Finally, after a few minutes of walking Lin Mu and the disciple arrived at one of the larger pavilions, a serene building surrounded by sculpted gardens. The disciple slid open the door of the small hall, and what he saw inside nearly made him stumble.
There, upon a silk cushion mat, three elders of the Xian Sword Sect sat in quiet conversation.
The sight was ordinary at first glance, until his eyes settled on the figure at the center. High Elder Bi An, fad for her stern deanor and cold authority, was seated with her lap occupied by none other than Little Shrubby.
The disciple’s mouth fell open slightly.
High Elder Bi An’s usually piercing gaze was softened into a warm smile, her hands busy as she fed the beast small glowing blue berries.
The strict elder, known across the sect for her unyielding standards and sharp tongue, now cooed in a tender voice as though she were a young maiden with her first pet. Little Shrubby lay sprawled across her lap in his kitten form, his belly exposed, paws lazily swiping at the air as he purred contentedly. His tail flicked back and forth as he nibbled on the fruits she placed before him.
Surrounding her were two other female elders, both equally known for their serious temperants, now reduced to smiling indulgently. One of them gently scratched Little Shrubby behind the ears, while the other carefully brushed his fur with a small comb of Immortal Sandalwood.
All three seed utterly absorbed in the mont.
The disciple nearly gasped aloud.
’What in the Seven Heavens am I witnessing?’ His heart pounded in disbelief.
This was High Elder Bi An, a woman whose re glance could reduce disciples to trembling silence. She had reprimanded him personally once for failing to perfect his sword stance, and her words still rang in his ears like thunder.
To see her now, acting with such uncharacteristic gentleness, was as if the heavens themselves had flipped upside down.
He could not reconcile the image. His strictest teacher, who demanded perfection in every cut and every breath, now giggled softly as a small beast squird playfully in her lap. His mind scread that it was impossible, that this had to be so sort of illusion.
’Am I hallucinating? Am I in Qi deviation by any chance?’ He wondered.
Lin Mu, however, was utterly unsurprised. He paused at the threshold, watching the scene with an expression that bordered on amusent.
To him, such sights were commonplace.
"As expected..." Lin Mu muttered.
Little Shrubby had always possessed a charm that drew won to him, especially when in his smaller form. Wherever they went, he was fawned over, petted, and pampered. The fact that even High Elder Bi An succumbed to it was no shock.
Lin Mu’s lips curved faintly, and he folded his hands behind his back, silently observing for a mont.
Little Shrubby, anwhile, sensed his master’s presence almost instantly. The beast rolled over with a small grunt, blinking his golden eyes open. His ears perked up, and his tail swished with excitent. He turned his head toward the doorway, spotting Lin Mu standing there.
"Master." He said, though others only heard it as a purr.
The motion drew the elders’ attention as well.
Their smiles faltered slightly, and when they followed Little Shrubby’s gaze, they froze. All three beca more composed, though their eyes betrayed a flicker of embarrassnt. What was worse for them was not Lin Mu’s presence, but the fact that the inner court disciple was standing beside him.
The disciple stood stiffly, his face pale and his eyes wide.
He had witnessed sothing he knew no ordinary disciple was ant to see. High Elder Bi An’s cheeks colored faintly, though her expression quickly hardened back into its usual mask. She cleared her throat softly.
"You have guided Senior Lin Mu as asked," she said coolly to the disciple. "Your duty here is complete. Return to your work."
The other elders gave him curt nods, their voices calm yet leaving no room for argunt. "There is nothing for you here. Go."
The disciple’s throat went dry. He bowed quickly, his heart pounding with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Y-yes, Elders."
As he turned to leave, however, a small spark of rebellion flickered in him.
Though he dared not show it outwardly, he felt wronged.
Why should he be dismissed like a servant after witnessing such a rare sight?
Did they truly believe he would forget this?
He clenched his fists discreetly as he walked away, vowing silently to share what he had seen. If he could not speak loudly, he would whisper in shadows.
’The juniors would certainly enjoy this story.’ In his heart, the vow ford.
He would spread the tale, not maliciously, but as a small act of defiance. Let others know that even the sternest elder of the sect had a side no one expected. It would be his secret weapon, a mory to wield when others doubted him.
Lin Mu, anwhile, stepped further into the hall once the disciple was gone. The elders straightened their robes, attempting to regain their dignity. Yet Little Shrubby, entirely unbothered, wled happily and stretched out toward him.
"You have been enjoying yourself, I see," Lin Mu said with calm amusent, crouching to scratch behind Little Shrubby’s ear.
The beast purred louder, rolling back onto his back and pawing playfully at Lin Mu’s sleeve.
High Elder Bi An exhaled softly, her stern façade restored, though a trace of warmth lingered in her eyes. "He has been... well cared for," she said simply.
Lin Mu inclined his head. "I can tell." He glanced at the basket beside her, filled with the glowing blue fruits. His gaze lingered on them briefly. "Night Spark Lightning Berries. A rare treat."
"They suit him," one of the other elders remarked, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "His affinity with lightning makes them quite nourishing."
Lin Mu did not argue. He knew better than to interfere. Instead, he simply nodded again, understanding that Little Shrubby had once more managed to weave himself into the hearts of others.
The elders exchanged glances, still slightly embarrassed, but Lin Mu’s composure reassured them. If he was not surprised or judgntal, then their actions were not sothing shaful. At least not to him.
Little Shrubby, however, had no such concerns. He wriggled happily in Lin Mu’s direction, clearly eager to return to his master’s side.
Lin Mu scooped him up easily, feeling the beast’s warm fur beneath his hand. "Co," he said softly. "We have a journey ahead."
The elders nodded, their eyes lingering on the little beast with faint reluctance. For a mont, the strict air of the hall faded, replaced by the quiet wistfulness of those who had been chard by innocence.
And as Lin Mu turned to leave, the disciple’s vow already began its quiet journey into rumor.
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