Chapter 17: Deal Reached!

It wasn't strange for animals on this continent to speak human languages, nor was it unusual for humans to mimic animal calls. This was a High Martial World where all living creatures could develop spiritual intelligence through cultivation. With intellect rivaling that of humans, their ability to think was in no way inferior.

Su Tan knew this.

However, not every animal could speak. Those capable of human speech were invariably entities with formidable cultivation. So, what did it mean that this little pup could talk? It meant it possessed extraordinary cultivation!

When the Master Recognition Skill was first established, he had vaguely sensed a massive energy hidden within the little fellow. At the time, Su Tan assumed it was due to an extraordinary bloodline. Now, it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

"You can... actually speak?" Su Tan voiced his shock once more.

Hearing this, the pup grew furious. In a deep, beast-like growl that somehow formed human words, it snarled, "Do you not understand human speech? Or are you just an idiot? I said I'm going to eat you, yet you're hung up on whether or not I can talk?"

It wondered if there was something wrong with this human's brain.

Compared to the pup's threats, Su Tan was far more astonished by the simple fact that it could speak. As for its so-called threat, it held absolutely no deterrent power over him. The Master Recognition Skill was complete; he now had absolute control over the life and destiny of the great White Wolf before him!

Listening to the fierce, growling threats of the beast, Su Tan merely shrugged.

"No, you can't," he said, pausing for a moment. "And you wouldn't dare!"

The Demon Wolf frowned. It bared its fangs in a vicious snarl, looking as if it wanted to swallow Su Tan whole. Glaring with rage-filled eyes the size of brass bells, it roared, "What... did you just say... I wouldn't dare?"

"Do you know who I am? Do you know what I've done? Is there anything I wouldn't dare to do? Let me tell you, I've devoured countless human experts! In the past, I wouldn't have even bothered to glance at a human like you, completely riddled with toxins. But now... since you've offended me, I don't mind risking a stomachache to eat you alive!"

Its voice was as cold and eerie as a whisper from hell.

Facing such a monster, even with absolute certainty of his safety, Su Tan's heart still pounded. The creature's aura was majestic and overwhelming. Standing before it, Su Tan felt like a tiny ant confronting a Giant Dragon. Even though he couldn't see, he could keenly feel that terrifying pressure. Was this the creature's true power?

If the Demon Beast hadn't already acknowledged him as its master, and if he didn't have the protective halo of ownership, he would have long been crushed to the ground by its sheer presence. It was incredibly strong.

Su Tan tried his best to relax. Feigning an air of absolute indifference, he chuckled and said, "You can't."

"I can't?"

"You can't."

"Heh... I can't? That's hilarious... Do you know—" The Demon Beast sneered, staring mockingly at Su Tan. But just as it was about to finish its sentence, Su Tan gently waved his hand at the monster.

"Kneel!"

THUD! As if struck by a mysterious curse, the Demon Wolf lost all control of its body and instantly plummeted to the ground, prostrating itself.

The Demon Wolf froze. Its eyes were filled with disbelief. As realization set in, its stunned gaze slowly morphed into dread and fear, which then gave way to deep humiliation and shame. It had lost face.

Then, that humiliation ignited into pure fury!

Its eyes burned like erupting volcanoes, and every single hair on its body stood on end.

GRIND!

It clenched its jaw tight. Every muscle in its body trembled with violently suppressed rage. Even in its explosive fury, it just looked like it desperately needed a beating.

"You little..." It tried to force itself up to strike.

"Kneel," Su Tan commanded with the calmness of still water, waving his hand once more.

THUD!

The Demon Wolf's imposing aura vanished in an instant. Its half-raised body slammed back down, as if glued to the floor. No matter how wildly it thrashed, it remained pinned to the ground.

"ROAR!"

The Demon Wolf was utterly helpless. It howled! It bellowed! It thrashed!

But it was entirely useless.

"Stop struggling. It's pointless. You can't move," Su Tan said, his heart gradually calming. "I control everything about you now. In front of me, as long as I wish it, you can't even twitch a single hair, let alone use your physical strength or supernatural abilities."

He could feel that the Wolf King was entirely powerless against him. In this moment, he was the absolute ruler. He dictated everything about the Wolf King.

"Despicable human! Despicable!" the Wolf King raged. If it could, it would have killed this human ten thousand times over.

Unfortunately for it... it couldn't!

