Got you, you little bastard.

  At my icy voice, the baby rabbit cradled in my arms—no, the little rat—trembled violently.

  It looked up at me with wide eyes, fear filling them to the brim.

  Snow-white fur gleaming with a silky sheen.

  A tiny, delicate nose.

  Pink lips that twitched as it chewed the air.

  An innocent expression, as if it knew nothing at all.

  I won’t be fooled anymore, you punk.

  As it struggled to escape my embrace, I held it even tighter.

  What exactly is this little rat?

  Why did the Jade Ear Rabbits protect it so fiercely?

  A rat being protected by a herd of Jade Ear Rabbits.

  Doesn’t that sound strange?

  I calmly traced the chain of cause and effect.

  Observe the phenomenon, and the cause reveals itself.

  I pieced together fragmentary information like fitting together puzzle pieces.

  A spirit beast…?

  This thing was a spirit beast.

  And one hiding some special secret, at that.

  On one side of Yun Xian Garden, the Jade Ear Rabbits had gathered, standing on their hind legs and glaring at me.

  If I weren’t holding this thing, they might’ve already charged.

  So that insane chase earlier had been because of this little guy.

  But why?

  No matter how rare a spirit beast was, what kind of value did it have?

  It kept squeaking nervously, watching my expression.

  I narrowed my eyes and studied it carefully.

  I needed to confirm exactly what this thing was.

  First, I left the subspace.

  If I interrogated it here, a slave rebellion might break out.

  After placing it on the bed,

  I retrieved the jade slip my parents had left behind.

  I found what I was looking for almost immediately.

  The True Hundred Records.

  A jade slip compiled by a bored old Nascent Soul monster.

  It was packed with information about the specialties, spirit beasts, and various oddities of the entire Qingxiu True Realm.

  I searched through the vast trove of information for anything related to Spirit Mice.

  『Spirit Beast Section』 Volume 27.

  Name: Spirit Mouse

  Classification: Low-grade spirit beast

  Habitat: Entire Qingxiu True Realm

  Disposition: Gentle and timid

  Basic physique: Palm-sized body, round eyes, soft fur

  Primary use: Emotional stabilization, pet spirit beast

  Special notes: There exists a mutant known as the Void-bodied Spirit Mouse. Upon reaching adulthood, it can become completely transparent—far beyond mere concealment. Highly sensitive to the fluctuations of natural treasures, spiritual herbs, and divine objects, it is also called a “treasure-seeking mouse.” After the first specimen was discovered, none have been found since.

  Could it be…?

  I looked at the creature’s ears, which shimmered faintly. At first glance, I’d thought they were jade-colored.

  But now that I looked closer, they were closer to transparent crystal.

  Had it not yet reached adulthood?

  My hands began to tremble.

  My face flushed red with excitement.

  Startled, the creature grabbed my hand with its forepaws and flattened itself against the bed.

  Its large eyes were filled with terror.

  Hoo. Calm down.

  Nothing was certain yet.

  As I stroked its head, I thought.

  I needed to form a contract while it still knew nothing.

  Once a spirit beast contract was formed, it wasn’t easily broken.

  It was a contract between souls, after all.

  “I don’t care what you really are. But you’re going to have to prove your worth. I don’t raise freeloaders.”

  Was I being too harsh?

  Not at all.

  I was timid myself, so I knew exactly how timid types reacted.

  You had to push this kind hard.

  …Besides, I could treat it well after the contract, right?

  Understanding my meaning, the Spirit Mouse shrank even smaller.

  “If you want to live, prove your ability. Show me that you’re useful.”

  Hurry up and prove your worth as a slave!

  Treasure! Bring me treasure!

  The Spirit Mouse rolled its eyes around, gauging my mood.

  It seemed to want something.

  With an endlessly pitiful expression, it pointed at its own bulging belly.

  …Was it hungry?

  Haa…. This was why raising spirit beasts was scary.

  Spirit beasts grew by consuming spiritual power.

  Still, if it really was a mutant Spirit Mouse, it would be worth it.

  I took out a spirit stone from my storage pouch.

  The Spirit Mouse’s eyes widened.

  Greed surfaced in its gaze.

  It was showing immense interest.

  I tossed the spirit stone up and caught it repeatedly, teasing the creature.

  Having lost its identity and grown up among Jade Ear Rabbits, this was probably its first time seeing such a thing.

  Watching its head bob up and down following my hand was pretty entertaining.

