Clouded Soul Vol 1 Outline Part 4 (Patreon)

Editor hasn’t checked this yet, might be some changes.

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A small note because I don't really want to go back and add it, but there's an element I'm going to slot in to the tunnel scene and in the post Jileng Massacre scene. Setup for sequel series Clear Soul if we end up doing it. In addition to the presence of the fire sect guys, there's going to be three members of another sect who really, really disturb Shan. They are corpse puppeteers, controllers of jiangshi, and they add to the horror of that night for Yanmei and Shan. Additionally it's going to be added drama for Li as he promised these men the body of Jileng Wen and her daughter, and so he has nothing to give them that they want for their services. Their leader will harrass Li when Shan comes to see him post battle, but it's all framed as very 'nice guy'. We understand. You got carried away, and we are patient. All we require is someone of equal value to Wen, and death comes for us all. Implying they'll get their reward themselves if Li waits too long to provide them an equivalent.

As Li will die by Jun's hand, Clear Soul will see this sect taking an interest in him to add to their army of corpses. Standard trope of one of their guys watching the final battle secretly and being like hm yes very interesting. There'll be a lot more to it but I don't want to spoil it/put mental effort into it before I even know if we'll go past Clouded Soul.

Attempted Ambush

We focus on Miao directly after the last chap. She's up on her mountain and a description is given of her personal slice of it where she sleeps. Maybe her personal lair is the ruins of some small, ancient pagoda and all that remains is the first floor, setting up a mystery point if I ever want to revisit this place and define what made it special. She has called a council meeting and countless cats are in attendance. Miao is having a onesided conversation with them. They are actually talking to her but the reader won't hear what they say. She's acting all business but now that she doesn't have to tsunderify her words around Jun some of her mask slips and reveals how she excited is about Jun's offer.

The problem is she doesn't know if she can trust humans and is afraid of leaving them behind. Her family has always protected this mountain and she's the last of the white tigers here. It's been many, many moons since her mother left but she was very clear that she should stay here and guard the mountain like her kind has always done. She certainly wouldn't want her to trust humans. One of the cats reveal they've snuck off to the village a few times and the people fed them and were nice. Some other cats chime in with agreement, which Miao admonishes them since she never gave them permission to do that.

She allows the cat chorus to talk and they tell her more of their examples. When Miao asks if anyone has something bad to say about the humans, there's only silence. This makes things more difficult. One of the cats gives a very wise statement that Miao reiterates for the reader, like, 'you should be concerned with your own individual happiness and go with the human, you will never have another chance like this and we love you for all you have done for us but we will be fine without you', which leads to a comical moment she she lashes out at the cat saying no one asked you.

Miao struggles with this and she lands on one of her last concerns. What if her mother comes back and there's no one to greet her? One of the cats points out that her kind only lives so long. Miao has an extended lifespan because she's a spirit, but she left us as a tiger. Miao doesn't believe her mother wouldn't have ascended by now. If she managed to, there's no reason her mother wouldn't have. Miao sounds like she's partially trying to convince herself. One cat points it out and she comes to terms with that.

The wise cat pipes up again, saying she's done nothing but make excuses for not going. She should try listing the positives of going with Jun. Miao is apprehensive, so the cats start to do it for her. They start of simple. One says to see the world, Miao is like yes that would be nice, to become stronger, yes, yes, but the cats start to get more personal and she gets embarrassed. You're attracted to him, he would make a fine mate for you, in time he will give you strong cubs. She gets flustered and orders them to silence themselves, but the wise cat looks like it still has something to say.

Miao gives it permission, and it tells her something simple but profound. You are most alive when you are with him, and he will take a piece of you with him that you will never get back when he goes.

Miao dwells on that. She puts actual thought into what it would feel like when Jun goes off to never return. She thought she might miss him like she misses her mother, but when she actually forces herself to confront that reality she realizes it would be a lot worse. She's silent for a long time and some of the cats approach her to comfort their master.

Miao accepts her situation and what all of her friends are trying to tell her. She tells everyone to be prepared for tomorrow. She's going to tell him her answer, meet with the village, and if it goes well she will oversee a meeting between the people and the cats. The cats begin to cheer at how easy their lives are about to become after they've trained all the humans to care for them. Miao gets offended at this and calls them all shameless and without pride, they don't care who looks after them so long as they get fed.

She gets annoyed and sighs before accepting the nature of her loyal subjects, but then something happens that snaps her into a state of alertness. She picks up on people invading her mountain. Not the villagers, but the same ones who tried invading about a month back. This time it's a much bigger host, maybe 25-30 men. She can't sense their advancement levels very well but there's only one on her level, she thinks. They're trying to veil themselves but it's no use against her nose, and the veils themselves are clunky and unreliable. She asks her cats if everyone is in attendance but not everyone is. This could be bad.

Miao stealthily descends the mountain and veils herself much better than them before coming across one of the Sasei groups. She doesn't like the smell of them. Lots of blood and death. They didn't get the message when she killed some of their last invasion party as a warning, so Miao doesn't hold back. She drops down on this group from above and we see what she's like when fighting to kill. It's merciless and she overwhelms this goon squad, but it does take her some of her chi to do so.

(side note, but I think they will have needed to have attacked the mountain once before for her to resort to such extremes. just noting it here so that I can put it retroactively in the other Paoshi segments where we hear about his initial failure of a direct assault.)

She runs to the next one, but she's attacked by Cuihei Yong playing mind games with his powers. He's an archer and his veil is strong enough that her nose can't pick up on him, but her instincts alert her to the danger of incoming arrows even when the arrows are veiled. She commands him to show himself and her mantra actually makes him do so for a brief moment, but that moment is all she needs to dispose of him. He manages to react in time and her claws rend his shoulder instead of entire torso, but before she can follow up, the main host is upon her and Paoshi addresses Miao, warning her not to finish him off.

Miao laughs at the stranger for thinking he has any right to make demands of her but when she faces him she realizes a bunch of the Sasei are holding cats at knife point. She didn't realize because all of their bad death smells overpowered the smells of her cats, and this whole mountain smells like cats, anyway. Paoshi talks but she doesn't listen. Miao is considering her options. She doesn't have much chi left and wonders whether she should try using agility to strike at them all at once, but there's too many targets.

