"Ān'nà, come out." Yán Shèngxīn called as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Ān'nà emerged promptly.
"At your service, Young Master," Ān'nà said, bowing.
Shèngxīn poured himself tea and asked, "I haven't heard your report on the dead bodies. What did you find?"
Ān'nà replied, "At the time, SìSì suggested us to check for two bite marks on the necks of those still alive when they left. She must have known..."
Before she could finish, Shèngxīn interrupted, "SìSì, come out too!"
SìSì stepped forward gracefully, bowing.
"SìSì at your service, Master. What do you require?"
Shèngxīn studied her. SìSì, a fox-human hybrid, appeared as a stunning woman in her prime, with fair skin, a well-proportioned figure, and crimson hair. Only her animal-like ears betrayed her Beast origin.
"Have you recovered?" he asked.
"Yes, Master. What is your command?" SìSì requested, bowing
"You advised Ān'nà to inspect the neck wounds. Why? Does it connect to the Shòutián forest?" he asked again.
SìSì's expression grew serious. "Among us Beasts, that type of wound is legendary. Fifteen years ago, our king, Hēi Lóng Tiāndì, suffered hallucinations and blood loss from an invisible neck bite. Without that attack, we would've won the great war."
Shèngxīn frowned. "But history claims humans defeated Hēi Lóng Tiāndì—especially Zhào Qīnglán of the Celestial Summoners Sect with his Tiger Beast."
"Hmph," SìSì scoffed. "Who writes your history books? Humans couldn't have overpowered us. Even the pampered Beasts who serve them are no match for us."
Shèngxīn fell silent, his mind racing. "Then... history is flawed."
"I agree, Young Master," Ān'nà chimed in. "The human army couldn't have withstood the Demon forces."
Shèngxīn raised a brow. "And how would you know, Ān'nà?"
Ān'nà grinned. "Because Tú Yòu, Wǎng, and I were there."
"What?" SìSì exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. She took a step forward, her golden eyes locked on Ān'nà. "You were there? You—you're the one who created the hallucinations that crippled the Demon army?"
Ān'nà smirked but said nothing.
SìSì shook her head in disbelief. "No... it can't be. You? The legendary creature who made even the Demon Kings falter with illusions? That was you?"
"Yes, Sister," Ān'nà said, her tone calm yet proud.
SìSì's eyes widened further, and she grabbed Ān'nà's shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me? I fought beside Queen Hua Qīlíng during that battle! I thought the hallucinations were some divine interventions, not... you!"
Ān'nà shrugged. "It wasn't the time to boast. And you never asked."
SìSì let go, her hands trembling. "So, it's true... the same power I saw in Shòutián forest was yours all along. No wonder. No wonder!"
Shèngxīn, still processing, interrupted. "Explain. Why were you there, helping humans?"
Ān'nà turned to him, her expression unreadable. "Think, Young Master. Who would've sent us?"
Shèngxīn changed into dry clothes, sat down, and stared at her. "Who else? Mother? Was it Mother?"
Ān'nà nodded. "Correct. Your Mother, Lady Mào Qīnghuà secretly ordered us to assist your father. She sealed us in the necklace to protect us when the Demon Kings began hunting those who aided humans..."
Ān'nà continued her story, her voice steady but tinged with sorrow. "At the same time, humans began suspecting the Arcane Dominion of the Enchanted Flame Sect, Yùlíng Yànzōng, of wielding the creature's power. The sect's involvement was never proven, but the accusations fueled the chaos."
She paused, her gaze softening as she recalled the past. "Lady Mào, heavily pregnant and hiding in the Yán clan's home, made a difficult decision. To shield you and the clan from the storm, she sealed us away. Her intent was to protect you, Young Master, even if it meant limiting our ability to act."
Ān'nà's tone grew heavier, her regret evident. "If only we had not been sealed by Lady Mào, we might have stopped the tragedy that befell your father and household. But we were powerless to intervene. The betrayal that took everything from you happened while we remained bound."
She lowered her head, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Lady Mào... She carried immense grief. Losing her husband and the household she loved broke her spirit. Despite her strength, she succumbed to her sadness. Shortly after giving birth, she passed away, leaving you as her final legacy."
