I don’t think the human who captured me expected me to still be alive. Or to have the presence of mind to jump out of his little bag the moment he opened it. Unfortunately, that didn’t help my situation, because another human snatched me out of the air.

“Initiate Li, why can I sense more qi from this rabbit than I can from you?”

Qi? What is… oh. Somehow, the meaning of the word comes through as the name for the energy I’ve been eating.

“Mistress Song, that can’t be possible! It is just an animal, only humans are capable of cultivation!”

Cultivating. Not eating. Got it. Also, gonna bite the male again.

“Bah. What is it with young men that make them so blind to the world? I’m half-tempted to let this rabbit follow through on its intentions of biting you again.”

Wait. What?

“You speak as if you understand it, Mistress.”

“Of course I do! It is a being that has cultivated to the point of a basic enlightenment, and therefore has the ability to think independently, full self-awareness, and the ability to make decisions based upon actual thought instead of mere instinct. It is arguably more intelligent than an overgrown boy who squanders what little he has learned in a decade to hunt small game he never cares to consider beyond being a thing to kill. Have you learned nothing from the elders on respecting life!?”

“All life passes, Mistress, and we must eat…”

“Yes, but the mere fact that something will eventually die is not an excuse to disrespect the life it has! And the very fact that something must die so that we live is exactly the reason to respect the lives we must take! Not that this creature will be among those you will be learning to dress and cook this evening. No, it… she… has earned the right to live and to learn through her cultivations. You have earned three years’ confinement to the monastery, and will spend it as a kitchen assistant. Learn enlightenment as you chop wood and carry water. Develop patience as you scrub pots and pans. And as you raise and butcher the animals we intend to eat, develop a respect for their lives.”

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“But-”

“Do not question your seniors, Initiate! This humble rabbit has stepped further on the path to ascension that you ever will, as things stand. I am giving you an opportunity to reflect on your pride, that you might one day correct this!”

Huh. Humans are strange. Enlightenment? Ascension? Something feels right about those terms, but I don’t really understand them fully. Still, this place is very rich in… qi. Yes. I think I could learn a little here, if I could spend some time cultivating without fear of being eaten.

“You are most certainly welcome, small one, but I would advise you not to wander about on your own. Young Initiate Li over there is unusually thick for a cultivator, but he is hardly the only one who needs a harsh schooling on being open to the world. And our gardeners are impatient enough when our human students raid their gardens, so you should come to me for your food.”

I rather like this human. Open-minded, pragmatic, and well aware of sensible actions. I try to think of a way to communicate that I understand, but can only nod my head. Fortunately, this Mistress Song is easy to “talk” to.

“Then welcome to our home, Novice Rabbit. Hm. That doesn’t sound quite right, does it? Humans find it a lot easier to relate to things that have personal names, it gives us a sense that we are addressing a “who” and not merely a “what.” Do you have any idea what you would like to be called?

Who. I’ve only had a sense of “who” for a little over a day. But I like the idea of having a word that was Me by definition. Perhaps something to do with luck? Or being a rabbit? Maybe both?

“Xiang Tuzi then, or Lucky Rabbit. Though we’ll make Xiang your personal name, and Tuzi your family name. Does that sound good?”

Huh. Actually it rather does. Alright then, I’m Xiang.

A pleasure to meet you all.