Instead she expends a good chunk of chi for one big burst of superiority, demanding they put down their hostages and submit to her will. Only a few of them do. She is shocked when it doesn't work and Paoshi explains that his clan specializes in the control mantra, so it takes a lot to bend their will. With no other option, Miao asks what it is they want from her. Paoshi says if she plays nice then everyone can come out of this situation for the better.

He tells her that he's here to recruit her into the great Sasei clan by extending a spiritual marriage proposal on behalf of their clan's precious young master. Miao doesn't understand, asks if this is like entering a contract with this man like what Jun told her about. Either way, she laughs him off until he rephrases it in a way an animal will understand- she's to become Sasei Shan's mate. Miao takes this in and ends up thoughtlessly saying she already has a mate. Paoshi says yeah, well we'll do something about him too if you don't come with us.

Miao gets very mad. This isn't fair. This shouldn't be happening- not when she was about to tell Jun her feelings. She wonders if in a just world this would've been stopped from happening and she understands Jun's motivations a little better now. Miao has no options and submits. The thought of becoming someone's mate against her will almost makes her throw up, and the cats are all meowing at her to leave them and escape, but she can't do that. She consents, believing she will have a chance to kill them all when their guard is down.

These hopes are dashed when Paoshi orders her tied up and sealed. She's covered in thick ropes and talismans that leave her physically exhausted, but she manages to tell him to leave the cats alone now. Paoshi considers this and carefully runs his knife along the one he's holding, bringing up what Yong told him about cruelty. It seems like he's going to hurt the cat, but he reminds Miao that he wants everyone to get along and as a show of good faith he has them let go.

The scene ends with Paoshi fitting Miao with a leash, as she realizes her only hope now is for her loyal subjects not to disappoint her. A lot could be said of the moral failings of cats, but despite what they might want you to believe, they are quite loyal creatures. They wouldn't be letting her down after all she did for them.

Jun Rescue

Jun is back with Gui for his daily tea and progress report. Gui is glad Jun finally made his move in more ways than one. Everyone is starting to get a little tired of smoked fish and they'd like to get back to tending the fields and not having to worry about the rats anymore. Jun is sorry it took so long but it was worth it since now he's certain she's going to agree. The village is rather excited about taking in the cats, as is the elder.

Gui asks what's next for Jun, and he hasn't decided. He's mostly just planning on going around to have adventures and attain power until he gets strong enough to challenge his enemies, but he'll be looking for opportunities like this to help others along the way. Jun has enjoyed his time in the village, but he's also eager to move on as soon as he can. There's not much else for him here other than gaining Miao's partnership, and he won't become stronger by sitting around doing nothing.

The elder reminds Jun he still has a reward waiting for him, but Jun almost forgot about that whole thing. Gui laughs saying the young man has been distracted with certain other things so that doesn't surprise him. He's about to tell Jun about what it is when suddenly he's interrupted by the sounds of scratching on the door and a crowd of meowing.

Jun opens the door and they see a bunch of cats. Gui thinks they came early but Jun realizes they're in distress and that something isn't right. Some of them turn away and look over their shoulder like they're waiting for him to follow while the others keep meowing. He asks if Miao is alright and their reaction is enough to worry him.

He announces he's going to go and that she might be in danger, but Gui stops him and decides to give him the reward early. He might need it. It's a sacred fruit that one of their trees inexplicably produced, blessed with abundant heavenly chi. To his understanding it won't make him stronger until he's properly processed it, but it should at least replenish his chi in the meantime. It's a valuable treasure, a bit lacking compared to the stuff Ren was feeding him, but amazing nonetheless. Jun offers his thanks and doesn't hesitate to take it.

He eats most of it as he runs after the cats but saves some for Miao in case she needs to help him fight their way out of this situation. It fuels him and he feels it in his system lingering and waiting to be processed, but he doesn't have the time for that. Jun veils his strength while following, and it turns out he's pretty good at it. He knows what it's like to be 0% strong and returning to that state is easier than he'd like.

Jun follows the cats into the foothills south of Cat's Paw Mountain and when he sees the camp, he almost doesn't believe it. He looks at the Sasei banners and experiences great fury and wrath, unable to believe the odds. He wonders why they would be here, but he doesn't have to think long. Obviously a white tiger spirit would be an asset to any clan, and they must have gotten wind of Miao somehow.

Jun struggles with his personal feelings, it threatens to undo his veil. He can't let them keep getting away with this. He won't allow the Sasei to hurt the ones he loves any longer, and more than that, won't let them take anyone else away from him. He centers himself and tries to keep calm, finding medium success. He has to look at this situation rationally, so he looks over the camp in greater detail.

Looks to be thirty or so men, most of them apprentices like himself. He can only sense two adepts one of which seems injured, aside from Miao, who he can barely sense inside of a tent. The good news is that the camp is totally unaware, and they seem to be celebrating. A lot of the men are having drinks, but no one seems that drunk yet. The cats must have gotten to Jun fast.

Jun was confident in his strength, but not to the point where he could take upwards of 20 beginners on top of 2 adepts without any affinities of his own. The best course of action is to free Miao and restore her chi with the fruit so she can help him. He worries that they might be strong since they captured Miao, but Jun is able to guess that they might've used underhanded tactics. He asks one of the cats with him if they tried using them against Miao and it meows back at him, which he takes for a yes despite not speaking cat.

Jun readies himself for what he's about to do. This is his first act of justice, and it's to be an execution. He can't risk the Sasei coming back and potentially threatening the village, so it'd be better to wipe them out. He hasn't killed anyone before, but the road ahead is going to be a bloody one. It was only a matter of time.

Jun sneaks down into the camp, leaving the cats behind. He circles around to Miao's tent while being careful to avoid being sighted and looking for any traps along the way. Security is very light and the ordeal is easier than he thought it would be despite a few close calls. He lifts up the tent from behind and crawls through, witnessing the sorry state Miao is in. She's in a cage and the leash is tied to one of the bars. He gets angry again but pushes it down once she notices him. Her words are slurred from exhaustion, but she knew he could come for her and she's annoyed that it took him so long. He's relieved she's okay, reaffirming that he won't let anything happen to her.

