"Are you done yet?" Shao Qi impatiently inquired, "Keep this up, and they'll be gone."

Master Wei, noticing his disciples hadn't returned for quite a while and sensing something amiss, was considering sending someone to check when he suddenly spotted a white figure running through the bushes.

The others noticed too, rallying protectively around Master Wei, "Could it be a small animal from the mountains? It looks solitary; shouldn’t be a threat."

But with the presence of wild beasts, no one dares to let their guard down. Nowadays, even an ant can be a threat; a smaller creature doesn't necessarily mean safety.

"Look over there! Is that a white cat?"

Master Wei, with his sharp eyes, quickly identified it as a white tiger cub and urgently instructed, "Capture it!"

The four split up to encircle it. However, the alertness of the little white tiger was astounding. They were noticed the moment they made their move. A pair of deep green eyes fixed on them before it turned to flee.

"After it!" Now, everyone could clearly see what it was — a living mutated tiger cub. How rare and valuable!

Master Wei didn’t interfere. He quietly sat and waited. After all, it was just an infant tiger; the four should have it under control.

Zhou You and Shao Qi concealed themselves among the trees. The little white tiger led its pursuers into the forest, sprinting towards their location.

When Zhou You gauged the distance of the followers, he suddenly shouted, "Xiao Bai!"

Two beams shot out, hitting two of the pursuers. Simultaneously, the little white tiger abruptly turned, lunging at the nearest human. Its claws left deep scars on the man's face, even scratching an eyeball, and then it clamped onto his neck until he ceased to breathe.

It was a natural predator. It seemed innately aware of human vulnerabilities. With every gulp of flesh, the fresh blood awakened its ferocity, giving it a distinct sensation.

Now, only one man was left. Seeing the situation, he turned and ran. However, no speed could outmatch the aim of Zhou You and Shao Qi. Two beams struck him, one in the heart and the other in the head, ending his life instantly.

Shao Qi jumped from the tree and asked Zhou You, "You're quite the marksman. Have you trained?"

Zhou You hummed in affirmation, walking over to the white tiger cub to wipe off its blood.

Shao Qi followed, glancing briefly at the scene of carnage, commenting softly, "A beast is still a beast, revealing its sharp fangs no matter its size. Zhou You, think it through."

Zhou You felt conflicted, more convinced than ever not to bring the white tiger into the human base. Yet if he let it go now, it could easily catch up to the convoy.

"Let's go. Time to meet Master Wei."

Author's Note: Shao Qi: "If both the white tiger and I fall into a river, who would you save first?"

Zhou You: "Neither. You both can swim ashore on your own, why would I need to rescue you?"

Shao Qi: "What if the white tiger and I are both in danger, who would you save?"

Zhou You: "I might just run away. If neither of you can handle the threat, it’s best I don’t risk it."

Chapter 040: Rest assured, no one's competing with you.

By the time Zhou You and Shao Qi arrived, Master Wei was still seated quietly, blending seamlessly with the night. Dressed in a black suit and matching cloak, he looked nothing like the crazed killer he was rumored to be.

Upon hearing footsteps, Master Wei looked up, not surprised to see it wasn’t his disciples or guards. He even chuckled, "Ah, old acquaintances. Fate indeed."

Zhou You retorted, "Some fates are better left unfounded."

Meeting him for the first time, Zhou You was taken aback by his youth. With refined features, he resembled more a school teacher than the notorious figure he was known to be.

His voice, too, was different from what he'd heard in the cave that day, but that was likely altered by a voice changer.

"Appearances can be deceiving. Who would believe that beneath this skin lies the soul of a demon?" Zhou You remarked sarcastically.

"What difference is there between a demon and a deity? In these times, everyone is vying for supreme martial prowess, aiming to be unparalleled. Who cares what techniques you practice?" Master Wei stood up, locking his gaze on Zhou You as he approached.

Zhou You found his stare unsettling. Raising his gun, he fired a warning shot towards Master Wei’s feet. “Stay back. My gun doesn’t discriminate.”

"Ha! Only the weak rely on guns. Do you two really need such tools?"

Zhou You thought: As expected! He could easily dodge bullets. Given that Shao Qi is also on high alert, Master Wei must be equally formidable.

"I've always wondered, where were you hiding when we were in the cave? Were you watching from nearby?" Zhou You has long sought this answer.

"Curiosity killed the cat. A young man stumbles onto my territory, ruining my two years of hard work. We have some scores to settle." Master Wei's face contorted with anger, his usually dignified demeanor now appeared sinister and frightening.

"Fine, let's settle it then. Do you know how many people you've killed? Don't you fear that you'll burn in hell for eons after death?"

Master Wei laughed heartily, as if he'd heard a joke. "It's amusing that you'd believe in such archaic superstitions. Seems like you haven’t learned enough about Marxist philosophy."

Stepping back, Zhou You whispered to Shao Qi, "Isn't he from that cult? Isn't that also superstition?"

Shao Qi gave Zhou You a disdainful glance and pushed him away, "Are you dense? Just because he recruits followers doesn't mean he's a true believer. He's nothing more than a con artist."

Master Wei nodded in agreement, "I used to be a university professor, teaching philosophy. How could I possibly believe in idealism? The idea of deities is merely to comfort those who feel lost. Only the lazy would put their faith in gods and deities. Such people are merely a waste of resources."