Chapter 80 - Pure Bad Luck

Purple blood tainted the tip of my sword as the tiger cried out in pain. It had a thick hide so my passive attack couldn't hurt it by much. Even so, there was now a hole in the tiger's white stomach.

''You actually injured it…'' the girl only had such words for my feat. However, I was already running by the time she covered her mouth with her palms.

The roar of the tiger blew her hairs and her face grew pale. Of course, the beast wouldn't go down with just that much. That attack only provoked it.

There were no trees left ahead to cut down so the girl did not face any problem while trying to follow me.

The blood of a purple lightning tiger was a valuable resource in making a medicinal bath. The granny from the Gang family couldn't have made such a good recipe. I had first thought that it was just another medicinal bath that required subpar materials, but only after thoroughly examining it that I found out that this could be used for even Meridian Opening practitioners.

I had been gathering resources for this medicinal bath in these three months but four materials still remained and among them was the blood of Purple Lightning Tiger. I didn't even know about this beast until I looked at the beast manual yesterday.

This was a grade two beast, of course, people wouldn't give me information about it when I was a mere Body Tempering practitioner. But now I was entering the First Sky Martial House and was at Viscera Purifying, I had to know about such dangerous beasts.

However, I was not, in my current state, planning to kill this beast chasing me… I mean, us. That would be suicidal, utterly foolish. I couldn't even imagine someone trying to-

''Just what are you doing?!'' My eyes bulged as I couldn't keep myself from shouting.

''Look, it's injured! We can totally kill it!'' said the girl in that Cheongsam, which looked quite bothersome to wear while running. Her sword pointed at the angry tiger's noses, she stood firm on the ground while striking a heroic pose.

I recognized that burning passion, that determination to surpass one's limits at such a time. It was very similar, no, almost identical to that of a… noob adventurer trying to slay a dragon.

'What 'we'? I have brains at least.' Immediately, I ran ahead while thanking the girl for her foolishness. Her sacrifice would be remembered for another 20 seconds.

Yet, it was as if the girl's luck attribute had gotten an infinity boost while mine was in negative. The beast plainly ignored the food in front of it and came straight for me. That was just not fair. Why, because I injured it?

'Fuck this! Just who is pulling strings here?!' I came to a sudden stop. There was a pond ahead of me. Circling it would take another five minutes. But, I didn't have the time when this demon beast was jumping towards me with the passion of a dying lover seeing his love of the life for one last time.

''You got this!'' encouraged the girl from behind as the tiger's heavy paw came for my head.

'I can just jump in the pond and be… shiiiii-' I completely abandoned that thought and ducked hurriedly. I had seen a huge scaly body swimming in the pond water. Whatever it was, disturbing that demon beast would only spell doom for me.

Did I offend some magical destiny maker or was this forest always this dangerous? I couldn't find an explanation for my unusually bad luck today. It all started with that girl, she must be the one! I had no choice now.

''You girl, whatever your name is! Don't you want to kill this beast? Come help me!'' I held my long sword with both of my hands and went into a focused stance. As I slashed at the beast, I aimed at its limbs instead of going for the neck. 

The tiger had a quick mouth, it could bite my sword and keep on holding. I would be dead meat then. I, of course, had no chance in contending with the beast in terms of raw power and speed. My goal was to somehow make it fall on the pond.

''I am not some girl, my name is Sheng Yin!'' Hoho, this missy had a name, what a surprise.

''I don't care! Get over here!''

I stepped back three paces, turned around, and suddenly went behind the beast as I roared. Despite her questionable character, the girl was brave and promptly came to distract the Purple Lightning Tiger while I attacked its rear.

The beast kicked with the force of 20 horses and accurately hit the sword I was holding. Its hindlimbs were five times as big as my legs. Just with that force alone, I was thrown at least a meter backward.

''Hundred Swords technique!'' Sheng Yin's hands blurred as she poked the tiger's face with her sword tip multiple times. That was actually quite effective in disorienting the demon beast's movements but she had to move back as the tiger nearly slapped her senseless with its paws.

Sheng Yin fell down on her butt but immediately stood up with the efficiency of a hungry dog running for thrown food. While she became a distraction for the tiger, I suddenly grabbed its tail and slipped below it. We were fighting on a grassy surface, so my back was fine when it rubbed against the ground.

I was quick to notice the hole I had made on the tiger's stomach. Blood was already coagulating on the wound, demon beasts could heal very fast.

Instead of plunging my sword on the beast's unguarded belly while it was still trying to bite Sheng Yin's head off, I held my main weapon with my mouth and took out shiny new daggers.

A cry akin to that of a beaten dog's wail echoed in the forest when I stabbed the beast with those razor-sharp weapons.

'Heh, how's that?'