Not a damsel in distress, Miao corrects him and says as soon as you get me out of here I'm going to kill everyone myself. Any objections? No, he knows it's for the best and it's justice for what they've done. Miao says they wanted to 'spiritually marry' her to their clan's young master and Jun has a visible anger at that. Miao takes the time to tease him for this but she tells him she said she already had a mate but they wouldn't take no for an answer. Jun deflects and tries to get her to focus, then breaks open the lock. They weren't expecting they'd need extra security once she was already inside, he guesses.

Someone will probably sense her as soon as they take off the talismans so he shows her the fruit he saved for her and she eagerly consumes it. It feels tingly in her stomach and she likes it, sensing the power. Before she frees him, she wants to maximize their chances of getting out of this alive. She was already going to ask him this, but she asks how they set up one of those contract things. She already majorly damaged one of their two adepts but she doesn't know how strong the other guy is. Best to be safe if it'll make them any stronger.

Jun is stunned and happy but tries to be like are you sure? Does this mean-

But Miao is like yes we'll talk about it later. Jun is excited but swallows it down, telling her how the contract works according to a book he read. He hopes its accurate but as soon as Miao says the words and he does the same, they feel their souls become linked and a deeper connection between them grows. He can feel some of her emotions, and she can do the same. Its a little awkward for them with all the romantic tension lingering underneath the peril and neither knows what to say because they realize 'oh I didn't know he/she liked me THAT much...' so Jun awkwardly suggests freeing her now and she agrees.

He does a countdown and frees her from the rope, and as predicted, there's a sudden frenzy in the camp. They ready themselves to strike.

Camp Battle

Miao strikes fast and hard, going with agility from the get go. She rips apart some of the weaker looking threats and dodges the onslaught of ranged attacks and techniques that are used against her. Jun is quick to follow, and while he wasn't sure about what kind of benefits Miao was seeing from their contract, he noticed a change in performance immediately. His steps were faster, his strikes heavier, and a lot of the moves he'd taken from Miao now came a lot easier to him. Even more importantly was he picked up some of Miao's senses, too. He's more in tune with his surroundings and is able to dodge the goons with ease with her wild instinct.

It isn't long into the battle until Jun takes his first life. With a strike fueled by his justice mantra, Jun slams his fist into one man's chest and the ribcage breaks, piercing his heart. Justice mantra gave bonus damage to those whose souls were tainted with sin, so Jun doesn't need to dwell on it for long. This didn't come as effortlessly as it did for Miao, but getting sentimental on a battlefield is a bad idea. One by one, he starts thinning the herd as well.

Cut to inside of Paoshi's tent. He was having a drink with Yong, whose shoulder is now wrapped and treated. Paoshi is annoyed, saying they should've killed Jun and brought along some of the cats to keep her docile. Yong believes this is partially his fault for underestimating Jun. If he knew, he would've suggested killing him before setting out. They can sense it's already a bloodbath out there and Yong emphasizes he can't help like this. Paoshi tells him to slip out of camp and see how it plays out. If things turn out bad, inform my father.

Contrary to his words, Paoshi doesn't look very worried. He's excited more than anything and he thanks the heavens for this opportunity to have some fun and 'finish the job'. Yong tells him not to do what he's planning to do and just focus on making this as efficient as possible, but he knows its no use.

Cut back to the fight. Jun is keeping up, but weary. Taking on so many foes at once makes him burn through his chi faster than fighting just Miao, as he has to keep up with more things all while expending chi for justice strikes to cause finishing blows. He doesn't allow himself to get sluggish, as sluggish means death.

Miao is having an easier time, able to effortlessly pick people off wherever she wants and switching between her forms to make use of its advantages. She saves Jun from a near fatal attack and he repays the favor. They get a sense of what it's like to fight together instead of against each other, and they both like it a lot even if the circumstances could be better. Just as they finish with the last of the goons, Paoshi steps out of the tent and things get more serious.

He's fairly powerful by the looks of it, full of chi, while they weren't doing so hot. Paoshi remarks on how quick they cleaned out all his men, then taunts Jun personally about his former condition and having come a long way. Miao is tempted to go and kill him, but Jun's reaction pauses her. While Paoshi talks, there's going to be emphasis on his hand gestures which are actually him doing sleight of hand things with his knives.

Jun asks if he knows Paoshi in a way that puts down the Sasei as a whole, but Paoshi says no but I knew your sister. Or at least I tried to, but things didn't work out so hot for either of us. Jun is overcome with emotions, thinking this can't possibly be the man who killed his sister. He knew it was someone from the Sasei clan, but of all the people...

He rushes forward but Jun blinds himself to the danger and Miao has to tackle him to avoid a trap- Paoshi had dropped a poisonous knife and had it spring up like a snake- which is his whole gimmick. Mantra control, affinity poison, which will also factor into this battle. Paoshi praises her for her instincts saying they'll take her far in the Sasei clan, but it's a shame she'll be wasted on Shan. Miao doesn't pay him any mind and focuses on Jun.

He's hysteric and wants to kill that bastard but she slaps him and her claws sting his face. She tells him that this isn't like him- he always fights smart and uses his brain. Jun says this man killed his sister but she's like yeah I figured that out, but you're going after revenge right now, and it's different from the justice he told her about. This helps him put things into perspective but Paoshi comments on the cute couple before some of his knives descend.

Jun rolls the two of them over and dodges the attack, Miao springing off of him at the first chance and getting to work breaking some of his knives with her power as they fly around. Jun has to start doing this too, but he's struggling with his internal conflict as Paoshi continues to taunt him. Says he still has the knife that killed his sister and shows it off to Jun, but he doesn't fall for this one and dodges another sneak attack from his flank.

Jun is able to focus more and talks down to Paoshi, proclaiming he'll get justice for what he's done. Paoshi counters what about my justice, huh? I didn't mean to kill the stupid whore, and my life went to shit because of it! Jun asks what he means by he didn't mean to but the answer doesn't redeem him. I was drunk and rowdy, happens to everyone. Her fault for not wanting a piece of this, gesturing to himself.

Miao advances on him and readies a dramatic lunge, which gets Paoshi to reveal a trump card(that Jun will steal when this battle ends). The glove he's wearing is a low level protection treasure that projects a small shield that briefly stuns anyone who attacks it. This will help Jun master the protection affinity and make barriers of his own.

Miao's stunned and doubles over, and Paoshi clicks his heel and a knife juts out of his boot. He sends it in a collision course with Miao's shin, apologizing in advance for the poison and saying he'll cure her when she's nice and tied down again.

