The morning sun filtered through the Celestial Veil Sect's bamboo grove, casting dancing shadows over the Spirit Beast Yard. Normally, this area was peaceful—soft chirping, gentle rustling, young spirit beasts lazing about in cozy nests.
Today, however, the peace shattered with a scream:
"STOP!! I'M GIVING YOU FOOD, NOT MY FINGERS—AAAH!"
Shen Yu sprinted across the yard like his life depended on it.
Behind him charged a fluffy, tiny, round baby spirit beast—barely the size of a watermelon—yet somehow radiating the energy of a furious war god.
"SOMEONE HELP ME! IT HAS TEETH!!"
Xiao Rong collapsed onto the fence, laughing so hard he could barely stand.
Yu Zhen, as usual, tried to maintain composure… but even he had to cover his mouth to hide the smile spreading across it.
Shen Yu made a desperate leap over a bush.
The baby spirit beast did the same—except with better aim.
CHOMP.
It latched onto Shen Yu's pant leg.
"WHY, LITTLE ONE?! I BROUGHT YOU SNACKS—NOT MY LEG!!"
Shen Yu spun in circles like a windmill gone rogue, trying desperately to shake the creature off. The beast, however, hung on with deadly determination.
Ling Wei arrived at the scene with the serenity of someone who had long accepted chaos as his new normal.
"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.
"BEING EATEN—BY A FLUFFY MONSTER!"
Ling Wei sighed.
He knelt smoothly, tapped the spirit beast lightly on its tiny head, and said, "Little one, release."
Instantly, the creature let go, plopping onto the grass with an indignant squeak.
Shen Yu fell backward, pant leg torn, pride shattered.
Ling Wei picked up the small bowl of food Shen Yu had originally brought—spilled everywhere during the chase—and offered it to the beast with a gentle hand.
The baby sniffed… then nuzzled Ling Wei affectionately and ate peacefully.
Shen Yu stared.
"…Why does it like you but tries to murder me?!"
"Because I don't scream at it," Ling Wei replied, brushing dust off Shen Yu's shoulder.
"I wasn't screaming AT it, I was screaming NEAR it—there's a difference!"
Ling Wei gave him the "you're impossible" look that Shen Yu was slowly becoming addicted to.
Behind them, Xiao Rong hopped the fence and jogged over.
"You okay, Shen Yu?" he asked, though his grin vanished when the spirit beast suddenly waddled toward Shen Yu again.
Xiao Rong instantly stepped between them, hands outstretched protectively.
"Back, you fuzzy menace. You already took a bite today."
Shen Yu blinked.
"Hey… were you protecting me?"
Xiao Rong snorted. "Who else will keep you alive? Ling Wei looks too tired to keep saving you every five minutes."
Ling Wei: "I heard that."
Xiao Rong: "Good."
Yu Zhen approached silently, watching Xiao Rong shoo the beast away with quick, cautious movements. His gaze lingered for a moment—long enough for the smallest flicker of appreciation to show.
"…You're good with them," Yu Zhen said quietly.
Xiao Rong turned, a little surprised by the praise.
"Me? With spirit beasts? I usually run away from them."
"But you didn't this time," Yu Zhen noted.
Xiao Rong stumbled over his words for a second.
"I—well—someone had to keep him from losing another piece of clothing."
Yu Zhen's lips curved, soft and subtle.
"So you chose to."
Xiao Rong looked away quickly, ears lightly tinged pink.
Shen Yu pointed.
"Are you two flirting while I'm recovering from near-death?!"
"No," Yu Zhen said immediately.
"Yes," Xiao Rong muttered under his breath.
Ling Wei stood, brushing off his robes.
"We're done here. Shen Yu, next time, offer food from a distance. Preferably… far away."
Shen Yu pouted.
"I thought it would like me."
"It tried to," Xiao Rong said. "To eat you."
Yu Zhen cleared his throat softly.
"Let's get him cleaned up."
As they walked back toward the sect courtyard, the baby spirit beast waddled after them for a few steps… then turned away when Ling Wei pointed it back toward its nest.
Shen Yu sighed dramatically.
"Why am I the only one spirit beasts want to chew on?"
Ling Wei glanced at him.
"Maybe because you're loud. And reckless. And too friendly."
Shen Yu blinked.
"…are those insults or compliments?"
Ling Wei didn't answer.
But his faint smile gave Shen Yu hope.
Meanwhile, behind them, Yu Zhen brushed past Xiao Rong slightly, their arms almost touching.
"Good instincts," he said softly.
Xiao Rong's heartbeat faltered for a moment.
"…Thanks," he murmured.
Tiny sparks. Barely there. But growing.
And louder than Shen Yu's screams—at least to each other.