A brutal look flashed across Wang Hu’s eyes as he took a look at his unscathed body.
How was a man supposed to establish themselves if they weren’t brutal?
This sense of brutality was directed not just toward their enemies… but even more so toward themselves.
Only when one was more brutal toward oneself than toward the enemy would they gain the determination and strength to defeat others.
He raised his paw. Divine power surged, and even his razor-sharp claws extended from his flesh. While suppressing Tiger King Body with full force, he brutally swiped his claws across himself.
“Ahhh!”
A painful cry that was hardly indescribable rang out. It was soft and sounded like a gasp. Wang Hu suddenly felt that one of the injuries that were the hardest to bear in the world must be someone hurting themselves.
It hurt too much. The pain caused his body to instinctively rein in its power, and in a moment of carelessness, he forgot to even suppress Tiger King Body.
The outcome was that he didn’t manage to hurt himself, and yet he had to bear the pain anyway.
He even had to do it all over again.
His brows knitted together into a frown. Never would he have expected this to actually be the hardest challenge. It was too difficult.
Nevertheless, he had to do it even if it was difficult. He gritted his teeth and pressed on.
At the hillside dozens of kilometers away, a distracted Di Baijun was meditating and recuperating.
Seated facing the south, she opened her eyes every once in a while and gazed in the southern direction. Every time this happened, her frown would deepen obviously, and worry would flash across her countenance. Only after dozens of seconds later would she close her eyes and continue to cultivate.
Nearby, Su Ling was currently leading Wang Shan and Jun Wen and loudly reciting the tiger rules and regulations.
However, out of the corner of her eyes, her gaze would also sweep toward where Di Baijun was.
To them, Big Brother (the demon lord, the Tiger King) had already been away for close to two days, and Sister-in-law (the vicious tigress, the Tiger Queen) had also been acting like this for close to two days.
Evidently, something that they were unaware of had happened. On top of that, it was even something fairly important. They couldn’t just act as if they hadn’t noticed anything, of course.
“…to view the tigers as my everything. I pledge my life and swear to contribute everything I have to the tigers, and I swear loyalty and devotion to the Tiger King…”
Recitations that flowed right off the tongue with ease rang out for two hours before it finally ended amid Wang Shan’s look of liberation.
Roar~!
“Hey, it’s time for you to leave,” said Wang Shan unceremoniously to Jun Wen after a moment’s thought as soon as the recitations ended.
Jun Wen looked at Wang Shan. He wasn’t interested in bickering with a tiger that held animosity toward him. On top of that, not only was Wang Shan the Tiger King’s biological younger brother, but he was even somewhat brainless. Instead, Jun Wen gave Su Ling a mild nod and said politely, “Miss Su, I’ll go off to cultivate now.”
Su Ling, whose attitude toward him was also relatively friendlier, nodded.
Compared to Wang Shan who was always intimidating her, she naturally liked the courteous Jun Wen more.
Jun Wen strode off. Su Ling was also about to leave when Wang Shan hastily spoke.
Roar~!
“Stop right there.”
His words startled Su Ling who immediately took a couple of steps back cautiously. She said warily, “Third Master, even though the lord isn’t around, Her Majesty is still here.”
Wang Shan was displeased the moment he heard what she said.
Roar~!
“How dare you threaten me with Sister-in-law?”
Su Ling wasn’t that scared anymore either because she had fully realized that the Third Master standing in front of her was only arrogant and aggressive toward other tigers. When he was in front of the demon lord, he practically couldn’t get any more docile.
Even with the vicious tigress, he behaved like a fox that had just encountered a tiger—awfully docile.
The vicious tigress was only a short distance away from them so he definitely wouldn’t dare to do anything out of line. Her caution stemmed merely from her instincts and personality.
In a manner that was neither submissive nor aggressive, she said, “No, I’m not. I’m just giving Third Master a reminder.”
Wang Shan glanced at his sister-in-law. He was rather troubled.
Why didn’t Sister-in-law go out as well when Big Brother has already gone out?
That way, I’ll be able to teach this damn fox and that loathsome Jun Wen a good lesson.
Never mind. There’ll eventually come a time when both Big Brother and Sister-in-law are out.
Roar~!
