Part 1: The Council of Beasts
In the heart of a mist-shrouded valley, hidden from the eyes of mortals, the ancient council of beast elders convened. Towering forms of majestic creatures gathered in a semi-circle, their presence commanding awe and fear. In their midst, a single figure knelt—Mò Xuán, the White Lady Fox, her pristine fur glowing faintly in the ethereal light.
"I have found him," Mò Xuán said, her voice calm but tinged with reverence. "The Thoth Lord has returned in this generation."
The elders exchanged wary glances, their expressions ranging from skepticism to intrigue. It was the red fox, Mò Xié, who had first brought the news to them. At the time, his report was met with ridicule and disbelief.
"The descendant of Thoth Lord, found among humans?" rumbled a massive tiger elder, his golden eyes narrowing. "This claim is bold, Mò Xuán. What proof do you bring?"
Mò Xuán bowed lower. "I followed the trail left by Mò Xié and arranged to meet the boy in Snow Water City. The connection he shares with the beasts confirms his identity."
Another elder, an ancient panda with a solemn demeanor, grunted. "You arranged this meeting? Explain yourself."
Mò Xuán nodded. "I informed Dongfang Zhāoyáng of the treasures within the ant dungeon, enticing him to act. Through him, the Emperor, Dongfang Lóngmù, was petitioned, and the position of Snow Water City Supervisor was granted to Zhāoyáng. It was all to ensure the meeting between the Thoth Lord's descendant and our tribes."
A low murmur rippled through the gathered elders. The intricacy of Mò Xuán's plan had not been foreseen, yet it had achieved what no beast before her could.
"Leave us, Mò Xuán," the tiger elder commanded at last. "Await further orders. You have done well."
With a final bow, Mò Xuán rose gracefully and departed, her figure disappearing into the shadows.
The air grew heavier as the elders turned their focus inward. The tiger elder broke the silence, his voice a low growl. "If this truly is the Thoth Lord's descendant, the balance of power between beasts and humans will shift."
A scarred wolf elder slammed his paw against the ground. "This is our chance! For centuries, we've been enslaved, made into pets, mere tools of their kind. It is time we rise!"
An elderly lion, his mane streaked with white, roared back, "And you would pin your hopes on a human? Have you forgotten what humans are? They are selfish creatures, and he will be no different. When the time comes, who will he defend—us or them?"
A somber voice, belonging to a great serpent coiled at the edge of the circle, hissed, "Perhaps the Thoth Lord's descendant is a mistake. It should not be him. It should be Him."
All eyes turned to the serpent, whose gaze was fixed on the shadows where a younger figure once stood—the son of their current leader.
"This child," the serpent continued, "has been among us. He knows our ways, our pain. He should lead us, not some human with a dubious claim to an ancient lineage."
The debate raged on, the air crackling with tension. Yet within the minds of many, silent thoughts diverged. Some believed in the Thoth Lord's descendant, others plotted rebellion against humanity, and a few harbored resentment toward what they saw as an unjust twist of fate.
As the voices rose and fell, one elder, a towering eagle with eyes like molten gold, murmured to himself, "The world will not be the same again."
The council chamber plunged into deep contemplation, the weight of their decisions threatening to reshape the destiny of both beasts and humans alike.
Part 2: The Unfolding Schemes
In the quiet chambers of the Xiǎo family estate, Xiǎo Jiàn, the patriarch and Haiyang's paternal grandfather, sat on a grand chair carved with intricate dragon motifs. His laughter echoed through the room, startling Xiǎo Mìmì, the petite yet formidable bodyguard assigned to protect Haiyang.
Mìmì, who had been trembling moments ago, now felt a wave of relief. Her head bowed low, she murmured, "Master Jiàn, I failed to protect the young master when he needed me most. I—"
"Enough," Xiǎo Jiàn interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. His eyes, sharp and calculating, softened just slightly. "Do not blame yourself. You were not meant to interfere this time."
His laughter returned, this time tinged with satisfaction. "The Hóng family—the very Hóng family tied to my late daughter-in-law—has stepped into the light once more. I had wondered how long it would take before they reasserted their dominance. Their power is not something easily hidden or diminished."
Mìmì raised her gaze, her voice hesitant. "You are not angry, Master Jiàn?"
"Angry? No, child." Xiǎo Jiàn leaned back, stroking his long, graying beard. "Relieved. The Hóngs have revealed themselves, and with their might and influence, they will protect Haiyang from the vultures circling within and outside this family."
"But Master, why didn't you intervene directly when the young master was in danger?" Mìmì's voice trembled slightly.
Xiǎo Jiàn's expression darkened. "Because the true threat lies within these very walls. If I had acted openly to protect Haiyang, the other members of the family—the uncles, aunties, and cousins who envy him—would have united against me. It would have given them the perfect excuse to strip me of power and remove Haiyang from contention for the family's future leadership."
He sighed deeply, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "Even now, I suspect Dongfang Zhāoyáng's arrival in Snow Water City was orchestrated by some of them. They hoped to eliminate Haiyang while keeping their hands clean."
