TFBAT -Chapter 73

On the day of the Tiger Fight, Chi Yuyang realized she would once again face the females who had caused trouble for her before.

Not only that, she would also see other members of the tribe.

The Tiger Fight was considered one of the major events in the tribe, its importance comparable to the Spring Festival in the human world.

This meant that nearly all tiger-beastmen would participate in some way, whether as competitors, spectators, or judges.

Before heading to the chief’s den, Chi Yuyang muttered to herself, “Those females have already been warned by Hu Jin’s mother, so they probably won’t pull any tricks this time, right?”

At that moment, a howl sounded outside the den.

Chi Yuyang shook her head, suppressing her restless thoughts, and stepped outside.

A tiger with gleaming light-yellow fur was waiting at the entrance.

“Hu Shu, thank you!” Chi Yuyang paused slightly as she climbed onto the tiger’s back.

Usually, Hu Jin would lie down to let her sit securely.

Chi Yuyang carefully pressed against Hu Shu’s neck and used her momentum to mount her tiger body.

Even with her gentle movements, she felt the tiger shiver uncontrollably as she settled.

It seemed Hu Shu wasn’t used to carrying people.

If Hu Jin were here, she wouldn’t have had to trouble Hu Shu.

As a competitor in the Tiger Fight, Hu Jin and Hu Shu’s partners had to report first at the chief’s den, while spectators had to wait for the chief’s notice before entering.

It sounded quite organized.

This was Chi Yuyang’s first thought upon hearing the arrangement.

Truly befitting a chief.

Hu Jin’s territory was at the outermost edge of the tiger tribe, and Hu Shu wasn’t as fast as him, so the journey took some time.

As Hu Shu carried her through a forest, the sounds of quarrels among beastmen, mixed with tiger roars, reached her ears.

Upon arrival, the noisy scene nearly overwhelmed Chi Yuyang’s senses.

—Hundreds of spectators had formed a large circle.

Inside the circle were the competitors.

Even from a distance, Chi Yuyang could hear the shouts from within.

And there wasn’t just one pair of beastmen fighting.

The matches inside the circle were in full swing, and the spectators outside were vocally engaged.

The noise showed signs of growing even more intense.

Fortunately, aside from the clamor, it was still relatively orderly.

Hu Shu shifted back into her humanoid form and whispered in Chi Yuyang’s ear, “These in front are tigers who just reached adulthood this year.”

Chi Yuyang nodded.

She felt another similarity between the Tiger Fight and the Spring Festival: the tiger-beastmen used the fight to determine adulthood.

Although beastmen didn’t deliberately calculate age, by the tiger tribe’s method, Hu Jin, who became an adult before the last Tiger Fight, was exactly one year older than these tigers now fighting chaotically.

Hu Shu continued explaining, “Most of them are only first or second-rank, so they fight in a free-for-all to determine the sole winner, who then advances to the next round.”

“Sole winner?” Chi Yuyang repeated, a little taken aback.

That “sole” sounded almost provocative.

“Yes.” Hu Shu’s gaze fell on the center of the circle, her superior vision locking on immediately.

She pointed at the few males who hadn’t fallen yet. “They are the few third-rank tigers among them, and all seem to be early third-rank. I estimate they’ll need more time before a winner emerges.”

Her words carried a hint of regret.

Then, in the next instant, she added proudly, “Looks like they’re not as strong as our generation.”

Not a single fourth-rank among them.

Chi Yuyang could barely make out the place Hu Shu indicated, only faintly spotting two or three moving shadows.

Before she could distinguish clearly, her view was blocked by the crowd of tiger ears.

“Ever since the females stopped participating in the Tiger Fight, the spectators’ enthusiasm has declined. Especially these newly adult tigers…” Hu Shu sighed deeply, completely forgetting that she, too, had been an enthusiastic spectator when she first became an adult last year.

As the chaotic fights neared their end, the quarrels grew even sharper.

The voices were loud and piercing.

Chi Yuyang, however, smiled.

From the content of the females’ arguments, she seemed to sense the stirrings of budding attraction.

“Hu Shu, can you take me somewhere else to look around?”

She suddenly felt an urgent desire to find Hu Jin.

