Volume One, Chapter 20: Cat? No, It's a Tiger!

“Master, you must be hungry, right? I’ve prepared the meal and was just waiting for you to come back and eat.”

The young maid set the table with bowls and chopsticks, then walked over from the room. Seeing the bags on Li Chen’s body, her eyes lit up with joy.

She had overheard the entire conversation between Li Chen, Zhou Dahai, and the young men just now.

They had only been on the mountain for half a day, yet they already had such a haul?

And he even killed a large leopard?

Moreover, that morning, Master had shot and killed a wild boar with two arrows, earning the entire village’s unanimous praise...

Master, you’re truly incredible!

Just as she was thinking this, Li Chen suddenly handed her a small furry creature. “Here, for you.”

“What is this? A kitten?”

The young maid happily asked as she cradled the tiny being, still with its eyes closed.

“It’s a little tiger.” Li Chen replied.

“Wow, such an adorable little... what? A tiger? Oh my goodness!”

The young maid’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the little tiger cub!

Fortunately, Li Chen’s quick reflexes saved it, catching the cub and holding it safely in his arms, preventing the poor creature from being harmed.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Master...”

The young maid said sheepishly.

“It’s alright. It’s just a newborn tiger cub, its eyes haven’t even opened yet.

When it opens its eyes for the first time, whoever it sees will be its parent!”

Li Chen gently stroked the still-thin fur of the little tiger as he spoke.

“Really?”

The young maid, half believing, cautiously extended a delicate finger to softly poke the cub’s soft belly.

The little tiger seemed ticklish and wriggled, letting out a small cry.

“That sound... why does it sound like a duck?” The young maid couldn’t help but smile.

Not fierce at all.

“When they’re young, that’s how they sound. When they grow up and roar, it’s terrifying.”

Li Chen chuckled.

Then, as he unloaded his weapons, he recounted the day’s events to the young maid.

“Oh my, so its mother died? Such a poor little tiger cub...”

Yuqing Wan held the little tiger close, her eyes reddening as she spoke softly.

Li Chen understood her empathy and thought of his own past.

He sighed lightly, patted her arm, and continued pulling out the wild game, stacking them neatly inside the house, ready to lower them into the well for preservation later.

“One, two, three, four... five wild chickens, and over thirty large birds. Master is amazing...”

Looking at the bounty, the young maid was overjoyed.

In these turbulent times of war and famine, only food and meat could bring peace to the heart!

“There’s also a large leopard; you forgot to count it.”

Li Chen smiled, stepped outside, and dragged the large leopard inside.

Under the light, each strand of its black fur gleamed with a glossy sheen.

“This leopard is huge... really frightening...”

Even though it was dead, the young maid was still scared enough to hide behind Li Chen, peeking out with one eye and trembling as she spoke.

“I won’t sell the leopard. If we sell it in the city, it would be too conspicuous and could cause trouble.

I’ll prepare it later, and we’ll keep the meat for ourselves.

The leopard’s skin, once properly tanned, will make you a leather coat to keep warm in winter.”

Li Chen nudged the leopard with his foot and turned to smile at the young maid.

She stared at him, holding the little tiger, her eyes wet again.

“Don’t like it?”

Li Chen was momentarily puzzled.

“No.” She shook her head earnestly. “It’s just that Master treats me too well!”

Tears fell freely, soaking her clothes.

In this chaotic world, having lost her family, she had lived like a lost soul, with no hope or future.

Never had she imagined that by a stroke of luck, she would meet a good man — like finding a light in the dark or warmth by the fire on a cold night. Her heart was filled with a warmth beyond words.

Li Chen understood why she was crying and reached out a large hand to wipe away her tears. “Don’t dwell on the past, don’t burden the present, and don’t fear the future. Just remember, there will always be someone by your side.”

“Master...”

The young maid could no longer hold back her emotions or fear. She suddenly threw herself into his arms.

Cradling the little tiger with one hand and wrapping the other around his waist, she sobbed deeply.

After a long while, her tears slowed and she stopped crying.

After the meal, Li Chen searched through the village until he found a mother dog who had just given birth. He exchanged two wild chickens for the lactating dog to feed the little tiger.

The family who owned the dog was overjoyed, showering Li Chen with thanks — exchanging wild chickens for grain was a significant gain for them!

Having fed the little tiger and after a long day, Li Chen was indeed tired. Before sleeping, he didn’t forget to set up safety precautions around the house, then climbed onto the kang bed to rest.

After overcoming her initial fear, the young maid had already grown fond of the little tiger.

After all, girls naturally have no resistance to fluffy little animals, and she even hugged the little tiger while sleeping on the kang.

However, when Li Chen returned from fetching water for a bath, she gently placed the little tiger into a small straw nest prepared beneath the kang.

Then, just as Li Chen lay down, she shyly slipped into his quilt.

“Master, if you’re tired, I will serve you...”

Her voice was as soft as a whisper.

She breathed sweetly by Li Chen’s ear, tickling him and making him want to laugh.

Though it was dark and he couldn’t see clearly, he imagined her face must be flushed red.

Unexpectedly, she had taken the initiative today; this girl was growing bolder by the day.

...

Whether it was because rebirth had enhanced many of his mental and physical abilities, Li Chen spent almost an hour tossing and turning but woke up feeling refreshed as ever.

The young maid, however, was weak in her legs upon rising, but her face was radiant and her eyes sparkled with light!

At dawn, just as the early morning hour arrived, Zhao Dash, Liu Chenxu, and Hou Xiaobai had already arrived at the door.

On their way, they were surprised to see Li Chen and his delicate, beautiful younger sister-in-law simmering a pot of pork bone broth.

The rich aroma wafted out, thick as an impenetrable fog.

“Brother Chen, we’re here! Hey, why are you boiling pork bones? Is there no meat left at home? I have some; I’ll bring it to you!”

The good-natured Zhao Dash, attracted by the smell, blinked wide-eyed as he exclaimed.

“Pork bones crushed and boiled into soup strengthen the body! When you come back later, have a bowl.”

Li Chen smiled slightly and stretched his body. “Come on, let’s run ten miles up the mountain first. Only strong endurance forms the foundation for everything else!”

Then, he strapped on his sandbag and nimbly set off running towards the mountain.

After running ten miles, he immediately did ten sets of pull-ups in the woods, ten each set.

This was just his usual training routine.

He wanted to assess these men’s potential first before deciding on the next training program.

Little did Liu Chenxu and the others know, this wasn’t just hunter training — these were fundamental exercises for special forces in the future!