The circle of human and non-human individuals became smaller to the extent of creating claustrophobia to those who did not even suffer from it. The tiger man was ready to jump into action, and Xián Leng was refusing to waste his Qi in worthless business. Pamella could only shake her head. She could have prayed to God for her soul's forgiveness like most people did when Death was knocking on their doors, but she still had hope that by some art of magic, if not Xián Leng, then someone would be intelligent enough to stop the fight. Xián Leng could deal with the cat, but what about her? She couldn't even create light with her spiritual energy without running out instantly.

The tiger man rested his weight over his four extremities and now more than ever he looked like a ferocious tiger ready to jump unto his prey. If she wasn't wrong, Pamella could swear the tiger's glare was on her, only; going past Xián Leng, and directed only to her trembling figure. Her blood was rushing to her head, and she was losing her focus; almost blurry. To stop herself from falling, she held unto Xián Leng's cape. Xián Leng had left his guard down and turned to Pamella holding both sides of her limp arms; looking worried.

- Are you ok? What's wrong?

- I...

As soon as Pamella tried to answer back, the tiger man advanced towards them. Since Xián Leng had moved his preoccupation to Pamella' s state he didn't have time to draw out his potential Qi. He protected Pamella from the wide spread fanged jaw. The tiger man was about to close into Xián Leng's neck until the sound of ripping flesh never surfaced. The only sound that echoed was the crashing sound of a large body unto the ground.

The crowd went silent. Both Xián Leng and Pamella stared wide eyed towards where the gigantic tiger man laid on his back, with a now pained expression, A shining blade menaced the soft haired flesh from his neck and a big black clawed strong foot crushing him still.

- That's enough! What do you think you're doing creating disturbances on the middle of the street Lăo Hŭ Tòng?!

The one who spoke was a big, black, human, cat. He looked more like a panther, since his sclera were yellowish. Only the face, and the body hair looked like an animal, and his tail, and his fangs, and his claws, but either way the rest of himself was human. Qi flowed, and sipped in flares surrounding both his body, and the sword he was holding. His strong clawed foot was pressing unto the chest of Hŭ Tòng. Hŭ Tòng retreated his Qi flow, and with a pained apologetic smile on his face said,

! What a coincidence... Are you patrolling today?

The panther man's eyes slanted in annoyance more than they already were, at the mention of the "patrolling" word.

- No... You know very well I stopped working as an Imperial Patrol Guard a long time ago... I have no need to make safety for anyone in his Majesty's territory.

Having this as a chance to throw the grudge of someone into another instead of him, Hŭ Tòng continued with his provocative words.

- Oh, I know I know, WE all know... SOOO... Why meddle now into a fight, if you are not here to patrol?

- I did not meddle!

Suddenly the crowd yelled in discontent unison,

- BUT YOU DID!

Loosening the strength put on 's chest, this one didn't think it twice, he jumped away from the three who now gained the crowd's attention. Hēi Bào retorted with some logical explanation.

- There was no need to fight in the first place, and why would it cross your mind to attack the weak?

Xián Leng didn't expect to be included in the "weak". No one, ever, had called him so.

- EXCUSE ME!

Pamella just stayed still, smiling in relief, with cold sweat peering from her forehead. She silently assured Xián Leng,

- Xián Leng... Mr. Panther Guy was probably referring to me, so... relax...

Xián Leng's "weak" worry passed to a corner of his mind, and now he dealt with trying not to laugh at Pamellas way of addressing an ex-imperial ferocious official. All of them were trying to show the outmost respect for not laughing at "Mr. Panther Guy's" face.

That "Mr. Panther Guy" didn't escape Hei Bao's hearing, and slightly twitched at the small paused laughs the trembling in laughing agony crowd gave. He was asking himself, if he had beaten up the correct person.

Maybe, I should've let that tiger eat them both!

Hŭ Tòng was the only one who went into a laughing frensy. He had risen, but now was again on the floor clutching his hurting abdomen. His hand bandaged, bleeding, deer friend came to his side, covering his face with his blood-stained hand fan.

- Tòng... Let's go before things get carried away again...

