706 Falling
Morning comes.
The group cleaned themselves for a moment and enjoyed breakfast before continuing their journey. They couldnât make the trip in a rush, because according to the shaman Shin if it was meant to be, the cave would appear in front of them without them having to look for it so hard.
Bai Ying had just finished his business of going to the restroom and was ready to go back to the group. Until something caught his attention.
âWow, thereâs a rabbit huh?â something white sticking out of the bushes not far in front of him. Looks like kind of the white rabbit fur that he often found in the Pai Hua valley in the past.
âWhite rabbitâ and canât wait to see it, this is his luck.
Without thinking Bai Ying approached the bush where the white fur was, he pushed aside the bush to take a look, however, it was not a white rabbit, it was much bigger in size and had another pattern color among the white fur.
Bai Ying squatted down looking at the little creature that was already looking at him with its pair of big round eyes, that, an extremely adorable white tiger cub.
âHey, what are you doing here alone? Where are your parents?â Bai Ying looked around, and saw no other white tiger there, the cub was just there alone.
âPoor thing, are you separated from your mother and other siblings?â without hesitation, Bai Ying stretched out his hand to touch the cubâs fur, soft and fluffy fur. His eyes widened, this, like the creature that attacked him last night, was it this tiger cub?
.....
âSo it was you last night, huh? What are you doing around here?â
Bai Ying picked up the tiger cub that looked very docile, from its size it could only be tens of days old, and it was so adorable. As soon as Bai Ying picked him up, the white tiger pressed its face against Bai Yingâs and rubbed its head.
Bai Ying chuckled.
âHehehe youâre so cute, oh if only I could take you homeâ
The Crown Prince approached after Bai Ying took too long to bathroom.
âYing Ying, what are you doing here? Are you finished?â he asked. Luo Xing stopped in his tracks to see Bai Ying who was holding the cub that was rubbing his cheek with its head.
âYing Ying, where did you get the tiger cub from?â he asked closer, wary of when the cub was not what it seemed, cute and harmless.
Bai Ying held out the tiger cub in front of the Crown Prince.
âThis, Your Majesty, this tiger cub that attacked me last night, itâs very cute, right?â cried Bai Ying who smiled widely until his eyes disappeared.
Luo Xiang looked at the tiger cub looking at him with a pair of big round eyes, it was indeed adorable. But, Luo Xiang could see who he was from the look in his eyes. He immediately took the cub from shocked Bai Ying.
âYour Majestyâ
Luo Xiang looked at the tiger cub for a moment, glaring at him sharply.
âYou took a chance, didnât you? Itâs just nice to hold and kissân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He saw clearly someoneâs face on the cubâs face. Who else could he be, if not Bai Hu?
The tiger used the opportunity to cling to Bai Ying so close, hugging him with his two small hands holding his face while his large round eyes looked up at him.
Luo Xiang lifted the cubâs small body from Bai Ying. The tiger cub crying loudly.
âToo good for you, take the chance in the narrow, stay away from my Ying Yingâ
Bai Ying tried to hold the cub away from the hands of the Crown Prince who was about to throw it the other way.
âYour Highness, no, itâs too pitiful, he is still so young, itâs so cute like this, look at his face, it is so adorable,â said Bai Ying hugging the cub immediately before Luo Xiang threw it.
âWhatâs so cute about it, this fluffy bundle of fur, this is Bai Hu, he deliberately hugs you so tightly, it s too good for himâ
âWell, even so, heâs still so young. Oh look, Your Highness scared him, look at him crying right?â
Luo Xiang stared at the tiger cub, a hundred years ago Bai Hu was still a cute tiger cub, but still, he already had the consciousness of a human kid. Heâs very good at taking advantage of opportunities.
Luo Xiang took Bai Yingâs hand pulling him back to their resting place.
âCome on, we have to move on. This tiger could have strayed from his cave and he could have walked down the hill and met Prince Yen Hui there. Just leave him hereâ Luo Xiang said.
