STNS: Chapter 558 (Patreon)

Töri Qiang had earned his name through a lifetime of perfect hunts. Ever since his first trial, he believed that he was destined for greatness, that he would become the greatest tracker and hunter the Heavenly White Tiger Clan had ever produced--and never once had he doubted this.

His rite of passage came when he was tasked with bringing down a crimson horned lightning beast, a quarry that had evaded their pursuit for decades. Where others had failed, Töri Qiang refused to give up, stalking the creature for a week without rest, tracking, studying, and waiting for the right moment to strike. He had felled the beast in a single strike after relentlessly pursuing it. Upon his return, he didn’t just claim victory--he mocked the others for wasting the clan’s time with their incompetence.

Over the years, Töri Qiang had served the Heavenly White Tiger Clan in hunts, border disputes, and skirmishes against everything from dragons to lesser tiger clans. Every kill he made only fed his belief that he was their greatest asset and would one day rise to become the leader of the hunters. This belief had often gotten him into trouble with his superiors, but the results he brought always made it hard for them to punish his insubordination.

He wasn’t the only one who believed himself to be bound for greatness either. Many of the women in his tribe also felt this way, for they were bedding him every night. He slept with more women than any other man in his clan. Aside from his boasts of his own prowess as a hunter, he also liked to boast about his prowess in the bedroom. He was obviously the best lover a woman could ask for. Why else would they keep coming back to him if he wasn’t?

Töri Qiang loved women almost as much as he loved himself, and he was especially attracted to strong women. The stronger the better. Perhaps that explained why, after making his initial announcement, Töri Qiang found himself struck dumb by the amount of beauty in this group of humans.

Chief among them was a woman standing close to the man. She was a peerless beauty with skin like snow and hair like midnight. Her deep and mysterious cerulean eyes were the sky connecting heaven and earth. Next to her stood another woman, equally enchanting but far more sensual, with eyes like a fox and rouge lips that complimented her pale skin. He almost dismissed the last woman, for she stank of dragon. However, she too, was gorgeous, with powerful muscles, wide hips perfect for birthing, and a large chest. Her silky chestnut hair and vibrant eyes made her all the more alluring.

He licked his lips.

“You! Human!” He pointed at the man. “Leave these women here and I’ll forgive you your transgressions!”

To emphasize that this man should do what he demanded, Töri Qiang released his cultivation. He was at the height of the Seeker Realm. While not as strong as some of their warriors, his prowess was nothing to scoff at either, and even some among the warrior class were unable to contend with him. He expected this man to capitulate, to cower in fear before fleeing with his tail tucked between his legs.

What he didn’t expect was power to sweep over him like a raging maelstrom.

Töri Qiang’s eyes widened as the young man he was addressing unleashed his own power. The qi became visible. It was bright white mixed with starlight, and as he watched in horror, the qi took shape, forming the outline of a great white tiger that roared at the heavens. Töri Qiang’s knees buckled as he realized how out of his league he was. This young man had not looked very strong, and he hadn’t sensed his cultivation. Now he realized why. It was because Töri Qiang was like an ant looking at a goliath. This young man was at the Realization Realm.

What… is going on?! How is he so… so powerful?!

Töri Qiang had felt the power of Realization Realm cultivators before, and he was normally perfectly capable of withstanding it, though he’d never dare to fight one unless the odds were in his favor. Yet the power this young man was unleashing had sent him crashing to the floor. He gripped the dirt and grass underneath him as he struggled to breathe. Each breath came out in a harsh rasp that hurt his chest.

The young man took a single step forward. The entire world seemed to tremble. Then, in that one step, he appeared right next to Töri Qiang, whose eyes had widened.

He’s so fast!!!

“You wish for me to give you my women?” asked the young man, smiling. It was a cruel smile. A cold smile. A smile that spoke of death. “Do you have a death wish? Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying I would kill you. I don’t need to. Those three are perfectly capable of killing you themselves.”

“Wha…?”

Töri Qiang didn’t understand what this young man meant--not until the other three released their own carefully contained cultivation. His eyes bulged. Each one of them was at the Realization Realm.

“Shuchang, what does someone normally supposed to do to a person who’s trying to steal his woman?” the human asked the only other human male. He stank of fire bird. His hair was a ravishing red like unholy flames and he had eyes of molten gold.

“Hmmm.” The one called Shuchang cupped his chin. “I suppose it depends on you. I would normally laugh it off, but you’re quite possessive. At the very least, I think you ought to give the man a beating for daring to demand you give away what’s yours. This tiger also has eyes but seems unable to see the leaves from the trees. He didn’t even recognize your strength. That alone deserves punishment.”

The young man listened intently and nodded, then turned back to him. Töri Qiang nearly pissed himself when he saw that horrendous smile.

“Well, you heard the man. You need to be punished.”

“M-mercy…?” he squeaked.

With a grin, the young man raised his right hand. “Sorry. I’m all out of that. Now, you had better grit your teeth.”

