21 021

Owl watched as a beautiful young girl ran to his 'host' and jumped into his arms. He snickered inside. His thoughts were clear, he was looking down on Jung-Su now: "So much for being a pitiful and lone bullied soul, eh. He got a little lover at 14 and here I am, still single after living an entire life and now stuck as an owl!"

He hadn't expected the poor kid to actually have so much. Having someone that cared for him to such a point meant a lot. It meant he wasn't alone. And it meant happiness was close enough that he should be able to grab it anytime. As long as he didn't fuck up. Well, the kid seemed to be quite dense. Fortunately, he had Owl with him now.

Owl decided to play a prank on the kid as they both got up and asked him through their link: "Is she your mate?"

The kid blushed. It was funny to Owl. Ah, youth… Jung-Su felt fortunate that she couldn't have heard him. Only the two of them shared a link and through it, they could communicate. No one else could eavesdrop on them when they used it, because it was the link emanating from their souls itself. Well, maybe the true experts could but would there be any here? And even if yes, would they be interested? So, it was a safe secret way to discuss.

This little joke quickly reminded Jung-Su of the presence of his brother Owl and he quickly introduced him to Sun-Mi. The young girl looked at the beast with surprise and curiosity. So, Owl played along. He stepped forward and bowed with a wing crossed over his chest.

The girl lightly laughed at the display and greeted him the same way while also speaking cheerfully: "Nice to meet you, brother Owl!"

Seeing as a disciple from the inside recognized the kid, the guards didn't block his entrance any longer and welcomed him with a smile instead. Quite the change in attitude. Owl would have taught them a lesson otherwise anyways.

As for the guards themselves, they were nervously wiping the sweat from their foreheads. If they had dared to block the way of a disciple, maybe he would have beaten them up himself. If they got injuries, they might lose the job and such… It was very fortunate the little girl appeared. They had been stuck between two rocks and she became the wings that brought them to safety. The lives of the guards weren't easy…

As they walked inside the sect, the girl asked Jung-Su about what happened and he narrated the events truthfully. It showed how much he cared and trusted the girl. Of course, Owl wouldn't accept his secrets to be easily spread around. He hurriedly warned the kid: "Don't tell her anything about our deal or who I really am. If you want me to stay with you, you need to hide our secrets!"

Jung-Su was frightened by the threat and, for the first time, decided to omit some of the truth. He didn't speak much about Owl, only stating he encountered him after the beating and the owl had been helping him so, he ended up taming it.

Owl wasn't quite happy to hear such things said about him. It felt disgraceful but he endured it. What was being looked at as if a tamed beast if it brought him benefits in the end? He could only hide in plain sight anyways and this was the best way to do so. Though a little humiliating…

According to the sect laws and regulations, Jung-Su needed to go and register at the taming association of the sect first. It would make him an official beast tamer. He would earn some additional resources very month and the status of Owl would become official. It meant he wouldn't be hunted down. And that was very important to Owl. Which is why he pushed Jung-Su to go there first before the infirmary.

Who cared about the kid's injuries when he was risking his feathers?

The trio reached a big pagoda very different form all the other houses around. First, it was big. Very much so. Second, there were many stone sculptures depicting humans next to beasts. And third, there was a wide space with many weird contraptions here and there. Those were likely tools used by beast tamers.

Owl could see a few cultivators in the same robe as Jung-Su training on these grounds alongside beasts of all kinds. From just a glance, Owl could see that most of them were weaker, some even far weaker, than he was. There were less than a dozen who had broken through the 10th stage and of which he couldn't quite grasp their levels. He was weaker than them after all.

They entered the pagoda like many others and saw many things. The place looked quite luxurious at a glance but Owl noticed that it was mostly an appearance. Things in there weren't worth shit. It just looked good.

There were many disciples and many elders moving about. And there were a few beasts too.

This hall was only one small part of the big building though and Owl noticed a few staircases placed every two-dozen meters or so. He could also distinguish a few doors that seemed to led further inside the place. He saw an elder going through one and exiting with a beast in tow. Was this where the spiritual beast's living quarters were? Did they actually keep the beasts in cages in this sect? He certainly hoped not. He would flee if that was the law here.

He asked Jung-Su right away: "Is there a sect law that would force us to live in separate places?"

Jung-Su pondered for a moment before he shook his head sideways and answered: "No. Some cultivators prefer it this way and rent a place here for their beasts to stay, that's all"

Owl added: "You better not think of putting me in there"

His tone was threatening enough to make Jung-Su shiver and hurriedly respond: "I wouldn't dare, brother Owl! I wouldn't dare!"

Owl nodded satisfied.

Jung-Su went to a counter. Behind it was an elder. A middle-aged man. Considering his appearance, the guy had yet to reach the 30th stage and return to his peak appearance, breaking his mortal coil. Most of the other elders had similar dispositions around here. It was either due to a lack of talent or resources. Either way, it didn't matter much to Owl. He would stay here until there was nothing more to milk from the place.

The elder smiled amiably at Jung-Su and Sun-Mi and asked them: "What can I do for you two young ones?"

Jung-Su wanted to speak but Sun-Mi was faster: "We're here to register brother's Jung-Su's spiritual beast!"

One of the elder's brow moved up questioningly before he smiled and got up. He said: "Well then, let's go test this little bird here and officialize all this, alright? Follow me, kids"

Jung-Su and Sun-Mi followed him happily and excitedly. Owl walked behind them with a displeased frown on its place, owl-version of course. He was very unhappy about the treatment. One day, he would file a complaint but first, he made sure to engrave the face of the elder in his mind. Treating him like an average beast would have consequences. …If he found the time.

The elder led them to the back in a room filled with diverse instruments. There was a big gong on one side and a few random tools all over the place. The elder coughed once to hide his embarrassment. It seemed like the previous users didn't clean the place.

He explained to the kids: "We will be taking the measurements of your spiritual beast here. It includes height, weight, race, elemental affinities if there are and of course, cultivation stage. Oh, and gender too"

Owl hurried to speak to Jung-Su, fearing what kind of check the last one could be: "Tell him I told you I'm a male"

Jung-Su conveyed Owl's words and the elder nodded with a smile: "That make things easier. I don't like checking the beast's privates either. Let's move on then…weight and height. Please have your spiritual beast go up on this"

Owl didn't need Jung-Su's words. He flew to a barrel-shaped device and stood there while the elder picked a pen and paper and began to take notes. He nodded after a moment and said: "Next, race"

The elder moved closer to the owl and began to examine it. Then, it said: "Animal-type, Owl species. Probably from the Duke race considering its colors? Let's go with that. Now then, cultivation level and elemental affinities. Could you have your Owl attack this gong with all his might please"

Owl jumped down on the ground and went closer to the gong before infusing spiritual energy and knocking on it.

The Elder whistled as he said: "Fourth stage of spiritual accumulation, not bad, not bad"