Yán Shèngxīn raised his head, his voice steady yet filled with emotion. "Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother. Your son could not repay your kindness, but I swear to clear our family name. I will avenge those who harmed you and left me alone."
The beasts and ghosts knelt in silence; their deference palpable. SìSì glanced at Ān'nà, her eyes wide with amazement. "Who would have thought? The heavens have strange plans. She herself, once a victim, now serves under one master with Ān'nà, Tú Yòu, and Wǎng."
"Wait!" SìSì interrupted herself, her gaze sharpening. "Then Sister, you must know who bit the necks of the illegal hunters—and His Majesty, Hēi Lóng Tiāndì!"
Ān'nà let out a soft sigh, a faint smile crossing her lips. "Ah, I nearly forgot... until you mentioned it. Hihihi... We call him Uncle Xuè Dì. Xuè means Blood, Dì means King—Uncle Blood King. He's different from us. He can roam the human world as a small bat and doesn't need to stay the Summoning Space like tamed creatures. That's why he's not in the necklace sealed by your mother, Master."
"Where is he now?" Shèngxīn's tone grew firm. "Do you know? Would Wang or Tu You know?"
Ān'nà shook her head. "We're both in the necklace and stored in a wood box, Master. They wouldn't know either."
"Excuse me, my Lord." SìSì interjected respectfully. "I think uncle Xuè Dì should still be in the Shòutián Forest. He must have been the one who drained the hunters' blood."
Shèngxīn exhaled deeply. "I fear the truth is not that simple. There's another possibility: Xuè Dì may be working with the Liang family clan—the family linked to Zhao Qinglán, the Head of the Martial World and the Beast Tamer Council."
Ān'nà frowned. "Master, do you mean Uncle Xuè Dì was captured by them?"
"That's right. It's possible. Xuè Dì doesn't live in the Shòutián Forest. If he had, many would have died from blood loss long ago. His presence there must have been deliberate. If the Liang family is involved, they might have used him to kill the hunters and cover their tracks."
The room fell silent, the weight of Shèngxīn's words sinking in.
"This case is a door," Shèngxīn continued, his voice low. "A door to the truth about my father's murder and the massacre of our household. Xuè Dì's capture could have led the Liang family and Zhao Qinglán to orchestrate that tragedy. Mother must have known. She regretted it—heartbroken because she believed Xuè Dì was responsible."
The beasts and ghosts shared a solemn glance. SìSì hesitated, then spoke. "Master, may I address another concern?"
"Speak, SìSì."
"The massacre of the Four-Eyed Wolf clan and the rescue of those who still live must have spread through the beast world. Yet in the human world, human only focus on the mystery killer who massacred the illegal hunters." She paused, gauging Shèngxīn's reaction.
"Go on."
"For years, His Majesty Hēi Lóng Tiāndì and the Twelve Demon Generals have hunted the one who hallucinated their army and drained their blood. But since no one saw your figure back then, no one know who to be hunted. Besides, you were sealed for 15 years. You Sister Ān'nà, and Xuè Dì are actually the most wanted unknown creatures in the beast world."
Shèngxīn fell silent, his expression darkening. "So, other beasts witnessed the hallucinations and saw Ān'nà. They must have reported to their generals. That means…" He trailed off, exhaling heavily. "I may now be their next target as Ān'nà's master."
Ān'nà immediately knelt. "Forgive me, Master. This is my fault."
Shèngxīn shook his head. "Why apologize? What you did fifteen years ago saved my father and the human clan. What you did that night in the forest saved the Four-Eyed Wolves. Your only mistake was not waiting for my approval. But I have never blamed you for saving lives."
The room remained still, the weight of his words settling over them.
"It's worse than we feared," Shèngxīn said, his voice sharp with urgency. "It's not just Ān'nà, Tu Yòu, and Wáng being hunted—SìSì, Sì Yǎn Láng Wáng, and Sì Xiǎo Láng are targets too. The Demon Generals won't stop until they've found us. Along the way, they will destroy everything who hide us."
