Kai and his group pressed onward through the dense forest, their destination set on Biragawa. The journey was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves underfoot and the occasional distant call of wildlife. Over Kai’s shoulder, Chen Gong hung limply, still unconscious from earlier at the bandit camp. The young official’s robes were slightly disheveled, his face pale but peaceful in slumber.

  A few hours into their trek, Chen Gong finally began to stir, his eyelids fluttering as consciousness slowly returned. Sensing the movement, Kai carefully lowered him to the ground, supporting his back until he was steady. Chen Gong blinked groggily, his vision swimming before finally focusing—only to widen in alarm as he found himself surrounded by towering beastkin.

  His breath hitched, and he instinctively scrambled backward, his scholar’s instincts clashing violently with the sight of these formidable warriors. Kai quickly raised a calming hand.

  "Easy, Chen Gong. They’re with us," he assured, his voice steady. "They won’t harm you."

  Chen Gong’s eyes darted between Kai and the beastkin, suspicion and fear warring in his expression. Though Kai’s presence was reassuring, the young official couldn’t shake the ingrained wariness that came from years of hearing stories—often exaggerated—about the ferocity of a spirit beast.

  Much like Lu Bu when he had first joined their group, Chen Gong now clung close to Kai, sticking to his side like a shadow. Every rustle in the underbrush made him tense, his gaze flicking nervously toward the beastkin as if expecting one of them to lash out at any moment.

  Noticing his unease, Igni—the massive flame striped tiger—padded closer, his golden eyes curious. In an attempt to appear non-threatening, the giant cat tilted his head slightly, ears twitching, and even attempted what could generously be called a ‘friendly’ expression. But to Chen Gong, the sight of a predator the size of a horse baring its teeth—even in what passed for a smile—was anything but comforting.

  His face paled further, and he instinctively took another step back, nearly tripping over a root. Igni’s ears drooped, his whiskers twitching in clear disappointment. With a low, almost mournful chuff, he turned and bounded ahead, his massive form disappearing into the foliage with surprising speed.

  Lu Bu, who had been watching the exchange before jogging after the dejected beastkin to comfort him.

  The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and violet as the shadows of the forest stretched long across their path. Kai exhaled slowly, watching the fading light with mild frustration. If he had been traveling alone, he could have covered twice the distance by now—his cultivators endurance allowed him to push forward with less rest. But with mortals in the group, their pace was slower.

  He briefly considered the idea of having Lu Bu and Chen Gong ride atop some of the larger beastkin—Igni or one of the Stags could easily carry them. But the sheer speed and agility of the beastkin, combined with the rough terrain, made that option dangerous. Without proper saddles or harnesses, a sudden leap or sprint could send a human tumbling, risking broken bones or worse.

  If only we had proper gear, Kai mused. But for now, we’ll have to make do.

  As dusk settled, the group found a suitable clearing—a small, sheltered space surrounded by thick trees, their branches forming a natural canopy overhead. It wasn’t perfect, but it would suffice for the night. Kai retrieved the leather tarps he had been crafting over the past few days, their surfaces stiff but durable. With the help of the more dexterous beastkin—those with nimble fingers or strong claws—they secured the tarps between the trees, creating a makeshift roof that would shield them from rain.

  It was a far cry from the comfort of Snow’s ice dome. His power had not only blocked the rain but also sealed out the wind, creating a snug, insulated shelter. This tarp setup was rudimentary in comparison—water might still drip through the seams, and the chill night air would seep in. But it was better than nothing. At the very least, they wouldn’t be drenched by freezing rain in the middle of the night.

  As the beastkin finished securing the last of the coverings, Lu Bu stretched his arms with a yawn. "Not as cozy as Snow’s dome," he remarked, eyeing the setup with pragmatic approval.

  Kai turned his gaze toward the massive white wolf, Snow, who lay curled in a protective circle with several smaller beastkin nestled against his thick fur. The firelight danced across Snow's pristine coat, making him glow like a mound of freshly fallen snow. Sensing Kai's attention, the great wolf lifted his head, blue eyes gleaming with quiet expectation as his tail gave a single, hopeful thump against the ground. The unspoken invitation was clear - their usual sleeping arrangement awaited.

  A tired but affectionate smile crossed Kai's face as he shook his head slightly. "In a little bit, old friend," he murmured, reaching out to scratch behind Snow's ear. "I've still got some things to take care of first." Snow exhaled through his nose in a contented huff before resting his massive head back on his paws, though his watchful eyes remained fixed on Kai as he moved about the camp.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  With practiced efficiency, Kai produced their battered cooking pot and began assembling ingredients for yet another stew. The repetitive clink of his knife against the pot's rim echoed dully as he sorted through their supplies - a handful of foraged root vegetables, some meat, and the last of the wild onions they'd gathered that morning. His nose wrinkled slightly at the thought of another night eating the same concoction, but practicality won out over preference. In their current situation, stew remained the most efficient way to feed everyone with what they could scavenge.

  As Kai methodically chopped a knobby wild carrot, the rhythmic thunk of his knife against the makeshift cutting board filled the quiet camp. He glanced up at Chen Gong, who sat rigidly near the fire, his robes pulled tight against the evening chill. The flickering flames cast shifting shadows across the official's drawn face as he stared into the fire with a pensive expression.

