'Eh! Why am I not dead?'
Xuan Li blinked his eyes thrice but nothing changed.
Xuan Li was confused. He touched his neck to see if he was bleeding or not, but to his surprise, the blood had disappeared. There was no trace of blood anymore.
WHAT THE HECK!?
Did he just hallucinate? He was pretty sure he'd seen blood flowing from his neck. This… This couldn't be possible.
Xuan Li quickly got up on his feet and started searching for the baby panther. He looked up high in the sky and screamed," I am alive!? Why am I alive? Dammit, every suicide attempt failed. Are the heavens playing with me? This is driving me nuts."
"Wuuuuu..."
"Muuuuuu…uuuuuuuu..."
A cry was heard. Xuan Li became alert when he heard it. It was an animalistic cry. He quickly spun around when he located the source of crying and there, he saw the baby panther sulking and crying.
The baby panther was holding his jaw in one hand and was stroking it with another. There were tears in his eyes and he looked very cute.
Xuan Li felt odd. This beast who was currently sobbing in pain was ready to kill him a few moments ago. Although he took an oath of breaking the shackles of attachment, somehow he still felt bad for the baby panther.
He didn't know why, but for some odd reason when he saw the baby panther wailing in pain, some emotions swirled in the deepest part of his heart.
Xual li came forward and raised his hand in an attempt to pat the head of the baby panther but as soon as his hand came near, the baby panther growled.
It was a warning growl that was filled with grief. The panther looked resentful and aggrieved. His expressions clearly stated, How-did-you-hurt-me? Amazement, jealousy, anger, threat, and confusion were flickering in the eyes of the panther.
"You measly mortal! How dare you hurt me? Do you wish for an early death?" The baby panther hissed in pain.
Xuan Li chuckled when he saw the resentful gaze of the panther. That was supposedly a threat, but that way he saw it, that threat looked a little… cute.
"Dumdum, don't glare at me. It wasn't my fault. You know, earlier when I provoked you I was ready to die. Just like you, I also don't know how you got hurt."
Xuan Li took a long sigh and explained," Before provoking you, I tried various ways to die but they all proved to be a failure and sadly you too were among them."
The baby panther quietly listened to what Xuan Li had said. Then it started to rant, "You wanted to die? Are you nuts? Death is something which cowards wish for. Che, I was right. Mortals are nothing but a bag of trash filled with jealousy, greed and cowardness."
Xuan Li noticed that the panther was no more giving him resentful glare but still had his disdain. He collected his courage and raised his hand to the panther before pausing it in the air . The panther was about to growl, thinking that Xuan Li wanted to pat him, but instead…
*slap*
A resounding slap landed on the face of the baby panther, making its mouth sting.
"Tch, you have no right to say that. You have no idea what we've gone through from a day to day basis! You don't understand the suffering that humans face. Yes, humans are greedy, jealous and cowardly, that is a given. However, there's more to it! It's not just black and white like what you say." Xuan Li spoke seriously.
The panther was dumbfounded by this mortal who not only injured him but also dared to slap him. What's more, this guy even gave him a lecture on top of that!
The panther wanted to retaliate, but he couldn't bring himself to do it when he looked at the man in front of him. This man didn't have a fear of death...he didn't care for the consequences of his actions. This lack of fear left the panther in awe. He wanted that trait from Xuan Li. However, his pride will not allow him to submit! He had decided that he would make this mortal experience the fear of dying.
"A mortal dares harm me? Once I am recovered, I will crush you." The panther glared at Xuan Li with determination.
Xuan Li stared at the panther for a while. Never had he been in such an odd situation of speaking with a panther.
'Hm, this panther is really determined to kill me and I am determined to die. Though I don't know what he means about being recovered...clearly, this panther is not normal.' Xuan Li's mind was racing.
"Listen, it's clear we aren't fond of each other. However, we have a common goal. So how about you come along and guide me. I am lost and have no idea how to return home. Clearly you want to kill me but can't until you're recovered. So stay with me until you can kill me." Xuan Li spoke.
The baby panther was surprised that this mortal wanted to stick with him. "Fine." Though he still accepted the proposal as he needed to restore his honour and figure this human out.
Xuan Li gave a slight smile while sighing in relief. 'I can't believe that worked. No, I can't believe I had the guts to actually do that. To deal with a prideful being, I have to show him I am not someone that can be bullied. God, luckily Gramps gave advice on how to act depending on the type of person you speak with.'
"So mind explaining where I am? This place feels like earth but it feels very strange. Although it has plants and rivers, the water is much purer and I can't recognise any of the plants here. According to my knowledge of planet earth, the earth's geological conditions aren't suitable for inhibiting these strange plants. Oh! and there's a talking panther in front of me."
The panther growled in annoyance.
"I would think you hearing me would be the part where you feel strange. Is it not enough for you that I am speaking your language and you are hearing it? Also, why am I not the one that gave you this strange feeling? Why are the stupid plants and rivers the ones that make you suspicious!?" The baby panther asked angrily.
"So, have I ascended to godhood or something? Is that why I can't die?" Xuan Li ignored the panther's rant about not being first.
The panther became confused.
"What nonsense are you blabbering? Earth, geological conditions and more nonsense. I am telling you that you are a mortal. What else do you want?" The panther sneered at Xuan Li.
Xuan Li: "..."
On hearing that, Xuan Li had a confused expression.
"If you don't believe me, I can take you to the nearby village. There you can see more mortals like you. How about that?
Xuan Li's eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. He nodded and followed the baby panther.