Just as Gu Liang was about to act, Alei abruptly turned his head, his golden pupils contracting sharply. Whether it was a beastly instinct or the fleeting resolve in Gu Liang's eyes betraying his intent, he instantly sensed something.
Rough hands clamped down on Gu Liang's wrist like iron pincers, the force nearly crushing bone. The Swiss Army knife hidden at his waist was easily seized. A low, cold snort escaped Alei as he eyed the peculiar metal weapon. He flung it into the corner of the tent, the drunken haze in his eyes replaced by icy fury.
The festival's clamor continued, but Gu Liang's world had fallen silent. A Lie roughly yanked him to his feet, ignoring the stares from those around them, and strode straight toward the tent.
Back inside, Alei slammed Gu Liang onto the animal hides. He stood at the entrance, his tall, dark silhouette silhouetted against the firelight. He didn't approach immediately, merely fixed Gu Liang with those golden pupils that glowed in the darkness.
Suddenly, an unusual commotion erupted outside the tent. Not the revelry of the festival, but panicked shouts and the clang of weapons clashing. A Lie whipped around and flung open the flap.
In the darkness, several figures could be vaguely seen fighting the guards—agile Leopard Clan warriors. Their target was clear: they charged straight for Alei's tent.
Amidst the chaos, the roar of Chief Mo Zong echoed: "Stop them!"
Rebellion. The word flashed through Gu Liang's mind.
A Lie growled low, shifting without hesitation. The massive golden tiger instantly filled the tent entrance, unleashing a deafening roar. He lunged at the rebellious Leopard Clan warriors, his claws gleaming coldly in the darkness.
In the chaos, no one paid attention to the slave inside the tent anymore.
Gu Liang's heart pounded wildly. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting toward the military knife in the tent's corner. But Alei had thrown it far away, and retrieving it now was too risky. The opportunity was fleeting.
He took a deep breath and quietly lifted the back flap of the tent—he had already noticed a loose clasp there. The opening was just wide enough for one person to slip through.
The icy night air instantly filled his lungs. Without hesitation, Gu Liang slipped out of the tent and vanished into the darkness.
Relying on the memories of days spent silent observation, he carefully avoided the areas illuminated by the bonfire, moving swiftly through the shadows. The clamor of the festival and the sounds of fighting masked his footsteps.
Just as he neared the edge of the camp, a deep voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Gu Liang froze, turning slowly.
The leader of the Black Mane stood in the shadows, his face expressionless. His gaze swept over the conspicuous brand beneath Gu Liang's collarbone.
The two stood silently facing each other in the darkness. In the distance, the giant tiger incarnation of Alei continued to battle the rebels, its roars shaking the night sky.
After a long moment, Black Mane shifted slightly to the side, clearing the path to the Black Forest. His gaze held an unreadable complexity.
Without hesitation, Gu Liang turned and plunged into the darkness of freedom.
The forest opened like a gaping maw, swallowing his figure in an instant. Branches scraped his skin, roots beneath his feet nearly tripped him, but he dared not stop, forcing himself to run forward.
He ran until the campfire's glow and clamor faded completely behind him, until his lungs burned with agony. Only then did Gu Liang stagger to a halt, leaning against a massive ancient tree to catch his breath.
A cold dread mingled with the wild elation of freedom, sending shivers through his entire body. He had succeeded. He had escaped—
A faint crack of a snapping branch echoed from behind him.
Gu Liang spun around abruptly, assuming a defensive stance with his bare hands.
A Lie emerged step by step from the darkness. He had resumed human form, his body covered in blood—whether his own or his enemy's, it was unclear. A deep gash ran from his forehead to his cheekbone, blood partially obscuring his golden pupil, yet the fierce glint within remained undimmed.
In his hand, he gripped a heavy stone axe, its blade still stained with dark blood.
"Run," Alei growled in Orcish. Though Gu Liang couldn't understand the words, the threat and fury in the tone were unmistakable.
Gu Liang retreated step by step until his back pressed against the rough tree trunk, with nowhere left to go.
A Lie continued to advance, the stone axe gleaming coldly in the moonlight.