In the shadows of another chamber within the estate, the sound of shattering porcelain broke the silence. One of Haiyang's great-uncles, his face twisted with rage, had smashed a set of teacups against the wall.
"How could this happen?" he spat, his voice trembling with fury. "How could that boy be tied to the Hóngs?!"
Another uncle, seated with arms crossed, sneered. "The Hóng family's involvement changes everything. They've ruined our plans to quietly remove Haiyang. Dongfang Zhāoyáng's failure is a disaster."
The mysterious auntie, a slim woman with calculating eyes, hissed, "This complicates everything. With the Hóngs stepping into the fray, Haiyang is no longer a weak pawn. He's now a contender for the throne of the Xiǎo family—an untouchable one."
Back in his chambers, Xiǎo Jiàn gazed out the window, his thoughts heavy. "The pieces are moving, Mìmì. The game is no longer in the shadows. The Hóng family's reappearance has forced everyone's hand."
Mìmì, still kneeling, ventured hesitantly, "What will you do next, Master?"
Xiǎo Jiàn's lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes betrayed a mix of worry and determination. "We watch, Mìmì. We wait. And when the time is right, we act. Haiyang's future is no longer his alone—it has become a matter of legacy and survival for both the Xiǎo and Hóng families."
Part 3: The Exciting Future ahead
As the dust settled over the recent events in Snow Water City, the forces at play began to converge toward an inevitable climax.
Haiyang, now bearing the weight of three names—Xiǎo Haiyang, Hóng Haiyang, and the Thoth Lord—stood at the center of a storm he barely understood. Each identity carried its own set of allies, enemies, and expectations.
At the Xiǎo family estate, a letter was sent in secret to Dongfang Zhāoyáng's father, the Emperor Dongfang Lóngmù, hinting at an alliance to suppress the growing influence of the Hóng family.
Meanwhile, deep in the mysterious valleys, the beast tribes whispered of Haiyang's existence. His lineage as the Thoth Lord's descendant loomed as both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of change.
Back at Snow Water City, Hóng Qiàn Lì and Wēnshì prepared their next move, aware that Haiyang's emergence would not go unnoticed by the other powers across the land.
As Haiyang returned to his humble quarters, unaware of the ripples his existence had caused, a faint but powerful energy surged through the air—a sign that forces greater than any mortal or beast were beginning to awaken.
The stage was set. The curtain rose.
The next episode awaited !
As the dust of recent events began to settle, Hóng Haiyang stood at the precipice of a new chapter in his life. Snow Water City had been a crucible, revealing layers of intrigue surrounding his identity and immersing him in a dangerous web of alliances, betrayals, and expectations tied to his lineage. Yet, the challenges he faced were far from over.
Before his departure to the prestigious Eastern Verdant Sage School, Haiyang understood that he could not move forward unprepared. The road ahead promised to be even more perilous.
The Eastern Beast Fighting School was no mere academic haven; it was a battleground where talents from across the lands converged, each with their own ambitions and secrets. Haiyang's newfound identity as the heir of two powerful families—and potentially the Thoth Lord's descendant—would draw both admiration and enmity in equal measure.
His recent experiences had ignited a transformation within him, both in body and spirit. The mysterious powers tied to his lineage began to surface, challenging him to master abilities he was only beginning to understand. Haiyang's connection to beasts, particularly to those tied to the land elements, deepened, as if the creatures themselves were drawn to his growing presence. BǎoBǎo and Mò Xié, among others, would be instrumental in helping him harness this potential.
Equally important were the alliances he had forged. Xué Fù Fēn, the courageous girl who had fought beside him and stood unwavering even in the face of overwhelming odds, was more than an ally; she was a symbol of loyalty and shared purpose.
Her unwavering belief in him reminded Haiyang of the weight of his responsibilities—not just as a tamer or a fighter, but as a leader.
Yet, the shadows of betrayal lingered. Haiyang's enemies were not limited to figures like Dongfang Zhāoyáng or rogue beasts. The betrayal within the Xiǎo family, the machinations of his uncles, and the unresolved tensions between the great families were threats that loomed over him like storm clouds. Each step forward would demand vigilance, for every hand that offered him assistance might also conceal a dagger.
Above all, Haiyang's connection to the beast tribes—those enigmatic creatures who recognized him as more than human—remained a source of mystery and potential. While some tribes pledged silent allegiance, others murmured dissent, questioning his right to such power. The rift between beasts and humans, ancient and festering, now rested upon Haiyang's shoulders. Could he bridge this divide, or would he become the catalyst for a greater conflict?
The journey to the Eastern Verdant Sage School would not be a mere passage. It was a proving ground, a forge where Haiyang would confront trials that would shape his destiny and define the man he was meant to become. Every decision, every alliance, every battle ahead carried the weight of worlds.
Hóng Haiyang breathed deeply, resolve flickering like a flame in his heart. The path before him was shrouded in uncertainty, but his steps forward would be unwavering. The next chapter in his journey beckoned, and he would face it head-on.
--------------------------------End of Chapter 14-----------------------------------