The merchants scrambled frantically through the streets, shouting and gesturing wildly as they searched for the escaped spirit beast. But all they could do was curse their luck as, in the distance, a rumor echoed through the market—words carried on the wind that a foundation realm expert had seized their cub and vanished over the horizon. Their shouts faded into helpless frustration, leaving the streets once again in uneasy calm.
Back at the restaurant, Shi Yang, Han Jie, and Xiu Mei had settled into a quiet corner, the clatter and chatter of midday diners fading into the background. Bowls of steaming noodles and fresh vegetables were laid out before them, but Shi Yang's attention was partly on the bundle resting in his lap.
The cub stirred, its nose twitching at the aroma of fish from their meal. Its tiny paws scrabbled against the cloth, whimpering softly, and Shi Yang smiled. He broke off a small piece of fish, holding it just above the cloth.
"Here," he murmured, and the cub sniffed eagerly before nibbling at the morsel. Its eyes lit up with delight, but the moment it finished, it tried to wriggle free, wanting more. The cloth swaddling it was adorned with three talismans Shi Yang had applied with Han Jie's help—each glowing faintly, suppressing the cub's movements just enough to keep it contained without harm.
The cub struggled against the restraints, huffing and pawing at the fabric, clearly impatient. Shi Yang chuckled softly, offering it another piece of fish. Its little snout darted out, taking the treat greedily before it sank back into the warmth of his lap, still eager for more.
Han Jie leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's insatiable," she said, stroking the cloth gently.
"Don't worry," Shi Yang replied, breaking another piece of fish and feeding it carefully. "It'll learn patience soon enough."
The cub whined softly, nibbling the fish in between attempts to break free, and Shi Yang only laughed, indulgently giving it more. Wrapped in the cloth and bound by the talismans, it had all the freedom it could handle—and a steady stream of fresh fish. Its tiny, grateful eyes looked up at him, and Shi Yang's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
The three of them continued their meal, the quiet warmth of the restaurant and the presence of the little cub making the afternoon feel oddly peaceful—an oasis of calm after the chaos of the market.
"So, Uncle Shi," Xiu Mei spoke as she slurped noodles from her pork noodle soup, chewing slowly before continuing, "what do you plan on naming this little guy?" She picked it up and then fed it a piece of fried egg. "Aww, look at him."
She cooed, watching it eat the fried egg with widened eyes. She quickly raised her chopsticks. "Waiter, waiter! I'd like a plate of seventeen—no, thirty fried eggs!"
The waiter nodded quickly, eyes widening slightly at the unusual request. "Thirty fried eggs, right away," he said, bowing slightly before hurrying off to fulfill the order.
Xiu Mei's face lit up as she turned back to the cub, which had been watching her every move with bright, curious eyes. She held out a piece of fried egg from her own plate, and the little tiger eagerly chomped it down, its tiny paws clutching at the morsel. Its soft purrs of satisfaction made Xiu Mei giggle.
"Look at him go," she murmured, her voice full of delight. "He really loves it!" She took another dish and placed it closer.
Shi Yang chuckled, watching the scene unfold. The little cub glanced over at the new plate of egg over rice that had just been set before it, its tail flicking with excitement. Shi Yang shook his head with an amused grin.
"Seems like he's got good taste," he said, breaking off a piece of the egg and holding it out to the cub. "Here you go, little one. Eat up."
The tiger's eyes widened as it eagerly accepted the offering, chomping it down with tiny, determined bites.
Shi Yang leaned back, a faint laugh rumbling from his chest as he regarded the little creature. "As for a name… how about 'Little Yoke'?" he suggested, tapping the cub lightly on the head. "Fits him nicely, don't you think?"
Xiu Mei's face brightened. "Little Yoke!" she repeated, smiling as she gently stroked the cub's soft fur. The cub's ears twitched at the sound, and it let out a small, pleased purr, seemingly approving its new name.
Shi Yang watched the two of them interact. "Well then—Little Yoke, eat up." He ruffled the cub's head and let Xiu Mei continue feeding it. Then he turned to Han Jie. "You look close to breaking through soon."
