21

*Clang... Clang... Clang...

Waking up to the sound of the morning bell, Lin Kai didn't immediately rise from his bed. He lay still, staring at the ceiling, his mind clouded with frustration. He had spent nearly the entire night searching for that bastard, but it was like Ji Yan had vanished into thin air. Not a single clue of where he lived, as though he were a ghost, slipping in and out without leaving a trace.

"Should I make a move?" Lin Kai thought to himself, the question lingering as he recalled the troubles of the past two days. Whoever this person was—friend or foe—it didn't matter anymore. Ji Yan had crossed a line. His so-called harmless pranks had completely disrupted Lin Kai's once peaceful life.

But the thought of taking action vanished just as quickly as it came. He shook his head, sighing. Now wasn't the right time. His strength at most was the limit of a human. Making a move in front of so many warriors was nothing but a pipe dream.

Pulling himself out of bed, Lin Kai stepped outside, giving Bo Qin a nod as he rushed past. Without lingering, he headed toward the inner section of the Ji family grounds for his assigned tasks. He had made up his mind—if Ji Yan kept pestering him, he'd speak to the man in charge. It was a long shot, but maybe that would help.

It didn't take long for Lin Kai to reach the construction site, but to his surprise, the middle-aged man in blue robes was already waiting for him.

"Lin Kai," the man said in a stern voice, causing Lin Kai's heart to skip a beat. When someone in a high position remembers your name, it's either for a very good reason or a very bad one. And based on Lin Kai's previous encounters with this man, he already had a feeling about what it was.

"I've assigned you to another place," the man continued, not giving Lin Kai a chance to speak. "Take this and report to the third building in the centre."

With that, he tossed a round wooden token to Lin Kai, turned on his heel, and left without another word. Lin Kai stood there, stunned, staring at the token in his hand.

"..." He didn't know what to make of it. He had expected the man to pull some kind of stunt, but he hadn't expected to be reassigned. "Forget it," Lin Kai muttered, sighing as he clenched the token in his hand. Resigned to his fate, he turned and made his way toward the new destination.

----------

"Is this the place?" Lin Kai mumbled to himself as he stood in front of a small, finely crafted building. Glancing around, he noticed that the area seemed almost deserted. Apart from him, there wasn't a single servant in sight. For a moment, he doubted whether he had come to the right place.

*Creak...

Just as he was debating what to do next, the door before him creaked open, and a figure stepped out.

"Uh..." Lin Kai was momentarily lost for words as he laid eyes on the woman standing before him. She was dressed in a simple white robe, her face gentle yet undeniably captivating. With her graceful posture and well-formed figure, she embodied the essence of a mature beauty. Even after living through two lifetimes, Lin Kai was certain he had never seen such a beautiful woman. Her appearance was simple—no excessive accessories or revealing clothes—yet there was something profoundly stirring about her presence.

"You must be the servant." The woman smiled softly as she looked Lin Kai up and down. Standing nearly two heads taller than him, she had to glance down to meet his gaze.

There was nothing particularly impressive about him at first glance—just another ordinary boy. The only thing that caught her attention was his striking blue eyes which seemed to hold wisdom beyond his years. Ji Yulan couldn't quite understand why Ji Yan had gone to such lengths to toy with him.

"Come in," she said, gesturing for him to follow as she turned and walked into the building. Lin Kai trailed behind her into a small, elegantly furnished meeting room. In the centre, there was a beautifully carved chair and a table adorned with several books.

"I assume you're here for your new duties. I won't keep you in the dark," Ji Yulan said, picking up one of the books from the table. Just as she was about to hand it to him, her hand paused midair.

"Do you know how to read?"

"Yes," Lin Kai replied with a nod.

"Good." She handed him the book and began explaining. "Your new assignment is in the Beast Pen. You'll be responsible for cleaning, feeding, and caring for the beasts."

She stopped speaking then, her eyes fixed on Lin Kai as if waiting for his reaction.

"Huh?" It took Lin Kai a moment to fully process what she had said. When the meaning sank in, the corners of his mouth twitched in disbelief. "How am I supposed to take care of them when I've never even dealt with beasts before?"

He stared at her, half expecting this to be some kind of joke. Every beast has its own habits, likes, and dislikes. How could someone like him, who had zero experience with animals, possibly manage that? For a moment he even wondered whether this was the Ji family's way of punishing him for the past few days' mishaps.

"I've accounted for that as well," Ji Yulan responded, her voice as gentle and calm as ever. "I'll assign you a partner. With his experience, it should be an easy task for you to manage."

"Uh..." Seeing that she had already made up her mind, Lin Kai knew there was no point in arguing further. Letting out a sigh, he shrugged. "Whatever."

