Chapter 139: The Struggle of a Cornered Beast

Li Tianque had never expected that this black-furred ferocious tiger, though blind, was far more cunning than a bear! The beast had never hesitated despite Li Tianque’s breath-holding. Its constant sniffing was not to judge whether Li Tianque was alive or dead, but to detect the faint scent of blood in the air and to sense if any of Li Tianque’s companions were nearby.

Once it confirmed the surroundings were safe, the tiger no longer hesitated. With a sudden burst of power, it pressed its massive forepaws firmly onto Li Tianque’s shoulders.

The abrupt assault inflicted searing pain. No matter how strong his endurance, Li Tianque could not bear it and let out a long, sharp hiss.

Immediately, the tiger pinpointed its target and opened its blood-red maw, lunging straight for Li Tianque’s head.

In that instant, Li Tianque felt a hazy white specter of death approaching swiftly before his eyes. It seemed as though his life was about to be snuffed out any moment.

This was it: one bite and he would surely be dead.

In a flash, summoning every ounce of strength, Li Tianque twisted his head just enough to narrowly avoid the fatal bite, but his cheek was slashed by the tiger’s sharp teeth, drawing blood.

His legs began to kick fiercely, pounding the tiger’s lower body in a desperate final struggle.

Yet the creature seemed devoid of any nerve reaction, utterly unresponsive to his attacks.

Li Tianque felt as if his head was about to burst from the pressure of blood. Even if the tiger didn’t finish him off with the next bite, the pain alone was unbearable.

He was truly done for—certainly doomed.

He had seen countless visions of his death in the ghostly reflections and had imagined many ways he might perish.

But never had he envisioned dying in an abandoned nursing home out in the wilderness, succumbing to the jaws of a black-furred ferocious tiger.

At this moment, his spirit was utterly crushed.

Just as he was about to give up the struggle, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs below.

Then, a piercing metallic rasp sounded in his ears.

Startled, Li Tianque forced his eyes open.

In the dim light, he vaguely saw several gleams of cold steel flash by, followed by a torrent of blood splattering across his face.

Simultaneously, the dreadful tiger sprang up with a deafening roar that shook even the crumbling plaster from the ceiling, accompanied by the heavy thud of falling debris.

Seizing the chance to escape, Li Tianque rolled swiftly toward the wall.

He shuddered painfully, sharp waves of agony coursing through his body like electric shocks.

He sensed that his arm no longer belonged to him—from shoulder blade to fingertips, it was numb, utterly unresponsive no matter how he tried to move it.

Soon, he staggered to his feet and cautiously surveyed the unfolding battle.

It was clear that the one who had just saved his life was the enigmatic girl in white.

A Chu had rushed back up from downstairs at the critical moment, arriving just in time.

Had she been even a second later, Li Tianque feared he would have been torn apart.

Judging by her state, A Chu must have just endured a fierce fight downstairs.

Panting heavily, her clothes were shredded, and her right arm was torn, draped with cotton stuffing soaked in fresh blood.

Yet upon closer inspection, Li Tianque realized the blood was too dark to be hers—if she had lost that much blood, she wouldn’t have had the strength to climb back up.

It was further confirmed that A Chu had dispatched the downstairs tiger swiftly, almost effortlessly.

A Chu stretched out her arms, spreading her hands like a spider weaving a web.

From the corner of his flashlight’s glow, Li Tianque barely made out the ten strands of metal wire she had thrust through the tiger’s chest and cheeks, the other ends firmly anchored to the stair railing.

Blind though the tiger was, it thrashed its massive paws wildly, hammering the railing into vibration.

With every struggle, the metal wires cut deeper into its flesh, tearing open fresh wounds and intensifying its agony.

After only a few thrashes, its cheeks were shredded, blood flowing from its throat and staining its body.

A Chu clearly held the advantage; despite the tiger’s ferocity, it was utterly unable to locate her.

Still, she remained vigilant, maintaining an offensive stance and ready for any move.

Though the situation favored A Chu, the tiger’s dying struggles grew increasingly savage and violent.

Its frenzied thrashing sent violent shocks through the metal wires, which in turn inflicted painful damage upon A Chu.

Under this brutal strain, A Chu was struggling.

Her weapon was a double-edged sword, augmented by hidden metal wires capable of unexpectedly attacking and restraining foes.

However, the cutting force transmitted through the wires also inflicted considerable harm on her.

Her outstretched arm was now violently bending, her body trembling as two of the metal strands snapped with sharp twangs.

“Use your tranquilizer gun to hit its torn mouth!” A Chu suddenly shouted to Li Tianque.

“The tranquilizer gun is out of bullets,” he replied helplessly.

“Then use the hammer!” she urged again.

Li Tianque did not comply. When he tried once more to move his arm, it only weakly twitched, lacking any real strength.

“Sorry, my arm won’t work,” he said.

A Chu said nothing, slowly turning her head to glance at him.

Her long hair hung over her face, making her look even more sinister than the tiger.

Li Tianque truly felt helpless; he wanted to assist A Chu but was powerless.

He tried to summon the cancer cells within himself, but they seemed dormant, unresponsive.

With no other option, he prepared to attack using the only part of his body he could still move.

Staggering forward to the tiger, he raised his right leg and delivered a furious series of kicks.

This was his sole weapon now, though its force was pitifully weak.

The ferocious tiger’s skin was thick and tough, like iron and stone.

After countless kicks, Li Tianque’s foot felt as if it were about to break through the skin, but the attacks had no effect; instead, they only fueled the tiger’s fury.

Its massive paws spun faster, and before he could react, Li Tianque was struck and flung, rolling down onto the stairs.

“You’ve survived all these years,” A Chu whispered softly to the tiger.

Her voice was deeper than usual, laced with an emotion Li Tianque couldn’t understand.

“What did you say?” Li Tianque asked, not catching her words clearly, thinking she still wanted his help.

A Chu did not answer but clenched the metal wires tightly.

At the sound of her grim voice, the tiger paused, its bloodied throat choked with sobs.

Then suddenly, it exploded in rage, tearing through all the metal wires binding it.

The ripping and tearing noises filled the air as the wires cut into its flesh like a meat grinder, flaying its skin open and spraying blood.

Its beating heart was exposed, and its entrails spilled out—a horrific, nauseating sight.

Clearly, this beast had lost all reason!

It was enraged!