Song Jinzhao continued, "Genetic mutations often bring about physical defects. Generally, white tigers suffer from severe strabismus, have relatively weak constitutions, and may even exhibit symptoms like cleft lips, palates, or scoliosis. In severe cases, it can even affect their lifespan."
Song Shixue’s expression froze. She looked down at the tiger cub in her hands with sadness. "But it looks perfectly fine right now."
Song Jinzhao leaned over, lifting the cub’s head to examine it closely. "The mouth is normal. As for the rest, we’ll have to wait until it grows a bit more to find out."
Hearing Song Jinzhao say this, Song Qiming and Song Shixue felt their hearts sink.
How could this be? Its mother had just died, not a single sibling had survived, and now the cub itself might have health issues.
It was hard to imagine how it would have survived if Anhao had been born and found not only that its parents were dead, but that they weren't there either.
It would have had no choice but to wait for death.
Song Shixue hugged the little tiger tightly, her voice pleading. "Sister, can we take it back with us? If we leave it here, it will surely die soon."
Song Qiming added, "The weather is so cold; it will definitely freeze to death quickly. Let’s take it back, Sister."
Song Jinzhao leaned down to pick up Song Anhao, who had walked over with eyes full of curiosity. She gazed seriously at the two siblings.
"If we find out later that it’s cross-eyed, that its body is crooked and unattractive, or that it has other disabilities, it would be better not to raise it at all than to abandon it then. Consider this carefully. If you want to raise it, you must take responsibility for it."
The two siblings exchanged a glance and then nodded vigorously in unison. "We’re sure. Even if it’s blind, we won’t let it go."
Seeing their serious attitude, Song Jinzhao’s eyes crinkled as she gave a gentle smile and a slight nod. "In that case, we’ll take it back and raise it."
Song Shixue beamed with joy. She began unbuttoning her coat, intending to tuck the tiger inside her cloak to keep it warm.
Song Jinzhao stopped her quickly, pointing at the tigress’s carcass. "There’s still milk. Let it have a few drinks before we head down the mountain."
While waiting for the cub to feed, Song Jinzhao cut down two trees to fashion a simple wooden stretcher, placing the bodies of the two adult tigers on top.
Half an hour later, the group made their way back up the cliff with difficulty. After retrieving the two wild boar carcasses, they finally descended the mountain.
In front of the Shiyouji Restaurant, Manager Li and Ma Baichuan stared at the two tigers with glowing eyes.
Ma Baichuan pointed at Manager Li and said firmly, "One for each of us. We’ll split them."
Manager Li suppressed his internal reluctance and gritted his teeth in agreement. "Fine. I want the female."
The tigress was significantly larger than the male, and its pelt was worth more.
Ma Baichuan replied, "Deal. I’ll take the male."
While the pelt was valuable, the tiger penis was not cheap either.
Song Jinzhao watched the two of them divvy up the spoils with an expressionless face. "I’m not finished yet. The pelt of the tigress is not for sale."
The little cub had already smelled its mother’s scent; she had to leave something for it to remember her by.
"Ah? Then I want the male," Manager Li immediately recanted.
Ma Baichuan pointed at his nose, annoyed. "I let you pick first. Now that you’ve picked, how can you go back on your word? The male is mine."
Manager Li argued, "I didn't know the pelt wasn't for sale. What I said just now doesn't count."
Ma Baichuan pursed his lips in frustration. "You bought the last tiger Song Jinzhao caught. This time, I have to get a pelt no matter what."
Looking at the two men arguing incessantly, Song Jinzhao said helplessly, "I’ll sell the two wild boars along with the tigress to whoever buys her. Next time, that person can have the first pick of the prey."
The scene instantly fell silent as neither man wanted to be the first to make a move.
Feeling a movement against her chest, Song Shixue pulled back her cloak to check on the white tiger cub. "Sister, it’s hungry again."
