Kai yawned deeply, stretching his good arm high above his head as the golden rays of the morning sun filtered through the trees, bathing the clearing in a soft, warm light. He felt remarkably refreshed, a stark contrast to the restless nights he had spent camping alone in the wilderness. Being surrounded by his fluffy, loyal companions had made the night incredibly warm and cozy, their presence a comforting shield against the chill of the forest. For the first time in what felt like ages, he had slept soundly, his dreams untroubled and his body free from the usual tension of survival.

  As he sat up, careful not to disturb the spirit beasts still nestled around him, he took a moment to survey the clearing. The scene was one of serene contentment. Some of the spirit beasts were already up and about, moving lazily through the morning routines. A few were grazing on nearby shrubbery, their movements slow and deliberate, while others lounged in patches of sunlight, their fur glinting like gold in the dawn light. Cres, the moon-horned stag, stood at the edge of the clearing, his majestic antlers catching the sunlight as he nibbled on tender leaves. Yinying, the shadow fox, was playfully batting at a loose twig, her sleek form darting with feline grace. Even Snow, the usually stoic ice-clawed wolf, was sprawled out on his side, his massive frame rising and falling with each deep, contented breath.

  Kai couldn’t help but smile at the sight. It was as if the clearing had transformed into a temporary sanctuary, a haven where his spirit beast family could simply exist without fear or hardship. The bond between them was palpable, a quiet understanding that needed no words. They had followed him, not out of obligation, but out of loyalty and love—a thought that filled Kai with a deep sense of gratitude.

  Kai’s thoughts drifted back to the strange sounds he had heard in the mist the previous day. At the time, he had been on edge, convinced that the eerie calls and rustling were the work of a demonic creature—a trickster mimicking the cries of animals to lure him into a trap. But now, as he stood amidst the gathering of spirit beasts in the clearing, the truth dawned on him. Those sounds hadn’t been a threat at all. They had been the calls and movements of the spirit beasts from the stables, stealthily following him through the forest.

  He still couldn’t quite believe it. The entire menagerie—every last one of the exotic, intelligent creatures he had cared for in the sect—had chosen to follow him on this perilous journey. When he had freed them from the stables, it had been an act of desperation, a way to protect them from the chaos and danger that had engulfed the sect. He had assumed they would scatter to the winds, finding safety in the wilds where they could thrive without the constant threat of demonic cultivators. The idea of them traveling together, as a group, had seemed impossible. It would have drawn too much attention, made them too vulnerable. Yet, here they were, defying his expectations and proving their loyalty in the most profound way possible.

  Kai’s heart swelled with gratitude, but it was quickly tempered by a growing sense of unease. As he scanned the clearing, taking in the sheer number of spirit beasts gathered around him, the reality of their situation sank in. There were nearly two hundred of them—each one unique, each one a marvel of nature. From the smallest, like the iron-furred raccoon darting between the larger beasts, to the most imposing, like the quake buffalo and Cres, the moon-horned stag, they were a spectacle of life and energy. But that was the problem. Such a large and diverse group would be impossible to hide. Traveling with them would mean avoiding main roads, sticking to the deepest parts of the wilderness, and constantly being on guard against discovery.

  Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair as he weighed the options. If he allowed them to continue following him, he would have to abandon any thought of taking the quickest or safest routes. They would need to move like shadows, staying off the beaten path and relying on Yinying’s and some of the other spirit beasts' abilities to obscure their presence. Even then, the risk of being noticed was high. Demonic cultivators were relentless, and a gathering of spirit beasts this large would be an irresistible target. The thought of leading them into danger made his stomach churn.

  But as he looked at the creatures around him—their trusting eyes, their quiet strength—he knew he couldn’t turn them away. They had chosen him, not out of necessity, but out of loyalty and love. They were his family, and he couldn’t abandon them now. Still, the practicalities of their situation loomed large in his mind. How could he keep them safe? How could they travel together without drawing the attention of those who would seek to harm them?

  Kai crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees as he thought. The spirit beasts nearby seemed to sense his internal struggle. Yinying padded over, her glowing eyes fixed on him, while Snow let out a low, rumbling whine, as if to remind him that they were in this together. Even Igni, usually aloof, prowled closer, his fiery stripes flickering faintly in the morning light.

  “Alright,” Kai murmured, more to himself than to the beasts. “If we’re going to do this, we’ll need a plan. No main roads, no towns. We’ll stick to the wilds, move at night if we have to. And we’ll rely on each other.” He looked up, meeting the eyes of the creatures around him. “We’re a family now. And families protect each other.”

  The spirit beasts seemed to understand. A chorus of soft sounds—purrs, chirps, and gentle rumbles—filled the clearing, a wordless agreement that they were in this together. Kai felt a flicker of hope amidst the worry. It wouldn’t be easy, but with their combined strength and intelligence, they might just stand a chance.

