"Young lad! Wake up! Oi!"
The old master's voice cracked through the quiet forest morning. He had only turned away for a moment, yet now Xi Youran was thrashing in her sleep, tears streaming silently down her face.
'I just looked away for a second… what is she dreaming?'
His brow furrowed in frustration, a rare fury flashing in his eyes.
"I… I'm sorry…"
Those were the last words murmured by Xi Youran before she suddenly bolted upright, chest heaving and eyes wide.
"What's wrong?!" Grandpa Yan demanded, rushing to her side, his long silver hair fluttering like a banner in the wind.
Xi Youran's trembling hands covered her face. "It… it was you…"
Tears slipped through her fingers. Her dream had been a vivid replay of the old master's tragic past—a tale of love never fulfilled.
Once, long ago, the man she now called Grandpa Yan had loved a woman dearly.They had fought fate itself to survive. Avoided death, outwitted assassins, survived ambushes—but in the end…
Her heart clenched as she recounted it in her mind:
The girl he loved had a fragile body, cursed to forget her memories every 24 hours.Every day, he found her again. Every day, she rejected him with the same words:
"I am very sorry. I already have someone I love… and I am on my way to find him."
Their fleeting meetings ended tragically—she was captured, turned into a slave, and though they escaped, her weak body could not survive. She died in his arms.
"I… I saw it," Xi Youran whispered, shivering. "I… I think our souls… mixed inside this body."
Grandpa Yan's gaze softened, staring at the stars that blanketed the sky. "Perhaps… it is so. When the time comes, one of us will remain. But I have accomplished my goal—finding someone who can finally change their fate."
Youran hugged her knees, silent tears dripping into the mossy ground.
Morning came, and with it, the continuation of their journey.
"Grandpa Yan, are we there yet?" Xi Youran asked, dragging her feet, exhaustion written in every step.
Grandpa Yan exhaled through his nose, finally acknowledging her question. "Yes. We have arrived."
The site looked unchanged, yet the air was heavy with history. Alchemist tools and a large cauldron stood ready, scattered across the room with the careful precision of a craftsman.
Xi Youran finally understood—this was why Grandpa Yan insisted on returning.
She collapsed onto the nearest bed, her bag still hugging her shoulder.
"I need… rest."
Before long, she drifted into sleep, peaceful yet carrying the weight of her dreams.
[Beast:My Master is so cute while sleeping~]
The tiny cat-like creature gazed lovingly at her, tail curled around its body.
Suddenly, someone grabbed it by the neck.
"You're a full-fledged Divine Beast, right?"
In a puff of smoke, a figure transformed before them. Stripes adorned his face, his gaze sharp and predatory. His tail flicked with feline grace, and a faintly seductive voice curled through the room.
"My… my, who would have thought this old man could sense my true self?" The Beast chuckled, stepping onto the nearest chair.
Grandpa Yan smirked knowingly. "I had my suspicions. But it seems the truth has finally revealed itself."
The Beast's ears twitched—feeling both tricked and amused. The time would come for him to reveal himself fully to his Master, but today was not that day.
"W-who—ARGH! Pervert!" Grandpa Yan suddenly screamed, flailing.
The Beast leapt behind a chair, eyes blinking in confusion at the outburst.
"Master! Stop screaming! You're not very ladylike, you know!"
The creature's voice was gentle but carried the undeniable authority of a Divine Beast.
"Wha… eh? My cat?" Xi Youran blinked twice—and fainted dead away, collapsing onto the bed.
Grandpa Yan froze, wide-eyed.
"Did she… die?" the Beast asked, tilting his head. His feline eyes glimmered with curiosity and concern.
The room was quiet except for the soft rise and fall of Xi Youran's breathing.The Beast settled beside her, tail curling protectively around her body.Grandpa Yan finally exhaled, his mind racing.
This is only the beginning…