The blade slipped into the tiger's neck, blood spurting out.
Startled, it twisted its head, trying to bite Song Jinzhao's hand with its teeth, its steel-whip-like tail lashing her back.
Song Jinzhao swiftly rolled away, her back slamming heavily against a tree trunk. She scrambled up and shot an arrow at the tiger's eye.
On the other side, facing the overwhelming strength of the brown bear, thirteen people surrounded it, smashing with hoes and hacking with axes.
The brown bear opened its maw full of sharp teeth and swatted Oldest Song on the shoulder with its paw. A clear sound of bone dislocation rang out.
Song Shuisheng, quick-eyed and swift-handed, shoved the man away, and the two stumbled and rolled into the bushes.
Song Lahuang and Song Dazhuang hurriedly struck at the bear's eyes with their hoes, while the others attacked from three directions, trying to drive it away.
With the tiger's violent movements, the blood from its neck flowed more and more profusely. Massive blood loss began to slow its actions.
Song Jinzhao seized the moment, grabbed the dagger, and thrust it forcefully into its belly.
The blade pierced its entrails, then rotated three hundred and sixty degrees clockwise, churning the tiger's stomach into a mess.
Looking up, she saw Song Lahuang fallen on the ground and the villagers retreating step by step.
She pulled out the dagger and rushed over swiftly, leaping onto the brown bear's back and delivering another stab.
Song Shuisheng, who had climbed out of a ditch, shouted to the crowd, "Hit its legs! Don't let it lift them!"
Song Jinzhao clung firmly to the bear's hide, repeatedly pulling out the dagger and stabbing it back in, each thrust deeper than the last.
Nineteen-year-old Song Fengshou, seeing the bear's mouth blocked by a hoe, his eyes lit up. He decisively charged forward and swung his axe at its head.
The bear sensed the danger and immediately twisted its head to dodge.
Song Jinzhao flew down from its back, kicking it squarely on the back of the head.
The bear's head lurched forward, crashing directly onto Song Fengshou's axe. Foul-smelling bear blood drenched his face.
The bear, with its last breath, raised its front paw and swatted with all its might at Song Fengshou's head.
"What are you standing there dazed for?!"
Song Jinzhao grabbed his arm and threw him three meters away, then seized the bear's head with both hands and gave it a powerful twist.
"CRACK—" A crisp sound, like dry wood snapping suddenly. The joint dislocated.
The bear's head fell to the ground at an impossible angle.
Everyone stood frozen in place. Was it dead?
After a long while, seeing both the tiger and the brown bear lying motionless on the ground, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground to rest.
Song Jinzhao looked up. "Come down."
Tudan, his limbs weak, climbed shakily down the tree trunk. Nearing the ground, probably still terrified, his foot slipped and he fell straight down.
Song Jinzhao flew over and caught him. Seeing his pale face and trembling body, she didn't let go.
"Pick up the carcasses. We're going down the mountain immediately."
Seeing her serious expression, Song Dazhuang immediately scrambled up from the ground and called the villagers to lift the bear and tiger.
Song Jinzhao followed behind, carrying Tudan, her eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
With both a bear and a tiger having appeared, they feared encountering other wild beasts.
The dry leaves rustled, mirroring the group's urgent mood to descend the mountain.
This trip had been too perilous.
"They're coming down!" Old Man Song Gui shouted, pointing ahead.
Seven or eight older villagers immediately gathered around; most were the fathers of those who had gone up the mountain.
"Tudan~" A cry of despair tore through the air as Tudan's Mother rushed up to Song Jinzhao.
"Mother!" Tudan cried, throwing himself into his mother's embrace.
Old Man Song, noticing Song Jinzhao's torn clothes, asked with a layer of worry coloring his face, "Are you hurt?"
Song Jinzhao shook her head: "The tiger's claw tore the clothes, but didn't reach the flesh."
Oldest Song, clutching his shoulder, limped out from behind. "Father, I'm the one who's hurt."
From that swipe by the bear, he felt his shoulder was shattered. Busy with the descent, he hadn't dared to cry out in pain.
Song Jinzhao walked over and pressed his shoulder. "Does it hurt?"
Oldest Song nodded.
"How about this?"
