Chapter 96: The Blood in Hand

After the incident with the Scorpion Demon’s Cold Manor, the two continued onward. As Lu Han and Jia Cheng entered the next cavern, a shadow flickered past. Sensing something amiss, Lu Han turned to look behind him, but found nothing.

“Brother Lu, is something wrong?” Jia Cheng asked, noticing Lu Han’s unease.

“It’s nothing—perhaps just my imagination,” Lu Han replied uncertainly.

“Let’s hurry then, we’re almost there.”

They traveled through the underground tunnels for a long while, nearing the spot Jia Cheng had marked. Their journey was surprisingly smooth. Aside from the encounter at the Cold Manor and a brief skirmish with a flock of black bats—easily dispatched, as the bats were weak—they faced no more beasts. Even Jia Cheng remarked on the oddity: it seemed as though someone had already cleared the monsters from their path.

In previous excursions to the Evil Wind Cave, Jia Cheng had always encountered all manner of venomous beasts—mostly at the Postnatal stage but numerous enough to vex even the most composed. It was not uncommon for people to fall prey to these creatures, as two fists could not fend off so many. He had never seen anything as effortless as today: only one wave of beasts along the entire route.

Drip, drip.

Stalactites dripped from the cave walls. Lu Han and Jia Cheng hid behind a stone pillar. Within the cavern lived a Soul-Stealing Mink, its entire body snowy white and about the size of a grown man’s arm. Fond of stalactite nectar, the creature likely dwelled here for the abundance of it.

“Squeak, squeak!”

Lu Han and Jia Cheng approached the mink slowly. It noticed them but paid them no mind, continuing to lap up the nectar.

“The Soul-Stealing Mink is highly intelligent. It must sense that our cultivation poses no threat, and since we’re only two, it’s unafraid,” Jia Cheng said, apparently familiar with its ways.

If three or five cultivators at the Second Innate Heaven surrounded it, the mink’s chances of escape would be slim. Its innate talent, soul-stealing, only worked on two targets at once, so capturing one required more than two people—two to approach and trigger its power, the others to catch it.

“Brother Lu, it’s up to you now,” Jia Cheng said.

They drew closer. The mink’s bright, perceptive eyes flashed a trace of mockery—yes, unmistakably mocking.

When the pair were less than five meters away, the mink’s snowy fur bristled, its body radiating a visible wave of energy. Jia Cheng, in the lead, suddenly froze, his eyes empty, as if transported to another world.

As the energy wave neared Lu Han, a deep blue ring in his embrace stirred. Old Man Ling’s eyes snapped open.

“This little thing has soul-attacking abilities—no wonder it’s called the Soul-Stealing Mink. Too bad for it, though, meeting me,” Old Man Ling muttered.

His aura changed, and the energy wave from the mink was blocked outside Lu Han’s body.

“Han, pretend to be ensnared and quietly approach. Seize it in surprise—it has no other attack besides its soul-stealing talent,” came Ling’s weak voice.

Lu Han mimicked Jia Cheng’s vacant stare, but his feet pressed forward, shuffling like a zombie.

The mink wondered why Lu Han had not stopped, but confidence in its own gift reassured it. Few at its level could resist its soul attack, unless one practiced soul arts. Besides, Lu Han’s aura was only Ninth Postnatal Heaven—he couldn’t possibly evade.

It decided to drink a bit more nectar before leaving; the soul attack would take a while to wear off anyway.

“Ah!” Jia Cheng suddenly shouted, as if confronted by horrors in an illusion, his whole body trembling.

The cry startled the mink.

“A perfect chance!” Lu Han thought.

A gleam flashed in his eyes, banishing any trace of emptiness. He activated “Heaven Frost Chill,” plunging the cave’s temperature.

“Squeak, squeak!”

The mink, alert as any beast, shrieked and tried to flee.

But could Lu Han let it succeed?

As the mink prepared to escape, a hand wreathed in cold reached for it. At that moment, Ling’s aura flickered from the blue ring, soul force burst forth, and the mink was instantly stunned. In that moment, Lu Han’s icy hand closed around it.

When the mink came to its senses, it found itself firmly in Lu Han’s grasp. No matter how it squeaked or struggled, his grip was like iron pincers.

“Scorpion—Lord Scorpion Demon, please, don’t kill me!” Jia Cheng remained trapped in illusion, the soul-stealing talent not yet lifted.

“It seems he’s encountering the Scorpion Demon in his nightmare. I never imagined this mink’s talent was so strong, forcing one to face their worst fear. If not for my master, I would fare no better than Jia Cheng,” Lu Han murmured as he gazed at the creature in his hand.

Inside the ring, Old Man Ling sat cross-legged, his body growing even more ethereal, nearly transparent.

“At least I’ve helped Han complete this task. Once we leave the Soul-Confusion Plains, I’ll give him that message scroll. If my strength weren’t crippled, I’d like to see what secrets lie deeper within this place... What am I thinking? I’m nearly gone. I’ll spend these last days quietly—at least I have a disciple to see me off. Heaven has treated me kindly!” Ling muttered to himself and closed his eyes.

“Squeak, squeak!”

The mink in Lu Han’s hand looked aggrieved, as if asking why he had deceived it. Its eyes glistened as if about to weep.

Lu Han stared in amazement—could this creature truly feign pity so convincingly? Only king-level beasts were supposed to possess such intellect; this mink was merely innate.

If it had met a soft-hearted maiden, such a trick would surely work—but, alas, it met Lu Han.

“Squeak, squeak!” came its shrill cry once more.

“Er... Fine! Listen, little one, I don’t care if you understand me or not. I need your blood to save a life. I won’t take you away, but I must have some of your blood!” Lu Han declared, regardless of whether the mink understood.

He took a small knife and two finger-length bottles from his storage ring, and cut a tiny wound on the mink’s forelimb. The creature seemed to comprehend his words, for it made no sound during the cut.

Soon, both bottles were filled with the mink’s blood, which shimmered with a purplish hue.

Lu Han placed the blood in his storage ring and finally relaxed.

Now, as soon as he reached Maple Leaf City, he could cure his father’s poison. The heavy stone in his heart was at last lifted.