Ning Chen was still thinking it through as he started to get out of bed. He meant to go find Lone Stride and test his theory.

Just then, a deep, rumbling tiger's roar rang through the city lord's residence.

Ning Chen was halfway out of bed when his face suddenly twisted in agony, and he pitched headfirst onto the floor.

That gave everyone a real scare. They scrambled to get him back onto the bed.

Pan Yucheng looked frantic. "Are—are you all right?"

Ning Chen clutched his chest, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. The moment Lone Stride roared, that feeling like a knife turning in his heart had come back.

But now he was sure of it. These symptoms really did have something to do with Lone Stride.

He looked at Pan Yucheng and the others. "I'm not under some kind of curse, am I? Every time I get near Lone Stride, or hear it roar, it feels like a knife turning in my heart. It hurts so bad I want to die."

They stared at him, completely lost. This was getting a little absurd.

Feng Qizheng said, "I remember the day we got back to the city lord's residence, you even took Lone Stride out for a walk. You were fine."

Ning Chen nodded. "Right. When we first got back, seeing Lone Stride didn't bother me. But these last two days, every time I see it, it feels like a knife turning in my heart."

Pan Yucheng said, "Could it just be a coincidence?"

Ning Chen glanced at him. "Three times in a row. I don't think it's a coincidence... But who knows. Easiest way to find out is to try it, right? Come on. I'm going to go looking for a beating."

Ning Chen and the others went to the back courtyard.

Lone Stride saw Ning Chen and came trotting over, looking very pleased with itself.

But Ning Chen's face suddenly twisted with pain and went ghostly white, cold sweat pouring down his forehead... He forced himself to turn and run.

Lone Stride froze where it stood.…