Chapter 40

Tigress¹母老虎 'Mǔ Lǎohǔ' is chinese for tigress. drop the first character to get tiger. her actual family (first) name though is 木 'Mù' meaning wood,
making this Wood elemental Tiger a pun.
Thanks, googletranslate!

 

-POV Mù Lǎohǔ-

Oh, that detestable little fox. Ever since it ambushed our counter-counter ambush, my body has obediently followed every order, regardless of my thoughts and wishes. It must've used a powerful slave spell indeed. But this spell apparently needs an anchor on my body, in addition to the runes carved in my head. That's why it attached one of its own tails to my spine.

But only after it somehow made me transform into a tiger Beast! This spell too needed a type of anchor. This time it was that I had to service the one male tiger in his company. How horrid! Yet I could not refuse nor even complain. The tigresses we brought with us as mounts rebelled. And from what I see, chose to remain at the fox's side after.

As for Master's son, he was also transformed into a slave, as well as a wolf Beast. But with a different spell from mine that tortures him for a month like with death by a thousand cuts. Compared to the 2 of us, the rest of the expedition was let off easy. Their limbs were eaten off one day, and they were killed the next. Devoured by our own once-loyal mounts.

All this because we severely underestimated the horrible Beast. We had thought it was merely Class 7, or as high as 8. And it was definately a long way from even reaching Tier 1.²yeah, 'merely Class 7'. Class 4 would be around one-in-a-million, and Class 6 close to one-in-a-Billion.

But when we found it, not only had it befriended 3 Tier 3 tigers. It had reached Tier 2 on its own. In less than 2 years! This has never happened before! During the fight, when it said it was at least Class 9, I thought it was bluffing. But maybe it was underselling itself.

After he listed out 11 Rules³remember. for the other slaves, it was 12, but for these two, I left off 'be happy to obey' for us to follow, I couldn't even try to plan an escape. The slavery spell is anchored in runes on my forehead, and my new tail. And according to these Rules, I have to make every reasonable effort to keep my body healthy.

Moreso to protect and obey him.

But then he settled into a routine. For 25 days, he refined six batches of pills each day. SIX! Even experienced pill refiners struggle with four batches. And his success rate? Out of over 150 batches, he only failed eight times! The frenzy that will occur when he reveals himself to the world. .

 

There.

Will.

Be.

Blood.

 

And somehow while he did so, he raised his cultivation by four Levels. And he still had the time and energy to pull out the impurities from most of our bodies. Such an ability, no, a Unique Ability is absolutely priceless. Even God Tier pills can't compare to the value of what he is giving me for free.

He wants to keep this a secret from the other tigresses until he's sure he can trust them.

The other tigresses. I'll have to accept what he did to me, or I'd just torture myself into insanity. There's no way I could escape from him, and I'm no longer sure that I even want to.

. .

Okay, I want to escape again. He let me know what he intends to do with me once I return from escorting his 'Putas' to auction off the pills in Yínzi Hé City. No matter how beneficial it may be, there is no denying that it would be an even worse torture than death by a thousand cuts.

. . .

He gave me a simple set of instructions. 'Get them there quickly, keep them safe, return safely with them after, and try not to be followed on our way back. And Kara is now your Commander.'

But do I really have to serve as a mount for all 4 of these flea-ridden bitches!?

Apparently I do. When he said quickly, my body took that to mean use my flying sword while carrying them all for as long as I can, and running every time I run out of Qi.

It took about half a day from when we all reached the forest's edge, an hour after first light of dawn. Now, the sun is an hour from setting as we wait our turn at the gate.

The first guard started to set them straight, but his captain dressed him down for doing so.

When trying to find an inn to stay in after, it was my presence that had them deterred. 😼

Eventually, we find an inn which can accommodate us (me) and they have a quick bath followed by leaving to have a meal. Leaving me behind to eat whatever their stablehand offers.

One's sense of smell and taste is very different as a tiger than as a human. The big pile of raw, bloody meats he brings me smells appetizing and tastes good.

Groovy even.

My happy tail gets happy and starts a happappy dance. A happy happappappyappy tail dance.

. . It must be druggied. At that thought, my body reacts to my master's instructions on its own. First I violently empty my tummummy. Oh, noe! All the happappy meatys!

Seeing this, some hidden figures burst from cover to try and subdue me. With my mood still happy happappy, I watch as my claws tear them apart easily. I guess they underunestimatered me. A few archers try to pincushion me. Well, I gots wood for you too! Catch! No sillies, with your hands, not your tummyummies.

Then I feel my wood Qi circulating through my body on its own. It cleanses me of the drug's effects.

