The imperial guards were responsible for security during the autumn hunt. Ge Long and his men were still patrolling the perimeter of the camp, so if they did not leave now, they would lose their chance later.
Led by the third prince, everyone soon left the camp and entered the outskirts of Sunset Forest.
As for the patrolling guards they encountered along the way, they simply knocked them unconscious. After all, none of them had any skill at sneaking around. If these guards sent word back, tonight's operation would certainly go down the drain.
"Eldest Prince, isn't this too risky?"
Dugu Yan, who knew full well how dangerous Sunset Forest was, grew a little worried after entering the woods.
Her grandfather had brought her here quite a few times before. Sunset Forest was no less dangerous than Star Dou Great Forest!
Besides all the ferocious Soul Beasts, there were even more hazards that were impossible to guard against: treacherous terrain, fog, and poisonous miasma.
"Don't worry. I've already sent word to General Ge Long," Xue Qinghe said.
With something this dangerous, as someone who knew about it and was also in charge of the autumn hunt, he absolutely could not wallow in the same mire as these princes.
Even if he had verbally promised not to tell, he certainly had to let something slip in secret. Otherwise, he would not escape responsibility if something happened.
Ge Long knew the third prince's personality well. Once he received the news, he certainly would not rashly bring too many men to stop them. At most, he would gather a few experts to follow them discreetly and keep them safe.
At this late hour, and in the forest at that, even if Ge Long and his men caught up, they would not affect his plan much. Instead, they could serve as witnesses.
The third prince had proposed this outing and taken the lead, and he was also the one who had knocked the patrolling guards unconscious. Even if something happened, the blame could not fall on Xue Qinghe.
He had tried to stop them again and again. In the end, not only had he accompanied them personally, he had also informed General Ge Long, who was responsible for security.
Xue Qinghe had fulfilled every responsibility. There was not a single fault anyone could find.
If something happened to the third prince, he would have brought it on himself.
The night gradually deepened. Led by the third prince, this rebellious group of Soul Masters unwittingly made their way deep into the forest.
As they drew farther and farther from camp, with no firelight around them, quite a few began to feel afraid. Some even regretted coming.
However, with the third prince walking at the very front, even those who were afraid found it difficult to beat a retreat at a time like this.
"Third Prince, are we going the right way?"
At last, a young prince under ten could not help speaking up.
"Of course we are," the third prince said.
"That white tiger was no youngster. Its den certainly wouldn't be too close to the edge. If we split up and search, we'll definitely find it."
"Split up?" Everyone's expression changed.
Split up in a place like this?
"Are you scared?" The third prince frowned slightly.
"The Soul Beasts around here were either driven into the hunting grounds and killed by us or fled deeper into the forest. At most, there are only a few timid Ten-Year Soul Beasts left. Don't tell me you can't even handle Ten-Year Soul Beasts?"
"Third Brother, splitting up really is too dangerous," Xue Qinghe stepped forward and said.
"Even if we don't encounter any Soul Beasts, Sunset Forest's terrain is complicated. It would be terrible if someone accidentally got lost."
At his words, everyone cast grateful looks at Xue Qinghe.
The eldest prince really was the sensible one!
Chapter 30: Hidden depths
"But if we all stay together like this, how are we supposed to find that white tiger's den?" The third prince grew a little anxious.
They could not keep their secret departure from camp hidden for long. Once Ge Long and his men discovered that the imperial princes and the other princes were all missing, they would certainly lead the imperial guards into the forest to find them. If he had gained nothing before they were caught, he would definitely be scolded when they returned!
But if he came back with something, his imperial father would, at most, say a few perfunctory words of reproach. Most of what followed would only be praise.
"How about this? We'll form teams of two or three, stay close to each other, and report our positions at regular intervals. That will keep us safe and prevent us from getting lost," Xue Qinghe said.
"Yes, yes, that's best." Before the third prince could say anything, the other princes voiced their agreement.
"All right." The third prince frowned but did not object. However, his mood seemed to have soured.
This should have been his moment in the spotlight, but now his fine elder brother had stolen it.
Soon, everyone formed small teams and searched the dense woods for the white tiger's den.
Ye Lingling had already obtained her Soul Ring during the day, but she was purely a healing Soul Master with no combat ability, so she simply stayed close beside Dugu Yan.
As it happened, Xuan Ming was not yet a Soul Master either. Together with Xue Qinghe, they formed a team of four.
Time trickled by as everyone ventured deeper. Although they encountered quite a few Ten-Year Soul Beasts along the way, they found no sign of the white tiger's den.
"Could we be looking in the wrong direction?" Dugu Yan said.
"Besides, had that white tiger really just given birth?"
"There's no mistake," Ye Lingling said.
"That was what it looked like after just giving birth. But newborn cubs without their mother's protection and milk..."
Ye Lingling's expression grew a little unnatural, and her heart felt heavy.
"Lingling, don't worry. If we find the cubs, I'll find a way to save them," Xue Qinghe said.
Ye Lingling was still only a six-year-old child, after all. He could understand her compassion for such young cubs.
"Mm." Ye Lingling nodded, a little of the sadness leaving her face, and searched even harder for the den.
