Chapter 14

Back in my cave, I watched as Little Black scurried around, trying to clean up the pigsty he had made for himself. He was busy with everything but daring to look at me. "Little Black?" I called him with a blank expression. His body stiffened, and he sneakily glanced at me. When he saw I was expressionless, he pouted and rushed toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist and starting to wail. "Xiaoxiao, I’m sorry! I just wanted to give you a surprise. Are you surprised now?" I tugged on his hair and pulled his head back, looking at the slightly chubby face of Little Black. Suddenly, a memory resurfaced—when I was traveling and in danger, just before I lost consciousness, I felt a warm hand supporting me. Struggling, I barely managed to lift my eyes and remember seeing a round face, and the unfamiliar beast embroidered on his sleeve. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Could it be that he thought his human form was too fat, which is why he refused to transform? "Oh, I vaguely remember a few times when I was about to lose consciousness, I saw a sturdy back, dressed similarly to you. That couldn’t have been you, could it?" "Who? That wasn’t me!" Little Black jumped up, nervously glancing around. "Xiaoxiao, how could you remember another man? Forget about it!" I pinched his chin, forcing him to look up at me. "Oh? Fine, I’ll forget, but you have to tell me—what exactly are you?" He grinned, showing his sharp tiger teeth. "Me? I’m Xiaoxiao’s spirit beast!" "Then you can go." I turned around decisively. "My spirit beast is a little black pig, not you." "Xiaoxiao!" He urgently hugged me from behind. "I’m a Taotie."