Ethan stood under the shade of an ancient oak tree, looking at its base. Nestled beneath the sprawling branches, the weathered gravestone stood solemnly, its inscriptions whispering secrets to the rustling leaves above. His eyes were swirling with a myriad of emotions that he tried to hide behind his calm face.
Turning to his side, Ethan looked at his wife, Amelia, who stood with her eyes closed in silent prayer. He waited respectfully until she finished, then quietly said, "His soul will rest in peace here. This was his favorite tree, after all."
"I pray for that every day," Amelia replied, her eyes briefly clouded with distant sorrow before she quickly masked it. "Let's not disturb him any longer."
Ethan nodded and squeezed her hand tightly. Even with their powerful cultivation, they couldn't fully master their emotions. After all, which parent could remain indifferent before their child's grave?
Just as they were about to leave, Ethan's steps came to a halt. Amelia, confused, was going to ask something when she saw him taking out a circular pendant as white as winter snow. An ancient, oppressing aura leaked out of it but none of them cared about it. Their eyes were glued to the faint fluctuations in the pendant's glow. Their heart shuddered as they raised their head, only to see the same look of astonishment in each other's eyes.
"Something's happened. We need to go," Ethan said, struggling to suppress his rising panic.
He received no answer—none was needed. With a firm push off the ground, he soared into the dark sky. His black hair whipped behind him as Amelia followed, both of them becoming little more than blurs as they chased the pendant's guiding glow.
After an hour of traveling at top speed, the couple reached their destination and halted above a massive city. It was illuminated by countless lights, and the moonlight bathed its tall structures in a gentle glow. Ignoring the bustling city, they descended into the nearby wilderness. Their feet touched the soft earth as they scanned their surroundings, finding nothing but trees and undergrowth.
Ethan closed his eyes and let his Spirit Sense envelop the wilderness like a soft blanket. When he opened them again, he turned sharply to his left. "There!"
The couple vanished and reappeared moments later beside a young boy and a small cat. The boy's scrawny body was covered in wounds, yet he still clung to life—albeit barely. The cat, however, was in even worse shape: her entire body was charred, not a single strand of fur remained, and her cold skin testified to her dire condition.
Amelia immediately crouched and gently rested the boy's head in her lap, examining his injuries. Meanwhile, Ethan inspected the cat, a deep frown carving into his feature.
"We arrived just in time, otherwise the boy would have died," Amelia said as she slipped a pill into his mouth. She then pressed her hand gently against his chest, guiding him to swallow and absorb the medicine.
Suddenly, the boy jerked forward and grabbed Ethan's hand, preventing him from touching the cat. His eyes burned with fury as he roared, "Don't you dare touch her!"
"Easy, boy. We're not here to harm you or the cat," Ethan said as he effortlessly freed his hand from the boy's grasp. "Your pet is going to die if you don't help her quickly."
"What? She isn't dead?" Ryan's eyes lit up, and he ignored Ethan to check the cat's vital signs. His expression darkened, however, when he found no signs of life.
"Don't worry. She's a special case and won't die that easily," Amelia said, moving to stand beside him. "Only you can save her."
"How? Please, tell me. I'll do anything—just save her," Ryan pleaded. As long as he could save his friend, nothing else mattered, even if it meant trusting complete strangers.
"She has a diluted Heavenly Eight-Winged White Tiger bloodline, and beasts like her rarely trust anyone. But if they do, they give their whole heart," Ethan said with a faint smile. "If she truly considers you a friend, you can save her by forming a bond. Let her drink your blood."
Without hesitation, Ryan bit down hard on his hand, drawing streams of crimson blood. He brought the bleeding wound close to the cat's mouth, using his other hand to gently part her jaws. His vision blurred, but he mustered every ounce of willpower to stay conscious. He needed to see a sign of life—anything—to prove that it wasn't too late.
As his blood slipped into the cat's mouth, a faint glow surrounded them both. A thin thread of red light briefly connected them before fading away. To Ryan's surprise, the cat's eyes twitched, and her chest rose slightly. The signs were small, but they were enough.
Happiness overwhelmed him, and his tenuous hold on consciousness slipped. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed beside the cat with a soft thud, his body so thin and exhausted he resembled a corpse.
"So she truly trusted him," Amelia observed, studying the pair with keen interest. "What do we do now?"
"A promise is a promise. We'll keep her safe," Ethan said as he stood. "Let's take the boy as well. He's...interesting."