The tigress’s body had already frozen stiff; there was certainly no more milk.
Song Jinzhao said, "We’ll buy some goat milk for it in a moment."
The sharp-eyed Ma Baichuan walked over to Song Shixue. Once he saw the cub clearly, his pupils dilated slightly.
He had never seen a white tiger before. He pointed at it to confirm, "Was it born from that tigress?"
Song Shixue nodded. "Yes. There was another one, but unfortunately, it died before it could be born."
Ma Baichuan suggested, "Sell it to me. A white tiger is rare, and since it’s still a cub, someone will definitely want it."
Song Shixue pulled her cloak shut and took a step back, saying warily, "No, this one isn't for sale. We’re going to raise it ourselves."
Sister had said it might have defects. If she sold it to someone else and they grew to dislike it, what if they killed it? She wouldn't feel at ease leaving it with anyone else.
Ma Baichuan sighed in disappointment. Why weren't there two? What a pity.
In the end, Manager Li bought the tigress and the two wild boars, while Ma Baichuan bought only the male tiger.
After finishing the transaction, the four of them went to buy goat milk. They left the tiger pelts with Manager Li to be processed, planning to collect them the day they departed.
As they passed by the old house, Old Man Song stared at the nanny goat they had brought back from the city. "Why did you buy another goat?"
"Is there not enough meat at home?"
The tiger cub was hidden inside Song Shixue’s cloak, so Old Man Song didn't notice it. He simply assumed they hadn't caught any prey today and had bought a goat from the city to roast.
Song Jinzhao used an excuse. "Shixue and the others wanted to drink goat milk, so we just bought one."
Old Man Song raised an eyebrow, unable to understand. "If you want to drink goat milk, just buy the milk. You’re leaving in a few days; what will happen to the goat?"
Song Shixue cradled her chest with both hands and hurried forward. "We’ll take it with us when we leave. That way, we can have something warm to drink on the road."
Watching the three of them leave in such a hurry, Old Man Song looked puzzled.
Buying a whole goat just to have a warm drink seemed a bit excessive.
Back at the house, Song Shixue made a nest for the white tiger cub out of wolf skin. Looking at the tiny ball of fur and thinking about its future, she felt a pang of sadness.
Song Anhao squatted nearby, pointing at the little tiger lying in the middle of the wolf skin and questioning Song Shixue in his childish voice, clearly jealous.
"Second Sister, who do you like more, me or it?"
Song Shixue’s mind went blank for a moment. Once she realized what was happening, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she picked up Song Anhao and walked toward the heated brick bed.
"You, of course. Second Sister just thinks it’s as pitiful as you were when you were born. If it died, its mother would be so sad."
Song Anhao pouted and turned his head away stubbornly.
"I’m not pitiful. My cousins say I’m the luckiest kid; they’re all very jealous of me."
Song Shixue’s eyes felt slightly moist. She smiled, hugging Song Anhao tightly and resting her chin on top of his head.
"Your brothers and sisters will make sure you stay lucky forever."
Song Anhao grabbed Song Shixue’s collar half-knowingly and closed his eyes as sleepiness took over.
A black pigeon flew into a stilt house hidden deep within a valley. A hand wearing a black glove reached out from the window.
The man untied the secret message from the pigeon’s leg. After opening it, his expression changed, and he hurried downstairs.
"Sect Leader, the Third Hall Master has sent word. The bodies of the Fourth Hall Master and four others were discovered in Kaikang City. There were no survivors."
The atmosphere around the Sect Leader of the Suoming Gate turned heavy and cold. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the secret message. As his dark, sinister eyes snapped open, the paper in his hand fluttered down like snowflakes.
"Five people, and they couldn't even handle one woman. If word of this gets out, how can my Suoming Gate maintain its standing in the martial world?"
"Second Hall Master, I order you to take ten elites to Kaikang City to rendezvous with Rakshasa Ghost. Bring back Song Jinzhao’s head to fulfill your mission."
