Chapter 46: There Are Too Many Beauties Around You

Suddenly, the curtain of the central military tent was flung open, and Zhu Xiaoying rushed in, stumbling as she threw herself to her knees, clutching Lu Hu’s leg in terror. Her face was stricken with panic. “Divine Lord, Divine Lord, save us quickly! Little Tiger’s furious—he’s going to bite us to death!”

Before coming out, Lu Hu had placed Xiaobai and Huahua on the table, instructing Malihong and Zhu Xiaoying to feed them meat and fresh grass, respectively. At first, the little ones ate happily, but as soon as they sensed the commotion outside, they stopped, ears pricked, listening intently. After a while, they grew restless—Xiaobai glared with his round tiger eyes, yelping and scrambling across the table, while Huahua, with her innocent wide eyes, looked ready to leap off the edge.

The two maids, afraid the cubs would fall and injure themselves—unable to explain it to the Divine Lord if that happened—scrambled to herd them back to the center of the table. When Lu Hu’s sharp cry echoed in, Xiaobai finally lost control, baring his tiny new teeth and lunging with a fierce, cubbish ferocity that terrified the maids.

Lingering Little Five, who had been dozing, was startled awake by the shrill cry. Hearing Xiaobai’s howls, she lifted her head, but her own two cubs were still suckling, so she couldn’t rise immediately—she could only growl reassuringly at Xiaobai.

Of course, Malihong and Zhu Xiaoying couldn’t understand tiger speech. They thought Lingering Little Five was enraged by her cub’s cries and was about to attack—a fear that nearly made them lose control of their bladders. Lingering Little Five gently picked up her suckling cubs and set them aside, then rose and padded over.

Frightened out of her wits, Zhu Xiaoying shrieked, “Mother!” and bolted out, running to Lu Hu for help...

Lu Hu scoffed inwardly—Xiaobai isn’t even as fierce as a housecat; he couldn’t bite you two to death. Most likely, it was Lingering Little Five who scared you, so much so your words are tripping over themselves.

To the White-Browed Eagle King, Lu Hu said, “Brother White-Brow, enjoy your meal. I need to step into the main tent for a moment.” After exchanging a series of coos with the eagle, he wrapped his left arm around Quan Zhenzhu and his right around Quan Meiyu, and turned to head back inside.

Yakeshi hurried ahead to lift the tent flap.

The scene inside almost made Lu Hu and the Quan sisters burst out laughing like roosters at dawn...

Malihong knelt before the table, trembling as she kowtowed and pleaded, “Tiger Madam, I beg you, please don’t eat me! It was Zhu Xiaoying who bullied me and our Tiger Lord! Tiger Lord, after Zhu bullied you, she ran away—please don’t take it out on me!”

Usually brash, Malihong crumbled at the critical moment, proving herself less composed than the usually quiet Zhu Xiaoying. As Lingering Little Five approached, Zhu Xiaoying had at least the nerve to run out, while Malihong’s legs went weak—she couldn’t even stand, and could only kneel and beg for mercy.

Lingering Little Five ignored her completely, settling instead to soothe Xiaobai.

Seeing the little tiger’s anxious antics, Quan Zhenzhu exclaimed, rushed over, and scooped him up in her arms. Instantly, Xiaobai quieted, snuggling obediently.

“Brother, look, look—Xiaobai’s upset! We mustn’t leave him behind again.” She pressed herself against Lu Hu, pouting with playful reproach.

Lu Hu affectionately stroked her hair. “Alright, my good little sister, my dear sister—whatever you say. We won’t leave Xiaobai behind ever again.”

Brother and sister—such words are bound to cause trouble...

With the Divine Lord present, Malihong regained some courage, ceasing her kowtows, though a sour envy welled up in her chest. She longed to stand up and deliver a swift kick to Lingering Little Five’s rear, but didn’t dare. Instead, she seethed at Quan Zhenzhu:

This wretched little vixen, this sly fox—she’s already ensnared the Divine Lord and gets along so well with the tiger! It’s infuriating—sooner or later, I’ll find a chance to sell her off to a brothel.

Grinding her teeth in silent fury, Malihong also felt deeply embarrassed by her groveling earlier. She tried to stand, palms pressed to the floor, but as her knees bent, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her knee—and collapsed again.

Zhu Xiaoying had taken advantage of the distraction to give Malihong’s leg a hard kick.

Malihong, incensed, snapped, “Why’d you kick me?”

Feigning ignorance, Zhu Xiaoying replied sweetly, “Oh my, Honghong, you’re kneeling again? Are your knees too stiff to stand? Here, let me help you,” as she reached over.

Malihong shoved her hand away. “Stop pretending, you’re as sly as a cat—kick me and then act all concerned! You’re downright vicious!”

“Vicious? At least I didn’t try to feed you to the tiger. Nor did I use distraction to launch a flying kick at your head.” Zhu Xiaoying was still fuming over Malihong’s earlier words to Lingering Little Five—she’d wished the tiger would eat her, so a kick was getting off lightly. If she got another chance, she’d sell her to a brothel for sure.

Her face remained all smiles, even as her thoughts turned cold.

Suddenly, Malihong grabbed Zhu Xiaoying’s leg and yanked, sending her sprawling. Malihong quickly climbed atop her, clawing at her mouth. Not to be outdone, Zhu Xiaoying fought back.

