Yu Qingtang paled in alarm. He had never imagined that one casual remark could spark an altercation like this. He immediately turned and ducked behind Ye Chenyan.
“Ahem!” Ye Chenyan gave a low laugh and prepared to meet the attack, but Chi Yantian was already thoroughly fired up.
“Neither of you interfere!” he roared.
His twin sabers blazed like fire as he slashed at the tiger-demon girl.
The tiger-demon girl was startled. She rolled across the ground to evade the strike and shouted furiously, “If you singe so much as one hair on my coat, I’ll pluck every last hair off your head!”
Scholar Xiao sucked in a sharp breath and hurried into the fray to mediate. “Perhaps the two of you could calm down for a moment...”
Yu Qingtang had already taken out his qin. “You keep talking. I’ll provide the accompaniment.”
He played them a Heart-Cleansing Melody.
By the time the piece ended, both of them had finally caught their breath. They each gave a cold snort and temporarily lowered their weapons.
Only after they had calmed down did Scholar Xiao speak with a smile. “Miss, I assume you didn’t come here on your own?”
The tiger-demon girl glared at him. “If I didn’t come here on my own, did someone carry me?”
She turned and pointed at Chi Yantian. “Come to think of it, he’s the one who didn’t come here on his own! The Blazing Rhinoceros carried him!”
“So what?” Chi Yantian wrapped an arm around Flamelet. “This is my mount!”
“Hmph. Shameless humans.” The tiger-demon girl ground her teeth. “All you do is capture unawakened demonic beasts and use them as mounts. Just wait. Later, I’ll capture some unawakened humans and use them as mounts!”
Yu Qingtang said quietly, “But demonic beasts can easily weigh several hundred pounds. An ordinary mortal couldn’t carry you...”
When he noticed the tiger-demon girl looking at him, he immediately corrected himself. “I’m not saying you’re heavy!”
The tiger-demon girl scoffed. “Who cares about that? Among the demonfolk, the larger and heavier you are, the stronger you are!”
Yu Qingtang muttered, “Then why did you care whether you had a potbelly...”
“You!” The tiger-demon girl furiously prepared to attack again.
Scholar Xiao hurriedly restrained her. “We’re getting off the subject!”
“What I meant was, think carefully. Did someone deliberately lure you here?”
The tiger-demon girl froze. She looked thoughtfully toward the sky. “Now that you mention it, that lousy eagle did chase me for no reason today...”
“Exactly.” Scholar Xiao tapped his folded fan against his palm. “He deliberately led you here!”
“So that’s how it is!” The tiger-demon girl finally realized what had happened. Her brows shot up in fury. “That brat saw humans daring to enter Great Wilderness Mountain, but he didn’t have the nerve to test them himself, so he lured me over to be his attack tiger!”
“You feathered brute! Get out here! I’ll pluck every feather from your tail today!”
“Hmph.”
A cold laugh came from the sky.
A young man with several feathers fixed to his forehead hovered in midair, the pair of wings behind him slightly spread. Ignoring the tiger-demon girl, he stared only at the others.
“Humans, this is no place for you. Get out.”
Chi Yantian scoffed. “What, does this place belong to your family? You say we can’t come, so we can’t?”
Scholar Xiao unfolded a map and quietly reminded him, “This actually is the territory of the Goshawk clan. Technically speaking, it does belong to his family.”
Chi Yantian’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
He scratched his head, dug a parcel of dried meat out of his storage ring, and said, “Th-then how about a toll?”
The goshawk youth snapped angrily, “Do you take me for one of the demonic beasts you raise?”
His expression suddenly changed. “Stop right there, Flower-Mist Tiger!”
While no one was paying attention, the tiger-demon girl had quietly taken a step backward. She suddenly snatched the golden beetle from the tree and ran.
“Hey, you lot can fight among yourselves! I’m not staying!”
The tiger-demon girl transformed back into her true form and shot into the forest with astonishing speed.
“After her!” Ye Chenyan had not missed her movements. He drove the spirit boat forward like lightning.
Yu Qingtang clung tightly to the side of the boat, leaning backward slightly from the force of their acceleration. If the spirit boat did not automatically block the raging wind, his hair would probably have been slicked straight back by now.
Strangely enough, this kind of chaotic life—hurtling around on a spirit boat, chasing and being chased—actually felt somewhat nostalgic.
“What is that thing? How is it so fast?” The brightly striped tiger spoke in a human voice. Panic showed plainly across her tiger face.