- What do you mean? They've been carried away since I bumped unto that idiot!

- We should just get going... We can't be late to...

He was interrupted by Bào.

-Dǎn Xiǎo, long time has it been...

With a nervous bow and look behind his hand fan the deer friend greeted.

- Oh... Master Hēi... Sorry for our rudeness. Please forgive the unwanted mishaps.

He started tugging at Hŭ Tòng's robes in awkward pain.

- FINE! Fine... Let's go. I wouldn't have eaten the bastards anyways. I'm full, and idiot meat is not my favorite so...

The two had turned around, but immediately were stopped by Hei Bao's demanding voice. He had seen the look Lù had given when mentioning their awaiting affair, and immediately, knowing what kind of things the two pursued and that trouble always came by, he concluded it had to be something deceitful.

- Wait! Where are you headed to?

Hŭ Tòng sighed, clicked his tongue, and scornfully answered,

- None of your business Mr. Ex-Official Panther Guy~ Let's head off Dǎn Xiǎo!

The two went their way, and left the other three in both bewilderments, and a spike of relief; plus anger by Hēi Bào's part.

The crowd had already diminished; all attending their rightful nightly tasks. Xián Leng had been holding Pamella's shoulders in case he had to throw her over the crowd if things had fired up. Pamella on the other had been both excited and scared with the fight scene; she wanted to both stay in the circle, but also fleet from it.

It is not everyday one gets to see two magic cat men fight each other~ Too bad it all ended so fast, I was already building up my courage... Ok, lets forget I said the last part, ha ha... ha...

- Xián Leng... um... You can let go of me now. The tiger man has already disappeared.

Xián Leng abruptly took his hands away from her shoulders, and as to imply a fake, but reasonable justification for his action he scoffed,

- I didn't do it as if to protect you. If you had become a burden during the fight, I had no other choice, but to throw you out. I don't like people who drag me down, especially if my life is involved.

But... QUE DESGRACIADO ESTE!

- WHY You...!

Xián Leng thought to himself,

At least the trembling on "her" voice disappeared... Why did I unconsciously put my hands over her?

As if to remind them they were not the only ones in the same space, Hēi Bào cleared his throat and cupped his hands in a salute.

- Excuse my rudeness... My name is Wēi Hēi Bào, former Imperial Patrol Guard, now a Taoist scholar's student, and personal bodyguard.

Pamella again felt flustered with the formalities. She waved her hands in funny disagreement.

- No need to excuse yourself! I am... I mean WE both are grateful for your assistance! We were really in a tight situation back there. Maybe we would've been already shredded to pieces if it weren't for you!

Xián Leng rolled his eyes in annoyance. Who would've been dead? Sure, he got distracted, but even if his Qi wasn't at full power, he could've handled the matter without trouble. Hēi Bào respectfully sighted,

- "He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty [...] "

Pamella answered enthusiastically, with a wide bright smile, and a small laugh that if one payed clear attention it sounded more like a giggle.

- Maybe I will apply that virtue to my life from today onwards!

- You should, you should!

They both kept on chatting, and Xián Leng was starting to get annoyed by this two getting along to well. EXTREMELLY, to well.

- Did you say something about being working for a scholar?

Catching, but ignoring the rudeness in the other serious dead stared stranger, he affirmed while directing himself to Pamella.

- Yes, I did! Are you perhaps looking for the assistance of a scholar? If so, Master would be a great help to you, he knows it all on how the spiritual, and mortal world works!

This cat's personality certainly doesn't suit his fearsome built *lol*

- FANTASTIC!

And with a grinning face which intention was to give the sight of delight, but actually made Pamella tremble in fear he gestured to follow him.

The three passed a drinking bar, a Chinese instrument making shop, and approximate four more restaurants before they arrived to the scholar's residence.

It wasn't a big stance, but it wasn't small as the bank of the poor. The thing is that it was too small for so many books, plus four people to be in the same place. Pamella didn't need to lower her head since she wasn't as tall as he other companions. Everywhere she walked she had to be careful with misplaced books, just as she was about to pick some up, to make the access to the study better she got startled by a potent voice that came from the other side of the building, resonating like when one used a megaphone at their Field Days, or Cultural Festivals; only that doubling the sound wave amplification.

