, trying to calm him down. *Come on, let it go. Is it really worth getting worked up over a single mom?*

The little bear's attempt at pacification worked. Otis immediately ceased his growling, his attention drawn back to the cub that had been scolded earlier. His tone softened, switching from a ferocious growl to a gentle murmur, likely leaving the mother bear and her cub bewildered.

But Qiao Qixi was used to this. Otis wouldn't growl at him.

"It's okay, it's okay," Qiao Qixi murmured, licking and nuzzling Otis's handsome face. But the moment he touched his swollen side, he winced in pain, letting out a whimper. This, in turn, made Otis fret even more, shifting his focus entirely away from the mother bear and her cub.

Though not his intention, Qiao Qixi's whimpering had effectively diffused the tension, achieving the desired outcome.

The mother bear and her cub stood by, watching in confusion as Otis lavished the little male bear with gentle attention. Could this really be the same powerful, aggressive male bear from just moments ago? The atmosphere, once charged with tension, had been replaced with a tender, almost affectionate scene.

Otis continued to comfort the little bear, his touch as gentle as he could manage, until the cub stopped whimpering. Only then did Otis return to the task at hand, leading Qiao Qixi further along their path in search of prey.

After the recent tense encounter, Qiao Qixi decided to carry the bucket himself. With his swollen face, holding it in his mouth was the least painful option. Before following Otis, he stole one last glance at the mother bear and her cub, feeling a pang of regret. If only they could communicate better, he would have invited them to join their journey.

But even if he hadn't, it seemed they were heading in the same direction. The mother bear's destination was likely the same as Otis's—they were all searching for a hunting ground, a shared goal among all polar bears. In this sense, it was clear that Otis and his mother shared some common behaviors, perhaps an instinctive bond between parent and child.