Bai Ying still held the cub in one hand. He was so scared that he hid his head under Bai Yingâs armpit.
âBut Your Majesty, heâs still very small, how about being eaten by other bigger animals? Or, what if the hunter finds it? Then, what if he falls into a ravine orâ¦â
âThereâs no way heâll die that easily, just leave him here we have to look for that cave againâ
Bai Ying pursed his mouth.
âUm, but, Your Highness, itâs too bad heâs aloneâ
The two walked closer to the rocks wall where they rested around it for the night. Bai Ying was just about to show the tiger cub Chen Ming and others when the little tiger jumped down from her arms.
âHey, little tiger!â Bai Ying was shocked, as were the others as the white tiger darted towards the weed-covered wall and charged inside.
âHey!â
Xiao Hong caught it too late, the tiger cub disappeared in a small hole at the bottom of the rock that was previously invisible to anyoneâs eyes, of course, because of its very small size and covered in dense wild plants.
âYour Highness, there is a hole hereâ Xiao Hong exclaimed.
Bai Ying drew closer. Trying to peek where the cub went, but the hole is too small and located below, it was very difficult to see into it.
âOh, how is this, Your Majesty, Xiao Bai went inside, how do we get it out?â Bai Ying asked.
Luo Xiang looked at the small hole, then looked around. The stone wall was very sturdy and hard, could this be the cave they were looking for all this time?
While they were still thinking suddenly the ground beneath their feet shook.
âWhatâs this?â Chen Ming held on to Xiao Hong, while Luo Xiang approached Bai Ying and held him.
âYing Ying, donât let go of my hand. Everyone stay alert!â Luo Xiang exclaimed. Everyone was preparing for what happened next, the vibrations under the ground did not stop until it made some of the animals there as birds that perched on dense trees fly away.
âYour Highness, what happened?â asked Bai Ying gripping the Crown Princeâs clothes tightly.
Luo Xiang looked around as if the mountain was about to be split open, cracking sounds were heard from under the ground and around them as if something enormous appeared from below.
âEveryone, open your eyes wideâ
Bai Ying held the Crown Princeâs hand tightly. He widened his eyes to see the tiger cub out of the hole.
âXiao Bai!â
Without a second thought, the kid let go of Luo Xiang and chased after the tiger cub to catch him, ignoring the shaking of the ground and the falling stones strewn from the top of the hill.
âYing Ying!â It was too late for Luo Xiang to prevent him as the tremors that grew louder made all the rocks near them collapse and fall on them.
âYour Highness, be careful!â shouted Shin Ya who reflexively turned on the protective field above them so they werenât hit by rocks falling from the top of the hill. Meanwhile, Luo Xiang chased after Bai Ying who was catching the white tiger cub towards the exposed stone wall.
âYing Ying!â
The shaking was getting louder, not just from above, but also from below where the ground started to crack.
âAh, Xiao Hong, what happened?â
Xiao Hong looked with burning eyes, unable to feel any power from the tremors that looked like normal earthquake vibrations. He spread his wings to protect Chen Ming who was behind him.
âPrince stays behind me,â he said gripping Chen Mingâs hand.
Shin Ya was starting to get overwhelmed, his vision was getting limited because of the dust caused by the rubble around them.
âEkh, itâs getting stronger, Your Highness, we must immediately out of here, I canât hold it any longerâ Shin Ya exclaimed.
âBei Yau, is there no way to get out from here?â Luo Xiang exclaimed.
Bei Yau used his inner energy to split the rocks that came towards them, he reply in a loud voice.
âNo, Your Highness, the ruins are covering all the exits.â
The tremors grew stronger, and Luo Xiang held Bai Yingâs hand tightly protecting his head from the falling rocks.
âEkh, damn it, are we going to die ridiculously here? How can this suddenly happen? We must immediately seek shelter.â