The Rat Cultivator

Chapter 184: Delivering the Letter

[Green Intelligence: Probability of defeating Princess Peacock is fifty percent. Probability of killing her: zero. Warning: Target possesses extremely threatening hidden methods.]

Something is wrong. Very wrong. Wu Yuan’s eyes narrowed. He had grossly underestimated Princess Peacock.

Despite his outward display of arrogant confidence moments prior, Wu Yuan’s core nature was ruthlessly pragmatic. He wouldn’t have consulted the Karmic Pearl if he didn’t respect the threat she posed. The intelligence confirmed his worst fears: her danger was absolute, not just the exaggerated boasting of the Golden Armor Lion.

“We’re all supposed to be low-level fodder fighting in the mud. How did a monster like her sneak into the beginner zone?” he muttered to himself. “Is the Azure Spirit Mountain Range just a rigged tutorial for her to farm achievements?”

He had assumed that his Barbarian Beast physique, the coordinated rat swarm, and a Top Grade Magical Artifact capable of telepathic linkage—a trait normally reserved for second-tier artifacts—made him overwhelmingly overpowered. Yet, Princess Peacock defied all logic.

Are her raw stats higher than mine? Or are her combat mechanics simply that broken?

The situation had suddenly spiraled out of his control. He thought he was the undisputed overlord of the mountain range, only to discover a final boss waiting in the wings. He immediately reached for the Karmic Pearl, intending to dig up her trump cards.

Buzz.

A weak fluctuation pulsed from the pearl. The karmic weight surrounding Princess Peacock was monstrous. Probing her secrets would drain an astronomical amount of his Spirit Gathering Power.

Wu Yuan instantly aborted the attempt. While he could afford to scrape the surface of her intelligence or burn a massive amount of power to force out her secrets, the cost-to-benefit ratio was terrible. He needed that energy for immediate survival; Princess Peacock would have to wait.

But shelving the investigation didn’t mean ignoring the threat.

Since she refuses to play by the rules, Wu Yuan thought, his eyes turning glacial, I won’t hold back either.

He had originally planned to conquer the mountain range on his own merits and present his victory to the Cat King as a surprise. That naive, prideful plan was dead. He needed to bring the Cat King onto the board.

Before, during the frantic conquest of Polong Lake, he hadn’t been able to spare any of the few subordinates who actually recognized the Cat King—Little Yellow, Big Old Black, and One Ear. But now? Polong Lake was secured, and thanks to the Cat King’s borrowed prestige, they had temporarily integrated into Princess Peacock’s alliance. The war was paused. Everyone was entrenched, cultivating their strength.

It was the perfect window.

Wu Yuan spent hours meticulously drafting a letter, blending archaic chivalric prose with vernacular pragmatism, perfectly tailored to the Cat King’s dramatic sensibilities. It was a gamble—a desperate play—but if it worked, having the Cat King’s backing would exponentially increase his chances of unearthing Princess Peacock’s secrets and escaping this mountain range alive.

“Big Old Black, I have a critical mission for you,” Wu Yuan said, his tone deadpan.

“Just give the word, Boss!” Big Old Black thumped his chest, then paused, gesturing a paw toward Winged Tiger, Little Gray, and Little White. “But… what kind of mission needs all of us?”

“Do you remember the Cat King?” Wu Yuan asked.

Realization dawned in the large rat’s eyes. “You know where he is? You want me to go find him?”

“Exactly. But you must take Winged Tiger and Little Gray’s tokens to seek an audience with their elders first,” Wu Yuan instructed. “Otherwise, you’ll never get near him.”

Suddenly, a small yellow furball popped out from the shadows. “A mission this big? You can’t leave me behind!”

Wu Yuan grabbed Little Yellow by the scruff, sighing helplessly. “You just want an excuse to play outside. Stop messing around.”

But as he lifted the rat, Wu Yuan paused. Wait. Should I let him go? It might actually be a wild card. The Cat King had a well-documented soft spot for Little Yellow. Though the Karmic Pearl had revealed the Cat King’s rough coordinates—and the fact that the feline had secretly aided Wu Yuan after slaying the Peng Bird—finding him still required the tiger elders’ intercession. Little Yellow’s presence might grease the wheels.

Still, a pang of anxiety twisted in Wu Yuan’s chest. It felt like sending a child into a warzone.

Little Yellow shrank under Wu Yuan’s intense scrutiny. “Aiyo, Boss, what are you staring at? I just want to help!” he muttered, pinching his own belly fat defensively.

“Are you sure? You aren’t afraid of the outside?” Wu Yuan asked softly.

Little Yellow dropped his paws, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious. “I can tell this is important. I want to help you, Boss.”

Wu Yuan smiled, a rare warmth reaching his eyes. “Alright. You’ll go with Big Old Black.” He shifted his gaze to the larger rat. “Once you leave this cave, Little Yellow is in charge. Follow his orders.”

Big Old Black puffed out his chest. “Don’t worry, Boss, I’ll definitely keep a close eye on Second Brother—wait, what?” He blinked. “I take orders from Second Brother Yellow?”

Wu Yuan’s brow twitched. He stepped forward and planted a swift kick squarely on Big Old Black’s rump. “Idiot! Do you really think your rock-filled head is sharper than his?”

Big Old Black rubbed his backside, hanging his head. “I thought I was finally getting my own command,” he grumbled.

Hearing he was the leader, Little Yellow practically vibrated with excitement. He leaped from Wu Yuan’s grip directly onto Big Old Black’s head, grabbing the larger rat’s ears like reins. “Onward, Big Old Black! Let’s ride!” he cheered.

Wu Yuan sighed heavily, reaching out to pinch Little Yellow’s tail, halting their grand departure. “You idiot. You didn’t even take the supplies. I’m already regretting this.”

Little Yellow froze. He rubbed his head sheepishly. “Ah… minor oversight, Boss!”

He carefully accepted the Storage Bag from Wu Yuan, tucking it securely into his mouth. He puffed out his chest, casting a confident look over the gathered demons. “Don’t worry, everyone! I won’t let you down!”

Patting Big Old Black’s head, he signaled the advance. With a long-suffering sigh, Big Old Black lowered his stance and shot out of the cavern into the unknown.

Wu Yuan watched them disappear into the distance, his expression unreadable. He hoped this gamble would pay off, but deep down, he knew the stakes were higher than ever.