33: Chapter 33 Auspicious Omens

Subduing the Tiger King was a more symbolic event for the entire Panshi Stockade than Gao Feng's Breakthrough to the third rank.

If Gao Feng's strength provided the people with a pillar of support and a sense of security,

then the Tiger King's submission draped Panshi Stockade in a layer of nearly mythical legendary color.

If the Stockade Master could subdue even the King of Beasts, what was there that he could not do?

From then on, no one dared to question any of Gao Feng's decisions.

His prestige reached its peak at this moment.

Gao Feng gave this male tiger a simple yet domineering name—"A-Da."

After being released from its cage, A-Da did not leave. Instead, with Gao Feng's tacit approval, it made the pool under a waterfall behind Panshi Stockade its new home.

It spent most of its days dozing on a giant rock by the pool, looking lazy and harmless.

But everyone knew what terrifying power this dozing "big cat" would unleash if it were awakened.

Its very existence was the most powerful deterrent.

However, an even bigger surprise for Gao Feng was yet to come.

On the third night after A-Da was subdued,

the Panshi Stockade patrol was suddenly startled by a low, long-drawn-out roar.

The roar came from A-Da's territory behind the mountain.

But unlike A-Da's usual majestic roars, this one seemed to carry a unique rhythm, as if it were calling out to something.

"What's going on? Go check it out!"

The patrol captain immediately led his men and cautiously crept toward the back mountain.

Gao Feng, who had already been alerted, also threw on a coat and quietly arrived at the back mountain.

When they arrived, they were stunned by the scene before them.

Under the cold moonlight, A-Da was standing on the giant rock by the pool, roaring at the sky.

And in response to its roar, a series of low tiger roars came from the distant forest!

Soon after, under everyone's tense gaze, a female tiger, slightly smaller than A-Da but equally robust and fierce, walked slowly out of the dark forest, accompanied by two furry tiger cubs that were still stumbling as they walked!

The female tiger was clearly very wary of humans. It bared its teeth at Gao Feng and the others, making threatening "woo-woo" sounds as it shielded the two tiger cubs behind it.

The two tiger cubs curiously poked their little heads out, their watery blue eyes ignorantly surveying this strange new world. They looked adorable, completely lacking the majesty of the future King of Beasts.

"So, it brought its whole Family along."

Gao Feng watched this scene and couldn't help but chuckle.

Seeing its "wife and children" arrive, A-Da immediately jumped off the giant rock, affectionately rubbed its head against the female tiger, and then licked the heads of the two tiger cubs, a satisfied purr rumbling in its throat.

Afterward, it turned its head and let out a low roar toward Gao Feng.

There was no hostility in that roar; instead, it carried a hint of entreaty and introduction.

Gao Feng understood what it meant.

He waved his hand at the patrol behind him, signaling them to lower their weapons and not to be nervous.

"Don't be afraid," he said, taking a few steps forward in a gentle voice. "From today on, this is your home. No one will hurt you."

As he spoke, he took a waterskin from his pocket, which contained diluted Spirit Spring Water he had prepared long ago, and placed it gently on the ground.

The female tiger was initially very wary, but under A-Da's urging, it tentatively took a lick.

In an instant, its guarded eyes suddenly lit up.

It no longer cared about anything else, quickly lapping up all the Spirit Spring Water in the waterskin, and then looked at Gao Feng with a complex expression identical to the one A-Da had initially shown.

The two tiger cubs wobbled over to Gao Feng's feet, affectionately rubbing their little heads against his pant legs, their throats making "babyish" purring sounds.

Clearly, the pure aura that Gao Feng carried from long-term consumption of Spirit Spring Water made them feel exceptionally close to him.

Gao Feng bent down, smiling as he rubbed the little ones' heads, naming one "A-Er" and the other "A-San."

From then on, there was a unique "Tiger King Family" in the back mountain of Panshi Stockade.

After this news spread, the entire stockade was in an uproar once again.

"Heaven bless our Panshi Stockade! This is truly an auspicious sign!"

"The Stockade Master is a man destined by Heaven; even a Divine Beast has brought its whole Family to join him!"

The reverence the refugees held for Gao Feng had risen to the level of near-fanaticism.

They worked even harder, for they firmly believed that by following such a "True Son of Heaven," they would surely live a good life.

In Gao Feng's heart, an even grander plan was germinating.

Watching the Family of four playing in the moonlight, a thought became increasingly clear in his mind.

"One Tiger King can guard a territory. What if there were ten, or a hundred?"

"If in the future, I could subdue more exotic beasts, such as the giant eagles in the mountains or the giant pythons in the deep pools... what if I formed an army composed of exotic beasts?"

"The Hundred Beast Legion..."

This thought made Gao Feng's heart race uncontrollably.

He knew this might be far off, but it was not impossible.

And the Tiger King Family before him was the first cornerstone of this grand plan!

He immediately issued an order designating the back mountain as a restricted area; no one was allowed to approach except for him and a few core members.

Furthermore, every day, designated personnel were to deliver fresh raw meat and diluted Spirit Spring Water to the Tiger King Family.

He wanted to carefully nurture the seeds of this "Hundred Beast Legion."

...

Time passed quickly; the sweltering summer gradually faded, and autumn was about to arrive.

In the valley, smoke from cooking fires curled upward, drifting through the air, mixed with the aroma of food.

The villagers, having finished a day of labor, walked home in small groups, their faces showing fatigue but also satisfied smiles.

The entire Panshi Stockade was permeated with an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Gao Feng finished his afternoon inspection and returned to his residence.

It was a newly renovated wooden house, much more spacious than before, and there were a few flowers and plants transplanted by Luo Shu in the courtyard, making it look quite elegant.

He pushed open the door, and the aroma of a meal rushed out to meet him.

Under the dim oil lamp, a slender figure was busy working.

It was Su Yue.

She was wearing a simple cloth dress, her long hair tied up simply with a wooden hairpin, and a few playful strands of hair hung against her cheek, looking fuzzy in the glow of the lamp.

She was placing a plate of sliced beast meat and a bowl of steaming vegetable soup on the table.

Seeing Gao Feng return, her face immediately blossomed into a gentle smile.

"Husband, you're back. Go wash your hands quickly and get ready to eat."

Her voice was soft, sweet, and melodious, like a clear spring that could wash away a person's fatigue from the day.