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"See? Perfectly fine!" it declared, puffing out its tiny chest as if expecting an applause. "Is this ancestor not great or what? Behold the grace, the control, the divine precision of one gentle tap and balance is restored! Truly, a being of my caliber should be worshiped at least twice a day."
It raised a paw dramatically, licking it with a casual air of elegance that only made its arrogance very worse. "Honestly, mortals should thank me everyday. Imagine if I'd actually been annoyed utter catastrophe."
Han Yan had a strange expression on his face as he stared at the cat in silence, then at the black panther who was still lying down motionless, wide-eyed and trembling.
"…Right, truly awe-inspiring." he could only say dryly, his mind blank.
The cat sneered for a moment, then with a sudden, fluid motion, leapt onto the black panther's back, perching itself squarely on the massive creature's head. It settled there as though claiming the highest throne in the world.
"Lowly human," it purred, golden eyes glinting, "do you have food? Quickly entertain this ancestor?"
Han Yan's eye twitched faintly. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure. "No… I'm too poor to have anything worthy to give this great Buddha" he said carefully, taking a slow, deliberate step backward, keeping his distance.
The cat's gaze narrowed, unamused. "Nonsense! This ancestor can only force himself to follow you. Don't you wish to know about the greater world beyond this dull place?" It paused expectantly, as if waiting for Han Yan to show even the slightest bit of curiosity.
To its surprise, Han Yan had already walked far away from it as if it were the plague. The little creature nearly tumbled from the black panther's head, letting out a sharp hiss in disbelief.
"You… you dare walk away before listening to this ancestors great wisdom?"
With a flick of its tail, it barked a sharp command, and the black panther rose, moving in sync beside Han Yan like a loyal shadow. The cat's claws dug gently into the panther's sleek fur as it settled more comfortably, its golden eyes still fixed on Han Yan with a mixture of irritation and expectation.
"You lowly human," it snapped, lifting its tiny chin which almost touched the high Heavens "how dare you attempt to walk away when this ancestor speaks? You must bring me along! Right now!"
Han Yan exhaled slowly, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Go bother someone else" he said evenly, gesturing toward the panther. "But… I am grateful for your help with, um…" He pointed awkwardly at the black panther that now carried the cat like a living throne.
The cat huffed indignantly, clearly pleased at the acknowledgment. "Hmph. Finally, some respect. You humans are so dull..."
Han Yan rolled his eyes inwardly as he glanced at the cat curiosity finally getting the better of him. "By the way… what exactly are you? And why can you… do all this?"
The cat's golden eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and arrogance. "Ah, finally, a question worthy of my attention. I am no mere feline," it began, stretching languidly on the panther's head. "I am a mighty sprite beast, a being that exists between the mortal and the divine. My abilities… are far beyond the comprehension of ordinary humans. What you see now is but a fraction of my glorious power."
Han Yan's brow furrowed faintly lost in his own thoughts as he only said. "Oh so you are a sprite beast…"
"Indeed," the cat interrupted smoothly, flicking its tail. "I have roamed these lands for decades, unseen and unchallenged. Only the worthy or the fortunate can catch even a glimpse of my marvelous presence. And now, lowly human, you have caught mine."
Han Yan's lips pressed together in disbelief. "And what now, you really want me to… carry you to my home?"
The cat's eyes glimmered with an imperious glow. "Precisely. You will bring this ancestor to your home. Don't disappoint me, lowly human. I expect compliance."
Han Yan nodded slowly, pausing in his steps as he looked at the black panther and the little ancestor perched on top of its head. "I see… well, I'm still very grateful for the help. I suppose I'll need some time to get used to… hurting."
The cat flicked its tail again, giving him a sharp, scrutinizing glance. "Tsk you humans… are easily satisfied" it muttered, though a hint of satisfaction lingered behind its words.
But what Han Yan said next almost made the little ancestor erupt in anger.
He drew in a slow, measured breath, his voice calm but firm as he delivered the ultimate sentence. "But I am not going to let you stay in my house" he said seriously, eyes narrowing slightly as he met the little cat's gaze.
"Your origin carries danger, and your nature cannot be trusted. Bringing an unknown creature under one's roof is a risk no sane person would take. Such uncertainty has no place in a home."
The cat blinked, offended beyond words. It slowly lowered its head, golden eyes narrowing into slits.
"You… dare," it hissed, tail flicking fast from anger "you dare deny this ancestor a place under your roof? After all my generous assistance? After the miracles you've witnessed at my very paws?"
"Excuse me," Han Yan said lightly, voice calm but firm, "I appreciate your help, truly. But that does not grant you the right to impose yourself upon my home. I do not even know what you are capable of."
The cat's tail twitched furiously. "Do not know what I am capable of?" it repeated, voice dripping venomous incredulity. "Mere human, you have the audacity to question this ancestor's nature after seeing him restore balance with a single tap? After witnessing the grace, the elegance, the..."
"The divine precision?" Han Yan interjected flatly, cutting off the string of grandiose adjectives. The cat froze for a heartbeat, eyes flicking between him and the ground in disbelief, he thought this lowly human actually dared mimic its speech.
"You dare mock me?" it growled, a low, throaty rumble for such a small creature. "This ancestor this immortal, divine, celestial marvel is greatly insulted beyond comprehension!"
Han Yan raised an eyebrow. "You're very small for someone claiming to be an immortal, divine, celestial marvel."
The cat's fur bristled. "Size is irrelevant to power, lowly human! I am a sprite beast. I have existed for decades beyond your comprehension, witnessed realms you cannot imagine, survived dangers you would flee screaming from! And yet here you stand, denying me entry to your humble abode?"
Han Yan said evenly. "As I said before I have no idea what kind of danger or chaos you could bring and I value my life and my home. I won't gamble either for curiosity, nor for whatever this is."
The cat's eyes shimmered dangerously. "You think this one is dangerous? Foolish mortal. I am a gift! A blessing! A living testament to your petty existence!"
"Right" Han Yan said dryly, "I will pass that."
The cat leapt off the panther's head with a flick of its tiny, elegant paws, landing lightly on the ground as though gravity itself feared it. It circled Han Yan like a predator analyzing a prey that had just insulted its godhood. "You will regret this! I warn you, lowly human, the consequences of spurning a being of my caliber are… unpleasant. Cataclysmic. Unspeakable. Terrifyingly spectacular!"
Han Yan rubbed his temples, an headache already forming. "Do you always have to sound like this? Your threats… they're like a full-blown performance."
The cat's eyes glimmered with a mixture of fury and pride. "Performance? Nah! This is life, lowly human! Every movement, every word, every flick of the tail is perfection. And yet, you… mock me. Such audacity. Such great insolence. You should be groveling, begging for a glimpse of this ancestor's favor!"
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