King of Tigers, Red-Eyed Tiger

"Master, this disciple wishes to return home for a while."

Xu Yan spoke respectfully.

"Mm!"

Li Xuan nodded, his expression unchanged.

"This disciple will return within half a month at the latest."

Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and spoke again.

Li Xuan nodded, then said, "I won't say any more than necessary. Your master prefers to keep a low profile. Understand?"

"Yes, Master, this disciple understands!"

Xu Yan nodded solemnly.

Seeing that the timing was about right, Li Xuan slowly said, "Fierce beasts such as tigers possess abundant blood and vitality. Their meat is excellent for strengthening the body and benefits cultivation."

Xu Yan's eyes lit up, and excitement surged through his heart. Sure enough, tempering Golden Bones consumes no small amount. Master is reminding me that besides Precious Medicine, the flesh and blood of fierce tiger beasts are also great tonics that aid cultivation!

He nodded excitedly. "Master, I understand!"

Xu Yan's excitement was exactly as Li Xuan had expected. Li Xuan inwardly sighed, This foolish disciple has seen hope once again. He must be overjoyed.

Unfortunately, it may be highly nourishing, but don't count on it helping him enter the path of cultivation.

Li Xuan seemingly reminded him casually, "Fierce tiger beasts haunt the Evil Fiend Forest thirty li away. Be extra careful when traveling through it."

At the end, he added, "Your master likes peace and quiet and dislikes disturbances. Do not make too much of a commotion."

There were fierce tiger beasts in the Evil Fiend Forest, and their flesh and blood benefited cultivation. So long as Xu Yan successfully passed through the Evil Fiend Forest this time, with his status and background, he would certainly lead hunters there to kill the fierce tiger beasts within.

Li Xuan had warned him in advance not to let anyone come to this little village and disturb his peace.

As long as no outsiders came, the risk of exposure would be reduced, and no one would see through the fact that he was a fraud.

Once the dangers of the Evil Fiend Forest were removed, Li Xuan could flee the village at any time. If there was any risk of exposure, he could slip away immediately rather than being trapped in the village with nowhere to go.

At this moment, Xu Yan was brimming with excitement. Master is telling me to hunt that fierce tiger beast. Does that mean my current strength is already enough to kill such a beast?

I must not let the fierce beast escape and cause a disturbance that would disrupt Master. I have to be swift and decisive—I absolutely cannot make too much noise!

Then another thought struck him. Master is having me hunt a fierce beast at this time because he is tempering me. He wants me to stir my blood and vitality in battle with the beast, become proficient with my strength, and improve my control over my own power!

Xu Yan rose to his feet, clenched his fists, and said excitedly, "Rest assured, Master. I definitely will not cause a great disturbance, and I definitely will not disrupt your peace!"

"Mm, very good. Your master believes in you!"

Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

This foolish disciple was quite obedient, at least, and he could understand what Li Xuan meant.

Yet Xu Yan was incomparably excited. This time, he had grasped the deeper meaning behind his master's words. His trip to the Evil Fiend Forest would surely yield something!

Perhaps he would not even need a month before he could temper Golden Bones!

Watching Xu Yan leave, Li Xuan's heart was in turmoil. I hope this foolish disciple can safely cross the Evil Fiend Forest this time too, then bring people back to hunt the tigers and fierce beasts inside.

That way, I can be said to have avenged the villagers who died so miserably.

Once the tigers and fierce beasts in the Evil Fiend Forest were dead, the road out of the village would be safe. The moment he sensed any danger of being exposed, he could flee at once.

He would head straight for the Wu Kingdom.

And hide far away.

With Xu Yan's apprenticeship gift alone, he could live a good life.

Xu Yan carried a longsword on his back, his face alight with excitement. He walked faster and faster until he finally reached the Evil Fiend Forest.

The thirty-li Evil Fiend Forest was not Xu Yan's first time crossing it. More than once, he had seen animal carcasses that had been gnawed away by more than half.

After going back and forth several times, he had never encountered danger.

This time, after entering the Evil Fiend Forest, he did not hurry onward. Instead, he began searching through the dense woods.

"Since Master said so, it means that with my current strength, fighting and killing a fierce tiger is no difficult task."

Xu Yan circulated his blood and vitality, tensing his muscles. With his sharp senses alert to the surroundings, he searched through the Evil Fiend Forest.

"Up ahead!"

Suddenly, Xu Yan heard faint snoring.

He lightened his steps and carefully approached. At last, he saw a striped tiger lying in the grass, resting.

Even from several zhang away, he could still sense the tiger's ferocious aura, as well as its powerful body and abundant blood and vitality.

"Hiss!"

The instant Xu Yan saw the tiger, he was shocked.

"Why is this tiger so enormous?"

Born into a family of immense wealth, Xu Yan had loved martial arts since childhood. More than once, he had hunted tigers alongside his family guards and some hunters.

Yet none of the tigers he had hunted before could compare to the one before him.

This tiger in the Evil Fiend Forest was more than twice as large.

Its striped fur made it look even more savage.

"No wonder Master sent me to the Evil Fiend Forest. This tiger is no ordinary tiger. Its blood and vitality are far more powerful.

"Its flesh, blood, and bones are all great tonics. They will greatly benefit my tempering of Golden Bones!"

Excitement appeared in Xu Yan's eyes. He inwardly marveled that this was why his master had sent him to hunt the tiger in the Evil Fiend Forest—this tiger was truly extraordinary.

"If I use this tiger's flesh, blood, and bones together with Precious Medicine, the effects will surely be even stronger. It will be enough for my Bone Refining to undergo more than three transformations!"

Countless thoughts flashed through Xu Yan's mind. If he killed this tiger and brought it back, then had the family apothecary refine it with Precious Medicine, it would certainly enhance its effects in assisting Bone Refining.

"I cannot be careless. This is my chance. I should strike while I can and kill the tiger in an instant. That will neither cause a great disturbance nor let the tiger escape the Evil Fiend Forest!"

Xu Yan's blood and vitality boiled, his heart pounding as powerful vitality coursed through his entire body.

Every muscle in his body tightened, poised to strike.

He slowly drew his longsword, lightened his footsteps, and crept closer.

He was preparing a sneak attack!

One sword strike to kill the tiger!

"I can't use my sword!"

Xu Yan suddenly thought of something. If I kill the tiger with my sword, won't that damage its hide?

This tiger hide looks beautiful. If I skin it whole, it will be perfect to give Master!

With that thought, Xu Yan slowly lowered his sword. He clenched both fists, blood and vitality surging as his muscles tensed, preparing to fight this tiger barehanded.

The distance closed little by little. The tiger, which had been lying down to rest, suddenly twitched its nostrils several times.

It abruptly raised its head and looked back.

A human appeared in its line of sight.

Roar!

The tiger let out a deep growl and was about to spring up. At that moment, Xu Yan saw the tiger looking at him. Its eyes were crimson, brimming with brutality and bloodlust.

"Red-Eyed Tiger!"

Xu Yan's heart tightened. No wonder this tiger was so huge, more than twice the size of an ordinary tiger.

It was actually the legendary King of Tigers—the Red-Eyed Tiger!

He had read of it in storybooks. Legend spoke of a kind of tiger with eyes like blazing fire, fierce and savage, fond of eating humans. Even a hunting party of a hundred men would surely suffer grievous casualties if they encountered one!

This tiger in the Evil Fiend Forest was actually the legendary King of Tigers—the Red-Eyed Tiger!

And now, it had already discovered him.

Xu Yan's blood and vitality surged. Before the Red-Eyed Tiger could leap up, he suddenly pounced!