"By the way, how does the tiger cub look like?" Lory shifted the topic to something lighter. It was no use overthinking about something she did not fully understand.
"You want to see it?" Zhao Li Xin was happy with the change of topic.
?
"Un!" Lory nodded with excitement.
"Let me show you," Zhao Li Xin held her hand and they both disappeared into the ring.
Lory was startled when the shifted but she's not surprised when they arrived in the ring. Girsha immediately burst out of her chest and flew to the sky as a gigantic red dragon appeared before them. A bright red light appeared around the dragon as it transformed into a human.
"It's been a while, Princess Lorient," Huo Long greeted her with a big smile.
"Nice to meet you again," Lory greeted him back.
"I heard you are currently searching for the old records with information on the Crimson Lightning Sword. It's so amazing! I did not expect it!" Huo Long stared at Zhao Li Xin with awe.
"You don't think I will find it?" Zhao Li Xin was offended with Huo Long for doubting his ability.
"No, I am surprised you haven't killed anyone yet. The old you would have charged into the Sacred Mountain Peak and killed everyone there," Huo Long earnestly responded.
Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes, "Who do you think I am?"
"A weapon of mass destruction," Huo Long quickly replied.
"..."
It's hard to refute Huo Long's argument. Lory had heard the rumors before but luckily Zhao Li Xin had only killed those who deserved it. None were innocents something that seemed normal in a cultivator's world. Killing others was the norm. It was why Lory was not disturbed by Zhao Li Xin's past behavior. She also knew Zhao Li Xin only hurt those who provoked him first. People in this world could be very vicious.
"I'm here to see the tiger cub. Where is it? I don't see it?" Lory cheerfully broke the awkward mood.
"Oh, the little tiger? The cub is feasting on the fire crystal fruit," Huo Long said with a long face as he beckoned at Zhao Li Xin and Lory to followed him.
They walked into the forest and passed through red and orange leaf trees. A little black tiger with honey-colored eyes was behind a yellow bush. It lay on the grass with its back and stomach bulging under his little paws. The little tiger burped as he dozed off. Huo Long's face turned black. His precious fire crystal fruit had almost gone extinct in a day. The little cub was an audacious beast.
Lory's eyes, on the other hand, widened as she saw the bundle of black fur with big honey color eyes. The tiger was cute with a chubby stomach. It looked like a chubby doll. Lory shrieked with excitement, "How cute!"
The cub was startled awake. It quickly rose with vigilance but his small body was gently embraced in a woman's hands. The little tiger dropped its vigilance when it felt no threat. It weakly lifted its head and watched the woman who he surprising felt attached too. Lory's heart turned into mush as she looked at the little tiger's honey eyes.
"Hello, little one. My name is Lory. I'm sorry to have surprised you," Lory gently put the cub down as she worried she would scare the little tiger.
The little tiger tilted his head as he watched her. The woman before him felt strange as she did not exude greed or malicious intent like other humans. However, the man behind the woman gave him chills. The cub would never have gotten close to the man if it were not for his father, the leader of the shadow tiger tribe, trusting the man. The cub could not feel anything from the man as he seemed like an empty void. The little tiger growled faintly when he met Zhao Li Xin's cold eyes but Lory thought the little tiger was scared of her.
"Don't be afraid. I will not hurt you… Li Xin, the little one is scared of me. What should I do?" Lory felt dejected as she turned to Zhao Li Xin for help.
"..." Zhao Li Xin looked back at Lory with a blank expression.
Huo Long rolled his eyes and thought, 'I think you are asking the wrong person'.
Girsha suddenly swooped in and perched on Lory's shoulder. His appearance shocked the little tiger more than Huo Long's appearance. The little cub felt like a mountain was pressing on his chest as he could barely breathe. His little body shivered excessively as he cowered on the ground and whined faintly.
The little cub looked very pitiful and Lory was disheartened as she watched the cub struggle. She didn't understand why the cub was scared. Lory looked at Zhao Li Xin with worry but he also didn't know how to comfort a beast. He couldn't even comfort other human beings other than Lory.
"Venerable elder, please don't scare the little one. This cub will die from a heart attack in this state," Huo Long shifted his gaze to Girsha.
