Chapter 21: The Sparrow Behind the Scene

In the end, the farce concluded with the Purple Lightning family paying thirty silver soul coins as compensation, along with a lavish meal as a formal apology.

The purple-clad youth kept a dark expression throughout the entire ordeal, held firmly in his seat by the Soul King until he dared not even lift his head. He had lost all face today; not only had he failed to teach anyone a lesson, but he had also been played like a fiddle by a six-year-old girl and ultimately extorted for a hefty sum.

Bai Chenxiang enjoyed the meal with a clear conscience. Bai He, meanwhile, ate with righteous indignation, tearing into the pangolin leg meat with gusto while never missing an opportunity to deliver a second psychological blow to the Purple Lightning family members at the neighboring table.

"Sigh, young people these days—so much hot air."

"Their soul power is flimsy, their foundations unstable; they rely entirely on medicinal pills. All flash, no substance."

"Back in my day, when I was his age, I was already charging in and out of the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory seven times over."

Every word was like a needle, accurately piercing the heart of the purple-clad youth. Yet, he dared not retort, could only grit his teeth until they rattled, swallowing his rage along with his food.

The Soul King was equally bitter, forced to offer smiles and toasts to Bai He while cursing his own lawless young master to the high heavens in his mind.

Once the meal was finished, Bai He let out a satisfied belch. Leading Bai Chenxiang, he strolled away under the awestruck gazes of the tavern staff and the members of the Purple Lightning family.

"Grandfather, was what you said just now true?"

"When you were a Great Soul Master, you could really charge in and out of the ten-thousand-year soul beast zone seven times?"

Walking along the streets of the small town, Bai Chenxiang asked with curiosity.

"Of course it was fake," Bai He replied, his face showing no sign of embarrassment. "Bragging is all about aura. As long as you believe it yourself, others will have to think twice."

Bai Chenxiang nodded thoughtfully, as if she had learned some strange new knowledge.

They did not return to the inn immediately. Instead, they navigated through the winding streets of the town, eventually entering a remote alley and stopping before an inconspicuous wooden door. Bai He stepped forward and knocked in a unique rhythm—three long taps followed by two short ones.

A moment later, the door creaked open a sliver, and an eye, gleaming with shrewdness, peeked through the gap to size them up.

"Oh, if it isn't Old White Bird? What wind blew you here?" a raspy, high-pitched voice came from inside.

"Enough chatter. Open up; I have business to discuss," Bai He said impatiently.

The door opened wide to reveal a man with a short stature, a goatee, and sharp, rat-like features. He bowed and scraped as he ushered them inside.

"The usual?" the rat-like man asked with a grin, rubbing his hands together.

Bai He didn't waste time; he pulled a purse from his robe and tossed it onto the table. The purse hit the wood with a dull metallic thud. The man’s eyes lit up. He quickly opened the purse to take a peek, his expression turning instantly fawning.

"At your command, Master Bai He. As long as it concerns this Sunset Forest, there is nothing I, Ground Rat, do not know!"

"The Storm Thunder Demon Wolf," Bai He said, uttering only those four words.

Ground Rat’s smile stiffened slightly. "Now, Master Bai He, what you're asking about is a hot potato." He looked troubled. "Lately, it isn't just one group eyeing that beast."

"The Purple Lightning family, right?" Bai Chenxiang interjected from the side.

Ground Rat looked at her in surprise before nodding. "The young lady has a sharp eye. That's right. The Purple Lightning family has already suffered at its hands twice. The first time, a five-man team led by a Soul Sect member went in, resulting in one death and four injuries."

"The second time, it was that Soul King from the tavern leading the group. They didn't even get to see the beast's face before they were forced back by the lightning miasma in the swamp."

"They aren't giving up. I heard they brought a 'Purple Lightning Thunder-Shock Array' disk from their clan, planning to use a thunderstorm in three days to summon heavenly lightning and blast the beast out of its lair."

"Tell me about the wolf," Bai He said in a low voice.

"Cunning! It's far too cunning!" Ground Rat slapped his thigh, a look of lingering fear on his face. "According to the surviving Soul Sect member, that wolf king has a cultivation of at least twenty-five hundred years!"

