45: Chapters 4 & 5: Lu Hu: My sincere heart was misplaced!

In the dense jungle, a beautiful tigress walked through the mountains with elegant steps; her figure was nimble and flexible, with smooth muscle lines.

She walked slowly through the dangerous forest, possessing a sense of relaxation that other animals lacked; her expression was calm and confident, her pace leisurely yet steady and powerful.

Warm sunlight pierced through layers of green shade, shining on the tigress's golden fur; the tigress narrowed her eyes, lay down on the spot, and took a nap while holding a wildflower she had picked by the roadside.

After a short nap, the tigress opened her eyes, lazily stretched her tiger body, and continued her stroll through the mountains unhurriedly.

As the tigress walked, she suddenly shed her previous laziness; with a deafening Tiger Roar that filled the air with ferocity, she shot forward, her limbs instantly exploding with power.

She leaped directly over the bushes in front, pouncing on a fawn that was just about to escape; with a precise throat lock, the fawn kicked twice and then fell silent.

Afterward, the tigress gutted the fawn and ate it slowly.

With the fawn in her belly, the tigress came to the water's edge to drink; looking at her bright, lustrous fur in the water, she couldn't help but recall the hardships of her journey, feeling quite bitter.

In the past, she probably would have had to catch two more deer just to be full.

The tigress sighed with emotion; she hadn't expected that she, who was exhausted, matted, and full of resentment just over half a year ago, could become so beautiful today.

The decision to drive her children away back then was right; she should have done it long ago!

Mother Tiger thought to herself, in the past, she had to raise two children; Er Wa and San Wa had such large builds, their appetites were bigger than hers, and every day they would wail, waiting to be fed by her hunting.

To feed the family of three, she had to rack her brains every day to hunt, leaving herself physically and mentally exhausted.

But ever since she drove Er Wa and San Wa away, she realized how wonderful life could be.

She no longer had to see Da Wa and San Wa waiting to be fed, and she no longer had to run around all day long for food.

She could finally get a comfortable sleep, have free time to stroll, groom her fur, and nourish her own spirit.

Looking at herself in the water now, young and beautiful, and able to do things she likes,

"Aoo Hou~"

After drinking water, the tigress strolled slowly and finally lay on a soft patch of grass, leisurely enjoying the warmth of the sun; ever since she drove Er Wa and San Wa away, her life had been getting better day by day.

Come to think of it, sometimes she really couldn't understand how she had survived those days.

It seemed to be because of Da Wa, who was idle and lazy all day back then.

Even though almost two years had passed, the tigress's memory of her Da Wa was still deep.

She had never seen such a peculiar tiger; at just over a year old, his size was already similar to hers, and his appetite was even much larger.

If that were all, it would be fine; Da Wa grew so strong that she had actually been quite happy at first, wanting to teach Da Wa how to hunt to share the burden, but the result...

The pressure became even greater!

Da Wa's slothfulness refreshed her understanding; he never hunted, and his appetite grew bigger every day; she went from hunting every three days to every two days, and then to every day.

Later on, it became catching prey three times a day, all to support the gluttonous and lazy burden that was Da Wa.

It was during that time, under the immense pressure of supporting Da Wa, that her hunting ability improved every day; she even single-handedly killed an adult male brown bear without sustaining any injuries.

This must be the reason why she was able to raise the growing Er Wa and San Wa after she got rid of Da Wa.

Compared to Da Wa, raising Er Wa and San Wa didn't seem that difficult; moreover, Er Wa and San Wa knew how to help her share the burden and could occasionally catch prey, which was countless times better than that good-for-nothing Da Wa who only knew how to eat and sleep!

She wondered how Da Wa, who she had thrown to his father back then, was doing now; had Da Wa's father taught him well and corrected Da Wa's lazy personality?

She couldn't do anything about Da Wa, but Da Wa's father was so strong, he should be able to teach Da Wa...

Should... be able to... right?

The tigress wasn't very confident; her stereotypical impression of Da Wa was just too deep, so much so that even after two years, she hadn't forgotten it.

Speaking of Da Wa, not having seen him for so long, she did miss him a little bit.

"Aoo Hou!!"

A Tiger Roar sounded from the distance; the tigress stood up abruptly, entering a combat-ready state with a solemn expression; this was the first time she had heard such a loud and powerful Tiger Roar.

From the sound, she could tell that the comer's strength was terrifyingly powerful.

Although powerful, the tigress did not flee; in recent years, her strength had also grown too much; in order to avoid Da Wa, she had taken Er Wa and San Wa to change territories alone, encountering many dangers, including several male tigers who wanted to kill Er Wa and San Wa.

But in the end, she had defeated them one by one!

Having defeated so many male tigers, if she ran away now just upon hearing the roar of one male tiger, would she have any face left?

Whether she could beat him or not, she would only know after a fight!

"Aoo Hou!"

The tigress's fighting spirit was boiling; not only did she not run, but she took the initiative to attack, her ferocity surging to the heavens!

"Aoo Hou!" (Mom, I missed you so much!)

The opponent's roar was very penetrating, but why did it feel like she had heard this voice somewhere before?

The tigress was puzzled; she focused her gaze on the distance and saw a round-headed, round-brained tiger running frantically towards her.

"Aoo!"

The tigress couldn't help but panic; she braked quickly, looking left and right.

That male tiger's excited posture, the familiar running style—it was too similar, too similar.

Her good-for-nothing Da Wa had returned!

The tigress no longer had any fighting spirit; she chose a direction and ran frantically without hesitation; she was truly stupid; why had she thought of Da Wa? Now it was done for.

Da Wa had really returned!

No, she must run!

Determination shone in the tigress's eyes; she had finally managed to live a leisurely life of retirement; if she were pestered by Da Wa again, she could already imagine every piece of prey she caught being sponged off by Da Wa.

Hunting day and night, yet ending up unable to get enough to eat, with dull fur and a haggard face.

Run!

I don't want to live the bitter life of the past again!!

The tigress roared in her heart, her potential exploding; she ran extremely fast, leaving afterimages, her speed terrifying to the extreme.

"Aoo?"

Lu Hu behind her was a bit surprised; his old mother's speed was surprisingly fast; it must be 150 yards, right!

That was more than twice that of an ordinary tiger! Had Mother Tiger encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity?

"Aoo Aoo!" (Mom, wait for me!)

Lu Hu shouted and also accelerated, visibly closing the distance with Mother Tiger; he ran alongside Mother Tiger, then accelerated slightly to get in front of Mother Tiger, tilted his head, stretched his big head in front of Mother Tiger, and asked curiously,

"Aoo Hou~" (Mom, why are you running?)

Mother Tiger: ??

She... she was caught up to?

Before she could be shocked by Da Wa's speed, endless despair emerged in Mother Tiger's mind.

"Aoo Hou!!!" (No!)

Mother Tiger slowed down and came to a slow stop; after roaring at the sky, she collapsed powerlessly to the ground, her expression dull.

Da Wa had returned; her wonderful life was about to bid her farewell.

"Eh~~"

Lu Hu stood on the side and watched for a long time; he read Mother Tiger's thoughts, and Lu Hu felt indignant and sad.

He was full of anticipation to reunite with her, yet she despised her own son so much!

Did he look like the kind of tiger who would sponge off his parents?

He was just cultivating her abilities; the natural world was so cruel, the competitive pressure was so great; if one's ability wasn't up to par, how could one survive?

Lu Hu shook his head; his heart was hurt.

His sincere heart had been misplaced!

...