Last night's sleep was oddly uncomfortable for him, his body felt as if he had been carrying a sac full of grits for several hours and he even dreamt of sleeping next to a very handsome man.
Impossible. How can there be someone more handsome than this lord in the clan?
He glanced back at the little fox cub sleeping peacefully next to his bed, its small back rising and falling with its breath, and a grin appeared on his face. The grin, when paired with his tangled hair and disheveled appearance, made him look quite unbefitting - which was probably why the female servant who walked in couldn't restrain her giggle.
Ren faked anger to hide his embarra.s.sment, "Speak."
The servant was new to the clan and was replacing those busy with the inter-clan meeting. She didn't want to leave a bad impression on her employer, so she immediately fixed her appearance, "This servant is here on the clan head's orders. Young master, since you didn't finish your punishment yesterday, the clan head asked you to double the rule copying and finish it before lunch."
Ren angrily clicked his tongue.
"Also….." The servant glanced at the fox cub sleeping next to the bed, "Please hand the magic beast [1] over. I was asked to leave it at the edge of the forest before its parents made trouble."
(A/N: This world's animals have powers. So they will be called as magic beasts)
The rule copying punishment was still far more acceptable to Ren when compared with leaving little fox to wander alone in the forest. He immediately refused, "Let the clan master know that I will leave it myself."
He stood up and searched for his outer robe in a hurry. If he didn't leave right away, who knows what orders his father will send next.
The female servant looked troubled, "But young master, you are not allowed to-"
"Rest a.s.sured. I will not enter the forest. And I will finish my punishment before lunch."
He tucked the fox cub inside his robes and departed right away.
Although it looked like he was headed for the forest, when Ren had reached a safe distance, he changed course and went over to find Yuan.
Yuan's residence was on the other side of the main hall, where he practiced his sword skills at the forest's edge. Despite being a mage [2], he trained his body everyday and aimed to become a strong warrior. Afterall, in a world flooded with demons, relying on a single skill wasn't enough.
(A/N: A mage is someone who can manipulate and use spiritual energy. It's quite similar to magic. A mage have their own spirit reserve that fuels their power. They are usually weaker in close combat since they can use spells and other methods to fight.)
The path to Yuan's practice ground was full of obstacles. Not only did Ren have to cross the busiest corridor in the main house to go there, he also risked being seen by clan head Yasuo who was currently at the main hall. He sneaked about the corridor, hiding from the servants and the guests, until he finally found an opening to peek inside the hall.
Ren noticed that the meeting was yet to start and that clan head Yasuo was busy indulging prominent figures from the other sects, and the sight made him rejoice as he scurried away in light steps.
When the busiest area was crossed over, it was perhaps because Ren became too relaxed that he didn't notice an incoming figure and b.u.mped into someone's wide back.
He staggered a few steps while rubbing his nose, but when he recognized the other person, he immediately straightened up and bowed courteously.
"Greetings to Clan head Kazuki."
"Young master Ren...Pardon me, I came the wrong way."
The man uttered and briskly walked away. Ren was slightly confused, hasn't clan head Kazuki been here often? Was he searching for the toilet?
Ren noticed the little fox squirming inside his robes, he had almost forgotten that he was still hiding the little beast.
He began to sooth the fox cub with sweet words as he continued on his way, it seemed he hadn't yet noticed that when he b.u.mped into clan head Kazuki earlier, an empty red pouch with a circular seal engraved on it had fallen from the latter's robes.
---
Next to the deserted forest path, lush leaves swayed and fluttered in the cool morning breeze. The once busy trail now lay desolate and barren, with no living in sight except for two young men and a little fox cub.
Yuan dalied on the way as he walked, not because they had plenty of time at hand, but because the doting young master walking farther behind him was busy indulging the fox cub as it dragged its tiny feet forward.
He sighed and turned yet again, saying, "Young master, if we keep moving at this pace, I am sure we will reach the sanctum [3] before the next harvest festival."
(A/N: The sanctum is a hidden area in the forest that Ren discovered a long time ago.)
Ren shot him a glance full of anger, what did he mean by 'next harvest festival'? It's still three months away!
"Can't you spare some pity on the little fox? Its wound is still healing. Look at how weak its legs are!"
Yuan, "What part of him looks weak to you? Everything about his pace screams as if he owns the whole d.a.m.n forest."
Ren, "..."
Yuan, "Besides, if he can't walk, why don't you just carry him?"
Ren, "I figured it needs to learn how to be fast on its feet to avoid predators."
Yuan, "Young master, he is the predator."
Ren, "What are you emphasizing? And why do you keep addressing the little fox as if it's a male?"
Yuan, shrugging his shoulders, "I don't know. It's just a hunch."
The little fox cub growled unpleasantly.
Ren sighed, "What are you so worried about? We already left behind the human skin puppet [4]. Father doesn't know that you already mastered that spell. He will never find out that I am gone. But..." He walked over and picked up the little fox, "You are right. Let's hurry. I don't think my cousin brother can pretend to be me for much longer."
(A/N: Human skin puppet is a spiritual tool which looks like leather and can be used by anyone as a perfect mask to copy someone else's appearance.)
Yuan answered with a simple smirk and the two continued on their way. It wasn't long before they arrived at the sanctum.
The sanctum was Ren's treasure trove hidden deep in the forest. It was a pool of crystal clear water surrounded by dense forest, smooth gra.s.sy bank and a broad stream of water tumbling over the layered rocks.
Above all, it was an abode to the magic beasts that Ren had picked up over the years.
All around on the bank and within the flowing water were magic beasts of all shapes and sizes playfully messing about. There were magic beasts playing tag, magic beasts chasing spheres of ice, magic beasts breathing fire and even a magic beast that kept chasing its own tail and angrily set it on flames.