Jun needs to save her but he's not fast enough, knowing he only has a few split seconds. The dramatic tension and focus on speed end up helping Jun with an part of his contract- calling on Miao's affinities. He's able to briefly take some of her chi use her agility and he feels it power up his body and make him momentarily swifter, enough to get in there and punch Paoshi in the face with justice. He's sent flying, but recovers on his landing.

Miao smiles but tells him she's not thanking him for saving her because she knew he would. Jun smiles, and she says he's doing better. Don't lose your head again- and don't take my chi without asking! Not really time for that, and she grumbles he's right, she's just not used to how it feels.

Paoshi gets up and says he knows what Yong was going on about now. You two are gag-inducing. Miao asks where his friend is, wonders if he died from that wound she gave him.

Paoshi is amused and then he calls out Jun saying you know she's an animal, right? Too afraid of hitting up real women that you'll lower yourself to fuck beasts? This should've made Jun mad, but it didn't. Instead, he catches one of Paoshi's knives and shatters it. Jun calls him out. Is this the only trick you have? Piss people off and slink your knives off to the side hoping they don't notice?

Now Paoshi gets mad, ironically. He has plenty of other tricks, but when pressed to show them, he just swarms the place with knives that come out of his tent. Each one is coated in deadly poison and Paoshi says all it'll takes is one hit. Jun isn't blind to his technique. Paoshi might've specialized in this, but controlling so many knives and at such a speed is rapidly draining his chi. Because of Miao's senses, he's able to keep up, but he needs to press his advantage. He locks eyes with Miao and she gives him permission, already understanding his intentions.

He taunts Paoshi even more. Your poison doesn't mean a thing if you can't even hit us once, you talentless hack. They expected you to capture a white tiger spirit? You? You can't even hit a clouded apprentice like me- and I was a cripple for 12 years! Paoshi reacts exactly as Jun hoped, freaking out and letting his insecurities be shown. He screams about how he should be taken seriously, how he'd be better than Shan if they just gave him a chance and the same resources.

Jun borrows more of Miao's chi so he doesn't run out, and then taps into her agility again while Paoshi is busy draining his chi to make this knife whirlwhind. They manage to stall him out, and Paoshi suddenly realizes what he's done as his knives fall from the sky and the poison ooating them vanishes. He nearly collapses from fatigue, but is now at their total mercy. He's in disbelief but once it sets in he starts begging for his life.

He looks at Miao and again she doesn't say anything, but she gives him wordless approval. She doesn't have much left, but he takes the majority of her chi so he can finish the job. As he looks this pathetic asshole trying to slime his way out of this, Jun doesn't really have it in him to be mad anymore. He mostly just feels sorry for Paoshi, as pathetic as he is. He orders Paoshi to stand up, but he's too afraid to comply. Miao helps out, giving him a superiority command to stand and telling him to drop his shield. He doesn't have the power to resist it anymore.

Jun looks deeply into Paoshi and tells him about his sister. You took her from me, and now I can only hope the heavens reincarnated her into a better place for all the suffering she had to go through in this life. He wonders how many other people Paoshi has made suffer in his lifetime all because he felt weak and insecure. It's not like Jun can't relate. Says he gets how frustrating it can be when the world passes you by and you just can't keep up.

(sidenote maybe instead of Paoshi just meditating in his tent earlier he's reintroduced playing a dagger tossing game with one of his tied up subordinates to better reinforce the validity of what Jun is saying.)

But none of that gives you any excuse to make the world a worse place. He asks Paoshi if he genuinely knows what he did wrong, or if any of this is even registering. Paoshi gives in somewhat and says Jun is correct about much of what he's saying, though he begs Jun and says he'll change if he lets him live. Jun says we're both in agreement that you need a blank slate, then. Paoshi's hopes rise, but Jun dashes them when he says he hopes the heavens will take pity on him as Jun did and prays his soul carries this lesson into his next life.

As will become a running catchphrase, Jun pronounces a sentence for Paoshi and sentences him to die.

Jun uses up all his remaining chi to deliver a strike with full justice behind it. Miao is surprised because he really shouldn't be able to at his level, but he actually manages to use her power affinity and combine it with his justice. Combining mantra/affinity is the whole focus of the clouded adept stage of advancement, so he shouldn't be able to do that, but she guesses it's something to do with their contract.

What Miao does know for sure is that using so much power wasn't exactly necessary and that Jun got a little carried away with himself. There's not a lot left of Paoshi, which said more about Paoshi than it did Jun. It wouldn't have been so effective if he weren't so guilty, and without any chi to defend himself... it's not pretty, but details aren't given.

It was too much for Jun, though, and he staggers in place as he barely takes in his successful justice. He passes out while thinking of his sister flashing before his eyes, telling her that justice has been served.

After battle and next day

Miao is there to catch Jun, and she fawns on him for a moment in approval, nudging her forehead against his and telling him he did well. She lays him down to rest for a moment as she sweeps the area for the arrow guy. She catches his scent, but he must've slipped away. Not great. Miao snags Paoshi's shield glove but we aren't told that yet.

It's time to get Jun somewhere safe, they can poke around the camp when they've recovered. Carrying him is gonna be hard when she's in a state like this, but she has an idea. She rips apart one of the tents and uses the cloth to tie him to her back in two places. Once around her torso and hips. Then she transforms into a tiger, making it much easier to bring him to safety. The cats that brought Jun reveal themselves on the way out, and Miao praises them for doing a good job.

She's still tired despite being in tiger form, and going up her mountain isn't the best idea. They both made it out of the battle without many injuries, but they need rest and they need it now. She was going to have to introduce herself to the village, anyway, so she might as well bring him there...

When a tiger comes into town, the villagers obviously panic. She roars dramatically, not helping. She demands to speak to the one in charge, as she and he human she carries need rest and nothing less than their finest shelter will suffice. Gui arrives and calms people down, asking her that she is Miao, correct? Hearing that name come from someone else's mouth does not sit right with her. She corrects him that only Jun may call her that, and others must refer to her as something along the lines of Great and Mighty Tigress.

This makes Gui smile for a reason she doesn't understand, but he placates her and tells her Jun already has the best home in the village. She's confused, but Gui tells her about his artifact and how he's been staying on the edge of the village. His magic house should appear if you put some of your chi into his artifact. Miao goes to the edge herself and takes human form so she can do the thing, and she asks all the villagers what they're looking at.