“Well fought! Well fought! Two bitches at each other’s throats!” croaked Sun Zi, the servant in the stocks by the pillar. Watching these two troublemakers tear into each other was sweet revenge for him, and he couldn’t help but cheer them on.

You miserable cur—you’re still so cocky after the beating I gave you? Maybe I went too easy...

At once, Malihong and Zhu Xiaoying forgot their own feud and turned on Sun Zi, crawling over to yank his hair, twist his ears, pinch his cheeks, and beat him mercilessly.

The big-faced servant suffered yet another round of abuse; his neck was caught in the stocks, making it hard to breathe, and his mouth was twisted painfully. He wanted to scream but could barely make a sound. He regretted provoking these two harpies; his cheeks had already bloomed with pain, and now his ears felt like they’d been torn off.

Seeing the maids so wild, Lu Hu wanted to scold them, but the Quan sisters watched the show with amusement, so he held his tongue. If not for their good upbringing, given what Sun Zi had done to their father, they’d be brawling right alongside the maids.

Outside, the sound of bustling voices drifted in—it was the soldiers, busy erecting the White-Browed Eagle King’s tent.

Lu Hu chuckled. “You two have fought enough—if you keep going, you’ll tear your mouths to shreds. Go out and deliver my orders: tell them to drag Sun Zi into the Eagle King’s tent. He’s had enough of training hawks and hounds—let the Eagle King have his turn.”

Malihong instantly released Sun Zi, jumping to her feet and strutting out, barking orders with her hands on her hips: “You, you, you—and you—come with me!” She led a group of soldiers into the tent, adopting a commanding air. “Drag this servant Sun Zi out and throw him in the White-Browed Eagle King’s tent—let the Eagle King deal with him.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the soldiers replied, dragging Sun Zi out. As they went, they couldn’t help but marvel: The Divine Lord’s maids certainly have some authority.

Malihong followed them out, loudly ordering the soldiers about, acting as if she were in charge of everything.

After she’d had her fill of playing boss, she returned, beaming and speaking sweetly, “Divine Lord, the Eagle King’s tent is ready.”

Lu Hu nodded, hands clasped behind his back, and headed outside. Malihong and Zhu Xiaoying hurried to pull back the curtain.

“Brother White-Brow, come see if the tent we built for you is to your liking,” Lu Hu cooed as he stepped out.

The White-Browed Eagle King’s sharp gaze swept over Lu Hu’s companions, and he cooed in response, “My god, you seem to have acquired quite a few beauties. Take care of your health—don’t overindulge, lest you hinder your cultivation. That would be a real loss.”

Following his gaze, Lu Hu looked back: Quan Zhenzhu was holding Xiaobai, Quan Meiyu had Huahua, and Malihong and Zhu Xiaoying trailed behind. No wonder the Eagle King commented—he must have thought the beauties were all for Lu Hu’s pleasure.

“Haha, brother, you’re mistaken. They’re just friends, not here to lay eggs for me.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” the Eagle King cooed, strutting into his new tent.

Eagles, by nature, mate for life—if one dies, the other will starve itself in mourning. That’s why he had such opinions about Lu Hu’s entourage, thinking the Divine Lord was even more promiscuous than a wild boar. Only after the explanation did he relax.

“Brother, are you here alone? Where’s your mate?”

Walking with him into the tent, Lu Hu cooed back.

“I meant to tell you—my wife is teaching the children how to fend for themselves on the cliff. This villa you’ve built is splendid; I’ll fetch my wife and kids soon.” The Eagle King looked around at the spacious tent, where soldiers were lining the center with fine wool for nesting, and was thoroughly pleased.

“I’m glad your whole family will join us. How many children do you have, brother?” Lu Hu knew from books that eagles lay three to five eggs, but usually only one chick survives. Yet, since the Eagle King was so vigorous, maybe he was an exception.

The Eagle King proudly stretched his neck. “Ha! When it comes to raising young, I’ve every right to brag—I’ve raised two!”

“No wonder you’re the Eagle King—truly mighty!” Lu Hu praised him with genuine admiration.

“The chicks are just learning to flap their wings. Their mother is training them hard, and my beloved works even harder raising our young.” The Eagle King’s worldview was clear: his own children were the best, but his wife was even better. Not like those men who always think other people’s wives are more desirable and dream of forbidden liaisons...

“Who’s that? How did he get so beaten up?” The Eagle King spotted Sun Zi lying in a corner.

“That one used to be a prince—he’d order his men to shoot us, his favorite pastime was torturing our kin. I’m handing him over to you, so you can avenge our fallen brethren.” Lu Hu painted Sun Zi as a villain of the worst kind.

“Scoundrel! Once my family arrives, we’ll take turns tormenting him until he’s reduced to a lapdog!” The Eagle King glared menacingly at Sun Zi.

Sun Zi squeezed his eyes shut, not daring to meet the eagle’s fierce gaze.

The Eagle King turned away. “My Divine Lord, I’ll fetch my wife and children now.”

“Hurry back—I’d love to meet your beautiful mate and brave children. Surely, they are as exceptional as you,” Lu Hu replied, laying on the compliments.

The Eagle King, thoroughly flattered, strutted out, his grand tail feathers swaying. With a powerful leap, he beat his massive wings, stirring up a flurry of snow and dust as he soared into the sky...