163: Black bear submits

The sound of hoofbeats echoed on the mountain road, and the Iron-Bristle Horses were panting heavily.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand in a wave, and the three thousand soldiers stopped immediately.

Cries of distress came from ahead, and the wind blew so hard it made one's ears ache.

"Move! Move quickly!"

"The bear is coming—!"

Five thousand refugees were blocked at the mountain pass, unable to move.

Ahead was a large black shadow, bigger than a carriage, with a cliff behind them.

Some people fell, and children cried out loudly.

A man in tattered clothes charged forward with a hoe, but was knocked over by the wind after running only a few steps, rolling several times before stopping.

Shen Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes to look.

The thing stood nearly three zhang tall, its black fur glistening, with a lump of muscle bulging on its shoulder.

Its right front paw was missing a section, and the wound was covered in a dark red scar.

When it opened its mouth, a foul odor rushed out, causing the front row of soldiers to retreat.

It was him.

This Black Bear Spirit had chased him for thirty li in the North Ridge three months ago, smashing three supply carts with a single swipe of its paw.

Back then, he hadn't yet achieved Awakening of Divine Sense Resonance and had only escaped by using two Speed Talismans.

Now, it dared to block his path?

"Form ranks." Shen Xiaochuan's voice was not loud, but every captain heard it.

The three thousand soldiers immediately split into three rows.

Spears pointed downward, and shields were held to the front.

Archers nocked their arrows, and lighting talismans were plunged into the ground.

No one spoke, and no one moved.

The new recruits' hands were trembling slightly, but seeing their commander unmoved, they gritted their teeth and held their ground.

Shen Xiaochuan dismounted, the copper gear on his armor swaying slightly.

He walked seven steps forward, standing between the refugees and the Black Bear Spirit.

"Do you recognize me?" he asked.

The Black Bear Spirit looked down at him, its nostrils flaring, and a low growl emanated from its throat: "It's you... that little bug that glows."

"You still remember."

"Weak things shouldn't stay alive." The Black Bear Spirit slammed its palms into the ground with a boom, causing the earth to crack and stones to fly up half a person's height.

Several refugees' legs went weak, and they collapsed to the ground.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't move.

"You're wrong," he said, looking up. "Now, it's you who should die."

He closed his eyes.

The faith points within his body rapidly decreased, peaking at three points per second.

A golden line appeared between his brows, like a red-hot iron wire embedded into his flesh.

His bones creaked slightly, his muscles thickened, and his armor strained with a creaking sound.

His combat power jumped to 5003 and stopped.

He opened his eyes, his pupils glowing with a pale golden light.

He raised his hands, and the sky instantly darkened.

Nine golden chains, as thick as bowls, struck down from the clouds with the sound of thunder.

The first nailed into the Black Bear Spirit's left paw, the second wrapped around its right arm, and the third choked its neck.

Soil exploded into the air, and the entire mountain shook.

The Black Bear Spirit roared in anger, trying to break free, but the chains tightened further.

It knelt on one knee, bracing itself, then knelt fully, and finally, its hind legs sank half a foot into the ground.

The fur on its head was scorched by the golden light, emitting wisps of smoke.

"I said," Shen Xiaochuan walked over step by step, his voice very calm, "you shouldn't block my path."

The Black Bear Spirit jerked its head up, still filled with ferocity, but its neck was pressed down so hard it couldn't lift it.

It gasped for air and suddenly spoke: "Wait!"

Shen Xiaochuan drew his short sword, the tip pointing at the center of its brows.

"You want to live?"

"I am willing to sign a pact!" the Black Bear Spirit said in a low voice. "A Master-Servant Pact! To be a slave for eternity!"

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Even the crying children stopped.

The three thousand soldiers stared in this direction.

The refugees hid in the distance, peeking secretly.

Shen Xiaochuan did not put away his sword.

"The time you hunted me down, if you had caught me, would you have spared my life?"

"No," the Black Bear Spirit said. "I would have torn open your stomach and eaten your heart."

"And now?"

"Now you are stronger than me." It lowered its head, its forehead touching the ground. "Strength is respected. I submit."

Shen Xiaochuan looked at it for five seconds.

The golden line on his face flickered, his breathing steady.

He twisted his wrist and sheathed the sword.

"Very well," he said. "But you only have one chance. Betrayal will mean more than just death."

The Black Bear Spirit let out a sigh of relief and lay on the ground, motionless.

