Chapter 120
“Sal—you’re finally here!” Nina cried, her face lighting up with joy.
Sal rushed forward and pulled her tightly into his arms. “Nina, I finally found you p>
He loosened his embrace just enough to look her over carefully from head to toe. Only after confirming she was truly unharmed did the tension in his chest finally ease.
He hugged her again, even tighter this time. “Thank goodness you’re alright p>
These past days had tormented him. He had worried endlessly—afraid she was hurt, afraid she was suffering, afraid she was alone.
“I’m fine,” Nina said softly, hugging him back.
Kith’s gaze sharpened, confusion flickering within it. Wasn’t that the damned leopard who stole the spirit pearl?
Was he still alive?
A rogue beast… and Nina was this close to him?
Kith stepped forward instinctively, intending to pull Nina away—but Sal moved first, drawing her behind him protectively.
Sal’s expression turned icy.
So this was the tiger who had bullied Nina.
The White Tiger clan possessed bloodline resonance. Sal had sensed long ago that one of them was in the wilderness—yet that tiger had ignored Nina completely.
And now he dared to show up?
And just moments ago, Sal had seen—
His fists clenched tightly. Today, he would kill this tiger.
He quickly guided Nina a short distance away, then transformed into a massive leopard and lunged at Kith. At the same time, countless energy spheres shot toward him in a barrage.
Kith reacted instantly, raising his defenses before shifting into his giant white tiger form.
Perfect.
He had been wanting to settle accounts with this leopard anyway.
Since Nina stood nearby, neither of them dared unleash their full power. They fought with restraint, careful not to let the shockwaves harm her.
Their strengths were evenly matched. Claw met fang, force against force. The battle swung back and forth with neither gaining a clear advantage.
Nina stood frozen.
Why were they fighting all of a sudden?
She wanted to intervene, but within moments, the two males had already carried the battle farther away.
Once at a safer distance, they stopped holding back.
Explosions erupted near the stone houses. Thunderous crashes and sharp cracking sounds filled the air.
Other males, hearing the commotion, rushed over.
When Finch recognized Sal, his eyes darkened. He immediately shifted into a giant fox and joined the fight.
Today, they would capture this leopard and reclaim the spirit pearl.
The fight instantly became two against one.
Yanai folded his arms and watched coldly.
He still remembered how Sal had deliberately failed to inform him about Nina’s whereabouts.
Served him right.
If the leopard got beaten to death, so be it.
“Damn leopard,” Finch snarled, launching a fierce assault. “You still dare show your face? You’re courting death p>
“Damn fox—so you’re here too? Fine. I’ll settle accounts with both of you at once,” Sal sneered, utterly fearless.
Even though Kith and Finch had the advantage in numbers, Sal was incredibly fast. Moving like a streak of shadow, he darted between them, claw and energy sphere striking in swift succession. For the moment, one against two, he was still evenly matched.
Seeing Kith and Finch gang up on him, Nina’s heart tightened with worry.
“Odian, hurry and stop them,” she urged. “That leopard is Sal—he’s my other guardian beast p>
At the word guardian, Odian stiffened slightly.
A rival.
Part of him didn’t want to interfere.
But he would never ignore Nina’s request.
He gently passed the cubs back to her, then soared into the fray.
“Stop fighting,” Odian called out.
The three were in the heat of battle, fury blazing in their eyes. They didn’t even glance at him. Instead, the fight intensified.
“This doesn’t concern you. Stay out of it,” Finch snapped, launching another attack.
“Nina told you to stop p>
At that exact moment, Sal unleashed a powerful technique. A deafening explosion shook the ground, swallowing Odian’s words completely. Neither Sal nor the others heard him.
Finch seized the distraction and attempted to strike Sal from behind.
Seeing this—and remembering that Sal was Nina’s guardian beast—Odian instinctively stepped in to block the blow, helping Sal instead.
Finch froze for half a heartbeat.
He hadn’t expected Odian to side with the leopard.
Without hesitation, he turned his attack toward Odian instead.
Just like that, the battle shifted into two versus two.
