Chapter 8: 8, The Critically Hit Fire Lion

“Neigh...” The startled horse's front hooves bucked incessantly as it let out a neigh toward the sky. The driver pulled the reins tight with all his might to prevent the carriage from overturning, but he was still drenched in a cold sweat. He hurriedly maneuvered to avoid the beast, but the lion clearly had an attitude of looking for trouble; no matter where the carriage moved, it blocked the way. The driver's back was soaked with cold sweat from fear; looking at the fierce appearance of the fire lion, he was clearly no match for it.

“Roar...”

“...”

The fire lion's roar carried a sense of dominance, startling a flock of birds in the forest, and the horse did not dare to approach any closer.

“Mother, noisy.” Due to the jolting of the carriage and that annoying, clamorous roar, a sleepy Xiao Li felt very displeased, his dark eyes still carrying a hint of small exhaustion.

“If you deal with it, it won't be noisy anymore,” a certain woman said lazily, leaning against the edge of the carriage. Her dark eyes held a dreamy light, yet she showed absolutely no worry. Xiao Li could handle this magic beast in a few moves; it would be good practice for him.

*Isn't this unscrupulous mother just pushing her child into a fire pit!!*

The driver, whose cold sweat from being frightened had not yet receded, heard the woman's voice—which was as melodious, light, and clear as a nightingale—and instantly broke out in another bout of cold sweat. This fire lion looked to be a magic beast of at least Rank 8, and a little baby was going to... deal with it? Did this woman have something wrong with her head?

What the driver had not expected was that the little baby actually went down in a grand and spirited manner. The fire lion seemed to sense the hostility; with a "Roar...", it charged toward the little baby, kicking up a cloud of dust. The startled horses pulling the carriage retreated, and the driver covered his eyes, unwilling to witness the little baby's tragic end.

“Awoo... Blegh...” The fire lion's voice clearly changed its tone. The driver gradually moved his hand away from his eyes and nearly dropped his jaw in shock. A little baby was fiercely kicking the fire lion's butt, while muttering under his breath

“Making me unable to sleep... I'll burst your chrysanthemum...”

The driver's mind went into chaos. Had the world changed?

“Cough, cough. Xiao Li, keep it low-key, low-key.” Jin Se, clearly choked by saliva, coughed twice. She hadn't expected her girl to have such heavy tastes; things like "bursting chrysanthemums" should only be said, not done.

“Mother, what should I do with this little dog?” The pink-cheeked little one tugged at the fire lion's fluffy ear to ask his mother for instructions. The fire lion let out a couple of wails in protest; it wasn't a dog, it was the Lion King! The Lion King! It was a silent protest.

Hearing the little baby's words, the driver instantly fell off the carriage, his mouth hanging open in shock. In this world, only this eccentric little kid would dare treat a golden fire lion as a dog.

“Quick, that fire lion seems to have run in this direction, hurry and chase it!”

“...”

Before Jin Se could speak, a shout came from not far away, seemingly aimed at this fire lion. Her dark eyes shifted slightly; magic beasts were extremely rare on the Northern Xuan Continent, and this lion might fetch a good price.

“Look, it's over there!”

A handsome youth in elegant clothing appeared, followed by two middle-aged men in black clothing who looked like attendants. The youth appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, his delicate and youthful face carrying an air of nobility.

“Hey, is that the fire lion you caught?” His gaze swept contemptuously over the plainly dressed Jin Se and Xiao Li. There was an indescribable disdain in the youth's voice. He was the dignified Little Prince of the Northern Border Kingdom, and at only seventeen, he had already broken through to the Green Profound level, making him a rare genius among the Northern Border royalty. He happened to be traveling with his father to visit Old King Xiao; he hadn't expected to encounter such a rare Rank 8 or higher magic beast before even reaching the Qiong Xiao Kingdom. If he could tame it, his reputation as a genius would surely surpass that of his royal brother.