89: Chapter 89 Little Old Axe

"You ignorant beast, how dare you bare your fangs at her." Wei Feisen's tone was icy. "Wanwan, stand back. I will peel its skin off right now and make you a cloak."

"Don't move."

You did not turn your head, but your voice was cold.

Wei Feisen's hand, which was resting on the hilt of his blade, paused, and his dark red Protective Aura dissipated.

Wei Feisen's mouth twitched, and a trace of grievance flashed across his face. But looking at your cold profile, he ultimately didn't say anything more; he just moved his hand away from the hilt and leaned against the cave wall with his arms crossed.

You ignored him and fixed your gaze back on the giant white tiger in front of you.

Xiao Wang lowered its body, the low growl in its throat rolling like muffled thunder. Those emerald vertical pupils stared fixedly at you, filled with vigilance.

It was a size larger than you remembered, with a shoulder height approaching four feet. Its fur was like snow, and only the black "King" mark on its forehead was exceptionally striking.

"Xiao Wang, it's me." You softened your voice and took a step forward.

Xiao Wang's roar suddenly rose, and its front claws dug several deep marks into the ground.

You didn't stop.

You reached out your right hand directly and touched its forehead.

"Awoo—"

Xiao Wang opened its mouth and bit down. Those sharp teeth, capable of easily crushing cow bones, locked onto your wrist. Its veins bulged, its masseter muscles swelled, and it used almost all its strength.

You didn't budge.

The Physical Body tempered by the Perfection Realm of the Green Vessel Hundred Forging Record was three parts harder than refined iron. When Xiao Wang bit down, your skin didn't even show a white mark; instead, it was the tiger itself...

"Ow!"

Xiao Wang let go, bared its teeth, and retreated a step. It shook its head aggrievedly, licking its mouth back and forth; clearly, it had hurt its teeth.

You couldn't help but laugh.

You grabbed both of Xiao Wang's ears and pulled them to the sides, just like you had done countless times in your previous life.

"You stinky Xiao Wang, you don't recognize me again? Still want to bite me? Doesn't your teeth hurt?"

Xiao Wang was stunned by having its ears pulled.

It stopped struggling, a trace of confusion flashing in its emerald eyes. Its nostrils flared slightly as it sniffed the scent on you.

[Peerless Elegance].

This trait not only lowers hostility but also makes all living creatures feel a natural sense of closeness to you. Xiao Wang was already highly spiritual, and the aura on you that it felt was "familiar" and "safe" was slowly dismantling its defenses.

After a few breaths, Xiao Wang's body relaxed. The low growl in its throat turned into a vague "wooo" sound, and its big head actively rubbed against your palm.

You smiled and rubbed its forehead, your fingertips tracing the black "King" mark.

Then you heard a sound.

From deep within the cave, a few tiny, milky cries drifted over.

"Meow—"

"Meow..."

You paused, looking down at Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang licked its nose; for some reason, it felt inexplicably guilty.

"Good for you. It seems that while I was gone these years, you've been led astray by some other tiger in the mountains, and you've even given birth to little Xiao Wangs."

You held its big head and shook it: "Can I see your cubs?"

Xiao Wang hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not stop you, standing up to clear the path to the depths of the cave.

You walked inside.

The depths of the cave were covered with thick dry grass and fallen leaves. Four little tiger cubs were huddled together, barely larger than an adult house cat. Their snow-white fur was fluffy and soft, and two small, undeveloped ears stood on their round heads. Their eyes had just opened, watery and glistening, like four glass beads wrapped in a blue film.

One of the fattest little ones felt your presence, lifted its head, opened its pink mouth at you, revealing gums where teeth hadn't grown yet, and let out a weak "awoo."

You crouched down and carefully picked up two of the little tiger cubs with both hands.

The sensation was like holding two freshly baked hot buns—soft and warm. Their bellies were plump, and you could feel the little hearts inside beating thud-thud.

You held the two little things up to your eyes. They stared at you blankly, their little paws clawing randomly in the air, not knowing whether to be afraid or comfortable.

Xiao Wang followed you in and nervously circled you twice, but seeing that you were only holding them gently, it calmed down and lay to the side, watching you.

Wei Feisen poked his head into the cave entrance.

"Roar—" Xiao Wang instantly bristled, blocking the entrance and baring its teeth at him.

Wei Feisen's face darkened: "You damn..."

He met your gaze and swallowed the rest of his words.

You carried the two little tigers out of the cave and sat down on a large rock at the entrance, letting them crawl all over your legs. One lay on your knee yawning, while the other nudged your finger and chewed on it, its toothless mouth holding your fingertip and making it tickle.

Wei Feisen stood by and watched for a while, then suddenly spoke up: "Since you like them so much, why not just catch the whole litter and take them back? Raise them in the courtyard so you can see them every day."

You looked up, and the smile on your face vanished instantly.

"They are not pets." Your voice was very soft, but unquestionable. "No one is allowed to touch them."

Wei Feisen curled his lip and didn't reply.

You teased them for a while longer before putting the tiger cubs back into the nest and stroking Xiao Wang's big head.

"I'm leaving," you said in a low voice, "I will come to see you often."

Xiao Wang nudged your waist with its head, making a purring sound.

After walking out of the cave, you gave an order to the Hall Master beside you.

"Go hunt a few deer and leave them near here. Also, pass down an order: within a five-mile radius centered on the southwest foothills of Daliang Mountain, if any white tigers are seen, regardless of size, no one is allowed to touch a single hair. Violators will be beheaded."

The Hall Master cupped his fists: "Understood!"

You turned and walked into the pine forest, your figure quickly swallowed by the shade of the trees.

Wei Feisen followed two steps behind you, muttering: "Making such a big fuss over a few beasts..."

You didn't turn back, just throwing out one sentence: "Call them beasts again, and I'll throw you into the tiger's den."

Wei Feisen shut his mouth.

Two years.

For two whole years, the hundreds of people in the Spirit Exploration Hall turned Daliang Mountain upside down with Luoyang shovels. They dug up seven Ancient Tombs, thirteen underground rivers, and countless pieces of broken pottery and scrap iron, but they did not find that Immortal Cave of the Immortal Cultivator.

You were not surprised. In your previous life, those two Immortal Cultivators had locked onto the location of the Immortal Cave from the air while piloting flying shuttles, which meant the Immortal Cave was likely on a cliffside or deep within the belly of the mountain, not something reachable by ordinary means.

But you were not in a hurry.

Because you knew better than anyone that the Immortal Cave was right here in Daliang Mountain and couldn't run away. All you needed was time and more bargaining chips.

Black Tiger Gang headquarters, Tianquan Mountain main hall.