Cui Shenghe gazed thoughtfully at the sleeping tiger beside him.
He turned to look at Zhao Zhi and asked softly, "Zhizhi, did you dip your silver needles in anesthetic just now?"
Zhao Zhi nodded smugly and said, "Of course! Otherwise, it's so big, and we can't beat it in close combat, so we have no choice but to use this method."
Cui Shenghe smiled gently, affectionately patted Zhao Zhi's head, and praised, "You did very well, Zhizhi."
A smile appeared on Zhao Zhi's face, but she quickly remembered something. She looked up and asked in confusion, "Brother, don't you know the Soul-Capturing Technique? Why didn't you use it just now? Does the Soul-Capturing Technique not work on beasts?"
Cui Shenghe shook his head and patiently explained, "The Soul-Capturing Technique requires advance preparation and is extremely mentally taxing to use. Da Hu appeared too suddenly, and I simply didn't have time to prepare. If I rashly use the Soul-Capturing Technique, I might suffer a backlash, and the consequences would be unimaginable."
Zhao Zhi suddenly understood and nodded, indicating that she comprehended. Then, she asked curiously, "So what should we do now? Should we kill this big tiger?"
Cui Shenghe was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No, let it go. We haven't seen any other animals along the way. This tiger might have attacked humans because it was starving. Besides," he paused, his gaze falling on the tiger's belly, "when I had no choice but to stab its belly just now, I discovered that it seemed to be pregnant with cubs."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Cui Shenghe. She suddenly thought of Zhao Yi, realizing that if her elder brother were here, he would never have allowed the tiger to escape. Because in his eyes, any possible mishap was intolerable.
Thinking of this, Zhao Zhi's eyes became even more determined. She knew that in this unfathomable Chaoyu Mountain, only by remaining vigilant at all times could she ensure her and Cui Shenghe's safety.
So, the two exchanged a knowing glance, deciding to say no more and continue on their way. A damp mountain breeze blew gently by, seemingly bringing a touch of cool comfort. However, this coolness did not put them at ease; instead, it reminded them of the danger they were in.
Cui Shenghe walked steadily ahead, his eyes sharp and alert, constantly watching his surroundings. His ears were slightly perked up, listening for any unusual sounds. He knew that the slightest carelessness could lead to danger. Zhao Zhi followed closely behind him, clutching several silver needles tightly in her hand. Although she was somewhat tired from the journey, she felt unusually excited.
“Brother, you just said that the big tiger had cubs, so there should be another big tiger in the mountains. But we made such a big commotion, why didn’t we see the other big tiger come over?” Zhao Zhi couldn’t help but ask, feeling increasingly uneasy.
Upon hearing this, Cui Shenghe slightly turned his head; this was also what he was worried about. Either the tiger had died in an accident, or it would have come to the rescue upon hearing the tigress's roar. But in these treacherous peaks and dense forests, other animals were rarely seen. The tiger was already the king of the mountains; could there be an even more powerful animal in Chaoyu Mountain?
Thinking of this, he subconsciously looked at Zhao Zhi, who was also looking at him. Both of them saw worry in each other's eyes.
"Brother, let's be careful."
"Zhizhi, be careful."
The two spoke at the same time.
Zhao Zhi took a deep breath, sprinkled some more insect repellent on the two of them, and then walked one after the other along the narrow mountain path into the depths of Yushan.
As they ventured deeper, the scent of the forest grew stronger. Dense foliage blocked out the sun, with sunlight filtering through the gaps and casting dappled shadows. The ground beneath their feet was damp and soft, and the two occasionally stepped on fallen leaves and twigs, which made a crisp sound.
The path was difficult to traverse, rugged and uneven. Even though Cui Shenghe used his longsword to part the branches ahead, some still occasionally grazed Zhao Zhi's body. The mountain breeze was cool, but Zhao Zhi's forehead was still covered in sweat.
They walked cautiously, glancing around every now and then. The surrounding woods were dense and quiet, with only the occasional birdsong and rustling of leaves. Gradually, the trees grew even denser, their branches intertwining to almost block out the entire sky. Weeds and vines on the ground grew wildly, as if to devour any living thing that set foot there.
Suddenly, their vision went dark, and the surrounding light dimmed, leaving only a faint ray of sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating an inexplicable sense of oppression. The atmosphere in the forest grew increasingly eerie, as if an invisible force enveloped them, making it difficult for them to breathe.
Zhao Zhi was so nervous she could hardly breathe. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat, echoing in her ears like drumbeats. The crunching sound of each step on the fallen leaves seemed to be a warning of impending danger. She couldn't help but swallow, her throat dry, and her voice trembled: "Brother..."
However, Cui Shenghe did not respond to her calls. He suddenly stopped, and then a large hand quickly covered her mouth. Zhao Zhi's eyes widened, and she tried to break free, but Cui Shenghe's hand tightly covered her mouth, preventing her from making a sound.
Cui Shenghe's eyes were serious and calm. He didn't speak, but simply shook his head slightly, signaling Zhao Zhi not to move. Then, he put his arm around Zhao Zhi's waist, leaped up, and landed lightly on a thick tree like a bird.
Zhao Zhi was quite frightened by this sudden turn of events. She clung tightly to Cui Shenghe's arm, her body trembling slightly. She didn't know what had happened, but judging from Cui Shenghe's reaction, some danger must be approaching.
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