Chapter 15: Battle Claws, Clash in the Mountain Mist

Outside the society walls, atop the great apricot tree.

The bat spirit hung upside down here, and at regular intervals, it would open its mouth and emit a specific frequency of ultrasonic waves to pinpoint the whereabouts of Wu Songzi.

This was a unique talent of bats—echolocation.

Since becoming a spirit, this ability had become even more pronounced. With spiritual energy driving it, the bat could even trace lingering scents left by its target in the air.

“How is it?” asked the great owl, maintaining a pose of feigned sleep in the branches.

“In these last days, only those fox offspring and mouse servants have come and gone. He’s remained within the tomb, never once stepping outside.”

The great owl closed its eyes and turned away, as if drifting back into its pretense of slumber.

The bat spirit grew impatient. “He dares to delay even Young Master Tu’s command—could it be he’s grown fearful and intends to withdraw from the Fox Society?”

The owl gave no reply, which only irritated the bat further.

“He’s hiding in the society. What should we do?”

“Wait,” the owl finally answered.

Suddenly recalling something, the bat spirit suggested eagerly, “Why don’t we kill those mice? Let’s see if that draws him out.”

The great owl regarded the upside-down bat as if looking at a fool.

The bat, feeling uneasy under the owl’s gaze, belatedly realized, “I forgot—those society mice belong to the Fox Society. Killing them would be a direct affront to Old Master Hu.”

“It’s not that you forgot. You’re just foolish,” the owl spat. Then, as if reminded of something, it added, “I’ve heard from Lord Boni that Mouse Four once participated in gambling at the old temple. He might still have some treasures on him. I’ll keep watch here. You go and bring Mouse Four in.”

The bat yawned. “Neither of us are creatures of the day. Let’s wait until night before making a move.”

At nightfall, after the bat spirit flew off, a society mouse groomed its fur in a nearby burrow and made its way into the Fox Society.

This mouse had deliberately chosen to arrive just before the evening lesson, using the free time to slip into a small chamber and report the situation under the apricot tree to Ji Ming.

Ji Ming let out a soft laugh.

No matter how clever or cautious these two spirits were, there were things they inherently lacked—such as an awareness of counter-surveillance.

Now that the bat spirit had departed, Ji Ming could also venture out. Mouse Four must be growing impatient with the wait.

Taking advantage of the night, Ji Ming walked through the graves for a stretch.

Though the great owl did not possess the bat’s echolocation, its hearing and night vision were exceptional. Ji Ming dared not take flight nearby, lest he be detected.

Only when he was far enough away did he risk taking to the air, gliding toward a large stronghold at the mountain’s base.

He kept to a low speed, careful not to let the sound of his wings betray him. Only after covering a safe distance did he increase his pace.

When acting outside, caution was paramount.

After all, his opponent was a seasoned spirit, not a mere ordinary owl.

Truth be told, this sortie was a risk, but a necessary one.

Within the stronghold, only a few wealthy families, the granary, and the barracks showed faint lights; the rest was shrouded in darkness.

At a smithy, Ji Ming landed.

This was the blacksmith’s shop Mouse Four had sought out. Ji Ming was about to enter when he caught sight of the bat spirit circling erratically above the stronghold.

A bat as large as a washbasin was hard to miss against the night sky.

Yet Mouse Four was discreet; even with echolocation, the bat spirit had been tracking him only at the Fox Society.

How, then, could he have traced Mouse Four’s whereabouts here? Ji Ming could not fathom it, attributing it to the mysterious powers of spirits, and hurried inside.

By the forge, a burly man stood, bare-chested, nodding and bowing obsequiously to Mouse Four.

Upon seeing Ji Ming enter, Mouse Four excitedly ordered the blacksmith to display the finished work, then turned and inquired, “Why have you only just arrived? The battle claws were finished two days ago. This blacksmith has been trying every trick to send me away!”

“I’ve been watched closely and only just found the chance to come,” Ji Ming replied. His eyes were soon drawn to a set of steel claw gauntlets on the table.

