Returning to the Star Sect.
Ye Feng summoned the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, and A Yin together.
The moment they entered, they spotted the Three-Eyed Golden Lion curled up in Ye Feng's arms, fast asleep.
"This is... the Auspicious Beast!!!"
"Ye Feng, where have you been? How did you even manage to bring back the Auspicious Beast???"
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress were well-informed. Even after their shape-shifting, they immediately recognized the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's uniqueness.
"So this is the Auspicious Beast? So cute..."
Though A Yin had inherited memories about the Auspicious Beast, her focus was different. She dashed to Ye Feng's side, picked up the sleeping Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and forcibly woke it up.
Three-Eyed Golden Lion: "..."
"What's happening? Who are you? Where am I..." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion flailed its four stubby legs in the air, utterly confused—clearly still half-asleep.
After all, it had just finished a bottle of Tianmeng Iceworm's Source Essence and needed sleep to digest it. How was it supposed to know what was going on?
"Looks so silly. Seems like it was snatched by Ye Feng right after birth," the Ice Empress giggled, covering her mouth.
"Huh... You're all transformed Soul Beasts? So many?"
Only now did the Three-Eyed Golden Lion notice the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, and A Yin, its eyes widening in surprise.
Though it had just awakened, its inherited memories about Soul Beasts were extensive, allowing it to instantly recognize the true identities of the three.
"Yep! Never thought I'd get to see an Auspicious Beast in my lifetime. They say one only appears every million years—guess I'm pretty lucky~"
The Ice Empress grinned, cradling the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in her arms and vigorously ruffling its head. The silky fur felt amazing to the touch.
Even though she had shape-shifted into human form and could no longer benefit from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's cultivation-boosting effects, legends said the Auspicious Beast symbolized good fortune. Keeping it close might just bring her luck.
"Ugh... I can't breathe..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion struggled in the Ice Empress's embrace, casting a pleading look at Ye Feng.
These big sisters were way too rough—Ye Feng was definitely the gentlest.
"Alright, alright, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion is still young. Don't bully it—it's going to be your companion from now on," Ye Feng quickly rescued the "bullied" Three-Eyed Golden Lion from the Ice Empress's arms, soothing it gently.
"If it's our companion, it should have a name, right? Ye Feng, what do you think we should call it?" The Snow Empress, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Though the Snow Empress was aloof, under the influence of A Yin and the Ice Empress, she had gradually become more cheerful, no longer the cold and reticent figure she once was—though she was still far more composed than the other two.
"Hehe, since it's the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, of course we should call it 'Xiao San'~" the Ice Empress declared matter-of-factly.
"No way! I think 'Little Gold' sounds much better!"
A Yin shook her head in disagreement.
"These names are terrible... I don't like any of them," the Three-Eyed Golden Lion protested, shaking its head vigorously. They sounded like dog names.
"Alright, alright. What do you think of the name 'Qiu'er'? 'Ye Qiu'er,'" Ye Feng suggested.
Truth be told, he wasn't great at naming things either—might as well stick with the original name and just change the surname.
"Why though? What's the meaning behind it?" Ice Empress pouted, still somewhat unconvinced. She still thought 'Xiao San' sounded better.
"Perhaps it's the workings of fate."
Ye Feng didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and asked, "Qiu'er, what do you think of this name?"
Although it was the same name as in the original story, this time it carried his surname, symbolizing that he had altered the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's destiny—no longer needing to sacrifice itself for someone in the future, no longer being manipulated, and living a completely new life.
"Mmm~ I really like it~ From now on, I'll be called Qiu'er~"
Hearing this, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded repeatedly, a faint smile curling at the corners of its mouth.
For some reason, it felt an inexplicable fondness for this name.
The moment Ye Feng gave it the name, it felt the vertical eye on its forehead twitch slightly, as if some unseen thread of fate had been tugged...
Perhaps this name would bring it good fortune.
Of course, it liked it very much.
"Alright, alright, Qiu'er it is then..."
Ice Empress pursed her lips, clearly still a little dissatisfied.
"Alright, even though Qiu'er is young, she's very clever. From now on, you three will be responsible for teaching her how to live in the human world." Ye Feng smiled, directly delegating the task of caring for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion to Ice Empress and the others.
As for himself, he was happy to be the hands-off boss.
"Of course! We'll take good care of Qiu'er~"
A Yin beamed with joy, snatching Qiu'er from Ye Feng's hands again.
As a plant-type Soul Beast, she was naturally gentle and kind toward all Soul Beasts, let alone such an adorable little creature like the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
A Yin wished she could cuddle with it every night.
So small, so fluffy—it would surely be incredibly comfortable to sleep with.
"Mmm... no, Brother Ye Feng, are you abandoning me...?"
Hearing this, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion immediately panicked, extending its paws and looking at Ye Feng with pitiful eyes.
It only wanted to stay with Ye Feng, not with anyone else.
When Ye Feng brought it here, he hadn't mentioned handing it over to others to raise.
"I'm quite busy, and sometimes I go to dangerous places. I definitely can't take you with me."
Ye Feng patted the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's head and reassured it, "Don't worry, A Yin and the others are very kind. They won't bully you, and they'll take you out to eat delicious food every day."
Ye Feng had his reasons for doing this.
On one hand, he really did travel around a lot, making it inconvenient to bring the Three-Eyed Golden Lion along.
On the other hand, he still had a private life, and naturally, he couldn't have the Three-Eyed Golden Lion watching...
When he was with the Silver Dragon King, there was no choice, and neither of them minded.
But others might not be so comfortable with it, especially since the Three-Eyed Golden Lion could talk. If it started commenting while watching, things would get awkward...
Moreover, Ye Feng didn't want to corrupt the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
When A Yin was young, she used to watch him with Bi Ji, himself, and Zhu Zhuqing all the time...
To the point where A Yin was almost turning into "Ah Yin the Lewd." Luckily, he corrected her in time, helping her grow up more normally.
"Mmm, alright then..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tucked its neck in and reluctantly agreed.
Not for any other reason, but because it heard that following A Yin and the others meant lots of delicious food...
On the way here, it had already tasted many delicacies and was still craving more.
But Ye Feng kept saying it was getting chubby and controlled its portions every day, which made it quite miserable.
"Alright, A Yin, you take Qiu'er down for a bath first. Treat her to a good meal tonight, but starting tomorrow, we can't let her gain any more weight. Otherwise, she'll really turn into a 'gas tank'," Ye Feng waved his hand and earnestly instructed.
"Hehe, got it~"
Though A Yin didn't know what a "gas tank" was, she roughly understood Ye Feng's meaning.
After all, Qiu'er did seem quite plump—chubby and round.
Even though she was a Soul Beast, she still needed to watch her figure. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good.
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