Chapter 1118, A Clean Sweep

Translator: Silavin

 

As Su Bai raised his hand higher, the sweet fragrance of the honey carried further and further into the night air.

 

In its natural state, the honey was thick and viscous, but the warmth of Su Bai’s hand was gradually causing it to melt.

 

The honey of the White Foot Six Legged Insects was extremely fragrant under ordinary circumstances. Melted, its scent became even more concentrated.

 

Standing behind him, Yu Ying and the others were nearly overcome by it. In moments, the entire corner of the forest was saturated with the aroma of honey.

 

“It makes even me want to eat some,” Su Bai remarked with a quiet laugh.

 

After that, the group fell silent, holding their breath and waiting as the insects began to stir.

 

Less than two minutes after Su Bai raised his hand, the insects that had been gathered in the distance started drifting gradually toward them.

 

The various insects were evidently not all of the same species, though they were clearly closely related, most likely different branches of the same broader genus. The different lights they emitted made this apparent, as did the variation in their sizes.

 

In the space of a few moments, Su Bai’s hand had become covered in insects. At a glance, there were several hundred of them at least.

 

This was no exaggeration. His hand at that instant looked like a glowing hive, covered densely in luminescent creatures from every direction.

 

If a person with a fear of clustering things had been standing there, they would likely have been terrified on the spot.

 

“They’re coming, they’re coming. So many glowing insects!” Yu Ying said, her voice hushed with astonishment.

 

Yu Ying kept her voice pressed very low, intent on not startling the insects away with noise.

 

“It’s actually quite beautiful, seeing insects of all different colours gathered together like this,” Sha Lan said, equally transfixed, her blue eyes stretched wide.

 

She watched with quiet delight and then added, “They’re completely occupied with eating the honey. We don’t need to whisper so carefully.”

 

She was speaking in a perfectly ordinary volume now, confident that the insects would not flee.

 

“You’re right! You can speak normally and they won’t move at all. They really do love honey,” Yu Ying said in delighted surprise.

 

Su Bai watched the insects with a calm expression, a faint curve forming at the corners of his mouth.

 

He heard the exchange between the young women and turned back to give them a casual wave.

 

“Shaman, be careful. You’ll send the insects flying,” Yu Ying said, her pink eyes going wide with alarm at the sudden movement.

 

Sha Lan had just been about to say something when she noticed the insects remained completely still. She exhaled in relief.

 

Su Bai looked down at the insects covering his hand with a knowing expression. He had known those greedy little creatures would not abandon such a sweet prize.

 

After all, honey was a treasure that appealed to almost anything. It had even been known to subdue Ferocious Beasts.

 

He did not waste any further time. If he waited too long, the honey would be consumed and the insects would leave.

 

He casted his Taming Skill, and as the light activated, every insect on his hand was enveloped in an instant.

 

The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye. The light from the Taming Skill did not overwhelm the natural glow that the insects themselves were producing, so without looking carefully, there would have been no sign that he had used the Taming Skill at all.

 

When the Skill finished its work, every last insect had been Tamed.

 

Because Su Bai performed his Daily Check In and used his Taming Skill each day without fail, the Skill had been Levelling Up steadily alongside his other Skills.

 

His Taming Skill now was precisely calibrated. Large wild beasts and Ferocious Beasts still carried a daily limit, which the System made perfectly clear.

 

However, for small luminescent insects such as these, there was no specific limit on application.

 

It was similar to what would happen with a colony of ants gathered in a cluster. If the Taming Skill were used on them at that moment, the effect would spread through contact between individuals, so long as they were touching one another.

 

The phenomenon was much like an electrical current. Touch one unit, and the charge passes to the next.

 

“Shaman, have you already Tamed all of them?” Sha Lan had been holding her breath throughout.

 

“Yes. Every last one.” Su Bai lowered his hand and gave it a firm shake, scattering the insects into the air.

 

After being dislodged by that movement, the insects did not simply fly off.

 

Had they not been Tamed, the sudden jolt would have sent them scattering in every direction.

 

“Great! They were so easy to Tame.” Sha Lan said, barely suppressing a laugh behind her hand.

 

Yu Ying immediately retrieved a small pouch of water and a cloth from her bag, poured the water onto the cloth, and wrung it lightly.

 

“Shaman, please wipe your hands,” she said softly. “Otherwise, the honey will leave it sticky.”

 

“Xiao Yu grows more thoughtful by the day,” Su Bai said with a smile, accepting the damp cloth.

 

He scrubbed his hands thoroughly several times, making certain every trace of honey was gone.

 

And indeed, the sensation of melted honey clinging to one’s hands was genuinely unpleasant.

 

“Shaman, these insects come in so many different colours. Which ones should we actually use?” Sha Lan asked.

 

“All of them have their uses. White and yellow can serve as everyday lighting, while the other colours can be used as stage lighting or for shadow puppet theatre.”

 

Su Bai had already mapped out applications for each colour in his mind, particularly where stage performances and shadow puppetry were concerned.

 

Without proper lighting, so much of the magic in both would be lost.

 

In this Primitive Era, there were no coloured spotlights. These insects, each capable of producing its own distinct hue, were the finest possible substitute.

 

“To think the Shaman had already planned all of this. Even so, the numbers we have here aren’t that many. I suppose only the Yong’an Building could benefit from them.” Sha Lan said, unable to hide her disappointment.

 

She had been hoping that all the street lanterns throughout the settlement might be replaced with these glowing insects. That prospect now seemed well beyond reach.

 

“That’s a simple problem to solve. We simply let these insects return to their own colonies and convey to them that we have honey to offer. After that, we can have as many as we like.” Su Bai wore the unhurried expression of someone who had long since anticipated this particular concern.

 

“Of course! How did I not think of that? After all, those insects do love honey.” Sha Lan said, giving herself a light tap on the forehead.

 

“Ha! Let’s head back. If we linger out here for too long, we may attract other things to this spot.” Su Bai chuckled.

 

The melting honey had given off such a powerful fragrance that it had very likely already drawn the attention of creatures with keen senses of smell.

 

They were not that dangerous, but there was no need to invite that kind of encounter.

 

“I nearly forgot about that. A scent that rich would attract all sorts of wild beasts.” Sha Lan said, one cat ear tilting down to the side.

 

The moment she imagined those insects swarming all over her body, goosebumps rose across her skin.

 

They posed no real threat in terms of lethality, but they were certainly capable of being really unpleasant.