The rumor spread slowly at first, whispered among farmers and passed on by merchants traveling between villages. Li Wei had heard the tale while walking through the village one afternoon, his mind focused on the task at hand: gathering herbs for his family. An old tiger, once a dominant predator in the region, had recently been spotted skulking near the outskirts of several villages. It had been defeated in battle by a younger, stronger rival and was now hunting easy prey—cattle and, if the rumors were to be believed, even humans.
Tigers were not unknown in these parts, but they rarely came so close to civilization unless driven by desperation. The villagers spoke of the tiger with a mixture of fear and awe, their imaginations exaggerating its size and power. Some even claimed that the beast had supernatural abilities, that it could swallow a man's soul or tower over houses, its roar shaking the earth. Li Wei, pragmatic as ever, ignored the more fantastical elements of the tale but understood one thing clearly: a tiger that was weakened and hunting near the village was a threat.
The matter wasn't one he could ignore, especially given his family's responsibility to protect the village. But Li Wei didn't act on rumor alone. He needed to confirm whether the tiger was indeed in the area. He approached the village hunter, a man named Old Chen, who had lived his entire life tracking animals in the nearby jungles.
"I've heard the talk about a tiger," Li Wei said calmly, as they stood at the edge of the village near Old Chen's home. "Do you think it's true?"
Old Chen was cautious by nature and respectful of the dangers of the jungle. "Aye, I've seen the signs," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Broken branches, fresh tracks, and cattle killed near the water's edge. It's not the work of wolves or bandits. The wounds are too clean, too deep. It's a tiger, alright. And from what I've heard, it's blind in its left eye, scarred from a fight with another tiger."
Li Wei nodded, trusting Old Chen's expertise. "We'll have to deal with it before it gets bolder. Tigers that can't hunt their usual prey often turn to humans."
With that confirmation, Li Wei made his way to the training grounds where Zhao Jun was sparring with another warrior. The clashing sounds of wooden swords echoed through the air as Li Wei approached. He waited patiently until Zhao Jun finished the match, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Good timing," Zhao Jun said with a grin, always eager for a challenge. "Ready to spar?"
Li Wei shook his head. "Something else has come up. There's a tiger near the village. Old Chen says it's been attacking cattle, and if we don't handle it soon, it could start hunting people."
Zhao Jun's expression shifted, his usual easygoing demeanor giving way to seriousness. "A tiger? Here?"
Li Wei nodded. "It's wounded, likely lost a fight with another tiger. But that makes it more dangerous. I need the bones, and I remember you mentioned needing tendons for your father's project."
Zhao Jun grinned again, though this time with a sense of purpose. "Sounds like a hunt."
Li Wei remained calm, practical as always. "It's more than that. A weakened tiger is still powerful. We'll need to plan carefully."
Zhao Jun, never one to shy away from a challenge, agreed. "Let's talk to our families. This isn't something we should do alone."
As they walked, Li Wei couldn't help but reflect on how different his life was from the cliché main character in many web novels. Born into wealth, he had all the advantages—except the one thing that every protagonist seemed to have: a powerful "golden finger" that magically made everything easier. "Why can't I have a mystical artifact or a spirit guide?" he thought, rolling his eyes. "Instead, I get to deal with a wounded tiger. Thanks, universe!"
Later that evening, Li Wei sat with his father and the family butler, discussing the situation. "Old Chen confirmed the tiger's presence," Li Wei said. "Zhao Jun and I can handle the hunt, but we'll need help. Tigers aren't easy to kill, especially one that's been forced to hunt humans and cattle."
His father listened carefully, his face calm but thoughtful. "A tiger's no small matter. Even injured, it could kill a man in seconds. You'll take the butler with you. He's experienced in these matters."
Li Wei nodded, already expecting the answer. His father rarely showed concern openly, but Li Wei knew that this was as much a duty to the village as it was a test of his abilities. His father's trust in him was implicit, but the tiger was no ordinary challenge. "I'll also talk to the mayor. Zhao Jun's bodyguard can come with us for extra protection."
The next day, Li Wei and Zhao Jun met with the mayor, who agreed to lend his bodyguard for the hunt. "You'll need all the help you can get," the mayor said, his tone serious. "Tigers that are wounded are often the most dangerous."
With the team assembled—Li Wei, Zhao Jun, the Li family's butler, the mayor's bodyguard, and Old Chen, the local hunter—they made their final preparations. The jungle was thick and unforgiving, but they had a clear goal: trap and kill the tiger before it could cause any more harm.
As they packed their gear—bows, arrows, ropes for traps, and provisions—Li Wei felt no excitement, only the weight of responsibility. This was not a hunt for glory but a necessary task to protect the village and fulfill his personal needs. Zhao Jun, equally focused, exchanged a glance with Li Wei.
"Ready?" Zhao Jun asked.
Li Wei nodded. "Let's get this done."
The group left the village at dawn, the dense jungle waiting ahead. They moved silently, each step bringing them closer to their quarry, and to the dangerous task of facing a tiger that had nothing left to lose.
Li Wei wanted tiger bones because it was the main ingredient for his family's medicinal soup.