***

Wu Jian beat the snot out of Töri Qiang. Obviously. He was the possessive type, a fact that was known to Wu Meiying, Hou Jingshu, and Zhou Lihua. While Hou Jingshu had told him that she found it a little annoying, Zhou Lihua had secretly told him during some of their bedroom activities that she found it attractive. Wu Meiying was just Wu Meiying. She found whatever he did attractive. Out of all the women he was intimate with, she was perhaps the most blinded by her feelings. He secretly believed that he could take a dump and she’d find it hot.

In either event, after beating the crap out of Töri Qiang, they had decided to ask him some questions. The tiger man had become quite pliant after his beating. It seemed that, while he was supremely arrogant, he was also something of a coward. He only fought those weaker than himself, or those he had an advantage over. Wu Jian knew the type. They were all bark and very little bite.

“The Heavenly White Tiger Clan is controlled by the Heavenly White Tiger King,” said Töri Qiang. His cheeks were swollen and red, and he spoke as though his face was stuffed full of food. He also had a black eye that had swelled to the point his entire eye was sealed shut. “Our leader is chosen through combat, during the Duel for the Fang. It’s an event that takes place once every ten years. Everyone can participate. Our current king is the strongest ever. He’s won the Duel for the Fang every decade for the past ten decades--his rule is the longest of any of our kings.”

They were sitting around a fire. Töri Qiang sat away from the others, on his hands and knees, while they sat on logs. All around them were the young tigerkin. The children had become extremely docile after Wu Jian and his women had displayed their power. While some remained fearful, a few seemed to have grown attached. One of them, a young female tiger, had tried nuzzling up to Wu Jian… though she was stopped when Youmei leapt out of his shadow and began hissing at her. Even now, the pair were growling and hissing at each other. It looked like a cat spat… but one of them looked human.

“Go on,” Wu Meiying prodded him with a smile.

Töri Qiang shuddered. “The Heavenly White Tiger King is the supreme ruler of the West Fang Wastes, but he is still protected by the Fangguard. They are the king’s chosen warriors, handpicked from the hunter and warrior classes.”

“So there’s a hunter and a warrior class,” Shuchang muttered.

“Tell us about those,” said Wu Jian.

“Um… The warrior class are our most powerful warriors. In terms of raw strength, none can surpass them, and they are equally talented at direct combat. They are divided into: Fang Baatar, Claw Baatar, and Pelt Baatar based on their cultivation and skill. The Fang Baatar are our champions. They are the strongest among the warrior class. Claw Baatar are our standard fighters. Pelt Baatar are the weakest. They are usually the youngest members who are untested in combat and lacking in cultivation.”

Töri Qiang went on to explain more. There was the hunter class, which he was a part of. While warriors went by the name Baatar, hunters went by the name Töri. there were two types of hunter class, the Ghost Töri and the Storm Töri. Töri Qiang was a Storm Töri--a hunter who specialized in swift, aggressive attacks that overwhelmed his prey before they could escape. There were also the runners and the shaman-seers. Respectively, they went by the names Chuluun and Örlög. They did not have any subdivisions like the warriors and hunters.

“Those names sound less like job titles and more like family names,” Hou Jingshu said.

“They are honor-bound names,” Töri Qiang explained. “One must earn the right to bear a name. Once they have, they use it with pride and honor, as it becomes a part of their identity. In the Heavenly White Tiger Clan, a name is not just a name--it’s a proclamation of your worth. Every cub is born with a single given name. When they prove themselves in a way that’s worthy of the Khan’s recognition, they earn a Great Name.”

Aside from those given a great name, there were also The Unnamed. They were members of the Heavenly White Tiger Clan who, after reaching adulthood, failed their Right of the Fang and were not given a great name. Everyone in the clan saw them as lesser beings. The Unnamed served the clan as laborers, runners, or fodder for dangerous hunts. Very rarely did an Unnamed earn a great name through an extraordinary deed later in life.

“When is the next Due for the Fang?” asked Wu Jian.

Töri Qiang blinked his single good eye several times. “Um… it’s happening within the next month.”

Wu Jian’s smile widened.  “It seems fortune is smiling on us. I thought we’d have to do something drastic to get the Heavenly White Tiger Clan to follow us, but this should make things much easier.”

“I see where you’re going with this, and I approve,” said Hou Jingshu.

“You’ll need alchemy pills if you want to accomplish your goal,” said Zhou Lihua. “I will provide them for you… though we’ll need to find more materials.”

“You can leave that to me.” Wu Meiying thumped her chest. “I’ll use my clairvoyance to find you materials. Shuchang will help me acquire them.”

“I will?” Schuchang shuddered when everyone glared at him. “I mean, of course I will! Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha… haaaaa…”

While everyone in his group was chatting, Töri Qiang looked on in confusion. Wu Jian stood up and walked over to him. The man cowered, but he paid that no mind and squatted down.

“You will take us to the Heavenly White Tiger Clan’s village,” he said in a tone so commanding that it brooked no argument. Töri Qiang didn’t even think to argue. He simply nodded hurriedly as though his life depended on it.

Wu Jian grinned a grin filled with fangs.

“Good. We leave tomorrow at the first light of dawn.”