Chapter 22: The Bestowal of a Name

On the southern slope, the shadows of trees danced beneath the moonlight, casting an eerie chill upon the two men and the mouse.

“Xue Wuhen!”

With a demon behind him and a suspected immortal ahead, Zhao Er gritted his teeth and pushed his movement technique to its limits. At this moment, his only thought was to flee. Though some lower-level cultivators were not necessarily stronger than martial artists, Zhao Er was unwilling to gamble; one could never predict what strange methods a cultivator might possess, a slip could mean instant death.

Witnessing this, Jiang Chen shook his head slightly. Zhao Er had visited him before, bearing generous gifts and speaking politely; Jiang Chen's impression of him was not poor. Under ordinary circumstances, even if Jiang Chen eventually clashed with the Third Chief and killed him, as long as Zhao Er knew his place, he might survive, perhaps even thrive. Unfortunately, Zhao Er had chosen the wrong path and happened to arrive at the southern slope at the worst possible time.

“Since you’ve come, you might as well stay.”

Softly murmuring, Jiang Chen activated his special ability.

In that instant, it was as if demonic whispers poured into Zhao Er’s ears, causing his mind to blur—this was the Soul Bewilderment. At the same time, a powerful force erupted from behind, catching him off guard and inflicting a grievous wound.

Struck so heavily, darkness swallowed his vision and Zhao Er collapsed to the ground, powerless to resist.

Squealing triumphantly, Mouse Tianjiao let out exuberant cries, his ambush a resounding success. Now, he stood over Zhao Er with great pride, brimming with joy, resembling a dog eager to please its master and claim a reward—though larger and more menacing in appearance.

“You truly are a clever one.”

Jiang Chen’s gaze flickered as he observed Mouse Tianjiao. In truth, after Mouse Tianjiao’s last transformation, the wooden cage could no longer contain him; Jiang Chen was well aware of this and had not bothered locking him up again, curious to see how the mouse would behave.

He had not expected that, upon discovering Zhao Er’s intrusion, Mouse Tianjiao would actively take on the role of guardian. If not fleeing could be attributed to fear, such initiative was peculiar.

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“This mouse seems to have a natural affinity for me.”

Reflecting carefully, Jiang Chen considered the possibilities.

The next moment, he beckoned to Mouse Tianjiao. Instantly, the mouse’s eyes sparkled; without hesitation, he shed his enlarged form and ran toward Jiang Chen. As he drew near, a trace of fear flickered in his eyes, yet after a brief pause, he still approached Jiang Chen’s side.

“Indeed, there is a natural closeness—not from blood, but from the soul itself.”

Watching Mouse Tianjiao crouch by his feet, yearning to draw closer yet holding back, Jiang Chen pondered deeply.

“Well then, from now on you shall be called Mouse Tianjiao. Let’s hope you are clever enough to become a true prodigy among mice, and live as long as possible…”

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Chen casually bestowed the name upon the mouse at his feet. Though the name was chosen at random, it signified Mouse Tianjiao was no longer merely a laboratory specimen—experimental mice had no need of names.

Once named, Jiang Chen strode forward, lifting the unconscious Zhao Er. Having succumbed to the Soul Bewilderment and then struck by Mouse Tianjiao, Zhao Er was now entirely incapacitated.

“Thankfully not dead, that would have been a pity.”

Examining Zhao Er’s condition, Jia