Chapter Two: Wu Song Slays the Tiger on Jingyang Ridge

Blue skies and white clouds graced a good family, and the land lay flat in the depths of green mountains.

The scenery was quite pleasant, but why on earth was there a tiger with eyes wide as bronze bells sitting there?!

Chen Jin sat dazed, propping himself up with both hands, his gaze fixed on the massive beast atop the boulder.

With a thunderous roar, the tiger, clearly displeased at being stared at so intently, let out a mighty growl at the human below, then leapt lightly from the rock to land right beside Chen Jin.

Still in a stupor, Chen Jin remained seated, bewildered.

The tiger grew even more irate, opening its bloody maw, about to clamp down on Chen Jin’s neck.

"Mother of mercy!" The stench of the beast’s breath snapped Chen Jin awake. In terror, he twisted his body, trying to avoid those deadly jaws.

But a tiger that had grown so large clearly had hunting experience far surpassing that of a mere office worker. Its neck stretched in a flash, those reeking jaws and black-and-yellow fangs now just a hair’s breadth from the young man’s throat.

"Stop right there, you beast! Open your jaws!" An explosive shout, as thunderous as a storm, boomed from behind Chen Jin.

Even faster than the shout, a flaming-red wooden staff shot forward.

The staff jabbed straight for the tiger’s massive head.

The beast was quick, swinging its powerful hindquarters to dodge the blow.

Chen Jin, still reeling from his brush with death, stared in shock.

The staff’s owner charged into view—a giant of a man, over two meters tall, all corded muscle.

He dragged Chen Jin behind him, yanked the crimson staff from the ground, and faced off against the fierce tiger.

As the two squared off, the tiger did something extraordinary—it grinned like a man, then opened its mouth and spoke in human tongue.

"Where did this brute come from? How dare you interrupt your Lord Tiger’s meal?!"

Hiding behind the giant, Chen Jin stared, horrified. Since when could tigers speak?!

His eyes widened, mind still echoing with the beast’s words.

The giant, however, brandished his staff and shouted, "Many heroes have passed through Mount Jingyang, yet none could subdue the man-eating tiger. Instead, you’ve gorged yourself on them all. No wonder you’re a tiger demon! Today I’ll slay you, strip your pelt, and break your bones to avenge those heroes!"

The tiger demon let out a cackling, eerie laugh, like the crows in a haunted graveyard.

"Soon, I’ll merely break your limbs, devour that little fellow before your eyes, and then slowly feast on you alive—just as I did those so-called heeeroes." The word “heroes” dragged out mockingly.

"Enough talk! Let’s settle this with our hands!" The giant gripped the crimson staff with both hands and jabbed straight at the tiger demon.

Whoosh—

It was a simple thrust, yet it roared like a jet taking off.

Even from behind, Chen Jin felt the world warp before his eyes, his ears ringing with the deafening sound.

When his vision cleared, the giant was already astride the tiger demon, raining blows down upon its head.

The beast, now utterly spent, saw its skull smashed to pulp, flesh and blood splattering everywhere, an eye-watering sight.

Chen Jin’s jaw dropped. "Did I just miss a few episodes of this drama?!"

"Little brother, what drama?" The giant, sharp of hearing, responded even as he pummeled the beast.

"Uh…" Chen Jin was still in a daze. Accustomed to spinning words for every occasion, he was at a loss before this fearsome warrior.

Then he watched as the giant reached under his arm and drew forth a dagger gleaming with a razor edge.

With practiced ease, the giant began to skin the tiger’s carcass, starting neatly from the head. Soon, a complete tiger pelt was tossed aside.

"What’s your name, little brother? Where are you from? You don’t sound like a local," the giant asked, picking through the tiger demon’s bones with his dagger.

"My surname is Chen, given name Jin. I’m from Min province. May I ask your name, hero?" Chen Jin, gradually regaining his composure, replied fluently, all the while studying the man’s clothing—clearly ancient, though he couldn’t tell from which dynasty. The man had mentioned Jingyang Ridge, and with a tiger, and the scene of a man defeating a tiger with his fists, Chen Jin suspected he’d crossed into the Song Dynasty, or more precisely, into the world of "Water Margin."

"My surname is Wu, given name Song. I’m from Qinghe County. Little brother, you’re from Min? That’s a hundred thousand miles away!" Wu Song exclaimed.