Off to the side, Aviel and Yanai stood with arms folded, watching with undisguised amusement.
Yes, yes—fight harder.
If one of them died, it would be even better.
Hidden in the shadows, Lex observed quietly. Why were the female’s guardian beasts fighting among themselves?
Back near the stone house, Nina blinked in confusion.
Weren’t they supposed to be breaking up the fight? How had it turned into an even bigger brawl?
The cubs watched with shining eyes, utterly fascinated.
Yinny and Didi cupped their paws around their mouths and shouted loudly, “Uncle Sal! Uncle Odian! Go! Beat stinky Father p>
From a distance, Kith and Finch heard that clearly.
Their hearts cracked.
Whose cubs are you exactly?
All that milk—completely wasted.
Linny and Momo coiled around Nina’s shoulders, occasionally flapping little wings or waving tiny claws as if cheering along.
After venting some of his anger, Kith gradually began to pull back. When he saw that Nina had sent Odian to intervene, he realized Sal clearly held a significant place in her heart.
He didn’t want to make her angry.
“Enough,” Kith growled. “If we keep fighting, Nina will be upset p>
“Nina?” Sal’s eyes blazed. “What right do you have to call her Nina, you irresponsible tiger p>
He lunged forward and slashed at Kith with a furious swipe.
Kith dodged swiftly, countering with sharp wind blades slicing through the air toward Sal.
Sal retaliated with several condensed energy spheres. They detonated around Kith in rapid succession.
“Where were you when Nina was carrying her cubs?” Sal roared. “Now that they’re born and hatched, you and that damn fox show up to enjoy the results p>
The accusation struck harder than any physical blow.
Kith’s momentum faltered.
Sal was right. When Nina had needed them most… He and Finch hadn’t been there.
Kith did not launch another attack. He merely defended now and then, no longer pressing forward.
Nina didn’t want them to keep fighting. She didn’t want any of them hurt. With a sigh, she turned to Yanai.
“Go stop them, too p>
Yanai had no choice but to jog toward the battlefield. Drawing in a breath, he shouted at the top of his lungs:
“Nina says, stop fighting! Or you’re all going home to kneel on sharp gravel p>
The moment Sal heard the word gravel, his legs almost gave out.
He froze mid-motion. He absolutely refused to kneel like that again.
Kith and Finch, however, looked baffled.
Seeing Sal abruptly stop, Odian flew down beside him and said to Kith and Finch, “He’s also Nina’s guardian beast. Don’t fight him anymore p>
“What?” Finch frowned in disbelief.
That damned leopard was a rogue beast. How could Nina possibly accept him as a guardian? She must have been deceived.
Kith’s brows knit tightly.
So the leopard truly was the other guardian beast.
Sal’s eyes darkened.
Also?
What did “also” mean?
Were they all Nina’s guardian beasts, too?
He had only been gone for a short while, and suddenly so many little vixens had gathered around her?
His gaze flicked toward Yanai.
Why was that wolf here, too? Was he some kind of sticky plaster that couldn’t be shaken off?
The flames of battle finally died down, and the four males returned to Nina’s side.
She raised a brow thoughtfully. So kneeling on gravel was really that effective?
“Why were you fighting?” she asked.
“Nina, he’s a rogue beast. Don’t let him fool you,” Finch said, glaring at Sal.
“Nina,” Kith added gravely, “he’s not just a rogue beast—he’s a leader among them p>
He couldn’t help suspecting that Sal had deceived her. After all, most females would never accept a rogue beast.
Sal immediately put on a pitiful expression.
“Nina, they bullied me. They’re the ones who injured me before p>
“You stole the sacred treasure of the fox clan first!” Finch snapped angrily. “And now you dare twist the story p>
Nina stepped slightly in front of Sal, shielding him in a protective gesture.
“I know he’s a rogue beast,” she said calmly. “But I’m still willing to accept him p>
Sal’s heart warmed instantly at her words. She was defending him—in front of them.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
As expected, Nina still cared about him the most. He was clearly the most favored.
These pitiful rivals couldn’t compete with him at all.