Chapter Four: The Whereabouts of Old Kong

"Yingying, just now Qin Tian was asking about your zodiac sign." After they reached the VIP seats, Shen Xiaoqing turned to Jiang Yingying and said.

"Why were you asking about my zodiac sign?" Jiang Yingying frowned.

"I was just curious, that’s all," Qin Tian replied with an awkward smile. He couldn’t let Jiang Yingying know what he’d really been thinking, or who knew what kind of trouble that would cause—he could easily end up facing a raging tigress.

Fortunately, the circus performance began right then, successfully diverting Jiang Yingying’s attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Royal Splendor Circus! We guarantee you a visual and auditory feast like no other!" The clown ringmaster beamed with enthusiasm, his voice brimming with excitement.

Qin Tian rested his head on his arm, leaning back in his seat. A circus? He was not only bored of them—he had grown tired of performing in them himself!

There was no circus act in the world that Qin Tian couldn’t master! He had even participated in the thrilling act of a python swallowing a man alive—though, of course, he was not the one being swallowed…

"Bravo!"

"How amazing!"

"Beautiful!"

As the show began, cheers and applause mingled together in a constant stream.

"Why aren’t you watching?" Shen Xiaoqing noticed that Qin Tian was nearly dozing off in his chair.

"There’s nothing worth seeing in these acts," Qin Tian replied with his eyes closed, his expression blank.

"What a waste of such expensive tickets," Shen Xiaoqing rolled her eyes.

"Sir, it seems you’re not impressed with our performance? Why don’t you come on stage and help us with an act?" The clown ringmaster, apparently having overheard Qin Tian’s dismissive comment, walked over with a smile and invited him up as a guest performer.

"Is there any pay involved? I don’t work for free," Qin Tian replied bluntly.

What a joke—if they wanted his cooperation for an act, they’d have to pay him for his labor!

The clown ringmaster hadn’t expected this response and was momentarily at a loss for words.

"You’re a grown man! Why are you making such a fuss? Just go up and help with the performance!" Shen Xiaoqing gave Qin Tian a push.

"Alright, alright, I’m going," Qin Tian stood up, helpless.

Once on stage, Qin Tian looked at the clown ringmaster and asked, "What are we performing?"

"All you have to do is stand right here, sir," the clown replied with a smile, though he was seething inside—how dare this man look down on their circus! He’d give him a proper scare in a moment.

Before long, a brown bear suddenly charged out from backstage, heading straight for Qin Tian and eliciting terrified screams from the audience.

"Qin Tian is going to be mauled by the bear!" Shen Xiaoqing was startled out of her wits, while Jiang Yingying covered her eyes, dreading the bloody scene that was sure to follow.

"A brown bear?" Qin Tian picked his ear, watching the bear charging toward him. After flicking away the bit of dirt he’d dug out, he shot the bear a glance.

An astonishing scene followed—the upright brown bear instantly dropped to all fours, crawled over to Qin Tian’s feet, and hugged his leg, looking utterly submissive.

"Wow!"

"That’s incredible!"

"I thought that young man was done for!"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

As the audience realized what was happening, they burst into cheers and applause, thinking it was all part of the act.

Shen Xiaoqing patted her chest in relief, and Jiang Yingying let out a long breath as well.

The clown ringmaster, however, stared in disbelief. How could this be? The bear would never truly harm Qin Tian, but for it to be this obedient? It was behaving like a mouse in front of a cat!

"That was the Royal Splendor Circus presenting a thrilling moment for you all! Thank you for watching!" The clown was quick to recover, seizing the chance to wrap up the act.

Once more, the tent was filled with applause.

Qin Tian left the stage and returned to his seat.

"So, were you scared just now?" Shen Xiaoqing asked curiously.

"Scared? Not at all. Even tigers turn into big housecats when they see me," Qin Tian replied, his face full of pride.

"Keep bragging. Go on and show off some more," Jiang Yingying said with a look of disdain.

"Believe it or not, I don’t care," Qin Tian replied, not bothering to explain.

"Now, let’s welcome our new member to the Royal Splendor Circus—Big Tiger!" the clown ringmaster announced the next act.

Qin Tian frowned slightly. Big Tiger? That happened to be the same name as the tiger he’d raised.

But soon, he was so shocked he could barely stay in his seat—for the tiger that appeared was indeed his own Big Tiger!

"Big Tiger! How did he end up here? Is Old Man Kong here too?" Suspicion welled up inside Qin Tian.

He quickly noticed something was wrong: there were whip marks on Big Tiger’s body. Though they had scabbed over and were hidden beneath its fur, they could not escape Qin Tian’s sharp eyes.

Watching the trainer on stage drive Big Tiger through tricks with a flexible whip, Qin Tian’s eyes burned with rage. The whip might not be very damaging, but Big Tiger was already wounded, and each lash must have been agony.

"No! I have to find out what’s going on!" Qin Tian gritted his teeth.

Finally, the show was over. Qin Tian excused himself to go to the restroom and slipped backstage.

"Hmph, at least you behaved and didn’t embarrass me. Tonight you’ll get an extra chicken drumstick for dinner," the animal trainer said as he locked Big Tiger back in its cage.

Bloodstains were visible in the cage—clearly Big Tiger had suffered plenty of abuse.

"Big Tiger, where’s Old Man Kong? How did you end up here?"

Taking advantage of the trainer’s absence, Qin Tian hurried to the cage to ask what had happened.

Big Tiger, seeing Qin Tian, immediately began to weep, clearly having endured a great deal.

"Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here. Tell me everything," Qin Tian soothed the tiger.

A few minutes later—

"Old Man Kong actually abandoned you? From what you’ve described, it sounds like he was being hunted. But who would want to kill Old Man Kong?" Qin Tian’s brows furrowed tightly. He knew too little to piece together what had happened.

Old Man Kong had left without a word, apparently under threat, leaving Big Tiger, Big Monkey, and Big Wolf behind.

Fortunately, Big Monkey and Big Wolf had not been captured by the Royal Splendor Circus, though their whereabouts were unknown.

Big Tiger had been caught because it was starving and stole a chicken from a farmer, eventually ending up with the circus after changing hands several times.

"Big Tiger, I’ll find a way to get you out. Wait here—I won’t abandon you. I’ll be back," Qin Tian reassured the tiger, then left quickly as the trainer returned.

Back at his seat, Qin Tian knew he wasn’t strong enough to rescue Big Tiger on his own. He needed help, and the only person who might be able to help was Jiang Tianxiang.

He was the only suitable choice—Jiang Tianxiang’s status in Wushi was certainly high enough that, with his help, saving Big Tiger would not be a problem.

Even if he couldn’t bring Big Tiger home, at least he could send him to a decent zoo.