The forest became deathly still.
The towering White Tiger stared at Lin Tianyu with crimson eyes that burned like molten rubies.
His immense body radiated an aura so oppressive that ancient trees groaned under the weight.
Every Spirit Beast lowered its head.
Not out of respect.
Out of fear.
The System flashed urgently.
Warning
Guardian Bai Hu
Mental Stability:
17%
Corruption Level:
68%
Recommendation:
Do NOT engage in combat.
Lin Tianyu slowly raised both hands.
“I didn’t come here to fight.”
Bai Hu’s lip curled.
A low growl rumbled through the forest.
“…Every human…”
“…says that.”
“I mean it.”
“…Lies.”
The pressure exploded.
BOOM!
An invisible wave of Spirit Qi slammed into Tianyu.
He was thrown backward several meters before crashing into a massive tree.
His lungs emptied.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“Tianyu!”
Yue rushed toward him.
“I’m okay…”
He forced himself back to his feet.
Barely.
Hei Bao took a step forward.
“…Enough.”
Bai Hu’s crimson eyes shifted.
“…Bear.”
“You defend him?”
“…Yes.”
“He is human.”
“…He is Keeper.”
“…Same thing.”
“…No.”
Hei Bao’s voice remained calm.
“…Different.”
For a brief moment…
Something flickered in Bai Hu’s eyes.
Recognition.
Then…
It vanished beneath another wave of crimson madness.
Without warning—
Bai Hu disappeared.
“So fast—!”
Tianyu barely saw a white blur before enormous claws stopped an inch from his face.
The impact alone shattered the ground beneath his feet.
Bai Hu hadn’t struck him.
He had deliberately stopped.
“…Why…”
“…don’t you fear me?”
Tianyu swallowed.
“I do.”
The tiger blinked.
“…You admit it?”
“Of course.”
“You’re the size of a truck.”
“I’d be an idiot not to be scared.”
Silence.
“…Truck?”
“…I’ll explain later.”
Bai Hu stared at Tianyu for several seconds.
“…You didn’t lie.”
The System chimed.
Truth Confirmed
Guardian Bai Hu acknowledged Keeper honesty.
Guardian Approval:
5%
The crimson in Bai Hu’s eyes faded…
Just a little.
He slowly withdrew his paw.
“…Then answer.”
“…Why are you here?”
Tianyu looked directly into the tiger’s eyes.
“Because your family is worried about you.”
“…Family?”
“You.”
Hei Bao.
Sun Xiaohou.
“The Sanctuary.”
“They’re waiting for you.”
Bai Hu suddenly laughed.
It was a bitter sound.
“…Family…”
“…Is dead.”
His roar shook the heavens.
“I WATCHED THEM DIE!”
The forest trembled.
The Spirit Beasts whimpered.
Even the mountains echoed with his grief.
Fragments of ancient memories burst into the air.
Not just for Bai Hu.
For everyone nearby.
Thousands of years ago…
The Sanctuary.
Flames.
Divine Beasts falling from the sky.
Cultivators wielding crimson banners.
A young White Tiger covered in blood.
Standing before seven shattered Guardian Thrones.
A child crying.
A fox with nine tails collapsing.
An enormous black bear roaring at the heavens.
Then…
Darkness.
The memories vanished.
Tianyu stood frozen.
“…That…”
“…really happened.”
Granny Mu nodded solemnly.
“…The Night of Falling Stars.”
The System unlocked another entry.
Historical Archive
The Night of Falling Stars
Access:
12%
Summary:
The Sanctuary suffered its greatest defeat.
Seven Guardians fell.
The First Seal was created.
Records remain incomplete.
Bai Hu’s breathing became ragged.
“…I judged them.”
“…I failed.”
“…Everyone died.”
Yue stepped forward.
“No.”
Granny Mu grabbed her arm. Get faster updates on g.com.
“Yue!”
But she gently pulled free.
She walked until she stood only a few steps away from Bai Hu.
The tiger looked down at her.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
“…Guardian Child…”
“…You live?”
“I do.”
“…Impossible.”
“I don’t remember everything.”
“…But…”
She smiled sadly.
“If I’m standing here…”
“…then you didn’t fail.”
The forest became quiet.
Bai Hu stared at her.
Confusion slowly replaced rage.
“I survived.”
“So did Hei Bao.”
“So did Monkey.”
“So did Granny Mu.”
She pointed toward Tianyu.
“And now…”
“We have a Keeper again.”
Tears filled her golden eyes.
“You protected enough.”
The crimson aura around Bai Hu trembled violently.
The corruption seemed to hesitate.
Suddenly—
A voice laughed.
It didn’t belong to anyone present.
It echoed from every direction.
Cold.
Mocking.
“So…”
“…this is how the mighty White Tiger falls.”
Everyone looked around.
The System screamed.
WARNING!
Foreign Spiritual Presence Detected!
Source…
Unknown.
Black mist seeped from beneath Bai Hu’s paws.
Not from the forest.
From inside him.
The crimson glow in his eyes flared once more.
A shadow slowly rose behind the White Tiger.
It had no face.
Only two burning crimson eyes.
Its voice echoed through the trees.
“He was never angry.”
“He was…”
“…poisoned.”
The shadow laughed.
“And now that you’ve found him…”
“I suppose…”
“…I’ll have to kill all of you.”
The System’s notifications turned black.
Critical Threat Identified
Abyssal Corruption
Status:
Active
Origin:
The First Seal
The First Seal…
…had already begun to leak.
[End of Chapter 22]