Suddenly, a strange commotion arose in the forest. The birdsong around them stopped abruptly and was replaced by a low, suppressed roar that faintly came from the depths of the dense forest.
An ominous atmosphere filled the air, as if some enormous creature was silently approaching.
Zhao Zhi's expression instantly turned serious. She gripped Cui Shenghe's hand tightly and whispered, "Brother, something's wrong."
Cui Shenghe frowned, glancing around at the dense forest. He saw nothing. The deep roar grew clearer as he shielded Zhao Zhi behind him, whispering, "Don't worry about me later, take care of yourself."
Zhao Zhi nodded obediently.
Suddenly, a pair of eerie green eyes flashed out from behind a thick ancient tree, and then a huge beast leaped out of the shadows and pounced on the two of them.
The beast was covered in colorful fur, with bared fangs and a bloodthirsty glint in its eyes. It was a large tiger, clearly the overlord of this mountain forest, and was very displeased with Cui Shenghe and Zhao Zhi's intrusion.
Upon seeing this, Cui Shenghe shouted, "Zhizhi, dodge quickly!" At the same time, he flashed and pulled Zhao Zhi to the side.
The tiger was incredibly fast, arriving almost instantly. With a single swipe of its claw, it created a gust of wind and aimed directly at Cui Shenghe's face.
Cui Shenghe had no choice but to meet the attack head-on, striking with both palms as they clashed with the beast's claws, producing a loud "bang." The two men and the beast were instantly embroiled in a fierce battle. Although Cui Shenghe was highly skilled in martial arts, the beast possessed immense strength and thick hide, making it difficult for him to repel it for the time being.
In a moment of carelessness, his sleeve was torn by the beast's sharp claws, and a bloody gash appeared on his arm. Cui Shenghe roared angrily, enduring the pain, and used all his strength to fight off the beast.
Zhao Zhi hid in a nearby tree, her heart pounding. Her silver needles were only suitable for close combat, and although her skills were also quite good, she couldn't afford to fight Da Hu head-on, as he was much larger and heavier than her.
She kept a close eye on the fierce battle below, quickly calculating how to help Cui Shenghe escape.
Every roar and attack from the tiger made her heart tighten. Suddenly, she keenly spotted a flaw in the tiger's attack pattern.
"Brother, watch out on the left!"
Upon hearing the sound, Cui Shenghe slightly shifted his body, using the momentum to dodge the tiger's poised attack. At the same time, he swung his sword backhand, the blade flashing like lightning, aiming straight for the tiger's side. Although this strike did not hit any vital organs, it caused the beast to roar in pain, slowing its attack slightly.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhao Zhi swiftly leaped down from the tree, aimed at the tiger's exposed neck, and flicked his fingers. Several silver needles shot through the air like arrows, accurately piercing the target.
Big Tiger paused, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, and his speed noticeably decreased.
"A good opportunity!" Cui Shenghe's spirits lifted at the sight. He took a deep breath, his inner energy surged, and he gathered powerful internal force in his palms. Suddenly, he struck out with a palm strike, the wind howling and carrying the force of an overturned mountain, hitting Da Hu squarely in the chest.
The tiger collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Silence returned to the forest, and the melodious chirping of birds rang out once more.
Zhao Zhi and Cui Shenghe exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes.
Cui Shenghe's hand holding the longsword trembled slightly. He looked weakly at Zhao Zhi and smiled faintly.
Zhao Zhi, pale-faced, rushed to Cui Shenghe's side and carefully examined his injuries. Although the wound on his arm was not deep, blood was still slowly seeping out. With a pained expression, she took out the wound medicine she carried with her and carefully bandaged Cui Shenghe's wound.
"Brother, does it hurt?" Zhao Zhi's voice was full of concern.
Cui Shenghe smiled slightly, struggled to lift his head, and barely managed to pat Zhao Zhi's head. "Silly girl, this little injury is nothing. Thanks to you, we were able to deal with this big tiger so quickly."
While carefully bandaging his wounds, Zhao Zhi said guiltily, "Brother, please don't say anymore. I only used a little bit of skill. If it weren't for you, I would probably be in the tiger's belly right now."
She was still shaken by what she had just witnessed.
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