Qin Cong's words made Qin Zhao stop in her tracks.
However, she quickly chose to continue moving away.
The secret of Qin Lie was undoubtedly related to the throne.
Sending someone to investigate would uncover the truth, no need to hear it from Qin Cong's mouth.
He might lie or conceal part of the story, so why bother?
Qin Cong watched helplessly as Qin Zhao and the others walked away, realizing she truly did not care if he lived or died!
He wiped away the snot and tears on his face and saw a towering tree that pierced the sky!
Though tigers can climb trees, this sheer vertical trunk would be extremely difficult for a large beast.
Hiding in the tree might give him a chance to survive!
With five guards still helping to delay the tiger, Qin Cong took off his shoes and scrambled up the tree!
Qin Zhao retreated two hundred meters away to observe the tiger fighting with the men.
She did not really want to leave, only unwilling to save Qin Cong.
After last night's encounter with the tiger, Qin Zhao was determined to shoot and kill it to win the Night Glowing Pearl!
Seeing Qin Cong climb to safety, she frowned with regret at missing his gruesome death.
An hour later, all of Qin Cong's guards had perished in the tiger's jaws.
Qin Cong, more than ten meters up the trunk, looked down trembling with fear.
The tiger paced around the tree, seeming to look for the best place to climb up.
Seeing this, Qin Cong called out to Qin Zhao again!
From his vantage point he could just make out their figures.
With snot and tears streaming down his face, Qin Cong cried, "Princess! Princess, save me! You can ask anything of me, I don't want to die!"
Qin Zhao was unmoved. From the moment Qin Cong laid hands on her horse, she had sentenced him to death!
Even if the tiger did not take his life, she would look for a chance to kill him.
Qin Zhao suddenly felt a hand take hold of hers. She turned to see Qi Yan Su Luo smiling at her.
"What is it?" Qin Zhao asked.
"I felt a little cold, wanted to borrow your hand for warmth," Qi Yan Su Luo said with a smile.
Qin Zhao turned her palm over, lacing her fingers with Qi Yan Su Luo's.
Then she looked back at Qin Cong's situation.
Qi Yan Su Luo's smile faded as she casually placed her thumb over Qin Zhao's pulse, wanting to know if she was truly indifferent to Qin Cong's plight.
Feeling Qin Zhao's steady, tranquil pulse...
She wondered: What feelings could such a cold person have for me?
Even if there was some sincerity, how long could it last?
Qi Yan Su Luo gripped Qin Zhao's hand tightly, not wanting to think further.
Qin Zhao watched the tiger inch closer to Qin Cong, now less than five meters away!
She had the urge to cheer for the tiger!
Qin Cong cried and cursed incoherently in fear.
"Zhao Yang, you watch me die yet do nothing, I will haunt you as a ghost!"
"Ahhhh! It's coming! Someone save me!"
Just then, an arrow shot in from afar, piercing the tiger's paw!
The tiger roared in pain, biting off the arrow and leaping back to the ground.
It looked in the direction the arrow had come from and let out a threatening roar.
In a moment, Huo Chengjin and his steed entered the tiger's field of vision.
As if sensing a strong opponent, like the night before with Qin Zhao, it chose to retreat again.
But Huo Chengjin did not plan to let it go. With this tiger, he could obtain the Night Glowing Pearl and present it to his beloved!
Huo Chengjin nocked an arrow, taking aim at the tiger.
The arrow sailed through the air as Huo Chengjin's lips curved into a faint smile, leisurely awaiting the tiger's demise.
But just before it could pierce the tiger's body, the arrow was suddenly deflected by another arrow!
Both arrows changed direction and wildly pierced into a shrub.
Qin Zhao lowered her bow, walking toward the tiger.
The tiger tried to flee in another direction, but Shen Xue appeared there.
It changed direction again, only to be blocked by Han.
Surrounded by four people, the tiger had nowhere to run. It clawed the ground anxiously, betraying its panic.
As Qin Zhao approached, Huo Chengjin also rode forward saying, "Your Highness, we are after the same prey.
But it appears I arrived first."
Qin Zhao had no interest in debating who came first, simply stating, "This one knows only that this tiger belongs to me."
Huo Chengjin's gaze shifted between Qin Zhao and Qi Yan Su Luo. He heaved a long sigh,
"Your Highness, I wanted to exchange it for the Night Glowing Pearl and present it to you.
A treasure for a beauty, this is my wish, please grant it!"
Such words would surely move any woman's heart, Huo Chengjin was confident of this!
But things did not go as he expected.
Qin Zhao looked at him coldly, "Funny how things happen, this one also wants the Night Glowing Pearl to give to my beloved."
Huo Chengjin nearly tumbled from his horse. This was the first time Qin Zhao had openly admitted her interest in women before him.
His face turned extremely ugly as he angrily retorted, "Your Highness is truly corrupt and decadent!
How can a woman love another woman?
This defies the natural order of yin and yang and will incur heaven's wrath!"
Realizing his audacity in blatantly criticizing the princess, practically a death sentence elsewhere, he quickly added, "I spoke rashly in anger, uttered disrespectful words, please forgive me Princess.
But I absolutely cannot agree to this. Your Highness is destined to be my wife and should uphold proper virtues!"
Qin Zhao paid no mind to such male chauvinism. She simply replied,
"You spout nothing but rubbish.
This one does as she pleases, no need for your input.
Let me tell you, my dream is to build a home for all women!
You may fancy yourself my future son-in-law, but I warn you, my bed can fit a hundred and eighty women yet has no room for you."
The veins in Huo Chengjin's neck bulged in anger, his brows knitted tightly as if enraged to the extreme.
"Does humiliating me amuse you so, Your Highness?
If this is because I did not return your affections in the past,
I understand your dissatisfaction.
But please, that's enough!"
Qin Zhao: "..."
This man really had a way with words, twisting everything to suggest she was infatuated with him.
No matter what she said, he interpreted it as love for himself.
Qin Zhao rolled her eyes, not bothering to respond further.
Raising her bow, she took aim at the tiger!
Huo Chengjin immediately shot an arrow to block hers,
knocking Qin Zhao's arrow down.
Somewhat smugly, Huo Chengjin said, "Your skill is great, Your Highness, but mine is no less."
Qin Zhao fitted another arrow, asking, "Are you determined to compete with me no matter what?"