“Oh, sure!” Hu Shu finally remembered their purpose for the trip: to cheer for their partners.

She had learned the term “cheer” from Chi Yuyang.

It apparently meant giving support.

“Xiao Chi, sometimes I really feel you’re different from us,” Hu Shu blurted out unexpectedly.

In fact, she had felt this way when she first met Chi Yuyang, and after spending time together, she only became more certain.

Chi Yuyang felt a jolt in her heart.

She lowered her head, carefully weaving through the crowded females, and whispered, “Maybe it’s because I’m not a tiger-beastman.”

“Not really like an ape-beastman either…” Hu Shu’s sharp ears didn’t miss this, but her words were drowned out by the surrounding noise.

Chi Yuyang, as an ordinary human, couldn’t accurately capture her voice.

Seeing no response, Hu Shu filled in on her own, “Seems Xiao Chi suffered a lot in the ape tribe; otherwise, she wouldn’t have left her own tribe.”

She cast a sympathetic glance at Chi Yuyang.

…

After passing several large mixed circles of first- and second-rank fights, Chi Yuyang and Hu Shu finally found a relatively open spot.

“Why are there so many spectators this year?” Hu Shu patted the folds on her fur caused by the crowd.

Chi Yuyang glanced at the two black stripes on Hu Shu’s arm and casually asked, “Hu Shu, you’re a second-rank too, why aren’t you competing in the Tiger Fight?”

Hu Shu froze for a moment.

She opened her mouth, “Because…”

The word “because” got stuck, and she couldn’t continue.

For once, Chi Yuyang spoke for the usually talkative Hu Shu.

“Because the females your age aren’t participating either?”

Images of Hu Wan and other beastmen came to her mind.

Aside from minor differences in appearance, their physiques were quite different from Hu Shu’s.

Hu Shu quickly nodded.

Chi Yuyang didn’t press further.

Female and male tigers were similar in size, but lions weren’t.

According to the chief, to some extent, a beastman’s beast form determined their humanoid abilities’ upper limit.

Tiger-beastmen with lion genes would have their abilities affected and naturally couldn’t beat pure-blood tigers.

Although they couldn’t compete in the Tiger Fight, they still had mouths to chatter.

Thinking of those females, Chi Yuyang felt a buzz in her ears.

She changed the topic.

“There are so few spectators here.”

Hu Shu’s gloom lasted only a short while; she quickly returned to her lively self.

“The next fights should be one-on-one third-rank battles,” she lowered her voice and simultaneously flicked her tail faster.

Curious, Chi Yuyang leaned closer.

Hu Shu rolled her eyes and whispered, “I’ll tell you a secret.”

Except for newly adult beastmen grouped regardless of rank, other matches were determined by strength.

Most of the tribe were first- and second-rank, so they used free-for-alls.

The remaining third-rank were grouped together, fourth-rank in another.

They hadn’t seen the fourth-rank Tiger Fight group yet, but third-rank spectators were rare…

Chi Yuyang looked around.

There were more trees than spectators.

As she thought, Hu Shu slowly finished her secret word by word.

“First- and second-rank are plentiful for convenience, fourth-rank are rare elites, so the females don’t care much about the middle third-rank fights.”

As Chi Yuyang guessed, females as spectators were drawn to the males’ prowess, so the crowded first- and second-rank free-for-alls attracted many.

Spectators watched fourth-rank fights for admiration of strength.

“But my partner and I met during the Tiger Fight,” Hu Shu added.

For some reason, Chi Yuyang’s eyelid twitched.

She didn’t think Hu Shu meant harm, but her thoughts were bold and direct.

Hu Shu’s partner was a third-rank.

“Xiao Chi, you also need to plan for yourself! Besides, third-rank can rise to fourth. If Hu Jin…”

Chi Yuyang quickly covered her mouth, stopping her.

She could guess what Hu Shu meant.

But that wasn’t her intention at all!

Even if Hu Jin wasn’t here, she didn’t want to discuss it.

However, when Hu Jin’s smiling face flickered in front of her, a faint voice came from somewhere:

“Wife.”

The speaker paused.

“Hu Shu.”

Hu Shu’s back instantly went cold.

“Hu Jin?” Chi Yuyang froze.

