At home, Hǎiyáng led Gǒu Bǎohù Zhě to the lower ground level of his newly furnished house, a spacious area meant to accommodate beasts of significant size. The room was dimly lit, with faint streaks of sunlight piercing through the high windows. Bǎohù Zhě sat still, his humanoid form battered but dignified. The weight of years spent in a cage had taken its toll, and his once-proud figure seemed frail.
At home, Hǎiyáng led Gǒu Bǎohù Zhě to the lower ground level of his newly furnished house, a spacious area meant to accommodate beasts of significant size. The room was dimly lit, with faint streaks of sunlight piercing through the high windows. Bǎohù Zhě sat still, his humanoid form battered but dignified. The weight of years spent in a cage had taken its toll, and his once-proud figure seemed frail.
Hǎiyáng looked at him with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's start. You've waited long enough for someone to help you, and now that I've brought you here, I'll do my best."
The young tamer began channeling his limited healing abilities, placing his hand on Bǎohù Zhě's shoulder. A faint golden glow surrounded them, flickering as though uncertain, but Hǎiyáng poured all his focus into the effort.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, with a soft hum, the glow brightened, spreading over Bǎohù Zhě's entire form.
His old scars began to fade, his fur darkened to a glossy sheen, and his hunched figure straightened.
His humanoid body shifted, transforming in waves as a powerful aura emanated from him.
When the light subsided, Hǎiyáng stumbled back in awe.
Before him stood a transformed Gǒu Bǎohù Zhě. His humanoid form retained its black-and-tan coloration but now exuded an air of sharp precision. His lean body was muscular and firm, resembling that of an elite bodyguard. His amber eyes gleamed with intelligence and determination. A faint shadow flickered at his feet, forming the unmistakable outline of a hellhound—a terrifying creature of legend.
Hǎiyáng blinked in disbelief. "Is this... really you?"
Bǎohù Zhě, now looking younger and fiercer than ever, knelt before Hǎiyáng, bowing deeply. "It is still me, my lord. And you have given me the strength I once lost. For that, I can never repay you."
His voice was steady but held a tremble of emotion. "Now that you have healed me, allow me to pledge my loyalty to you fully. I ask to be tamed, not by force or necessity, but by choice. You are my master, the one I have awaited for decades."
Hǎiyáng hesitated. "Tamed? You're asking me to bind you with a contract willingly?"
Bǎohù Zhě, now looking younger and fiercer than ever, knelt before Hǎiyáng, bowing deeply. "It is still me, my lord. And you have given me the strength I once lost. For that, I can never repay you."
His voice was steady but held a tremble of emotion. "Now that you have healed me, allow me to pledge my loyalty to you fully. I ask to be tamed, not by force or necessity, but by choice. You are my master, the one I have awaited for decades."
Hǎiyáng hesitated. "Tamed? You're asking me to bind you with a contract willingly?"
Bǎohù Zhě, now looking younger and fiercer than ever, knelt before Hǎiyáng, bowing deeply. "It is still me, my lord. And you have given me the strength I once lost. For that, I can never repay you."
His voice was steady but held a tremble of emotion. "Now that you have healed me, allow me to pledge my loyalty to you fully. I ask to be tamed, not by force or necessity, but by choice. You are my master, the one I have awaited for decades."
Hǎiyáng hesitated. "Tamed? You're asking me to bind you with a contract willingly?"
Bǎohù Zhě nodded, his expression solemn. "A tamed beast is bound to its master's life force, but in return, we share a connection deeper than words. It is my greatest honor to serve you, my lord."
Unable to refuse such sincerity, Hǎiyáng performed the taming ritual. A circle of light surrounded them both, and a faint bond
clicked into place in Hǎiyáng's mind—a connection that pulsed with warmth and trust.
When it was done, Bǎohù Zhě stood tall. "From now on, you may call me BǎoBǎo. It is a humble name, but one I hold dear."
Hǎiyáng smiled despite himself. "BǎoBǎo? You want me to call you that?"
The doberman beast's sharp features softened into a rare grin. "Yes, my lord. For all my ferocity, I am, at heart, your protector."
As they settled into the quiet of the lower ground, BǎoBǎo began to share his story, his voice steady but tinged with nostalgia.
