Chapter 504: Saying the Wrong Thing—What

Wang Ping'an hurriedly used the skill Beast Taming to soothe the white lion, lest the white lion become enraged under his grandfather's and grandmother's humiliation.

He knew his grandfather and grandmother hadn't meant it, yet he realized this white lion, unlike ordinary beasts, possessed a spirit and could faintly understand his grandparents' words.

"Aunt, you also grew up in Shizi Ling; haven't you heard that the lions of Shizi Ling are more spiritual than beasts elsewhere?"

Zhang Chengyong forced a wry smile, furtively glanced at the white lion, saw only dissatisfaction in its eyes but no raging fire, and felt a sudden shock.

This white lion was probably smarter than he guessed, perhaps truly understood his aunt and uncle's words; after careful observation, seeing it hadn't erupted in irrecoverable anger, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zhang Chengyong, this isn't your aunt's fault; it's my mistake, I shouldn't have mentioned giving the white lion to you!"

Wang Lin recovered, his face full of apology; although he wasn't a citizen of Shizi Ling, near Hutou Gou there are great mountains and hunters, and many stories about beasts circulate, many of which are intelligent.

Thinking of this, Wang Lin subconsciously looked up, glanced at the nearby white lion, saw anthropomorphic dissatisfaction in its eyes, was startled and filled with apology, saying:

"White lion, don't test me; I can't pull ivory from a dog's mouth. My earlier words were nonsense; don't take them to heart!"

"Uncle, you, you, you—are you apologizing to it?"

Zhang Chengyong's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, his voice trembling as he exclaimed in shock.

He hadn't never seen apologies; in the county's martial arts hall, he often saw senior brothers fighting and also apologizing.

But apologizing to a beast like his uncle was something he saw for the first time.

Even if his uncle was at fault, one still shouldn't apologize to a beast.

And moreover.

Whether this white lion can understand his uncle's apology remains a question.

"Zhang Chengyong, I used to think apologizing was something embarrassing to say, but over the years I've realized that when one errs, apologizing is natural; there's no such thing as feeling embarrassed about it!"

Wang Lin smiled, seeing Zhang Chengyong's incredulous face and not caring; from the corner of his eye he saw the white lion's dissatisfied gaze gradually fade, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief, saying:

"The words just now were my fault; I said things I shouldn't have. Apologizing to the white lion is also appropriate!"

"Uncle, when one errs, an apology is due, but the question is whether it can understand your apology."

Zhang Chengyong instinctively spoke; as soon as he finished, his gaze turned to the white lion, and he saw its dissatisfied look replaced by arrogance, as if it not only understood his uncle's apology but also accepted it, and he exclaimed in shock:

"It... can understand an apology?"

"Zhang Chengyong, you just said earlier—now you're like this—did you forget what you just said? The lions of Shizi Ling are more spiritual than beasts elsewhere; its understanding your uncle's apology—what does that matter?"

Zhang Guihua snorted coldly; although she said that, one could still see shock in the depths of her eyes. She grew up in Zhang Family Village, having heard most about Shizi Ling, including the local specialty—lions. Among the villagers of Zhang Family Village, their Shizi Ling lions are said to be the most spiritual, yet a lion that clearly understands human speech...

It can't be said there are none, but they are exceedingly rare.

However.

Thinking of how Ping'an had previously attracted a divine cat and a divine hawk, it's not absurd that his family could now attract a white lion that understands human speech.

White lions are rare; after all, having lived in Zhang Family Village for so long, she had never heard of villagers seeing a white lion. The white lion appearing before her, seeking refuge with Ping'an, was clearly an outlier, and some oddities were to be expected.

Zhang Chengyong opened his mouth, intending to speak his shock, but a sidelong glance at his aunt's family's nonchalance made the words choke down; he pressed on, watching enviously as Liu Dongzhu cradled Wang Ping'an atop the white lion, while staying beside his aunt and uncle, and asked:

"Aunt, what exactly was the story about the divine hawk and divine cat you just mentioned?"

"Zhang Chengyong, you wouldn't know that, would you? Let me tell you..."

Zhang Guihua giggled, as if boasting, and recounted the tale of their family's divine cat and divine hawk to Zhang Chengyong in full detail.

"Snort!","Snort!","Snort!"

After a long while, having heard Zhang Guihua's account of the divine cat and hawk attracted by Ping'an, Zhang Chengyong's envy deepened; just as he was about to ask how Ping'an kept repeatedly drawing such divine beasts, the sound of a long sword being drawn one after another made his words choke.

He looked up.

This novel you...

In front, a squad of armored warriors wielding long spears blocked the path.

"Who are they?"

Zhang Chengyong examined them closely but couldn't recognize who this group was; having lived in Qingyang County for many years and seen all sorts of people, he had no memory of such a squad. They were clearly not from Qingyang County, perhaps a party passing through from elsewhere.

Only.

They weren't bearing a courier bureau flag, so they didn't look like a bodyguard escort team!

"Uncle, if anything seems off, you should immediately ride this white lion with Aunt and flee back to Shizi Ling!"

Zhang Chengyong whispered a brief instruction, then briskly stepped forward, gazing at the elite squad ahead; his complexion turned extremely serious as he shouted loudly:

"I am a Qingyang County citizen; who are you, blocking our way, and what business do you have?"

"Qingyang County citizen?"

A cold voice sounded from the rear of the elite squad, followed by a pallid grim hawk man who stepped aside, opening a passage; a burly man followed him. After a glance at Zhang Chengyong, their gaze fell entirely on the white lion, their faces and eyes brimming with unmistakable greed.

Zhang Chengyong's heart leapt to his throat at the grim hawk man's greedy look; how could he not see it? He feigned confusion and said:

"Young master, you have blocked our path; may I ask what business you have?"

(End of chapter)