Our story branches here, following two paths at once.
On one side, Nan Zhi was in a donkey cart, hurrying toward Wenshan.
On the other, Constable Zhang and a group of yamen runners had been wandering through the mountains for nearly four hours.
By now, night had completely shrouded the earth. Within the dense forest, weary birds had returned to their nests, and amidst the flickering shadows, only the swaying of trees in the wind could be seen.
“Phew...”
Nan Yi blew on the fire starter in his hand. A tiny spark the size of a bean flared up, and a small patch of darkness was dispelled by the light.
He stared at a tree he had marked earlier for a moment before saying in a heavy voice:
“Constable, we passed this tree half an hour ago. I’m afraid we can’t keep going like this.
Besides, the brothers’ injuries can’t wait. It’s better to set up camp right here and wait until dawn to decide our next move.”
Under the firelight, Nan Yi’s handsome face was drenched in sweat. His lips were pale, and a layer of dry skin had formed around his mouth, as if he hadn't had a chance to drink water.
“Pah! That beast... it’s almost as if it’s become a demon!”
Constable Zhang spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and kicked the tree in front of him.
“Damn it! I shot its left leg, yet it can still run so fast, leading us in circles through this forest.
I haven’t been this humiliated since the day I was born. Not only did that beast escape, but it even ate the hunter who was guiding us right under my nose! It’s truly detestable!
If I catch that tiger, I’ll skin it and pull out its tendons. I’ll use its bones to make wine—only then will my anger be appeased!”
Constable Zhang was still wearing his runner’s uniform, carrying a large bow and a quiver of iron arrows.
Looking at the other constables, they all carried ropes as thick as a thumb and had sabers hanging at their waists; they were clearly well-prepared.
A yamen runner nearby groaned, leaning against a tree and complaining loudly:
“I can’t do it anymore, Constable. We have to rest. If we keep walking, my feet are going to be ruined!”
“He’s right! This spot looks flat enough; it’s a good place to rest. Why don't we just have a good night’s sleep here and head out of the forest tomorrow morning?”
“It’s just a pity for that hunter, ending up with not even a bone left.”
“Don't lose heart. Once we catch that tiger and cut open its belly, we might still be able to recover the hunter’s remains for a proper burial.”
“Go if you want, but I’m not going back. That tiger is this big! It looks like it’s become a demon. How are we supposed to fight it?”
“Exactly. Several of us are injured. How can we fight that fierce tiger?
If you ask me, those people in Wen County were just afraid of the tiger and tricked us into coming up here to die.”
“Right! If they had told us it was a tiger that large, I wouldn't have set foot in these mountains for all the gold in the world!”
“What are you shouting for! No matter how big a tiger is, it’s still just a beast. We have blades in our hands; are we really helpless against a wounded animal?!
Besides, that hunter died while guiding us. If we don't recover his body for burial, how can you face your own consciences?”
Constable Zhang glared with his tiger-like eyes. Without waiting for the others to stop him, he slung his large bow and walked into the forest.
“This place looks fine. Start a fire and cook some food. I’m going to scout around the forest and see if I can hunt some game.”
The group was exhausted, but they forced themselves to stay alert. Some started the fire, some gathered wood, and others roasted dry rations.
Working together, they cleared a large flat stone to serve as their campsite for the night in less than fifteen minutes.
“Brother Yi, have some water. Look how dry your mouth is; the skin is peeling.”
“Thank you.”
Someone called out to Nan Yi, and he didn't refuse.
He took the leather water skin and gulped down two mouthfuls. Only then did the color in Nan Yi’s face slightly improve.
However, his expression remained grim.
Three days ago, news arrived from Wen County about a tiger blocking the road and harming people.
This was a disaster that happened under Wen County’s jurisdiction, but for some reason, Registrar Hu of the Dingyuan County yamen took the task upon himself after hearing about it. Early yesterday morning, he ordered Constable Zhang to lead men into the mountains to hunt the tiger.
Constable Zhang was half a man of the martial world and possessed a chivalrous heart. As soon as he heard about a man-eating tiger, he immediately gathered his men and entered the mountains.
Though Nan Yi felt something was amiss, a superior’s order was absolute. Since he was currently just a commoner, he could only follow along.
Before entering the mountains, Constable Zhang had specifically found a young hunter named Chunsheng to lead the way and track the fierce tiger.