They all had the impression that she was a lot scarier, so they're surprised to see what she looks like now. Miao starts up a rant on her superiority but she looks at Jun and remembers what she's going to be asking of these people soon and forces herself to be the best version of 'polite' she can manage. She then ruins this by picking up one of the spirit rats scurrying around and eating it live in front of the villagers, freaking them out. Weird. Miao would've thought they knew a thing or two about being hungry.

She summons Jun's house and is startled by it and hisses, but once she's used to it she turns to Gui and says she'll be staying with him until they've recovered but demands they gather up some more rats for her. Then forces herself to tack on please, recognizing this man as the old dude Jun has mentioned and is fond of. Gui is honored to be of service, and Miao struggles again but apologizes to him for being so stubborn about the forest, saying she's agreed to Jun's solution.

Gui is obviously happy but he tries to tell her there will be time to speak of this later once they've recovered. Miao regards him and nods, then enters Jun's home. She is hit by the splendor of it all immediately. Has never seen a place like this, wonders if this is what her lair looked like back when it was in its prime. Miao generally just vibes with it and believes it to be a place worthy of a tiger like her and that she could get used to it.

She finds Jun's bed and all the stimulation makes her want to explore the place more but Miao ends up passing out on his bed with him. She also takes his ring off because at some point he told her about that and she wants to make sure he sleeps good.

Brief cut to Yong several hours after the battle. He returns to their camp and can't believe what he's seeing. Especially when he finds what's left of Paoshi. This didn't just go wrong, it went everyone is dead wrong and now he's going to have to report back to the boy's father. He and Xiusho are very old friends and they've worked together ever since the branch clan was set up, and this is going to destroy the man. Even now, Yong can't help but feel Paoshi had it coming. Doesn't mean he can't feel bad for his friend, though.

Cut to the next day. Jun is having a dream of laying in his sister's lap as she strokes his hair and smiles proudly at him. He wakes up with something really soft and fluffy in his face. He nuzzles into it and it starts purring which makes him think it's Miao, and he gets nervous before it's revealed that it's actually just one of her cats. A couple of them ended up in his room overnight somehow and they all acknowledge him once he's up. After they start meowing, Miao shows up and excitedly pounces on him.

She’s wearing a blue dress and we find out she did end up poking around the house a bit and has found a stash of clothes Ren must’ve forgot. There’s some sexy stuff in there as a gag.

Jun is happy to see her and they hug. He's gonna need a rundown of what exactly happened yesterday because he's all foggy on the details and it's surreal to him, but he finds out that yeah, he really did kill his sister's murderer. Jun feels good about that, but he still has a long way to go. She reminds him that THEY have a long way to go and that he's not going to go it alone anymore. They share a tender moment before she reminds him he still has a lot of her chi that he hasn't given back yet. She wants to see what he was talking about and if this contract is worth the hassle on her end.

Jun works out how to do it and gives back all the power he borrowed, and they discover that Miao has an interesting reaction to it. When the purified chi is sent back, her tail bristles and she is filled with energy, essentially filling up with 3 am zoomies cat energy. It's amazing for her and she starts running around like crazy in and out of the room for several minutes until she calms down. Combined with the spirit fruit, she's super excited because for the first time in a long time she actually feels like she's going to get stronger. Though she hints it could always be better, but doesn't tell Jun what she means.

As thanks for the boost and the fruit, Miao got him a gift. He's worried given that she's a cat, thinking it might be a rat or dead bird, but she presents Paoshi's glove thing. It should help him develop his protection affinity, and this is much better than what he was thinking. He praises her and she acts proudly.

He asks what she's been doing while he slept, and she has him come outside with her after putting on his ring again. As he does, he sees the village is now completely overrun with cats. They are everywhere, and most importantly, lots of them are snacking on spirit rats. Jun is surprised at how fast they adjusted and natural this all looks. Miao gets the feeling that her subjects will be happy and well taken care of when she leaves now, and she feels foolish for having been so stubborn, musing that perhaps her mother was wrong and cats and humans were meant to coexist.

Jun holds her hand and smiles at her but it leads to a comedic moment where she doesn't know what the fuck he's doing, asks what is this? He stops and explains its a human thing. She thinks its weird but takes it again saying she didn't tell him to stop.

Gui joins them and he seems to have made friends with the wise cat from Miao's council. He congratulates Jun on his victory and asks what he thinks of the town. It's nice, and he likes it better this way. Gui agrees. It's a shame Jun won't stick around to enjoy it, but by the looks of things he's already gotten all that he can get out of the area. Jun agrees, they shouldn't stick around long in case the Sasei send reinforcements, but Miao says they won't be leaving till tomorrow at least. This is news to Jun, but she wants him to visit her mountain before they go.

Jun has a dense moment about why that would take till tomorrow before she glares at him and he gets it. Gui smiles and says he should get going, far be it from him to get in their way. Now alone, Miao excitedly rushes ahead, eager to show him her home.

Cat's Paw Mountain

Jun takes in the sight of the mountain and it's described in all its beauty before being revealed to have a negative drawback to it- it smells abundantly like cat piss. He thought he'd slept in alleys that smelled bad before, but this was much worse. But he's being kind and not showing his dislike of the place because Miao is excitedly showing him all sorts of little places and anecdotes about her life living here. Over there is the pieces of the rock I smashed when I finally figured out how to use the power affinity, this is the tree I climbed as a cub that I got stuck in and mother had to help me out of, cute things like that. Their contract makes it so he can feel how deeply she wants to share her life with him, and Jun is humbled by how pure and innocent Miao can be when she's not cutting open Sasei thugs.

The full tour of the mountain lasts most of the day, and he almost knows the place as well as she does by the end of it. It's almost sunset by the time they reach the peak, and mercifully, Miao's private lair does not smell bad. He takes in the sight of the ruined pagoda, thinking it's nice and it suits her, but she actually likes his house better. Jun is a little embarrassed. His master gave it to him and he is a very gaudy man. Miao doesn't know what gaudy means but assumes it means he has amazing taste. Jun is like sure.

