A large tiger

The county town that Xie Wujie planned to visit was called Qingskin County, about half a day’s journey from Wildman Village. Although half a day sounded long, it was because they had to walk; Xie Wujie thought that if he rode a horse, the time could be cut by more than half. So, this time, he needed to buy a horse or perhaps a carriage in the county.

But at the moment, Xie Wujie and Xiaoyu had to pass through a place called Lonely Soul Ridge.

“This area is really eerie,” Xie Wujie commented as he gazed at Lonely Soul Ridge. They had set out early in the morning, before the sun had risen, and the surroundings were gloomily shadowed. The ridge was teeming with wild beasts—an occasional wolf’s howl or a crow’s caw sent chills down the spine.

Song Xiaoyu seemed unbothered. She said, “I’ve come here often with my father and never felt anything strange. Where in this world would there really be ghosts? Are you scared, Brother Wujie?”

Xie Wujie quickly replied, “I—I'm not afraid!”

“Then don’t grip my clothes so tightly. You’re about to tear them off…” As she spoke, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

For the past few days, their food and drink had all been brought by Xie Wujie from the real world, so they had chicken, duck, fish, and meat. However, he didn’t have much money left back home, and soon he’d have to pay rent. Once the rent was due, he’d likely have almost nothing left.

After all, silver was silver, and yuan was yuan—the currencies of the two worlds weren’t interchangeable, which troubled Xie Wujie greatly.

“Did you bring the bracelet?” asked Xiaoyu. With better meals recently, her once gaunt face had grown fuller, making her look even more attractive.

Xie Wujie hadn’t noticed before, but now he realized that Xiaoyu’s beauty was easily at the level of a campus queen. She was tall, around one meter sixty-five, her long hair tied in a low ponytail adorned with a blue silk butterfly ribbon.

Her slanted bangs brushed just above her eyelids, and her long lashes fluttered over her watery eyes, as if speaking. A petite nose, just the right height, pink cheeks, and moist lips made one want to take a bite.

Today, since they were going to the county, Xiaoyu wore her best dress—a white gown with lace at the sleeves and hem. It wasn’t luxurious, but it looked anything but ordinary on her.

Having such a beautiful companion naturally put Xie Wujie in a good mood. He rolled up his sleeve and said, “You mean this bracelet?”

“Did you put all the silver inside?” Xiaoyu asked.

Xie Wujie chuckled, “Of course. I left fifteen hundred taels at home, and there’s fifteen hundred in the bracelet. I never expected this bracelet to be a secret weapon, able to hold so much.”

“This is my father’s treasure. Only the Eight Guardians are allowed to possess such things,” Xiaoyu explained. “Even when we were starving, my father couldn’t bear to pawn it.”

“Wait, the Eight Guardians? I’ve heard of them, but who are they exactly?” Xie Wujie asked, puzzled.

“My father didn’t tell you? Actually, the Immortal Longevity Sect has guardians, much like elders. When the sect leader was murdered, the Eight Guardians scattered. Each carried a token and took with them one-eighth of the Phoenix Divine Art. They agreed that after finding shelter, they would revive the sect. But so much time has passed, and no one has returned. The promise... well, it’s turned into empty words,” Xiaoyu said, forcing a bitter smile.

She looked at Xie Wujie, her feelings complicated. She had thought he was the Tree God, but now he had become her Brother Wujie.

“By the way, why are everyone’s ears pointed here?” Xie Wujie asked again.

“Don’t you have the Phoenix spirit inside you? When a spirit possesses someone, it changes their appearance. You have two wing tattoos on your back, right? I have the spirit of a rabbit demon, so my ears are pointed. If I withdraw the spirit, I return to normal.” She demonstrated, and her ears restored themselves.

Xie Wujie marveled at the magic.

Through Xiaoyu, he learned much about this world. She was a kind-hearted girl, straightforward and trusting in whatever Xie Wujie said.

“Brother Wujie, I haven’t properly thanked you yet,” Xiaoyu said as they walked, her voice soft and sweet, like a tangyuan with sesame filling—melting at the touch, making Xie Wujie’s heart tingle.

Xie Wujie coughed awkwardly. “If you mean the matter with the split trousers, perhaps… perhaps it’s better not to mention it…”

“Pfft…” Xiaoyu giggled, “I never expected you to have such a peculiar taste, Brother Wujie…”

“Hey, hey, that’s too much! I don’t make a habit of wearing split trousers!” Xie Wujie quickly corrected.

Xiaoyu sighed, watching the eastern sky grow pale with the coming dawn. She suddenly felt that traveling with Xie Wujie and watching the sun rise together was a wonderful thing. She said, “Brother Wujie, you fought with Master Ma to save me. That’s what I wanted to thank you for…”

“Don’t worry. I would never bow before evil forces!” Xie Wujie stared into the distance, lost in thought. “I am already powerless enough in reality. I don’t want to be useless here too, unable to protect those closest to me.”

He thought of his former lover, and pain pierced his heart once more.

Xiaoyu was a sensitive girl and immediately realized her words had touched a sore spot, bringing up unpleasant memories for Xie Wujie. She hurriedly said, “Don’t dwell on it, Brother Wujie. I don’t care where you came from. Since my father has accepted you as the new sect leader, we are family now!”

“Family?” Xie Wujie was stunned, but warmth blossomed in his heart. “Thank you.”

Just as their conversation deepened, a thunderous tiger’s roar shattered the air. The ground trembled from the ferocious sound.

Xiaoyu stumbled and twisted her ankle, falling into Xie Wujie’s arms. She crashed right into him, but Xie Wujie had no time to be concerned. Glancing around, his face grew grave. “Is there a tiger?”

Though embarrassed, Xiaoyu knew this was no time for shyness. She struggled up and said, “Brother Song, let’s hurry. There’s a Scorpion-Tailed Tiger here. It eats people and leaves nothing behind, prowling at dusk. That’s why my father insisted we enter Lonely Soul Ridge before sunrise—to reach Qingskin County before sunset!”

“There’s such a creature?” Xie Wujie said. Seeing Xiaoyu’s serious expression, not a hint of jest, he decided to follow her advice. But suddenly, a massive beast emerged from the forest, blocking their path.

Xie Wujie and Xiaoyu hurriedly retreated, and he saw that it was a gigantic tiger, as large as an elephant, battered and scarred, its body immense, with a golden scorpion tail tipped with venom.

“Ha! Let’s see where you run today, fiend!”

With those words, three young men in white robes appeared, surrounding the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger.

One of them exclaimed, “Today, we must sever your tail. This golden scorpion tail will make a superb poison whip. Prepare yourself, beast!”

He brandished his spear and charged forward. Xiaoyu tugged at Xie Wujie. “Brother Wujie, let’s not meddle. These are disciples of the Cloud Sect from Qingskin County.”

“Cloud Sect?”

“Yes, there are only a handful of great sects, but countless small ones. The Cloud Sect is the most powerful in Qingskin County, with some fifteen hundred disciples. Their leader is even more formidable,” she said. “Of course, they can’t compare to the Immortal Longevity Sect at its peak, but now that we’re rebuilding, it’s better not to interfere.”

Xie Wujie had no intention of fighting the tiger. But then he noticed that one of the disciples carried a bound cub on his back—a small scorpion-tailed tiger, mewing pitifully.

The giant tiger’s attention was fixed entirely on the cub, its eyes filled with desperate urgency.