She looked all around but saw no familiar figure.

Had she imagined it because of talking badly about a tiger behind its back?

Chi Yuyang turned her head and saw Hu Shu’s face a mix of fear, shock, and a hint of relief.

Relief that Chi Yuyang had stopped her from speaking further.

“Mm… mm!” Hu Shu tried to speak, but her mouth was still blocked.

Chi Yuyang awkwardly withdrew her hand. “Hu Shu, sorry, I got carried away…”

Hu Shu quickly raised her head, following the sound, and pointed to a tall tree.

“Xiao Chi, your Hu Jin is up there.”

Looking in that direction, Chi Yuyang saw a hint of white among the greenery.

Hu Jin leaned against a thick branch, one hand lazily supporting his head, meeting their gaze.

Chi Yuyang couldn’t see his expression clearly, but Hu Shu instinctively took a step back.

The boy was smiling, but the hidden meaning in his smile made her uneasy.

Perhaps because she felt guilty.

Hu Shu wasn’t sure how long Hu Jin had been up there or if he heard their conversation.

Besides… switching partners was common in the tribe.

Hu Shu reassured herself: Hu Jin’s smile was just an ordinary smile.

He usually smiled so flamboyantly in front of Xiao Chi.

Seeing his wife wave at him, Hu Jin transformed back into his tiger form and jumped down along the trunk.

He returned to humanoid form upon landing.

In just ten seconds, Hu Shu’s mind had wrestled multiple times.

“Hu Jin, what are you doing on that tree?” Chi Yuyang asked, lifting her head from his embrace, noticing his eyes seemed darker than usual.

“Resting.” Hu Jin blinked.

Even his eyelashes trembled.

Chi Yuyang believed him immediately. “After a few matches, you’re tired?”

She bent to check his condition.

No obvious wounds, no blood.

Hu Jin let her inspect him thoroughly.

“Yes.”

Watching silently, Hu Shu realized she shouldn’t have said that.

Chi Yuyang and Hu Jin’s bond was stronger than she imagined.

And Hu Jin definitely heard! His lie about resting on the tree was proof!

She had seen him win multiple matches in last year’s Tiger Fight without any sign of fatigue.

Now, he had fought at most twice—how could he be tired!

Hu Shu glanced at Chi Yuyang.

The girl was tilting her head, gently touching Hu Jin’s tiger ears.

She stroked them lightly, her tone soft, her expression tender.

“Hu Jin, don’t tire yourself for the reward.”

Her eyes were full of care.

If he showed more fatigue, she would even say she’d give him the reward even if he didn’t win.

The comforted boy’s lips curved with a sly smile, then quickly softened to a low murmur.

“Mm.”

The Tiger Fight victory was his to claim.

But he enjoyed this moment, his wife’s comfort.

Hu Shu was dumbfounded.

Hu Jin had never liked classes; the chief had said he had no learning talent, so though peers admired or envied his strength, they never thought he’d use tricks.

Now she understood: Hu Jin didn’t need to, he simply didn’t bother.

Other beastmen weren’t worth his effort.

Hu Shu glanced at Chi Yuyang again.

“Hu Shu, what’s wrong?” Chi Yuyang noticed her gaze.

“N-nothing…” Hu Shu stammered, finishing, “Since Hu Jin… is here, I’ll go find my partner first…”

“Let’s go together,” Hu Jin smiled.

Chi Yuyang turned to him.

“The third-rank winner this year must be your partner,” Hu Jin paused, “The chief said my next opponent will be the third-rank winner.”

Battles could lead to rank promotion, but differences between ranks were significant, so the chief allowed winners to fight higher-ranked opponents.

Chi Yuyang froze, then beamed at Hu Shu.

“Hu Shu, even though we’re good friends, I still want to say, my Hu Jin will definitely win!”

The chief had once taught them the phrase “wife sings, husband follows” from a distant tribe.

Hu Shu hadn’t understood it in class.

But seeing the two smiling in sync before her, she suddenly grasped its essence and coined a new phrase:

“Wife’s debt, husband repays.”

Thinking of this, Hu Shu sighed, silently mourning her partner.

Unfortunately, she had just provoked Hu Jin.