The dirt path stretched ahead, winding through low hills. The morning air was crisp, the sky pale blue with streaks of sunlight breaking through the trees. Tang San walked calmly beside Master, absorbing every word the older man spoke about spirit beasts and cultivation. Ayan trailed a half-step behind them, hands clasped behind his head, wearing a faint smirk.
"So…" Ayan broke the comfortable silence, "we're looking for a spirit beast, right? Something appropriate for a level ten." He glanced at Tang San with a playful tilt of his head. "For you, I imagine Master will pick something with elegance and grace. Maybe a swan. For me…" He grinned wider. "A tiger sounds nice. Or maybe a drunken bear. That way, if it's too strong, we can just pour it a drink."
Tang San sighed, clearly used to Ayan's mouth by now. "This isn't a joke. Spirit beasts are dangerous. One wrong move and—"
"—and I end up as breakfast?" Ayan finished, flashing an exaggerated look of fear before his grin returned. "Please, I've dealt with worse. You should've seen the chickens back in the village. Vicious little monsters."
Master didn't even look back, but Ayan caught the faint upward twitch at the corner of his mouth.
As they continued, Ayan's gaze sharpened. His eyes swept over the tree line, lingering on bent grass, claw marks on a trunk, and faint paw prints in the mud. "Something big passed through here," he said suddenly.
Master stopped mid-step, turning his head. "You noticed?"
Ayan shrugged casually. "Hard not to. Four claws, wide spacing… heavy stride. Either a large beast… or Master's appetite finally escaped into the wild."
Tang San stifled a laugh, earning him a stern glance from Master. But even Master's expression softened slightly. "Not bad," he admitted. "Most novices wouldn't have noticed that."
"Sharp eyes, sharper tongue," Ayan said, tapping his temple. "You never know which one's going to save your life."
They pressed on. Occasionally, Master would speak of spirit beast territories or ring colors, and Ayan would throw in his own commentary. Sometimes it was nonsense — other times, it was so on point that even Master paused to consider it. Tang San, caught between amusement and admiration, realized that Ayan was not only keeping the mood light but also learning faster than anyone would expect.
By the time they reached the riverbank where Master planned to camp, Ayan had already collected enough dry wood for a fire without being asked. As the flames crackled, he leaned back and smirked at Tang San.
"See? Traveling with me isn't so bad. I keep you entertained and alive."
Tang San chuckled. "For now."
Ayan's grin widened. "For always, little brother."