"I have never harmed anyone in my life. Why are you, an old Taoist, relentlessly forcing me?" A woman kneeled on the ground, her white clothes stained with blood. Her pointed ears and twisted face looked ominous.

"I am a Heavenly Master, and you are a demon," the old Taoist said as he waved his grayish-white sleeve. Numerous streaks of white light pierced through the woman's body. With a scream, the woman transformed into a dead white-haired rat, which then ascended into a wisp of white smoke and vanished.

"Master... are all demons bad?" A boy around seventeen or eighteen years old tightly gripped the hem of his clothes, his gaze cast downward as he asked.

The old Taoist, Yan Mingxin, was momentarily stunned. "Ning'er, I know you're a kind-hearted boy, but as a Heavenly Master, it is my duty to exterminate demons..."

Before he could finish, he noticed his disciple looking downcast. He reached out and rubbed his disciple's head. "Ning'er, you've grown quite a bit lately. No wonder you're eating more."

Yan Yuning looked up sharply at his master, Yan Mingxin, as he ran and said, "Master, you eat a lot too. You've gained weight!"

Yan Mingxin raised his hands, glancing left and right. "Where have I gained weight?" he replied, before seeing his disciple running happily in the distance and laughing. "Haha... slow down!"

That night.

Yan Yuning stealthily climbed out of bed, carefully retrieved a steamed bun and a large chicken leg hidden from dinner earlier, and quietly slipped out the door, heading towards the back mountain.

Meanwhile, Yan Mingxin rolled over in bed, continuing to sleep.

At the entrance of a cave, Yan Yuning called out, "Little Wolf, Little Wolf, time to eat."

"Call me Langtu, not Little Wolf. I’m older than you," Langtu, the wolf, sat up, pulling the dogtail grass from his mouth.

"Why is that old Taoist still sleeping so late?" Langtu asked, biting into the chicken leg.

Yan Yuning lowered his gaze. "Don’t speak like that about Master. He raised me since I was young..."

"Fed you, clothed you, taught you skills, helped you find your parents..." Langtu interrupted before Yan Yuning could finish.

"Go back and stay with your Master. You don’t have to repay me for this life-saving favor!" Langtu said, turning his back to the boy. He slightly tilted his head back, his arms crossed, seemingly trying to hide his true emotions.

Yan Yuning stared at Langtu in silence, his eyes unconsciously drawn to Langtu's pair of furry ears.

These ears should have been agile and sensitive, but they had been injured while saving him and hadn't fully transformed yet.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He gently reached out, as if wanting to touch the soft fur but hesitated, retracting his hand slowly.

Yan Yuning narrowed his eyes and smiled unconsciously, murmuring, "So cute..."

"I'll head back now. I’ll visit you tomorrow." Unable to resist, Yan Yuning reached out and patted Langtu’s wolf ears.

At that instant, Langtu froze, as if frozen in place by a spell. He stood still, a tingling sensation spread from his ears to his heart.

He opened his mouth as if wanting to speak, but before he could respond, Yan Yuning swiftly leapt up and hurried out of the cave.

"Really ‘obedient,’ huh?" Langtu mumbled, staring at the chicken leg in his hand. Suddenly, the chicken leg lost all its appeal, as though cursed by some magic.

Langtu shook his head helplessly, tossing the chicken leg aside. Then, he flopped back on the bed, kicking his legs in frustration.

The next day,

After breakfast, Yan Yuning went to call his master. At that moment, Master Yan Mingxin was sitting cross-legged on his couch, resting his eyes.

When Yan Mingxin heard his disciple call him, he straightened his robes and said, "Ning’er, I had a dream last night."

"What dream?" Yan Yuning asked absentmindedly.

"I dreamt that you went out in the middle of the night," Yan Mingxin said as he walked.

Yan Yuning froze for a moment. "Ah? Master... you... you... I..." His mind raced with thoughts of the little wolf demon who had saved him and his master, who hunted demons.

Yan Mingxin didn’t seem to need a response, and continued walking, as if the matter was already settled.

Feeling guilty, Yan Yuning thought to himself, "Master is a Heavenly Master, and catching demons that harm people is his duty. The little wolf saved me, and bringing it food isn't wrong, is it?"

During breakfast, Yan Yuning absentmindedly poked at his bowl of food with his chopsticks, looking down at his meal with a dispirited expression.

Master Yan Mingxin, sitting upright, gently placed his bowl down and said, "Ning’er, how about accompanying your master to the market today?"

Yan Yuning immediately perked up and nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, sure!" He quickly began eating his food, eager to head down the mountain.

Going to the market meant fun, the lively atmosphere of the town below, with all sorts of delicious food and exciting things to do. What child wouldn't love that?

Yan Mingxin shook his head. "Eat slower."

After a pause, he added, "It’s time to buy some painting supplies for you, isn’t it?"

"Mm-hmm, they’re almost all used up. And Master’s favorite inkstone is nearly gone too," Yan Yuning said, chewing quickly.

Yan Mingxin smiled and nodded. Ning’er is such a thoughtful child!

"Baozi, freshly made baozi, young master, buy some baozi?" A vendor called.

"Kites, beautiful kites, miss, take a look at these kites..." another shouted.

"Sugar figurines, delicious sugar figurines, madam, buy one for your child..." another stall vendor pitched.

The sounds filled the air as Yan Yuning eagerly looked around.

"Ssshh—" A sharp whistle caught his attention.

The vendor cheerfully called out, "Little master, come see these pigeon whistles, you can play with them yourself, or give them to your favorite girl, buy two and I'll make it cheaper for you."

Yan Yuning glanced at Master ahead, quickly paid the vendor, and rushed to catch up.

Leaving the noisy market, Yan Yuning asked, "Master, where are we going?"

"Just up ahead," Yan Mingxin replied.

Before long, the master and disciple arrived at the entrance of a large compound, where black mourning flags hung high above the door and two large white lanterns flanked each side. The overwhelming display of white signified that someone had recently passed away.

"Master, do you know the people here?" Yan Yuning asked, puzzled.

A young man at the door saw the distinguished figure of the Taoist and respectfully approached. "Master, are you here to offer condolences? Please, come inside."

Yan Mingxin shook his head. "May I ask, young man, how did the master of this house pass away?"

The young man looked Yan Mingxin up and down, clearly impressed by the elder's otherworldly aura. He lowered his voice and said, "I heard it was due to a demon. After the old lady passed, strange things began happening in the back garden..