SìSì clenched her fists, her eyes flaring with determination. "We can't let that happen!"
Shèngxīn nodded, his tone firm. "There's no time to waste. Before their forces close in, we act. Except for Gu Gu, everyone heads to the forest. Find Sì Yǎn Láng Wáng, Sì Xiǎo Láng, and the Four-Eyed Wolf pack. Bring them back alive. I'll shelter them in the Summoning Space where they'll be safe."
"Yes, Master!" they all shouted, urgency gripping every word. SìSì's voice rang the loudest, fueled by her deep connection to the wolves.
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Hours Later,
They returned, their expressions heavy with grief.
SìSì stumbled forward, trembling, her face pale. "Master… we were too late."
Shèngxīn's chest tightened, but he remained silent, waiting for the words he already feared.
Ān'nà stepped in, her voice choked. "The Four-Eyed Wolves… all of them are dead. Sì Yǎn Láng Wáng fell in the heart of the forest. Only Sì Xiǎo Láng is missing. We couldn't find her."
SìSì collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "It's my fault," she cried, her voice trembling. "I should have been faster. Stronger. I should have protected them..."
Ān'nà knelt beside her, her voice soft but shaking. "SìSì, don't blame yourself. You did everything you could."
Tears welled in Ān'nà's eyes, but she held them back, her grief mirrored in the faces of the others. The silence was broken only by SìSì's heart-wrenching cries.
Shèngxīn stood still, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if searching for answers in the distance. Slowly, he lifted his teacup, his hand steady despite the storm within. After a long silence, he spoke, his voice low and filled with sorrow.
"We failed them," he said, his words cutting through the quiet like a blade. "But this isn't the end. We owe it to them to keep fighting. Their sacrifice cannot be for nothing. I believe Sì Xiǎo Láng was not yet captured. Otherwise, they will use him to lure us out."
He turned to Ān'nà, his eyes softening despite the weight they carried. "Enter the Summoning Space. Your presence, as a Fox Demon, makes you a beacon for Queen Huà Qīlíng. I can't risk losing anyone else. The rest of you, follow her. We'll plan our next step together."
SìSì wiped her tears, her voice a whisper. "I'll make this right," she vowed, her grief hardening into resolve.
The group hesitated, reluctant to leave him, but Shèngxīn's gaze left no room for argument. One by one, they vanished into the Summoning Space, their sorrow lingering in the air.
Left alone, Shèngxīn lowered his head, his teacup shaking slightly in his hand. The weight of their loss pressed down on him, but deep within, a flicker of hope remained. If Sì Xiǎo Láng can be found, there was a chance to salvage what had been lost. Where are you, Kid?"
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An hour later,
Shèngxīn bolted toward the forest, urgency etched on his face. He had to erase every trace of SìSì's presence before it was too late.
"GǔGǔ, come out!" he ordered sharply. "Search for any trace of SìSì—fur, footprints, anything. Consume them. Then devour the carcasses of the Four-Eyed Wolves. Erase all evidence. Nothing must lead back to her."
A massive caterpillar, GǔGǔ wriggled out from the shadows, his segmented body glistening. Without hesitation, he began following SìSì's trail, swallowing everything in his path—hair, tracks, and even the fallen wolves.
"Kill any wandering Beast nearby, now" Shèngxīn continued coldly. "No witnesses. If they report to the Demon Generals, it's over for all of us."
GǔGǔ's antennae twitched as he silently obeyed, his movements precise and efficient.
Shèngxīn carefully retraced SìSì's path back to his residence. "Erase all traces along her route," he added firmly. "She must have left footprints or fur behind. Make sure nothing remains."
The forest seemed unnaturally quiet; the tension heavy. Dawn broke as Shèngxīn returned home, the faint crow of a rooster signaling morning. He quickly raised his hands, creating a protective barrier around his room.
"This will hide her," he muttered, his voice weary. "Even Queen Huà Qīlíng won't sense her presence here."
Satisfied but drained, Shèngxīn collapsed onto his bed. Exhaustion weighed on him—he hadn't slept all night, and the Beast Market Bazaar awaited him that evening.