One, slightly larger, was trying to swat its sibling’s head with paws that still lacked any real strength, while the other tumbled away, letting out a soft, cub-like "awoo."
Sunlight spilled onto their soft, orange-and-black-striped fur, giving it a warm sheen.
Their adorably clumsy and innocent appearance was enough to melt anyone’s heart.
"South China Tiger cubs... and there are two of them!"
Indescribable joy and excitement surged through Yang Qi.
This wasn’t just the discovery of a single South China Tiger, but of an entire family!
A family that could represent the hope for this endangered subspecies to thrive in the wild!
The mother tiger had to be nearby!
Forcibly suppressing his excitement, Yang Qi hid himself even more carefully. At the same time, he used his contract to strictly command Bai Wan and Leopard to remain absolutely silent. They were not to make a single sound, and under no circumstances were they to approach.
Xiaojiu also held its breath, clinging tightly to Yang Qi’s shoulder.
Yang Qi scanned the area, searching for any sign of the mother tiger.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but be drawn to the two playing cubs.
’So cute...’
One of the cubs seemed to have tired itself out. It wobbled over to a dead log, rubbed its head against the rough bark, and then stuck out its small, pink tongue, trying to lick the dewdrops that had formed there.
The other crawled curiously a few steps in the direction of Yang Qi’s hiding spot. Its damp, black nose twitched, seeming to have caught an unfamiliar scent that didn’t register as dangerous.
It tilted its little head, its pure, jet-black eyes filled with curiosity. Facing the bushes, it let out a faint, soft cry.
"Mraow?"
That sound nearly broke Yang Qi’s composure.
He couldn’t imagine the kind of squeals Qian Yu, Song Wan, and Cheng Yao would let out if they saw this.
[Untamed ’Purple-Winged Celestial Tiger’ cub detected. Host may bring it back to the sect to acquire contribution points.]
’Purple-Winged Celestial Tiger?’
’That sounds like a higher grade than a Violent Tiger or a Battle Tiger.’
Yang Qi mused.
He took out a block of Vitality Nutrient Cream, broke it in half, and used the Object Manipulation Technique to float the pieces down onto the grass a short distance in front of the two cubs.
The two cubs were immediately captivated.
They padded over, sniffed curiously, and then gave the cream a tentative lick with their small tongues.
The aroma and taste of the Vitality Nutrient Cream made their eyes light up.
"Awoo~"
The slightly larger one immediately pinned a piece down with its forepaw, lowered its head, and began to gnaw at it with its milk teeth, which hadn’t fully grown in yet.
The other eagerly began to enjoy its own piece.
Watching them eat with such relish, Yang Qi couldn’t help but smile.
Suddenly—
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar, filled with rage and fury, erupted like a sudden clap of thunder from the dense forest behind and to the side of Yang Qi.
A fierce wind kicked up, sending leaves rustling wildly.
A massive, agile, orange figure radiating a murderous aura shot out like a cannonball, tearing through the undergrowth. It lunged at Yang Qi with the force of an avalanche!
It was the mother tiger!
She was back!
And she had returned to see a strange Two-legged Beast approaching her cubs.
Before the tiger even reached him, the terrifying pressure of the King of Beasts and a rank, hot wind slammed into him.
The presence of a massive, wild predator was utterly terrifying.
A massive shadow instantly fell over Yang Qi!
"WOOF WOOF~!"
"GRRROWL!"
Bai Wan and Leopard’s fur bristled. Baring their teeth, they roared, ready to charge forward and protect their master.
"Stay back!"
Yang Qi commanded, using his contract to forcibly suppress their impulse to charge.
Although Bai Wan and Leopard were both Spirit Beasts, they were no match for a South China Tiger.
Just the fact that they didn’t fear the tiger showed their immense courage.
Yang Qi quickly took out the calming powder and threw it at the mother tiger.
But it seemed to have no effect.
At that moment, the calming powder’s effects failed against the mother tiger.
Facing a lethal pounce that would have scared an ordinary person to death, Yang Qi made a split-second decision.
He didn’t retreat. Instead, he took a deep breath, bent his knees slightly, and lowered his center of gravity. His left hand drew an arc as he pulled his right fist back to his waist—
He didn’t channel his Magical Power or cast any Magic.
He would rely purely on the formidable physique he’d tempered to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, on the nimble footwork of the Spirit Crane Body Technique, and on the immense power granted by the Bear’s Strength—
—to face the mother tiger head-on!
That’s right. Today, Yang Qi would follow the example of a hero of old and fight a tiger!
To face the king of the forest head-on with human strength alone!
"WHOOSH—"
The mother tiger’s pounce was lightning-fast. Its massive claws, screaming as they tore through the air, swiped down at his head!
A direct hit from that claw could shatter solid rock.
Just as the claws were about to make contact with his head—
Yang Qi moved!
As if his feet were spring-loaded, he slid nimbly backward and to the left, evading the sharpest point of the tiger’s claws with masterful precision.
Simultaneously, the right fist at his waist shot out like a dragon bursting from its lair. Channeling the coiled power of his entire body, he unleashed an uppercut!
His target—the relatively soft spot where her chest met her abdomen, exposed as she lunged.
"BAM!!"
A heavy thud, like striking a drum of tanned leather, echoed through the forest.
Fist met tiger hide in a solid collision!
Yang Qi felt his fist slam into what seemed like a steel wall wrapped in thick rubber. The immense recoil sent a numbing jolt up his arm, and he stumbled back three steps—thump, thump, thump—crushing dried leaves and twigs underfoot.
As for the adult female South China Tiger, which weighed over two hundred kilograms, the force of the blow actually stopped her mid-air. Her pounce faltered, and her heavy body staggered back half a step. She let out a low growl, a mixture of pain and shocked fury.
For the first time, a look of utter disbelief appeared in her amber eyes.
’This Two-legged Beast didn’t look particularly strong, yet it met my pounce with a fist... and actually knocked me back?!’
Yang Qi shook his numb right hand. His energy and blood churned within him, but his eyes only grew brighter.
"Incredible. A South China Tiger, indeed! What a physique, what strength!"
He hadn’t used his full power in that last punch, but he had put in a good seventy percent.
An ordinary beast, even a boar king, would have had its bones shattered and tendons torn by that blow.
Yet this mother tiger had only cried out in pain and stumbled. She was clearly not seriously injured.
"ROAR—!!"