Chapter 125: Fierce Beast, Puppy

A chill crept up Bai Shu’s spine, born of a primeval, ancient terror and an overwhelming sense of dread.

What is this?

Bai Shu found it difficult to believe. This was an ancient beast! And by the looks of it, a king-level ancient beast at that!

Even he could not remain composed. Watching Shi Yue, who glared at him with such ferocity that it seemed ready to devour him in a single bite, Bai Shu suddenly recalled what the creature had said earlier. Could it be that Xin’er is its master?

"Roar!" Shi Yue let out a low growl, suddenly transforming into a bolt of lightning as it launched an attack at Bai Shu! The surrounding air seemed to crack and split, trailing sparks of electric fire!

Bai Shu let out a cold snort, his free hand suddenly striking out with a burst of internal energy.

"Bang!" The small beast was sent flying, crashing heavily against the door frame once more.

"Whether you are a beast of prey or a spirit beast, now that you have sworn fealty to a master, you should possess some semblance of intelligence. I am Xin’er’s master; if you continue to act so recklessly, I will not be so gentle next time." A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of Bai Shu’s mouth as he issued his threat.

A beast of prey is, after all, a beast—born with an inherently cruel and vicious nature. That was why Bai Shu felt compelled to issue such a warning. Furthermore, he had read in ancient texts of beasts that would slay or turn against their masters. And this was an ancient beast; he had never heard of one swearing fealty to anyone. If it had truly acknowledged Xin’er as its master, he would certainly need to teach it a lesson.

Yet, deep down, Bai Shu still struggled to believe that the small thing before him was an ancient beast. But that aura... Even though he had never felt it before, as someone who had stepped into the Wu Xiang stage and was nearing the threshold of another realm, he was capable of sensing such an existence.

Hearing Bai Shu’s words, Shi Yue’s fierce, snarling expression softened. The phantom shadow surrounding it gradually faded. A flicker of confusion appeared in its beastly eyes, though it remained locked on Bai Shu with unwavering vigilance, the aura of malice still clinging to its frame.

"It seems its intelligence has not fully awakened," Bai Shu realized. Had it been fully sentient, the beast would have been capable of communicating with him just as a human would. He examined it closely and frowned; it was still in its infancy. That explained it.

Ji Tianxin was stirred from her slumber. She waved a hand lightly and said with annoyance, "Stop making a scene." With that, she drifted back to sleep.

Shi Yue immediately straightened its posture. The malevolent aura vanished instantly, and it began to wag its tail. The vicious, man-eating expression it had worn just moments ago melted away, replaced by an obedient, endearing look as it stared longingly at the sleeping Ji Tianxin.

Shi Yue’s intelligence had matured significantly, though it could not yet speak and remained in a semi-groggy state. However, it understood that Ji Tianxin was its master, its benefactor, and its boss. Following its master meant food—lots and lots of food.

The bond of fealty had instilled in it an instinctive reliance and loyalty toward Ji Tianxin. Not to mention, Shi Yue had felt an instinctive fear of her from the very beginning.

Bai Shu stood silent, watching as Shi Yue switched from a ferocious beast to the behavior of a pampered puppy. He looked down at Tianxin in his arms, his mouth twitching slightly. My disciple truly has a knack for turning savage beasts into lapdogs.

The next day, rumors of a haunting suddenly spread throughout Jin’an City. It was said that the nephew of the fishmonger who lived next to the butcher in the East Market had seen a woman in white drifting across the rooftops of Jin’an City the previous night. The story was told with such vivid detail that the strange tale soon became known to everyone, spreading throughout the entire city.

As for the "female ghost" from the rumors, she did not stir from her sleep until well past noon, finally waking in a daze.