"In forests, tigers usually choose tree hollows, caves, dense thickets, or spaces beneath fallen trees as dens. Those places offer good concealment, making it harder for natural enemies to discover them while they're resting or nursing their cubs," Xuan Ming said.
"Dens used to raise cubs, especially, are usually on higher ground where they won't flood."
"There are plenty of tracks here left by Soul Beasts moving about, which makes hunting convenient. The den should be nearby."
Dugu Yan paused. "How do you know all this?"
"There was a forest near where I used to live. Sometimes, I would go in to try my luck," Xuan Ming said.
"Ordinary wild beasts and Soul Beasts should have similar habits."
"Try your luck..." Dugu Yan hesitated.
She had wanted to say that it was unsafe, but given Xuan Ming's former circumstances, it seemed he could hardly afford to worry about safety.
"Hmm?" Xue Qinghe stopped.
"What is it?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion.
"I smell blood. Be careful." Xue Qinghe frowned slightly, surveying their surroundings warily.
Xuan Ming sniffed carefully and looked toward a rock face covered in bushes not far away. "Over there."
"Be careful." Xue Qinghe walked in front, with Dugu Yan and the other two following as they slowly approached their destination.
Pushing aside the dry bushes, they saw a gruesome sight.
The cozy nest inside the small cave was covered in blood. The two newborn tiger cubs seemed to have been discovered by some vicious predator. Their tiny bodies had been bitten clean through, and they lay dead in their den.
Ye Lingling went pale and nearly fell to the ground.
"It looks like another Soul Beast found them before we did." Xue Qinghe sighed.
"Everyone, stop searching! We've found it!"
At Xue Qinghe's shout, the other teams searching nearby quickly gathered.
"This..."
Looking at the two cubs that had died so horribly in the den, everyone wore different expressions, though most looked regretful.
"What a wasted trip." Covered in dirt, Baers plopped down on the ground.
"It looks like they didn't drive all the Soul Beasts away." The third prince felt inexplicably pleased. At least his elder brother had not gotten this litter of cubs.
"Something's wrong." Xuan Ming looked around, seemingly searching for something.
"What is it?" Dugu Yan asked.
"If this was a hunt for food, these two cubs should have been eaten. But they were only bitten to death," Xuan Ming said.
"In a case like this, it was most likely a male tiger."
"A male tiger?" Dugu Yan froze.
"Why?"
"After giving birth, a tigress needs to care for her cubs, so she won't become pregnant again for a long time. Some male tigers will bite cubs to death when they find them so they can breed," Xuan Ming said.
"And they usually hide near the den, waiting for the tigress to return."
Everyone's expression changed, but before they could do anything, a powerfully built black figure came charging from the distance.
"Watch out!"
In their panic, most thought only of fleeing. Only Xue Qinghe and the third prince immediately completed Martial Soul Possession.
"First Soul Skill-Holy Shield!"
A Yellow Soul Ring flashed, and a golden shield of light appeared before the third prince. The muscular black tiger pouncing at him slammed straight into it and was sent flying back.
"Reflection?" Xuan Ming said in puzzlement.
"You have a sharp eye, little brother Xuan Ming. You actually saw through my Soul Skill's effect at a glance." The third prince was quite surprised.
His Holy Shield did more than simply defend-it reflected attacks. Whether it was an energy-based attack or a direct physical collision like this, it could reflect either. In a sense, it combined offense and defense.
"What are you running for?" The third prince's sharp rebuke brought the fleeing crowd back.
"With so many of us, do we need to be afraid of it?"
Everyone froze where they stood, truly wanting to curse.
They had never actually fought a Soul Beast!
Whenever they obtained Soul Rings, someone else crippled the beasts and placed them right in front of them. All they had to do was stab them with a knife.
One glance was enough to tell that this black tiger was no youngster. How could people like them possibly handle it?
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
The black tiger that had been knocked away quickly rose. Black lightning erupted like little snakes, snaking around its body.
The third prince, who had still been about to call everyone into action, stiffened.
The black tiger's presence had changed!
"Third Brother, watch out!"
With electric currents coiling around it, the black tiger's speed nearly doubled. In an instant, it charged again, and with its tremendous momentum, a single swipe shattered the third prince's Holy Shield.
Bang!
Struck head-on, the third prince flew backward and crashed heavily into the bushes.
At the sight, the already panicked princes were utterly petrified.
Just as everyone thought they were about to die here, a tall figure clad in imperial guard armor suddenly appeared before them.
"General Ge Long?!"
The sharp-eyed Baers cried out in delighted surprise.
Ge Long ignored Baers. A Yellow Soul Ring flashed, and the phantom of his Yazi Martial Soul appeared over his right arm as he prepared to kill the black tiger before him.
"Please spare its life," Xuan Ming said.
Ge Long paused slightly. His fist was already swinging, but he still shifted it a little, smashing the black tiger to the ground and leaving it barely alive, unable to move again.
"This Rushing Thunder Tiger is at least eight hundred years old. You can't use it." Ge Long saw through Xuan Ming's intentions immediately.
"I'll give it a try." Xuan Ming stepped forward, summoned the Blood Spear, and thrust it straight into the Rushing Thunder Tiger's throat.
A few breaths later, a deep yellow Soul Ring slowly rose.
"Xuan Ming, you..."