After the fiery destruction of Kai's secret orchard, he trudged back along the winding path that had once led to the heart of his life's work. Each step felt heavier than the last, his mind consumed by a haze of grief and exhaustion. By the time he finally reached the stable area, where the sect’s spirit beasts were housed, the inner disciples he had guided were long gone. They had departed swiftly after completing their task, their scornful glances and whispered disdain lingering in the air like an unwelcome specter.

  Kai stood alone in the stable meadow, the silence enveloping him like an oppressive cloak. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the field and painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. The spirit beasts, once roaming freely, had already retreated to their stalls.

  He moved slowly across the meadow, his footsteps dragging as though the weight of the world bore down on him. Each step felt like a struggle, his body still aching from the Jade King Seal's markings and his soul burdened by the sect leader's decree. The words of the order—dispose of all the spirit beasts—echoed relentlessly in his mind, gnawing at his resolve. These creatures weren’t just animals to him; they were companions, lives he had nurtured and protected with care. Now, they were condemned by association, and it was his hand that would have to carry out their unjust sentence.

  As Kai entered the stables, the familiar scent of hay and earthy warmth greeted him, but it brought no comfort. Each stall he passed held a pair of glowing eyes that blinked at him with trust and curiosity, unaware of the grim fate that awaited them. The weight in his chest grew heavier with every step, his heart pounding with a mix of guilt, rage, and despair.

  The marked man trudged to the central pillar of the stable, his body aching and his spirit heavy. Reaching the sturdy wooden beam, he leaned against it for a moment before sliding down to the ground. His back pressed against the pillar, he sank into a seated position, letting out a slow, ragged breath. The stable was quiet save for the soft snuffles and occasional shifts of the spirit beasts in their stalls. It might have been a moment of peace if not for the searing, relentless pain radiating from the Jade King Seal etched across his body.

  Kai closed his eyes, attempting to center himself in meditation, trying to block out the agony. But it was futile. The marks burned like brands, a constant reminder of the sect leader’s cruel decree. The order—dispose of all the spirit beasts—echoed in his mind like a haunting dirge, each repetition gnawing at his resolve.

  Yet, even as the weight of that command loomed over him, Kai knew there was no world in which he would carry it out. The spirit beasts were innocent. They had done nothing but trust him, depend on him, and share their lives with him. To harm them, to take their lives, would be an unthinkable betrayal, a stain on his soul that he could never wash away.

  Still, his defiance came at a cost. Kai understood the cruel certainty of the Jade King Seal. If he did not obey, it would activate in seven days, snuffing out his life without hesitation. Death had become his shadow, lurking just out of sight, waiting patiently for the end of the countdown.

  As he sat there, his resolve hardened even as despair clawed at him. He would not stain his hands with their blood. If his rebellion meant his death, then so be it. At least, in his final days, he would remain true to himself.

  From Kai’s side came a soft, mournful whimper that broke through the silence. He opened his eyes and turned his head to see Snow, the large Ice Claw Wolf, padding cautiously out of his stall. The creature’s ears drooped low, and his icy blue eyes were filled with an almost human-like worry. Snow, Kai’s most loyal companion in the stables, seemed to have sensed the anguish radiating from his caretaker.

  The wolf approached Kai slowly, his massive form moving with a surprising gentleness. He stopped beside Kai and lowered his head, nudging the man’s shoulder with his cold, wet nose. Snow’s actions were tender yet insistent, as if urging Kai to share his burden.

  “Don’t worry, boy. Everything’s fine,” Kai said softly, his voice betraying the lie in his words. He reached up with a trembling hand and gently patted Snow’s head, running his fingers through the wolf’s thick, snowy fur. It was a familiar gesture, one that had always brought comfort to them both.

  But Snow wasn’t so easily reassured. He let out another low whimper, his breath misting in the air of the stable. His sharp eyes flickered to the ominous markings etched into Kai’s skin, their dark lines stark against his flesh. The wolf leaned down and began to lick Kai’s arm where the seals were branded, his tongue cool and soothing. Snow seemed to believe that his ministrations could somehow erase the pain.

