Liu Yi stood up from the sofa, walked to Jinyao's side, squatted down, and pulled a few tissues from the table to wipe the water stains from its face.
After wiping its face, Liu Yi threw the tissues into the trash can and sat back on the sofa.
Jinyao immediately followed, its tiny paws gripping the edge of the sofa as it looked up at her.
“Yanyan!”
Hug me!
Liu Yi reached out, scooped it up, and placed it on her lap, her fingers gently stroking its back.
“Jinyao,” she said.
Jinyao opened its eyes, its golden gaze fixed on her.
“Yanyan?”
“I'm going out tomorrow,” Liu Yi said.
Jinyao tilted its head, a hint of confusion flickering in its golden eyes.
“Yanyan?”
Going out?
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded. “To a match.”
Jinyao's eyes lit up.
“Yanyan!”
It stood up from Liu Yi's lap, its tiny paws pressing into her leg, its body leaning slightly forward, its golden eyes fixed on her.
I'm coming too! I want to compete too!
Liu Yi looked at its sparkling eyes and gently shook her head.
“You can't go.”
Jinyao's tail stiffened.
“Yanyan?” it chirped again, its voice clearly puzzled.
Why?
“You're still too small,” Liu Yi said, reaching out to rub its head. “The Sky Colosseum will be crowded, and it won't be safe.”
Jinyao's mouth pursed.
“Yanyan! Yanyan!”
It chirped twice, its voice growing louder.
I'm not small! I can do it!
Ziyue jumped onto the sofa from the side, squatting beside Jinyao, its purple eyes watching it.
“Bingbing.”
You're still young. You haven't even been hatched for a full day.
Jinyao turned to Ziyue, its golden eyes full of defiance.
“Yanyan!”
I'm not small!
Chiying floated over from the foot of the bed, hovering in front of Jinyao, its crimson eyes calmly observing it.
“Mo.”
You're still a little baby that needs to be held.
Jinyao was startled by Chiying's words but refused to concede.
“Yanyan!” it chirped, raising its head, its golden eyes full of stubbornness. “Yanyan!”
I-I can battle too! I want to go to the match!
Liu Yi looked at its stubborn expression, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“You can in the future,” she said, “but not now.”
Jinyao's mouth pursed even more.
“You need to grow up first,” Liu Yi continued. “Eat and drink well, take care of your body. Then you'll need to train and practice your skills. Once you've done all that, you can go.”
Jinyao tilted its head, a flicker of thought in its golden eyes.
“Yanyan?”
Train?
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded. “Just like Ziyue and Chiying.”
“They train their skills every day and never slack off.”
Jinyao looked at Ziyue, then at Chiying, and finally lowered its head.
“Yanyan...”
It chirped softly.
So hard.
“It's not hard,” Liu Yi said. “Take it one step at a time. Start with the simplest things.”
Jinyao looked up, its golden eyes fixed on her.
“Yanyan?”
What's the simplest?
Liu Yi thought for a moment. “Eating.”
Jinyao paused.
“Yanyan?”
“That's right,” Liu Yi nodded seriously. “First, eat well and take care of your body. That's step one.”
Jinyao blinked.
“Yanyan...”
It chirped, a hint of uncertainty in its voice.
That's it?
“That's it,” Liu Yi said. “Step one is eating. Step two is sleeping. Step three is growing up. Once you've done all that, then we can talk about training.”
Jinyao tilted its head, thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Yanyan.”
Okay.
Ziyue nudged closer from the side and rubbed its head against Jinyao's ear.
“Bingbing!”
Good boy!
Jinyao wobbled from the rub but didn't dodge. It turned its head and touched Ziyue's nose with its own.
Chiying descended from the air, landing on the back of the sofa, looking down at Jinyao.
“Mo.”
Be obedient.
Jinyao looked up at Chiying, its golden eyes reflecting the crimson ones.
“Yanyan.”
It chirped softly.
I'll be obedient.
Liu Yi looked at the three of them, a slight smile playing on her lips.
She reached out, picked Jinyao up from her lap, and held it before her eyes.
“Tomorrow afternoon, Teacher Wei will come to stay with you,” she said. “You need to be good and not cause any trouble.”
Jinyao tilted its head.
“Yanyan?”
Who is Teacher Wei?
“Teacher Wei is our coach,” Liu Yi said. “She's a very capable person. Listen to her, and do whatever she tells you.”
Jinyao blinked.
“Yanyan.”
Okay.
Liu Yi placed it back on her lap and rubbed its head.
“Be good.”
...
October 20th, 2 PM.
The doorbell rang promptly.
Liu Yi stood up from the sofa and walked over to open the door.
Wei Xiuyu stood outside the door, dressed in casual clothes, looking much more relaxed than usual.
Wei Xiuyu entered the room, her gaze sweeping around before settling on the bed.
Jinyao was squatting in the center of the bed, its golden eyes watching her warily.
Its spirits were much better today than yesterday; its golden fur was fluffy and soft, and its mane transitioned from golden to fiery red, gleaming with a warm luster in the sunlight.
Its tail was slightly curled behind it, the golden-red gradient at its tip resembling a burning flame.
Wei Xiuyu stared at Jinyao for a few seconds, her gaze moving from its golden fur to its golden-red mane, then to its golden eyes.
“A Radiance Shift?” she turned to Liu Yi.
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded.
Wei Xiuyu was silent for a moment, placed a paper bag on the table, walked to the bed, and squatted down to meet Jinyao's gaze.
Jinyao didn't retreat or bristle; it merely tilted its head, its golden eyes curiously observing the stranger.
“Yanyan?”
It chirped.
Wei Xiuyu turned to Liu Yi.
“Is it asking who I am?”
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded.
Wei Xiuyu looked at her with a subtle expression, then turned back to Jinyao.
“I am Liu Yi's teacher,” she said. “I'm here to stay with you today.”
Jinyao blinked, seemingly judging whether her words were credible.
Then it stood up from the bed, walked to the edge, lowered its head, and gently touched Wei Xiuyu's outstretched finger with its nose.
Wei Xiuyu's finger paused slightly.
Jinyao's nose was damp.
“Yanyan.”
Wei Xiuyu looked at it. “You're welcome.”
Jinyao stepped back two paces and returned to squatting in the center of the bed, its golden eyes still on Wei Xiuyu, but its wariness had significantly lessened.
Wei Xiuyu stood up and turned to Liu Yi.
“This little one has a strong connection with you.”
Jinyao tilted its head, its golden eyes full of confusion.
Liu Yi smiled, walked to the bed, and reached out to rub Jinyao's head.
“I need to go prepare for the match,” she said. “You stay here with Teacher Wei and be good.”
Jinyao's ears twitched, and its tail swayed gently.
“Yanyan.”
Come back soon.
“Okay,” Liu Yi nodded, then turned to Wei Xiuyu. “Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Wei.”
“No trouble at all,” Wei Xiuyu said, sitting on the sofa and pulling a book from somewhere. “You go.”
Liu Yi recalled Ziyue and Chiying to her Beast Taming Space, put on her backpack, and walked to the door.
She glanced back.
Jinyao was squatting on the bed, its golden eyes watching her. Wei Xiuyu sat on the sofa, her book open, her gaze on its pages.
“I'm leaving,” Liu Yi said.
“Yanyan,” Jinyao chirped softly.
Liu Yi smiled and pushed the door open, exiting.
After Liu Yi left, the room fell silent for a moment.
“Paradox.”
Your student doesn't seem to know that the Radiance Shift of the Blazing Lion tribe is different from other Radiance Shifts.
Rate on N.U.
