Chapter 71: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Yin's whole body was drawn tight like a bow; everyone stood up, looking toward the woman slowly walking down at the edge of the pit.

Even Xiao Wei had a hint of amusement in his eyes; the surrounding archers had drawn their bows full, the poisoned arrowheads flashing a blue-green gleam, aimed at Xiao Yin and his companions.

At the slightest movement, Xiao Yin would definitely not walk out of here alive today.

The Crown Prince Xiao Ting strode a few steps, planted himself at the edge of the pit, his expression unreadable.

Gu Jiu Ling had no time to look this way; at this moment she hid a glass bottle in her wide sleeve, containing some milky-white liquid.

Only in her panic did she recall that their laboratory had once researched pheromones and such.

Some ancient, mysterious beastmasters, when controlling snakes, ferocious beasts, or even plants, would release certain pheromones.

Her teacher had seen related reports and conducted a dedicated study on the topic, but she herself had not participated; her senior fellow student had.

But she knew where the extracted pheromone was stored; she hadn't expected that, even though it wasn't part of her research, she could also obtain it through spatial means.

This both startled and delighted Gu Jiu Ling—if that were the case, she could retrieve anything from the entire research institute, giving her confidence.

She clenched the medicine bottle tightly; the cold glass bit into her hand, causing a slight pain.

As soon as she stepped down the ladder, with a clatter the beast-handlers yanked the ladder up from the pit's edge, fearing their prey below would escape.

Worse than beasts!

Gu Jiu Ling cursed, "Mother!"

Standing at the pit's edge looking down feels different from standing at the bottom and looking directly at the two ferocious beasts.

The bloody scent grew stronger; the two beasts were feeding, the crack of breaking bones reaching Gu Jiu Ling's ears, making her heart tremble slightly.

She moved before the pitiful crowd; the slaves from Fu Feng were stunned, incredulously gazing at the splendidly dressed noblewoman before them.

They never expected that the one who came down to rescue them would be a woman; even the infant sensed something and stopped crying.

"Madam! Madam, please stand behind us!" the two Fu Feng elders sighed heavily, instinctively wanting to shield Gu Jiu Ling behind them.

Gu Jiu Ling felt a warm surge in her heart; indeed she had not rescued the wrong people—even at this life‑or‑death juncture, facing such a bloody scene they still upheld righteousness.

She smiled at the two elders: "You two help me draw the beasts' attention for a moment; the rest I'll handle."

The two elders were taken aback; they didn't know how this seemingly frail woman could deal with two ferocious beasts, but since she had come down to rescue them, perhaps she really had some skill.

They glanced at the pitiful women and children behind them, then nodded at Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling gestured toward the east, indicating they should lure the leading white tiger away; she would focus on the remaining one.

The two beasts also sensed another bite-sized morsel descending; they slowly lifted their heads and roared in Gu Jiu Ling's direction.

With a howl that shook the hills, the Southern Qi nobles watching from the sidelines exclaimed in alarm, staggering back; some of the timid dared not look any further.

After all, the Princess Consort of Rui is pregnant; if she were to be eaten in public, that would be too horrific.

Suddenly a wine jug hurled at the snarling white tiger's head; the beast winced, stumbling back several steps, then lifted its head and roared at Xiao Yin on the pit's edge.

Xiao Wei instantly gave a cold smile: "Imperial Uncle, are you trying to rescue this band of rebels?"

Xiao Yin's eyes turned icy cold; his strength was considerable—such a small wine jug actually knocked the tiger back quite a bit; if thrown at a person, it could cave in their skull.

He glanced coolly at Xiao Wei: "Old Third, you're overstating it—rebels and traitors aren't worth saving—but your aunt is down there; I worry she might disturb her fetal qi."

Xiao Wei chuckled: "Since Aunt wants to compete, let's make it fair, Imperial Uncle—what do you say?"

Xiao Yin's fingers gripped the sword at his waist, he stared fixedly at Xiao Wei, then after a long while said: "Quite reasonable!"

Just as Xiao Yin struck with that blow, Gu Jiu Ling growled low: "Draw it away!"

The two elders hurriedly sprinted toward the eastern spot; the white tiger, just pained by Xiao Yin's strike and already in a foul mood, seeing people running back and forth before it, immediately charged after the two Fu Feng elders.

In the flash of an instant, the other beast also lunged toward Gu Jiu Ling.

Before anyone could react, it had already pounced onto Gu Jiu Ling; those watching from above the pit cried out in alarm.

Xiao Yin's eyes narrowed sharply; he grabbed his sword to jump down, but suddenly Gu Jiu Ling raised the bottle in her hand and hurled it at the beast's body.

Then two more bottles smashed directly into the stone wall beside the beast.

Pop! Pop!

In quick succession, the bottles shattered, releasing a pungent odor that assailed the nostrils, tinged with a faint fishy smell.

"Get out of the way!!" Gu Jiu Ling shouted, stumbling backward; Xiao Yin barely managed to spin in mid‑air, tap his foot against the wall, and land on the pit's edge.

His gaze grew even colder.

Those behind hurriedly retreated, putting distance between themselves and the smell.

The two Fu Feng elders were nearly exhausted, collapsed on the ground; seeing the white tiger about to pounce and tear them apart, suddenly the white tiger, as if possessed, whipped around and charged at the gold‑furred, black‑striped tiger behind it.

The white tiger, as if provoked, lifted its head and sank its teeth into the gold tiger's neck.

The sudden change left everyone—nobles watching above and slaves below—stunned, mouths agape.

Gu Jiu Ling fixed her stare on the two beasts locked in combat; she had observed earlier that the white tiger, though smaller than the gold tiger, was clearly a fierce fighter.

This white and gold pair went mad, tearing at each other, leaping and stumbling, making the beast pit feel as if it might collapse.

Not long after, both tigers were on their last breath; ultimately the gold tiger was bitten to death, its throat ripped apart.

The white tiger's eyes turned red; the intense pheromone stimulated it, and it suddenly went berserk, lunging at Gu Jiu Ling.

No one expected the white tiger, its entrails spilling out, to still struggle madly and bite people—not aiming at the two nearest elders, but at Gu Jiu Ling; it seemed to have become a spirit, knowing who had harmed it.

Grudges of this life, repayments of this life!

Gu Jiu Ling was also dazed; it was clear the white tiger's belly had been split open by the gold tiger, making any movement impossible, yet it still gritted its teeth and lunged forward.

Damn! It must be a female tiger!

She gasped, wanting to retreat, but her back was against a cold wall; she saw the tiger's blood‑stained claw swing toward her face.

Reek of blood! Gusts of fierce wind, the tiger's roar, blowing straight at her face!