Where Is Your Mate? (Continued)

However, the existence of the fruit remains a hidden danger, because Tao Qiu still hasn't figured out which specific group is favored by the fruit's special effects.

If a mutated monster many times more powerful than Tao Qiu were to appear, it wouldn't be so bad if he were enslaved to farm; the real fear is that the mutated monster would harm his offspring and use them to threaten him.

The Green Python hissed a few times, sharing its experience.

--When the Little Snake was in good condition before, I would let the cubs of other mutated monsters in the territory play with Little Snake, but the Little Snake didn't like it, saying they were too stupid and all they did was make noise and tremble.

Tao Qiu: "..."

Thank you for sharing your concerns.

Tao Qiu felt that the Green Python's actions were somewhat hellish, and couldn't help but say a few words for those poor cubs.

--In their eyes, you're a terrifying monster who will eat them. Do you think they'd still be in the mood to play with the Little Snake?

The Green Python, no? (Hiss...)

--I told them that if they behaved and played with the Little Snake, I wouldn't eat them.

Tao Qiu: "... Chirp chirp? Chirp chirp?"

Do you think they can hear? Understand? Even if they do hear and understand, will they believe it?

The Green Python pondered, Green Python realized something.

"Hiss..."

--Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that before?

Tao Qiu: "..."

Tao Qiu could understand Green Python's thoughts. She was born a high-level mutated monster, whose strength and intelligence were far superior to those of ordinary mutated monsters. How could she possibly understand the helplessness and difficulties of low-level mutated monsters?

The Green Python hissed and sighed.

--The Little Snake's brothers and sisters all died early, and none of the nearby mutated monsters of similar strength to me have offspring. Finding her a companion is indeed not easy.

She paused for a second, glanced at Tao Qiu, and continued to hiss.

But after seeing your three chicks, I started to wonder if other mutated monsters actually already had offspring, but I just hadn't discovered them yet?

Tao Qiu shook her head. "Chirp chirp."

--I don't know.

"Hiss..." the Green Python suddenly hissed.

Can I ask you a question?

Tao Qiu became alert. "Chirp, chirp."

You can ask, but I can't guarantee I'll answer them all.

The Green Python nodded and raised its question.

--You currently have three chicks. How many eggs did you and your mother lay in total?

Tao Qiu thought to himself, "Where did this mother bird come from? They were all born from me."

But he couldn't possibly tell the Green Python the truth; he could only give vague answers, "Chirp."

--Just three.

The Green Python thought to herself, "Just as I suspected; my guess was right."

She laid three eggs, and they hatched? She raised three chicks. It wasn't just her who was envious; if other mutated monsters of equal strength knew, wouldn't they be green with envy?

She continued to ask...?

--Where's your mother bird? I haven't seen her at all. Since you're so lucky, and all the eggs you lay hatch, why don't you have a few more broods? You can afford to raise them all.

Whether the Snow Bird will lay more eggs in the future or not, the Green Python doesn't care; she just wants to see the mother bird.

For some unknown reason, she and powerful mutated monsters like Snow Bird have had difficulty reproducing. This situation has existed since their parents' generation, and it has become even more serious in their generation.

The low-level mutated monsters weren't affected much; they could still multiply into large broods before.

Not only do they produce many offspring, but they also grow very quickly, and the offspring have offspring after they grow up.

In terms of numbers, low-level mutated monsters far outnumber them.

The Green Python's mother always sought out male snakes weaker than herself, because at the time there were indeed no stronger male snakes available, so she had to make do.

The Green Python also has many brothers and sisters who have hatched and grown, but only she is strong enough to match her mother. The other snakes are not as strong, but they are all low to medium level mutated monsters.

Over the years, many have died or gone, and the Green Python hasn't seen them for a long time.

In contrast, other high-level mutated monster couples of similar strength either have very few offspring or are difficult to raise to adulthood.

However, those who survive will grow into beings similar to or even stronger than their parents.

For example, the Snow Bird in front of her.

The Green Python was so much older than the Snow Bird. Although they rarely interacted, the green python had watched the snowbird grow up and knew about his birth and upbringing.

After the Green Python grew up, its situation was similar to its mother's. At first, it tried to find a strong male to lay eggs, but the results were not satisfactory, and none of the several clutches of eggs it laid hatched.

Later, she lowered her standards a bit, and finally some Little Snake hatched, but they died again after a short time.

Currently, the only surviving Little Snake, whose father's strength is in the middle tier, is still the longest-living child of the Green Python, even before eating the fruit planted by Tao Qiu.

The Little Snake inherited the Green Python's intelligence, which made the Green Python very happy.

