In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

Qin Shaolang's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the fervor in the hearts of the soldiers.

Yes, this is deep in the mountains, and who knows what the smell of blood might attract.

The ferocity of that white-browed tiger was still fresh in their minds. If another one came, or a pack of wolves, their small group wouldn't stand a chance.

"Quick! Get moving!"

Chu Wu was the first to react and loudly directed everyone.

He walked up to a young soldier, the same one who had been stunned by the tiger's attack. His face was still pale, and his legs were trembling slightly.

Chu Wu didn't scold him, but patted him hard on the shoulder: "Kid, it's normal to be scared, it would be abnormal not to be scared. But you have to remember how you felt today, so you won't be foolish again next time. Go check if you've been scratched by that beast's claws."

The young soldier nodded heavily, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Qin Shaolang watched this scene and nodded inwardly. Although Chu Wu wasn't as quick-witted as him, he certainly had a knack for leading troops and winning people's hearts; he was a born general.

Soon, the examination results came out. Apart from one of the guards who had his hand split open and bled a little from the impact of the spear shaft while parrying, the others were unharmed.

This is simply a miracle!

Ten people went head-to-head with a ferocious tiger and won almost without taking any damage!

All eyes once again turned to Qin Shaolang.

If it weren't for Brother Qin's unpredictable strategies—first using the Empty City Stratagem to diminish the tiger's fearsome reputation, then using the delicious food to lower its guard, and finally using the spiced meat to greatly reduce its fighting power; if it weren't for the unheard-of formation that Brother Qin taught them, they would probably already be dead in the tiger's mouth!

"Brother Qin, this beast is too heavy. There are thirteen of us, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to carry it down the mountain." Chu Wu looked at the tiger's corpse, which was as heavy as a small mountain, and was at a loss.

This white-browed tiger is enormous, weighing at least five or six hundred pounds. The mountain roads are rugged, making it extremely difficult to transport it back intact.

"Chop down a few sturdy logs and find some tough vines." Qin Shaolang's tone remained calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Li Hu, you are familiar with the plants in the mountains. Take a few people to find the strongest vines."

"Chu Wu, take some men and cut down a few hardwood trees, each about the size of a bowl."

The orders were clear and the division of labor was well-defined.

Everyone immediately sprang into action.

Before long, all the materials were ready.

Qin Shaolang directed the group to place the two thickest hardwood logs side by side on the ground. Then, they laboriously moved the tiger carcass onto the logs, and used several other logs to pass horizontally under the tiger carcass. Finally, they used tough green vines to tightly bind the tiger carcass and the wooden frame together, making a simple stretcher.

"Six people in a group, three in front and three in back, with padding on their shoulders, take turns carrying. The rest will lead the way and keep watch from behind. Let's go!"

With Qin Shaozhuang's order, a simple yet efficient transport team was formed.

Six strong and sturdy guards gritted their teeth and carried the heavy stretcher onto their shoulders.

"rise!"

With a loud shout, the tiger leaped off the ground.

The group embarked on their return journey in a grand procession.

The way down the mountain was more difficult than the way up, especially carrying such a heavy thing.

But everyone's face was filled with an irrepressible excitement and pride.

Every now and then, they would look back at the majestic tiger on the stretcher, and a surge of pride would well up in their hearts.

They hunted these animals themselves!

It is the legendary king of beasts that even government soldiers could not subdue!

"Brother Qin, when we get back, let's cut off this tiger's head and hang it at the entrance of the earthen kiln. Let's see who dares to cause trouble here again!" one of the soldiers shouted excitedly.

"Yes! Hang up a tiger's head! That's more effective than any door god!"

Everyone echoed their agreement, and the atmosphere became extremely lively.

Qin Shaolang simply smiled and remained silent.

He knew that from this day forward, his position in the hearts of these soldiers was now completely secure.

This is no longer a simple employment relationship, but a kind of worshipful following.

……

When the group of them appeared at the village entrance carrying the enormous white-browed tiger, the entire town of Lantian seemed to be put on pause.

A child playing in the mud at the village entrance was the first to spot them.

He rubbed his eyes, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

What...what is that?

It's a tiger!

It's that big tiger on the mountain!

It was beaten to death! And then someone carried it around!

"Tiger! The tiger has been killed—!"

The child screamed at the top of his lungs and ran scrambling towards the village.

This shout was like a ladle of water being poured into a calm pan of oil.

The entire village erupted in chaos!

"What? The tiger was killed?"

"Impossible! Who has that ability?"

"Quick! Go check it out!"

Countless villagers poured out of their houses and converged towards the village entrance.

When they saw with their own eyes the white-browed tiger bound to a wooden frame, spear shafts still stuck in its body, covered in blood, yet still exuding a terrifying aura, everyone gasped.

The crowd was deathly silent.

Immediately following was a deafening chorus of discussion!

"My God! It really is that white-browed tiger! I recognize the 'king' character on its forehead!"

"Who? Who did this?!"

"It's Doctor Qin! It's Doctor Qin and his personal guards!" Someone with sharp eyes recognized Qin Shaolang and Chu Wu, who were walking at the front.

"Doctor Qin? That useless doctor?"

"You still call him a piece of trash? Do you think your ancestors' graves were so blessed that they produced such a 'piece of trash'?! He's Master Qin now!"

Among the crowd, the hunters who had just drunk the meat soup that Qin Shaolang had sent them yesterday had the most complicated expressions.

They looked at the dead tiger, then at Qin Shaolang walking calmly at the front of the group, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

Shock, shame, gratitude, awe...

Yesterday, they were still gossiping privately, saying that Qin Shaolang was overestimating himself, leading a group of inexperienced soldiers to challenge the White-browed Tiger, which was simply suicide.

But today, they brought back the tiger's carcass!

And what about them?

Their leader, Er Mazi, was still lying in bed with a high fever and unconscious.

These so-called "old hunters" were either defeated or injured when faced with this tiger.

But Qin Shaolang, leading a group of novices, ended the battle without a scratch!

This is no longer a matter of a difference in strength.

This is utter domination! This is a dimensional reduction attack!

A hunter's wife looked at the tiger, then at the strip of cloth wrapped around her husband's arm. Underneath the cloth were the herbs that Qin Shaolang had sent to deliver the day before.

She suddenly grabbed her man, squeezed through the crowd, walked up to Qin Shaolang, and without saying a word, knelt down with a "plop".

"Master Qin! You are our family's greatest benefactor!"

Her kneeling was like toppling the first domino.

The other hunters' family members who were injured or whose family members were injured also knelt down.