Chapter 28: The Grand Aunt’s Fierce Power

Bai Xi glanced down, gave a dismissive snort, but refrained from saying anything more out of courtesy. Seeing Bai Xi’s expression soften, Chen Rui quickly looked at her own mother, her eyes full of comfort: Mother, don’t be afraid, Great-Aunt isn’t angry anymore.

Zhang Xiu, witnessing this scene, finally let out a small sigh of relief. She thought, daughters truly are the best—never holding grudges. Later, when they returned home, she resolved to boil an egg for her daughter.

Meanwhile, Chen Dagou was still staring at the little tiger at Bai Xi’s feet. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Great-Aunt, is this a cat?”

Given her age, Chen Dagou could vaguely tell what it was. And when she heard Xiaoshunzi and the others say they’d found it at the foot of the mountain, her expression changed dramatically. “This is clearly…”

Though the little creature was pure white, thin and small, with slightly messy fur, it was still distinctly different from an ordinary cat. Remembering old sayings passed down through the family, Chen Dagou swallowed hard, inwardly exclaiming: Could it be?

Bai Xi sat down and replied, “I say it’s a cat, so it’s a cat.”

This was meant for the little tiger as well.

Hearing this, the little tiger let out two soft whimpers and obediently lay at Bai Xi’s feet. Cat or not, a cat was still a distant relative, after all.

Zhang Xiu noticed the odd look on Chen Dagou’s face and quietly asked, “Auntie, what’s wrong? Is there something strange about that cat?”

Chen Dagou glanced at Bai Xi, then at Zhang Xiu, and whispered, “It’s a tiger cub.”

“A tiger cub?” Zhang Xiu nodded, but in the next second, her mouth dropped open in shock. “What? A tiger?”

Bai Xi had overheard their whispers and was somewhat surprised. No wonder people say experience comes with age. The little spirit tiger was completely white, not a single stray hair, and there wasn’t even the distinctive ‘king’ mark on its forehead. Most people would mistake it for a cat. She hadn’t expected Chen Dagou to recognize it.

“How did you figure it out?” Bai Xi’s question left Zhang Xiu, who was staring at the little spirit tiger, dumbfounded. She stammered, “Is… is it really a tiger cub?”

Chen Dagou was equally astonished. “Great-Aunt, you already knew?”

She had been thinking about how to keep this from Bai Xi and send the little thing back to the mountain—after all, if the mother tiger came looking for her cub, the whole village would be in danger.

Now, realizing Bai Xi already knew, Chen Dagou said hastily, “Great-Aunt, it’s a long story. Xiaoshanzi, hurry and fetch the village chief. Tell him to call Old Li and a few of the young lads. We’ll need to return this cub to the mountain soon.”

Old Li was Li Qingmei’s father, and the young men were for safety when venturing into the woods.

Nearby, the boys who’d thought they’d found a wild kitten stared with their mouths agape, turning in unison to look at the little spirit tiger.

A tiger?

Tigers looked like this?

Yet the little spirit tiger seemed entirely unconcerned. It even looked a bit proud, happily rubbing its tiny head against Bai Xi’s foot, almost wagging its tail in delight.

Prodded by Chen Dagou, Xiaoshanzi finally came to his senses, quickly agreed, and dashed off to call for help.

Bai Xi raised her hand to stop him but didn’t manage to call him back. Seeing the anxious and fearful faces of Zhang Xiu and Chen Dagou, she said, “Enough, it will be fine. This little one’s parents are already dead. No one will come looking for trouble.”

Chen Rui, curious, asked, “Great-Aunt, how do you know?”

“It told me itself!”

A tiger could talk to Great-Aunt?

And Great-Aunt could understand tiger speech?

“Great-Aunt, you’re amazing.”

“Of course!” Bai Xi’s small face brimmed with pride.

Chen Rui gazed at Bai Xi with utter admiration. No wonder Great-Aunt could catch wild rabbits and geese—she was truly incredible.

Basking in Chen Rui’s adoring gaze, Bai Xi felt thoroughly delighted. Such a little admirer had good taste; she could be well nurtured.

Zhang Xiu and Chen Dagou didn’t take Bai Xi’s words seriously. They exchanged a wry smile with Bai Xi. “Great-Aunt, you don’t quite understand these things.”

Chen Dagou continued, “When I was young, I remember my grandfather telling me that his own grandfather once saw a tiger come down from the mountain and attack people. It was a snow-white tiger, just like this one.” She pointed at the little spirit tiger on the bed. “Back then, many in the village were injured or killed.”

When Bai Xi heard this, she nudged the little spirit tiger with her foot. “So your ancestor came down the mountain and caused trouble, did they?”

The little spirit tiger shook its head frantically—Master, I don’t know anything about that! I’m still young, barely two months old! I have no idea what happened back then!

What a lousy ancestor—getting me into trouble like this. If Master blames me for old grudges, she’ll throw me out for sure. Of course, this was only what the little spirit tiger thought to itself.

Bai Xi knocked the little spirit tiger on the head, then tugged at its ear, fixing it with a warning look. If you want to follow me, you’d better behave.

Did they really think she didn’t know spirit beasts carried inherited memories? Even if this little thing was young, it must know at least a little.

Realizing it couldn’t fool Bai Xi, the little spirit tiger immediately rubbed its head against her foot and whimpered ingratiatingly—Master, you can’t blame me for things that happened so long ago! And besides, my ancestor wasn’t even sentient back then.

Bai Xi had to admit that was true. Otherwise, the entire Niuluo Village wouldn’t have been enough to fill a tiger’s tooth.

Everyone in the room watched as Bai Xi, unperturbed, knocked the little spirit tiger on the head and tugged its ears, while the little tiger cuddled up to her, acting spoiled. They were all stunned.

Wasn’t that a tiger?

So why, with Great-Aunt, was it no different from a kitten?

“Great-Aunt, let me put it in a bamboo basket. Don’t get too close to it—if it leaves your scent, the mother tiger might come and hurt you.” Chen Dagou had already decided that once the village chief arrived, they’d send Bai Xi to town for a couple of days, just to be safe.

Before Bai Xi could reply, the little spirit tiger turned to glare at Chen Dagou, baring its teeth—Don’t you dare!

Seeing this, Zhang Xiu quickly said, “Great-Aunt, look how fierce this little thing is. You really can’t keep it. If you want a pet, I’ll take you to the village in a few days to pick one out—any kitten or puppy you like, as many as you want.”

Chen Dagou nodded in agreement.

“No need. I’ll keep this one,” Bai Xi said. After all, she was a nine-tailed fox spirit—raising a little spirit tiger was just about right. Cats and dogs simply wouldn’t do.

Chen Dagou and Zhang Xiu wanted to persuade her further, but Bai Xi had already turned away and started poking and rubbing the little spirit tiger’s belly, clearly not willing to listen.

Just as they were getting anxious, Chen Daliu arrived.

“What’s going on? What happened?” he called as he came in. “Just now, Xiaoshanzi came rushing over but didn’t explain clearly—something about finding a tiger and sending it back to the mountain? What’s all this about?”