Hearing Zhuang Sinan say there was a tiger in Qingmeng Mountain—and a humanoid one standing two meters tall at that—Zhang Jin's face turned green, her eye twitching uncontrollably.
“You were sent to find the cause of the changes in Mulian Village! Who asked you to find a white tiger woman who sounds ten thousand times trickier than that giant catfish?!”
Even if she wasn't a practitioner like them, she had watched TV shows and read novels! Didn't everyone know that among monsters, the more human they looked, the more dangerous they were?!
Wasn't spiritual energy supposed to have just begun its resurgence?
Wasn't everyone supposed to be fighting over spiritual energy because it was so precious?
Then where on earth did this humanoid white tiger pop out from?!
Was this really not some kind of prank?!
What about the local Forestry Bureau and animal protection organizations?
How on earth could you hide such a massive white tiger?!
The head of the Forestry Bureau felt deeply wronged as well.
Qingmeng Mountain was a natural reserve filled with miasma and off-limits areas, so wildlife protection work naturally couldn't cover every inch.
But this white tiger? Forget them, even veteran forest rangers had never laid eyes on it!
It was as if she had appeared out of thin air.
Ma Lanhua was equally baffled.
Growing up, she had seen more animals than people. Animals capable of achieving enlightenment were basically old monsters from before the founding of the republic. Even if they had survived to this day, they would be withered, wrinkled old things.
Forget shapeshifting—they couldn't even cast basic spells. At most, they could steal a chicken or two, mess around with farm dogs, or do basic fortune-telling for people. Anything more was beyond them.
Forget her own Ma family—looking across all the major sects, aside from the Pekinese watching the gate for Master Zhang on Longhu Mountain, no one had heard of a second humanoid monster still alive today.
If she hadn't achieved enlightenment before the resurgence of spiritual energy, had it happened within the last year or two?
But how was that possible?
Demons cultivated far slower than humans and had to suffer three calamities and five tribulations. Every fifty years, they had to endure a strike of lightning.
Besides, time alone didn't grant a human form; it depended on fate. Spending decades painstakingly refining the transverse bone in their throats so they could speak human tongue was merely the very first step.
—And that seemingly simple step alone was enough to stump countless lesser demons lacking talent.
Even taking ten thousand steps back and assuming the white tiger had come across some extraordinary fortune and claimed an entire spiritual pulse for herself, there was no way she could take human form in such a short time.
What, did she swallow an immortal elixir to shoot up that fast?!
“I don't want to believe it either.”
Zhuang Sinan, two wads of tissue stuffed into his nostrils, pointed at himself: “She is definitely a monster, and her cultivation isn't low. Ordinary people might not feel it, but I only looked at her through the drone screen, and she noticed me and issued a warning.”
—A nosebleed and minor internal injuries were relatively light punishments. His master had taught him that to superiors, spying was offensive in itself.
Still, even with the resurgence of spiritual energy, a humanoid monster shouldn't just pop out overnight, right?
It was like everyone standing on the same starting line. Some relied on their ancestors' legacy to take a few steps ahead at the start, while others, naturally gifted and capable, were no slow pokes either.
But a humanoid white tiger, an entity nearly fully transformed, mixed in with them—how was that any different from riding a Dongfeng missile in a footrace against ordinary people?!
Wasn't this a total dimensional reduction strike?!
“Sss...”
Ma Lanhua couldn't help rubbing her cheek, patting his arm with lingering dread: “Then you truly picked your life back up. If she had really gotten mad at that distance, she could have shattered your soul to pieces. Even if you survived, you'd spend the rest of your life as an idiot.”
Ignorance was bliss indeed—what had he been thinking at the time?
Zhuang Sinan let out a bitter laugh.
As for Yu Lan, after watching the scene of the hundred beasts bowing in homage, she sat in silence for ten minutes before recovering her remaining sanity and forcing out a question: “Does that tiger... know the giant catfish?”
Though it sounded humorous, everyone gave the question serious thought.
That was right. Both were non-human species. What if the tiger launched a counterattack when they tried to capture the catfish?
Although they could carpet-bomb the area with missiles, the cost would be far too high.
As everyone fell into deep thought, Zhuang Sinan's eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke tentatively: “When she caught me watching, she merely gave a mild warning, which shows she probably isn't an evil demon. Since she possesses intelligence, it means she can be reasoned with—”
If she could be reasoned with...