"There are others like me," he began, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "Four protectors who served the original descendant of the Thoth Lord, the creator of this world.
Each of us was created to guard different zones and maintain balance across the realms. I am the protector of the land, the weakest among us, but also the most loyal."
Hǎiyáng listened intently, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his mind.
"The others," BǎoBǎo continued, "are the protectors of water, desert, fire, and sky. Each of us was bound to our master's will, but when our master passed, chaos consumed us all. Without our bond, we lost our way."
BǎoBǎo's voice grew somber as he described each of his fellow protectors.
The Water Protector is proud and unyielding, but her anger is like the tide—relentless and destructive. When the master died, her grief turned to rage, flooding entire regions and destroying countless lives."
The Fire Protector is equally volatile, their temper as fierce as the volcanoes they guard. Her fury ignited eruptions that
blanketed the skies with ash for months. She is feared even by the other protectors."
The Desert Protector chose apathy over chaos. He withdrew into endless slumber, allowing vast lands to turn barren and lifeless under the scorching sun. His silence is as destructive as the others' fury."
Hǎiyáng furrowed his brow. "And the Sky Protector? What about him?"
BǎoBǎo's expression darkened. "The Sky Protector is the strongest and most mysterious among us. He lives isolated in the Sky Kingdom, far from the rest of us. He was always different—aloof, unwilling to bond with the others. He is an enigma, even to me."
The doberman beast's voice softened as he continued. "When our master passed, I chose to stay behind in the Water Zone. The master's last words to me were to wait there—to protect the land from the madness of the others. For decades, I fought to hold back floods, eruptions, and scorching droughts.
But my strength waned, and eventually, I was captured and caged."
He paused, his sharp eyes meeting Hǎiyáng's. "And now, after all these years, I have finally found you—the descendant of the Thoth Lord. My waiting was not in vain."
Hǎiyáng leaned back, trying to process the weight of BǎoBǎo's revelations. "You expect me to believe that I'm some kind of... chosen one? That I'm connected to this Thoth Lord?"
BǎoBǎo nodded solemnly. "You may not believe it now, my lord, but the bond we share is proof. Only the descendant of the Thoth Lord can awaken the protectors. And you, though young and untrained, carry their blood."
The room fell silent as Hǎiyáng grappled with this newfound knowledge. A part of him wanted to dismiss it as fantasy, yet deep down, he couldn't ignore the bond he felt with BǎoBǎo.
Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "If what you say is true, then we have a long road ahead. I don't know if I'm ready for this."
BǎoBǎo placed a firm hand on his shoulder, his expression unwavering. "You may not feel ready, but you have already taken the first step. Together, we will face whatever lies ahead."
In the quiet of the lower ground, the bond between master and protector solidified. Though the path before them remained uncertain, one thing was clear—this was only the beginning.
The morning light filtered into Hǎiyáng's modest home, illuminating the lower ground where he and BǎoBǎo had spent the night in quiet contemplation. The events of the previous day lingered in his mind like a heavy fog. He now had a tamed beast—not just any beast, but one claiming to be a Protector of the Thoth Lord's descendant.
As he prepared tea in his simple kitchen, Hǎiyáng mulled over BǎoBǎo's revelations. The idea that he was somehow connected to an ancient lineage, tasked with reuniting the Protectors, seemed far-fetched. But the undeniable bond he now shared with BǎoBǎo made it hard to dismiss entirely.
"Still thinking about it, my lord?" BǎoBǎo's voice, deep and resonant, echoed from the stairwell as he descended into the room.
Hǎiyáng offered a faint smile, sliding a cup of tea across the table. "What else can I do? You dropped a lot on me last night."
BǎoBǎo took the cup, his sharp amber eyes studying Hǎiyáng intently. "I understand it's overwhelming. But it's important to prepare yourself. The world is changing, and your role will soon be undeniable."
Hǎiyáng sipped his tea, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean by 'the world is changing'? What's happening out there?"
BǎoBǎo's gaze turned somber. "The balance that the Protectors once upheld is unraveling. Without a master to guide us, each Protector has been consumed by their nature. The Water Protector's floods are worsening, submerging entire villages. The Fire Protector's volcano grows more volatile with each passing day. And the Desert Protector's apathy has allowed vast lands to become wastelands."