Chunsheng’s family had lived in Wenshan for generations, and he only had an elderly father. Upon hearing about the matter, he was also filled with righteous indignation and immediately accepted the task of guiding them.
But to their surprise, after entering the mountains early this morning and searching for an entire day under Chunsheng’s guidance, they only found the tiger’s tracks near a small mountain stream.
The stream water was clear, and the group was parched, so they stopped to drink.
But at that moment, a massive, multicolored tiger suddenly lunged out from the thicket. Its footsteps were silent as it bit Chunsheng and prepared to bolt.
That tiger was over ten feet long with powerful limbs. The character for “King” was etched into its forehead, its stripes were dark and thick, and its fur was as sharp and distinct as needles. Its tail was thick and solid, like an iron rod.
Anyone who saw it would have to admit it was a magnificent and terrifying beast.
The men were all paralyzed with fear by the giant tiger’s size. They stood there with trembling legs, their minds gone blank.
Worried for Chunsheng’s safety, Constable Zhang fired an arrow from a distance, wounding the tiger.
The beast roared in agony but refused to drop the prey in its mouth.
It dragged its wounded leg and vanished into the forest, using the mountain trees to hide its form.
A first rush of courage is strong, the second wavers, and the third is spent.
They had already been walking in the mountains all day, and now that they had witnessed the tiger eating a man with their own eyes, the desire to hunt it had mostly vanished into thin air.
Most likely, even if the tiger stood right in front of them now, no one would dare to charge forward.
Seeing that Constable Zhang had not returned for a long time, a runner named Zhou Dalang began to curse loudly:
“It’s all the Constable’s fault, only thinking about claiming credit and completely ignoring whether we live or die.
A tiger like that could probably only be subdued by people from the Demon Suppression Division, yet he sent us to catch it. Isn't that just sending us to our deaths?”
Someone tried to persuade him, saying that Constable Zhang was also just following orders.
Nan Yi went over to reason with him kindly, but Zhou Dalang became even more relentless, turning his spearhead toward him:
“Bullshit! Everyone in the yamen knows that you, Nan Yi, and Constable Zhang are so close you might as well share the same pair of pants. People are already whispering that you two have sworn yourselves as brothers!
What? Kissing his ass normally wasn't enough? Now that he’s not here, you’re still flattering him. Or is it that...”
Zhou Dalang gave a suggestive smile, his eyes lingering on Nan Yi’s face.
Someone nearby immediately scolded him, saying he had lost his mind.
The term “sworn brothers” sounded refined, but in this context, it was incredibly vulgar.
Among idle men who couldn't afford wives, they would often seek comfort in each other and call one another “sworn brothers.”
These words were essentially pointing at Nan Yi’s nose and calling him someone who sold his backside.
“If you have the guts, say those words again when the Constable returns.”
Nan Yi took a slow, methodical bite of his dry pancakes, a gentle smile still on his face.
“It seems you also know that if you said this to Constable Zhang’s face, he would surely beat you until you didn't have a single tooth left.
Only daring to talk behind someone’s back doesn't make you a hero. At most, you’re just a coward.”
Others tried to break up the fight, but Zhou Dalang had been suppressing his anger all day; he couldn't listen to reason.
He had always looked down on the Nan family’s lowly work as butchers and felt that Zhang Long was biased toward Nan Yi, always keeping him in mind for any benefits.
The case of Master Wang’s missing concubine had already been closed by the Demon Suppression Division, and rumors were flying around the yamen that the higher-ups intended to reward the Nan family.
Zhou Dalang’s heart grew increasingly resentful.
In this life-and-death moment, having seen the tiger eat a man and being consumed by fear, he let out the fury he had been holding back for so long:
“Why are you all stopping me? Am I wrong?
He’s just the son of a butcher. He should have stayed home and slaughtered pigs with his father. Why is he trying to steal our livelihood?
Clinging to Constable Zhang all day... who knows what kind of shameful ideas his family has.
Maybe they’re even thinking of sending that foolish sister of his to Zhang Long’s house to be a concubine—”
Thud!
Before Zhou Dalang could finish, he felt a sharp pain in his cheek.
He looked down and spat out a mouthful of blood, which contained two broken teeth.
“I only said that Constable Zhang would definitely beat you.”
Nan Yi was still smiling gently, but deep within his eyes was a coldness that would never thaw.
“I never said I wouldn't do it myself.”
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