Luna's eyes grew heavy as she watched the episode on her laptop. Tang San stood against impossible odds, bloodied but unbowed. Her heart ached for him—so strong, yet so alone.
"If only I could be there," she whispered. "I'd take care of you, Tang San. You wouldn't have to face everything alone."
Her eyelids surrendered to exhaustion, and darkness claimed her.
The cold earth beneath her body jolted Luna awake. Instead of her bedroom ceiling, she saw ancient trees stretching toward an amber and violet sky.
Panic seized her. She tried to stand but stumbled—her limbs felt wrong. Looking down, Luna's breath caught.
White fur. Nine flowing tails tipped with crimson. Delicate paws instead of hands.
"No... this can't be..."
But knowledge flooded her consciousness—memories of a hundred thousand years, instincts of a nine-tailed fox spirit beast. She was in the Star Dou Forest.
The Soul Land. Real. Undeniable.
Before she could process this, rustling in the undergrowth froze her in place.
A figure emerged between the trees.
Dark hair, calm purple eyes, presence radiating gentleness and hidden strength. Tang San.
He was real. Standing right there. Not animation on a screen but flesh and blood.
Tang San's eyes widened as he caught sight of her. "Beautiful," he breathed.
Slowly, he knelt down. "Little fox, you're injured."
Injured? Luna looked down and noticed matted fur along her side, one leg trembling with weakness.
Tang San withdrew a jade bottle. "I won't hurt you. I have medicine that can help."
Luna's fox instincts screamed to run. But her human heart recognized the genuine kindness in his eyes. This was Tang San—who helped the weak, who never turned away from someone in need.
She took a tentative step forward.
Tang San's expression brightened. "That's it. I promise I'll be gentle."
Another step. Then another. Until Luna sat before him, nine tails curled around her small body.
Carefully, gently, Tang San applied medicine to her wounds. His touch was warm, his fingers steady and sure.
"There," he said softly. "You should rest. But... I can't just leave you here. The forest is dangerous."
He knew what she was. A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. A treasure beyond measure. The kind of opportunity cultivators would kill for.
But instead of reaching for a weapon, Tang San simply extended his hand, palm up.
"Would you come with me? I can't promise luxury, but I can promise safety. And... I think I'd like very much to have a companion as remarkable as you."
Looking into those earnest purple eyes, Luna knew there had never really been a choice.
She pressed her small furry head against his offered palm.
Tang San's smile was like sunrise—bright, warm, full of promise. He gathered her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
"I'll take good care of you," he murmured. "I promise."
The journey to Tang San's residence took several hours. He spoke to her occasionally, his voice soothing.
"I live simply. Just a small cabin near the edge of the forest. It's quiet, peaceful. I think you'll like it."
When they emerged from the forest, sunset painted the sky in brilliant orange and gold. Before them stood a modest wooden cabin surrounded by a small herb garden.
"Home," Tang San said warmly.
Inside was sparse but clean—a bed, a workbench covered with tools for hidden weapons, shelves with books, a small kitchen.
Gently, he set her on the bed. "Rest here tonight. Tomorrow, once you've recovered, we can figure out what comes next."
Luna curled into a comfortable position, her nine tails wrapped around her. The scent of Tang San's cabin—medicinal herbs, wood smoke, and something uniquely him—felt safe. Right.
As exhaustion claimed her, Luna's last conscious thought was simple: I'm home.