"Something like that," Chen Jin replied offhandedly. Hearing Wu Song confirm his name was one thing; actually hearing him say it was another.

"You’re still young, little brother. How did you dare travel so far? Aren’t you afraid of being eaten by monsters and demons on the way?" Wu Song asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"I was swept here by a golden wind. The moment I landed, I saw that tiger demon. If not for your rescue, I don’t know what would have become of me. By the way, where exactly am I?" Chen Jin, now thinking clearly, spun a plausible story. After all, if tigers could talk, nothing was out of the question.

"This is Jingyang Ridge, in the lands of Qilu. If you’re thinking of returning home, it won’t be easy. Why not stay with my elder brother for now? When you’ve recovered, you can make plans." After a moment’s thought, Wu Song suggested.

"Well… I’ll have to trouble you then," Chen Jin feigned hesitation before reluctantly agreeing.

"Haha! Don’t call me hero—since I’m the second son, folks here call me Second Wu. That’ll do," Wu Song said with hearty laughter.

"Thank you, Brother Second Wu," Chen Jin replied, taking the opportunity to add a respectful title.

"Haha! You cut the meat, I’ll fetch my pot. Today, we’ll taste tiger bone soup. This was a tiger demon—its flesh and tendons will be a great tonic." Wu Song handed him the shining dagger.

Chen Jin received the dagger, feeling its weight, smelling its blood scent, and gazed at the heap of red and white flesh that barely resembled a tiger. His legs still trembled.

Wu Song raised his arm and vanished into the woods.

Chen Jin had no choice but to approach the corpse. The beast was dead, but its aura lingered. He gripped the dagger tightly, telling himself that even Hello Kitty was scarier than this now. He’d cut off the tiger’s whip, and in future, by candlelight, he’d duel eight hundred beauties, dream of bugles at the camp, and even eight hundred wouldn’t suffice.

His mind full of wild thoughts, Chen Jin finally stabbed the dagger into the meat.

He’d expected the blood to have drained away, but suddenly, a spurt splashed across his face.

As the blood drenched him, a roar exploded in his ear.

The endless roar of a tiger filled his head and ears, and he fainted.

In a haze, Chen Jin saw a great tiger pouncing at him, intent on devouring him. But as soon as it touched him, the beast scattered into countless golden motes, which swirled around him and slowly merged into his body.

As the light entered him, Chen Jin began to transform into a mighty tiger, but this one had a pair of wings sprouting from its forelegs. It looked odd, but the wings made it all the more powerful and imposing.

The tiger spread its wings and roared at the sky.

With that roar, Chen Jin saw Wu Song’s face and heard his anxious voice.

"The True Canon of the White Emperor and Mysterious Origin?!" Chen Jin wondered.

"Brother Chen Jin, are you alright?" Wu Song asked urgently.

"I’m fine, I’m fine," Chen Jin replied quickly, though his head spun as soon as he shook it.

"It’s my fault—I didn’t fully destroy the tiger demon’s spirit…"

"Don’t blame yourself, Brother Wu. My life is yours to thank for. If not for you, I’d be dead already. This was my own carelessness, you’re not to blame. Besides, I’m perfectly fine," Chen Jin said.

"Alright then, you rest while I cook up some soup," Wu Song replied, relieved after checking Chen Jin’s complexion.

From then on, Wu Song handled all the chores—chopping wood, fetching water, making soup, roasting meat. Chen Jin couldn’t even find a chance to help.

Resigned, Chen Jin sat down to study the "True Canon of the White Emperor and Mysterious Origin" in his mind.

It was an incomplete scripture, containing only the Metal Qi Formula.

The formula had five thousand words. Read quickly, he understood nothing, but reading slowly, he could grasp its meaning.

The first three thousand words described methods to cultivate spirit and mind; the last two thousand, the practice of Metal Qi.

Sorting through it, Chen Jin was thrilled—he had stepped into a world of the extraordinary.

He understood the text, but some things eluded him—where was the Mud Palace Pill? Where was the dantian? Where was the Purple Mansion?

But if he didn’t know, Wu Song certainly did. After all, Wu Song had just overpowered a tiger demon—this was no ordinary Water Margin, but a world transformed. Such a powerhouse must know these secrets.

He’d have to find ways to ask, perhaps indirectly, or even directly. And he would meet Wu Song’s brother, Wu Dalang, and his sister-in-law, Pan Jinlian—just to see how beautiful she really was.

...