186: You have no choice

The setting sun descended, and the maple forest on Black Rat Mountain was dyed blood-red.

Lin Hu stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the peak, which wasn't particularly high but was filled with Demonic Qi.

He maintained his cub form, only the size of a small dog, his golden fur gleaming in the sunset.

"This place has a lot of Demonic Qi," Lin Hu sniffed. "Little mouse, is your Old Ancestor the boss of this Black Rat Mountain?"

A field mouse beside Lin Hu nodded and bowed, it was the same one who had mocked Lin Hu earlier.

Now, it had been tamed by Lin Hu.

"Yes, yes, Great Immortal Hu."

"Are you really here to find my Old Ancestor?"

Lin Hu nodded proudly.

This time, his main body, Lin Chuping, not only told him to explore the Ten Thousand Mountains but also asked him to deliver a message to the Rat Spirit, asking her if she wanted Rat Chestnut to work in the Underworld.

The end of the Universe is a stable position.

Being a ghost messenger or something would count as having a stable position.

***

On the mountain top platform, Little Green Snake was gently patting the Rat Spirit's back with the tip of her tail.

"Don't be too sad," Little Green Snake's voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "Rat Chestnut is so kind, Lord Chuping has already bestowed a soul stabilizing pearl, his Soul is fine, he will return one day."

The Rat Spirit hugged the soul stabilizing pearl, her tone a little confused, and resentful.

"Lord Chuping... why did Lord Chuping let this happen?"

"Don't say anymore!" Little Green Snake suddenly straightened her upper body, her emerald scales glinting coldly in the setting sun, and she lowered her voice. "Someone is here."

"Human?" The Rat Spirit suddenly looked up, a fierce glint in her eyes.

"No, it's Demonic Qi... but it's very special." Little Green Snake vigilantly looked around. "Be careful, I can't sense the exact location."

Just then, a small pebble fell from a maple tree, accurately hitting Little Green Snake's head.

"Ouch!" Little Green Snake angrily looked up. "Who—"

A golden figure lightly descended from the tree canopy, landing steadily on the bluestone in front of them.

It was a golden tiger cub, its round eyes shimmering with a wisdom not belonging to a cub.

"Pardon my interruption of your elegant leisure," the tiger cub spoke in human tongue, its voice childish, "I am Lin Hu, and I have come to visit the master of Black Rat Mountain."

The Rat Spirit and Little Green Snake exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Such a small tiger demon, yet able to perfectly conceal its Demonic Qi until such a close distance, was definitely not an ordinary being.

"Visit?" Little Green Snake flicked her tongue, a hint of wariness in her eyes. "You're not here to take over our territory, are you?"

Lin Hu grinned, revealing his sharp little fangs.

"Clever. But I prefer to call it... cooperation."

Lin Hu didn't know if he was mistaken, but the two demons, who had been somewhat nervous, suddenly relaxed upon hearing this.

"Hmph!"

"Trying to take over our territory? You should go out and ask around who protects this area!"

"Before, there was also a wolf demon, much more powerful than you, and wasn't he still split into dust by Lord Chuping?"

"We don't need cooperation. Black Rat Mountain does not welcome outside demons."

"Yeah, little tiger, I advise you to give up early."

"Yeah, yeah, go home and drink your milk."

One rat and one snake, they spoke one after another, somewhat like one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop.

"..."

Lin Hu: "..."

Lin Hu, of course, remembered this matter.

His main body just sent down a few heavenly lightning bolts, and the opponent was reduced to ashes.

Only a few incense points were left.

What a good demon.

Lin Hu's gaze lingered on the Rat Spirit for a moment, then he looked at the pearl she was protecting in her arms.

"Do you want to revive the Soul in that pearl?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Rat Spirit's fur bristled, and Little Green Snake instantly tensed her body, adopting an attack posture.

"How do you know?!" the Rat Spirit sharply demanded.

"Who are you?"

Lin Hu calmly sat down, his tail wrapping around his front paws: "I smell death and obsession. And..."

"I can see the light of a Soul. In that pearl, there is a sleeping Soul."

The Rat Spirit's body trembled slightly, her paws unconsciously touching the pearl on her chest.

Seeing this, Little Green Snake immediately slid in front of her, blocking Lin Hu's view.

"Whatever you want to do, leave Black Rat Mountain immediately."

Little Green Snake's voice was cold and biting, "Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

Lin Hu sighed, then his body suddenly flickered, expanding from palm-sized to the size of an adult tiger, and then rapidly shrinking back to his cub state.

This transformation took less than a second, but it stunned the two bumpkins opposite him.

So he wasn't a lost cub, but an old demon feigning youth.

"I'm not here to fight," Lin Hu patiently explained, "I can help you. But in exchange, I need your loyalty."

"Why should we believe you?" The Rat Spirit walked out from behind Little Green Snake, still wary, but with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Lin Hu did not answer immediately but closed his eyes. A moment later, a complex golden rune appeared on his forehead, emitting an ancient and powerful aura.

"This is..." Little Green Snake's eyes widened. "An ancient Demonic Mark?!"

"That's right," Lin Hu opened his eyes, and the rune gradually faded. "The Bloodline of an ancient tiger demon flows within me. Although my power is not yet fully Awakened, I possess many lost Demonic Techniques—including secret methods related to the Soul."

The Rat Spirit's breathing became rapid, and she clutched the soul stabilizing pearl tightly: "Can you really save Rat Chestnut?"

"I can't guarantee it, but there's at least a seventy percent chance." Lin Hu answered cautiously. "However, it requires some special Materials and rituals, and..."

"And what?" the Rat Spirit asked eagerly.

"And it requires establishing a Soul contract." Lin Hu looked directly into the Rat Spirit's eyes. "Once the contract is established, you will become my subordinates, protected by me, and you must also pledge loyalty to me."

Little Green Snake immediately objected: "No! Who knows if you're just tricking us?"

Lin Hu said unhurriedly.

"I've said what I needed to say, and you don't have a choice, do you?"

He raised a front paw, its tip glowing golden, "Let me see the soul stabilizing pearl."

The Rat Spirit hesitated for a moment but still took the pearl from her fur.

Lin Hu gently touched the surface of the pearl with his paw, and golden light seeped into the pearl like flowing water.

A moment later, the originally misty pearl became clearer, and a faint, blurred mouse-shaped shadow could vaguely be seen swimming inside.

"Rat Chestnut!" the Rat Spirit cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Little Green Snake watched this scene in shock, her attitude towards Lin Hu noticeably softening.

She turned to the Rat Spirit: "Are you sure you want to do this? A Soul contract is no laughing matter."

The Rat Spirit gazed at the faint shadow in the pearl, a resolute glint in her eyes: "As long as it can save Rat Chestnut, I am willing to pay any price."

Lin Hu nodded: "A wise choice. However..."

He looked at Little Green Snake, "I need both of you to agree. A single contract won't be strong enough."

Little Green Snake flicked her tongue, thinking for a moment, then suddenly asked: "What if we refuse?"

Lin Hu grinned, revealing his sharp tiger fangs: "Then I'll just have to forcefully subdue you. Believe me, that won't be good for anyone."

The atmosphere solidified for a moment.

The mountain wind rustled through the maple forest.