Gritting her teeth, she threatened them, “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll eat this bug!”
Ye Chenyan remained unmoved as he steadily closed the distance. “If you dare eat it, we’ll sell tiger hide at the auction!”
Yu Qingtang chimed in, “And tiger bones, tiger teeth, tiger heads, and tiger brains!”
“I’m not worth that much!”
The brightly striped tiger was gradually running out of strength. Although she could reach a terrifying speed for an instant, she could not maintain it for long. She stumbled, rolled across the ground, and crashed to a halt.
“I’ll give it back, all right?”
Ye Chenyan took the demonic weapon from his back and pointed the spearhead at the tiger’s head.
“Whimper—”
The brightly striped tiger’s expression changed drastically. She scrambled backward, a low, pleading whine rising from her throat.
“Stop!”
The goshawk youth had caught up as well, but he halted at a cautious distance.
“That spear...”
“What exactly is wrong with you?” Chi Yantian was getting worked up again. “First you drove her over to pick a fight with us, and now you won’t let us hit her!”
He strode up to the brightly striped tiger. “Give me back my bug first!”
The tiger hurriedly opened her mouth and spat out a half-dead golden beetle covered in saliva.
“Buggy—” Yu Qingtang paled in horror. “It’s still breathing, right? The gold hasn’t rubbed off, has it?”
The golden beetle tenaciously fluttered its wings to prove that it was still alive.
Chi Yantian breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the saliva from its body.
He demanded indignantly, “Why do you eat everything? And why did you get it covered in spit?”
The brightly striped tiger flattened her ears against the back of her head and secretly looked up at him.
Yu Qingtang somehow managed to see guilt on a tiger’s face.
The goshawk youth’s expression shifted several times. He narrowed his eyes at Ye Chenyan. “You’re Pleasure Sect’s new sect master.”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “You won’t attack if I am?”
The goshawk youth narrowed his eyes. “...Reluctantly.”
“Oh.” Ye Chenyan withdrew his spear and answered with a smile. “Then I’m not.”
“Hmph.”
Below the goshawk youth’s legs was a pair of razor-sharp talons that gleamed with cold light. He spread his wings and assumed a diving posture.
“If you want a fight, I’ll oblige you!”
Three moves later, he was thrown down beside the brightly striped tiger.
The tiger spoke again, sounding positively delighted by his misfortune. “Look at you acting so impressive! You still got caught in the end. Hurry up and call for your grandpa to save you!”
The goshawk youth closed his eyes. His face was livid, and he refused to say a word.
The tiger grew anxious. “Hey! Canglang, you aren’t planning to fight them to the death, are you? I don’t want to die with you!”
She rolled onto her back, exposed her belly, folded her paws ingratiatingly, and let out a sweet little, “Mrrp.”
Ye Chenyan immediately retreated two steps. “What are you doing?”
“My mother said this sometimes helps you escape.” The brightly striped tiger gazed at them pitifully. “I gave your bug back, admitted defeat, and even rolled over to show you my belly. Will you let me go now?”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow and turned to Yu Qingtang in amusement. “She looks like another graduate of Biehe Sect.”
Yu Qingtang replied righteously, “What do you mean? You can’t blame everything on Biehe Sect!”
“Hmph.” Canglang sneered. “Utterly devoid of dignity.”
“You have dignity!” The tiger took advantage of his inability to move and kicked him. “You can cling to your dignity while you wait to die!”
“Oh, stop fighting.” Yu Qingtang found the whole situation entertaining. “You’re from the Goshawk clan, and your name is Canglang.”
He pointed at the brightly striped tiger. “You’re from the Flower-Mist Tiger clan, and your name is...”
Seeing that he seemed easy to talk to, the tiger shuffled closer to him. “Hua Yi!”
“Wait!” Ye Chenyan instinctively stopped him.
Yu Qingtang looked over in confusion.
“Hua Yi?” Ye Chenyan breathed a sigh of relief. “Never mind, then.”
“Hmm?” Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes at him. Realization dawned, and his smile turned teasing. “Oh—”
“An old acquaintance from the story?”
“I’m not afraid of old acquaintances from the story.” Ye Chenyan bent down and lowered his voice. “I’m afraid someone might seize the opportunity to bully me.”
Yu Qingtang narrowed his eyes threateningly. “Don’t put on that pitiful expression and turn the truth upside down!”
He looked away and asked Hua Yi, “Are you one of the demonfolk who live around here?”
