Jin watched over his lord from his usual spot on the rooftop, the cool breeze caressing his face as he tried to block out the grating sound of his lord and guardian, Shifu, attempting to play the guqin. He winced, covering his ears, and lamented how much better it would be if they first learned how to play the instrument before actually attempting to do so.

Elder sister Sun had already advised their lord to take the path of learning before playing, but he was a stubborn man who refused to admit when he needed help. Jin shook his head in frustration and glanced down at his lord, who was completely oblivious to his surroundings, lost in his own world of music.

Jin's thoughts drifted back to their childhood, to a time when his awareness came and went like a gust of wind. Even then, he remembered his great lord looming over him and his littermates, nurturing them, protecting them, and strengthening them, even when they were too weak to defend themselves. They were shameful creatures that couldn't survive without their lord's guidance and support, but he never showed contempt, reservation, or expectation. He simply cared for them with unwavering dedication.

Jin felt a pang of gratitude and respect for his lord. He knew that he would do anything to protect him, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

But he was not worthy yet.

not yet

he was weak.

too weak to protect his great lord.

He had to grow in strength first, otherwise, he would forever fall short.

When he grew stronger, he would finally deserve to protect his lord from danger.

That is what Jin promised himself, to wait until he could protect his lord from harm, no matter the cost to himself.

He would endure, and grow strong. He would protect his lord till his dying breaths if need be. He would kill anyone else that dared to hurt his lord! And then.....then he wouldn't be helpless anymore....

"My lord?" Jin jumped in fright at the sudden sound of Guardian Shifu's voice. His gaze snapped downward toward his great lord, at some point Shifu had stopped playing and went to the side of the human girl 'Chen Hua', A low growl escaped Jin's throat as he eyed the girl with suspicion.

The girl always came once a month to his lord's place of reprieve. Jin, the loyal protector of his lord, always kept a watchful eye on the girl when she visited his lord's abode once a month to deliver supplies for them. She had an undeniable beauty and grace, akin to that of a lotus flower in the springtime. However, in Jin's eyes, her beauty was still immature, like that of a kitten, always looking at his great lord with a predatory gaze. This made Jin subconsciously distrustful of her intentions as if she wanted to devour his great lord like food. Despite this, his great lord, in all his wisdom and mercy, remained oblivious to the girl's predatory stare. Jin vowed to remain ever vigilant and protect his lord from any potential harm, even from this foolish human girl.

His gaze shifted back to his great lord who stood up from his practice and went to greet the human girl enthusiastically as if nothing was wrong.

"Good day, Chen Hua how have been? how is your brother? How is the mansion? any new development." Lin Yun bowed to greet Chen Hua and asked a flurry of questions in a single breath. His greeting was greeted by a giggle. As Lin Yun exchanged pleasantries with Chen Hua, Jin seethed with resentment, his feline ears twitching with agitation. The girl's presence filled him with unease; he knew that she coveted his great lord and longed to take him away. And yet, his lord remained oblivious to the danger that lurked beneath her delicate features.

Jin made a show of seeking his lord's attention, purring and rubbing against him in an attempt to remind him of his loyalty. But to his dismay, it was the human girl who seized him up, pressing her face into his fur and cooing with delight. He hissed and spat, but she only laughed, finding his resistance charming.

Jin snarled and screeched at the girl, only to have the girl laugh uproariously while cooing at him, stroking his back. "You're such a cute fluffy kitty cat! You're so warm!" Chen Hua cooed. "Why are your clothes so dirty? Have you been playing on the rooftop again?" Chen Hua then began checking his clothes, His humiliation was complete when she scolded him for the dirt on his clothes, inspecting him as though he were a common housecat. He shot a desperate look towards his lord, hoping for some sign of rescue, but to no avail.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

As he allowed Chen Hua to coddle him, a vow of vengeance burned in his heart. He would become stronger, powerful enough to defend his lord against any who dared threaten him. And when that day came, he would not hesitate to tear apart this human girl who stood in his way, with his claws and his teeth.

