Chapter Sixty-One: Taming the Demonic Beast

The Netherworld Tiger had been lying on the ground at first. When it saw Li Pingyang reaching out to touch it, ignoring its own imposing presence, it immediately sprang to its feet and roared at him as a warning. Yet Li Pingyang continued to stretch out his hand. The tiger bared its dagger-like fangs and lunged for his head. The keeper nearby was so terrified that he dropped the keys to the iron cage and ran off to the side.

All the officials were shocked, and Hakule let out a wild laugh, already picturing in his mind the gruesome scene of Li Pingyang being torn apart and devoured. “I warned him—this is the most ferocious demon beast of our Tubo, the Netherworld Tiger! We once gifted one to Jin, but none could tame it. I—” Before Hakule could finish, his expression froze, a look of confusion on his face, while the civil and military officials displayed utter disbelief.

Just as the tiger was about to bite Li Pingyang, it suddenly closed its mouth, stretched out its blood-red tongue, and licked his face. Under everyone’s astonished gaze, it licked him several more times, only stopping when Li Pingyang, clearly repulsed, raised his hand and pushed the tiger’s head away. “Ugh, your drool’s all over my face! Stop licking me… If you keep at it, I’ll smack you, you hear?” He wiped the saliva from his face, poked the tiger’s nose with his finger, and warned it not to go too far. To everyone’s amazement, the Netherworld Tiger obediently sat down and listened to his scolding.

The beast, just moments before described by Hakule as untamable, was now docile as a kitten before a frail-looking young man of Song, a youth known for his poetry and prose! Hakule, regaining his composure, was inwardly unconvinced, suspecting Li Pingyang must have fed the tiger something to make it so obedient.

Ignoring Hakule, Li Pingyang reached out and rubbed the tiger’s head as if petting a household pet, leaving everyone watching in awe. Then, with both hands behind his back and his chin held high, he declared, “Come, let’s take a stroll outside!” With that, he walked ahead, the Netherworld Tiger trailing behind like a gentle housecat, never leaving his side. When they passed by Minister Fang, Li Pingyang deliberately had the tiger keep him company.

Minister Fang held his breath, too frightened to make a sound, as the tiger circled around him. Pouting, he whispered for Li Pingyang to call it away, but Li Pingyang pretended not to hear. After a few more steps, the tiger lay down beside him and refused to move, leaving Minister Fang sweating in panic and cursing Li Pingyang inwardly.

Li Pingyang gave the tiger a look and patted his own face, silently signaling something to the beast. Li Hu, sitting behind them, didn’t know what mischief Li Pingyang was up to, but was sure it was nothing good, and watched on with glee.

The Netherworld Tiger stood up, swished its tail, and accidentally knocked Minister Fang’s hat askew. Then, it raised its front paws, placed them on the minister, and licked his face. At last, Minister Fang could bear it no longer. Disregarding his dignity, he shrieked, “Mother!” and scrambled away, hiding behind a pillar.

The hall erupted into laughter; many couldn’t help but burst out, and even the Third Prince, Li Wenjie, sitting on the dais, raised his hand to his nose, trying to stifle a chuckle.

After the show, Li Pingyang extended both hands as if training a dog, prompting the Netherworld Tiger to mimic his movements. Whichever hand Li Pingyang raised, the tiger copied. If it made a mistake, he would pluck one of its whiskers!

What was intended as a spectacle to humiliate and disrupt the birthday feast had, with Li Pingyang’s intervention, turned into a circus performance. Hakule’s face flushed with anger. He snatched a whip from the keeper and cracked it in the air, breaking the jovial atmosphere. He then lashed the ground in front of the tiger, as if to demonstrate how to tame a demon beast.

The Netherworld Tiger, long abused and already covered in scars, was instantly enraged by the sound. Its bestial nature awakened, and its demeanor shifted from docile to savage.

Why had it not attacked Li Pingyang earlier? There were two reasons: first, Li Pingyang exuded a murderous aura, having slain beasts even more formidable than the Netherworld Tiger; the scent of those kills made the tiger wary. Second, while everyone was distracted, Li Pingyang had flicked a tiny pill into the tiger’s mouth as it opened wide, and it swallowed it whole. Feeling its wounds begin to heal, the beast realized Li Pingyang meant it no harm—and in fact had helped it. Grateful, the tiger had licked his face.

Demon beasts, like humans, have feelings. Before being beaten into a monster, this tiger had been the gentlest among its kind. No one knew what torment had transformed it from a docile creature into a ferocious and volatile beast.

Crack! Another lash landed, this time on the tiger’s body, cutting a bloody welt into its flesh. Its gentle eyes suddenly flared with ferocity, burning with rage, and it lunged at Li Pingyang.

Seeing this, Li Pingyang dodged nimbly aside, the tiger’s leap brushing past him. The beast spun around and let out a roar. Tension filled the hall once more. The Empress Dowager shrank back, flanked by two eunuchs for protection, while two imperial guards drew their swords before the Emperor. The Third Prince shot Li Pingyang a worried glance, about to order the beast slain.

Li Pingyang replied with a confident look, assuring him he was in control. He glared at Hakule, shifting all blame onto him. Now truly enraged, the Netherworld Tiger was a different creature—its roar changed, and all traces of docility vanished.

With another bellow, it scraped the ground with its claws and lunged once more at Li Pingyang. Li Pingyang leapt up, landed on the tiger’s back, and bounded off again. Even Li Hu couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise—when had the boy grown so agile?

Of course, he didn’t know Li Pingyang had honed his skills with the Azure Dragon beneath the waterfall in the Floating Void, rapidly improving his martial prowess there.

Before Li Pingyang landed, Hakule struck the tiger again, and the beast, seizing the moment, lunged for Li Pingyang with bared fangs. Li Hu, quick as a flash, grabbed a handful of chopsticks and threw them at a wooden pillar, creating a foothold. Li Pingyang shot him a grateful glance, landed lightly on the chopsticks, and then, upon touching down, supported himself with one hand and kicked the tiger hard to the side.

His movements were smooth as flowing water, and even some of the generals, feeling inferior, stood and applauded, cheering him on. For the first time, the ministers found themselves united.

Li Pingyang was one of their own, representing the Song dynasty; naturally, none wished to see him fall, and all began to root for him. Bolstered by their support, Li Pingyang’s fighting spirit soared. This time, not waiting for the tiger to attack, he charged forward in swift strides, leapt up, and mounted the tiger’s back.