Chapter 145 - 145 To Win
145 To Win
Lu Shi seemed to be quite satisfied with this effect. He took the tea from his sister, Lu Qin, and said slowly, “A few imperial guards who were scouting the hunting grounds found a tiger by a river near the foot of the Five Peaks. Many people went after hearing about it. Some wanted to hunt the tiger, and some wanted to see it.”
Wei Jiaoniang was deep in thought. She glanced at Yu Chaoyun and the others’ shed again, raised her chin, and asked, “Did they follow to watch the commotion?”
“Yes, they entered the forest half an hour ago.” Lu Shi nodded. “If I hadn’t been waiting for you, I would have followed them to watch the commotion.”
Towards the end, Lu Shi seemed to be unable to help but complain to them.
“Ha.” Lu Qin didn’t bother to hide her mockery. “Aren’t they afraid of dirtying their shoes even when they walk? Aren’t they afraid that the fleas on the tiger will jump on them?”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing, making the others burst into laughter.
After laughing for a while, Wei Jiaoniang exclaimed, “I didn’t expect there to be a tiger in the hunting grounds.”
Although they had agreed before the winter hunt that anyone who hunted a tiger or a wolf would win, in fact, this area belonged to the hunting grounds of the Upper Forest Garden, and the Emperor would come occasionally. For the safety of the Emperor, those ferocious beasts had long been driven into the depths of the forest. Moreover, the imperial guards came to clean up this hunting ground every few days. Hence, there were basically no ferocious beasts, and no one really expected a ferocious tiger to appear.
“Let’s go take a look too,” Wei Jiaoniang suggested excitedly. “I should know about the river you mentioned.”
She had hunted eagles, wolves, and wild boars, but she had never hunted ferocious beasts like tigers and bears!
“Of course,” Lu Qin said. Before she could finish, she was already on her horse.
The group had just left the forest when they turned around and set off in the direction of the hunting ground again.
Their horses galloped out like the wind, their hooves kicking up dust and grass.
Along the way, the group’s topic of discussion revolved around the tiger.
“Fourth Brother Lu, do you know how big that tiger is? What does it look like?”
“Where did it come from? I heard there hasn’t been a tiger in these parts for years.”
“I wonder if we’ll be able to pick up anything if we go over now…”
Lu Shi seemed to be enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention as he chose to answer everyone’s questions.
As for the answers he did not know, he passed them by directly, answering only those he knew. He said that the tiger had somehow come to a nearby village. Not only had it stolen chicken to eat, but it had also bitten a child to death and injured a few adults.
The villagers worked together to chase with their hoes, and the evil tiger fled into the forest. This forest was the royal hunting ground, so the villagers naturally did not dare to chase after it again and could only give up.
Lu Shi continued, “… After the Eldest Prince heard the news that a tiger had hurt the villagers, he personally brought people into the forest.”
When Gu Yanfei and the others entered the forest again, they felt that the atmosphere inside had changed.
Every once in a while, they would see some tall, strong, and dignified-looking imperial guards patrolling the forest. Others had also heard that there were ferocious tigers and were rushing in the direction of the Five Peaks Mountain.
Gu Yanfei also learned more from these people. They said that even Kang Wang, Chu You, and Baili Yin from the State of Yue had gone to the foot of the Five Peaks Mountain. They also said that Baili Yin was determined to get that ferocious tiger.
Wei Jiaoniang was anxious. Afraid that they would not be able to see the commotion if they were late, she increased the speed of the horse.
With her leading the way, everyone arrived at their destination in half an hour.
“Go further down ahead and you’ll reach the foot of the Five Peaks Mountain. There’s a river there,” Wei Jiaoniang said affirmatively as she pointed to the southeast.
“Roar!”
As if in response, a ferocious roar came from ahead, so murderous that even the air around them seemed to vibrate.
This was the deterrence from the king of beasts.
Lu Qin’s eyes lit up. “We made it! We still have time to watch the show…”
“Young Master Yi.” Baili Yin’s sharp and arrogant voice came from ahead. He was in high spirits. “This tiger’s eyes are fierce and energetic. It must have just eaten someone.”
Immediately after, Chu Yi’s gentle voice sounded. “Third Prince Baili really has sharp eyes.”
“Hahaha!” Baili Yin let out a smug laugh. “I’ve been hunting with the Sage since I was six years old. I’ve heard and seen too much.”
Gu Yanfei, Wei Jiaoniang, and the others immediately looked for the voice.
After circling around a lush bush, they saw a crowd not far ahead. Standing in front of the crowd were Chu Yi and Baili Yin, riding two horses with different auras. One was gentle and elegant, and the other was arrogant.
Kang Wang, Chu You, stood behind Chu Yi on a black horse. He seemed to be watching and thinking.
As for the noble young masters, they all looked down at the foot of the mountain in front of them with extraordinary eyes and rubbed their palms together.
They had been in the hunting ground for an hour, searching for traces in the forest. It was not easy for them to find this ferocious tiger.
“Roar!”
600 feet away, a tall and mighty tiger lingered by a small river at the foot of the mountain, emitting a shocking howl.
Everyone stood on the mountainside and happened to have the geographical advantage. They could see the ferocious tiger below clearly.
It was a snow-white white tiger. It was huge, and when it opened its mouth to roar, its bloody mouth revealed ghastly white teeth.
There was still some flesh between its sharp teeth, making one shudder.
Around the white tiger, an encirclement with a diameter of 1,000 feet formed. The imperial guards and soldiers from the Divine Arms Battalion were either holding swords or drawing bows. They were all focused on guarding, but they did not dare to get too close. They were on guard and could not let this evil tiger escape.
“Young Master Yi.” Baili Yin’s cynical voice sounded in front of him again. It was a little confident, joking, and provocative. “Not only do I have good taste, but I also have good hands. Do you dare to compete with me?”
“Whoever hunts the tiger first wins.”