If it weren't for the sake of offspring, she wouldn't have lowered herself to seek out those low-ranking male snakes.

Although she wouldn't mind if the child gave birth to a low-level Little Snake, the Green Python naturally preferred a smarter Little Snake because a smarter child would have a better chance of survival in this dangerous world.

The reason she wanted to see Tao Qiu's mother bird was to see what level of mutated monster she was.

If it's similar to Snow Bird, then the high success rate of all three eggs hatching is clearly due to the Snow Bird eating the fruit.

If the mother bird is a low-level mutated monster, then it's basically all thanks to her. And with all three chicks being so smart, the Snow Bird couple's luck is truly incredible—she was speechless.

Tao Qiu has been making up lies from the very beginning, and now he can only continue making them up.

--Isn't he from around here? He passed by in the spring, took a liking to me, laid an egg, and then left without saying whether he'd come back next year.

The Green Python didn't get the answer she wanted from that conversation, so she just asked, "Hiss... hiss..."

--Birds that can fly freely anywhere must be even more powerful than you, right?

Tao Qiu, following the usual pattern, chirped, "Chirp, chirp."

--I've never fought with him, so I don't know.

Whether a mutated monster is powerful or not can be roughly determined by visual observation and sensing its aura; there's no need to actually take action.

Snow Bird is clearly talking nonsense.

But their relationship wasn't good enough for her to keep asking questions. Even though she was unwilling, the Green Python could only give up and bring up other topics.

"Hiss... hiss..."

--Those two black trees, like the Stinky Ground Fruit, were they also found in Black Rabbit's territory?

Tao Qiu could finally tell the truth, "Chirp, chirp chirp."

--Yes, I brought it along with the Stinky Ground Fruit.

Green Python: "Hiss..."

--Are the fruits of the black tree and the Stinky Ground Fruit tasty?

"Chirp chirp."

--The ones I grow taste good.

No, it's not that it's naturally delicious, but rather that the ones he grows taste better. The Green Python understood what he meant.

She hissed... hiss...

--If you need any other plants, you can find them on my land later.

Tao Qiu didn't decline, but readily agreed, "Chirp, chirp."

--Your territory is larger than Black Rabbit's, so you should be able to find more good stuff.

The Green Python hissed meaningfully.

--You've always been lucky, you're sure you'll find it?

Tao Qiu pretended not to understand and replied with a smile, "Chirp chirp."

I appreciate your kind words.

The two parents had a pleasant conversation, and the children also enjoyed a temporary peace.

Of course, the peace here is in comparison to the beginning. Now they only attack each other, without involving their parents. It's a pure battle, where only winning and losing matters, and morality is disregarded.

The baby birds weren't stingy to begin with, and in order to give Tao Qiu an explanation, they shared a lot of the food and fruit in the bamboo tube with the Little Snake.

The Little Snake ate while being picky, hissing...

--This meat tastes so-so, not as good as the game my mother catches for me.

The Second Cub said, "Chirp chirp."

--Didn't we agree to mention Mom and Dad?

The Little Snake choked.

--If you won't mention it, then let's talk about you guys. Can you all fly now?

Third Cub was an honest child; she said, "Chirp chirp."

--The furthest you can fly is from the tree to the rock on the other side.

The Little Snake glanced at it and mocked mercilessly.

--You can only fly such a short distance? You're all useless, fat, clumsy birds.

"Second Cub, are you convinced?" Qiuqiu retorted.

--We're still young, and this is already amazing, isn't it? Someone like you, so thin, those monsters could easily crush you with one kick.

Being small is the Little Snake's sore spot. She is terrified that she won't grow as tall as her mother in the future, but she will not show weakness in front of the three baby birds. She can only stubbornly argue back.

"I'm still young, but I'll definitely grow up. Besides, I know how to use poison. I recently poisoned a prey. Have any of you three ever caught prey?"

Even the Eldest Cub seemed unsure of themselves now; they hadn't left the valley since hatching, let alone hunted.

No? But they weren't so easily refuted. The Eldest Cub thought for a moment and said, "Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp."

--My sisters and I have never hunted before, how would we know if we were better hunters than you? Since it's a contest of skills between us, we naturally have to fight to determine the winner.

Before the Eldest Cub Little Snake could react, the Second Cub and Third Cub were already shocked.

The Second Cub chirped, "Chirp, chirp chirp."

--Brother, Dad doesn't allow fighting.

The Little Snake remembered this too, and its initial interest vanished instantly.

The Eldest Cub seemed to have just remembered his father's instructions, showing a helpless look in his eyes, and said in a resigned tone, "Chirp, chirp, chirp."