A Silken Tether for a Dragon - Chapter 2

A whole year of hard work.

And I was right back where I’d started.

So much for a happy New Year!

Clutching my deflated treasure pouch, I wiped my tears and ran toward the back of the mountain.

Suyu’s voice pursued me. “Xu Changying, I’m warning you! There’s an honored guest back there. Don’t offend our guest… Xu Changying!!!”

I didn’t hear what she shouted.

I had already shot away like the wind.

—

My heart had shattered to dust.

I wanted to destroy the world. AAAAAAH!!!

Those beasts were outrageous! They’d chosen to tell me their sordid secrets, then forbidden me to write about them! Why?!

I’d even censored their identities!

Waaaaah…

I cried as I charged blindly ahead.

Poof!

Suddenly, I plunged into a soft, furry wall.

I froze for two seconds, then slowly raised my head.

A gigantic white lion with golden markings lowered its head, inch by inch, to look at me.

I met those golden eyes, so still that time itself seemed to stop.

I stared for a long time.

Even the wind around us seemed to quiet.

“…A-are you here for grooming?” I asked.

The lion regarded me calmly. “Mm.”

“Then, um…”

I glanced at the temple behind the mountain.

“There’s a workroom in there, with all the tools. Much more comfortable than the front of the mountain too. Shall we go there? I’ll take care of you.”

“All right.”

I led the way.

The lion followed gracefully.

It was enormous, as big as a palace.

But I could tell it had already reduced its size.

Its true body must have been far larger.

I looked at the temple entrance.

“Sorry, honored guest. You may need to shrink a little more.”

It looked at the temple, which was smaller than it was.

“If I make myself smaller, can you still groom me properly?”

“Of course! I’m the best spirit-beast groomer at Tianyi Pavilion! Ask anyone. The name Xu Changying—”

Then I remembered my reputation might not be particularly good lately and hastily changed course. “Actually, no need to ask. The point is, I’m very good at my job. Try me and you’ll see! If you’re not satisfied, you don’t pay!”

The lion nodded. “All right.”

It shrank much further.

At last, it was the size of an ordinary lion.

Relieved, I showed it inside.

I quickly laid out my tools and got to work!

The white lion lay on the cushioned couch, still as a sculpture.

I rarely saw such a quiet spirit beast.

The others were all lively and restless.

It closed its eyes, hiding those golden depths that seemed able to swallow time.

I approached. “I’ll begin, honored guest. Please tell me if anything feels uncomfortable.”

“Mm.”

I picked up my brush and began brushing its fur.

I had good hands and endless patience. Usually, the beasts would stretch out in bliss while I brushed them.

Not this lion.

It lay silently with its eyes closed. I brushed for ages, and it didn’t move.

I couldn’t help asking, “Is my technique all right? Does that feel good?”

“Mm.”

“…”

What sort of answer was “mm”?

Grumbling inwardly, I tried again. “I still don’t know your name.”

The lion was silent for a long time.

I thought it didn’t want to answer and was about to try another way of prying something out of it when it spoke.

“Ren’er.”

“…”

I racked my brains. What kind of spirit beast was a ren’er?

I’d never heard of one…

Was it putting me on?

“Your species must be quite rare. I’ve never heard of a ren’er before.”

Another pause.

Then it said, “Ren’er is my name.”

Its eyes opened a fraction, and gold spilled through the narrow gaps. “Didn’t you just ask for my name?”

I stared.

It… it had a name of its own?

Well, yes. Of course.

All spirit beasts had their own names.

But they generally introduced themselves by species. A phoenix would say it was a phoenix; a nine-tailed fox would say it was a nine-tailed fox.

Why was this one different?

I laughed awkwardly. “Yes, of course. I must be tired today. My mouth’s working faster than my brain.”

The lion slowly shut its eyes.

“It doesn’t matter. I have time. You may rest first and come back.”

“What? I couldn’t. How could I leave you here while I went off to rest?”

“…As you wish.”

It said nothing more.

No matter what tricks I used to draw it into conversation, it ignored me.

As though it had fallen asleep.

I was so annoyed I laughed.

I’d never met a spirit beast whose mouth was sealed this tight!

With my interrogation skills, I was nearly done grooming it and had only extracted its name. I still didn’t know what species it was!

This beast was a schemer!