LAVW – Chapter 69 No Tigers Allowed

On the observation platform—

The formation spirit was faintly regretting its decision. It really shouldn’t have let those little spirit beasts drink just to watch them make a fool of themselves.

Now they’d embarrassed themselves right in front of the other sects.

Thankfully, those two weren’t human—only the formation spirit and the spirit beasts themselves, Long Hu, could understand what had been said.

The formation spirit glanced toward Long Hu from the Dao Sect. That spirit beast, its face cold and proud, had already stood up. Wind unfurled its wings behind it as it flew straight toward Shi Qian and the black-furred one.

The formation spirit hesitated for a second. Since Mo Sanchi was nearby to watch the little beasts, it stayed seated on the platform to calm the others.

This wasn’t anything serious anyway—just some spirit beasts misbehaving. And really, a well-behaved spirit beast? Now that would be rare.

Long Hu had a large body. As it approached, it let out a low growl: “Rooaaar—”

The roar wasn’t just for show—it had real force, powerful enough to make the surrounding mountains and forests tremble. Its formidable Nascent Soul aura burst forth, pressing down hard enough to half-sober Shi Qian.

Talking smack about a tiger—and getting caught.

That’s what you get for gossiping without making sure the tiger’s out of earshot.

But the alcohol bubbling in his stomach surged up again, and Shi Qian couldn’t help letting out a drunken hiccup.

“Hic—”

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

From across the way, he could see a cold gleam flash in the tiger’s eyes. It snorted in anger, and he had a sudden flash of inspiration—grabbing onto Brother Hei Mao’s leg and bursting into fake sobs.

“Squeak Squeak!”

Big Brother, it’s so scary!

Shi Qian thought to himself: I’m still just a cub, and I’m drunk. Don’t hold it against me.

The very next second, Hei Mao’s leg twitched—and he resolutely, but gently, shook him off and charged ahead.

“Squeeeak—!”

No one bullies my little brother!

Drunk as he was, Hei Mao didn’t notice how fake Shi Qian’s crying was. Instead, his mind was unusually active, and it brought back memories of those ten hard years his little brother had suffered.

A little brother this weak had to have been bullied constantly by wild beasts outside.

Now that he was here, he wouldn’t let that happen again. No beast would dare bully his brother again.

With that thought, Hei Mao lowered his head and charged straight at Long Hu like a battering ram.

Long Hu’s long, cold-looking face—its narrow eyes naturally conveying indifference—locked onto the incoming black-and-gold giant rat. It raised a massive claw and swatted down at the charging rodent.

But it didn’t actually use much force.

That black-gold rat reminded Long Hu of another troublesome rodent it’d dealt with over a decade ago.

And to be honest, Long Hu wasn’t even really angry. It just looked cold and unhappy all the time—enough to make both demon beasts and cultivators misunderstand it constantly.

It had only chased after the two rat demons to pass the time. Human cultivators were far too boring.

Who would’ve thought these two rats were actually so unreasonable? Was this just how the entire rat clan was?

Long Hu used maybe twenty percent of its strength, but when their bodies collided, its paw didn’t manage to hold Hei Mao down. Luckily, it reacted quickly and raised its other paw, swatting Hei Mao just enough to stop the charge.

In the blink of an eye—BOOM!

Shi Qian: ?

So I acted for nothing?

How is my brother charging into a fight with a tiger like it’s perfectly justified?

Still dazed, Shi Qian blinked. Hei Mao squeaked again and suddenly expanded in size, swelling up until he was as large and imposing as a small mountain.

Then he bared his huge teeth and pounced at Long Hu again.

And he was surprisingly agile.

With each movement, the dense spiritual energy within his body surged outward, condensing into rough, black-gold armor plating that covered his body—from head to limbs, even the tip of his tail.

His aura climbed steadily, breaking past the mid-Nascent Soul stage, surging straight to the brink of Soul Formation.

Long Hu narrowed its eyes. Now it was genuinely starting to get a little serious.

It hadn’t even fought back yet, and that giant rat was already getting too full of itself.