She nodded. "I don't know exactly why, but the amount of Yang you give now seems to have quadrupled. It's given me a much bigger boost in cultivation."
"That might be because I advanced my technique the night before we were attacked in the Dreamers Pavilion," he said, taking a sip of tea. "I hadn't fully felt the change back then, but after five days of abstinence its effects have started to kick in."
"You and your techniques are truly their own marvels," she said, breaking off a duck leg and offering a piece to the cub. "It feels like every other day you find some way to outdo yourself."
"I could say the same of both of you in bed," he replied.
Both of them flushed. "You're such a flirt," Han Jie said, rubbing his thigh. "It's been a while since I gave you a dance. Why don't I perform one when we return to the clinic? No black outfit this time~"
Shi Yang laughed. "Even if it were black, I wouldn't mind." His fingers found hers and locked. "After all, you're only mine now, right?"
"Always," she murmured, leaning on his shoulder. "Until my daoist heart bleeds and dies."
The waiter came staggering back, arms straining under the weight of two large trays piled high with steaming plates of fried eggs. The rich, savory scent wafted through the restaurant, drawing curious looks from nearby tables. With a careful bow, he set them down, muttering under his breath about customers with eccentric tastes before hurrying off.
The cub's nose twitched instantly. Its bundled body wriggled against the cloth, paws pressing and pushing to get free, the scent of egg too much for its young instincts to ignore.
Xiu Mei laughed softly. "Oh, you greedy little thing." She looked to Shi Yang, her expression bright. "Uncle Shi, let me keep an eye on him. He won't cause trouble if I'm here."
Shi Yang studied the cub for a long moment, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. Finally, he gave a small nod. "Very well. But if it bites someone, that'll be on you."
"Agreed!" she said, quickly undoing the swaddle. The talismans peeled away, their faint glow dimming as she folded them aside.
The cub tumbled free onto the table, its small striped body no bigger than a large housecat's. For a moment it shook itself, then sat down neatly, tail curled, eyes fixed on the mountain of golden egg before it.
"Go on then," Xiu Mei encouraged, pushing the plate toward it.
With surprising restraint, the cub leaned forward and began eating. Its little jaws worked busily, tearing through yolk and white alike. Within moments, half the plate was gone. It let out a faint, satisfied rumble, then—without being prompted—sat back down, licking its whiskers.
"Well, look at that," Han Jie said with a faint laugh, sipping her tea. "Obedient enough when fed properly."
"Seems food is a language even beasts respect," Shi Yang remarked, sliding his own untouched egg-topped rice bowl across the table. "Here, Little Yoke, try this too."
The cub sniffed, then leaned down to lap at the yolk-slick rice. After a few mouthfuls, its head turned toward the steaming bowl of soup beside it. With quick little laps of its tongue, it began drinking, the surface rippling as it eagerly slurped. The sight of a spirit beast cub calmly dining at their table made the three of them chuckle despite themselves.
Xiu Mei stroked its back, her expression tender. "See? Not a menace at all. He just needed good company."
Shi Yang leaned back, watching the strange little family scene. "Let's hope it stays that way."
"Now then, can you pass me the tea?" he asked, holding up his empty cup. Xiu Mei quickly reached for the pot and refilled it, the fragrant white-rose tea rising all the way to the rim.
"Thank you," Shi Yang said.
"You're welcome, Uncle Shi," she replied with a small smile, setting the pot down before returning to her meal. Her gaze, however, lingered on their newest companion, Little Yoke.
"Waiter, I want another plate of fried eggs," she suddenly called.
The waiter, halfway through serving the neighboring table, paused in surprise before nodding. "Very well," he said, though his eyes drifted toward the tiger cub on their table. His hands froze mid-wipe at the sight.
"Make it forty this time," Shi Yang added smoothly, his eyes narrowing in thought. He studied the cub, rubbing his chin. I wonder if it likes carp. If it does, that could be useful.
"And bring two plates of carp," he continued, "one steamed and the other grilled."