Bai Cheng sat on the ground with his legs crossed over each other, hands raised in a gesture of surrender, facing six suspicious cultivators at him. Fang, rather carefree of the perils, sniffed a rogue cultivator's boots as if greeting new playmates.
Ah, ah, well, well," Jiao sneered, tapping his sword against his hand. "Looks like we caught a little spy".
"Spy?" Bai Cheng laughed nervously, waving his hands. "No, no, you've got it all wrong. I'm just… an adventurous traveler! Out for a stroll with my loyal companion!"
He gestured to Fang, who promptly sneezed in the dirt. "See? Harmless!"
Boss Wu's eyes narrowed. "You've got exactly ten seconds to explain why you've been tailing us, or you'll be fertilizer for the trees."
Bai Cheng gulped and looked at the dagger strapped across Ren's back and at the angry faces of the others.
"Okay, okay, listen to me! I wasn't tailing you. I was, ah, looking for mushrooms! They are quite rare and quite delicious mushrooms. And you guys were just coincidentally headed down the same way. Pure accident.".
The group shared glances. Their skepticism was unmistakable.
"Rare mushrooms?" Da Ru asked in surprise. "In such a bad forest?"
Bai Cheng nodded excitedly. "Exactly! They're called. Um. 'Heavenly Fungus of Immortality.' It is pretty rare. It's so tasty.
I promise, I even smelled some early on.
"Boss, this child just speaks gibberish," said Jia Ling with her arms crossed. "Let me take him down and end it."
"Wait, wait, let's not rush!" Bai Cheng shouted, getting up quickly. "You don't want to do that.
Think about the trouble it would cause. Also, I'm sure you'll feel sorry later. I'm, um… quite well-known around here! People know me for my… understanding of animals and plants!"
Shen Yue furrowed his brows and curled up his nose. "Famous? You do not even have a single speck of spiritual energy. Are you not just a lost mortal who happened to stumble into the wrong place?
Bai Cheng stopped, then blushed and smiled. "Oh, you saw that. Good eyes! Yes, yes, I am just an ordinary person. A simple, weak traveler. That's me! But!"
He pointed a finger up dramatically. "That doesn't mean I'm not helpful. I have smart ideas! Plans! And a very cute dog."
Fang barked once, his tail wagging for greater effect.
"You're telling me," Jiao laughed, "that a wimp like you survived out here on 'brains' and a dog?"
"Of course!" Bai Cheng took a deep breath as he tried to seem confident. "Do you know how dangerous these woods are? I have escaped so many wild animals by my ingenuity. The other day, I outsmarted a pack of Razor-Tail Scorpions!"
Razor-Tail Scorpions?" Jia Ling said again, sounding very surprised.
Ah! Yup! Bai Cheng nodded solemnly. They came close enough to sting, but I played on them to fight each other instead. Classic bait-and-switch. It never fails!
The cultivators stared at him, some disbelieving, others straining to suppress smirks.
"Enough," Boss Wu said, cutting off the talking. He stepped forward, looking around, Bai Cheng. "You said you know about beasts. So tell me this: Have you seen any sign of the Flame Beast around here?"
Bai Cheng blinked. "Flame Beast?"
Ren's eyes narrowed further. "Don't play dumb. It's a powerful creature with a fiery mane and claws that can scorch the earth. Rumor has it this forest holds one. We've been tracking its trail for days. If you've seen anything—tracks, scorch marks, anything—speak now."
Bai Cheng's mind was racing. Flame Beast? Scorch marks? I haven't seen so much as a warm rock in this place!
I. might have seen something! he suddenly was trying to stall.
The group leaned in slightly, their curiosity piqued.
Explain it, Jia Ling demanded.
"Well, um." Bai Cheng stroked his chin as if thinking very deeply. "It was. Big. And, um, fiery. It had flames. Probably. Maybe even. claws?"
Maybe?" Da Ru said, sounding uncertain.
"Look, it was dark!" Bai Cheng said hastily, throwing up his hands. "I couldn't see too well, okay? But I felt the heat. Like, um… when you stand too close to a campfire! Yeah, very hot. Very animal-like."
Boss Wu looked at him expressionlessly. Bai Cheng forced himself to look into the man's eyes, hoping he looked convincing and not scared.
Bo Qiang snapped his head up. "Sounds like he's just as dumb as the rest of them.".
Or he'd be lying, Jia Ling replied, shifting her hand toward her dagger.
Or, Bai Cheng said, taking the opportunity, "I can help you find it! Think about it-you have all the power, but I know the area well. I can guide you, show you important places, and help you avoid dangers." He smiled, trying to appear like the most dependable guide in the world.
"It's a win-win!
Boss didn't say a word. He stroked his chin, his sharp eyes on Bai Cheng. Finally, he said, "If you lie, you won't live to regret it."
Bai Cheng nodded quickly. "Alright. Complete honesty from here on. Scout's honor!
"Were you a scout?" asked Jiao quietly.
nope!" Bai Cheng said happily.
A Plan in the Making
As the group turned, keeping looking, Bai Cheng walked behind them, sporting a blank face.
He was, in his head, going nuts. Flame Beast? These people must be looking for something important. And if I play this smart…
He glanced down at Fang, who trotted along beside him, completely unfazed by the tension. "Alright, buddy," Bai Cheng whispered under his breath. "We're in deep now. But I've got a plan."
Fang barked softly as if to say, You should.
Bai Cheng smiled even more. Let's see who is smarter.