It twitched its white whiskers, then with its small, fleshy pink legs, it climbed up, up, up along the coiled dragon patterns carved into the stone wall. At the very top, it leaped onto a wall-mounted torch.
The flame "whooshed" and leaped a foot high. Startled, it squeaked and jumped to a nearby position. In this manner, it hopped from one torch to another. Thousands of torches flickered above, filling the chamber with light, like scattered, twinkling starlight.
Liu Jiang Fusheng looked up, his eyes reflecting the resplendent glow. It wasn't until it stopped its active hopping and, as a round ball, dropped directly from above, falling from a white speck and forming into a snowball, that his pupils flickered. Instinctively, he reached out, intending to catch it in his palm.
Squeak~
But it didn't land in his embrace as expected. Instead, it agilely twisted its body in mid-air. As it landed, a crisp "clang" sounded. It dropped a metal object, a long pestle with a ring, and rolled a few times before tossing it at their feet.
Ziying looked over curiously. It was a strangely shaped iron artifact. The twin-ring design… Suddenly, Ziying's eyes widened, and she pointed at it, "Is this… is this a key?"
Liu Jiang Fusheng crouched and picked it up. He looked up, his gaze fixed on it with a hint of inquiry.
Seeing that he had obtained the key, the little white mouse turned around and, with a "squeak squeak," climbed back into its iron cage, locking itself in again.
As soon as it went out, it seemed as if it had specifically gone to find the key for them. Now that its mission was accomplished, it retreated.
At that moment, a roar from the Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast above, which had been silent for a long time, resounded. It let out a deep roar, "How dare you betray this old man?"
The little white mouse poked its head out from the iron bars and squeaked twice towards the top.
The Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast said with a sinister tone, "When I break free from this cage, I will surely devour you alive!"
Hearing this, Liu Jiang Fusheng frowned. This Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast was truly formidable. Even shackled and sealed by restraints, it still possessed the ability to influence the outside.
What if it truly gained the ability to break free in the future…
Clutching the key, he flew to the little white mouse's cage. He infused spiritual energy into his hand and with a wave, tore open the forbidden seals of Sanskrit inscriptions on it.
It had been curled up obediently and foolishly. Hearing the commotion outside, it turned its rear to look and was stunned.
Liu Jiang Fusheng flashed it a dazzling, heart-capturing smile. "Come."
He knew that his smile was the most harmless and alluring.
Its bright, agile eyes fixed on him for a long moment, then it cautiously approached him.
"I said, whoever helps me find the key, I will release them. Instead of staying here and being threatened by it, why not leave with me?" he asked it.
He believed that this little white mouse could understand his meaning.
Squeak~
The little white mouse hesitated, then jumped onto his hand. It was very small, only the size of an ordinary mouse, but what was different was its tail, which was fanned like a fox's fur. It was snow-white, and its fur was fluffier and more curled.
Looking at it, Liu Jiang Fusheng was reminded of Gu Yi. He wondered… would she like this little white mouse?
At this moment, the Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast above seemed to know that the matter was settled. It calmed its surging fury and said in a deep, dim voice, "This path only goes forward, never back. If you are willing to release this old man, I will help you defeat the Twin-Headed Ice-Fire Dragon ahead. Without me, you cannot pass that trial."
Twin-Headed Ice-Fire Dragon?
It sounded like a powerful demonic beast. But if it were released, who knew if it wouldn't end up with an extra demonic beast to deal with?
Liu Jiang Fusheng ignored its words and simply took the little white mouse with him.
The Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast, unexpectedly, did not attempt to entangle them further or change their minds. After they unlocked the cage and left the beast enclosure, it remained silent.
The stone door closed again. It slowly closed its eyes. Its massive body suddenly became emaciated, and a black shadow floated out from above its body, transforming into elusive wisps of smoke and vanishing without a trace.