The room gradually became quiet once more.
Afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the open window while tiny particles of dust drifted lazily through the air between them.
The white lizard remained hovering silently before him.
Golden eyes unmoving.
"…Lin Yue."
The unfamiliar name was repeated calmly by the creature.
Lian nodded slowly.
"She was taken two years ago."
His fists tightened slightly against his knees.
"A cultivator passed through the village."
"He said she had talent."
"A great fate."
Lian's expression darkened faintly afterward.
"The entire village celebrated."
"They said she would become an immortal someday."
"But…"
His voice lowered quietly.
"…She cried the entire time she was leaving."
The room remained silent except for the sound of his voice.
"My mother told me to forget it."
"She said people like us can't interfere with cultivators."
"But…"
Lian lowered his gaze.
"I couldn't."
The white lizard listened silently.
Humans truly formed strange attachments.
Weak creatures.
Yet they constantly tied themselves to others emotionally.
The lizard did not fully understand it.
Still—
he continued listening.
Lian forced out a small laugh afterward.
"…It sounds stupid saying it out loud."
"She probably already forgot this village."
"Forgot me too."
"But I still want to try."
His gaze slowly lifted again afterward.
Determined despite everything.
"Even if my talent is poor."
"Even if I never become important."
"I at least want the chance to stand in front of her again someday."
Silence followed afterward.
The white lizard remained perfectly still.
Golden eyes quietly studying the child before him.
Then—
calmly—
he asked,
"…And if she does not wish to return?"
The question struck instantly.
Lian froze slightly.
Clearly—
he had never truly considered that possibility before.
The room fell silent again.
Several moments passed before he finally answered quietly.
"…Then at least I'll still know she's okay."
The answer came slower this time.
Less confident.
But honest.
Lian lowered his gaze slightly afterward.
"…That would still be enough."
The white lizard became thoughtful once more.
Interesting.
The child's desire was not entirely possession.
Nor obsession.
Simply certainty.
Humans truly were strange creatures.
They willingly suffered for emotional attachments that carried no survival value whatsoever.
Then—
suddenly—
the lizard's attention shifted slightly.
His senses naturally expanded outward.
He could hear approaching footsteps outside the house.
Lian's mother.
The white lizard noticed immediately.
At nearly the same moment—
Lian heard them too.
His eyes widened instantly.
"M-Mom—!"
Panic immediately crossed his face.
He rapidly turned toward the white lizard.
"You can't stay here!"
"If she sees you she'll faint!"
The white lizard merely stared at him calmly.
Lian nearly lost his mind.
"Please hide!"
The footsteps outside grew closer.
The wooden gate creaked faintly.
Lian's breathing became chaotic once again.
Then—
without warning—
the white lizard vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
As though he had dissolved directly into thin air.
Lian stared blankly.
The next moment—
the house door opened.
His mother stepped inside carrying a basket filled with vegetables and dried herbs.
Then paused slightly.
"…Lian?"
She blinked in confusion.
"Why are you sitting on the floor like that?"
Lian's heart nearly stopped.
For a split second—
he remained frozen while staring at the empty space where the white lizard had disappeared.
Gone.
Completely gone.
No sound.
No spiritual fluctuation.
Nothing at all.
If not for the lingering fear still pounding violently inside his chest—
he might have believed he imagined the entire encounter.
"…Lian?"
His mother's voice pulled him back immediately.
He jerked slightly before turning toward her.
She stood near the doorway holding the basket awkwardly while staring at him with concern.
"Why are you so pale?"
"And why are you sitting on the floor?"
Lian opened his mouth.
Then immediately closed it again.
What exactly was he supposed to say?
*A terrifying intelligent spirit beast capable of speech and invisible movement was just floating in front of me discussing cultivation and insulting my talent?*
No normal person would hear that calmly.
"…I-I was cultivating."
The excuse came out instantly.
His mother blinked.
"Cultivating?"
Lian nodded quickly while awkwardly standing up.
"I accidentally lost focus and fell over."
Not entirely false.