  I leaned close to its ear and whispered softly.

  “I’m a man of clear rewards and punishments. Prove your value, and I’ll give you this and guarantee you a happy life as a spirit beast.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  First, promise a sweet reward.

  Then I lightly pinched its ear.

  “But… if you try to deceive or fool me, I’ll show you exactly what hell is like. Don’t forget. You already tricked me once.”

  …It might look a little cruel, but it couldn’t be helped.

  I said I’d treat it well after the contract, didn’t I?

  The Spirit Mouse’s eyes trembled violently.

  It looked deeply wronged.

  Ahem. Come to think of it, it hadn’t really deceived me directly……

  But the situation had been way too coincidental.

  The Spirit Mouse opened its tiny mouth wide.

  As if telling me to look closely, it shoved its face toward me.

  It even stamped the ground with its hind legs.

  Looking more closely… it was definitely closer to a guinea pig than a rabbit.

  Mm….

  I quietly looked away.

  “…You don’t want this?”

  …Why are you looking at me like I’m pathetic?

  Letting out a deep sigh, the Spirit Mouse trudged forward pitifully.

  It took one step, glanced at the spirit stone, took another step, glanced again.

  …It was definitely cute.

  But I couldn’t be swayed.

  I was a cat person through and through.

  As I followed it, I sank into thought.

  Was it really a mutant Spirit Mouse?

  If it truly was, I couldn’t let anyone see it before it reached adulthood.

  Until it completely erased its fluctuations, someone might notice its true nature.

  I sighed.

  Raising a high-bloodline spirit beast required enormous expense.

  Thinking that way, my actions felt completely justified.

  Making it find treasures was only natural.

  In the harsh cultivation world, you had to earn your own keep.

  Ahem.

  People had to be shameless to live well.

  Startled by my persistent gaze, the Spirit Mouse began moving briskly.

  It was quite sharp.

  Once outside the hideout, it stood on its hind legs and sniffed the air.

  Its focused expression was surprisingly serious.

  Then it began waddling off toward somewhere.

  Where was it going?

  I followed while staying alert.

  It wouldn’t be able to run away or lead me into a trap.

  It was already registered in Yun Xian Garden, after all.

  And it seemed to have a strong bond with the Jade Ear Rabbits.

  More importantly…

  I had already taken certain measures.

  The moment that tiny body betrayed me, it would be engulfed in scorching flames.

  No matter how good its ability was, I had to be able to control it.

  I didn’t want variables.

  …Was that too much?

  What could I do?

  It knew the location of my hideout—loose ends had to be dealt with.

  Remember, this was a ruthless, unforgiving cultivation world.

  I carefully followed behind the Spirit Mouse.

  I activated Concealment Technique and Soundproofing Technique, expanding my Divine Sense.

  After sniffing around and running for a long while, the Spirit Mouse stopped.

  It stretched out a forepaw toward a crevice between rocks in the valley.

  “What’s there?”

  Excited, the Spirit Mouse squeaked enthusiastically and nodded fervently.

  Then it began gnawing diligently at the vines blocking the rocks.

  I approached cautiously.

  Beyond the half-chewed vines, an unusual wave of spiritual energy leaked out. I stuffed the Spirit Mouse—still wrestling with the vines—into my pocket and observed the surroundings.

  Where the vines had been cleared, traces of a formation appeared.

  It looked familiar.

  Don’t tell me…?

  I immediately placed my right hand against it.

  The faint pattern on the back of my hand glowed. An invitation and a formation pass all in one—truly versatile.

  With a familiar sensation, I moved into the formation.

  As expected, it was our old man’s formation.

  …Just how many spiritual herbs had he planted?

  Well, I wasn’t complaining.

  “Ah, thank you, old man.”

  He really was an old fellow who gave without holding back.

  Inside the formation was a paradise unto itself.

  Clusters of spiritual herbs glowed with radiant light.

  Stems branching into three swayed gently in the breeze.

  Leaves arranged in sets of seven shone brilliantly in different hues.

  Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass…!

  And one that had easily aged over three thousand years at that.

  My hands trembled uncontrollably.

  It was the very spiritual herb I’d seen countless times through the game window.

  One of the core ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

  Even in the game, it sold for a high price.

  How much would it be worth here?

  I vigorously patted the Spirit Mouse, which was standing proudly with its head held high.

  Oh, you adorable little thing.

  It really was a mutant Spirit Mouse.