  "You look like a man wrestling with ghosts," Kai observed casually, tossing another chunk of carrot into the pot. "Something on your mind, or just missing proper beds and cooked meals?" His tone was light, but there was genuine concern beneath the jest. The transition from government official to wilderness survivalist couldn't be easy for Cheng Gong.

  Chen Gong started slightly, as if surprised to be addressed. He adjusted his sleeves with precise movements before responding. "I was merely contemplating the... efficiency of your operation," he said carefully, his eyes flickering to the assortment of beastkin surrounding them. "Your people move with coordination that suggests more than simple survival instinct."

  Kai smirked, stirring the beginnings of their meal with a wooden spoon. "We've had plenty of practice at this point. Though I'll admit, having Snow around makes things easier." He nodded toward the dozing wolf, whose ears twitched at the mention of his name. "Hard to get ambushed when you've got a living alarm system that can smell trouble three li away."

  The stew began to bubble as Kai added water from their waterskins, the familiar aroma of cooking food slowly filling the camp. Around them, several beastkin perked up at the scent.

  Chen Gong observed this display with a mixture of fascination and unease. "And this... arrangement," he ventured cautiously, "this is common where you come from? Humans and... others, living like this?"

  Kai paused in his stirring, his expression turning thoughtful. The question carried more weight than Chen Gong probably realized. "Not as common as it should be," he admitted after a moment.

  “It’s not common at all.”

  Gin, the perpetually disheveled drunkard lounging nearby, swirled his half-empty bottle before chiming in. His voice carried the lazy amusement of a man who had seen too much to be impressed—or at least pretended he had.

  “You don’t see cultivators wasting their time taming spirit beasts. Not like this.” He gestured vaguely at the menagerie of creatures surrounding them—some docile, others flickering with barely restrained power.

  Gong frowned. “Why is that?”

  Gin snorted, as if the answer were obvious. “Why bother? The time and resources you dump into taming beasts could be spent on advancing your own cultivation, refining your techniques, or pursuing your Dao. Most cultivators would rather buy a decent artifact than feed a dozen overgrown pets.” He took a long swig, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “It’s a waste of money.”

  A brief silence followed. Then—

  “Um… what’s a Dao?”

  Lu Bu’s question cut through the air like an unsheathed blade. Gin’s eyebrows shot up, his drink pausing halfway to his lips. Slowly, he turned toward Kai, his expression somewhere between disbelief and surprise.

  “Really?” Gin drawled. “You’re training this kid, and you never even mentioned the Dao?”

  Kai crossed his arms. “It wasn’t a priority. Knowing about it now won’t help him.”

  “Won’t help him?” Gin let out a bark of laughter. “It’s the foundation of cultivation! You might as well teach a man to swing a sword before telling him what a sword is!”

  “Then by all means,” Kai snapped, irritation sharpening his tone, “if you think it’s so simple, explain it yourself.”

  "Oh yes, I'm curious too," Cheng Gong added, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "They toss the word 'Dao' around in all those cultivation stories, but none of them ever bother to explain what it actually means."

  Gin, emboldened by the attention—and possibly the alcohol—leaned forward with a self-satisfied grin. "Well, it's simple. The Dao is the thing that makes you great! And pursuing the Dao means you're trying to become great yourself." He spread his arms wide, as if this explanation should be met with awe.

  Silence.

  Lu Bu and Cheng Gong stared at him, their expressions flat. The kind of silence that wasn’t just quiet—it was judgmental. Then, in perfect unison, they turned their heads toward Kai, their eyes pleading for an actual answer.

  Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is what a lack of education gets you."

  "Oh, piss off!" Gin snapped, bristling. "Not all of us got whisked away by some fancy sect and spoon-fed a 'proper education.' If Mister High-and-Mighty Scholar thinks he’s so damn smart, why don’t you explain it, huh?"

  Kai didn’t rise to the bait immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, as if already exhausted by the conversation. "Gin, the reason I haven’t explained it yet is because to cover even the very, very, very basics of the Dao would require twelve-hour lectures, every single day, for at least a year."

  "Twelve-hour classes for a year?!" Cheng Gong blurted out, his eyes widening. As an administrator, he had endured his fair share of grueling lessons—years of study in law, logistics, and governance. But the idea of spending an entire year on one concept, no matter how profound, was staggering. His mind flashed back to the endless scrolls he’d memorized, the sleepless nights before examinations, the way his hands had cramped from writing. And yet, all of that paled in comparison to the sheer depth Kai was implying.

  "You’re joking," Cheng Gong said, though the sinking feeling in his gut told him Kai wasn’t.

  Kai gave him a dry look. "Do I look like I’m joking? I had to go through that class when I was initiated into the Ember Sword sect."

  Gin, sensing an opportunity to deflect, smirked. "See? Even the administrator can’t wrap his head around it. Maybe it’s not my explanation that’s the problem!"

  Lu Bu, who had been listening intently, furrowed his brow. "But… if it’s that complicated, how does anyone ever understand it?"

  Kai’s expression softened slightly. "They don’t. Not fully. That’s the point.”

  “Huh?” Bu mumbled.

  Kai sighed. “Ok, i’ll explain the best I can. But, understand, this explanation is woefully simplified and doesn't begin to even properly explain the concept of the Dao.” Kai took a deep breath and began his explanation.

  Patreon. If you want to read up to 36 chapters early you can head over there.