"Don't think that just because you used some despicable trick to cast the Master Recognition Skill, you can dictate my life and death! Push me too far, and I'll end my own life! I'd rather die than let you have your way! A Demon King will never be a slave!" the Demon Wolf growled, entirely unresigned.

Su Tan remained silent for a moment.

"Heh... No, you won't. You don't want to die," Su Tan finally spoke. "Those who truly wish to die to prove a point don't waste time spouting nonsense. When I first started saving you and talking to you, you could have easily ended your own life. But you didn't. Therefore... I'm absolutely certain you don't have the courage to die!"

"I don't have the courage?" The Wolf King shifted its gaze away, acting as if its deepest thoughts had been seen through.

In reality, how could a blind man make eye contact with it? It was simply feeling guilty!

"Just watch me and see if I dare!"

"Alright, then go ahead and end it all. I'll give you the chance. Come on!" Su Tan said with a half-smile as he raised his hand.

The Demon Wolf suddenly felt the weight lift off its body. The invisible bindings suppressing it weakened significantly. Although it was still restricted, it definitely had enough freedom to end its own life!

Su Tan's unexpected move caught the Wolf King completely off guard. At a total loss for what to do, it froze in place.

"My, my, my... Didn't you say you'd drag us both down? Didn't you say you'd end your own life? Go ahead, I won't stop you!" Su Tan goaded.

PANT, PANT!

Su Tan could hear the Wolf King taking shaky, ragged breaths. If he had his sight, he would surely have been treated to the highly amusing spectacle of a creature absolutely furious yet entirely helpless.

"Not brave enough?" Su Tan shook his head. "If you don't have the guts, then why make such grand boasts?"

The mockery was sharp and piercing.

"Despicable... despicable..." the Wolf King muttered in grief and indignation. "If only I weren't forbidden from dying... If only I could afford to die!"

"I know you can't die, and you don't want to either. Ask around—who in this world actually wants to die?" Su Tan said. "Since you don't want to die, properly accept your new identity and be my mount!"

"Hmph!" The Wolf King snorted coldly without hesitation.

Serve as a human's mount? That was a disgrace to Demon Fiends! The ultimate humiliation! Unless absolutely forced, why would a Demon Wolf ever agree to such a thing?

It put on a stubborn display, acting as though Su Tan might have its body, but he would never have its heart—a truly pitiful sight.

"I know you're unwilling, but who knows? Maybe one day you'll rejoice at this decision," Su Tan said.

Rejoice? Unless serving a peak Dao expert, a Demon King would never consider being a mount something to rejoice over, even if the master was a Divine entity.

"I'm sure you don't believe me right now, but that's fine. You'll understand in the future." Paying no mind to the Demon Wolf's disdain, Su Tan continued.

"If my guess is right, the injuries inside your body still haven't healed, have they?"

The Wolf King rolled its eyes at Su Tan but didn't answer. It wondered if that wasn't obvious. Since he had already made it acknowledge him as master, could such things still be secrets?

It lay flat on the ground, completely unapologetic and stubborn as a mule. Since he wanted it to lie down, it wouldn't even bother resisting anymore. So what if it just lay there?

"I can heal your body entirely. I can cure all of your ailments," Su Tan said, maintaining his calm demeanor.

Now that caught the Wolf King's interest. It knew Su Tan actually had the ability to do so. It had witnessed that miraculous power firsthand earlier. In fact, Su Tan's possession of that very power was the sole reason the Wolf King hadn't chosen mutual destruction. If any other human had used underhanded schemes to force the Master Recognition Skill upon it, it would have undoubtedly smashed its own head in long ago!

"Furthermore, I can also help you... advance even further and become much stronger!" Su Tan added.

Could he actually make the Little White Wolf stronger? Su Tan wasn't completely sure right now, but he really needed the Little White Wolf. It was best to write a blank check for the time being.

"Well... are you interested?"

After hearing this, the Wolf King remained silent for a long time.

Eventually, Su Tan broke the silence. "If you don't agree, that's fine too. Then we can just ignore each other!"

"If... if you can truly achieve what you claim..." the Wolf King finally spoke. "Then never mind becoming a mount—even if you stew me into a soup, so what?"

"You agree?" Su Tan was surprised. It had agreed far too quickly. The Wolf King was resisting so fiercely just moments ago...

"If you fail to do what you promised, even if I become a ghost, I will never let you off!" the Wolf King cursed.