The man known as the Second Hall Master, holding an iron fan, cupped his hands and accepted the order. "Your subordinate obeys the Sect Leader’s command."
Song Gaoli was practicing his horse stance in his courtyard when his nose suddenly twitched. "Achoo!" He couldn't hold it back, and his lunch nearly sprayed out of his nostrils.
Song Dazhuang poked his head out from the doorway of the main hall. "Get inside this instant! Standing out in the freezing cold in the middle of winter—what will we do if you catch a chill?"
Song Gaoli readjusted his stance. "I'm fine, Dad. It was just a sneeze."
"Qiming practices martial arts at home every day and goes hunting in the mountains. I need to exercise too, otherwise next time I encounter..." He cut himself off abruptly.
Song Dazhuang pressed him, "Encounter what?"
Song Gaoli shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel like my constitution is a bit weak. I need to train."
Song Mancang said to Song Dazhuang, "I think more practice isn't a bad thing. Song Qiming is two years younger than Gaoli, yet he's almost as tall as him."
"The other day, I even saw those two siblings dragging a wild boar weighing several hundred pounds down the road. They've got more strength than you do."
Song Dazhuang clicked his tongue. "Dad, it’s not that I don't want him to practice, but it's so cold outside. He can do his horse stance inside just the same."
Song Gaoli lifted his chin and gazed into the distance. "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a person, it must first exercise his mind with suffering, toil his sinews and bones, and expose his body to hunger..."
"This bit of cold is nothing. If I do catch a chill, I can just go to Sister Jinzhao for treatment. After a few visits, I’ll probably be immune to it."
Song Dazhuang didn't understand the first part of the speech, but the second part made him think his son was mental. Who on earth looks forward to getting sick?
Inside the house, Dazhuang's wife, who was stitching shoe soles, let out a heavy sigh as she overheard the commotion.
Before the New Year, she had asked her son if he wanted to marry Song Jinzhao. She thought it was a sure thing, but Song Gaoli had rejected the idea immediately.
What did he mean by "treating her like an older sister" or "not being worthy of her"? They weren't born of the same parents, so why couldn't it work?
Hearing him call her "Sister Jinzhao" over and over again made her want to sigh in frustration.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the day before all the businesses were set to reopen, Song Jinzhao took Song Qiming into Xining City to purchase supplies for their journey the next day.
Song Gaoli, who was hitching a ride, sat outside with Song Qiming to drive the carriage.
"Qiming, I've been practicing for an hour every day just like you said. Look, have my arms gotten a bit more muscular?"
Song Qiming stared at his friend's arms, which were wrapped in five or six layers of clothing. He reached out to pinch the muscle on Gaoli's shoulder and said, half-laughing, "It feels like nothing but fat. Have you gained weight?"
Song Gaoli jerked his arm back and rubbed his belly, retorting awkwardly, "My family was worried I wasn't eating well at the academy, so they thought they’d fatten me up while I was home."
More than half of the bear and roe deer meat purchased from Song Qiming's house had ended up in his stomach. Combined with the chickens and ducks raised at home, he was almost sick of eating by the end of the New Year festivities.
Song Qiming continued, "If you follow my method and practice for another hour every day, all that fat will turn into muscle within two months. It’s just like when my sister first started training Shixue and me."
Song Gaoli leaned back against the outer wall of the carriage and wailed, "Then I'd have to get up two hours earlier every day!"
The academy had classes every day; it wasn't as relaxed as being at home.
A cool, crisp voice drifted out from behind him, giving Song Gaoli a start.
"Whining over just two hours? If you become an official in the future and get chased by villains, you won't even be able to run fast enough to save your life."
Song Gaoli’s back snapped straighter than a wooden board.
Song Qiming leaned close to Song Gaoli’s ear, covering his mouth as he whispered, "I have to practice for six hours a day now."