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  As the morning sun climbed higher, casting its golden light over the clearing, Kai stood and began to prepare for the day ahead. He stretched his limbs, working out the stiffness that had settled in overnight, but as he moved his shoulder, a sharp sting reminded him of the wound that hadn’t yet fully healed. The memory of being stabbed with a wooden branch flashed in his mind, and he winced, his hand instinctively moving to the tender spot. Nearby, Snow, the ice-clawed wolf, limped slightly as he moved, his hind legs still bearing the weight of an old injury.

  Cres, the moon-horned stag, seemed to notice their discomfort immediately. His luminous eyes, filled with an almost human-like understanding, flicked between Kai and Snow. With a graceful stride, the stag approached Kai, his antlers glowing faintly in the morning light. To Kai’s surprise, Cres bent his head and gently picked up Kai’s blade from the ground, holding it delicately in his mouth before offering it to Kai.

  Kai took the blade, confusion etched on his face. “Thank you, Cres,” he said softly, though he wasn’t sure what the stag intended. But then, Cres lowered his head further, his majestic antlers dipping toward Kai in what could only be interpreted as an offering. Kai’s eyes widened as realization struck. Cres was offering his antlers—a selfless act that left Kai speechless.

  “No, Cres. I can’t. I won’t,” Kai said, his voice thick with concern. He stepped back, shaking his head. The antlers of a moon-horned stag were renowned for their extraordinary healing properties. When refined into medicine, they could mend even the most severe wounds. But cutting them off would be excruciating for Cres, and the thought of causing the stag such pain was unbearable.

  Kai’s mind flashed back to the stables, to a time when an elder from the sect had demanded Cres’s antlers. Kai had been powerless to stop it, forced to watch as the elder callously sawed off the stag’s antlers. The memory of Cres’s pained cries and the guilt Kai had felt for not intervening still haunted him. He had stayed by Cres’s side afterward, tending to him with pain medicine and care until the stag’s antlers began to regrow. It had been a painful lesson in the cruelty of the world.

  Cres, however, seemed determined. He tapped his hoof on the ground, his gaze steady and insistent, as if to say, Just do it.

  “No,” Kai said firmly, his voice trembling with emotion. “I would need a cauldron and pill furnace to refine your antlers into medicine anyway. If I cut them off, not only will I and Snow still be in pain, but you’ll be suffering too. And this wouldn’t have healed anyone.” He knelt down, placing a hand on Cres’s neck, his touch gentle but resolute. “I won’t put you through that. Not again.”

  Cres let out a soft, almost frustrated snort, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he nuzzled Kai’s hand. Kai smiled faintly, though his heart ached with the weight of the stag’s sacrifice.

  The white stag lowered his head and gently pressed his antlers close to Kai’s injured shoulder and Snow’s aching hind legs. The glow of the antlers intensified, bathing the two in a warm, soothing light. Kai felt a strange, tingling sensation as the unique qi within Cres’s antlers—the source of their healing properties—began to emanate and flow into him and Snow.

  The energy was unlike anything Kai had ever experienced. It was gentle yet potent, weaving through his body like a calming current. The pain in his shoulder dulled, replaced by a comforting warmth that seemed to stimulate his natural healing. Beside him, Snow let out a low, contented rumble as the stag’s qi worked its magic on his injured legs. Kai’s eyes widened in astonishment. He had always known that Cres’s antlers held incredible healing power, but he had no idea the stag could channel that energy directly without the need to refine the antlers into medicine.

  “Cres…” Kai murmured, his voice filled with awe and gratitude. “You didn’t have to do this.”

  The stag’s luminous eyes met Kai’s, and for a moment, it felt as if Cres were speaking to him without words. This is my choice, the stag seemed to say. You are my family.

  After a minute, the glow of Cres’s antlers began to fade, and the flow of healing qi gradually subsided. The stag lifted his head, his breath coming in heavy, labored pants. His majestic frame trembled slightly, and his legs seemed unsteady, as if the effort had drained him of his strength. It was clear that channeling his healing energy in this way had consumed a significant amount of his own qi, leaving him exhausted.

  Kai immediately stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on Cres’s neck. “You’ve done more than enough,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “Rest now. We’ll take care of you.”

  Cres let out a soft, tired snort, his head drooping slightly as he leaned into Kai’s touch. The other spirit beasts in the clearing seemed to sense the stag’s fatigue, and a few of them moved closer, their presence a silent show of support. Yinying, the shadow fox, darted over and nuzzled against Cres’s leg, while Snow, his pain now eased, limped closer and lay down beside the stag, his icy blue eyes filled with quiet gratitude.

  Kai crouched down, his hand still resting on Cres’s neck, and looked around at the gathering of spirit beasts. “You’ve all given so much,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

  But as he spoke, he realized that repayment wasn’t what they wanted. They had chosen to follow him, to protect him, to heal him—not out of obligation, but out of love and loyalty. They were his family, and in their eyes, that was enough.

  As the morning sun continued to rise, casting its golden light over the clearing, Kai decided to let Cres rest for a few hours before they continued their journey north to Zan.

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