- PUT THAT BACK FROM WHERE YOU PICKED IT UP!

Pamella shocked by the sudden inhumane outburst, dropped the books to the floor and immediately tip toed back to Xián Lengs figure. Hēi Bào was about to explain to her why she was shout at, but the called teacher was already entering the room in a brisk manner.

He was holding in his right hand a kettle of tea; two of his fingers were holding the kettle's handle and the other three carried in outmost balance four cups. In his other hand, he brought four small plates of something Pamella couldn't discriminate what it was, but it brought a sweet aroma to her nostrils. Xián Leng murmured to her,

- How can he move so easily in this mess?

Hēi Bào had heard the remark, and excitedly, with glittering eyes accompanied by purring sounds he said to them,

- Right! I know! He is the only person I've known who can do such a thing! Truly amazing!

Pamella covered her face and laughed with half the intensity she truly wanted to give.

- He does it pretty, well! My respects sir.

The scholar exclaimed,

- Oh, now you want to be polite huh?! Hasn't anyone taught you to not touch the things that are not yours?! You can't come into people's home and randomly grab whatever you like! Come come already! Sit sit! All of you!

They were all taking their time to arrive to the table where he signaled, but since their paths were obstructed by books, and papers that may be of some importance they took more than expected.

- Also, Hēi Bào I've told you many times to stop entering the house with your animal form.

Xián Leng and Pamella thought they had caught the scholar's exclamation wrong, but Hēi Bào with flickering flares of golden Qi all around him apologized while being talked to softer by the scholar.

- No need to apologize either. Look at you! You were making an uncomfortable expression just now!

The flares had stop flowing, and where before was an animal humanoid body, all that was left was a gorgeous impeccable, white as a pearl face, and sturdy, but not as muscular body of a human man. One wouldn't even think about the fact that the man was a cat seconds ago, but only the yellow sclera from his eyes gave him away.

The scholar asked,

- Better?

- Yes...

Pamella inquired,

- You... You... How did you do that?! You were just a cute kitty moments ago!

Xián Leng looked away from everyone, covering his mouth trembling in laughter. How could she say that wild beast was a "cute kitten"!

Cute... Kitty?

Hēi Bào only smiled nervously and looked down.

- It's nothing really...

The scholar continued his sentence.

- It's nothing indeed! That's just how he is. Both human and beast; having the ability to control his Qi flow and transform to whichever form he desires.

- Not any form teacher...

- Indeed, not any form, but either way you are a very capable student, and your control over your Qi is getting better. In no time you could be in your human form how much you like.

They all sat at the table and continued listening to the scholar's remarks.

- You see lads, all the beast you've seen in the capital, most of them are both Human and Beast with the same ability as Hēi Bào here. Others are just Beast, unable to change their animal physics into human; their spiritual energy is way lower than transforming humanoid Beasts.

Pamella had been intensely listening to the scholar's explanation. Even if it wasn't why she went there in the first place, it was still incredibly wonderful to know about the supernatural things that if she was in 2019 Beijing right now wouldn't happen. Right? She drank warm green tea, which for her disappointment didn't have any sugar in it. It wasn't that she didn't like it both ways, but she preferred it with sugar, that's how she drank tea back at home. At least she had some sweet-smelling looking bread in her plate that could sweeten it up if both were taken at the same time.

Pamella saw the scholar's posture was exceptionally vigorous. He had white-grayish hair, both his head and long beard were covered by it, but it wasn't unkept; apparently the scholar combed it rather nicely every day. He had a soft angry expression, and various expression marks that in time had made themselves extremely visible. He wore a brown leather over shoulder with a silver brooch of a crow. He also walked with a living crow on one of his shoulder and spoke to it as if they've been friends for a long time.

To Pamella's shock the crow joined the conversation.

- Master Wēng Zhé you haven't introduced either me, or yourself, where have your manners gone to?! Weren't you scolding that poor child there moments ago about being disrespectful?!

