The Punitive Expedition Failed, Life Hanging by a Thread

The Punitive Expedition Failed, Life Hanging by a Thread

"Boss, are you saying this big cat has become a spirit?"

After a brief silence, the once-relaxed atmosphere among the wandering martial folk abruptly tightened!

A savage wild big cat and the monsters of legend were entirely different concepts!

If it was the former, they could all rush it together—smear its face with Sparrow-Dropping Incense and drugged blow darts, with their Innate Grandmaster boss leading the way—and they would have every confidence of hunting that silver-white big cat that had been causing such havoc.

But if it had already become a monster, then things were serious.

Ordinary Innate Grandmasters simply could not handle such a creature.

Perhaps only the lords of the Aura-Observing Bureau could launch a punitive expedition against it.

"Not necessarily."

The brawny man in the short shirt shook his head.

"If it had already become a monster, not a single person from Young Master Wang's convoy would have escaped earlier. Besides, once a monster is born, the Aura-Observing Bureau will definitely know—that's what those people do.

"In my view, this big cat is probably on the path to becoming a monster. But even so, a big cat in the midst of transforming is not something we can deal with, whether in ferocity or strength. There's no need to throw away our lives for the benefits promised by the Wang Household!"

Only then did the martial folk understand.

Without another word, they headed down the mountain.

But was Fanghua Mountain really so easy to descend once one had climbed it?

Or rather, would that starving big cat, which no longer ate deer flesh, let them go?

At a certain moment, the Zhengqing Gang's boss—the brawny man in the short shirt—suddenly stopped.

At that instant, he felt it.

A shudder that rose from the depths of his soul!

It was the terrifying instinct of an animal being watched by its natural predator.

"Boss, what's wrong?" The martial folk froze, their mouths going dry.

"Prepare to fight for your lives!" The brawny man in the short shirt took the black iron battle-axe from his back and gripped it in his hand. His feet seemed nailed in place as he stood motionless, his eyes sweeping the surroundings!

Though the other martial folk did not possess an Innate Grandmaster's sensitivity to vital energy, they were no fools. In just a few words, they had guessed what was happening.

They drew their weapons one after another, ready for battle!

"That big cat has set its sights on us."

Remaining on guard, the brawny man said, "My guess was right—the thing killed the deer, but beast meat can no longer satisfy its appetite. It... wants to eat us alive!"

In an instant, the atmosphere among the dozen or so martial folk became heavy!

The tall man took out blow darts coated in a mind-confusing drug. The one-eyed man lit the Sparrow-Dropping Incense that the big cat disliked. The remaining martial folk raised their torches, standing ready in tight formation!

Then they continued down the mountain, step by step.

Incomparably slowly.

Within the tangled forest, upon the silent snowfield.

The silver-white big cat paced over the snow, its gaze fixed unwaveringly upon the few two-legged sheep ahead.

—Just as the brawny man in the short shirt had guessed, the big cat was not unhungry. On the contrary, it was starving.

It was simply that beasts such as deer no longer suited its palate.

For the past few days, it had been unable to forget the flavor of those two-legged sheep from several days ago.

Now that more had delivered themselves to its door, how could it let them slip away?

Yet although the big cat advanced step by step toward the martial folk, it did not rashly close in.

The blazing torches and the smell of mountain sparrow droppings both instinctively repulsed it.

But even so, the tempting scent wafting from those robust, vigorous two-legged sheep made the big cat... unwilling to give up.

Thus, the two sides remained locked in a standoff.

Time passed bit by bit.

They were about to leave the bounds of No-Return Forest!

At last, the silver-white big cat could no longer hold itself back!

It pounced!

The allure of human scent had finally overwhelmed its discomfort toward Sparrow-Dropping Incense and fire!

Today, it would eat people!

At the same time, the brawny man in the short shirt's expression hardened!

A huge white shadow leaped up from behind the trees and lunged at them!

A low tiger roar carried a fetid gust, mixed with wind and snow as it swept over them!

"Move!"

The Innate Grandmaster in the short shirt was the first to react. With a twist of his shoulder, he knocked one martial man aside, raised his great axe, and blocked the enormous white shadow head-on!

As the big cat flew at him, the brawny man braced it with his axe. Its foul-smelling claws and fangs pressed against the axe haft, baring their teeth and brandishing their claws!

At once, the brawny man felt as though a galloping carriage had slammed into him. The terrible impact drove his iron-hard legs deep into the ground!

Only then did the big cat's true appearance enter everyone's eyes.

