Chapter Sixty: The Demonic Beast—Nether Tiger

A heavy iron cage was draped in black cloth, concealing whatever lurked within. No one knew what was inside. One minister standing nearby seemed to hear the panting of a wild beast and was instantly gripped by terror.

Li Pingyang had just finished his chicken leg. He brushed off his hands, picked up a cup of wine and drank it down, then glanced in the direction of the cage. The moment his gaze landed on the iron cage, his expression grew grave.

The system warned him: there was a demon beast ahead!

He had no idea what these Tubo envoys were plotting. How could they present a demon beast as a birthday tribute? Were they truly so bold?

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

At the head of the Tubo delegation was a man named Hakur. He stepped forward, his accent reminiscent of someone from the western regions, knelt, and offered a ceremonial salute to the Empress Dowager.

Li Pingyang stared into his eyes and saw them brimming with hostility. When Hakur’s gaze swept from the three princes to the Emperor of Song, the muscles in his face tightened, as though he were suppressing a great rage.

That expression was like someone facing his father’s killer. Fortunately, a companion coughed behind him, snapping him back to his senses before their true intentions were revealed.

It was clear their journey here was not an earnest mission of celebration; there was another purpose hidden beneath the surface.

"Hakur was born and raised in Tubo, and has long admired the vast and beautiful lands of Great Song. I have heard that your country is home to many lovely maidens, and that your men are all brave and mighty..."

"This time, we have brought a special performance to honor the Empress Dowager’s birthday. We wish to invite the bravest among your people—does such a hero exist?"

As he spoke, another burly, bald man of the Tubo delegation tore the black cloth from the cage. The contents were revealed, and the assembly gasped in shock.

Inside the massive iron cage was a tiger. Its eyes blazed with ferocity, its head held high, jaws yawning wide, a blood-red tongue flicking out to lick the iron bars.

This tiger’s fur was a strange blue, its fangs enormous like daggers, and its white whiskers bristled like steel needles.

Once the black cloth was removed, the tiger shook itself, then began pacing the confines of the cage, its gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials as if selecting a pleasing prey.

After a full circle, the beast’s green eyes fixed on Li Pingyang. It then crouched down, as though it had found its chosen master.

Li Pingyang could only smile helplessly.

Beside him, Minister Fang was shaking with fear, his face pale as death. He deeply regretted sitting next to Li Pingyang—cursing him inwardly as a harbinger of bad luck, the very reason his fortune had soured today!

"Demon Beast Index: Name, Nether Tiger. Rank: first-tier demon beast. Feeds on prairie wolves, inherently fierce, possesses explosive strength, and demonstrates slow self-healing abilities..."

Li Pingyang eyed the tiger. He’d been somewhat afraid at first, but upon hearing it was only a first-tier demon beast, his hand slipped from his chin and he nearly fell off his seat.

Could this be real?

Was the system joking? Was there some mistake in identification? This enormous, terrifying creature—a mere first-tier trash demon beast?

The absurdity of it was like standing up to confront a queue-cutter, ready for a righteous brawl, only to discover the offender was a hulking bald man. And just as you’re about to back down, the brute turns shamefaced and apologizes profusely, explaining his wife is in labor and he’s in a hurry, nearly sobbing with remorse.

Now, with not a soul daring to face the tiger, the Tubo envoys seized the opportunity to ridicule the men of Song.

Hakur turned, triumphant, addressing the frowning officials: "If your esteemed kingdom has no champion brave enough to subdue Tubo’s fiercest demon beast, then I will have my brother demonstrate for you all."

Li Pingyang merely smiled in silence.

So this so-called fearsome demon beast, the pride of Tubo, was just a first-tier fledgling? If so, the Ghost Mother Venom Spider of Great Song could annihilate their entire nation!

Thinking this, Li Pingyang began to laugh, the sound resembling a pig’s snort. Minister Fang scratched his head, suspecting Li Pingyang had simply been frightened silly by the sight of the tiger.

Seeing Li Pingyang dare to laugh, Hakur seized on it, pointing angrily at him. "What are you laughing at?"

Li Pingyang quickly adopted a serious face, saying he’d simply remembered something amusing. "Is it a crime to laugh?"

"You—" Hakur began, but could not finish. The third prince shot Li Pingyang an annoyed glance, wondering why he was making a spectacle of himself.

"If no one is willing, then—"

"Wait!"

Li Pingyang interrupted, rising to his feet. Every eye in the hall turned to him. The Empress Dowager felt a sense of relief—at last, someone was stepping forward.

But when she saw it was only Li Goudan, known merely for his poetry, her heart filled with anxiety. She prayed he would not act recklessly; his life was at stake.

Li Hu saw Li Pingyang stand and rose as well, glancing at him as if to ask whether he should join. Li Pingyang shook his head gently, signaling that he was fine.

He glanced once at the third prince, nodded, and then walked unhurriedly toward the great iron cage.

"Since no one wishes to bully the weak, let a humble commoner give it a try. Allow me to face Tubo’s mightiest beast!"

"After all, it would be a shame to have brought it all this way for nothing."

There was mockery in his words, and even Hakur, whose command of the language was poor, understood he was being ridiculed. Who was the weak one? The Nether Tiger?

Infuriated, Hakur lunged forward to argue, but his companions restrained him before he could create a scene.

The intention of this insignificant kingdom was clear—they simply wanted to use the Nether Tiger to test the strength of the Song dynasty and embarrass the emperor and empress dowager.

At such moments, a person’s bearing could truly shine. Li Pingyang thought to himself: "If not for me, Li Pingyang, the world would be shrouded in darkness! Heaven has given me talent for a reason; now, in the great hall, let me battle this demon tiger..."

Let me restore Song’s dignity and let these three fools taste humiliation for once, lest they forget themselves.

With a sweep of his arm, Hakur forced his companions aside, furious and eager to see Li Pingyang torn to pieces.

A thunderous roar shook the hall, startling everyone. Li Pingyang, armed with neither weapon nor food, simply opened the cage and walked inside alone.

The three Tubo envoys were dumbfounded. They watched as Li Pingyang approached the Nether Tiger and reached out his hand, as if to pet it!

Minister Fang, watching from the side, was so terrified he dared not look directly, squinting through barely opened eyes.

Another deafening roar split the air. The Nether Tiger opened its bloody maw and lunged for Li Pingyang’s head. Several of the more timid officials fainted on the spot at the sight.