With a furious roar, Long Hu activated its cultivation technique. Behind it appeared the phantom of a divine beast—winged, a hybrid of tiger and dragon. As Long Hu struck out with a palm again, the phantom followed, swiping at the fiercely charging Hei Mao.

Hei Mao went all out, smashing the phantom’s giant palm apart with a crash. Then it raised its own claw and slashed again.

The space between them twisted from the collision of the two beasts.

Shi Qian could tell—Tiger wasn’t even using its full strength. Brother Hei Mao had only just managed to win over the Saintess, so his cultivation hadn’t improved much yet. Brave and fearless as he was, he was still at a disadvantage.

Besides, that line from Hei Mao—“Don’t bully my little brother”—was kind of moving to Shi Qian.

Shi Qian shrank his black sword down, then grabbed his trusty brick and Squeaked, “Squeak Squeak!”

Let go of my brother. I’ll take over.

Shi Qian charged forward.

But before he got far, he was swiftly grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Mo Sanchi.

“Brother Qian, just stay out of this.”

Mo Sanchi quickly said, “Long Hu, look carefully—isn’t the one under your paw your son?”

Long Hu, who had just pinned down the black-gold giant rat and was about to slap it a couple of times to vent: “?”

Stunned, Long Hu hesitated, and Hei Mao seized the opportunity—another claw strike! Long Hu struck back, and the resulting shockwave shook half of the Sword Sect.

On a nearby peak…

Some of the disciples participating in the Foundation Establishment stage duels were distracted from their matches.

Especially the Sword Sect disciples—some couldn’t help wondering: What’s going on at Elder Peak now? That kind of ruckus… could it be that the elders from the various sects were fighting?

The spectators were even more curious. Compared to the duels over here, the fight at Elder Peak was clearly more exciting.

Meanwhile, disciples capable of focusing their spiritual sense exploited the distraction, seized the openings, knocked their opponents off the platform, and won easily.

Chang Youcai waved his hand, unleashing a surge of qi to cover the area and roared, “Daring to get distracted on the brink of defeat? Any Sword Sect disciple who loses focus and loses a match will be punished with a hundred thousand sword swings!”

One of the culprits—Long Hu—came back to his senses and used full strength to suppress the black-gold giant rat beneath its paw, forcing Hei Mao back to his original size.

Old ginger is spicier, and when it comes to beasts, the father is stronger.

Hei Mao, dazed, still shouted, “Squeak Squeak—!”

Let me go! Let me go!

Shi Qian took longer than Long Hu to process things. He turned his head toward Mo Sanchi and Squeaked, “Squeak Squeak?”

Little Ancestor, what are you talking about…

What the hell.

Brother Hei Mao’s dad… wasn’t that his dad too?

Can a thing like a dad… really be found?

Shi Qian recalled the nonsense he once spouted about “splitting dads” between Aotian and the others. His feelings were complicated.

“I meant exactly what I said. Just wait and see,” Mo Sanchi said, patting Brother Qian’s head, knowing how confused he must be. Then she fixed her gaze on Long Hu, who was now examining Hei Mao’s bloodline.

Shi Qian had Long Hu’s bloodline—there was no other beast in the cultivation world like him. They’d all assumed Long Hu had no offspring, and yet here it was—it had secretly had kids, and apparently didn’t even know.

Since Hei Mao was Shi Qian’s twin brother, he too must be Long Hu’s child.

Long Hu quickly probed Hei Mao’s bloodline. Its usually proud and majestic face was now covered with confusion.

This is… my cub?

Letting down its guard again, Long Hu got caught by another head-on strike from Hei Mao!

Hei Mao raised its head and bit toward Long Hu’s belly.

To be honest, if their youngest sister had been around, and if he wasn’t drunk, Hei Mao might’ve held back a little. He was reckless, not stupid.

But right now, his few brain cells were off duty. There was only battle.

Long Hu quickly dodged, but its paw hadn’t come down in time, and its belly fur got bitten.

Rip—

Hei Mao tore off a mouthful of tiger fur and, satisfied with his “spoils,” ran off to present it to his little brother.

Jumping onto the Azure Edge Sword, he proudly offered the mouthful of tiger fur to Shi Qian.

He insisted that Shi Qian accept it.