- You're right! Sorry for that! I am Wēng Zhé, a dedicated Taoist scholar that has been learning nature and the spiritual world's phenomena. Being alive, I don't recall... About 160 years already I think; it has been such a long time that the more important things in the mind, misplace the other less, but also important things, so my years alive aren't as important as the complex knowledge I acquire every day!

- And me?!

- Oh sorry! This here is called Jītí! He's also a student of mine, but also my pet. He likes to brag a lot, that's why his name.

Hēi Bào gave out a small laugh, that made both Pamella and Xián Leng laugh as well. Jītí exclaimed, glaring at him,

- What's so funny about my name huh, Cute Kitty? And You! Who is your PET?!

At last all, including the scholar, and excluding Hei Bao went on a laughing rampage. Pamella held her stomach and almost threw herself to the books and paper covered floor if it weren't for Xián Leng steadying her with his hands around her. She also groped the front of his top robe with one hand, while lowering her head, and clenching her hurting by laughing stomach with her other free hand. The two were unaware of the scene that they created. He wasn't even laughing as much as before, while Pamella was already coughing from too much happiness at once. She had tears on her eyes, making them sparkle as the dim light of a nearby lamp reflected itself on them. Xián Leng again had that feeling. He needed to let go of that body at once, before he did something even himself couldn't explain.

As Pamella rose herself, and separated a little from Xián Leng, she pulled up her head, and exhaling the pent of breath from her chest, smiled to everyone in the room.

The scholar covered his mouth, and awed. Hei Bao's eyes immediately flickered open in entranced amazement.

For Xián Leng, time and space had stood still. He couldn't smile, blink, breath, or think. That feeling had reached its peak, but he still couldn't comprehend it; he didn't know what had taken over him. Ever since meeting this idiotic, clumsy, problem bringing guy; well, woman, he hasn't been himself properly. He had been out of character the whole time; his usual self, the one who was in front of the Imperial Court, His guards, His soldiers, His emperor; was nowhere in sight. He questioned himself whether he what he was living was a surreal dream. He questioned if he was dead, and was somewhere between Heaven, and Hell; lost in the mist of unreality; an illusion.

Jītí cawed and bragged about his hunger.

- Hey, I'm hungry old man! CAW! CAW! Are we going to eat or stare at the pretty smile the young man has? Sure, it's pretty, but not as pretty as... MINE! CAW CAW CAW!!!

Laughter again filled the room, but not from Xián Leng.

Xián Leng immediately in a harsh, but also gentle manner, pushed an again laughing Pamella away from him, and straightening himself, as well as getting back to business.

What if I hadn't pushed... Never mind...

- Excuse me... Master Weng , both of us would like to ask you about some things. Your student here has told us, that you know it all, and if so, you may be a great help to us.

The scholar had stopped laughing ages ago and had seen the Qi flowing between the two men in front of him, but preferred to leave it be, because only the universe would unravel their feelings, and would give them meaning. If not, then that was it, no can do.

- Well, I don't really know it all~ Hei Bao! What made up stories have you told our guests?

Hei Bao's face reddened by shame.

- They are not lies Master Wēng, you do know it all... At least that's what you told me when I was younger...

Jītí felt that he needed to support his comrade on this, so he exclaimed,

- It's true, it's true!! I've been with you for a hundred of years, and sertainly I can say you know it "ALL".

Master Weng thought about it.

- Ok... All, but most of that "ALL" has been pushed way back into the drawers of my brain so you must be patient. It's hundreds of years of knowledge we are talking about here.

Both Xián Leng, and Pamella nodded and at once Pamella, a little bit hesitant, was the one to start the interrogation.

- Master Weng, I want to ask about this...

And she took out the Lord of Darkness's necklace.

- What can it do? Can it make people travel time? Can it move souls from a body to another?

He thought about what the young pretty man was asking him. Of course, he had seen a necklace just like that one once, but it had five dangling gold figures; this one, did not. Who might have broken them off? If the necklace was THAT necklace then,

- It can...

[QUE DESGRACIADO ESTE]- Spanish expression for when one want to insult another person. Literally means "THIS BASTARD!" *lol*

[wūyā] – Chinese for crow.