His mother still looked suspicious.
Her gaze slowly swept across the room afterward.
For one terrifying moment—
Lian thought she noticed something.
But then she simply sighed softly.
"You've barely slept these past few days."
"You should stop forcing yourself so hard."
Lian laughed nervously.
"…Right."
Meanwhile—
completely concealed—
the white lizard silently rested atop one of the upper wooden support beams near the ceiling.
Invisible.
Golden eyes calmly observing the humans below.
Lian, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to glance upward.
Because he could still feel it.
That presence.
Watching silently.
His mother placed the basket down afterward before looking toward him again.
"…Did something happen?"
Lian stiffened slightly.
"…Why would you ask that?"
"You're acting strange."
*Because there's currently a terrifying invisible monster inside our house,* Lian screamed internally.
Outwardly—
he forced another weak smile.
"I'm just tired."
His mother studied him carefully for several moments longer.
Then eventually sighed.
"…You should rest more."
"Cultivation can wait."
Lian nodded immediately.
"Yes."
Please stop asking questions.
His mother finally relaxed slightly afterward before moving toward the cooking area.
Lian secretly exhaled in relief.
Then—
very carefully—
his eyes shifted slightly upward.
Nothing visible.
But he knew.
The creature was still there.
Watching silently like before.
And somehow—
that made the entire situation even more terrifying.
Lian quickly bent down and grabbed both the fallen pill and jade bottle from the floor.
His movements were hurried now.
Nervous.
Distracted.
Even while holding the precious Qi Gathering Pills—
his attention remained entirely focused on the invisible terrifying creature somewhere nearby.
Or perhaps still inside the house.
That thought alone made his chest tighten.
"I-I'm going out for a bit."
His mother immediately looked over from the cooking area.
"…Going out?"
Then her expression sharpened slightly.
"You're not going back into the forest, are you?"
Lian immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I already promised you."
His voice steadied slightly afterward.
"I'm just taking a walk."
"You don't need to worry."
His mother relaxed slightly after hearing that.
"…Be back before dark."
Lian nodded quickly.
Then immediately opened the wooden door and stepped outside before closing it behind him.
*Click.*
Silence.
The village afternoon remained peaceful.
A soft breeze drifted between nearby houses while distant voices echoed faintly through the village pathways.
But Lian did not move away.
Couldn't.
His mother was still inside.
Alone.
And that terrifying creature—
might still be there with her.
Lian swallowed nervously.
Then slowly moved closer toward the outer wall of the house.
His eyes cautiously scanned the surroundings.
Nothing.
No white scales.
No golden eyes.
No spirit beast.
Still—
his instincts screamed that the creature was nearby.
Watching him.
After hesitating briefly—
Lian finally spoke quietly.
"…A-Are you there?"
The moment the words left his mouth—
something landed softly on top of his head.
THUMP.
Lian's entire body froze instantly.
A cold chill exploded straight down his spine.
His face went completely pale.
Slowly—
very slowly—
his eyes lifted upward.
He could not see it directly.
But he could feel the weight resting casually atop his head.
Then—
the calm voice sounded beside his ear.
"Do not need to worry."
Lian nearly jumped out of his skin.
The white lizard continued calmly.
"I possess even less interest in the female human's life."
Lian's breathing immediately became shaky again.
*Female human.*
The way the creature referred to his mother sent another strange chill through him.
As though humans and beasts truly existed as completely separate categories within its mind.
Lian stood stiffly afterward.
Afraid to even move too suddenly.
Meanwhile—
the invisible white lizard rested comfortably atop his head as though it naturally belonged there.
Golden eyes calmly observing the village surroundings.
Several moments passed before Lian finally forced himself to speak again.
"…C-Can you not sit on my head?"
"Why?"
The question came immediately.
Direct.
Genuine.
Lian almost choked.
"Because it's terrifying!"
The white lizard became quiet briefly afterward.
Then calmly replied—
"You fear too easily."
Lian stared blankly ahead.
*Anyone would fear this!*
But he no longer dared say that aloud.