  No wonder the Jade Ear Rabbits revered it like a treasure.

  They must’ve survived by eating the herbs it found.

  No wonder every one of them was unusually robust.

  My gaze toward the Spirit Mouse softened like melting spring snow.

  With a Buddha-like smile, I stroked its head.

  Then, as if being generous, I handed it a spirit stone.

  “Go on, absorb it to your heart’s content.”

  The Spirit Mouse’s eyes sparkled.

  Gripping the spirit stone tightly with its forepaws, it began happily gnawing on it.

  …It wasn’t absorbing it?

  …Uh, well. As long as you’re enjoying it, sure……

  Leaving it behind, I approached the Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass.

  I had to harvest it carefully and move it into the subspace with minimal loss.

  All the Seven-Leaf Immortal Spirit Grass was transferred into the subspace.

  Beyond the herb field, rabbits were drooling.

  Heh heh, no chance.

  The field was protected by formations.

  The rabbits looked extremely healthy.

  Their scorched fur had completely recovered.

  Some were even busily mating.

  …Yeah. Breed lots of offspring.

  Having eaten its fill, the Spirit Mouse was sleeping inside my pocket.

  I needed to prepare quickly and form the contract.

  I couldn’t let a cornucopia like this slip away.

  ***

  The contract concluded smoothly.

  Don’t worry.

  I’d used the standard spirit beast contract my parents had kept.

  They must’ve carried it around with the firm intention of raising a spirit beast someday.

  Once again, I prayed for their souls to rest in peace.

  I looked at the Spirit Mouse, now slumped in exhaustion after the contract.

  No—now I should call it Baizi.

  Its characteristically round backside resembled a moon jar, so I gave it that name.

  Baizi was sleeping soundly.

  I gently stroked its head.

  This wasn’t a bad deal for it either.

  Better than being caught by some cruel bastard and digging dirt for life until it died.

  Reacting to my touch, the exhausted Baizi squeaked softly.

  Watching that, Ginger came to mind.

  What was Ginger doing now…

  ***

  United States, California.

  Detective Roger of the Major Crimes Unit was left devastated by the disappearance of Peter, someone he had long looked after.

  Peter vanished from inside his home after getting off work from a convenience store.

  A perfect locked-room disappearance.

  After receiving a call from the store owner saying the kid hadn’t shown up for work, he went to the house.

  The place boasted airtight security.

  There were no signs of forced entry.

  No record of entry or exit on the CCTV either.

  Detective Roger recalled the emptiness he’d felt back then.

  After barely forcing the door open, he found Peter’s cat wailing pitifully as it looked at him.

  He knew the cat well.

  It was in an extremely agitated state.

  Most likely because it had witnessed Peter’s disappearance.

  That guy wouldn’t just vanish and leave this one behind…

  The bond between Peter and his cat had been exceptionally strong.

  After his parents were murdered, only the two of them had survived together.

  No matter how much relatives urged him, Peter had refused to part with the cat.

  With worries weighing on his mind, Detective Roger lit a cigarette.

  Where the hell did you go…

  For now, he had taken Ginger to his own home.

  His daughter was delighted by the sudden appearance of a cat, but Detective Roger’s heart felt heavy.

  Ginger sat atop the cat tower on the balcony, staring outside.

  As if waiting for Peter.

  With a cigarette in his mouth, he ruffled his hair roughly.

  Please… just come back safe.

  ***

  The gloom that had briefly overtaken me soon lifted.

  This wasn’t the time to be like this.

  After tucking a blanket over the sleeping Baizi, I headed to the cultivation chamber.

  Right now, my cultivation resources were severely lacking.

  I had no proper cultivation pills, and only one technique to rely on.

  Thankfully, the technique suited me well, but it was still just a low-grade art.

  The one saving grace was this.

  I now had a source of protein and spiritual power, and I’d obtained a Spirit Mouse.

  The spiritual spring and herbs in the subspace would help with cultivation as well.

  I’d have to chew spiritual herbs and gulp down spiritual spring water while focusing on training.

  Life’s fucked…

  My earlier excitement cooled a little.

  I slapped my cheek hard.

  Ow, that hurt like hell.

  But my mind snapped into clarity.

  Right. This wasn’t the time to slack off.

  I needed to start cultivating right away.

  Everything that needed to be done was done.

  So what if cultivation resources were lacking?

  All I had was time.

  With hardened resolve, I plunged into cultivation.

  And then, ninety-seven years passed.