  Kai’s heart clenched at the gesture. “There’s nothing you can do, Snow. This is something I have to face alone.”

  But as the words left his lips, their weight settled heavily on Kai’s chest, dragging him deeper into his despair. Yet Snow, the ever-loyal Ice Claw Wolf, did not retreat, did not turn away. The creature remained steadfast, his icy blue eyes filled with a quiet determination.

  Without warning, Snow nudged Kai firmly, pushing him forward with surprising strength. Caught off guard, Kai shifted slightly, allowing the wolf to position his massive body behind him. Snow then lowered himself to the ground with a deliberate slowness, his weight causing the floorboards to creak softly beneath him. The great white wolf curled around Kai, his thick, fur-covered body enveloping him like a protective cocoon.

  Snow’s warmth was a stark contrast to the pain that radiated from the Jade King Seal’s markings etched into Kai’s skin. The wolf pressed close, his head resting protectively over Kai’s shoulder as his powerful tail curled around Kai’s legs. It was a gesture of pure, unspoken empathy—a shield against the cold emptiness and the despair gnawing at Kai’s soul.

  For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kai let out a shaky breath, his body relaxing ever so slightly into the wolf’s embrace.

  Kai's ears picked up the faint, almost imperceptible sound of another creature approaching. He turned his head slightly, just in time to see a massive tiger emerge from the shadows with the silent, fluid grace of a predator. It was the Flame-Striped Tiger he had named Igni, a beast whose fiery red fur was streaked with bold, ember-like stripes that seemed to smolder in the dim light.

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  Igni’s golden eyes locked onto Kai, their intense gaze unreadable as the tiger closed the distance between them with a slow, deliberate stride.

  The tiger halted just inches from Kai’s face, his massive frame dwarfing Kai where he sat. Igni lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against Kai’s cheek. The silence stretched between them, heavy with a connection that words couldn’t capture. Then, with an almost tender gentleness that seemed out of place for a creature of such ferocity, Igni let out a soft, rumbling purr and leaned in closer.

  Kai froze as the tiger’s rough, sandpaper-like tongue licked the side of his cheek in an unmistakable gesture of affection. The act was startling in its sincerity, a wordless reassurance that Kai wasn’t alone in his suffering.

  “Igni…” Kai murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with emotion. He reached up slowly, his trembling hand brushing against the tiger’s warm fur. The act of comfort from such a fearsome creature left him profoundly touched, the tiger’s purring a steady rhythm that echoed in Kai’s chest.

  The massive tiger, Igni, shifted its powerful body to a spot where Kai wasn’t wrapped in Snow’s protective embrace. With deliberate care, Igni pressed his warm, muscled flank against Kai’s other side, settling in close as if to shield him from the crushing weight of despair. The tiger’s rhythmic purring melded with Snow’s deep breaths, creating a soothing harmony that surrounded Kai in a cocoon of quiet comfort.

  But the gesture didn’t go unnoticed.

  From the surrounding stalls, the other spirit beasts began to stir, as though summoned by an invisible call. One by one, they emerged into the dim light of the stable. A chorus of soft snorts, rustling fur, and padded footsteps filled the air as they approached Kai. Each creature moved with an unspoken understanding, drawn by an innate sense of their caretaker’s pain.

  A pair of gentle antlered Moon Stags bent their heads to nuzzle against Kai’s hands. A sleek, Silver-Scaled Serpent coiled loosely near his feet, its tongue flicking out in soft, rhythmic motions as if to offer its presence. A bulky Iron-Hide Bear rumbled low in its chest and rubbed its massive head against Kai’s shoulder. Even the aloof Shadow Fox, a creature known for its solitary nature, padded silently to Kai’s side and draped its bushy tail across his lap.

  Each beast offered its unique gesture of affection: a lick, a nuzzle, a soft purr, or the simple warmth of their bodies pressing close. Their actions spoke louder than any words could, a collective reassurance that Kai was not alone in his suffering.

