As the crowd stared at Lin Ziao, he looked back and spoke in a plain voice.
"War Blo....Shitty Tiger? Never heard of that before today."
People in the room gasped. Some blinked, confused. Others looked at each other, whispering. Lin Ziao didn't seem scared—just confused, maybe even a little annoyed.
Peng Cheng frowned. He didn't understand either. He looked at Lin Ziao closely, trying to read something on his face. But Lin Ziao looked normal just any boy would.
If it wasn't the War Blood Tiger that caused the orb to glow red… then what was it?
I need to figure this out. And if I can't… I'll have to take this boy with me into the forest.
The thought didn't sit well with him but Peng Cheng wasn't the kind of man who ignored signs.
He stood tall, his face serious, and spoke so everyone could hear.
"I'll be taking this young man with me," he said. "I can't let any hidden danger follow us into the forest. And to be sure, I need to test everyone that went into the forest."
More whispers and nervous looks. Even the bravest warriors didn't say a word but everyone was thinking the same thing—what if the orb glowed red for the other people who went into the forest too?
Peng Cheng turned his head slowly, eyes scanning the crowd then he pointed at someone.
"Li Qingshan. Step up to the altar."
Qingshan's heart jumped as he didn't want to go near the orb. He didn't want to be like Lin Ziao—glowing red and being stared at like a monster.
Please be green, he thought. Please don't glow red.
He walked toward the altar his legs stiff and hands sweaty. The orb sat quietly on its stone base. It didn't look scary but everyone in the room was afraid of it now.
Peng Cheng watched him.
"Put your hand on the formation stone," he said.
Qingshan paused, took a deep breath, and placed his hand on the stone.
The room held its breath then the orb shone.
Then it glowed soft blue.
The entire hall sighed at once.
People looked at each other and nodded. Some even smiled a little. Green was safe.
Qingshan pulled his hand back quickly. His heart was still beating fast, but he felt okay. He hurried back into the crowd, not wanting anyone to look at him for long.
Peng Cheng nodded. "He's clear."
But the uneasiness wasn't gone. Now, the people were looking at Lin Ziao again. The one who still didn't have an answer. The one the orb had marked with red.
Lin Ziao stood quietly, his fists clenched. His eyes stared at nothing in particular.
He hadn't done anything. He didn't even know what the orb was until today. But now, everyone was acting like he was dangerous.
Why are they looking at me like that? I didn't do anything wrong.
"I told you already," he muttered, voice low, "I don't know what that War Shitty Tiger stuff thing is. I don't even know what's going on."
But no one listened.
Peng Cheng stepped down from the altar and walked toward him.
"Prepare yourself," he said. "We leave at dawn."
Lin Ziao looked at him, surprised. "Just like that? You're taking me with you?"
Peng Cheng gave a small nod. "It's not a punishment. But I can't leave you behind. Not until I understand what happened with the orb."
For a moment, Lin Ziao looked like he wanted to argue. But then he looked around at the faces in the room—faces full of fear, doubt, and judgment.
What would be the point of staying?
He sighed and nodded.
"All right."
Peng Cheng added " It is the War Blood Tiger not the War Shitty Tiger."
Slowly, the people began to leave the hall. They walked quietly, not saying much. But many of them glanced back at Lin Ziao. Some looked scared. Some looked sorry but none of them looked like they trusted him anymore. Only Li Qingshan did.
Peng Cheng stood still, deep in thought. He didn't like guessing. He liked answers and right now, he had none.
Lin Ziao walked to a corner and sat down. His mind was full of questions. Why him? Why red? Why now?
But in the far back of the room, hidden behind a wooden beam, an old man sat alone. His hood covered most of his face, but if anyone had looked close, they would have seen something strange.
His eyes—deep and shadowed—glowed faint black and he was smiling.