Translator: CinderTL
"Waaah..."
The Silver Wolf curled up on the ground, emitting a faint cry of distress and helplessness.
Its eyes, fixed on Song Wen and Mi He, held the wide-eyed terror of a child facing an unknown monster.
"Please don't eat Xiao Hua! Xiao Hua is only 153 years old and has only been sentient for a year. I haven't even grown up yet. I don't want to die!" The Silver Wolf's voice was clear and childish, its tone as sweet and innocent as a three-year-old girl's.
Mi He knelt down, her gaze locked on the Silver Wolf's eyes. Her voice was cold and sharp.
"Take us to your Silver Wolf Clan's Holy Mountain."
Fear filled the Silver Wolf's eyes, but its voice remained firm.
"You think I'll lead you to the Holy Mountain? Never! Once you get near it, you'll not only eat me but also Xiao Bai, Xiao Shan, Xiao Xi..."
A cold glint flashed in Mi He's eyes. A short sword suddenly materialized in her hand, its blade radiating a chilling aura, clearly signaling her intention to resort to torture.
"Fellow Daoist Mi He, let me try," Song Wen suddenly interjected.
Mi He turned, glanced at Song Wen, then stood up and stepped back two paces.
Song Wen approached the Silver Wolf, knelt down, and spoke softly.
"Your name is Xiao Hua, isn't it?"
Perhaps sensing kindness in Song Wen's voice, the Silver Wolf nodded, tears welling in its eyes.
Song Wen continued, "Who are Xiao Bai, Xiao Shan, and Xiao Xi?"
"They're just like me—Silver Wolves," the Silver Wolf said. "We often play together."
"Why did you say we would eat you and Xiao Bai?" Song Wen asked.
"My mother... and all the elders of our clan always say that the Human Race is an extremely evil race. Humans not only eat our Wolf Clan's flesh and blood but also use our pelts, bones, and hides to forge Mystic Treasures. Mother told me never to leave our territory, because if I did, I might fall victim to the Humans' cruelty. Waaah..."
At this point, the Silver Wolf suddenly burst into tears again.
"I should have listened to Mother and not snuck out while she was in closed-door cultivation. Waaah..."
Song Wen touched his nose, a wry smile on his face.
The little wolf cub wasn't entirely wrong.
He forced a bright smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible.
"Your mother was lying to you. Humans don't eat wolves."
The Silver Wolf looked up at Song Wen, surprise and a hint of doubt in its eyes.
"Really?"
Song Wen nodded. "Do I look like a monster that eats wolves?"
The Silver Wolf shook its head.
"You don't. But..."
The Silver Wolf glanced fearfully at Mi He.
"She does. She hit me earlier and tried to kill me with her sword."
Song Wen rolled his eyes. If the Soul Searching Technique worked on Demons, he wouldn't have to waste his breath here arguing with a wolf Demon.
He patiently continued, "She struck you in self-defense. You were the one who first showed hostile intent. As for the sword, she wasn't trying to attack you. She was trying to befriend you. It's a unique way the Human Race shows friendliness."
The Silver Wolf eyed Song Wen warily, unconvinced by his nonsense.
Seeing this, Song Wen could only continue spinning his tall tales.
"The Human Race is an exceptionally kind and loving race. We never harm other living beings lightly."
As he spoke, Song Wen rummaged through his Storage Ring, finally producing a Forget Me Not Mushroom.
The Forget Me Not Mushroom had an exquisite texture and a unique fragrance.
Song Wen held the mushroom out to the Silver Wolf. "Eat this Spirit Mushroom. Consider it my friend's apology, how about that?"
The Silver Wolf leaned in, sniffing the mushroom with a look of disgust. "What is this? It stinks!"
Song Wen was momentarily speechless.
The alluring fragrance that humans found irresistible, the Silver Wolf found repulsive?
The sensory differences between humans and wolves were truly vast.
Just as Song Wen was wondering how to lure the Little Silver Wolf, Mi He suddenly tossed him a jar.
Song Wen caught the jar and curiously opened it. Inside, he found crystal-clear honey, likely produced by some kind of bee demon beast. It radiated an incredibly potent Spiritual Qi.
The Silver Wolf, drawn by the honey's irresistible aroma, couldn't hide the longing in its eyes.
The Silver Wolf hesitated, glancing at Song Wen, who pushed the jar closer.
Without further hesitation, the Silver Wolf opened its mouth, extending its crimson tongue to scoop up a large mouthful of honey.
After tasting the honey, the Silver Wolf became visibly excited, repeatedly licking the jar clean.
In no time, the entire jar of honey had vanished into its belly.
"That was delicious! Got any more?" the Little Silver Wolf looked up at Mi He with eager eyes, seemingly having forgotten the earlier humiliation of being tricked by her.
A smile played on Song Wen and Mi He's faces simultaneously.
Animals are animals, they thought. Easily tempted, especially one that had just begun to develop its intelligence.
A mere taste of honey had already made it lose all caution.
Mi He tossed out two more jars of honey.
After devouring both jars, the Silver Wolf wore a look of complete satisfaction.
"You didn't lie. The Human Race truly is a friendly species."
"Now, can you take us to your Holy Mountain?" Song Wen asked gently.
"What were you doing at our clan's Holy Mountain?" the Silver Wolf asked, still savoring the lingering honey on its lips.
"We're friends of your Wolf King. We were invited to the Holy Mountain by him," Song Wen replied.
"You're actually friends of the Wolf King!" The Little Silver Wolf seemed genuinely excited. "I can take you to see him, but you won't be able to enter the Holy Mountain. Perhaps... the Wolf King might grant you permission."
With that, it prepared to spread its wings and soar into the sky.
Song Wen quickly stopped it.
"We don't have wings and can't fly. Could you lead us there by land instead?"
"You can't fly?" The Little Silver Wolf hesitated. "Without flying, it'll take a very, very long time to reach the Holy Mountain."
"Don't worry, we can take our time," Song Wen reassured.
"Alright then."
Reluctantly, the Little Silver Wolf landed and began walking forward.
Mi He glanced at a nearby tree hollow. A rodent-like demon beast darted out and swiftly scurried in the direction the Little Silver Wolf was heading.
Song Wen secretly contacted the Shadow Gu he had sent ahead as a scout, instructing it to monitor the situation ahead.
The two humans and the beast journeyed through the mountain range for several days.
During this time, several Silver Wolves flew overhead, but Song Wen and Mi He detected them in advance and found suitable hiding places, remaining undetected.
Along the way, the Little Silver Wolf shared details about the Silver Wolf Clan's distribution.
The vast majority of Silver Wolves resided in Heavenly Wolf Mountain and the surrounding mountains.
Heavenly Wolf Mountain was a ring-shaped mountain, with a low stone peak at its center.
This stone peak was the Holy Mountain, the sacred site of the Silver Wolf Clan.
Only on the full moon nights of each month could the Silver Wolves, led by the Wolf King, set foot on the Holy Mountain.
The Rainbow Skirt Grass Mi He sought grew on the Holy Mountain, meticulously tended by the Silver Wolf Clan year-round.
The Rainbow Skirt Grass was of utmost importance to the Silver Wolf Clan, and even clan members were forbidden from picking it without permission.
(End of the Chapter)
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