Miao thinks Jun must be hungry by now and she has him sit down on a pile of grass serving as a cushion before going to get him something fresh. He thanks her, then immediately realizes this is a bad idea and he gets up to go after her. She comes back near instantly with two dead rabbits she just killed, tossing one to him. She's about to tear into hers before he says wait wait wait. He knows she has never lived among humans, but she's going to have to learn some things to better adjust on their travels. And frankly, so he doesn't get freaked out when she does strange animal things.

Miao takes this better than he thought she would. She's eager to learn his human secrets if it means becoming closer to him. She says that he will learn from her and she will learn from him, so it evens out. Jun is happy and explains that there will be no more eating raw animals, but she doesn't understand the distinction of 'raw'. Raw as opposed to what?

Jun summons his house and shows her. She follows him into the kitchen and watches him intently as he prepares the two rabbits and seasons and cooks them. Ren left him a lot of odds and ends, and while Jun is no cook, he is confident he can make something better than Miao has ever tasted. Sometimes he was so bored that he would read any old thing off the shelf, and he'd read a few cookbooks and survival guides in his time. Once he puts them in the stove and the smell gets going, Miao begins openly salivating and the smell makes her tremble in anticipation, asking over and over if it's ready yet.

When they are finally ready and Jun places them on plates, Miao attempts to steal it and eat the entire thing at once. Jun stops her, but she's desperate. He's going to teach her to enjoy her food, so he asks for her trust. She struggles but complies and together they go back outside to eat under the setting sun. Jun chops her rabbit up and then serves her individual pieces with chopsticks, telling her to chew slowly. Miao does, and this is a life changing experience for her. Oh my god Jun, the longer it's in my mouth the longer I can taste it!! Yes, silly, that's how it's always worked.

She demands more, and Jun continues to feed her piece by piece like she's a princess while eating one himself in between each one. He's weirdly into this and thinks he wouldn't mind if Miao always wanted to be fed like this. She takes a break to drink some water, but he stops her and shows her how humans drink. It takes her a couple of tries, but she gets that down, too. She's like wow, that's... much more efficient. Dinner wraps up and despite his lessons in human etiquette, he stills ends up letting her lick the plates because of her cute pouting cat face.

It's now gotten dark out, and the moon rises and the sky fills with so many stars that he has no trouble seeing Miao. It suits her pale skin and her silver hair, making her look even more beautiful. She thanks him for teaching her all that, openly wondering about how much else she has to learn about the world. She reveals to him that her mother told her not to trust humans and not leave the mountain before she left and never returned, so that's a big reason why she is the way that she is.

Part of her is mad that she listened, but mostly, she's glad she stayed long enough so that she could meet Jun. Jun asks if her mother was also a sacred beast, but no, she was a normal tiger. Miao corrects herself, making her mother sound grandiose and all that, but truthfully she didn't know her mother for long. Left when she was still a cub. What about her father? She never knew him.

Jun asks how Miao ascended. He learned a lot about her today, but she hasn't mentioned anything about that.

It's an embarrassing memory for her. It was only a few months after her mother left and a group of boars showed up on the mountain out of nowhere and started trying to eat some of the cats. She tried to protect everyone, but she was outnumbered and was about to die until poof, her mind expanded and power flooded into her. Jun doesn't get why this is embarrassing, but Miao tells him she doesn't want him to hear about stories from before she was strong. He laughs at this but she pouts.

Then he addresses her story is kind of weird. She advanced while still a cub? He's never met another sacred beast before personally but in all the stories he's read, it usually doesn't happen without some grand catalyst like drinking from a sacred pool etc or not unless the animal has lived for a really long time and acchieved wisdom somehow. Miao takes pride in this, proudly declaring herself to be special and better than everyone else. Jun isn't about to argue with her there.

(This is potential setup for if I want to explore more of Miao's background in future installments.)

Miao softens up a lot and sits by his side, telling him he's just as special as she is. He's strong, amusing to be around, has so much to teach her, and he has a noble ambition that she is certain he will one day achieve. All perfect qualities of a mate for a white tigress such as herself. She's says she's willing to do anything to help him create the world that he wants, so long as there's a place for her at his side.

Jun is silent and he stresses how long this journey is going to be. He won't be able to change the world on that level until he's passed the mortal and immortal realms of soul refinement and become a god. Miao toys with that idea. She finds that yes, becoming a goddess sounds like it would pertain to her interests, though if he wants to start treating her like one starting right now it would go a long way.

Jun thinks he can manage that. The love is really thick right now and there's something he really wants to ask her, but it's a bit sudden. Jun does think to himself that he's a desperate kid who missed out on his teen years and Miao is a wild animal that can talk so it's a given that all of this happened so fast, but the bond they have is real, and he wouldn't mind making it stronger... but to ask her about THAT would still be a bit much he thinks.

It comes as a big surprise when she asks about it herself.

The Sasei guys were talking about making me perform this spiritual marriage thingy, they said it was like a contract but even stronger and more binding. She wants to know if Jun knows about it. He does, and he tells her some of the specifics. This all sounds amazing to her, but he gets into the primary benefits coming down to a vast increase in sexual soul refinement. She doesn't follow, and he puts it in a way she can understand. Her mind is blown that you can get stronger through mating, and now sees no reason not to go through with this since we are going to be mating from now on anyway, right? (sometime during this segment, throw in the fact that tigers are polygynous and she since sex refinement is better with more partners Miao thinks it should be a priority to find more women for him. Also work in the fact that he can cum in her without getting her pregnant, better to establish that here than ruin moment later.)

Jun hoped that was the case, but it's still a big commitment. She senses he has some reservations and asks about it and we hear some of his doubts about getting close to someone after all the misfortune he's brought onto others. Some mental scars take a lot of time to heal, and he's only convinced that Ren made it out okay because his mantra is fortune. Miao tells him that's stupid and points to his recent successes, and even if he did bring her misfortune, they'd face it together.

Jun makes sure she understands that it literally binds their souls together as husband and wife. She doesn't get the term but he explains it for her and she rolls the word wife around on her tongue a little bit before saying very well, I like that sound of that. Make me your wife.

Jun can't resist, but he also doesn't want to. He accepts so long as she's certain, and she is. He has the stuff to do it in his house so he has her wait for a moment. He goes and gets the bottle and the cups, while pausing for a moment to think of his master and thank him for giving him this amazing gift. He didn't imagine he'd make use of it so soon after parting, but Ren told him to throw caution to the wind and have fun with life. He's just following his master's teachings.