Everyone turned to look at Ma Lanhua. Understanding their intent, she nodded: “That's no problem. Among my household's immortals, there are a few with good repute and silver tongues. If this tiger is sensible, sending a Great Immortal as a mediator to talk things over might just work. However, my immortals didn't come with me this time. If you want them to come, you'll have to send someone to my home to invite them, and then get a chief to write an official request note. The higher the official rank, the better—preferably stamped with an official red seal at the bottom.”
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Ma Lanhua thought for a moment and explained with an example: “Have you all watched 《Justice Bao》? There was an episode where a dead person wanted to file a grievance with Bao Zheng, but was blocked by the door gods at the yamen gate. In the end, Bao Zheng wrote an authorization note before he could get in. My immortals are the same. Back then, they agreed never to cross Shanhai Pass. Now you're past the Qinling Mountains. Without an official note, my immortals will easily be held up and unable to cross.”
Someone raised a question: “...Shouldn't immortals fly over on their own, or use some magic technique to travel a thousand miles a day through the earth?”
“You guys watch too many TV shows. Of course our Great Immortals take planes to get here! Things aren't like the old days. Travelling a thousand miles a day or flying through the sky and diving into the earth requires magic power at the very least.” Ma Lanhua gave the person who spoke a strange look and added, “If you weren't reimbursing their plane tickets, my Old Immortals probably wouldn't even splurge on a hard-seat train ticket. They'd just hop onto a freight truck to get here.”
Everyone present had a rather subtle expression.
Right, what remarkably grounded Great Immortals.
Your Old Immortals sure are thrifty.
Zhang Jin agreed without hesitation.
It was just a matter of signing a document. No matter how troublesome, could it possibly be worse than dealing with a humanoid white tiger and a giant catfish?
Thinking about the report she would have to write later, she even felt a bit numb inside.
Yu Lan quickly came to a decision: “Although the situation has changed and needs to be reported to higher-ups, rescuing the people cannot be delayed. We must prepare for two scenarios. On one hand, we will attempt to communicate with the non-human species in the mountain, the white tiger woman, while isolating a cordoned area with heavy firepower to ensure she doesn't affect our plan. On the other hand, we will proceed with the original plan to lure the monster fish into Stone River for capture, though we should avoid opening fire if possible.”
At this point, she pressed her lips together and said with utmost gravity to everyone: “If an unexpected change occurs in the mountains, I will personally lead my troops to hold back the white tiger. Even if we bleed our last drop of blood, my comrades and I will form a human wall to keep her within the cordoned zone.”
Not a single person present doubted the sincerity of her words.
Precisely because they understood, they fell silent.
The entire plan just now had been built on the assumption that the white tiger could be reasoned with and harbored goodwill toward humans.
What if they were wrong?
What if the white tiger was like the catfish, viewing humans as running, jumping food?
A catfish hiding at the bottom of a lake was capable of causing so many homicides.
What about a far more powerful and far trickier humanoid white tiger?
How strong was she?
Would she harm humans?
What was her attitude toward humanity?
Could the tragic monster massacres depicted in cultivation novels actually happen in reality?
No one could guarantee it wouldn't.
No one dared guarantee it.
“Don't worry, I'll take the lead when the time comes. I'm a Party member, and Xixiang belongs to the people of Xixiang. We won't surrender it to anyone else, whether it's a tiger demon or a monster fish.” Zhang Jin clapped Yu Lan on the shoulder with a smile, an encouraging look in her eyes: “Focus on completing the mission given to you by the organization. We'll find a way to handle the rest.”
They could not retreat.
Of course they could not retreat.
Behind them lay residential areas home to hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens.
A man-eating giant monster lingered in the lake, and a humanoid monster that should only exist in myth frequented the mountains, yet not a single person in the operations room suggested falling back.
Afraid?
How could they not be afraid?
But their wives and children, their partners and parents were right behind them—where could they possibly retreat to?
This was their Xixiang. Why should they retreat?
Even if they truly reached a point of no escape, it would only be after the sons and daughters of Xixiang bled their very last drop of blood.
This was the mettle of the people of Xixiang; this was the backbone of Great Xia.
Yu Lan slowly raised her hand and offered a salute.
Rate on N.U.
