The cold steel of two hundred butcher knives pressed against the throats of two hundred whimpering creatures.
Feathers drifted into the mud as spirit-cranes shrieked in pain. Thunder-leopards growled through broken teeth, their golden fur stained with grease and blood. In the nearest wooden wagon, a baby cloud-deer shuddered, tears leaking from its large violet eyes.
Bai Ling held the Nine-Tailed Snow-Fox against her chest, her knuckles turning white.
“Valley Master Beast-Fang!” Bai Ling pleaded, her voice shaking with anguish. “They haven’t done anything wrong! The cranes haven’t eaten grain in four days! The leopard cubs have open ulcers on their paws! Please, don’t butcher them!”
Elder Poison-Whip sneered from behind the mammoth chariot, clutching his bandaged hand. “Shut your mouth, little traitor! You ruined our twenty-million spirit-stone contract with Mount Kunlun! If this mortal boss doesn’t pay double to cover our lost profit, every beast dies!”
Valley Master Beast-Fang rested his spiked mace on his shoulder, his yellow eyes dripping with greed.
“You heard my elder, Lin Mo,” Beast-Fang bellowed. “Forty million spirit stones, plus all thirty-six of your golden carriages! Otherwise, the butchering starts with that cloud-deer!”
Lin Mo stood on the Beast-Taming Platform, his hands resting casually in his trouser pockets.