"One day I will be stronger than you one day I would rip your throat out with teeth one day I would claw your face with my paws," He thought

Lin Shifu stared blankly at the little yellow-haired cat, his eyes wide with shock. He took a few moments to respond, processing the information and trying to make sense of it. Even though this happened every time the girl visited the site of the most feral cat he'd ever seen (which happened to be Jin), being smothered and coddled like some housecat, was something he definitely did not expect.

As Lin Shifu watched the scene before he unfold, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement bubble up inside him. It was not often that he found himself in such a situation, but the sight of Jin, the most feral of the bunch, being cradled and cuddled by the human girl seemed almost comical. Even more surprising was the fact that the cat appeared to be enjoying the attention, despite the clear hostility emanating from him.

After a few moments of stunned silence, Lin Shifu burst into laughter. It was a rare occurrence for him to feel such unbridled joy, but the absurdity of the situation was simply too much for him to contain. Jin, on the other hand, seemed to find nothing amusing, his face contorted into an expression of pure annoyance.

"What's wrong, little kitty?" Lin shifu managed to say telepathically through his laughter. Jin shot him a withering glare, his teeth bared menacingly. However, this only seemed to make Lin Shifu laugh even harder, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay! Calm yourself, calm down," he managed to gasp out between chuckles. "I'm sorry..." he added, directing his apology to the disgruntled cat who was still being doted on by Chen Hua.

"You wretched withering old shit-eating tree, wait just you wait till I escape and get my revenge, I'll skin you alive with my bare hands! " Jin cursed at Lin Shifu struggling to escape the inscape grasp of Chen Hua

Lin Shifu turned rigorously at the cat, eyes widening at the unexpected statement. In an instant, his gaze hardened and his body stiffened, and he cursed back at Jin "You piss-stained filthy cat! I'll tear you to pieces! I'll make you pay for disrespecting me like that! "

Jin and Lin Shifu's telepathic cursing match continued for several minutes, with neither of them backing down. Jin's face was turning red with rage, and Lin Shifu's eyes were bulging with anger. It was a tense standoff, and it seemed like it could go on forever.

Chen Hua was completely unaware of the heated telepathic exchange taking place between Jin and Lin Shifu as she sought advice from Lin Yun. Her mind was troubled by the overwhelming array of skills she was interested in pursuing. The allure of alchemy, talisman making, formations, blacksmithing, and runecraft all held an irresistible pull for her, but she was at a loss as to which one to pursue.

She desperately sought guidance from Lin Yun, hoping that the young master would be able to provide her with some direction. Chen Hua knew that she needed to focus her studies if she ever hoped to achieve mastery in any one of these disciplines. She felt overwhelmed by the vastness of her options, and a sense of unease crept into her thoughts as she wondered if she was destined to wander aimlessly in search of her true calling.

Young Master Lin Yun closed his eyes in deep contemplation, trying to find the right words to guide Chen Hua. After a brief moment, he snapped his eyes open with a sudden realization, causing him to stand up straight. "It all boils down to your innate talent," he began, his voice laced with confidence. "If you possess exceptional Divine consciousness, then talisman-making should be your chosen path. On the other hand, if you have large Qi reserves, you should consider studying formations. If your Qi is of high purity, then Rune Craft is the field for you. And if you have fine control over your Qi, then weapon forging should be your focus. If, however, you have both high attainments in Divine consciousness and Qi control, then alchemy is your calling." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "But, before choosing your field of study, it's essential to discover your innate talents and hone in on them," he concluded, looking at Chen Hua with a gentle expression.

The young lady, Chen Hua, was filled with a newfound sense of enlightenment as she ruminated on her own strengths and weaknesses. The revelations bestowed upon her by the young master, Lin Yun, had given her a fresh perspective, and renewed hope that she might finally attain the knowledge she so desperately craved. As she mulled over her various options, Lin Yun offered a soft smile and a gentle reassurance. "Do not fret about your decision just yet," he said, "for I have something important to discuss with you. Please fetch your brother, Wang Cheng, and Li Yichen, and bring them here."

Without hesitation, Chen Hua nodded her head vigorously, her movements resembling those of a frantic chicken as she dashed off to complete her assigned task.