The Spirit Beast Forest loomed ahead, a wall of ancient trees swaying in the breeze. Master walked in front, posture upright, scanning the trail with the eyes of someone who knew exactly what he was looking for. Tang San followed right behind him, steps measured and steady. Ayan… was strolling. Hands behind his head, a slight smirk on his lips.
"Could you try to look serious?" Master snapped without turning around.
"I am serious," Ayan replied lazily. "Serious about enjoying this peaceful walk before we're running for our lives from something with too many teeth."
Tang San shook his head, hiding a small smile. "You're impossible sometimes."
Ayan grinned. "Only sometimes? I'm slipping."
Master ignored the banter, pointing toward the animal tracks in the soil. "We're looking for a spirit beast around a hundred years old. For Tang San's first ring, it needs to complement his Blue Silver Grass and be manageable to hunt."
"Manageable," Ayan echoed, "until it decides to be unmanageable."
They moved deeper into the forest, sounds of unseen creatures echoing between the trunks. It wasn't long before they found their target — a sleek, sinuous creature with gleaming scales coiled around a branch. Its vertical pupils locked on them, tongue flickering in and out.
"The Datura Snake," Master said gravely. "Fast, venomous, and perfect for Tang San's needs."
"Perfect for killing us, you mean," Ayan murmured. But his eyes sharpened instantly.
The snake hissed and launched forward, body blurring. Tang San stepped in front, Blue Silver Grass shooting from his hands, binding the beast mid-air. But the snake twisted violently, snapping at the vines.
"Careful!" Master barked.
Ayan moved then — not taking over, but darting to the side. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a thin, glowing seal paper toward the snake's flank. The talisman flared, not harming the creature, but making it flinch just long enough for Tang San to tighten his binding.
"Don't make me do all the work," Ayan teased. "I bruise easily."
Tang San rolled his eyes but pressed the attack, using his hidden weapon to strike. The Datura Snake thrashed, but with Ayan darting in occasionally to redirect it with quick feints and distraction seals, it couldn't regain momentum.
Finally, Tang San struck the killing blow, the snake collapsing to the ground.
"Well done," Master said, pride in his voice. "Now, absorb the ring."
Tang San sat cross-legged, the faint purple ring rising from the beast's body and floating toward him. Ayan crouched nearby, watching closely.
"Don't mess up," Ayan whispered. "If you explode, I'm taking your bed at the academy."
Tang San gave him a flat look, but his concentration didn't break. Slowly, steadily, the ring merged into his body. When he opened his eyes, power glimmered faintly in them.
"Congratulations," Ayan said with a grin. "You're officially more dangerous than the average houseplant now."
Tang San laughed softly. "Thanks… I think."