A Silken Tether for a Dragon - Chapter 1

In the divine realm, spirit beasts were as common as dogs, and the immortals’ mounts were everywhere.

I was a spirit-beast groomer, working diligently at Tianyi Pavilion.

Just an honest little wage slave.

I didn’t understand why every beast I worked on gave me a bad review.

WHY!!!!!

Were those animals out of their minds?!!!

My service was impeccable!!!

I worked through their horrendously tangled fur, strand by strand!

I wouldn’t even use scissors, for fear of taking off too much!

I CHERISHED them!!!

And this was how the bastards repaid me!!!

Did they think being spirit beasts meant I wouldn’t dare hit them?!!!

I bounced up and down in front of Immortal Lady Suyu, waving my arms to convey my outrage and innocence.

She watched my performance in silence.

Then she said, “Have you been pumping the beasts for information while you groom them?”

I stiffened.

“P-pumping them…?”

“Yes.”

“N-no. N-not… really…”

I looked away guiltily and rubbed my hands. “Is having a chat really pumping someone for information…?”

“Things Spirit Beasts Would Rather You Didn’t Know…” Suyu drew a thin booklet from her sleeve. “Did you write this?”

I lowered my head. “…I write a little now and then. Good for the soul. Harmless fun.”

“A new issue every ten days. Quite sensational material, and all so convincingly detailed. Your readers can hardly tear themselves away.”

She handed me the booklet. “You have a talent for writing.”

I accepted it with trembling hands. “You’re too kind…”

“This booklet is precisely what the beasts have been complaining about. They say you’ve published all their embarrassing secrets. They can’t show their faces anymore.”

“How is that possible?! I left out all their names!”

“…Did you.”

Suyu calmly recited a line. “‘This beast’s name cannot be disclosed. However, it has nine tails and a cry like an infant’s…’”

My head sank lower.

Her voice turned cool. “Whatever beast could you mean? Such a mystery.”

“…”

“Why not just give out its registration number and save yourself the trouble?”

“And this.” She continued reciting. “‘This beast’s name cannot be disclosed. However, when it opens its eyes, day comes; when it closes them, night falls…’”

I shuddered.

Her voice grew colder still. “Impressive, Xu Changying. You even dared publish Zhuyin’s private affairs.”

“It—it didn’t tell me much…”

“You should be grateful Zhuyin doesn’t care to keep in touch with the outside world. Apart from coming here for grooming, it spends its time sleeping in seclusion. If it knew what you’d written, it would have torn down Tianyi Pavilion along with you.”

“…Hmph.”

“Your job is grooming. Why are you prying? And selling other beasts’ embarrassing pasts for money! What a black little heart you have, Xu Changying. Do you want to die, or have you simply stopped wanting to live?”

“…But I put ‘This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental’ right at the beginning!” I whimpered.

“Should I congratulate you?”

I began to sniffle.

Suyu’s face remained stern.

“There are too many complaints. I’m suspending you for a while. Reflect on what you’ve done. And return every treasure the beasts paid you.”

“Why?! They got their grooming! Why should they get their things back too?”

“Compensation! Be thankful they aren’t demanding your life! Now get on with it!”

Suyu glared.

I burst into great, howling sobs.