Chapter Twenty-Nine: Slaying the Tiger

As the mountain wind surged from all directions, Chen Jiu and Wu Song clung desperately to a nearby tree.

The wind was ferocious.

“Wind from the tiger— that wicked tiger must be coming!” Chen Jiu’s eyes could barely open against the force of the gale.

Wu Song’s expression changed. Though tension gripped him, there was not a hint of fear.

After several breaths, the wind gradually abated.

Seizing the moment, Chen Jiu swiftly took out a handful of yellow beans. He originally intended to summon the “Mountain Goblin,” for such a towering monster would surely be able to contend with the great tiger. Yet, with Wu Song present, he dared not reveal his “Celestial Eye.”

Suddenly, from the dense forest came a thunderous sound, like drums pounding, shaking the very earth. Something was about to emerge.

Wu Song gripped his whistle staff tightly, his gaze locked on the dense woods ahead.

Suddenly, some trees trembled violently, the thinner ones even falling aside.

A low, chilling howl echoed forth.

Chen Jiu quietly retreated, scattering the yellow beans in his hand.

“Go!”

With a crackling sound, five small, stout figures manifested.

At that moment, the foremost trees crashed down, revealing a colossal beast lurking in the shadows.

A murderous aura swept toward them.

Wu Song and Chen Jiu’s eyes sharpened; their hearts skipped a beat.

By the moonlight, they saw clearly.

The tiger was enormous.

Standing in the forest, it towered nearly ten feet tall, making the surrounding trees seem fragile by comparison.

Its body, over ten feet long, rippled with muscles like coiled dragons, exuding explosive power and striking terror in their hearts.

Sweat beaded Wu Song’s forehead. He took a defensive stance.

The giant tiger let out a low growl, its massive paws thudding against the ground, raising a cloud of dust as it crouched, ready to attack— the posture of a predator.

Yet the “Peace Mandate” in Chen Jiu’s arms remained still, not glowing or radiating heat, which meant this was truly an animal, not a demon.

Even on Blue Star, this would be considered the largest tiger ever seen.

“I’ll take the lead— you look for a chance to strike it down!” Wu Song said, raising his staff.

Chen Jiu nodded, pointing his magic sword and commanding the five stout figures, “Distract the tiger as much as you can!”

The five little creatures rushed forward, charging straight at the tiger.

The great tiger roared, muscles flaring as it leaped at Wu Song.

Wu Song reacted swiftly, planting his staff into the ground and rolling aside, barely evading the attack.

The tiger missed, its cold eyes flashing.

Wu Song stood, face grave. With a shout, he swung his staff at the tiger’s forehead, leaping into the air.

The tiger couldn’t dodge in time, about to be struck.

But fate intervened— Wu Song’s staff collided with a protruding branch, snapping cleanly with a crack.

Wu Song’s expression changed as he gripped the broken staff, retreating several steps.

As the tiger lunged to bite, the five stout figures rushed over. They leaped onto its back, punching, kicking, biting, and pulling with all their might.

Wu Song stared, amazed at the spectacle.

“Watch the staff!”

Seizing the opportunity, he closed in and rained blows down upon the tiger’s head.

The tiger, enraged, thrashed its body, shaking its head and flinging the five stout figures far away.

It then tackled Wu Song, jaws wide to deliver a killing bite.

But in a flash, a sharp sword light shot forth.

With a hiss, the sword light streaked across the tiger’s crown, drawing a bloody line.

Wu Song forced the tiger off him, rolled aside, and called out in praise, “Excellent swordplay!”

The tiger, furious, turned its attention to Chen Jiu, sensing a dangerous aura from the Taoist.

Chen Jiu’s heart sank as he faced the charging beast, retreating quickly.

Confronted by a tiger, most would collapse in terror— for this was absolute power, the king of the mountain, once called the “Mountain Lord” in ancient times.

Wu Song’s eyes flashed. He dropped the broken staff, ran a few steps, and leaped onto the tiger’s back.

The tiger was startled, shaking its massive head to throw Wu Song off.

Yet Wu Song’s left hand clamped onto the tiger’s crown, while his legs squeezed tight, anchoring himself firmly.

Only Wu Song could manage such a feat— any ordinary strongman would not last a single round.

In “Water Margin,” Wu Song once lifted stone weights weighing hundreds of pounds with one hand!

Such was his legendary strength.

He raised his right fist and, without mercy, hammered the tiger’s head.

With dull thuds, the tiger roared in fury.

Chen Jiu watched, stunned.

Incredible! Far more impressive than any sliding tackle...

Chen Jiu’s thoughts raced— this was the perfect moment!

He controlled his magic sword, pointing at the tiger.

The sword buzzed, transforming into a streak of light aimed at the tiger’s throat.

The sword’s momentum was unstoppable, its sharp energy sweeping forward.

The tiger’s cold eyes flashed— if struck, it would surely die.

But as the sword was about to hit, a sinister wind blew.

Li Jingyi appeared in an instant.

He pushed both hands forward.

A fierce wind arose, blowing the magic sword aside!

Chen Jiu’s expression changed drastically, fury rising within him, ready to summon the Mountain Goblin at once.

Li Jingyi sneered, “I see now— you’re just a half-baked Taoist, only capable of a trick or two!”

He swept his sleeve, conjuring wind that knocked Wu Song off the tiger’s back.

Wu Song crashed to the ground, but rolled and stood up.

Li Jingyi tilted his head, then manipulated the wind to blow Chen Jiu’s flying sword far away, preventing him from controlling it.

Wu Song shouted, ready to leap onto the tiger again.

But Li Jingyi would not allow it— a gust pinned Wu Song to the ground.

“Kill him!” Li Jingyi ordered, pointing at the unarmed Chen Jiu.

The tiger sprang forward, crossing dozens of yards in an instant, and pinned Chen Jiu down.

Wu Song’s face changed as he rushed over.

But Chen Jiu stood on a steep slope; the tiger’s attack sent them both tumbling down into the dense forest below, disappearing from sight.

Wu Song reached the edge, staring at the trail below, breathing heavily, his eyes burning with rage.

Though his clothes were torn and blood streaked his body, the thought of Chen Jiu being dragged down by the tiger filled him with fury.