"And the Sky Protector?" Hǎiyáng asked hesitantly.
BǎoBǎo hesitated, his sharp features tightening. "The Sky Protector's silence is the most troubling. Their movements are unpredictable, and they have never allied with the rest of us. If they act, it will be on their own terms, and that is a danger in itself."
Hǎiyáng set his cup down with a sharp clink. "So you're saying that unless we bring the Protectors together, the world could fall apart?"
Precisely," BǎoBǎo said, his tone unwavering.
The weight of the responsibility settled heavily on Hǎiyáng's shoulders. A teenager, barely scraping by as an XF tamer, was now expected to fix a broken world.
The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. Hǎiyáng frowned—visitors were rare.
When he opened the door, he was met by an old woman wrapped in tattered robes. Her face was weathered, her eyes sharp with urgency. She clutched a bundle of scrolls in her hands.
"Are you the young tamer they call Hǎiyáng?" she asked, her voice raspy but firm.
Hǎiyáng glanced at BǎoBǎo, who had risen to stand protectively behind him. "I am. Who's asking?"
The woman pushed past him, stepping into the small living room. "I don't have time for pleasantries. If you're the one who awakened the Protector of the Land, then you're exactly who I need."
"Excuse me?" Hǎiyáng closed the door, his confusion turning to annoyance. "Who are you, and how do you know about BǎoBǎo?"
The woman set her scrolls on the table and turned to face him, her expression grave. "My name is Lù Wěi, a historian of ancient beast lore. Word travels fast when someone stirs up the chaos you did at the Bái Yuán Shēng Hù Zhě store. And if the rumors are true, you are no ordinary tamer."
Hǎiyáng folded his arms, feeling a mix of irritation and unease. "What do you want from me?"
Lù Wěi unrolled one of the scrolls, revealing a detailed map of the continent. Various points were marked with red ink, each accompanied by cryptic notes.
"These," she said, pointing to the marks, "are where disturbances have been recorded in recent months. Floods in the east, eruptions in the south, desertification in the west, and strange sightings in the northern skies. The Protectors are stirring, and their actions are destabilizing the world."
Hǎiyáng exchanged a glance with BǎoBǎo, who nodded grimly.
"This is exactly what I was trying to tell you, my lord," BǎoBǎo said softly.
Lù Wěi's piercing gaze shifted between the two of them. "If you are who I think you are, you might be the only one who can stop this. But you won't be able to do it alone. Reuniting the Protectors is your only chance."
Hǎiyáng exhaled sharply, the enormity of the task pressing down on him. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that? I'm just a kid with a barely functional XF rank."
The old historian gave him a wry smile. "You have something far more valuable than rank. You have the blood of the Thoth Lord. That bond will draw the Protectors to you—but only if you're willing to take the risk."
The next few hours were a blur of planning and discussion. Lù Wěi shared what little she knew about the Protectors' current locations, though much of it was speculation.
"The Water Protector is said to have retreated to the Sunken Reefs, deep in the Eastern Seas," she explained, tracing her finger along the map. "It's a treacherous journey, and they are unlikely to welcome you kindly."
"What about the others?" Hǎiyáng asked, leaning over the table.
"The Fire Protector has isolated themselves within the Flame Peaks. Reaching them would require navigating the Ashen Wastes, which are deadly even to seasoned adventurers."
"The Desert Protector?"
"They've been dormant for decades, buried somewhere beneath the Endless Sands. Finding them will be an ordeal in itself."
And the Sky Protector?"
Lù Wěi hesitated. "The Sky Protector is the greatest mystery. They have no fixed location and are said to reside in the Sky Kingdom, a place few have ever seen. They may not even wish to be found."
Hǎiyáng leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "This sounds impossible."
BǎoBǎo placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Nothing is impossible with determination, my lord. You have already proven yourself by awakening me. The others may be difficult, but they are not beyond your reach."
The historian stood, gathering her scrolls. "I've done all I can to guide you. The rest is up to you." She paused at the door, her expression softening. "You carry a heavy burden, young tamer. But if anyone can restore balance to this world, it's you."
----------------------------------End of Chapter 5----------------------------------