Chapter 19: Imitating the Tiger
The red fox was overjoyed and applauded enthusiastically, dispelling the illusionary armor from the thralls and inviting Lu Li to join him in the palanquin.
With a gesture, Lu Li summoned the remaining shadow assassins and thralls back into the black smoke, which then merged into the masks revolving around him, emitting a faint, eerie glow.
A flicker of greed flashed in the red fox's eyes, but he smiled and said, "Young Master, please enter the palanquin. Come with me to meet our king. I assure you, the South Mountain Tiger Kingdom's palace is no less splendid than your human kingdoms."
"Then I must see it for myself," Lu Li replied, nodding. Truth be told, he was quite intrigued by the South Mountain Tiger Kingdom. Had the tiger really become a demon, managing to establish a kingdom in this small mountain? Though small, it seemed rather impressive.
The thralls carrying the palanquin moved swiftly, accompanied by others beating gongs and drums. The sounds were loud and lively but somehow dull and monotonous, making anyone who heard them feel sleepy.
The palanquin sped through the wilds and soon reached the depths of South Mountain. Here, a large open area had been cleared of trees to build a sizable village inhabited by thralls. A main road ran through the village, leading to a large, well-maintained cave at the back, above which were three large characters: "Tiger King Castle."
As the palanquin traveled down this main road, the thralls knelt and kowtowed. Though dead, they needed no sustenance, surviving solely on the power of the South Mountain Tiger, which was why they, though killed by the tiger, now served it loyally.
A massive tiger statue stood prominently in the village. Towering at seven or eight meters, it exuded a formidable presence. But looking at it, Lu Li found something odd. Not just this statue, but also the paper tigers and the two crippled tigers from before had seemed slightly off. They looked like tigers and carried their imposing air, but there was a subtle sense of awkwardness.
The palanquin stopped in front of Tiger King Castle. The red fox dismounted and said to Lu Li, "Young Master, I must first inform the king of your arrival and prepare a proper reception. Please wait here in the village for a moment."
With that, the red fox, flanked by thralls, entered the cave, leaving Lu Li in the palanquin. Curious about the strange village, Lu Li disembarked and began to wander, only to be blocked by several thralls now donning armor again. They stared at him with lifeless eyes. "The Chancellor instructed that the king will summon you shortly. It's best to wait in the palanquin."
"The Chancellor? You mean that red fox?" Lu Li found it amusing. Such a small village with a few hundred thralls, yet it was organized as a kingdom with officials like chancellors.
"How dare you insult the Chancellor!" one thrall exclaimed angrily, though with a deadpan face, making his fury appear hollow and comical.
"Who's being bold here? Your Chancellor said I'm a guest of the South Mountain Tiger Kingdom. As a guest, am I not allowed to take a stroll?" Lu Li retorted sharply, making the thrall hesitate.
The thrall, confused and unsure, eventually said, "Fine, you can walk around the village, but we'll follow you. Don't try to escape."
Lu Li walked through the village, observing the thralls who wandered aimlessly or prayed at the giant tiger statue. Despite being killed by the tiger, their survival was tied to its power, which had twisted their minds, making them revere the tiger as a god. The longer a thrall existed, the deeper this reverence grew.
The village was filled with tiger-related items: masks, paper cuttings, and puppets, all depicting tigers in a subtly strange way that made Lu Li feel uneasy.
The thralls avoided Lu Li, their gazes complex yet hidden behind their lifeless expressions, making them appear uniform regardless of age or gender.
At the giant tiger statue, Lu Li examined its detailed craftsmanship, from fur to whiskers and tail, all lifelike and imposing. But something was off. If the statue lacked its aura, reduced in size, and had its "king" character erased, it could easily be mistaken for a mutated cat.
"Could it be that the South Mountain Tiger can't even be properly depicted?" Lu Li wondered aloud. "Or is the tiger too proud to let anyone see its true form?"
At that moment, the statue glowed, and a figure emerged from the light.