The massive tiger panted heavily, glaring at them with predatory intent. The horses grew restless with fear, yet Shen Xihe remained composed while Xiao Huayong’s jaw tightened. They exchanged a glance, and Shen Xihe silently conveyed her message through her eyes: Leave the one behind to me.
Xiao Huayong followed her gaze, then glanced at the three tigers poised to pounce at any moment. He gave an almost imperceptible nod in response.
Just then, the two tigers flanking Xiao Huayong lunged at him from both sides. With a sharp slap to his horse’s back, Xiao Huayong propelled himself into the air. As the horse bolted sideways, he twisted mid-air and landed with one foot on the back of a tiger that had missed its target. Using the creature as a springboard, he leaped far into the distance.
Shen Xihe took the initiative on her end. She hurled a scent satchel from her person—having anticipated encounters with such colossal beasts in the deep wilderness, she always carried fragrances that repelled fierce animals, causing them to steer clear. As expected, the tiger confronting her swiftly dodged the satchel. Seizing the moment, Shen Xihe aimed to fire a needle from her weapon.
But having never faced a tiger before, she had underestimated its speed. Before she could pull the trigger, the beast was upon her. In that critical instant, a blur shot past—colliding with her horse and simultaneously gouging deep bloody gashes into the tiger’s head, forcefully shoving it aside.
Shen Xihe’s horse galloped forward uncontrollably. Glancing back, she saw the pursuing tiger being harassed by Haidongqing, who had circled back. Xiao Huayong had already reached the treetops, drawing his bow at one of the tigers. Shen Xihe noticed bloodstains on his arm—clearly, he had been clawed by the beast.
As kings of the forest, tigers possessed strength, speed, and agility beyond human imagination and calculation.
Shen Xihe reined in her horse. She did not flee but stayed clear of the battle—getting too close would only burden Xiao Huayong. Watching the fight intently, she waited for an opportunity. Since Haidongqing had arrived, Tianyuan was surely on his way.
Xiao Huayong’s archery was exceptionally fierce and precise—something Shen Xihe had deeply admired over the past two months. Yet, to her astonishment, the tiger evaded his arrow, making her heart pound with dread.
One particularly enraged tiger violently rammed the tree where Xiao Huayong perched, shaking it violently. Shen Xihe’s heart leaped into her throat as she watched Xiao Huayong stagger, nearly losing his balance.
What terrified her most was the tiger that had dodged Xiao Huayong’s arrow. With the tree shaking too much to aim, the beast began scaling the trunk, roaring ferociously at Xiao Huayong. Its leaps were immense and swift.
The branches trembled under the tiger’s assault, leaving Xiao Huayong trapped and immobile. Meanwhile, the tiger below guarded the base—even if he jumped, he could not escape its attack.
Shen Xihe quickly scanned the surroundings and spotted Xiao Huayong’s horse. She urged her own mount toward it—her horse was nearly useless, having almost collapsed earlier amid the tigers, while Xiao Huayong’s steed was a renowned breed.Dismounting from her own horse, Shen Xihe grabbed Xiao Huayong's steed and leaped onto it. Perhaps because Xiao Huayong had taken her riding several times before, his horse showed no resistance to Shen Xihe. Mounting swiftly, she cracked the whip toward Xiao Huayong's direction and charged forward.
Xiao Huayong, gripping a tree branch with one hand to steady himself, saw the approaching tiger hesitating to pounce as the branches grew thinner. Hearing the crack of splintering wood, he felt his body lurch downward while the tiger continued roaring and cautiously advancing toward him.
"Xiao Beichen—" At that moment, a clear voice rang out.
Almost without thinking or glancing back, Xiao Huayong released his grip on the branch.
As Shen Xihe charged forward, she startled the tiger that had been ramming the tree roots below. With nerves taut and riding Xiao Huayong's fearless horse, she raced straight ahead. The tiger crouched low, its deep-set eyes locking onto her figure.
Aiming single-handedly at the attacking tiger, Shen Xihe pulled the trigger twice in quick succession. Fine needles pierced the tiger's body, but as expected, the poison didn't take immediate effect. Though the shots caused it to falter momentarily, Shen Xihe leaned sharply to the side—yet the tiger's massive paw still grazed her thigh, leaving a searing, stinging pain.
Xiao Huayong landed precisely behind Shen Xihe, their backs pressed together. To avoid being thrown off by the jolting motion, he had to lean backward, forcing Shen Xihe to bend forward. The tiger struck by Shen Xihe's Poison Needles landed with a low growl, staggered unsteadily, attempted twice to stand, and finally collapsed.
As Xiao Huayong descended, the other tiger leaped down from the tree in a few bounds and immediately gave chase. How could any horse outrun a tiger? Within moments, it closed the distance. Xiao Huayong had anticipated this—he adjusted the angle of his three arrows and shot toward the pursuing tiger.
The tiger dodged two arrows, but one struck its foreleg, slowing its pace. Yet, enraged by the fragrant spices and wounded, the tiger showed no intention of abandoning the chase. Haidongqing remained entangled with the other tiger, and Xiao Huayong's quiver was now empty of arrows.
Though she couldn't see behind her, Shen Xihe roughly grasped their predicament. She shouted to Xiao Huayong, "Switch positions!"
Observing the injured tiger—though significantly slowed, it relentlessly narrowed the gap, determined to tear them apart—Xiao Huayong reached back below his waist: "Reins!"
Shen Xihe trustfully passed him the reins. Xiao Huayong tightened his grip while securing Shen Xihe's waist with his other hand. Shen Xihe's fingertips pressed against the trigger on her bracelet.
She didn't understand how Xiao Huayong managed the momentum, but her body suddenly lightened, swiftly rotating in a semicircle through the air as they swapped positions. Xiao Huayong now faced the horse's front while she ended up with her back to him, confronting the leaping tiger. She immediately pulled the trigger—this Poison Needle struck the tiger's neck. Thwarted, it fell short of reaching Shen Xihe.
Perhaps one Poison Needle wasn't potent enough—unlike the previous tiger that collapsed after two hits, this one only paused momentarily before pushing off the ground with all four limbs and lunging at Shen Xihe again.All three Poison Needles were gone. Shen Xihe’s pupils contracted slightly. Just then, Xiao Huayong sharply turned the horse around, causing the tiger to miss its target once again. As the tiger lunged forward again, Xiao Huayong swiftly pulled out the hidden sword hairpin from Shen Xihe’s bun, leaped down, and knocked the tiger aside.
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