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  “So, do you understand what it is I’m trying to convey?” Beast Master Zen asked, his tone distant as he posed him the question.

  Xiao Feng paused to consider the question and he found himself being reminded of Beast Master Zen’s talk of his nature, before answering, “The temperament required to become a Beast Master is different from that required of a cultivator.”

  “Precisely so,” Beast Master Zen replied with a nod. “I would go as far as to say that it is fundamentally different. When I underwent heavenly tribulation to go from foundation establishment to the core formation stage, I did so knowing that my bonded beast could aid me without drawing retribution from the heavens— since my soul belongs to Liulian and hers belongs to me. I feel no shame in admitting that without her assistance, I would have been forced to rely on external assistance or even outright would have failed in ascension.”

  “And a martial cultivator would never admit that,” Xiao Feng remarked, having been caught a little off guard by Beast Master Zen’s candour.

  “Indeed,” Beast Master Zen replied, the question in his tone audible.

  “But there is another aspect that you have not included in this discussion,” Xiao Feng pointed out.

  “Oh?” Beast Master Zen intoned. “Pray tell, what is it that I have missed?”

  “Change,” Xiao Feng replied. “I am no longer the same martial cultivator that risked limb and life to fight and kill demons on the battlefield, no longer moved by the call of glory and the promise of vengeance upon those who desecrate our lands. For it is on that very battlefield that I got struck down by an attack that should have been fatal and it is only due to a miraculous stroke of luck that I stand before you today. That is why I chose to quit the martial division and I have no doubt that in the eyes of my fellow disciples, I am a coward who ran away after being defeated, no matter how much they may hail me as a hero.”

  Beast Master Zen was silent, not refuting the bitter truth in Xiao Feng’s words. Hero he might be, but in the eyes of a martial cultivator, strength and the courage to move forward despite the odds was what was required if one wished to tread the path of ascension.

  “Yet, I do not see myself as a defeated man. Neither do I think of myself as a coward. It is because my nature has changed. Instead of pledging my life to another’s cause and seeking war, I wish to spend my days exploring new crafts like alchemy, meeting new and interesting people, cultivating new relationships with them and exploring more of the world with Nova by my side. And if I am forced to raise my blade again, I will raise it to protect what is precious to me and only me,” Xiao Feng declared, with a determination that was uniquely his own.

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  Beast Master Zen was silent for a long minute, before he burst out into amused laughter.

  “I see now,” he said. “I see why you succeeded where other martial cultivators fail to even realize why they are incapable of receiving my teachings. Do you know how many of your ilk have approached me over the years, seeking the secrets of forming a true bond? They see what Liulian is capable of and wonder what they could achieve in battle if they had a spiritual beast of equal strength bonded to them and they thirst for that power, without realizing that unless they learn to quench that desire, they will never be capable of forming a true bond,” Beast Master Zen revealed, his tone unmistakably bitter.

  Xiao Feng tried not to show surprise on his features as he realized how true Beast Master Zen’s words were. Given the power he wielded with Liulian by his side, Xiao Feng wasn’t surprised that he was harried by martial cultivators for his secrets and that also explained the distance and wariness he felt from Beast Master Zen despite the introduction he got from Lianhua. Sure, he had taught Xiao Feng the method for entering into a true bond, but he had done so without any expectation that he would actually succeed. And if he failed after attempting it himself, it was more likely for him to sell the hatched beast to Beast Master Zen, after all.

  But it wasn’t Xiao Feng specifically that he distrusted, but the martial cultivators and their unquenchable thirst for power in general.

  “You have proven yourself, Initiate Xiao Feng,” Beast Master Zen addressed him, not as hero of the Zheyan Pass or as a Martial Cultivator, but by his rank as an alchemist. “Or I suppose I should address you as Beast Master Xiao Feng now.”

  “Pardon?”

  “You have entered into a true bond, have you not?” Beast Master Zen asked, as amusement returned to his tone.

  “Yes, but I know nothing about spiritual beasts,” Xiao Feng awkwardly replied, not expecting such a powerful designation to be assigned to him.

  “That is true, but knowledge and experience can always be acquired in the future, but those destined to not enter into a true bond will never do so. Not unless they can change their nature, like you have— I have never heard of such an occurrence before, so I suspect it is not even remotely easy to do so. Lying to others is easy, whereas lying to oneself is difficult. Just by telling yourself that you won’t take advantage of a true bond will not make such a vow true, not in the realm of yul at least. But changing oneself entirely, well, that sounds unfathomably difficult,” He assessed with the confidence of an experienced professional.

  “Actually, I was hoping to speak to you regarding that,” Xiao Feng said. “I know that it’s a lot to ask, but I was wondering if you could keep the true bond a secret.”

  Beast Master Zen seemed to be surprised by the request, as his gaze shifted from Xiao Feng to Lianhua and lingered there for a few seconds.

  He then raised his index finger to his lips, before gesturing with his hand in a sweeping motion that indicated for them to follow.

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