"It possesses extremely high intelligence. It doesn't act like a soul beast at all, but rather like an experienced old hunter."

"It never engages in direct combat, instead using the complex terrain of the Thunderous Swamp to toy with people. Its speed is devilishly fast; it moves across the swamp as if on flat ground."

"It can also control lightning within a small radius. The most troublesome part is its howl, which can paralyze a person instantly, followed by an overwhelming barrage of wind blades."

"They say that in the core area where it nests, there is a nearly mature Thunder Saliva Grass. That’s a treasure capable of improving the quality of soul power for lightning-attribute soul masters. The Purple Lightning family is likely after that."

Ground Rat spilled every bit of intelligence he had like beans from a bamboo tube. Bai He listened silently, his brow furrowing deeper with each word.

The situation was far more complex than he had anticipated. Not only was the soul beast itself difficult to handle, but the formidable Purple Lightning family was also lurking nearby. Trying to snatch a soul ring right under their noses was no different from pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

Upon leaving Ground Rat’s place and returning to their inn room, Bai He’s expression remained somber.

"Xiangxiang, I'm afraid this matter requires careful consideration." He sighed. "Perhaps we should give up and wait for the Purple Lightning family and the wolf king to exhaust each other, then we can..."

"It's too late for that," Bai Chenxiang interrupted, shaking her head. She walked to the table and poured a cup of water for herself and her grandfather.

"Grandfather, you are thinking of the fisherman benefiting from the struggle. But have you considered that if the Purple Lightning family wins, we will be facing a Soul King who holds an array disk and is ready to strike at leisure? If we want to seize the soul ring, we would have to confront him head-on."

"And if the wolf king wins, it will surely be even more vigilant, perhaps even abandoning its nest with the Thunder Saliva Grass. Finding it again would be nearly impossible."

Bai He was stunned; he found himself convinced by his granddaughter.

"So, what do you suggest?"

"We cannot wait." A spark of wisdom flickered in Bai Chenxiang's eyes. "Everyone knows there will be a thunderstorm in three days. The Purple Lightning family is waiting, and the wolf king is likely waiting too. During a storm, the swamp is its home turf."

"Since all eyes are fixed on three days from now, what is the safest and least noticed time to act?"

Bai He’s pupils contracted sharply. "Tomorrow!"

"Exactly, tomorrow." Bai Chenxiang nodded, a confident smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "While everyone thinks we are still observing, we make our move."

"But how?" Bai He was still uncertain. "The Thunderous Swamp is a labyrinth of complex terrain and miasma. We don't even know where the wolf king’s lair is."

"I do," Bai Chenxiang said with certainty. Her mind replayed all the descriptions of the Thunderous Swamp she had heard in the tavern and the alley.

"Ground Rat said the Purple Lightning family was pushed back by the lightning miasma on the outskirts. This means the closer one gets to the core, the denser the lightning elements become."

"The people in the tavern said the wolf king uses the terrain for guerrilla tactics. This means near its lair, there must be areas that are spacious enough for it to move and hide at high speed."

"And the most critical point," she opened her eyes, her gaze burning, "Grandfather, have you forgotten my 'Wind Spirit'? Where there is wind, there is information."

"Tomorrow, we enter the swamp. You handle the defense, and I will handle the search. As long as you give me enough time, I can follow the trajectory of the wind to find the area where the elements are most active—the place that best fits the wolf's habits."

"We won't fight it head-on. We only do one thing."

"Find it, and then, before the Purple Lightning family arrives, lure it out!"

Bai He stared blankly at his granddaughter. Her small face glowed with the confidence of a strategist and a hint of excitement for the coming battle. He suddenly realized that his previous worries were entirely superfluous. He hadn't brought along a granddaughter who needed protection; he had brought a little monster, a little tactician, disguised as a young girl!

"Hahaha... Good! A brilliant preemptive strike!" Bai He’s gloom vanished. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice full of heroic spirit. "That’s the plan!"

"Tomorrow, we two will go and meet that wolf king. We'll let that so-called Purple Lightning family learn what it truly means when the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"