As Jun leaves the house, he starts to say 'you know, we wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for my master. he gave me the stuff for it, and-' he pauses once he sees Miao has stripped naked in his absence and she's standing there, waiting for him in the moonlight looking like the most beautiful creature under the heavens. He has a clearer view of her stripes now and her skin is illuminated and super pretty. Now more than ever, she truly looks like a spirit because she is otherworldly.

She's blushing, but tries to treat it casually. Says we had best make the most of it, then. Tells him to come and join her so that they can be together. She's ready to become his, and she extends her hand toward him. He stands there gawking for a few seconds, which she allows, before he sets down the stuff and takes his clothes off too before taking him to where she sleeps, which is a room that still has a roof where there's a giant pillowy cushion that is very out of place because it's obviously man made(another small thing adding to the mystery of what was this place). Jun barely takes stock of it though, he has more pressing matters to attend to.

Ceremony and Sex

Jun sits down on the cushion, still hyper conscious of Miao's body, but it's balanced out by the fact that she keeps staring at him, too. He's too embarrassed to check, but he's obviously never been harder in his life. Miao takes the initiative and asks how they do this. He tells her they say these specific words, and then they raise the cups to each others lips and drink. Good thing you taught me how to do it the right way, then. This eases him a little and he says yeah I guess so.

Jun pours the drinks and after staring at Miao and her nodding at him, he starts the ceremony off and says his line. Miao follows up and they do the thing. The alcohol is immensely strong, and they can both feel the oath binding their souls together in soulsworn marriage. They feel at one with the heavenly whole and then with each other, creating such a bond that can never be broken. All their inhibitions leave as soon as the ceremony is complete, and they finally act on the sexual tension between them by rushing towards each other and embracing.

They bask in this contact for a moment before doing anything else but she starts purring his name and looking up into his eyes. He leans in for a kiss and after brief tongue contact she gets excited and pulls away, asking what that was. It's another human thing, a kiss. Do you not like- no, do it more. Kiss me more. Lots more.

And so Jun does, and she's adorably needy with it. Thankfully, her tongue is not rough. She also starts leaning into him and grinding her soft belly into his erection, and Jun dares to grab her by the hips and start pushing back for more pressure with one hand while groping one of her breasts with the other. Miao starts exploring him as they kiss, and he becomes very, very conscious of her claws. It adds a hint of danger that he's really into. She breaks their kiss eventually and remarks on his body- specifically how she didn't know how many scars she's given him in their sparring.

Sure enough, Jun has cat scratch marks all over him. He's looking to get some more, which is good because she thinks they make him more attractive. They need to treat the ones he has, though. Miao starts trailing down his body and giving him licks across his scars, in a purposefully sensual way. It feels really nice, but Miao is just using it as an excuse to get lower and lower until she's face to face with penis.

She takes it in, never having seen a man before it's very overwhelming but the smell almost makes her feral and brings out a side of her that is in contrast to her superiority mantra. She feels as if she's meant to serve this part of Jun, and that doing so would make him very happy. As his mate, it's Miao's duty to please his carnal desires and she loses herself to her instinct. Lots of scent play here along with purring and facerubbing before she gives it any real attention. The buildup is intense.

We hear a little bit about Jun's masturbation habits since setting out on his own. He's studied the sex manual Ren left him and has mastered some of the very basic techniques. Quick refresh, making sure he only shoots blanks, but sensitivity resistance is something that can only be improved through experience. When Miao finally starts licking him and stroking, it's a massive test of his will. There's some stress put on how bad he's wanted this, to be loved in such a way. While other teens were out soul refining and having sex, he was stuck mostly in bed surrounded by his sister and her pretty friends. It was torture, and this was finally the relief he craved.

Miao is able to sense some of this and how much it means to him so she comments on it and how good she's going to take care of him from now on. She's a white tigress, the best of the best. Your every desire will be fulfilled with me by your side. He places his hand on her head and pets her, making her even more submissive, but she can't help finding him cute like this. He gives her the advice to put it in her mouth and suck on it too, which she does.

Miao loves the taste of it and gets very wet and loose with it, sensing his chi trying to hold himself back. She finds that both cute and offensive, conflictingly. Jun should bask in the pleasure she provides, so she goes harder to stop him from being able to hold back and he warns her before he cums. Miao instinctively milks the entire load out of him and sucks it down, savoring the taste and growing more excited at having her mate's seed. Jun feels amazing, this is everything he ever wanted and then some, making her feel even more proud of herself.

She teases him after playing with the cum in her mouth and swallowing that, he is thankful back, but shows the quick refresh thing and she watches as he cycles chi down there to get him going and active again, just as hard as before. She can't fault him for being so eager, what with her beauty. Despite her words, she's still a little nervous about what comes next.

Jun picks up on this and comforts her, saying they can do this however she wants. She's thankful even if she plays it off, then takes a submissive doggy style stance and bids him to claim her. Jun falls to his knees behind her and takes in the sheer beauty of it. He wants to get right to it, it's that tempting, but  He'll thoughtlessly say how beautiful her pussy is and Miao is like my what?? And he explains the slang, to which Miao is like hm I approve. Then adds a not-so-subtle request for him to praise it more.

Jun gives her some flowery language as he begins touching her down there, and we see her worship fetish start to develop. She was already dripping wet but the more he touches her and praises, the more wild it gets. He tries some stuff he read in the manual, namely creating small chi pulses with his fingers, but she tells him not to and that it's too much. He knows more about this than she does, and it's not fair. He can teach her the refinement part of sex some other time. Tonight, they should just mate.

Jun finds this fair, but he wants to give her more to show his appreciation and he starts eating her out. Miao is very overstimulated and it doesn't take long to get her to finish from that point, barely over a minute maybe. She'd suffered some bad heats before and occasionally enjoyed silvervine, but getting off during those didn't come close to doing it with an actual mate. It's the best orgasm ever and she can't take it anymore. When she's done she openly spreads herself for Jun and begs him for it already, which is very humiliating for her but she fights back against it.

Jun can't resist the calling and he finally penetrates her, bottoming out right away. She's super tight and it feels like her walls are trying to squeeze him out from the pressure. She has a firm pussy with rough folds on top of that. He's not going to last, he warns. It's too much stimulation for his first time, but she gives him permission and he only thrusts once before cumming. She feels him blasting and loves the warmth, her bestial instincts giving her pleasure for doing as nature intended.

