Chapter 24: The hungry Tiger
The forest seemed endless. Mist curled around every tree, and the sound of fighting echoed in the distance. Some disciples were still battling spirit beasts, others were stealing tokens from each other.
Li Ming, however, looked as relaxed as a man on vacation. He strolled along with his hands behind his head, humming a song.
"I’ve already got enough tokens. All I need now is a nap. Or maybe another bun." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out one, taking a big bite.
Lan Yue walked silently beside him. Her sword hung loosely at her side, but her eyes scanned the forest carefully. Compared to Li Ming’s carefree attitude, she looked like a calm guardian walking through danger.
"You should not let your guard down," she said softly. "The deeper we go, the stronger the beasts."
Li Ming gave her a grin, crumbs stuck to his lips. "Relax, Senior Sister. If something scary shows up, you can handle it while I cheer from the sidelines."
Lan Yue gave him a cold look. "And if I fail?"
Li Ming laughed. "Then I’ll just punch it harder. Problem solved."
She shook her head. This boy... is either foolish or fearless.
They walked a little further when suddenly, the ground trembled. Birds burst out of the trees, screeching as they flew away. The mist thickened, and a deep growl echoed through the forest.
Li Ming stopped chewing. "...That didn’t sound like a friendly squirrel."
Out from the shadows padded a massive beast—a tiger as tall as a house, its fur black with streaks of silver, its eyes glowing like lanterns. Its aura swept across the clearing, crushing the air around them.
Lan Yue’s face grew serious. "A Silver-Striped Spirit Tiger. Qi Refining... 10th Stage."
The hidden disciples watching from afar gasped in shock.
"10th Stage?! That’s just one step away from Foundation Establishment!"
"Even Senior Sister Lan Yue might struggle!"
"And Li Ming... he’s finished this time!"
The tiger roared, the sound shaking the trees. The ground cracked as it stomped forward, its breath hot and foul.
Li Ming swallowed the last bite of his bun, wiped his mouth, and sighed. "Great. I wanted a nap, but instead the forest gave me a giant angry cat. Life is unfair."
Lan Yue stepped forward, raising her sword. "Stay behind me."
But Li Ming grabbed her arm lightly. "No need. I’ll handle this one."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You’ll handle it? Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only at the third stage."
Li Ming grinned, his eyes glinting. "True. But being ridiculous is my specialty."
The crowd of hidden disciples exploded with laughter.
"Is he insane?!"
"He’ll be eaten in one bite!"
The tiger roared again and lunged, claws like blades tearing through the air.
Li Ming’s aura suddenly burst out, his jade slip glowing faintly beneath his robe. He popped a pill into his mouth. The energy rushed through him, refined instantly, and his qi shot upward like a volcano.
His black hair whipped in the storm of energy. His body glowed faintly, his aura rising far beyond what any 3rd Stage disciple should have.
Lan Yue’s eyes widened. This pressure... how is this possible?
Li Ming clenched his fist. "Alright, big kitty. Let’s see who’s scarier."
The tiger’s massive claw came down, shaking the earth. Li Ming’s figure blurred—he appeared right under the beast’s head, his fist glowing with blazing energy.
"Meteor Bun Fist—Third Serving!"
BOOOOOOM!
The impact exploded like thunder. Dust and light filled the clearing, trees cracking and roots tearing from the ground. The tiger let out a furious roar, but when the dust cleared, it was staggering, its forehead bleeding, its body swaying.
Gasps filled the forest.
"He... he stopped a 10th Stage beast head-on?!"
"No way... this isn’t real!"
The tiger roared again, its third strike filled with desperate power. It leapt into the air, its jaws opening wide, fangs like swords.
Li Ming laughed. "Now that’s more like it!"
He leapt to meet it, qi flooding his arm. For a moment, the entire clearing seemed to freeze—the tiny boy against the enormous beast. Then his fist smashed into its jaw.
CRACK!
The tiger crashed into the ground with an earth-shaking thud, carving a crater into the forest floor. It let out one last groan before collapsing completely, its body dissolving into spiritual light.
Silence.
Everyone stared at Li Ming, their mouths wide open.
Lan Yue lowered her sword slowly, her eyes fixed on him. The boy was standing tall, breathing lightly, with a lazy grin on his face as if he had just swatted a fly. His black hair fluttered in the fading storm of energy.
"Another one down," Li Ming said, stretching his arms. "That was a decent workout. But now I’m really hungry."
The disciples hiding in the mist were stunned. Some even rubbed their eyes, not believing what they had seen.
"This... this clown is a monster!"
"He just defeated a 10th Stage beast like it was nothing!"
Lan Yue studied him carefully. "Li Ming... what are you hiding?"
Li Ming flashed her a playful smile. "Me? Nothing. I’m just a simple boy who loves buns and hates losing."
Her lips twitched again. She almost laughed, but stopped herself.
Li Ming picked up the glowing jade token the tiger left behind, twirling it in his hand. "Now then, Senior Sister. Shall we continue? Maybe the next beast will be even bigger. Or maybe we’ll find one that tastes good roasted."
Lan Yue sighed, but followed him. Deep down, though, she couldn’t help but wonder: Just how far will this boy rise?
As they walked deeper into the mist, whispers spread across the forest. Li Ming’s name was no longer a joke—it was a storm.
To be continued...