Girsha glared at Huo Long and the red dragon's face became stiff. He nervously waved his hands in front of his face, "I... I don't mean to be presumptuous… I just thought the Princess would be sad if something happened to the little cub."
"What's wrong? Why is this cub scared of you?" Lory lifted the little tiger and embraced him in a protective manner. Lory glared at Girsha. [Why are you scaring him, old birdie?]
[Is not me...] Girsha felt wronged. He hadn't done anything.
"It's because of the ancient blood on the venerable elder's veins. It affects the little cub," Huo Long said.
"Girsha blood?" Zhao Li Xin was surprised.
"Yes, this Lord's blood is even more powerful than mine. His blood is more archaic than anyone I know," Huo Long said in a respectful manner.
Zhao Li Xin was thunderstruck by the revelation. He thought Huo Long was the most ancient creature he ever met in his life yet it was only his Huo Long's consciousness as his mortal body was long gone. The ring was created to only store his soul. This was why Huo Long was unable to leave the ring despite being very strong.
Zhao Li Xin was now surprised to know Girsha was even older than Huo Long and yet he still maintained his mortal body. There's no beast in the world who could live that long. What kinda creature was Girsha and why did he serve Lory?
"So, it's because of you..." Lory blamed Girsha once again. She patted the little cub's head like a mother hen and coxed gently, "Don't be scared. The old birdie will never hurt you."
The little tiger slowly lifted his head as Lory's gentle words washed away the fear in his heart. He didn't know why but he trusted the woman with all his heart. It was weird since shadow guards were proud and arrogant creatures that hated humans. The little cub licked Lory's fingers to show his obedience towards her.
"The tiger seems to like you," Zhao Li Xin was surprised by how Lory was able to easily tame the shadow tiger. Cubs were also wary towards humans.
"Really?" Lory was elated by the information.
"Hm, it is rare for high-level beasts to easily trust humans," Zhao Li Xin muttered.
"Really? How did you get the cub then? Don't tell me you killed all of them?" Lory became a little anxious as she knew Zhao Li Xin's temperament.
"No, I did not! It would be a waste. I had an agreement with them," Zhao Li Xin said. He was secretly relieved he decided not to kill the whole tribe.
"What agreement?"
"I'll give the Sacred Mountain Peak territory to them. Ah…actually I will be returning it to them since this mountain used to belong to the shadow tigers before the Sacred Mountain Peak society killed the shadow beasts and almost made them extinct. They are only a few hundreds of them remaining."
"You will give them an opportunity to avenge themselves?" She was startled by his deal but she agreed with his method. She had investigated the Sacred Mountain Peak members and had concluded that none of them were decent people. She thought the children under eight years could possibly be good as they had yet to kill anyone. The older children could beat their servants to death for the pettiest of reasons yet their parents didn't say anything or punish them as they considered it normal behavior.
"Hum.." Zhao Li Xin agreed with a slight hum.
Lory was not against his plan but she was reluctant to send the cute little tiger to Nan Yu Qi hands, "Is the little guy gonna be okay? I'm worried about the contract between human and beast."
"Judging by Nan Yu Qi's character, She will make a master and servant contract with the cub. This means the contractual beast would die if she dies, but she will remain alive if the contractual beast dies," Zhao Li Xin said.
"There is a selfish contract like that and you can do that?" Lory gaped.
"Yes. Most people use this type of contract as they only use beasts as weapons," Huo Long sighed. Humans had always been selfish creatures since the beginning of time.
"What? How cruel!" Lory frowned with anger. The cute little tiger blinked his big eyes at and her heart melted instantly. She asked with worry, "Can you do something, Li Xin?"
"There is one way," Zhao Li Xin showed her a small yellow topaz stone the size of a marble. "If he swallows this, the stone will protect his soul when I break the contract later."
"Oh! The little one will be fine?" Lory asked with joy.
"Naturally..." Zhao Li Xin nodded calmly.
Lory sighed with relief but she asked casually, "How do you break the contract anyway?"
Zhao Li Xin made a killing gesture across his neck with his hand as he smiled wickedly, "Obviously"
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