Shi Qian took the tiger fur in both little paws and sincerely praised his brother: “Squeak Squeak.”

Bro, you’re such a beast. I’m nothing compared to you.

“Squeak Squeak—hic—!”

I found my little brother! Hic—

Hei Mao hiccupped, the alcohol rising along with the spiritual power he’d used. With the intoxication hitting him hard, he passed out.

Shi Qian looked at his unconscious big brother and seriously considered jumping down to give him a kiss.

But unfortunately, he still had to deal with the awkward “father-son situation,” and he was afraid his brother’s fur would poke him in the mouth. He gave up.

Shi Qian turned to the slightly hunched tiger and imagined how it must feel to have its fur yanked out.

If it weren’t a biological son, this would definitely be unforgivable.

Long Hu discreetly covered the small bald patch on its belly, glaring at the passed-out black-gold giant rat.

It must’ve been that lying female rat’s child!

Like mother, like child—both shameless.

Long Hu quietly raised its paw to cover the spot where the fur had been ripped out, hiding the exposed skin.

Shi Hao, who’d been watching the show, was shocked when Mo Sanchi told him Long Hu had offspring.

He’d wanted to wait and see whether Long Hu would confirm it, and in the meantime ended up watching it get bested again—yet it restrained its temper.

That confirmed it for Shi Hao: the black-gold giant rat really was Long Hu’s descendant.

He stood up and walked over to Long Hu, asking, “Squeak Squeak”

Long Hu, how could you not know you had children?

“Aooouuuu—!”

Don’t ask!

Long Hu roared back irritably. It looked at Hei Mao, then at the little white spirit beast in Mo Sanchi’s arms—the one Hei Mao had called “little brother.”

Are my kids really this dumb and silly-looking?

And that little one still looked like a baby. But he had more talent and a higher cultivation than his “older brother.” How was that even possible?

Was he born at Nascent Soul stage?

Did that lying female rat have a child with some tribulation-crossing beast?

Got tricked by that shameless old thing, didn’t I.

Most importantly, the cubs of other beasts were just so much better-looking.

Long Hu got angrier the more it compared, and couldn’t help but claw at the ground twice to vent its frustration.

Shi Qian saw the tiger staring for a long time without saying a word, and then start digging at the empty ground again, so he simply spoke up: “Squeak Squeak?”

Have you looked enough? If you’re done, I’ll take my brother and leave.

Long Hu raised its chin and pointed at the unconscious Hei Mao lying by Mo Sanchi’s feet: “Roar—”

You can go, but leave him.

It roared so loudly that it actually woke up Hei Mao.

Hei Mao raised its head: “Squeak—”

Yell again and I’ll slap you to death.

Long Hu growled again: “Roar-roar—”

Stop sleeping! Where’s your mother?

Shi Qian sensed something off. This tiger seemed to think he and his mouse brother were from two different litters. No wonder it had been looking so resentful just now.

And judging from the tension, the “parents” didn’t seem to be on good terms at all.

Besides, Mouse Mom had probably gone through countless pretty boy flings already. She clearly didn’t fancy this ugly dad—cutting ties after the breakup.

Shi Qian considered himself a filial son and decided he couldn’t let this tiger cling on and disturb Mouse Mom’s happy life.

So, he jumped down, landing on his mouse brother’s head, and shoved the “Five Leaf Mountain” back into Hei Mao’s mouth.

Shi Qian used his spiritual power to cover his brother’s mouth. “Squeak Squeak.”

Go back to sleep, bro.

Then he thoughtfully covered Hei Mao’s ears too, so he could nap in peace.

Hei Mao, who had been dazed and confused, happily closed his eyes to sleep again after being coaxed by his little brother.

Mo Sanchi also picked up on the oddness of Brother Qian’s behavior.

She didn’t say much, but couldn’t help thinking to herself: Looks like a truly tangled and complicated relationship.

Although Shi Hao had been roared at by the spirit beast, he still tried to speak up for Long Hu. With a refined smile, he tried to soothe Shi Qian.

“Young one, there’s no need to be so guarded.”

Shi Hao waved his fan and pointed at Long Hu: “That is your brother’s biological father.”

