Chapter 401: Chapter 181: Tiger Monarch

"You really are something, Miss Zhang!"

Dong Xing sneered, adding fuel to the fire.

"How could you possibly expect an Eight-Blood Martial Artist to solve a problem like this? Are you trying to get your father killed?"

"Young Master Chen is different!"

Zhang Yu said.

"Uncle Ma told me about him. He’s so young, yet he can..."

"Enough, enough! Cut the crap!"

Dong Xing said contemptuously.

"If an Eight-Blood Martial Artist can sort this out, I, Dong Xing, will cut off my own head and let you kick it like a ball!"

"Boss Zhang! Boss Zhang!"

Just then, two urgent shouts came from outside the main courtyard gate.

It was the two young Martial Artists who had escaped from the mountain stronghold.

"You two! What’s the situation?"

Zhang Wenhui hurried out to meet them, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"It’s done!"

One of the young men, the taller of the two, nodded emphatically and said:

"The stolen goods have been brought to the Three-Mile Pavilion outside the city. Nothing is missing. We’re just waiting for Boss Zhang to go and inspect them!"

"Good, good, good! This is wonderful!"

Zhang Wenhui was overcome with joy. His face instantly flushed red, goosebumps broke out all over his body, and his lips trembled as he spoke:

"Your actions have truly saved the life of my Zhang Family! As for the reward we agreed upon, I, Zhang, will deliver it in full, not a single coin short, even if I have to smash my pots and sell my iron to do it!"

"We’re saved... We’re saved..."

Zhang Yu let out a long breath, her body went limp, and she collapsed back into her chair. In an instant, her eyes and nose were completely red.

’Damn it!’

Dong Xing stood frozen in place, his teeth clenched tight. He never imagined that a cooked duck could actually fly away.

"...Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Dong Xing composed himself and questioned in a cold voice:

"Grass Vulture Mountain is overseen by a Divine Storage Realm master. The seven of you aren’t even worthy of carrying his shoes! On what grounds could you possibly get the goods back?"

"...I never said we were the ones who got the goods back."

The taller young man frowned and said:

"The seven of us were nearly wiped out by that Divine Storage Realm master. Luckily, an Inner Sect Disciple from the Mountain and Sea Sect appeared, riding a fierce tiger. He not only saved us but also got all the goods back."

"Another master?"

Dong Xing shot a sideways glance at Zhang Wenhui, only to see the man looking completely bewildered, clearly having no idea what he was talking about.

Zhang Yu reacted instantly, pressing for more information:

"May I ask the name of that esteemed disciple from the Mountain and Sea Sect?"

Hearing this, the two young Martial Artists spoke the same name in near unison:

"Chen Cheng!"

"Who!?"

Zhang Wenhui was the first to cry out in shock, his voice cracking.

From morning until just now, Zhang Yu had been constantly urging him to wait for Chen Cheng, to just wait a little longer for Chen Cheng, but he had refused to believe Chen Cheng could solve this matter.

And now, the result of the matter was like a giant slap to the face, stunning Zhang Wenhui right where he stood.

"Chen Cheng? That... that Eight-Blood Martial Artist?"

Dong Xing’s face was now flushed crimson, his cheeks and the tips of his ears burning hot with embarrassment.

"Young Master Xing."

A wry smile played on Zhang Yu’s haggard face.

"I’m not a fan of kicking balls. You should keep your head for your own use. Take care on your way out. I won’t see you off."

"You... I..."

Dong Xing’s expression shifted repeatedly. He stood there, red-faced and straining for a long time, but couldn’t manage to squeeze out a single word. In the end, he could only storm off in resentment.

"Yu’er..."

Zhang Wenhui walked over, a completely changed man, and said with a beaming smile:

"I spoke too harshly just now. I apologize... You were right all along. I should have listened to you from the start..."

"Father, this isn’t the time for that."

Zhang Yu composed herself and said with a solemn expression:

"You should be thinking about how we are going to thank Young Master Chen! This is all thanks to him!"

"Besides, given Young Master Chen’s status, our gift of thanks cannot be a careless one!"

"...I know."

Zhang Wenhui nodded vigorously.

"Young Master Chen saved the Zhang Family’s life this time. Even if I have to smash my pots and sell my iron, I will not treat Young Master Chen poorly!"

...

「Feidang Mountain.」

The sun sank behind the mountain ridge, and the last ray of twilight was swallowed by the mountain’s shadow.

In a certain valley, the light abruptly faded.

Tangled, gnarled branches reached out like the claws of an old demon, obscuring even the stars and moon.

A thick layer of fallen leaves blanketed the ground, rotting and fermenting. The damp, musty smell mingled with the metallic scent of the soil, hanging heavy and stagnant in the valley.

Deep in the valley, the sound of babies crying rose and fell, echoing ceaselessly.

The cries were exceptionally shrill and horrifying, born not just of terror, but of pain.

Beneath a crooked old tree, two infants, a boy and a girl, were wailing and flailing on the ground.

Neither was yet a month old. Their skin still had the characteristic wrinkles and flush of newborns, their limbs were as thin as lotus roots, and they did not even know how to crawl.

At this moment, they lay on their backs, their little hands and feet flailing wildly. Their lips and fingertips were purple from the cold, and their throats were raw and hoarse from crying, nearly exhausted.

「Outside the valley.」

Inside a hidden stone cave, Dong Chuo and his men were sitting around a campfire, eating some unidentifiable roasted meat.

Ning Chong refused to eat a single bite. He was huddled in a corner, arms wrapped around his knees, curled into a ball. He stared blankly at the campfire, completely motionless.

"Everyone, stay sharp!"

Dong Chuo swept his gaze over the group and said grimly:

"The intel this time is solid! The Golden-eyed Mutant Tiger’s territory is right around here. Plus, the beast is nocturnal. With two live baits making a racket over there, we’re sure to draw it out."

"...Enough. Talk less and listen for the bell."

Cui Zifeng sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. A longsword lay across his lap, and his fingers slowly caressed its sheath.

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