By invoking Fourth Master Liu, Xiangzi finally steadied the ranks.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

This was his first time facing a demon beast. To say he wasn’t afraid would be a lie.

The tiger demon’s massive, several-zhang-long body exuded an oppressive presence, and its lone roar nearly sent his vitality surging, making it hard to stand.

Even more terrifying—this tiger demon clearly had intelligence. It knew to use a dying blind bear as bait.

Uncle Jie saw it too. His eyes narrowed as he stepped half a pace in front of Xiangzi, his great spear locked on the tiger demon. He said gravely, “Xiangzi, hold your breath, focus your mind, and steady your stance. This tiger demon’s no ordinary beast—it’s ranked, and its roar can suppress vitality.”

Xiangzi quickly channeled his stance training, spinning the vitality in his dantian several times to anchor his steps.

As he regained clarity, his vision sharpened. Spotting something on the tiger demon’s body, he raised a brow and said, “Uncle Jie, it’s wounded. It wouldn’t dare come closer!”

Uncle Jie peered closely and saw the tiger demon, growling low, with a deep, bone-revealing gash across its abdomen.

Perhaps from devouring the guard too forcefully, the wound was now gushing blood.

But as Uncle Jie studied the wound, his heart trembled. Beneath the crimson flesh, the demon’s bones glinted with a faint, metallic golden sheen.

Uncle Jie sucked in a cold breath—half-metallized bones!

Having worked this mining route for over a decade, he knew more about the Li Family Mine’s inner workings.

The demon beasts here all stemmed from the five-color ore beneath their feet!

Without protection, long exposure to this mine would cause horrifying changes in humans or beasts alike.

Half-metallized bones meant this tiger demon was one step from the eighth rank!

A beast of that level belonged in Little Green Fir Ridge. Why was it in the Li Family Mine’s outskirts?

The only solace was that it was heavily injured.

Otherwise, none of them would escape!

“Uncle Jie, this tiger demon’s badly hurt. It’s wary of us, or why else would it stall here?” Xiangzi’s voice boomed, clearly not just for Uncle Jie.

The rickshaw pullers, though still trembling, steadied at his words. The chaotic ranks settled somewhat.

Seeing this, Uncle Jie’s heart eased slightly.

He glanced at the young man, noting Xiangzi’s loose grip on the short spear, poised to strike at any moment. Such seasoned poise—where’s the novice who’s only trained for months?

And this courage, facing a tiger demon head-on, made even Uncle Jie feel a touch inferior.

What a bold lad! I’ve trained for years—how can I let him outshine me?

With that thought, a surge of heroic spirit rose in Uncle Jie. His wrist flicked, and the long spear swept through the air, tracing a perfect arc.

A sharp whistle cut the silence.

The tiger demon’s pupils shrank, glancing at Uncle Jie.

But for some reason, its gaze returned to Xiangzi!

In its mind, Xiangzi posed a greater threat than the spear-wielding man!

With Xiangzi and Uncle Jie at the front, the East Tower guards found their backbone, gripping their weapons and standing firm.

Trained by Master Tang and Uncle Jie, they were tough men, only briefly stunned by the demon’s aura. Now calm, they saw the situation clearly.

The scene grew eerily still:

Under a tree dozens of paces away, the tiger demon glared with its vertical pupils.

On the muddy path, the rickshaw pullers clutched their weapons, standing in formation.

Only the Li Family guard wailed in the middle, his left calf half-gone, white bone jutting out.

The thick stench of blood filled the air.

The tiger demon eyed the writhing man, saliva dripping from its fangs.

It craved flesh but feared the dozens of martial men in formation.

The standoff in the forest carried an indescribable eeriness.

“Xiangzi, that tiger just wants to eat someone. Why not toss the guard over and be done with it? Why risk our lives for an outsider?”

A voice broke the silence.

It was Skinny Monkey.

He hefted a long blade, his eyes full of defiance. “Xiangzi, you’re the yard leader, cozying up to the Li Family. But why should we brothers die for you?”

His words stunned the pullers. Even the East Tower guards showed doubt. Yeah, why fight a demon beast for a Li Family guard?

Xiangzi’s face darkened, a flash of sharpness in his eyes. Skinny Monkey’s venomous words had shattered the morale he’d just rallied!

This wasn’t about the Li Family guard.

If they retreated even half a step or broke formation, who could withstand the tiger demon’s pounce?

But how could he explain such stakes in a few words?

Xiangzi snorted coldly, his eyes pinning Skinny Monkey. “Monkey, with a demon beast right ahead, you dare stir trouble?”

“One more word, and I’ll gut you first!”

Skinny Monkey shivered under Xiangzi’s knife-like glare, swallowing his bravado.

“Xiangzi, you’d touch my brother?” Jin Fu Gui, silent until now, spoke up, his eyes dark with menace.

Xiangzi sneered, ignoring him. He turned to the group, gripping his spear loosely, and said gravely, “Brothers, the mine’s vitality suppression weighs on us. If we scatter and run, who can outrun a four-legged beast?”

The pullers jolted at his words. Xiangzi’s right—how can two legs outrun a tiger demon in this mine?

Wen San chimed in, “Brothers, has Xiangzi ever shorted us since becoming yard leader?”

“He’s standing at the front now. We men of Forty-Nine City can’t lose face!”

Someone shouted, “I trust Xiangzi! Run if you want, but I’m staking my life here!”

“Right! I trust Xiangzi too. He even helped Old Ma—he’s a righteous man!”

The scene grew raucous, but the pullers rallied, grabbing their weapons and standing behind Xiangzi.

The tiger demon’s eyes flickered with confusion.

With its nascent intelligence, it couldn’t fathom why these human meat buns suddenly lost their fear.

Seeing the tide turn, Skinny Monkey forced a laugh, hefting his blade and slinking back into the ranks.

As the standoff stiffened, a whistling sound cut through the forest depths.

Then, rapid, clear footsteps echoed from afar.

The tiger demon’s massive body trembled, its pupils flashing with fear. The wind carried the scent of the newcomers.

It’s the ones who wounded me!

Without hesitation, it roared and sprang, its spotted form vanishing into the forest depths.

The group let out a collective breath.

But Uncle Jie’s face darkened, stopping Xiangzi from lowering his spear.

“Someone’s coming… experts!”

Xiangzi’s eyes narrowed. The tiger demon had clearly been scared off by these newcomers!

To frighten a beast of that level—these people were no ordinary folk!

As if to confirm his guess, moments later, several figures appeared in the distance.