Hua Yi enthusiastically pointed in one direction. “Our territory is a little farther east. I was raiding bird nests in my own territory when this brat suddenly charged into my home, pecked at the fur on my head, and chased me away!”
She bared her teeth angrily. “If he hadn’t caught me off guard, I never would’ve run into his clan’s territory! He did it on purpose. He wanted to use me to scare you!”
Canglang kept his eyes tightly shut. “A fool who can be used without realizing it deserves to end up like this.”
“Are you in a better position than me?” Hua Yi’s tail puffed up. “You’re lying on the ground too!”
Seeing that they were about to start fighting while still sprawled on the ground, Yu Qingtang hurriedly intervened.
“Come on, both your names start with the same grass radical. You’re practically family. Stop fighting.”
He turned to Canglang. “Why did you send her to scare us?”
Canglang said nothing. Hua Yi rushed to answer for him.
“He does this all the time!”
“Whenever he sees humans entering Great Wilderness Mountain, he tries to drive them out. Humans are more afraid of fierce beasts than they are of goshawks, so he’s always coming over to provoke me!”
The very thought made Hua Yi grind her teeth.
Chi Yantian held the golden beetle carefully in both hands. “So he’s the kind of demonfolk who especially hates humans?”
“Naturally.” Canglang snorted. “Hairless monkeys. Repulsive creatures.”
Yu Qingtang corrected him. “Technically, we’re terrifying upright apes.”
Chi Yantian pointed at his head. “I have hair!”
Canglang gritted his teeth. “You people!”
“Not necessarily.” Scholar Xiao smiled as he wrote. “When Senior Sister Tianxin learned we were entering Great Wilderness Mountain, she asked me to investigate something in secret.”
“Starwatch Pavilion has no jurisdiction over affairs inside Great Wilderness Mountain. Even when residents of Nanzhou City enter the mountain, they are understood to be subject to Great Wilderness Mountain’s rules.”
“If someone walks in of their own accord, then even if they are eaten, there is no justice for them to seek.”
“That’s true.” Hua Yi nodded. “The rule of Great Wilderness Mountain is survival of the strongest. If you can’t win and end up dead, there’s nothing anyone can do.”
Scholar Xiao pointed at Canglang with a smile. “Could this young fellow actually be trying to warn people who wander inside so they leave as quickly as possible?”
Hua Yi’s eyes went round. She shoved Canglang in shock. “Canglang! You like humans!”
“Absurd!” Canglang’s face flushed with anger. “Utterly absurd!”
“Oh—” Yu Qingtang nodded in realization. “So he’s the sharp-tongued, softhearted type?”
As Yu Qingtang took a step closer, a vicious light abruptly flashed through Canglang’s eyes.
He raised his head and transformed into his true form. His beak struck down with astonishing speed, but Ye Chenyan’s spearhead intercepted it in time.
The clash rang like metal against metal, producing a sound that set everyone’s teeth on edge.
“Urgh—”
Canglang rolled across the ground in pain.
Yu Qingtang paled. “Are you all right?”
Canglang bared his teeth. “None of your concern!”
“He didn’t use much force, so there’s no real injury.” Chi Yantian forcibly pried open Canglang’s beak and examined it. “Don’t worry.”
Only then did Yu Qingtang relax.
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so worried about him? He just tried to peck you.”
“It’s complicated.” Yu Qingtang rubbed his nose.
You don’t understand the power these two animal forms hold over a modern person. They’re both the kind that can get you life behind bars.
He cleared his throat. “It seems his mouth really is hard, but it still isn’t as hard as the spear.”
Canglang glared at him ferociously.
“But you don’t need to worry. We didn’t come here to cause trouble. We’re only attending an auction.” Yu Qingtang pointed at Ye Chenyan. “Besides, this is the newly appointed Demonic Sovereign, sect master of Pleasure Sect, champion of the Golden Core Competition, pride of Guiyi Sect, and everyone’s good friend—Ye Chenyan!”
“With him here, there’s no need to worry about our safety.”
Ye Chenyan listened to the entire string of titles while suppressing a laugh, then nodded along.
“Ahem. That would be me.”
“What about me?” Chi Yantian leaned over. “Make up something impressive for me too!”
Yu Qingtang rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Give me a moment. I’ll invent—”
“No.” Ye Chenyan shook his head to interrupt his train of thought. “It can’t be longer than mine.”
“You!” Chi Yantian snorted. “Petty!”
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