“Hmph. I don’t need you to remind me of that. I have something that I want to ask you,” barked a grumpy-looking Wang Shan softly.
“Go ahead, Third Master,” replied Su Ling carefully as she turned even more cautious.
This particular Third Master wasn’t very smart. He always had some kind of important question for her during moments like this.
At the same time, it was also highly likely that he would say the wrong thing. Just like the last time when the demon lord was playing with Big Treasure and Little Treasure, she must act with more caution and avoid becoming implicated by him.
Roar~!
“Say, fox, what do you think Big Brother went off to do? When is he returning? Why does Sister-in-law look kinda off during the last couple of days? Is she missing Big Brother? If she is, why didn’t she go along with him?” Wang Shan whispered as he secretly glanced in the direction of his sister-in-law again.
He really was rather curious. Putting aside his eldest brother for now—it was just as well that he wasn’t here, lest he beat Wang Shan up all the time; his sister-in-law’s behavior wasn’t making things easy for him either. He felt awfully uncomfortable during the last two days. Not only did he not dare to speak loudly, but he even had to behave cautiously during mealtimes. Why didn’t she go out together with Big Brother instead?
Because he felt so awful, he wanted to talk to someone and ask them about it. The damn fox was naturally the best choice.
Su Ling secretly thought: As expected indeed. I must be careful of this brainless Third Master. To think he dares to say something like that at such proximity. Have you forgotten that it was exactly because you had spoken the ‘truth’ at such proximity that you suffered a thrashing the last time?
She glanced at Di Baijun out of the corner of her eye. Then, she said honestly, “How would a maidservant like me know anything about the lord and Her Majesty’s affairs?”
Roar~!
“How useless of you. Don’t you even know something like that? Can’t you make a guess or two if you don’t know?” barked a displeased Wang Shan disdainfully.
Without saying anything, Su Ling turned and ran off. The only thing on her mind was getting out of the vicious tigress’ sight.
Taken aback, Wang Shan wanted to shout for her, but the next moment…
“Old Third.”
A chilly voice reached Wang Shan, causing him to freeze at once. He shrank back a little and looked in the direction of his sister-in-law.
For some reason, even though his sister-in-law had never beaten him up before, he simply feared her regardless.
In fact, most of the time, he felt that his sister-in-law was even scarier than his eldest brother.
Roar~!
“What’s the matter, Sister-in-law?” He asked in a small voice.
Di Baijun inhaled lightly. A hint of hesitation flashed across her face as she thought of what that jerk had mentioned in the past. In the end, she let out a small sigh.
Never mind. He was ultimately that jerk’s biological younger brother. Even Wang Hu couldn’t bear to hit him. She would just let the matter go this time.
“You’re in charge of tomorrow’s meals, Old Third.”
Wang Shan had a puzzled look in his eyes. Why? He wondered.
However, he didn’t dare to say much either. He immediately gave a docile affirmative answer and walked off somewhat despondently.
In the blink of an eye, apart from Big Treasure and Little Treasure who were watching cartoons with rapt attention, there was no one else within Di Baijun’s sight anymore.
Her gaze turned to the south, and her brows drew together into a deep frown again. She couldn’t help but gnash her teeth somewhat. Why wasn’t that jerk back yet?
Surely, it couldn’t be that…
No, definitely not. How would that jerk die so easily when he’s so vile? She thought huffily to herself.
Suddenly, a golden streak of light rushed over from afar. Di Baijun’s expression lit up, and she immediately got up.
She immediately caught herself, however. No, no, this wouldn’t do. She mustn’t stand here. Otherwise, what if that jerk misunderstood and thought that she was waiting for him?
I should be circulating my energy and trying to recuperate right now instead.
A surge of divine power arose and left behind mysterious and profound traces as she raced into the cave like a flash of lightning.
Amid the golden light, surprise came over Wang Hu’s eyes. What a harebrained Silly Girl. Didn’t she know that he could already see her from this distance? What was she running away for?
This was just as well, though. Now that she had entered the cave, he could act with more liberation. It saved him the trouble of Big Treasure, Little Treasure, Old Third, and the others disturbing them.
