Chapter Four: Wicked Woman, Let Her Go at Once
“Hoo—”
[Where did this stinky little brat come from? Quite bold, aren’t you!]
The tiger turned its head and was surprised to see a skinny little girl standing behind it, unarmed. A mocking laugh escaped its mind.
[Hahaha… One little runt isn’t enough for a meal, perfect, another one delivered right to the doorstep.]
[Skinny as she is, she can still fill the belly. I’m not picky!]
“Bad tiger, let go quickly! Don’t eat people! Youyou may be thin, but she’s very capable!”
Despite her fear, Mu You summoned all her courage.
She shouted loudly to bolster her own bravery.
Seeing the girl didn’t leave, the tiger focused, ready to use its lion’s roar to scare her unconscious.
It pinned the boy with one paw to prevent his escape, opening its massive jaws to strike.
“Roar—”
“Meow!”
[Stinky tiger, meow off!]
[Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you’re invincible. A few hundred years ago, you’d be calling me teacher!]
Out of nowhere, a tabby cat descended from above, swiping fiercely and nearly scratching the tiger’s eyes.
Startled by the sudden attack, the tiger instinctively raised a paw, giving the boy a chance to break free.
But luck wasn’t on the tabby cat’s side.
Though agile and light-footed, the tiger’s massive size and long reign over the back mountain made it a formidable opponent.
Still, the tabby cat fled desperately in the opposite direction, hoping to buy time for the little ones.
The boy rushed towards Mu You, grabbing her arm to run.
“No, not the cat—I can’t leave it behind!”
Mu You didn’t want to burden the boy, nor be a bad child who abandoned friends and her beloved cat.
So she resolutely pushed the boy away and headed towards the endangered tabby cat.
“You! Hey!”
How could there be such a stubborn yet kind child?
The boy watched Mu You’s slender back, feeling conflicted.
After a moment of inner struggle, he picked up a stone from the ground and hurried after her.
“Bad tiger, let go of the cat!”
Mu You wielded a tree branch as a weapon, wildly gesturing at the towering and fierce king of beasts.
“Roar!”
[Truly admirable courage.]
The tiger, now ravenous and impatient, abandoned the tabby cat and stepped toward Mu You.
Suddenly, it leapt up, jaws wide open, ready to swallow the girl whole!
“Ah—”
Mu You tightly closed her eyes, stretching out her hands to shield herself.
Normally, such bloodthirsty fangs would be unstoppable.
But—
Mu You slowly opened her eyes and saw the tiger frozen in place, motionless.
---
“Hoo—”
[Who exactly are you, little milk-drinker?]
The tiger stared at Mu You for a long while.
At that moment, the tabby cat approached Mu You, its fur bristling, glaring fiercely at the tiger while meowing aggressively.
“Meow!”
[Stinky fiend, stay away from my little ones!]
A miraculous scene unfolded—the tiger actually turned and walked away.
Though muttering something unintelligible as it left.
[Dead cat, jabbering nonsense, not a word I understand.]
Once the tiger was gone, Mu You collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon.
“That was so terrifying…”
She was also stunned.
Why could she understand the tiger’s words?
Why hadn’t it harmed her and obediently left?
“Meow.”
[You alright, little one? You nearly scared me to death. Why did you come back? What if that stinky beast ate you? How could you be so foolish?]
The tabby cat circled Mu You, meowing incessantly after their narrow escape.
[Meeting you, little one, has me truly worried!]
Though its tone sounded stern, Mu You smiled.
She hadn’t felt cared for in a very long time.
“Meow.”
[Hmph, you’re smiling! Fine, smiling’s better than crying.]
Exhausted from the chase, the tabby cat nestled into Mu You’s arms to rest.
“Cat, I think I…”
“Hey, are you okay?”
Mu You was about to share her newfound ability to understand all animal languages when a boy’s voice interrupted.
Looking up, it was the little boy.
The night was dark, the terrain complex. He was flustered and scared but had finally caught up.
“Phew—thank goodness you’re okay. Looks like we’re both lucky!”
“Surviving a great disaster means better things to come!”
After catching his breath, the boy launched into chatter.
“Hi, I’m Qi Haoxuan, seven years old. What’s your name? How old are you? Where’s your home? Are your parents around?”
“Why are you dressed so lightly? Are you cold? You’re really thin, are you hungry…”
His words were suddenly cut off by a sharp meow.
“Meow!”
[You stinky kid, are you a reincarnated monk? Your nonstop chatter sounds like chanting, even more annoying than me!]
The tabby cat wanted to punch him but held back to avoid frightening Mu You.
Cats have to maintain their image!
---
“Is this your cat? It was so brave to save you just now, so cool!”
“Does it have a name? What is it?”
Qi Haoxuan gazed admiringly at the tabby cat, his starry eyes unable to hide his fondness.
“Meow.”
[Little one, now that it’s safe, let’s get going.]
Ignoring Qi Haoxuan, the tabby cat gently bit Mu You’s sleeve, helping her to stand.
“I’m Mu You, five and a half years old… I have to go home now.”
To be polite, Mu You answered only a few of his questions briefly.
Her father had told her never to respond to strangers and to keep a distance.
But this boy had just shared a dangerous experience with her and didn’t seem bad.
Mu You also felt strangely familiar with Qi Haoxuan.
“Are you going home? Can I go with you? My phone is broken, and my family can’t reach me. I’m worried.”
Seeing Mu You prepare to leave, Qi Haoxuan hurried after her.
“…”
Mu You didn’t know how to answer.
Because she was unsure what awaited her at home.
Qi Haoxuan, perplexed by her silence, couldn’t imagine what kind of experiences this little girl had endured, having been so well protected himself.
---
The Mu Family.
“Who told you to come back, you burden! Get lost!”
“Didn’t you hear us? Don’t dirty our floors!”
Hearing the commotion in the yard, Li Jiaojiao sashayed out, twisting her slender waist.
Seeing Mu You alive, she looked as if she had seen a ghost.
“Ho-how is this possible…”
Quickly regaining composure, Li Jiaojiao strode forward to drag Mu You out to deal with her.
Unexpectedly, the stubborn girl struggled fiercely!
“Auntie, I want to go in. I want to see grandpa…”
“!”
Li Jiaojiao lost patience and raised her arm, ready to slap Mu You.
“Wicked woman, let go of her!”
Before Li Jiaojiao could react, a black shadow slammed into her violently.
“Ah!!”
“Who’s there!”