"Run for your lives!"
As Yaohua's voice faded, the Bailu brothers took off at once.
The three of them dashed desperately in one direction, almost using every ounce of strength they had ever had in their lives.
At a moment of life and death, who wouldn't go all out to seek a way out?
The three of them were too big a target, so Yaohua separated from them and ran on her own.
However, she had not run far when a pained cry came from behind.
Looking back, she saw Qingshi fall to the ground, his calf already in the jaws of the spirit lion.
Bailu turned back to pull him up, but the spirit lion flicked its tail and sent him flying.
"Brother, don't worry about me!"
Qingshi closed his eyes in fear, but his words were driving Bailu away.
The two brothers were always close. How could Bailu leave Qingshi behind?
They were companions who shared weal and woe. Yaohua looked around quickly, picked up a branch from the ground, and stabbed straight at the spirit lion's eyes.
The spirit lion held on to Qingshi's calf and was also wary of Yaohua's attack. In the process, it actually tore off a piece of flesh from Qingshi's calf.
Blood gushed from his calf, and Qingshi was in too much pain to speak.
The spirit lion swallowed the meat in its mouth and let go of Qingshi. It stared fiercely at Yaohua with its two eyes, showing its cruelty and bloodthirstiness without any disguise.
It seemed that it had set its sights on her as prey.
Yaohua felt a bit nervous inside, but although she was a bit scared, she didn't dare to show it at all.
At this moment, the spirit lion suddenly moved. Its four limbs were almost a blur as it rushed towards her.
It seemed that there was no way to resolve this peacefully today.
Yaohua tapped her toes on the ground and landed on a rock. Then she did a somersault in the air and, taking advantage of the spirit lion's charge, immediately straddled its back.
The spirit lion let out a low growl and kept lashing its tail at her.
Yaohua bit the branch and grabbed tightly at the hair on its head with both hands.
The spirit lion turned its head to bite her, but her grip was so strong that it couldn't do anything for a while.
Bailu helped Qingshi up. Seeing this, he quickly came to help.
The spirit lion dodged Bailu's attacks while jumping around, trying to throw Yaohua off.
But Yaohua just refused to let go.
The spirit lion was naturally cruel. Even though its name had the word "spirit" in it, it was different from other auspicious beasts and had no intention of not hurting people.
Yaohua knew this well and showed no mercy when dealing with it. She spat out the branch in her mouth.
"Bailu, cut its neck!"
The sickle spun smoothly in Bailu's hand. He crouched down and swiped at the spirit lion's neck.
The spirit lion had a large and round head. Yaohua had to prevent it from biting her and also keep it from turning its head. She was almost using all her strength.
"No, it's turning too fast!"
The spirit lion turned its body, and its tail lashed out, almost knocking Bailu away.
Its legs were strong and powerful. Although its head was forcibly held by Yaohua and it couldn't break free for a while, its two front legs kept kicking upwards.
Bailu couldn't get close several times, so he had to slash at its legs instead.
Knowing that it wouldn't get the better of them, the spirit lion exerted all its strength with its four limbs and charged towards the dense bamboo forest like an arrow from a bow.
It didn't care if it would hurt itself by hitting the trees. It just wanted to get Yaohua off its back.
Yaohua had to lie down on its back to reduce the impact from the tree trunks and let it ram into the trees.
The spirit lion was full of energy. Yaohua's hands were almost too sore to feel anything by the time the spirit lion finally slowed down.
By then, they had reached the depths of the bamboo forest, and the Bailu brothers had long since disappeared.
Yaohua didn't dare to let go, afraid that the spirit lion would bite her. She could only look back in this position.
There was no movement behind her. It was estimated that they couldn't find her.
Yaohua turned back and met the spirit lion's violent gaze.
"You can't bite me, and you can't shake me off. How about we cooperate? You let me go, and I'll help you hunt." Yaohua showed a pitying look. "Look at how gaunt your cheeks are. Those antelopes are so nimble. It's not easy to catch them, is it?"
Just now in the cave, they had heard the sound of the antelopes running. It was obvious that those antelopes moved in groups and were very agile. Although the spirit lion was physically strong, it was still a bit clumsy compared to the antelopes. It must have had a hard time hunting every time.
"I know you understand what I'm saying. If you agree, just nod your head and make a spirit - beast contract with me. Recognize me as your master, and I'll surely keep you from starving."
The spirit lion's gaze showed a bit of scrutiny, as if it was doubting the truth of her words.
Yaohua wasn't the least bit timid. She stared back fiercely.
The human and the beast stared at each other for a long time, neither willing to back down.
It wasn't until night was about to fall and the temperature dropped rapidly.
The spirit lion couldn't bear the cold and let out a few low growls.
Yaohua was calm and composed. "If you don't agree, I'll kill you, skin you to make clothes, eat your meat, and drink your blood."
After she said that, she even bared her teeth. Coupled with her cold expression, she really did look a bit intimidating to the lion.
Maintaining this position for so long, this spirit lion was really amazing. Didn't it feel uncomfortable in its neck?
Why wasn't it giving in?
Yaohua didn't understand and was greatly shocked.
The two sides were at a standstill for a while longer until it was completely dark.
The spirit lion's patience ran out. It twisted its neck and launched another attack.
It was proud and obviously not willing to admit defeat easily.
Yaohua gritted her teeth. Her almost numb hands quickly exerted force. Although they were numb and itchy, this was a matter of life and death, and she couldn't be the least bit careless.
The spirit lion still couldn't reach Yaohua with its wide - open mouth.
Staring at the fangs in its mouth, Yaohua sneered. "My Phoenix Clan belongs to the divine race. Do you think an ordinary spirit beast can defeat me?"
It was okay when the spirit lion didn't attack, but once it did, Yaohua noticed that its neck was no longer as strong as before.
She summoned up her courage and let go of one hand. She felt for the mushroom she had picked up earlier from her waist.
She took the opportunity to throw it into the spirit lion's mouth.
It was quite a coincidence. Just as the spirit lion was about to roar, the sudden mushroom slipped down its throat.
Even though it was hungry, the spirit lion wouldn't eat such a brightly - colored mushroom. After all, spirit beasts knew how to avoid harm and wouldn't do something stupid.
Seeing it close its mouth tightly with a look of suspicion in its eyes, Yaohua smiled and reached out to stroke its fur.
The mushroom took effect quickly. Seeing the spirit lion's eyes becoming blurred, Yaohua immediately jumped off its back.
She saw the spirit lion bend its four limbs and kneel on the ground. It rubbed against a rock beside it like a cat.
Then it rolled over and actually started to roll on the ground.
Yaohua watched in great curiosity.
She originally thought that after the spirit lion took the mushroom, it would only have prey in its eyes, but from the situation... it seemed to be acting coquettishly with its master?
No, that wasn't right.
A spirit lion that had recognized a master wouldn't attack people easily.
This spirit lion had bitten Qingshi's calf. It was obvious that it hadn't been tamed by a master.
Thinking of this, Yaohua walked over slowly.
By the light reflected from the snow on the ground, she carefully reached out her hand.
The demons and those sinful immortals from the north tamed spirit beasts on the ice field. Those spirit beasts were covered in wounds. Maybe this spirit lion would be tamed by them sooner or later and constantly tortured.
In that case, it would be better for her to tame this spirit lion.
At least she never mistreated spirit beasts.