Inside the cave, Di Baijun tried to suppress the joy that had uncontrollably bubbled up on its own in her. She sat cross-legged on the bed and started to circulate her energy. With a slightly frosty expression on her face, she was as though a perpetually sedentary snowy mountain.
Suddenly, the snowy mountain moved. She hastily reached out and neatened the silky locks resting at the front of her shoulders, arranging them more prettily before resuming a sedentary position.
A few seconds later, a golden light streak shot right into the cave. Di Baijun didn’t show any reaction. She didn’t even open her eyes. It was just that jerk returning—that was all. It was no biggie.
The next instant, a soft breeze blew toward her as though some kind of heavy object crashed down on her. Upon realizing that something was wrong, she quickly opened her eyes.
At once, her beautiful eyes widened. The jerk was deathly pale, and his hair was disheveled. There was blood at the corners of his lips and even a bloody gash on his chest. His breathing was extremely unsteady, and he fell weakly toward her.
An awful feeling quickly and uncontrollably sprung up in her from somewhere. At the same time, she immediately reached out to catch hold of him.
However, because she didn’t dare to use too much force, the two equally peerless figures of unparalleled style ended up in each other’s arms.
Wang Hu buried his face in Di Baijun’s silky hair that gave off a light fragrance. A look of pleasure and addiction flashed briefly across his countenance before immediately becoming filled with a sense of weakness again.
Di Baijun wasn’t in the mood to be picky about such things right now. She hastily supported the jerk and turned around, letting him lie down on the stone chaise lounge instead. She trembled as she stared at his pale visage and the bloody gash on his chest. Fury blazed within her at once.
Who did this?
Dammit.
I’m going to rip you apart into a million pieces.
“Baijun. I’ve f-finally returned… to see you.” A weak but happy smile appeared on Wang Hu’s countenance as he spoke, his speech intermittent and irregular.
Di Baijun’s heart trembled again. She gritted her teeth as she tried to endure the acerbic feeling welling up uncontrollably in her. She gnashed her teeth in fury as she asked, “Who was it? Who injured you and put you in such a state?”
A heartwarming feeling came over Wang Hu, and his weak smile widened a little. He shook his head and replied, “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“Hmph. How can you say that you’re fine? Who exactly was it? I’ll definitely destroy them and shatter even their souls,” said Di Baijun furiously. Even a faint white tiger hologram had appeared in her eyes.
Wang Hu’s breathing paused for a moment.
Cough, cough.
He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. He said, “The one that injured me isn’t any better off than I am. Don’t worry, Baijun. It’s fine. I’ll make them pay by myself someday.”
Despite that, Di Baijun’s fury didn’t dissipate. That damned person. Don’t you ever let me see you.
Wang Hu quickly changed the topic and said gently, “Cough, Baijun. It’s wonderful that I could make it back alive to see you.”
Di Baijun glared at him with a hint of arrogance in her eyes and gently chided him. “You’re already in this state, yet all you know is spouting nonsense.”
“I’m not.” Wang Hu’s tone turned panicky, and he said, “I never spout nonsense. When I was in the alternate world, even in the most dangerous of moments, there was only one thought on my mind: coming back to see you, Big Treasure, and Little Treasure.
“It was exactly that thought which supported me and helped me to fend off the other party.
“Luckily, what I wanted to give you is still here. Look, Baijun.”
He cast a glance in the direction of the cave entrance as he spoke. Then, he forcefully brought out three space bags from his chest, a happy smile forming on his face as he did so.
Di Baijun also glanced in the direction of the cave entrance; seven large pieces of meat had been placed there. Then, her gaze shifted to the three space bags again.
Had it been any other time, she would have sent her palm flying toward him right away.
At this point though, at the same time, while she felt some bashful embarrassment; she also felt a sense of fury from having expected better from him.
She glared furiously at him. “You’re still spouting nonsense. Are you stupid? Are these things more important than your life?”
Wang Hu didn’t avoid her gaze at all. With a smile, he said, “In my eyes, you’re the most important. Therefore, these things are also important.”
Di Baijun flushed a crimson red right away. Her gaze flickered over to him as she resisted the urge to kick the jerk. She said fiercely, “If you spout any more nonsense, I’m going to throw you out.”
Her reaction surprised Wang Hu. To think she could tolerate even something like that…
Little did he think that the effect would be this awesome.