It was enormous, far taller and bulkier than the strongest water buffalo of the Weishui. Gray-black patterns ran through its silver-white fur and claws, its hair standing upright like needles. Its tiger tail in particular was like a thick, powerful iron whip, tearing through wind and snow!

The claws and fangs braced against the battle-axe dripped with saliva and gleamed coldly! Those massive tiger claws could likely tear open an adult man's chest with a single swipe!

While it faced off against the brawny man in the short shirt, the remaining martial folk recovered from their momentary shock and, like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displayed their own divine powers!

Sabers and swords!

Torches!

Sparrow-Dropping Incense!

Drugged blow darts!

They hurled the whole lot at the big cat!

Unfortunately, the sabers and swords lacked force and could not injure its hide; the torches merely scorched a patch of black onto its needle-hard fur, of no real consequence; and the drugged blow darts could not pierce its coat, leaving them useless!

Instead, the big cat roared as though driving off flies and mosquitoes!

ROAR!!!

The tiger's roar resounded through the mountain forest, and endless snow cascaded down in response!

The terrifying sound waves bored into their eardrums. Their heads throbbed with pain, and the weapons in their hands fell to the ground despite themselves!

One tiger roar had forcibly disarmed a whole group of trained martial folk!

The roar also crashed into the brawny man's ears, leaving him dizzy and disoriented!

Staring at the terrifying big cat before him, the brawny man's face darkened like water!

—He could see it now. This big cat truly was on the path to becoming a monster!

Whether it was the defense of its fur, the power of its body, or that horrifying ferocity, what it displayed now was beyond anything a normal beast could compare to!

If he had known the situation beforehand, he would never have accepted the Wang Household's job, not even if it killed him!

The brawny man sighed inwardly.

But things in this world were just like that—no amount of gold could buy foreknowledge!

Now that they had come, they could only fight with everything they had and seek that sliver of life!

With a great shout, the brawny man's thick arms bulged with sinew. Innate Internal Force surged through his veins, and billowing heat poured from his pores, turning into vast white vapor amid the wind and snow!

A sound like a bellows thundered from his chest. His hands gripping the axe haft became like iron pincers as he swung violently!

The silver-white big cat's mountain-like body lost control and toppled to one side!

This was the Innate Realm!

Using the strength of one's flesh to battle a half-monster beast!

At the same time, the brawny man did not hesitate. Gripping his battle-axe, he stomped down with both feet!

He shot into the air!

He raised the massive black iron axe high and brought it crashing down upon the silver-white big cat's head!

Wind and snow were torn apart!

The air was split open!

The brawny man's face was filled with absolute determination! This was an axe strike delivered with every ounce of strength he possessed as an Innate Grandmaster!

Yet the silver-white big cat showed not the slightest fear before this heaven-shaking blow. It raised its massive tiger paw, the terrifying muscles beneath its fur suddenly tightening as it swatted upward!

BANG!

A clash like metal striking metal rang through the mountain forest!

Before the brawny man's disbelieving eyes, an irresistible force like a surging tidal wave crashed into him, sending both man and axe flying!

With a bang, he hit the ground!

Agonizing pain flooded through his entire body, down to every limb and bone!

The arms that had gripped the axe trembled uncontrollably, no longer obeying him!

His head had also suffered a heavy shock, leaving his thoughts like a pot of paste as it buzzed and rang!

An Innate expert had been swatted away with one claw and lost all combat ability!

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

Only then did the martial folk recover from the dizziness caused by the tiger roar. At a glance, they saw their boss smashed into the snow like a rag doll!

Their eyes reddened with fury as they prepared to risk their lives against the silver-white big cat!

"Get out of here!"

The brawny man shouted, stopping them!

—Even he, an Innate Grandmaster, had been reduced to this by a single claw. What could his men possibly do?

Fortunately, the silver-white big cat seemed drawn by the boiling vitality in the brawny man's body. Drooling, it headed straight for him.

It paid little attention to the other martial folk.

Watching the silver-white big cat pace toward him, the brawny man smiled bitterly.

—He had miscalculated.

They had prepared torches, blow darts, and Sparrow-Dropping Incense, and he himself was an Innate Grandmaster.

By all rights, dealing with one big cat should not have been a problem.

But he had never expected that, perhaps because it had eaten too many people, this big cat had begun transforming into a monster. Its strength was far beyond that of any ordinary beast!

He had fallen.

That was the thought that arose in the brawny man's heart as he stared at the enormous, savage tiger head.

But in the next instant, just as the fetid fangs were about to bite through his throat, a fierce gust suddenly skimmed past his scalp!

In the blink of an eye, the silver-white big cat seemed to be hurled away by some terrifying force!

(End of Chapter)