  The stable gradually transformed into a sanctuary of solidarity. The beasts, usually territorial and wary of one another, set aside their natural instincts. They crowded close, finding spots to lay down around Kai, their massive and diverse forms interlocking like pieces of a puzzle. Snow and Igni remained pressed firmly against him, their warmth radiating like small suns.

  Within moments, Kai found himself at the center of a massive, breathing quilt of fur, scales, and feathers. The entire menagerie had assembled into a sprawling, protective sphere, each creature nestled against the next in a silent show of unity.

  Kai sat motionless, utterly overwhelmed by the sight and sensation of their unwavering devotion. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he gazed at the creatures surrounding him. Every gesture, every nuzzle, lick, and soft purr resonated deeply within him. The spirit beasts, in their silent, instinctive way, were showing him the purest form of love and loyalty, and it wasn’t lost on him.

  For years, Kai had poured his heart into caring for these creatures, tending to their needs with unwavering dedication. Yet, deep down, he had always wondered if his care was one-sided, a duty performed out of obligation rather than reciprocated affection. With the exception of a few, he had never been entirely sure if the beasts saw him as anything more than a meal ticket.

  But now, as he sat in the center of this living cocoon of warmth and protection, all doubts were washed away. They had come to him, unbidden, in his darkest hour, something from deep within driving them to comfort and shield him. It wasn’t just affection—they loved him, in their unique and unspoken way. Each of them had set aside their instincts and differences to come together, not out of fear or necessity, but out of devotion to him.

  Kai’s chest ached, but this time it wasn’t from despair or the lingering pain of the Jade King Seal’s markings. It was from the profound, humbling realization of how much he meant to them.

  He recalled a thought he had often whispered to himself in moments of solitude: that he would rather live and die as a mortal surrounded by family and those who truly loved him than endure eternity as an immortal, alone and unloved. Now, as he sat amidst the warmth and loyalty of the spirit beasts, their unwavering presence surrounding him like an embrace, a bittersweet realization settled over him.

  In a way, didn’t he have what he always wanted? Here he was, facing death—not in isolation, but encircled by those he cared about. These creatures, though not human, were his family in every sense that mattered. They had chosen to stand by him, to comfort him in his final days, their actions brimming with a love that transcended words or species.

  It was a cruel irony, perhaps, that the wish he had carried in his heart for so long was now manifesting at the brink of his end. Yet, even amidst the sorrow and pain, there was a strange, quiet peace in the thought. If this was to be his fate, at least it would not be one of loneliness. Instead, it would be filled with the warmth of companionship, the gentle presence of those who cared, and the unspoken promise that his love for them had not been in vain.

  The Jade King Markings etched into his skin burned with their grim countdown, a constant reminder that he had only seven days left. Seven fleeting days to make peace with his fate. Kai resolved to cherish every moment of this borrowed time, to savor the presence of the creatures who had always been his family.

  But mere companionship wasn’t enough. He owed them more than his love; he owed them their freedom. The thought of these loyal, innocent beings falling victim to the sect’s ruthless decree was unbearable. They deserved a chance to live, to roam free in the wilds where the sect’s influence could not reach them.

  Kai made up his mind. Before his time was up, he would do everything in his power to ensure their survival. Each creature would be released, one by one, into the wilderness. He would guide them to safety if it cost him his final breaths.

  As he sat amidst the warmth of their devotion, Kai whispered softly, almost to himself, “I can’t save myself... but I’ll save all of you. You deserve to live, even if I can’t.”

  The days ahead would be filled with tears and bittersweet farewells, but they would also be his final act of defiance against a sect that did not care about him and a testament to the bond he shared with these creatures. If he could leave this world knowing they had a chance to escape the sect’s cruelty, perhaps his end would not be in vain.

  "You don’t get to choose how you come into this world," Kai murmured, his voice soft and tinged with melancholy. "And, you’re lucky if you get to choose how you leave it. I guess… that makes me lucky."

  The words lingered in the air, a quiet acceptance of his fate mingled with a bittersweet gratitude for the love surrounding him. As the weight of exhaustion settled over him, Kai allowed himself to surrender. His body relaxed, his breathing steadied, and his eyes fluttered closed as he fell into the embrace of his family.