The tiger’s body was covered in wounds from swords, spears, and sabers. Its blood had soaked its mottled fur and was slowly seeping into the ground, forming a continuous red stain on the earth, interspersed with scraps of flesh.
Outside the arena, the illegitimate son of the Duke’s mansion, pale-faced, allowed the imperial physicians to tend to his wounds.
Wei Yuan tucked his feather fan into his waist, gripping his long sword, his body tense as he watched the panting tiger not far away. The smell of blood and a faint stench were carried by the wind into Wei Yuan’s nostrils.
The fierce tiger no longer possessed its initial ferocity. Its eyes, fixed on Mu Baiyu and the others, were filled with unwillingness and despair.
Suddenly, its nostrils twitched. Its slightly unfocused pupils instantly filled with a bloodthirsty crimson. A furious roar echoed around them. Its massive claws slammed into the ground, and its enormous body leaped into the air, charging aggressively towards Mu Baiyu.
“Baiyu, be careful!”
Wei Yuan’s face changed drastically as he cried out in alarm.
Mu Baiyu’s pupils contracted. He retreated rapidly, swinging his sword. With a clang, the sharp sword collided with the tiger’s fangs. The tiger roared in pain, then opened its gaping maw once more, lunging towards Mu Baiyu’s body.
Mu Baiyu sidestepped with the momentum. The tiger’s sharp teeth grazed Mu Baiyu’s waist, tearing through his outer garment. The ripping sound of silk accompanied the tear, and the flying scraps of fabric drew gasps of alarm from the spectators in the stands.
“Yu’er!”
Madam Mu clutched her handkerchief tightly, her heart in her throat.
Wei Yuan gritted his teeth, his figure darting forward like lightning, swinging his long sword in a横刺.
Sensing the fierce wind attacking from his side, the tiger turned. Despite its massive size, its body was exceptionally agile. It dug its four huge claws into the ground and leaped to the right in mid-air, effortlessly dodging the sharp attack.
Wei Yuan pressed his advantage, closing in.
However, the tiger had no intention of engaging him. Its scarlet eyes were fixed solely on Mu Baiyu.
After evading Wei Yuan’s attack, it turned towards Mu Baiyu again.
“Swish, swish, swish~”
Arrows whistled past their ears. The three people who had entered the arena with them finally made their move, drawing their bows and firing at the tiger.
The arrows halted the tiger’s advance. It ceased its fierce attack, finding itself surrounded by Wei Yuan and the other four. It let out a low, menacing growl, pacing restlessly.
Nan Shiying straightened up and whispered into Ji Jinmo’s ear, “My lord, this tiger’s state seems… unusual!”
It had clearly been at its last breath moments ago, but now it looked at Mu Baiyu as if he were an enemy. Even surrounded by five people, its eyes remained fixed on Mu Baiyu alone. Was this normal?
Ji Jinmo frowned as he looked at the arena, his hand, hanging by his side, toying with the string of blood-red coral bracelets. He nodded slowly. While the families of civil officials might not notice anything amiss, the military officials had likely already detected the problem.
As he was thinking, the tiger in the hunting ground suddenly let out a roar and charged fiercely towards Mu Baiyu.
Wei Yuan and the others moved to intercept simultaneously. However, this time, the tiger completely ignored the attacks from the other four. It allowed the swords to hack at it, opening its maw and desperately trying to tear into Mu Baiyu’s flesh.
The tiger’s power was immense, difficult for ordinary people to withstand, let alone a tiger on its deathbed in a final desperate struggle. Mu Baiyu was forced to retreat, step by step.
He was pushed into a corner of the hunting ground.
Behind him was the high viewing platform. The chief eunuch’s face changed drastically, and he instinctively shielded Ji Hong. If not for the barrier, he would have likely shouted for immediate protection.
Just then, the profusely bleeding tiger charged towards Mu Baiyu again. Mu Baiyu swung his sword, and the tiger suddenly leaped up, its claws scraping against the blade. Its jaws lunged towards Mu Baiyu’s head.
If this bite landed, Mu Baiyu would likely be decapitated.
“Ah~~~”
A sharp scream erupted from the stands. Madam Mu slumped weakly into Mu Xiaoxiao’s arms, sobbing with worry.
In a split second, Mu Baiyu’s knees bent rapidly, and his horizontal sword sliced upwards. The tiger’s fangs grazed Mu Baiyu’s scalp, drawing a few drops of blood.
Ignoring the pain, Mu Baiyu spun around and swung his sword again.
At that moment, the tiger used the upward momentum of the sword to violently scale the barrier, then sprang forward.
It leaped directly into the stands.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
Terrified screams mingled with the sound of overturned tables and chairs. Faced with the tiger just a few meters away, everyone was plunged into extreme panic.
“Protect the Emperor, quickly protect the Emperor!”
The eunuch’s sharp voice echoed throughout the hunting ground. Within three meters, everyone could clearly smell the thick, nauseating scent of blood.
Ji Jinmo pulled Nan Shiying behind him and slowly retreated.
The tiger, looking at the people scurrying in all directions, suddenly focused its gaze on a particular spot.
Sensing the tiger’s attention, a sharp glint flashed in Ji Jinmo’s eyes. He handed Nan Shiying to Lu Wan, saying, “Take the Princess away.”
“Yes!”
Lu Wan grabbed Nan Shiying’s wrist and was about to leave when the tiger, which had been standing still, suddenly moved.
It lunged towards Ji Jinmo.
Simultaneously, with a *swish*, an arrow shot from an unknown direction pierced the viewing platform and struck the pillar behind Nan Shiying.
Just then, a volley of arrows rained down.
Dense arrows covered the sky, firing indiscriminately at everyone in the stands.
“Ah!”
Screams immediately echoed throughout the enclosure.
“Assassins! Protect the Emperor!”
The eunuch’s voice was almost distorted. The commander of the imperial guards and the commander of the Jiyang Army simultaneously led their troops to shield Ji Hong. Xuan Shisan drew his sword and engaged the charging tiger.
Ji Jinmo grabbed Nan Shiying’s hand and quickly left the viewing platform.
The scene instantly descended into chaos.
Under the protection of the imperial guards, Ji Hong also left the stands and headed towards the camp.
The Jiyang Army left a portion of their troops to subdue the tiger, while the rest rushed towards the direction from which the arrows had come.
The chaos continued for a long time. Ji Hong sat in his tent, his face a mask of anger, listening to his subordinates report the casualties.
The worst had happened: the envoy from Da Li, Duke Qin, had died under a hail of arrows.
“Damn it!”
Ji Hong slammed his hand on the table. Those in the tent immediately knelt in a flurry, none daring to incur the Emperor’s wrath at this moment.
Where had today’s assassins come from? And this tiger, was it a coincidence or intentional?
His sinister gaze swept over everyone present, finally resting on the commander of the Jiyang Army.