Shi Qian looked at this second male lead, dressed in elegant robes and carrying himself like a charming nobleman, then glanced at the patch of green bamboo embroidered at the hem of his robe.

That green bamboo patch was Shi Hao’s unique emblem.

But back then, when he first left home, Mouse Mom had tossed him a handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo. Shi Qian never imagined there would be any connection.

Absolutely absurd.

And yet, somehow, they really were connected!

It just goes to show—you have to be bold with your imagination. Reality was even more ridiculous, lacking any trace of logic.

Shi Qian sat crouched on top of Mouse Bro’s head, letting out a deep sigh. He fiddled with the storage necklace hanging from his chest, rummaging through it for that long-lost handkerchief.

In truth, he didn’t even need to take the handkerchief out. Just the sight of the storage necklace was enough for Shi Hao and Long Hu to confirm that everything was, without a doubt, real.

Shi Hao said, “That storage necklace was co-refined by an elder of my Tongdao Sect. It had some defects, so it was given to Long Hu.”

After speaking, Shi Hao looked down at Long Hu.

Because when the necklace had gone missing, Long Hu had said it was lost—not given to another beast.

Long Hu, however, looked heartbroken.

It had given that necklace, and that liar went and gave it to someone else’s cub instead of its own.

“Roar-roar—”

Don’t you have a father of your own?

Long Hu thought to himself, So this isn’t just some tribulation-stage old thing—he’s also broke.

Shi Qian didn’t want to pay attention to this ugly and slow-witted so-called father and seriously suspected that this father was the reason Brother Mouse’s intelligence was so questionable.

Thankfully, Brother Mouse at least inherited his looks from their mother. Rough and wild, sure, but definitely not ugly.

Shi Qian finally managed to fish out the green bamboo handkerchief and flung it hard, aiming to slap it right onto the tiger’s face.

But the other party actually knew how to control wind too. It casually raised a paw and caught the handkerchief mid-air, gripping it tightly.

Long Hu looked dejected. “Awoo—”

This is mine too.

Everything was given by that person, and yet his own cub got nothing.

That biased, heartless woman!

Shi Qian: “…”

Mouse Mom, seriously, what did you do to this tiger? It’s been over ten years and he still hasn’t gotten over you. Seems like the more time passes, the more he obsesses over you.

Feeling exhausted, Shi Qian helped clean up the mess for his mother: “Squeak Squeak.”

If it’s really yours, take the handkerchief back. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. That’s what Mom told me when I left home.

Long Hu was so angry that he widened his not-very-round eyes, looking utterly fierce. “AWOO AWOO AWOO!”

How dare she! She had cubs behind my back and disappeared for over ten years!

“AWOOOO—”

Where is she now?!

Long Hu tore the handkerchief in half with one swipe, then attempted to leap onto the Qingfeng Sword.

Mo Sanchi quickly maneuvered the sword to retreat.

One party chased furiously, the other fled desperately.

The formation spirit, the only one who could actually understand what was going on, even stood up in excitement, itching to follow along and watch.

A nearby elder, curious, asked, “What’s going on exactly? Wasn’t there something said about the giant rat being Long Hu’s son?”

The formation spirit fought back the urge to watch the drama unfold and, for the sake of the Sword Sect’s dignity, forced himself to sit back down.

“Nothing, nothing. Just the spirit beasts having a bit of a quarrel. Let’s get back to what we were discussing earlier.”

Saying some polite filler, the formation spirit reached for his wine cup—only to be even more dismayed.

Empty.

It had flown off with Long Hu while chasing the Qingfeng Sword.

Shi Hao noticed something was off. This little spirit beast was too clever—definitely not some one- or two-year-old cub. And it had a pair of little dragon horns growing from its head.

Shi Hao turned to the beast and asked, “Long Hu, is this little one also your cub?”

Long Hu, filled with anger and bitterness: ?

A whole litter? Two of them?

Seeing that Long Hu had stopped chasing, the Qingfeng Sword also came to a halt.

Long Hu began switching his gaze between Hei Mao and Shi Qian in a loop.

Hei Mao looked like a wild, rugged version of his mother. Not quite as pretty, but clearly the same kind. No major differences.

