Chapter 51: Even a Tiger Eats Its Cub

Li Si saw that this tiger seemed extremely familiar with this place. After leaping several times along the cliff wall, it landed on that platform.

Roar! When the tiger saw the tiger demon’s miserable state, it let out a roar filled with emotion, walked a few steps to the tiger demon’s side, and licked the tiger demon’s head with its tongue.

Roar! The tiger demon gave a low roar and also used its tongue to lick the tiger’s fur.

This scene made Li Si’s heart ache somewhat. To think there was such deep mother and son affection between tigers. This kind of feeling was something Li Si had never received in his entire life.

Immediately, he hesitated somewhat over his own decision. Did he really have to fight them to the death?

Yet before Li Si could make up his mind, a painful roar suddenly came from below the cliff, then immediately vanished.

Li Si’s heart shook. He looked down and immediately discovered a scene that made his hair stand on end. That tiger demon had actually taken advantage of the tiger licking her and bitten through the tiger’s neck in one bite.

When he saw this scene, his heart trembled somewhat, and the Black Sword in his hand almost became unsteady. He did not know whether it was because of his injuries, or because he had witnessed this horrifying scene.

The tiger demon slowly released the bloody maw biting the tiger’s neck, looked at Li Si on the cliff with cold eyes, then lowered her head and began gnawing on the tiger’s corpse.

At this moment, Li Si only felt cold all over, so he could not help asking, “Since you can eat your son, why did you take revenge for your other son back then?”

Hearing Li Si’s words, the tiger demon paused in her chewing. Then she raised her head and stared at Li Si. The corners of her blood-covered tiger mouth tugged slightly, revealing an eerie smile. Afterward, she ignored Li Si and continued lowering her head to gnaw.

Li Si could be considered to have understood. When this tiger was still a wild beast, she only thought of revenge. But after becoming a demon, she thought more.

And demons did not understand benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, or trust. If they thought more, what good thoughts could they possibly have?

Li Si suddenly laughed. Now he could be considered to have understood. A wild beast was still a wild beast. It could never become human. He also found his earlier hesitation laughable. Perhaps that had been the weakness born from seeing familial affection he himself had never had.

At the same time, this incident also served as a warning to Li Si. In the future, when dealing with these demons, monsters, and ghosts, he absolutely could not show mercy.

Because if he showed mercy, the one who died would very likely be himself.

He had actually gone and sympathized with a demon?

Afterward, Li Si ignored these matters and released Xiaoduan again, having him fetch water so he could cook.

He was going to wear this tiger demon down. He absolutely had to kill this damn thing!

Fengmen County, one quarter into the Xu hour, 5 p.m.

A sturdy boy looked at the still tightly shut gate. A trace of thought appeared in his eyes, then he ran far away.

He ran through several streets and into a filthy lane, arriving before a shabby, leaking little house.

“Ah, Mengzi, tired from playing and back now?” A middle-aged woman who was sewing clothes saw the boy, stopped the needlework in her hands, and called out joyfully.

When the boy saw this middle-aged woman, he said somewhat shyly, “Hello, Auntie.”

Seeing Cao Meng like this, the middle-aged woman smiled and said, “You child, you are already about to...”

“Mengzi, you’re back!” Before the middle-aged woman could finish speaking, a voice rang out and interrupted her.

A man dressed in a fitted martial outfit walked out from the house, smiling.

“Hello, Uncle Luo.” Cao Meng looked at this middle-aged man and opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

Seeing Cao Meng like this, Luo Ye gestured toward the inner room with his chin at the middle-aged woman beside him, telling her to go back inside.

When the middle-aged woman saw this scene, she immediately stopped talking, packed up her things, and went inside.

After the middle-aged woman went in, Luo Ye smiled and said, “What is it that you want to say to your Uncle Luo alone?”

Cao Meng looked at Luo Ye, his eyes reddening. He hesitated for a moment, then a firm look appeared in his eyes, and he said in a trembling voice, “Is my father dead?”

When Luo Ye heard Cao Meng say this, his body immediately stiffened. He forced a smile and said, “How could that be? Didn’t I tell you? He came to my house a few days ago to take supplies. How could something have happened to him?”

“Uncle Luo, I know you’re doing this for my own good.” Cao Meng could not stop his tears from flowing. In a trembling voice, he said, “But... I know that if Father had come back... he definitely would have come to see me. He and I agreed on that before.”

Hearing Cao Meng say this, Luo Ye’s body stiffened. Then he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, only a sigh remained.

Hearing Luo Ye’s sigh, Cao Meng could no longer hold back. Tears kept sliding down his cheeks. With a sob in his voice, he said, “Where is my father’s corpse? I want to see him!”

“Your father’s corpse is on the mountain right now. That tiger demon is watching it.” Luo Ye walked up to Cao Meng and stroked his head.

“Then what about Teacher? Did Teacher go to deal with that tiger demon?” Cao Meng raised his head and looked at Luo Ye, fear appearing in his eyes.

He had already lost the person closest to him and did not want to lose another.

“You do not need to worry. Scholar Li only went to help you retrieve your father’s corpse. He will not face that tiger demon,” Luo Ye comforted him when he saw Cao Meng’s frightened expression.

Only, Luo Ye already had a bad premonition in his heart. According to the timing, if Scholar Li had found the corpse, he should have returned by now.

But almost two days had passed now, and Scholar Li still had not returned. Could something have happened?

“Uncle Luo, I want to go bring my father back too.” Cao Meng took a breath, wiped his snot and tears with his sleeve, and said this to Luo Ye.

“Nonsense!” Luo Ye’s expression changed, and he sternly said, “What can a child like you do in the mountains? You cannot even carry your father’s corpse.”

After being scolded by Luo Ye like this, Cao Meng’s eyes immediately reddened again.

Seeing Cao Meng like this, Luo Ye sighed, stroked Cao Meng’s head, and said, “What your father most wanted to see was you growing up properly. As long as you live healthily, your father’s spirit in heaven will be at peace. You do not need to worry either. Your auntie and I will definitely raise you like our own son.”

When Cao Meng heard Luo Ye say this, he could no longer hold back. He directly hugged Luo Ye, buried his head in Luo Ye’s arms, and began crying as if his heart were being torn apart.

Luo Ye held Cao Meng and kept patting his back. In his heart, he also let out a breath of relief. The heavy stone that had been pressing on his heart these past few days had finally landed.

If Cao Meng had not discovered this matter first, he would not have known how to tell this child in the future.

At the same time, his gaze also turned toward the southeast, and he thought to himself, Scholar Li, you must not let anything happen to you!