The first thing Xiao Yan noticed was the salty breeze brushing against his face. The second thing was the complete absence of anything familiar.
He stood on the shoreline, waves lapping at his feet. The sun was high, its rays glinting off the endless ocean before him. His robe remained immaculate, despite the sand sticking to his boots. He folded his arms behind his back, exuding the calm demeanor of a man who had spent decades perfecting the art of not panicking.
"A new world, I see," he said quietly, glancing at the unfamiliar sky. "And no clear way back."
Behind him, the forest rustled. Xiao Yan turned slowly, his gaze scanning the dense greenery. Something small darted through the bushes, accompanied by a suspicious crunching sound.
The source of the noise revealed itself in a clearing not far from the shore. A small turtle, no larger than his palm, was enthusiastically gnawing on what appeared to be a piece of his own shell. The absurdity of the sight made Xiao Yan pause.
"You..." He pointed a finger. "You're eating your shell."
The turtle froze mid-bite, looking up at him. It blinked once, twice, then deliberately chomped down again. Xiao Yan sighed, crouching to eye level.
"This cannot be good for your development," he said, his tone akin to a tired parent scolding their child. He reached out and tapped the turtle lightly on the head. "Stop that."
The turtle retaliated by snapping at his finger. It missed, but the audacity was undeniable.
"So, a stubborn one," Xiao Yan muttered. "Very well. Since you've taken an interest in me, I'll name you Xiao Gui."
The turtle cocked its head, clearly unimpressed, before clambering onto Xiao Yan's robe and making itself comfortable in his sleeve.
Continuing deeper into the island, Xiao Yan found himself at the edge of a tranquil lake. Its surface gleamed like molten silver under the sunlight, but it wasn't the water that caught his attention.
Perched on a rock in the center of the lake was a bird-like creature—small, no larger than a cat. Its feathers shimmered with golden flames, but its size and demeanor gave it the air of a mischievous child pretending to be fearsome. The phoenix turned its head sharply at Xiao Yan's approach, puffing out its chest.
"Ah, a phoenix," Xiao Yan said. "Though... a very young one."
The phoenix squawked indignantly, spreading its wings. A few sparks flew into the air, one landing on Xiao Yan's sleeve. He patted it out calmly.
"Impressive," he said, his voice neutral. "If you're trying to intimidate me, you'll need more practice."
The phoenix let out a shrill cry and hopped down from its perch, flapping its wings frantically as it charged at him. Xiao Yan sidestepped effortlessly, watching as the creature tripped over its own claws and rolled into the dirt.
"Graceful," Xiao Yan remarked, folding his arms. The phoenix, now covered in a thin layer of dust, glared up at him with fiery determination. Xiao Yan crouched and extended a hand.
"You'll need to work on your composure," he said. The phoenix hesitated but eventually hopped onto his arm, squawking softly as if to complain about its own clumsiness.
"Perhaps you're not entirely hopeless," Xiao Yan mused. "I suppose I'll call you hua xiaojin."
Xiao jin flapped its wings, sending a small puff of flames into the air, which Xiao Yan barely avoided. The bird seemed to chirp smugly, settling onto his shoulder.
The last surprise of the day came as the sun began to set. Xiao Yan had just found a hill with an excellent view of the sea when the sky darkened briefly. A great shadow passed overhead, followed by the sound of something landing heavily behind him.
Turning, he found himself face-to-face with what could only be described as a small dragon. It was no larger than a horse, with shimmering azure scales and curious eyes that gave it the appearance of a child eager to explore.
"So, an Azure Shenlong," Xiao Yan said. "Though clearly not at its peak."
The dragon huffed, its chest puffing out as it tried to look intimidating. Instead, it sneezed, sending a small bolt of lightning into the dirt. Xiao Yan stared at the scorch mark, then at the dragon, whose tail swished nervously.
"Your attempts to establish dominance are... noted," Xiao Yan said dryly.
The Shenlong narrowed its eyes and suddenly lunged forward, nipping at Xiao Yan's sleeve before darting away. It circled him like an excitable puppy, occasionally snapping its jaws as if daring him to chase it.
"You're testing my patience," Xiao Yan muttered. "But fine. If you insist on acting like a child, I'll treat you as one. Your name shall be Lei Xiaolong."
The Shenlong barked—or at least, made a noise that vaguely resembled one—and nudged him with its snout. Xiao Yan sighed, patting the creature on the head.
"Let's hope you don't cause too much trouble," he said, glancing at the phoenix and turtle now perched on either shoulder. "Though I suspect that's a futile hope."
As night fell, Xiao Yan stood atop the hill, his three new companions settled around him. Xiao Gui nibbled on a leaf it had found, xiao jin preened its dusty feathers, and Xiao Long sprawled lazily at his feet, flicking its tail.
Despite their antics, a small smile tugged at Xiao Yan's lips. This place, chaotic as it was, had potential.
"A place to cultivate," he said softly, looking out at the island's expanse. "And perhaps, one day... to build something greater."
The phoenix chirped in agreement—or perhaps it was protesting its new name. Either way, Xiao Yan ignored it, his mind already turning toward the future.