He didn't know how strong the beasts in the pen were, but after facing the wild boar-like beast, his confidence had grown. Even if the creatures in the pen were as ferocious as that boar, he felt certain they couldn't kill him if he remained cautious.

"Hmm..." Ji Yulan raised an eyebrow as she observed his indifferent attitude. She had expected more resistance—perhaps a complaint or even a small outburst. Yet, here he was, calmly accepting the situation. Now she began to understand why Ji Yan found so much amusement in tormenting him. Seeing his expression, she felt a strange urge to tease him herself.

"Good," she said, suppressing her thoughts. Pointing in the direction of the Beast Pen, she continued, "Follow your partner's lead. He'll teach you everything you need to know. Do that, and you shouldn't have any trouble."

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed him before walking out of the room, leaving Lin Kai standing there, feeling utterly helpless.

--------

"Is this it?" Lin Kai murmured to himself, holding the book in his hand while looking at the crude hand-drawn map on the cover that had led him here.

In front of him stood large, hollow wooden sheds, neatly spaced at a considerable distance from each other. The sheds had metal grills blocking their entrances, giving them a cage-like appearance. Though the darkness shrouded most of the area, Lin Kai could still feel the murderous glares directed at him from within, sending an unsettling chill down his spine.

"Should I just leave?" The thought crossed his mind almost instinctively. But he quickly shook his head, dispelling the idea. It wasn't as if he had to do everything alone. He just needed to follow someone else's lead. Besides, this was a new experience, and deep down, a part of him was eager to see what awaited.

Resolving to stay, he scanned the area, hoping to spot the partner Ji Yulan had mentioned. Yet, no one seemed to be around. Just as he was wondering whether the guy would show up, he felt a sudden tap on his shoulder from behind.

"Hm?" Lin Kai turned around, ready to greet the person, but the moment his eyes fell on the figure behind him, words got stuck in his throat.

"YOU..." His face twisted in anger as he clenched his teeth. Without another thought, he stepped forward and grabbed the boy by his collar.

"Who the hell are you?" Lin Kai finally asked the question he had been holding back for days.

Ji Yan, however, looked utterly unfazed. With a relaxed smile, he tilted his head slightly to the side, as if Lin Kai's anger was a minor curiosity.

"That's it, you little bastard." Lin Kai had reached his limit. This annoying brat had been pushing his buttons for days without reason, and now, with no one around—no warriors, no Ji family members—he could finally get his revenge. No one would notice even if he threw a few punches.

With his fists clenched and ready to strike, Lin Kai raised his arm, but just before his punch could land, Ji Yan's calm voice cut through the tension, as if mocking him.

"Are you sure about that?"

It was a simple question, yet it made Lin Kai pause. He didn't know anything about this boy—his background, his strength. Sure, he could probably beat him up, but considering Ji Yan was assigned as his partner, something didn't add up.

Suppressing his fury, Lin Kai released Ji Yan's collar, standing in silence, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

"Well, that's surprising." Ji Yan's voice carried a hint of genuine surprise. He hadn't expected such restraint from Lin Kai. Most boys his age, or even grown men, would have had a hard time keeping their emotions in check. Yet, here Lin Kai was, showing remarkable control—or at least appearing to.

"The job," Lin Kai muttered, trying to shift his focus back to the task at hand. If this guy was supposed to be his partner, there had to be some merit in his skills. As for Ji Yan's true identity and purpose, there would be time to figure that out later. Lin Kai wasn't about to rush blindly. He would gather information first, then decide his next move.

"Tch... boring." Ji Yan clicked his tongue in mock disappointment, though the smirk on his face betrayed his amusement. "Follow me."

With a casual wave, Ji Yan led the way to the first shed. As they stood before it, Lin Kai finally got a good look at the creature inside.

"Sheep?" Lin Kai's first thought was absurd, but he quickly shook his head.

The beast inside was the size of a lion, with wool covering its body and two large horns twisted in a spiral; the sharp ends pointing forward menacingly. Its entire body was a deep, blood-red hue, and it stared at them with an intensity that made Lin Kai's skin crawl, as if waiting for the chance to rip them apart.

"Blood Goat," Ji Yan explained softly. "You'll need to feed it a heart fruit before entering its shed."

Lin Kai nodded absentmindedly, his eyes still fixed on the ferocious creature. But then, something clicked in his mind. Wait... did he just say 'you'?

Raising an eyebrow, Lin Kai shot Ji Yan a suspicious look. Ji Yan, however, had already stepped back and was now holding a small bowl filled with five or six glossy red fruits shaped like hearts.

"Please, Brother Lin, take charge," Ji Yan said with a mockingly polite gesture, stepping even further back. He bent slightly at the waist and extended his hands toward the Blood Goat with a smirk plastered on his face.

A shiver ran down Lin Kai's spine as he first looked at this little bastard and then at the beast inside the cage that wanted his blood...