After Tian Zi excused himself and disappeared behind the palace gates, the courtyard slowly emptied. Lanterns swayed in the gentle breeze, carrying the scent of plum blossoms.
Xi Youran stood frozen for a moment, her hand still brushing the little beast nestled on her chest. Her mind spun with one thought, again and again:
Why… why did he stare at me like that?
Her heart thumped against her ribcage, erratic and unrelenting. The earlier encounter replayed vividly in her mind—the flushed face, the awkward bow, the fleeting moment of intimacy… and the perverted glare from the little creature in her arms.
"Xi Youran, why did you slap the prince?" Her father, General Jiang Youen, called after her, voice tight with confusion.
She froze and turned, her cheeks still faintly pink. "The prince… he was staring at my chest!"
Jiang Youen blinked slowly, a pause heavy with thought. Then, before Youran could speak further, he instinctively glanced—just for a moment.
Slap!
"Stupid!" Xi Mei's voice rang sharp as a whip from behind, sending her husband stumbling back.
Youran snorted softly, shaking her head, and walked away, leaving the quarreling couple behind. The beast, fully satisfied with its protective duty, had long fallen asleep atop her chest, its soft purrs vibrating gently against her heartbeat.
This cat is sooooo cute… Youran's inner fan of all things adorable emerged, her fingers gently stroking its fur.
A voice interrupted her thoughts, calm yet serious.
"That is not a cat," the old man whispered inside her mind.
Youran blinked, frowning. "Not a cat? It looks exactly like one!" She waved off the warning with a nervous laugh, her fingers still brushing the little creature's ears.
"It is one of the Mythical Beasts," the old man explained gravely. "But it is still a child. Its existence is not meant to be here. The creature should remain in secrecy, for soon, a great misfortune may come your way."
Her eyes widened. The soft warmth of the creature in her arms suddenly felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on her chest.
"A misfortune?" she whispered, panic creeping in. "What should I do? Please, tell me what to do!"
"You can overcome it, but not with your current cultivation," the old man replied. "For now, I suggest focusing on two things: cultivate yourself, and master the art of alchemy. You have already made a contract with this beast, willingly or not, by bringing it with you. If you fail to honor this bond, the misfortune will bring ruin—not only to yourself, but to your family."
The words struck her like a thunderclap. Her mind spun, recalling shadows of the past—chaos she had caused, families torn apart, and mistakes made in her youthful ignorance.
Could my own selfishness again bring devastation? Could my family—my Xi Yue, my parents—be harmed because of me?
She swallowed hard, her lips trembling. "I… I will think about it," she murmured.
Xi Youran sank onto her bed, the little beast curling beside her like a warm, silent guardian. She stared at the ceiling, shadows flickering with the lantern light, and her mind drifted through memories of the past.
The childish decisions, the reckless pride, the longing to have everything at once—how foolish she had been. And yet, even now, she could feel the weight of responsibility pressing her forward.
I cannot make the same mistakes again. Not with Tian Zi, not with my family, not with this creature that… somehow trusts me.
The beast let out a soft purr, as if sensing her resolve. Its tiny head pressed closer to her chest, and for the first time, Xi Youran allowed herself a small smile.
Maybe… just maybe, I can survive this. I can protect them all… and I will not fail.
The wind outside whispered through the open window, rustling the plum blossoms. Somewhere in the palace, shadows shifted, unseen eyes watching the events unfold.
And the faintest hint of destiny—like the flutter of a phoenix's wings—brushed against her heart.