"Not as bad as before."
Song Jinzhao gripped his arm. "The joint is displaced."
Oldest Song was just about to ask how serious it was when a sudden sharp pain shot through his shoulder. "Ah! My arm's going to break!"
Song Jinzhao released his arm. "Stop yelling. Does it still hurt?"
That sudden move had brought tears to Oldest Song's eyes.
He cautiously moved his shoulder, his wrinkled brow smoothing out. "It doesn't hurt," he said incredulously.
Song Jinzhao instructed, "Don't do any heavy work these next few days. Rest well at home."
Old Man Song looked perplexed. "Where did you learn all this?"
"Scar Uncle taught me. I also read medical books."
Village Chief Song Mancang stared at the bear and tiger being carried down, his emotions churning violently. He hadn't expected there to be a tiger as well.
"Did you kill them?"
Song Dazhuang shook his head: "Song Jinzhao killed the tiger. We all killed the bear together. Song Jinzhao and Song Fengshou made the biggest contributions."
On the way back, Old Man Song glanced subtly at Tudan, who was being carried, and lowered his voice to speak quietly to Song Jinzhao. "Not long after you left, Shigen breathed his last."
Before dying, Song Shigen's greatest concern had been Tudan. He died with his eyes open, unable to rest in peace.
Now the child was saved, but unfortunately, father and son didn't get to see each other one last time.
When Tudan's Mother carried Tudan home, the wailing in the courtyard instantly grew louder. Ninth Great-aunt held the child, weeping uncontrollably.
Since learning of her son's accident, she had already fainted from crying three times.
Seeing Song Jinzhao stop at the doorway without entering, Song Mancang stepped forward and asked, "Why aren't you going in? You saved Tudan's life. You're their family's benefactor."
Song Jinzhao turned and shook her head. "Benefactor or not, Uncle Shigen just passed away. It's better I don't go in."
Song Lahuang paced back and forth on the path. Seeing Song Jinzhao come down, he immediately stepped forward. "The meat won't stay fresh for long. Should we head to the city right away to sell them?"
Song Jinzhao's gaze swept over the thirteen who had gone up the mountain. Several were injured.
Noticing the anticipation in their eyes, she nodded in agreement.
Song Mancang selected seven uninjured men to go into the city with Song Jinzhao.
A familiar soldier stared at the bear and tiger on the cart, handed his weapon to a comrade, and turned to run into the city.
Manager Li circled the cart, his eyes practically bulging out.
Song Jinzhao urged, "So many people are waiting. Better hurry up and weigh them to settle the price."
Manager Li took a breath to calm himself, his wave of the hand full of bravado. "This tiger, one hundred taels of silver. The brown bear, eighty taels."
"I offer one hundred and ninety taels." Ma Baichuan squeezed out of the crowd, running.
His eyes quickly found Song Jinzhao. He ran up to her, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Miss Song, my surname is Ma, given name Baichuan. I am the manager of Tingyun Lodge. I am willing to pay one hundred and ninety taels."
Manager Li's face flushed a purplish-red. He pushed Ma Baichuan aside. "What business is it of yours? Miss Song has already decided to sell the bear and tiger to me."
Ma Baichuan crossed his arms, refusing to yield an inch. "I didn't hear Miss Song say that. Fine goods naturally go to the highest bidder."
"I've long heard of Miss Song's remarkable martial skills. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation."
Manager Li's face darkened. He should have had the cart pulled into the backyard first and closed the gates; then the other couldn't have gotten in.
He raised a finger at Song Jinzhao. "One hundred and ninety taels. I also offer one hundred and ninety taels."
He was familiar with Song Jinzhao. At the same price, she would surely sell to him.
Song Dazhuang and the others standing behind clenched their fists nervously. They were about to strike it rich.
Ma Baichuan glared at Manager Li. "The county magistrate has reserved a private room at the Tingyun Pavilion. Consider it doing me a favor and let me have these items."
Manager Li shook his head. "My master has had his eye on this tiger skin for several years now. I cannot yield it."
Seeing the two of them locked in a stalemate, Song Jinzhao crossed his arms and spoke up. "This item today does not belong to me alone. I'll sell it to whoever offers the highest price."