But this little white spirit beast—had dragon horns!

That definitely came from him.

Long Hu was full of regret. Why hadn’t Shi Hao realized this earlier? He’d almost scared off his own kid.

Then Shi Qian saw the tiger placing its four huge paws down primly and wagging its fluffy tail, black and white in alternating stripes.

Shi Qian stared at that tail for a couple extra seconds.

“Awawoo—” Even its voice had softened.

Little one, where’s your mother?

Long Hu coaxed gently: “Awoo.”

Tell Daddy, little one.

Shi Qian rolled his eyes dramatically and snapped, “Squeak Squeak.”

You’re ugly and wishful thinking at its finest.

After mocking the cheap dad, Shi Qian continued fooling the tiger: “Squeak Squeak——”

I don’t know where Mom is either. Back then, she raised both of us on her own. Brother had a big appetite, life was hard. We moved around a lot.

Shi Hao, not understanding mouse-speak, turned to Long Hu and asked, then tapped his palm with his fan. “Little guy, don’t lie to Long Hu. That story sounds fake.”

Mo Sanchi might not have understood either, but as a disciple of the Sword Sect, she was becoming quite adept at its core value—protect your own.

She gave Shi Hao a cold look. “Young Sect Master sure knows a lot.”

Shi Hao had forgotten that Mo Sanchi couldn’t understand beast talk. He defended himself, “I’m not making things up.”

“This little spirit beast is far too smart. And back then, their mother deliberately ditched Long Hu and avoided seeing him. So I can pretty much conclude—he’s lying to Long Hu.”

Mo Sanchi subtly shook the lily-of-the-valley bracelet Hua Qing had given her and countered, “Since you know full well that Brother Qian’s mother didn’t want to see Long Hu, then why force the issue? Pushing it will only drive a deeper wedge between father and son.”

“What, is Long Hu’s happiness the only thing that matters?” She looked down at Shi Qian. “Brother Qian, I don’t think there’s any point in staying. I’ll take you and Hei Mao back.”

“Wait!”

Shi Hao called after her. “Sanchi, I watched you grow up—why so angry? Just cut him some slack. This is the first time Long Hu’s found out he has kids. He doesn’t know how to deal with it.”

Long Hu gave a pitiful “Awoo Awoo” in agreement.

Shi Qian raised his little paw and wiped the fur by his eye. “Squeak Squeak……”

He hit my brother the moment we met, then scared me! We’re just a poor single-mother family, and now he’s bullying us too.

Long Hu was dumbfounded, but seeing the little one crying, he didn’t dare chase anymore and let the Qingfeng Sword fly away.

After they were gone, Shi Hao asked, “What did the little guy say in the end?”

Long Hu repeated it and sighed heavily.

Shi Hao: “Long Hu, you’re not dead, are you? What ‘poor single-mother family’? He tricked you again!”

Long Hu: “Awoo—”

But look at the little one, so tiny. Clearly had a hard life.

“But your older son looks so strong and sturdy. Doesn’t seem like he was ever short on food—life couldn’t have been that bad.”

Long Hu was completely lost, but after thinking for a moment, he cheered up: “Awoo awoo.”

The little one’s pretty clever. Just like its mom.

Shi Hao sighed. Hopeless. This spirit beast is completely hopeless.

He had thrown in his body, his storage necklace, and even a handkerchief made of silkworm silk… but the other party’s spirit beast simply didn’t want to pay him any attention.

Elsewhere, Mo Sanchi, on her way back, ran into Hua Qing who was hurrying over.

“Little Ancestor, what’s wrong?” Hua Qing had picked up how the Sword Sect disciples addressed him and thought it sounded quite affectionate.

Even as she asked, she immediately switched to riding on the Azure Edge Sword and crouched down to inspect Hei Mao, not even waiting for Mo Sanchi’s answer.

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

Just drunk.

Hua Qing checked once herself, then hearing Shi Qian’s addition, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“You scared me to death. Just now I felt a tightness in my chest and only knew the general had been in another fight—not too worried at first—but then I got a message from you and rushed over in a panic.”

Hua Qing gently touched her chest with her delicate hand, looking very pitiable.

