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Upon hearing the whistle, Shen Zi’an’s expression changed, and Su Zhi, who had been curious about the purpose of the whistles made by the men, knew that this urgent signal meant trouble—a sign of danger or the need for assistance.
“Wife, wait here for me. Don’t go any further!” Shen Zi’an instructed Su Zhi before rushing out with his bow and arrow.
Watching Shen Zi’an sprint off, Su Zhi hesitated briefly before following suit. She wasn’t disobedient but incredibly concerned for their safety. She decided to trail behind, ready to hide if danger lurked, ensuring she wouldn’t hinder their efforts.
Shen Zi’an’s pace outstripped Su Zhi’s, and as she caught glimpses of him through the trees, she also registered the alarming roars—tiger cries! White-faced, she cautiously hid behind a tree, peeking out to witness a terrifying sight: Li Shi was indeed facing not one but two tigers!
One tiger was struck by an arrow, collapsing to the ground with the projectile piercing its upper front leg, causing a significant amount of blood to flow. Despite the injury, the tiger remained fierce, staggering to its feet with an imposing presence.
The other tiger had suffered a more brutal fate, bearing three or four arrows in its belly, blood pooling around it, motionless, seemingly lifeless.
Observing the tigers up close, Su Zhi couldn’t shake the shock of the encounter. In her past visits to zoos, tigers were always at a distance, lazing in the shade, far from the intimidating and ferocious sight of these two tigers. Her legs felt weak, but she remained steadfastly hidden behind the tree, convinced that Li Shi and Shen Zi’an’s ability to take down one tiger meant they could handle the other. Her priority was not to impede their efforts.
Amidst the tiger’s roars, a strange sound intermingled—one that might go unnoticed if not for the pauses in the tiger’s cries, requiring careful attention to discern.
As Su Zhi listened to these peculiar sounds, a sense of familiarity tugged at her memory. After pondering, she finally recognized where she had heard this sound before!
Su Zhi recognized the sound—it was the bark of that little black puppy!
Thinking of the adorable coal-black furball, she cautiously peeked out and indeed spotted the small creature, accompanied by the white puppy.
The two pups remained as cute and tiny as ever, the white one pristine and the black one rounder, exuding an air of agility.
The little black pup bravely barked at the large tiger with a mix of whimpering and squeaking, a peculiar sound that somehow remained endearing. It hopped around like a jumping bean, appearing to challenge the tiger, displaying a newborn calf’s daring spirit despite being a fraction of its size.
Su Zhi couldn’t help but find the sight of the little creature both amusing and perplexing.
In contrast, the white puppy seemed more composed and reserved, a stark contrast to the situation. It was abnormal yet commendable for a pup of its size to maintain an offensive stance against such a formidable opponent. Typically, one might expect a dog that size to either turn and flee in fear or cower in trembling submission.
Admiring the bravery of the white puppy, Su Zhi couldn’t help but think that she, a grown human, paled in comparison to the courage displayed by such a tiny pup. She entertained the idea of having this little companion by her side, envisioning it as a future guardian for their home.
However, how did these two little creatures end up in the mountains? It seemed their owners had been careless, neglecting these adorable dogs. While many local dogs were usually free-range, such small and endearing pups deserved some care and attention. Su Zhi decided that once they descended the mountain, she would search for their owners. If these pups were not properly cared for, she resolved to take them under her wing.
These thoughts ran through Su Zhi’s mind in a brief moment. Her eyes remained fixed on the battlefield, where Shen Zi’an, her husband, faced off against the injured tiger. Despite the tiger’s condition, her concern for his safety lingered.
As the tiger launched another attack, Shen Zi’an and Li Shi swiftly dodged. The proximity was too close for the effective use of bows and arrows, no time to draw and shoot. The earlier shots had been taken from a distance. Shen Zi’an had fired the arrows that killed one tiger, while Li Shi’s arrows had injured the other. Li Shi’s knife had fallen during the skirmish, now out of reach on the tiger’s side. Shen Zi’an only had a short blade and needed to seize the right moment to strike decisively. Thus, both men had to evade the tiger’s advances.
Su Zhi watched nervously from the sidelines, recalling the fierce tigers from television dramas like the character Wu Song battling a tiger. Those creatures were truly ferocious, causing even the skilled martial artist Wu Song, who had trained at the Shaolin Temple, to sustain serious injuries. Now, with Li Shi and Shen Zi’an being just two ordinary farmers who typically hunted game, could they handle this situation?
A snap echoed as Su Zhi accidentally broke a twig underfoot.
The white puppy first turned its head, locking eyes with Su Zhi, their gazes meeting. Subsequently, the black puppy, noticing the white one’s attention, also shifted focus towards Su Zhi. Unlike the white puppy, the black one didn’t stand still; it joyfully bounded over, almost hopping with both front and back legs simultaneously, appearing somewhat foolish but endearing, melting hearts with its antics.
The white puppy followed suit, running towards Su Zhi alongside the black one. This sight amused Su Zhi, finding the white puppy’s attachment to its sibling quite adorable—it seemed the white puppy had become a little caretaker for its brother or sister, showcasing a heartwarming bond.
Just as Su Zhi enjoyed this moment, a tiger’s roar pierced the air. Startled, she looked up to see the tiger that had been shot and fallen, rising to its feet. It charged towards her, or more accurately, towards the two small dogs!
At that moment, the black puppy had bounded to Su Zhi’s side, clinging to her pant leg with its front paws.
Su Zhi, terrified by the approaching tiger, found herself moving faster than she ever thought possible. Perhaps in moments of danger, adrenaline could push people beyond their limits. She scooped up the black puppy and the white puppy that had just arrived, swiftly retreating. Surrounded by trees and considering the tiger’s injuries, she hoped it might falter or even meet its end after a few steps or a collision with a tree.
However, fate seemed determined to test Su Zhi’s mettle against the tiger’s resilience. The tiger continued to pursue her, its roars and nauseating scent trailing close behind. She ran desperately forward, clutching the two small creatures in her arms. Despite feeling like she had covered a significant distance in what seemed like a minute, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her, leaving her nearly unable to continue.
“Suuu Zhiii—”
Shen Zi’an’s voice echoed from behind. Su Zhi heard a loud tiger roar followed by a heavy thud. She speculated that Shen Zi’an had possibly vanquished the tiger. However, unable to look back, she stumbled over something, unable to brace herself. To make matters worse, she found herself on a slope, causing her to tumble down.
Note: This chapter involves tiger fighting—a topic the author is not experienced in. Dear readers, please forgive any shortcomings in this chapter, and thank you for your understanding and support.