The gauntlets resembled oversized bird claws—the three front and one rear talon each tipped with a curved blade, their edges like scimitars. The rear half, meant for wearing, was riveted like the articulated shell of a shrimp.

The blacksmith, seeing the majestic black crow enter, bowed even lower. “Great Bird King, Lord Mouse, this humble shop has spared no effort to forge them thus.”

“Put them on me,” Ji Ming commanded.

“Yes, my lord.” The blacksmith bent to comply but was shoved aside by Mouse Four.

“I’ll see to it myself.”

...

Low in the sky, the bat spirit darted up and down, circling left and right, constantly emitting ultrasonic waves to track Mouse Four’s scent.

“Here.”

After half the night, the bat spirit finally located a spot.

Though he had found Mouse Four, he did not enter—he had also detected another familiar presence.

“Wu Songzi!”

With a thunderous crash, a black bird shot up from the rooftop below like a hawk, appearing before the bat in the blink of an eye.

In the cold moonlight, the steel gauntlets gleamed like twin blades, stabbing into the bat’s vision.

A sudden terror seized the bat spirit. Before he could react, his opponent lunged.

“Ah—!” The bat opened its mouth, unleashing a blast of ultrasonic sound.

Ji Ming instantly beat his wings, riding a gust beneath them to soar upwards, narrowly evading the sonic attack.

He wheeled in midair and struck again, feinting to probe the bat’s abilities.

“Ah—!” Another shrill, piercing wave.

After several such feints, Ji Ming discerned the bat spirit’s strengths and weaknesses.

Catching the moment between the dying echo and the birth of a new sound, he flicked his claw, slicing through half the bat’s wing.

The bat spirit, powerless, flapped weakly, plummeting straight down. High-pitched shrieks broke off abruptly as it crashed to earth.

Ji Ming alighted softly, as gracefully as a falling feather, pressing the four-toed steel claw gently to the bat’s throat.

“I’ll allow you three sentences as a chance to beg for your life.”

Blood welled from the bat spirit’s mouth, its round eyes staring at Ji Ming. Suddenly, its mouth opened to the fullest, and just as it uttered a single “Ah—”, the claw blade severed its head and silenced it forever.

“What a pity!”

Ji Ming felt a tinge of respect for the bat’s fierce resolve.

Now that the bat spirit was dead, only the great owl remained.

“Mouse Four, take care of the body!”

Ji Ming soared upward. With these battle claws, he finally felt a measure of confidence.

He climbed above the mountain slope, where mist was gathering, drifting among the treetops and enshrouding him, restricting his view.

To be safe, he rose higher, aiming to break clear of the fog.

The ascent was taxing, especially with the weight of his new claws.

Fortunately, after taking the Wind-Cleansing Pill, he had mastered the Shadow Wind Art and could ride the wind, conserving effort and gaining speed.

“Oo— oo—”

The owl’s hoots rolled through the swirling mist below, as if to threaten him.

The great owl had indeed detected his movement, though Ji Ming wondered if it knew the bat was dead, or that he now possessed a set of battle claws.

He clashed his claw blades together, sparks flashing.

“I must strike first!”

No sooner had the thought arisen than, just a meter away in a shroud of fog, a black shadow suddenly loomed—the great owl burst forth, talons raised to strike.

“Caw—!”

Ji Ming cried out, his confidence surging.

The great owl clearly knew nothing of his secret weapon, or it would never dare meet claw to claw.

With a sweep of his wings, Ji Ming’s sleek form twisted slightly, revealing the bloodstained blades.

Amid the swirling mist, in the icy moonlight, the owl had no time to withdraw its attack—talon met steel in a furious clash.

“Caw! Caw!”

Ji Ming called out with excitement, his steel claws locking onto the owl’s talons, drawing blood and exposing bone.

From high above, down into the mountain fog, Ji Ming clung to and dragged the great owl, plunging it into a dizzying, deadly descent.

Driven mad by the pain of Ji Ming’s claws, the owl thrashed and beat its wings, hooting desperately.