Amelia nodded and, with a wave of her hand, gently levitated the unconscious boy and cat. The couple took flight once more, this time not heading toward their home. As they soared through the night, Amelia ensured that the two unconscious companions remained safe.
"The boy had a rough childhood," Amelia sighed, giving Ryan's frail body a pitiful glance. "His entire form is covered in scars and wounds, some fresh and some old. Even his soul is unstable. If we'd arrived just a minute or two later, both of them would have died."
"Are you planning something, dear?" Ethan asked quietly, catching the tremor in her voice.
"The boy reminds me of our son. Both endured hardships no child should face," Amelia sighed. "We've already lost our own son and I don't want anyone else to share his fate."
Ethan's expression grew complicated. He concealed his emotions and said, "It was necessary, dear. Besides, it was his choice as well."
"Still, we were the ones who pushed him into it," Amelia said, accelerating forward. "I will see this through to the end. I'm going to adopt him."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. Perhaps this is fate," Amelia said softly. "But I'm not sure if the boy will accept us."
"He will, one day," Ethan murmured, flashing a smile to his wife. "You are too sweet to hate."
The couple laughed and sped up.
…
Ryan's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, looking around in panic. His voice rang out in the empty room, "Nero!"
Finding no one present, he tried to stand but his weakened body failed him, causing him to slump back onto the bed. Groaning softly, he forced himself to calm down and assess his situation, struggling to recall what had happened.
This wasn't his home—he would never wake to such a peaceful morning there. The room was sparse, furnished only with a single window that allowed gentle morning light inside. The air was humid, and a strange fragrance permeated the space. Just then, the door slid open, making Ryan instinctively search for a weapon. Finding nothing but his blanket, he bunched it in his hands, readying himself to defend however he could.
"Ho? You're finally awake," Amelia said, entering the room with a warm smile. She carried a small tray with two steaming bowls that released a gentle, medicinal aroma.
"Who are you?" Ryan asked, wondering why this woman looked so familiar.
"We can talk later. First, drink this soup—it will boost your vitality." She set the tray before him and spoke gently.
Ryan continued to stare, refusing to touch the soup. His mind swirled with countless questions, yet he held them back. The aura this woman radiated felt as formidable as his father's, and that alone made him cautious.
"There are many ways to kill someone besides poisoning, you know. Just drink it, and I'll take you to see your friend," Amelia said.
"She isn't dead?" Ryan tried to jump to his feet in excitement, but his weakened legs gave out, and he fell back down immediately.
"Yes, she's alive. Why don't you try to recall what happened last night?" Amelia said with a gentle smile, seating herself beside him.
Ryan calmed down and nodded. He took the bowl and sipped the medicinal soup while trying to remember what happened before he passed out. Soon, memories flooded in as he saw how those bastards had beaten him and set his friend on fire, just for their own amusement.
Trying to suppress his fury, he saw more of the memories where two people descended from the heaven and helped him. He remembered how they had given him a method to save his friend who had already died. His caution eased slightly as he realized the couple seemed to harbor no ill intent. Still, he remained on guard, just in case.
'Still being cautious, huh?' Amelia smiled, pleased by his prudence, and stood up. "Let's meet your friend first, before we discuss any important matters."
Ryan looked down, embarrassed, and said, "But…I can't walk."
"Oh! I forgot," Amelia said with a sweet smile. In one swift motion, she scooped him into her arms. Ryan's face flushed red with embarrassment, leaving him speechless. Laughing softly, she carried him out of the room. Ryan was too flustered to take in his surroundings. He only snapped back to reality when Amelia gently set him down and said, "There you go!"
Forgetting his embarrassment, Ryan's gaze landed immediately on his friend, who sat on a cushion nibbling at a small piece of fruit. Overwhelmed with joy, he tried to rush toward her—though in his condition, he could only manage a crawl.
"Nero!" he cried, gathering the cat into his arms and holding her close. Her warm presence soothed him as she purred, nuzzling his neck and licking his cheeks. "Haha! That tickles," H laughed, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Once he'd finished cuddling the cat, Ryan finally noticed Amelia and Ethan speaking with a young man who had spiky black hair. He set Nero down and bowed to them. "Thank you for saving her life, benefactors. As I promised, I will do anything you ask of me."
"Don't thank us so soon," Ethan said, shaking his head. "She's going to die very soon...and so are you."