Chapter One Hundred And Twenty - The cub wants koi fish

The Runt, as Jin Li unkindly referred to it as, had buried its way into Jin Li's outer robe and was currently attempting to claim the koi fish that swung from the handle of Jin Li's blade as its own. Whenever the wooden carving came into reach, as the air or Jin Li's motion moved it, it's small foreleg would swiftly reach out, claws and all. However the Runt was only the size of a half grown domestic cat, much unlike its siblings which were closer to the size of healthy leopard juveniles, and simply couldn't reach the talisman.

It was this playful sight that caught the eye of Teacher Volun, who had begun directing his students to take the litter to a certain property where there was a large cage usually used in order to take care of sick and wounded beasts that was currently not in use. He had others ensure the cage was prepared with bedding and food and asked Teacher Corvus to take the corpse to a different building, where it could be dismembered. He paused for a moment after issuing instructions.

"Young man, what is that hiding in your robes?" Teacher Volun asked, kindly. There was no hint of accusation nor reprimand in his voice and Jin Li replied swiftly;

"There was another cub. It was left in the den."

"Then, could I ask you to take that cub you are holding and follow my students," he directed Jin Li.

"Yes, Teacher," Jin Li agreed and took the Runt from within his outer robes. The little one flayed about, its skinny legs still attempting to grasp the talisman it wanted and yowling pitifully as it was thwarted.

It caught the attention of several taming students who were going about their own business; grooming their beasts, mucking out stables and learning to train their partners. A small group of female tamers melted at the sight of this handsome and clean student holding the little feline with snowy white and black striped fur. "Aw," one called out. "Is that your beast? May I pet him?"

Teacher Volun glanced at the cub and was quick to realise that it was likely the runt of the litter. It definitely would not be able to compete with its siblings should it be added to their temporary nest, it might even weaken and die while competing for food and a warm place to sleep amongst them. It was likely due to this and the fact that weak runts were also the least likely to survive either in the wild or in captivity, that the poachers left it behind.

"Wait a moment, young man," Teacher Volun called out to Jin Li, who had not managed to walk very far as the girls crowded him with intention to pet the furball he held (and as a side dish, enjoy the face of the man holding it).  As for the Runt, it wasn't interested in being petted, it leaned over its caretaker's arm, still wanting the koi fish.

"It seems to be interested in your sword tassel," one of the girls mused. Jin Li glanced at it with a slight sneer and watched the Runt's small paws stretch downward. Teacher Volun also followed the Runt's eager blue gaze and realised that what the girl had claimed was not quite right.

"May I?" The Teacher asked respectfully, knowing that martial artists were often as fond of their weapons as a tamer was of his beast partner. Jin Li was reluctant, his knuckles turning white for a moment, but still handed over his sword to the Teacher. The little cub watched with bright eyes seeking the opportunity to grasp its prize, purring with its success.  Teacher and student had to prise the wooden carving from its gummy mouth.

Despite being coated in drool, the Teacher stroked the talisman between finger and thumb. In honesty, the carving while good was not great and there was an odd symbol upon the reverse of it. However, his sensitive hands could feel a smidgeon of spiritual energy from within it, which was surprising.

Most who carved talismans and charms did so using jade and similar stones and crystals known to hold an abundance of spiritual energy within their cores. They carved the stones to an attractive state as well as to access the energy within so it could be used by a Cultivator or sold to a wealthy mortal if it remained unsealed (so the mortal could gain use of its abilities), though this used up its energies faster. No one ever thought to carve wood for the energy within flowed as it did in all living creatures and dissolved into the earth on its death. Therefore a piece of wood like this should be empty of energy. And yet, there it was, a drop of spiritual energy waiting to be activated. Then was the strange marking it's seal?

The coeurl had been thwarted, the koi it wanted stolen just when it had captured it and it yowled once more. "Noisy," Jin Li complained. "It is not a real fish, you cannot eat it!" The girls cooed at the little Runt, both agreeing with the martial arts student and thinking the little thing was adorably dumb.

"Do you know who carved it?" Teacher Volun asked, excitedly.

Jin Li's eyes narrowed as he hesitated to give an affirmative. "It was a gift," he finally offered a vague explanation. But the Teacher did not seem deterred. "Teacher, about the Run... the cub..."

"Oh," Teacher Volun instructed one of the girls to take the cub into the same building as its siblings were now nesting, but instructed that it would need its own cage. He would think who to assign care of it later.

The cub protested loudly as the girls carried it away and Teacher Volun reluctantly gave Jin Li back his sword with talisman. Suddenly, the girl carrying the cub screamed and the white fur ball shot towards Jin Li, burying its claws into his hemp trousers and climbing upwards. For the first time, Jin Li was glad of the rough material that prevented the flesh of his legs from obtaining pinprick holes. Teacher Volun laughed as the cub returned in an attempt to recapture the koi fish.

"I think that this cub is too interested in your talisman, young man," Teacher Volun mused. "Therefore, could I request the loan of it? Perhaps you could bring the one who carved it to meet with the cub, see if they truly have a connection or if the cub is just that foolish and believes it really is a koi fish...hmmm?"

Jin Li ground his teeth, feeling caught by this very tricky Teacher.