Yuan, who stood next to Ren, whispered, "They've increased again. I can't wait for the day when the clan head finds your little paradise and nails you in a coffin."
Yuan earned an angry glare from Ren but it was only short lived, because once the other beasts spotted their presence, all of them flocked over as if they were chicks who sighted the mother hen.
Ren had the biggest grin on his face. But before he could have his heartfelt reunion, the beasts suddenly halted when they were a short distance away and peered at Ren cautiously. They flicked their ears and whipped their tails, all while eyeing him as if he was a time ticking bomb.
Ren stared back in a daze, a little disappointed that he didn't receive the treatment he was hoping for. But then he instantly gathered his spirits after considering why they must be acting this way.
"Looks like all of you already sensed your new companion."
He scooped out the little fox from within his robes and lightly placed him on the ground. The cub wobbled a few steps and carried his tiny body towards the other beasts.
However, as if they had just seen a ferocious devil, whenever little fox would take one step forward, the others would take one step back.
Yuan, in an obviously pretentious tone, "Hmmm... I wonder why they are acting like that."
Ren, speaking matter of factly, "Maybe they've never seen a fox demon before."
Yuan, easily spotting 9 other fox demons nearby, "..."
Ren, "Maybe he's a different breed!"
Yuan sighed, Young master, you are really hopeless!
While the two were busy bickering, a strong gale blew over, and along with it it carried dead leaves from the forest. The leaves twisted and turned as if they were alive, dancing gracefully in midair before they made their way along the river flow.
It appeared that the fox cub was suddenly peeved by the leaves. It perked its ears and swiftly chased after it, but perhaps because his wound was still not completely healed, after running a short distance, the little fox winced and slumped on the ground. The leaves in the distance fluttered mockingly as if they were pleased at the sight.
Little fox angrily glared in their direction and parted its mouth. A small sphere of light was immediately conjured and it shot forward in a beam full of energy and vigour.
Yet, the much awaited explosion never happened and the target playfully drifted away, untouched. However, the trees on the other side of the river weren't so lucky. In an instant, the woods burst into wild flames.
Ren, "..."
Yuan, "..."
The little beast with its tail still on fire, "..."
Everyone else, "..."
That day, Ren concluded that his life must be going through quite a difficult phase, because the aftermath in the forest wasn't the only thing he had to deal with. After spending hours trying to extinguish the strange fire that simply wasn't ready to be extinguished, when the two managed to somehow drag their feet back to the main house, waiting at the entrance was their clan head filled to the brim with uncontrollable rage.
In one hand he held a large piece of wrinkled leather, which on a closer glance resembled a human skin. If one were to spread it on the ground and stretch it flat, they would say that perhaps it looked like Ren. In his other hand, the clan head firmly held the collar of a young boy whom Ren recognized as his cousin brother who he had begged to wear the human skin and quietly finish the punishment he was a.s.signed, in return for huge compensation.
The cousin looked guilty, while Ren looked guiltier.
Both Ren and Yuan were strictly disciplined in the study hall the rest of the evening and grounded for an indefinite period of time.
A few weeks pa.s.sed. Ren was kept busy with clan ch.o.r.es and strict surveillance, and he rarely saw Yuan around. The unrest in the outside world reached his ears, unscheduled meetings would suddenly be called in the clan, rumors about demon attacks surfaced all around and it was only when the clan head was summoned for an emergency meeting in another territory did Ren finally have his much awaited chance at freedom.
Like always, the first thought Ren had was to find Yuan, but the latter was nowhere to be found. Ren wondered if he had angered his fellow friend because of the severe punishment, so after deciding that he would sincerely apologize the next time they meet, he headed out towards the sanctum alone.
While on his way, Ren thought that the weather was particularly strange. Dark clouds whirled overhead and the air was so still it felt as if time itself was frozen. He wasn't certain if that was the reason behind the hiked spiritual fluctuation [5] in the forest, but the disturbance was certainly more prominent than ever before.
(A/N: Spiritual fluctuation is a disturbance in the surrounding spiritual energy flow.)
His intuitions told him to turn back, but his concern for the magic beasts kept Ren moving forward. When he finally arrived at the sanctum, the scenario in front of him left him a little startled.
The usual bustling pool of turquoise water currently lay quiet and deserted, as if the sight of hundreds of magic beasts earlier was nothing but an illusion. The water rippled and the gra.s.s swayed, but even though he called out many times, none of the beasts would heed his call.
While in a state of panic, Ren suddenly sensed a very strong presence behind him. It appeared to be a person, but he couldn't perceive if it was a common pract.i.tioner [6] or a mage. The stranger had a very unusual spiritual const.i.tution, and he was moving towards him in slow and relaxed steps.
(A/N: Common pract.i.tioners cannot manipulate spiritual energy like mages. However, they do have a spirit reserve and channel it towards martial arts and other combat techniques.)
Ren stood still for a moment, and when the figure approached close enough, he turned and launched a surprise attack to detain him.
The powerful punch never landed, instead, his hands were firmly held in place seemingly without much effort.
Ren recognized his attacker as a white robed man with extraordinarily handsome features and mismatched eyes. His dark amber hair swayed in the wind and contrasted perfectly with the sand colored skin and snow white robes.
What is with that otherworldly appearance and strength!?
While Ren was in a daze, the man also captured his other hand and easily whirled him around like a frail flower. The former tightly shut his eyes, yet the dreaded killing move never came, rather, he felt ticklish on his ears as the man lowered his head and seemed to be sniffing him.
Before he knew it, a long, slender arm embraced him from behind.