Now that I can think clearly again, I realize the stablehand was in on it. He was the one who brought me the drugged food.

Me) 'How much did they pay you? Was it worth it?'

Stableboy) "N-No, oh please no!"

Just a lackey they paid off. Although he was involved in a crime, it's not his path to be a criminal. Still, he targeted me. So I entrap him in vines, dangling him from the stable roof.⁴just like The Batman leaving presents for the police

If whoever they were targeted me once, they probably will again. And perhaps my wards too. I set out on the street to find them by their scents. Even though they are distinct from the masses, being wolf beastkins in a city of mostly humans, it takes some effort to do so.

The real problem is that a lone tiger wandering around through a city tends to cause a bit of a panic. And a panic tends to draw in the city guards.

The frustrating fox told me to try to earn good Karma, and avoid earning bad Karma. These guardsmen are trying to protect the city. So I should avoid hurting them if at all possible. But of course, in any big group there's at least one with more bravado than wit. More belligerance than sense. So one of them tries to rush in.

My wood Qi, along with my wood Unique Physique, quickly grows vines and roots to bind him in place.

M) 'Do you mind? I'm looking for the rest of my group. I was staying at the Jade Falcon inn when I was drugged and attacked. So I'm worried about their safety.'

Guard Captain) "A likely story. You'll have to come with us."

Just then I heard a minor scuffle at the end of an alley. Peering closer, I notice two of them. I keep forgetting their names, something starting with D.

M) 'There you two are. Where are the others?'

That's when the leader of the 4 steps out from the alley.

Kara) "Mù Lǎohǔ? What are you doing out on the streets? Weren't you having your meal at the inn?"

M) 'It was drugged. A bunch of low-lifes tried to capture me, but they're taken care of. Now we need a new place to stay.'

GC) "You're not going anywhere!"

K) "Oh, it's you again. Listen: learn to do your job right, or get a new job! This way, Lǎohǔ."

She turns back toward the alley, but before entering stomps on the 3 ruffians' knees.*KRAK!KRAK!KRAK!* Probably for some reason. She's actually diligent in wanting to follow the fox's instructions, including about Karma and reputation. So if she wants to harm them, they definately deserve it. For some reason.

GC) "GET BACK HERE! MEN GO CATCH THEM!"

Guard) "You know they have the favor of the City Lord. If we do, they'll more likely punish us."

Within the alley there were 7 more groaning bodies, each with a broken knee. And a street child Kara told me to carry.

At the other end of the alley, the last of the wolves had captured 2 more ruffians. Which also had their knees broken when Kara passed.*KRAK!KRAK!*

K) "You said they'd blame you for this. That means they'll attack you, your sister or likely both once they get a chance to. So how about you both come with us?"

C) "Are you sure?"

K) "Master said to try to earn good Karma. And that the 3 best ways to do that are (she points one claw up) to be kind to strangers, (a second claw joins her first) to help the innocent, and to punish evildoers. (points into alley) You seem innocent enough, and you do need help. So there you have it."

C) "My sister is this way."

The foul-smelling street child, seated comfortably on my back leads us deep into the slums area. The evening streets crowded the whole way. But everyone backs away to the walls rather than impede our progress.

Most of the muttering is just 'wow' or 'a tiger' and the like. But I manage to overhear someone mention 12 broken knees, and the need to "teach a lesson in manners." I growl at Kara and nod in the direction I heard it from. She nods back.

The expected attack never comes. Instead, we hear rushed footsteps heading the same direction we are going.

M) 'It seems they'll reach her before us.'

K) "Then you should hurry and rescue her, and then bring her back to meet us. Whoever tries to hurt her though, do as you please. They'll probably deserve anything you can give them."

With the stinky boy still settled on my back, to give directions, I bring out my flying sword. It wasn't far from where we were. But at the pace we could slip past through the crowd, we would have been too late to help. Instead I pounced upon their midst just as they opened the door. A quick bloom of vines hold them all in place. Only 1 or 2 broken bones, they got off lightly.

The boy rushes off inside. A muffled discussion later, he brings out a filthy raccoon beastkin girl, dressed in rags. His sister I guess. When they both settle on my back, I fly with my sword to return to the wolf sisters.

Girl) "WOOOWWW!!"

M) 'So we need a new place to stay. I'm not spending another breath in that inn.'

C) "I know a good place."

K) "I know a better one. I just didn't want to force us upon their hospitality. Now though, we need to."

A while later we arrive at Kara's destination. . Wait, isn't this-

Guard) "Halt, state your reason for approaching City Lord Yu's Manor."