Fire Python Tiger Cubs

"Leopard Girl, is it? At your age, you couldn't find anything better to learn than sneaking up on people?" Lin Changqiang walked expressionlessly toward the girl, raising his right hand to intimidate her. "If you want our Identity Tokens, you've picked the wrong target."

"Spare her!"

Just as Lin Dong felt a flicker of surprise, a hurried shout suddenly rang out nearby. Leaves rustled, and a figure leaped out from the grass, appearing before the three of them. The newcomer was Wu Yun.

Seeing Wu Yun, Lin Dong frowned slightly. "What's this about?"

"Sorry, sorry, it's all a misunderstanding. Look, with so many people here, how could we possibly target you? We came to you because we wanted to cooperate." Wu Yun glanced at Lin Changqiang and explained nervously. "She's my friend Mu Lingsha. She was just testing your strength."

"If you wanted to know our strength, you could've come to spar openly, not shoot an arrow at me while I was resting with my eyes closed." Lin Dong looked at Wu Yun with irritation, wondering what was going on in that guy's head.

"Heh, we were in a hurry and didn't think it through." Wu Yun laughed awkwardly, but inwardly he was stunned. He'd always assumed Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong were at the same level as him—Ninth Layer of Body Tempering—but now it seemed he'd underestimated them.

"Forget it, since it's a misunderstanding, let's move on." Lin Dong shook his head helplessly. "Let's talk about the cooperation first. With your strength, getting ten Identity Tokens should be easy enough. Why do you need us?"

"It's not about the Identity Tokens." Wu Yun lowered his voice. "We found a Fire Python Tiger here!"

"A Fire Python Tiger? What's that kind of beast doing here?" At the name, Lin Dong's hand trembled slightly, and he looked at Wu Yun with a strange expression. "Are you crazy? A Fire Python Tiger can match a Heavenly Origin Stage expert. We can't handle that thing."

"Don't worry, that Fire Python Tiger is injured now—nothing to fear. And more importantly, it gave birth to three cubs!"

"Cubs?!" Lin Dong took a deep breath, his expression shifting. Fire Python Tigers were ferocious beasts as adults, but because of their violent nature, they could only be tamed if trained from infancy. Whoever got their hands on a cub would end up with a pet rivaling a Heavenly Origin Stage expert!

If this news got out, every major force in Qingyang Town would be green with envy. After all, even the Lin Family only had four Heavenly Origin Stage experts.

"Lei Li and Xie Yingying have already headed over there and brought some helpers, so I had to come find you. You know as well as I do—if the Lei and Xie Families get those Fire Python Tiger cubs, it won't be good for the Lin Family or the Mad Saber Martial Hall." Wu Yun's face was grave.

"Then let's go now. When we get them, one for the Lin Family, one for the Mad Saber Martial Hall, and the last one as compensation for injuring her." Thinking about how Xiao Yan was involved and couldn't afford any slip-ups, Lin Changqiang added, "But we get first pick."

"Haha, Brother Changqiang, you're generous!" Seeing Lin Changqiang finally agree and only ask for one cub, Wu Yun couldn't help but laugh, his face brimming with excitement. Even Mu Lingsha, who had just gotten up, was stunned. Lin Changqiang's displayed strength far surpassed theirs—a single casual blow had taken down an Eighth Layer of Body Tempering fighter. His cultivation had to be at the Earthly Yuan Stage.

"No time to waste. Let's set out now." Lin Dong quickly stood up, clearly eager about the Fire Python Tiger cubs.

Wu Yun said no more, nodded, and turned to lead the way, dashing toward the right side of the jungle. Lin Changqiang and the others followed swiftly.

The three of them sprinted through the forest, passing many participants along the way. Whenever someone looked ready to make a move, an arrow would suddenly tear through the air and slam into the ground right in front of them. The violently quivering tail of the arrow made it clear that if that wooden shaft hit flesh, it would leave a bloody hole.

So the journey went smoothly enough, but even so, it took them about ten minutes to reach their destination.

"We're here." Wu Yun stopped in a thicket, lowering his voice to speak to the others. Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong stepped forward and peered out through the bushes.

What came into view was an open clearing, where a dozen or so figures stood holding spears. At their head were Lei Li and Xie Yingying.

In the center of the group was a beast a full zhang tall, its body covered in fiery red fur like flames. Its head was a tiger's—fierce and savage—while its tail stood erect behind it, resembling a fire serpent.

Right now, this once-majestic Fire Python Tiger was unusually weak. Blood gushed from its body in streams, staining the entire ground crimson. Seeing the beast's injuries, they understood why Wu Yun had said it was no longer a threat.

With wounds like that, even if no one attacked it, it would eventually bleed to death. Lei Li and his group had clearly noticed this too, only launching a few probing attacks without forcing a fight. After all, a Fire Python Tiger at its peak could match a Heavenly Origin Stage expert, and its desperate counterattack was nothing to scoff at.

"The Fire Python Tiger cubs are on the rocky slope behind it." Wu Yun's eyes burned with desire.

They all looked toward the rocky slope behind the beast. Sure enough, on a patch of rock, three tiny creatures, covered in bloodstains with eyes not even open yet, were tumbling about, trying to stand.

"Real Fire Python Tiger cubs!" At the sight, even the usually calm Lin Dong felt a surge of heat in his eyes.

"Heh, told you I wasn't lying~" Seeing Lin Dong's expression, Wu Yun chuckled, then turned to Lin Changqiang. "What now?"

"What else? That big one's not long for this world. We wait for it to breathe its last, then Lin Dong holds off Lei Li while I block the rest of the Lei and Xie Families. You two grab the cubs and meet us at the agreed spot." With Xiao Yan involved, Lin Changqiang was unusually serious.

"You sure?" Wu Yun's face showed doubt. Lei Li's side had over a dozen people, and Lei Li himself was already at the Earthly Yuan Stage. Even if Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong were both Earthly Yuan, they probably couldn't hold out for long.

"Trust us." Lin Dong waved his hand with a smile. He had plenty of confidence in Lin Changqiang's Fire Dance Whirlwind. With that, they turned their attention back to the clearing.

The Fire Python Tiger's condition was clearly dire. Facing attacks from different directions, it could only lumber around sluggishly, trying to drive them off. But with every step, blood sprayed across the ground.

"Boom!"

Such injuries were fatal. The Fire Python Tiger didn't run for long before it let out a despairing roar and crashed to the ground.

Seeing the beast finally dead, Lei Li and the others' eyes blazed with wild joy. They moved as one, charging toward the three cubs.

"Now!"