Chapter 23: Killing Intent

"Roar!"

The roar of the tiger was more shocking and terrifying than the thunder in the sky.

In Erhe Village, every household had their doors tightly shut, barred with wooden sticks, or piled with cabinets, stones, and water jars, hoping to keep the tiger out.

No one could sleep at this time, not even the most carefree person.

Everyone’s hearts were heavy.

At Carpenter Xu’s house.

The couple, with their children and four elders, each holding a kitchen knife, hoe, or shovel in their hands, sat trembling on benches.

The child, infected by the heavy atmosphere, opened his mouth to cry, but Carpenter Xu’s wife covered his mouth tightly, fearing he would attract the tiger.

At the Gao Family.

The usually eloquent and witty Mrs. Gao seemed soulless, sitting on the bed, muttering something to herself.

Her husband, upon a closer look, found a large wet patch on the bedspread.

At the Gu Family.

Madam Gu, Gu Yong, and others huddled closely together, as if this could reduce their fear.

The big yellow dog they raised was also lying motionless beside them, its mouth shut tight, having lost its usual liveliness.

At the Lou Family.

Lou Yi held Dogwa’s small sweaty hand, comforting him, "Don’t be afraid, your Uncle Lou is here."

"But my mother..." Tears welled up in Dogwa’s eyes, but he held them back, not daring to make a sound.

"Your mother is in Daihe Village. The tiger won’t go there."

Lou Yi’s tone was light, yet his heart was uneasy.

His right hand gripped an axe tightly, and his left hand clutched a slingshot, with a fist-sized rock already loaded.

This tiger, from the information received, couldn’t be considered the same as the tigers from his previous life.

Whether he could deal with it, Lou Yi wasn’t sure at all.

At the neighboring Qi Family.

Ten people, young and old, sat in the main hall.

Seeing Qi Da Lang’s eyes constantly glancing outside, Butcher Qi couldn’t help but scold, "What are you looking at? As long as this tiger isn’t stupid, it won’t come here seeing our house so high!"

"Yes, father is right." Qi Da Lang gulped, speaking dryly.

The main hall was silent, only to hear Qi Silang mumbling softly, "If only the tiger could kill the barbarians next door."

Qi Da Lang nodded, "Exactly, that guy is too arrogant. Who knows when Er Lang will return? Are we really going to tear down the wall in front of their house?"

"Shut your damn mouth!" Butcher Qi’s face turned livid, "I’ve never suffered such indignation in my life! Little brat, I’ll kill him sooner or later!"

"My mother died long ago." Qi Da Lang couldn’t help muttering.

"What did you say, you little..." Butcher Qi was so angry he raised the cane in his hand.

"Father, it’s not hopeless now." Qi Da Lang’s fat wife, with a hint of malice in her eyes, suggested, "Pour a basin of blood on their door, that’ll surely attract the tiger. The kitchen has pig’s blood from today..."

"Hmm?" Butcher Qi’s eyes lit up, his gaze involuntarily shifting to Qi Da Lang.

"Father, I don’t dare go out..." Qi Da Lang, frightened, waved his hands repeatedly.

"Useless, do you have to go out?" Butcher Qi said disdainfully.

He stood up, personally found a ladder, and set it up against the wall near Lou Yi’s house.

A servant, carrying a bucket full of blood, climbed up.

’Splash!’

Lou Yi and Dogwa sat inside the house, suddenly hearing a liquid being splashed on their door, causing the door to thud twice.

Immediately, a strong smell of blood permeated through the door crack.

"What?... No!"

Lou Yi sprang to his feet, just as the tiger’s roar came from outside.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The roars grew louder, indicating the ferocious tiger was drawing closer!

"Damn it!" Running was already too late. Lou Yi quickly stuffed Dogwa under the bed, blocking it with a water jar.

Then, he rapidly spun the slingshot, ready to hurl it as soon as the tiger broke through the door!

With his current strength, if he could throw a stone with all his might using the slingshot, he might give the tiger a surprise, thus creating a chance for survival.

"Roar!"

This time, the ferocious tiger’s voice was less than ten meters from his house.

Lou Yi’s whole body tensed, his heart pounding, his slingshot at the ready.

Could he win?

If he died, would he be reincarnated once more?

At this life-and-death moment, Lou Yi couldn’t help his mind from wandering.

"Ah!"

Just as he was preparing to fight desperately, he heard a scream.

The scream quickly stopped abruptly.

What followed was the even more horrifying sound of chewing and growling.

No one knew how much time had passed.

When Lou Yi felt his arm start to ache, the ferocious tiger roared once more, yet it made him breathe a sigh of relief.

The sound grew fainter, indicating the tiger was moving away.

It was full!

Lou Yi put down the slingshot, touched his chest, and found his clothes drenched in sweat.

He moved the water jar away from the bedside, and Dogwa quickly crawled out.

"Uncle Lou, has the tiger gone?"

"Yes."

"Who threw that stuff just now?"

"I also want to know."

Lou Yi felt his throat dry, picked up a bowl and scooped water directly from the water jar, drinking it down in one gulp.

His gaze was sharp, and murderous intent surged in his heart.

Who threw the blood, does it even need asking?

That family next door not only wanted his house but also his life!

Lou Yi opened his door, held a water jar, and poured water ’splish splash’ on the door, trying to wash the blood away as much as possible.

Since his hearing improved with the slingshot skill, he even heard a resentful female voice saying, "Even this didn’t kill him... he’s really lucky..."

"Yeah, I’m not dead, so you guys must die." Lou Yi murmured.

There was an overwhelming urge to kill that entire family next door.

But reason told him that doing so would only make him a fugitive, not worth the trade.

He couldn’t fight the laws of the court alone.

Moreover, the second son of the family next door had an official position.

If he acted, it had to be clean, leaving no chance of being caught.

And it had to be done quickly.

Today was lucky, but what about tomorrow and the day after? There’s no such thing as guarding against thieves for a thousand days.

Lou Yi had made up his mind.

He looked at the attribute panel, the energy had already accumulated to nine points, only lacking the final point to carry out his plan.

And that point, too, was within reach.

Lou Yi walked out, approaching the spot where the ferocious tiger last appeared.

Under the cold moonlight.

The area where the tiger wrought havoc was now blood-red.

Severed hands, broken bones, chunks of flesh, intestines, and... a familiar head with eyes wide open in death.

Messy hair, face a mixture of red and black, eyes bulging, mouth slightly open, filled with terror.

It was Zhou Erfan...

This fool had become his scapegoat.

If not for him wandering around outside tonight, Lou Yi would have inevitably faced the tiger, and the outcome would have been uncertain.

Lou Yi sighed, went home to find a wooden basket, placed Zhou Erfan’s head in it, covered it with a black cloth, intending to bury him the next day.

Back home.

Once Dogwa fell asleep, Lou Yi quietly got off the bed and sat on the ground.

Looking at the attribute panel, which had accumulated ten energy points, he silently chanted: Upgrade for me!

In the skills column, Lou’s Axe Skill’s status instantly changed from entry-level to proficient:

[Name: Lou Yi]

[Age: 19/55]

[Realm: None]

[Skills: Lou’s Axe Skill (Proficient 0/30), Stone Throwing (Proficient 0/10)]

[Energy: 0]

Large unfamiliar memories surged into the depths of his mind.

...