The nine golden chains in the air tightened, transforming into a beam of light that drilled into its forehead.

A distorted symbol appeared there, looking like both a lock and a seal.

When the seal was formed, its entire body shuddered, and its tail drooped.

"Get up," Shen Xiaochuan said.

The Black Bear Spirit slowly stood up; it was still tall, but its demeanor had changed.

Its shoulders were hunched, its head slightly lowered, like an obedient servant.

No one spoke at the scene, but the three thousand soldiers simultaneously stamped their spears, as if to show their approval.

Shen Xiaochuan turned to face the soldiers: "This exotic beast is under my command and will accompany the army in the future. Anyone who disobeys orders will be dealt with according to military law."

The Black Bear Spirit lowered its head and replied, "Yes," then turned and walked toward the cave entrance.

Shen Xiaochuan followed behind, his armor gleaming coldly under the blue light.

The copper gear pendant swayed gently, back and forth.

The Black Bear Spirit stopped for two seconds, nodded, and said, "Follow me."

Shen Xiaochuan's gaze was firm: "Where to?"

The Black Bear Spirit tilted its head: "Where I stay."

The corners of Shen Xiaochuan's mouth curled up slightly: "Exactly, the lair. I want to see what you've been hiding."

It walked in front, slowing its pace to keep a three-step distance from Shen Xiaochuan.

The mountain path turned west, and the bushes grew denser.

Upon reaching the edge of the cliff, it pushed aside the vines, revealing a dark cave entrance.

"This is it?" Shen Xiaochuan asked.

"Yes. Behind it is a rocky cavern with seven or eight forks. I sleep in the innermost part."

"Go in."

The Black Bear Spirit entered first, and Shen Xiaochuan followed.

The cave entrance was low, forcing it to stoop.

Halfway through, Shen Xiaochuan suddenly stopped.

"Can the seal on your forehead be removed?"

"No," the Black Bear Spirit turned back. "Unless you die, or you personally dissolve the pact."

"What if I die?"

"I will be free, but I cannot harm your people. That is the rule of the pact."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded and continued walking.

The cave grew dark and the air damp.

After walking about a hundred steps, there was light ahead.

A few blue stones on the rock wall illuminated a stone hall.

In the corner lay a pile of bones, from deer and wild boars, as well as several human skeletons; fragments of clothing could still be identified as belonging to patrol soldiers from some small divine kingdom.

In the center lay a tiger skin, and to the side was half a broken spear, its tip carved with crooked runes.

Shen Xiaochuan walked over and picked up the broken spear.

"Used for killing people?"

"When fighting for territory," the Black Bear Spirit stood at the entrance. "If I won, I could eat for another month."

"You won't need to anymore."

"I know," it lowered its head. "From now on, I listen to you."

Shen Xiaochuan threw the broken spear back.

He looked around and noticed a fissure at the end of the stone hall.

The crack was not wide, but it was deep, and wind surged out, carrying a metallic scent.

"Where does that lead?"

"The Thunder Crystal cave," the Black Bear Spirit said. "I've never been inside. It's too bright; it hurts my eyes."

"Is there anything inside?"

"There is ore. That kind of stone is very bright, and touching it makes your hand go numb."

Shen Xiaochuan touched the copper gear pendant.

The Faith Mall was running in his mind, and his balance was increasing.

He stared at the fissure, saying nothing.

Footsteps came from outside; it was a captain from the Vanguard Battalion.

He stood outside the cave entrance, not daring to enter, and said, "Sir, the refugees have been evacuated under the guidance of the Logistics Group, and all five thousand people have been safely relocated."

"Understood," Shen Xiaochuan replied.

After the captain left, only the two of them were left in the cave.

"You're afraid of light?" Shen Xiaochuan asked.

"Yes," the Black Bear Spirit admitted. "All perfect grade exotic beasts have weaknesses. My eyes cannot handle strong light."

"Then lead the way; just get me to the entrance."

"You want to go in?"

"Of course."

"The Thunder Crystal inside will interfere with Divine Sense, and..." it paused, "there are creatures guarding the ore that are stronger than me."

Shen Xiaochuan smiled.

"Something stronger than me hasn't been born yet."

He stepped forward and placed his palm against the rock wall.

His fingertips felt a vibration, as if something was pulsing underground.

"Let's go," he said to the Black Bear Spirit. "Lead the way."