C25 Little White Tiger

Aotian spun around, scanning the area but finding nothing. He shook his head, puzzled, "Am I seeing things?"

But as he turned back, he got the fright of his life!

The little white creature he had encountered that morning was now standing right behind him! Clutching his chest, Aotian brooded, "How do I never notice it sneaking up on me? If it were an enemy, I'd be dead twice over by now!"

"Kid, this creature is no ordinary beast! I let it slide last time you didn't notice it, but again? Its abilities must be extraordinary. It reminds me of an animal my own master once described to me. But what's it doing here?" Matt's voice trailed off, growing fainter as if he were lost in thought.

"What is it, Master? Do you know?" Aotian inquired, his curiosity piqued by his master's musings. The little creature before him was surely no ordinary animal.

"I remember a book my master showed me, describing an animal that looked a lot like this one when it was young. Yes, very similar! But it's impossible. How could it be here?" Matt continued to ponder aloud.

"What is it, exactly? Tell me, please!" Aotian pressed, eager for answers as Matt continued to mutter under his breath.

Just then, the little one trotted up to Aotian, letting out a soft howl, a dribble of saliva on its lips, its eyes seemingly pleading for something.

"Aotian, this is your chance! You must tame this little one. It'll be a tremendous asset for your future," Matt urged, as if struck by a sudden realization.

"Oh! Master, what exactly is it? Why the urgency?" Aotian's interest intensified with his master's insistence.

"It bears a striking resemblance to the White Tiger, one of the four great divine beasts. I can't be certain, nor do I understand why it's here, but you must seize this opportunity to tame it!"

Matt spoke up eagerly!

"No way, am I really that lucky to have stumbled upon this little guy so soon?"

"We're not certain yet, but taming it is definitely better than not! Don't many people tame magical beasts as mounts or pets? They can help you in battle, right? Go for it!"

Matt's response was a bit muddled.

"It's not certain, huh? But taming a demonic beast is tough, especially a high-level one! I read about it in a book at the academy's library. It said you need to earn its trust first, or you won't stand a chance at taming it," Aotian said with a hint of frustration.

"I know that! I'm telling you to seize the opportunity! It seemed to really enjoy your roast meat at lunch. Maybe that's your way in, hehe!" Matt chuckled with a sly grin.

"Oh really? Master, you're quite the schemer!" Aotian exclaimed with a mix of admiration and disbelief.

"Kid, it's not scheming, it's strategy! Strategy, get it? It's the old saying, 'the older the ginger, the spicier it is'!" Matt clarified, a bit deflated by Aotian's comment.

"Yeah, yeah, so you're extra spicy, Master! Hahaha!" Aotian burst into hearty laughter.

"Listen, kid, do you want to tame it or not?" Matt asked, his patience wearing thin after Aotian's continued jesting.

"Of course, I do! Master, no need to get worked up! I was just having a bit of fun with you!" Aotian said, scratching his head sheepishly.

"Well then, get to it! Roast some meat now and let's see if it really is a fan of your barbecue!" Matt suggested, noting the little creature's continued presence near Aotian.

"Alright!" Aotian took out the leftover meat from the morning and got the fire going to start roasting.

Before long, the meat began to give off a tantalizing aroma. The little creature was fixated on the meat in Aotian's hand. "Looks like Master was spot on!"

Despite his musings, Aotian quickly grabbed the seasoning and sprinkled it on the meat, causing a sizzling sound and an even more enticing scent to waft through the air. At that moment, the little guy stood up, eyes locked on the meat in Aotian's hand, drooling a long, glistening strand of saliva.

As the meat neared perfect doneness, Aotian plucked a slice from the fire and tossed it toward the little creature.

"Here you go, little one—eat up! It's delicious, and if you stick with me, you'll get treats like this every day!"

Aotian couldn't resist trying to coax the small creature in front of him.

But as Aotian stood and spoke, the little guy darted behind a large tree, eyeing the meat in Aotian's hand warily.

"Kid, take it easy. It's not like it understands you! Just toss the meat to it. Why all the chatter? You're just scaring it off!" Matt called out, seeing the creature scamper away.

"Haha, got it—I was too hasty!" Aotian admitted, chuckling sheepishly at his master's advice. He lobbed another slice of meat toward the little fellow.

The creature eyed the incoming meat with suspicion, seemingly torn about whether to approach and eat it.

After a moment's hesitation, temptation won out. The little guy edged closer, sniffed the meat, pawed at it, and circled around. Finding nothing amiss, it snatched up the meat and retreated behind the tree to feast. In no time, it was back, gazing at Aotian with hopeful eyes.

Aotian laughed and tossed over another piece. This continued until, with a belly full and meat in mouth, the creature trotted off into the distance.

Aotian felt an urge to give chase but was promptly halted by Matt's timely advice. "No point running after it now. Let it go. If it found you once, it'll find you again. Just wait for it!"

Realizing his master was right, Aotian stood still, watching the dusk settle. He finished his own meat and settled down to practice his cultivation.

"Hey there, little buddy, this piece of meat's for you!" Aotian said as he tossed the last slice from his hand.

It was day thirty-seven in the forest for Aotian, and several days since he'd encountered Lil'White (a name he'd affectionately chosen). Lil'White was no longer on guard around Aotian, who sometimes could even stroke its fur when he got close! And lately, Lil'White had taken to trailing behind Aotian almost every day.

Aotian had grown fond of having Lil'White's company. With his return to the academy just days away, the thought of leaving this little critter behind was more bitter than he'd expected.

"Ah, little buddy, I'm leaving in a few days. Looks like I won't be able to tame you after all. We won't be together anymore. Will you miss me?" Aotian mused aloud, gazing at Lil'White.

Regrettably, Lil'White seemed oblivious to Aotian's words, blissfully savoring the tasty morsel.

"Ah well, no use dwelling on it! If it's meant to be, we'll cross paths again someday!"

After watching Lil'White polish off the meat, Aotian stood up and pressed on, determined to make the most of the remaining days to focus on his training.