Had he known, he would have done this a long time ago. Wasn’t it just getting injured anyway?
He could vomit blood every day.
At the same time, while he was surprised, he also felt stirrings in his heart. Since it was giving such a great effect, should he push his luck?
Should he?
He promptly made a resolute decision after deliberating for only a second.
As they say, he who wasn’t afraid of death by a thousand cuts dared to unhorse the emperor.
Failure resulted in nothing more than death while success would live on forever.
If one didn’t take a risk when the opportunity presented itself, then they deserved to die from poverty.
What if he succeeded, right? Wouldn’t he gain a happy life with a wife and children, then?
He would do it. Worse came to worst, he would just get injured again in the future.
A burst of divine power ran amok in his body. A mouthful of blood rushed in the opposite direction of the normal flow, and traces of blood trickled out of his mouth.
The sight shocked Di Baijun so much that she even forgot that she wasn’t supposed to casually use her divine power. At once, she ordered, “Quick, circulate your energy. I’ll help you.”
Silly Girl was about to move into position when Wang Hu caught her hand and shook his head. A stern, serious, and incredibly sincere expression surfaced on his face, and he said slowly, “Don’t panic, Baijun. I’ll be fine. I still want to be by your side and watch Big Treasure and Little Treasure grow up. How would anything untoward possibly happen to me?
“It’s just that, after experiencing this narrow brush with death, I’ve suddenly understood some things that I have to tell you. Can you listen to what I want to say?”
For no reason whatsoever, Di Baijun suddenly sensed some kind of nervous atmosphere in the air. Di Baijun replied somewhat uncomfortably and hesitantly, “W-what are you going to say?”
Wang Hu gazed gently at the peerlessly beautiful visage that was only 40 centimeters away from him. Two lifetimes’ worth of emotions erupted at full force. He said gently, “Baijun, when I was about to die, I found myself regretting something.
“I didn’t regret entering that world to find the things for your recovery. Rather, I regretted not having ever given Big Treasure and Little Treasure a truly complete family. I regretted not having given them complete paternal love and maternal love.
“I regretted having somewhat low self-esteem in the past even more. From the start to the end, I have never clearly confessed my love to you. Please truly marry me.”
Di Baijun’s face turned completely red at once. As though she had received a huge shock, she jumped up and turned around. There was panic in her voice as she said, “What are you saying? Quick, t-take those words back.”
Wang Hu raised his arm and caught hold of a corner of Silly Girl’s clothes. He mustn’t let her escape at this point.
He said weakly, “Don’t be nervous, Baijun. Just listen to what I have to say. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. Just take it that you’re listening to a story.”
Di Baijun tensed up all over. Even her mind had blanked out somewhat. She wanted to run out, yet she also—just for a teeny-weeny bit—wanted to stay and listen. It was as if she couldn’t move her feet anymore.
“In the past, there was a tiger that wasn’t quite smart. At some point, he learned some things and knew how to love his mother and his two younger brothers.
“Wishing to lessen his mother’s burden and provide more food for his two younger brothers so that they wouldn’t fight over food anymore, he tried hard to learn how to hunt.
“Later on, it seemed that he grew up very quickly. However, his mother wanted to chase him away instead. Left with no other choice, he could only leave and live on his lonesome self.
“Shortly after, through his diligence, he became the overlord of the forest. No one was his match.
“However, he was still only able to live by his lonesome self. All he could do was secretly return to visit his mother and give her some food every once in a while, so that she wouldn’t be troubled over food. Occasionally, he would also visit his younger brothers and see how they were doing.
“A few years passed just like that. One day, his mother left the world without a word. That day, he cried.”
Wang Hu’s eyes dampened. He had indeed thought of his tigress mother.
Out of his two lifetimes, she was the first—as well as the only person—that had shown him unconditional love, despite only being a tiger that hadn’t developed human intelligence yet.
However, he was too useless. The awakening of spiritual energy had come so goddamn late. Helpless, he could only watch as she left the world.
He would never forget that day.
Suddenly, he shook his head and silently derided himself mockingly. In the midst of bluffing Silly Girl, he had ended up almost making himself cry with his own speech. How goddamn embarrassing.