Song Gaoli shut his mouth, his heart sinking into despair.
He truly had no hope of catching up to Song Qiming in this lifetime. With an older sister like that constantly pushing from the side, there was no room for laziness.
After the carriage entered the city, they passed the shop Song Jinzhao had bought in Xining. Customers were bustling in and out, and business seemed quite good.
The interior furnishings were all new, showing that a lot of thought had gone into it.
Song Qiming asked curiously, "Sister, how many years is the lease for this shop?"
Song Jinzhao replied, "Five years. The rent stays the same for the first two years, and starting from the third year, it increases by five percent annually."
When she had left Xining City, Song Jinzhao had entrusted the shop entirely to a middleman agency. Although they took a five percent management fee from the rent every month, it saved her a lot of trouble.
Before her return, the agency had already sent someone to deliver this year's rent to her. They had even brought along the rent from the village fields on their way.
Sitting nearby, Song Gaoli listened to the siblings discuss their family assets and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
They had shops everywhere, and their land deeds probably formed a thick stack by now. If anyone was truly formidable, it was Song Qiming's sister.
They went to a shoe store and bought two pairs of leather boots. Over the past few days, the siblings had been practicing martial arts and hunting in the mountains every day, wearing through two pairs of soles already.
Just as the three of them stepped out of a general store, they saw a massive funeral procession occupying half the street.
A shop assistant who had come out to watch the excitement shook his head and sighed. "To lose one's life by falling down the stairs at a brothel... Provincial Graduate Wang was truly cursed with bad luck."
Song Jinzhao turned to the assistant to confirm, "Is that the same Provincial Graduate Wang from the Wang family private school whose son died last year?"
The assistant replied, "The very same. Ever since the young master of the Wang family was killed, this illustrious Provincial Graduate took several concubines, hoping to father another son. But not a single one of them got pregnant. Now that he's died in a brothel, his reputation is utterly ruined."
"Hurry, hurry! Don't let the people from Shiyou Restaurant beat us to it!"
Just as the funeral procession passed, Song Jinzhao saw Ma Baichuan sitting in a carriage, urgently prompting his servants to move faster.
The carriage whistled past, bringing a gust of cold wind that stung their faces.
Song Jinzhao watched the back of the carriage. "Where are they going in such a rush?"
The shop assistant craned his neck toward the north. "The docks are opening for business today. I expect a merchant ship has arrived."
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the canal docks. People were swarming everywhere, and the air was filled with shouting.
At a glance, the docks were packed with boats; there was hardly any room to step.
Song Qiming’s eyes widened. "It's only the fifth day of the new year, and there are already so many people."
The chants of the porters, the haggling of merchants, and the cries of street vendors intertwined. Compared to six months ago, the bustle at the Xining City canal docks had nearly doubled.
Song Jinzhao unconsciously rubbed her chin. Property prices in Xining City were bound to rise. Should she buy a few more houses in advance?
"Come on, let's go see what they have."
As they walked, Song Gaoli said, "If only the canal could reach Anyang City. Traveling by water would cut the journey time in half."
From the corner of his eye, Song Qiming saw a bamboo basket being carried off a boat by a porter. It contained high-quality charcoal transported from the south.
This kind of Chinese Tallow charcoal was smokeless and burned longer. It cost twice as much as northern charcoal and was only used by wealthy families.
"The riverbeds in Anyang aren't wide enough for large ships. There are hundreds of mountains between the two rivers. Unless one could move mountains and fill the seas, it’s impossible."
Song Gaoli sighed and shook his head. "Moving mountains and filling seas is the stuff of immortal arts in storybooks. Unless a god descends to earth, it would take thousands of years to do it with shovels, and it still might never happen."
Walking in front, a faint smile played on Song Jinzhao's lips. Thousands of years later, humanity really would be able to move mountains and fill seas.
It wasn't through immortal arts, but through the power of technology.
