Chapter Twenty-five: Subduing the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow

“Heh heh, well done, you crafty scoundrel!”

Inside the tavern, seeing the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow ensnared once again, Ye Qiu burst out laughing.

Trying to play games with me? I don’t care who you are, I’ll just net you straight away! Let’s see how you like that...

That net was Ye Qiu’s meticulously crafted bird-catching device. Anything that flew in the sky was powerless before it. The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was a perfect example—caught in the net, no matter how formidable its strength, it couldn’t break free, for the material was anything but ordinary.

“What now, boss? Should I just use a tranquilizer dart?” Cao He grinned, finding these contraptions endlessly amusing—each more bizarre than the last, and remarkably effective.

“No need! Allow me to go out there and put on a bit of a show…”

Having just skillfully displayed his prowess, Ye Qiu couldn’t waste the opportunity to bask in some glory. He dusted himself off, pushed open the tavern’s main doors, and strode forward confidently.

“Senior…”

Fu Feng and the others hurried to greet him, but Ye Qiu waved them away. “There’s no need for formalities. Just watch as I tame this beast!”

At his words, everyone felt a shiver of disbelief. Ye Qiu’s ambition truly bordered on the fantastical. They all knew that the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was of ancient and noble blood, proud beyond measure—how could it possibly consent to serve a human?

Inside the net, the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow gazed helplessly at the grinning Ye Qiu, unleashing a roar of furious grief. Its pride had been utterly shattered today.

“Go on, try to run! Let’s see you escape now…” Ye Qiu teased, still puzzled as to why the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow had suddenly recovered earlier. Was it possible that the grapes had healing properties? He dismissed the thought out of hand.

“Impossible. I eat those grapes every day and haven’t noticed any special effects. That can’t be it…”

Ye Qiu refused to believe it, and with a sly smile he addressed the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow: “You have two choices! One, become my mount—plenty of food and shelter included. Two, I’ll slaughter you and roast your flesh—I bet you’d taste delicious!”

At that, the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow glared murderously at Ye Qiu, as if to say: “Are you trying to scare me? Do you really think I’m that gullible?”

“I choose the first option!” the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow replied almost without hesitation.

Ah?

So easy?

Ye Qiu was taken aback. From what he knew of these fierce beasts, this wasn’t at all how it should go. Such creatures were famed for their arrogance, regarding all others as mere insects—how could it surrender so meekly? He’d been prepared to use all manner of persuasion, but now there was no need.

In truth, the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow had long since realized resistance was futile. The man before it could rightly be called the greatest living mortal. How could it hope to compete? There was simply no way.

Of course, its surrender had little to do with food and shelter. Truth be told, it simply wanted to cling to someone powerful. With a backer this formidable, what need was there to struggle?

Struggle? What nonsense…

“So obedient? Are you trying to trick me?”

The simplicity of it all made Ye Qiu suspicious—surely there was some ruse at play.

Now it was the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow’s turn to be dumbfounded.

Seriously? This isn’t fair! I can’t win a fight, I can’t run, if I don’t submit I’ll just die—what choice do I have? I suspect you’re deliberately making things difficult for me. Do you really need me to pretend to resist before you’ll believe me?

The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was beside itself—was the human heart always this complicated? Even the truth was met with skepticism.

“Great one, I truly wish to yield. Please, have mercy and release me. This rope is draining all my spiritual energy…”

It pleaded in despair, for the rope was indeed devouring its strength. In just a few short minutes, it was nearly spent.

But Ye Qiu wasn’t so easily convinced. In the world of martial wanderers, caution was a virtue.

Better safe than sorry!

“Oh… I get it. You’re saying this on purpose, hoping I’ll let you go so you can strike back at the last moment, aren’t you? Hmph, I won’t fall for your tricks.”

Ye Qiu’s eyes lit up as realization dawned, but the more he pondered, the more he regretted it.

The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow nearly wept.

Strike back? Are you out of your mind? You know your own strength—if you stood still and let me attack, I couldn’t kill you! Never in my life have I suffered such humiliation. Not only are you rough, you even play the part of the humble good guy…

The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was bitter beyond words, but dared not voice its grievances, fearing Ye Qiu would lose patience and kill it with a single blow.

This man, so powerful, still affected weakness and endless caution. What could possibly threaten him now?

The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was thoroughly aggrieved, convinced Ye Qiu was toying with it—and with ample evidence.

“Great one, please stop! I really can’t take any more. Have mercy, I don’t want to die…”

Its cry was pitiful, tears streaming down as it pleaded.

“Truly? Why does this all feel so unreal…”

Ye Qiu himself was at a loss, unsure whether to believe it.

“Whatever, I’ll give it a try. If it’s a trick, I’ll just run for it…”

After careful deliberation, Ye Qiu decided to take the risk. With a swift motion, he ripped away the net. The Sky-Swallowing Sparrow broke free, circled high overhead, and then alighted respectfully before Ye Qiu.

“Master…” it called out.

“Well, well, looks like I finally have my own divine beast! Heh, a must-have for any transmigrator…”

Ye Qiu was elated. Things had gone far more smoothly than expected—he had actually managed to tame such a powerful beast.

Did this mean he could now show off wherever he went?

The thought thrilled him. Twenty years since crossing over, and never once had he had the chance to flaunt himself, not even once. Now, at last, he could strut with pride and declare himself a true transmigrator.

Composing himself, Ye Qiu said calmly, “Since you have sincerely pledged your loyalty, I shall grant you a name…”

“Given your brilliant red feathers, I’ll call you Little Red.”

“L-Little Red? That’s outrageous! I, the mighty Sky-Swallowing Sparrow, and you give me a girly name like that?”

Infuriating! I’d rather leap to my death than accept such an insult.

“Here, take this bunch of grapes as your reward!”

“Thank you, Master, for the name. I truly like it…”

Just moments ago, the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow was bristling with indignation, but at the sight of the grapes, it suddenly found the name quite endearing.

Little Red—fiery and auspicious, a name destined for greatness. It even sounded rather affectionate.

A fine name.

What use was pride anyway, compared to the elixir of immortality? This master was a veritable tycoon!

Such treasures, handed out so casually… With perks like this, why struggle? Better to follow him around and pick up the scraps.

I, the ancient savage, shall never be a slave—unless there’s room and board included!