Even Mo Sanchi felt moved to comfort her and softened her tone, saying, “It was my fault, I scared you.”

“Let me tell you, just now—”

Mo Sanchi briefly recounted how Hei Mao and Shi Qian had run into his dad, and how Hei Mao then got into a fight with Long Hu.

The fight itself wasn’t a big deal—Long Hu had only meant to play at first, and later just wanted to subdue Hei Mao, not hurt him.

The problem arose when Long Hu pressed for information about Mouse Mom, and Shi Qian said he didn’t know—Shi Hao then joined in to pressure him further.

As she spoke, Mo Sanchi suddenly felt something was off.

She hadn’t really intended to get Hua Qing involved to restrain Shi Hao—she hadn’t thought that far. She just wasn’t good at arguing, so she decided to call Hua Qing over.

After all, Hei Mao was Hua Qing’s spirit beast. She had more of a legitimate claim than Mo Sanchi did.

So Mo Sanchi awkwardly added a few more words of explanation.

But Hua Qing just smiled and said, “No need to explain all that. If something happens to Hei Mao, of course you should come to me. Thank you, Little Ancestor!”

As she laughed, she affectionately linked arms with Mo Sanchi.

Shi Qian: … This “Little Ancestor” has completely fallen under Hua Qing’s thumb.

But hey, what’s wrong with some pretty girl affection? It’s nice.

Shi Qian said: “Squeak Squeak.”

Forget it, let’s just go back to Cuilong Mountain. I’m too lazy to argue with those unreasonable stinky men.

Hua Qing relayed Shi Qian’s words to Mo Sanchi with a smile.

Mo Sanchi laughed and said, “I don’t know where he learned it from, but he sure knows how to use it. I think Brother Qian is way smarter than his dad.”

“Squeak squeak!”

I don’t acknowledge him as my dad!

Hua Qing: “Because he’s not good-looking? He’s actually pretty strong, you know. I heard he has a lot of treasures.”

Shi Qian shook his head seriously: “Squeak Squeak.”

I don’t want anything from him.

Then he jumped into Hua Qing’s hands and snuggled against the pretty sister: “Squeak Squeak.”

Sister Hua Qing, as long as I have you, I’m at ease.

Hua Qing: …

You might be at ease—but I’m not.

Hua Qing thought about how peaceful things had been lately, with Shi Qian taking care of Hei Mao while she had time to herself, and felt very satisfied.

But then, thinking of the future, she couldn’t help sighing.

After a moment of thought, she said, “Brother Qian, if you don’t want to acknowledge your dad, then don’t. How about… we let Hei Mao get himself a dad instead?”

That way someone else could watch over Hei Mao and play with him.

Mo Sanchi thought about Long Hu’s reactions from start to finish, then looked at Hua Qing and said tactfully, “I think Hei Mao might’ve bitten a bald patch into Long Hu.”

Long Hu had blocked quickly, but she had still seen it.

Upon hearing this, Hua Qing leaned against Mo Sanchi’s slightly taller shoulder, sighed, and scolded with a smile, “That good-for-nothing general.”

Back at Cuilong Mountain, Shi Qian released the Sword Sect disciples—and gained a Dragonye who had turned back into human form.

Seeing Long Ye, Shi Qian sighed first.

Life was too hard.

Long Ye scooped up the wilted-looking Brother Qian and asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Brother Qian, tell me.”

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

Brother Ye, I might not be able to give you a dad after all. My dad’s not very reliable.

Long Ye’s logic tree went like this:
First, Brother Qian found his dad?
Second, who is Brother Qian’s dad? I need to ask.
Third, looks like Brother Qian really was going to share his dad with me—he wasn’t just joking before. Brother Qian is so kind. But seriously, who’d want a spirit beast as their dad? It’s not like I don’t already have one.

At that final thought, Long Ye lifted Shi Qian up and solemnly said, “Brother Qian, I’m going to tell you something, but don’t be upset.”

“I absolutely don’t mean to look down on you.”

“I never planned to share your dad—after all, there’s barely enough of him to go around between you brothers.”

“But if you want to share my dad, I’d be very happy to.”