Tender moment as she asks him how he likes it, and she's proud of herself. Says she's ready for more as soon as he can manage it, but she feels him refresh already inside her and he gets even harder. Three shots is his limit so far, at least at his level of practice, so they need to make this one last. Miao is displeased. They're going to have to do a lot of training on that regard. Jun says he could've put more work into it but he was too busy working hard to keep up with a certain tigress, but she rolls her ass back into him and tells him how tigers mate. Rough, fast and intense over the course of several days. Jun is very aroused at the thought but grits himself and gets to work, pleasing Miao.

For a while they're just in a rhythm, and Jun gets accustomed to it slowly. Miao doesn't go crazy on him like she did with her mouth, letting him explore the pleasures of a woman at his own pace until he starts to ramp it up. As pretty as the view of her back is, Jun surprises her by flipping her into missionary and explaining this is how humans do it. Miao is embarrassed by the position but soon discovers she likes it better. She can kiss him, wrap her arms and legs around him, and generally go a lot more wild. And go wild she does.

Neither of them last much longer and Jun is happier than he's ever been, but Miao still has a wild look on her face. She flips him around this time begs him for one more, and he struggles to do the refresh again and just barely manages it. This one isn't as detailed as the others and is described quick mostly for comedic effect, but she's satisfied after it. Mostly. He gets the impression she could still go for more but is capable of restraint. He worries how rough it's going to be when she learns the ins and outs of sexual soul refinement, but he's never one to back down from a challenge.

They express their love for each other and fall asleep together, Jun taking his ring off to enjoy sleeping with Miao for as long as he can.

Departure and Closing Sasei Stuff

The newly married couple descend from the mountain the next day, after some morning 'training'- both literally and figuratively. Gotta put some work into processing the fruit still and when they're done Miao gives one last farewell to the home she's known her entire life. The village is even more lively and they've already started to hunt in the forest and resume work in the fields. The cats are even more settled in but they all greet Miao as she passes them by. Miao is grumpy at them and telling them to mind their business, giving him an impression as to what they're saying. Sure enough, even some of the villagers congratulate Jun so he's not exempt from it, either. It's embarrassing, especially when Miao sees corrects people that she's his wife.

Gui comes out to meet them and they tell him the good news. That escalated a lot faster than he was expecting, but offers them a ceremony should they wish to make it official in the eyes of the heavens. Jun explains they already had one and Gui is surprised to hear Jun actually has sacred alcohol, thought it was only a legend. Miao jumps in to correct that they still have nearly a full bottle and she has every intention of making sure it gets used, saying Jun needs more wives and she needs subordinates. Gui looks at Jun with a conflicted expression partly pitying him while also maybe jealous. Jun just sighs. He believes that Jun has a long road ahead of him, but he's done this village a great service and they will never forget him and his kindness.

Jun asks if there's any cats she wants to go and say goodbye to, but Miao did that yesterday while he was asleep. It's time to go. Gui asks where he's headed and Jun gives it some thought before saying he thinks he'll just pick a direction and let fortune carry him where it wants. It brought him to Miao, so it's been a pretty good guide so far. Gui and some of the villagers see them off and Jun and Miao have a cute moment together where they reconfirm their readiness for the adventure ahead.

Then, she surprises him by taking on a new form. She clings to his shoulder as the cutest tiger cub he's ever seen and tells him to get a move on. He teases her for this and she goes on about being a great and mighty tigress, and she deserves to be carried. He said he'd treat her like a goddess, after all. That I did he says, and they walk away from the village and the mountain in high spirits.

Cut to Xiusho in the Sasei HQ holding onto a letter from Yong that just arrived. He's detached from reality. It isn't sinking in. His son can't be dead, it's just not possible. We see him thinking about some memories of Paoshi, as a way of showing that no matter how shitty someone is they still probably have people who love them and that Jun's actions are going to have consequences. He reads it over and over again before succumbing to despair.

He has to go and tell his brother. Vengeance must be had. When he goes to see Li, it turns out to be very bad timing. Li is also holding a letter and looks like he's on the verge of transforming. He scowls at Xiusho, saying he better have good news or else he can't promise he'll control his actions. Xiusho is terrified but still believes his brother will comfort him, telling him that Paoshi and the tiger capture team has been killed. My son is dead.

This is not what Li wanted to hear, and his face momentarily becomes snake like and he hisses, his neck elongating towards his brother like he means to swallow him whole. He only yells at him instead, he's furious that idiot nephew of his couldn't even handle something like this and he should've never indulged Xiusho in the first place. He demands to know the details and Xiusho gives him the letter. Once he reads it, Li again needs to be reminded who this Fangzhi Jun is.

That genuinely surprises him. Shouldn't be possible and so on. Xiusho tries not to blame his brother for this but as Xiusho was not present for the battle they believe it was likely the tigress who did Paoshi in. Unfortunately she has entered into a contract with Jun but Li believes they can salvage this since it's not like they are soulsworn married. That ties the soul even after one partner's death. Xiusho freaks out a little. Salvage? You want to salvage this? Let Shan marry his damn pet snake, you would have me call my son's killer my niece?

Li gets angry again and said I would, the value a white tigress could bring to the Sasei clan is a thousand times more than Paoshi ever would've provided and Xiusho damn knows that's true. He isn't hearing it. Begs for the resources to go burn that mountain and village to the ground and chase after and kill them. Li's monstrous side thinks that would be very fun, but it's out of the question. He will wait and think on what to do about the tigress, but they're not killing her. They have more important things to take care of.

Li hands his brother his own letter- and it's from the main Sasei clan. This is the first contact since the Jileng Massacre and it's extremely basic, just something like 'Good job. Wait for further opportunities to serve the clan's interests on Little Haven.' no indication of any reward, no answer to his request for them to take in Shan, nothing. Xiusho doesn't care. His son is dead and chasing after glory for the clan was what killed him. Li again cruelly points out Paoshi is almost certainly at fault for his own death, and that's when Xiusho gets it.

You really don't care, do you. I thought for the longest time that a vestige of your humanity remained after you traded your soul away to the highest bidder- Li tells him to watch his tongue, but for the first time in his life, Xiusho does not cower before his brother- but I see now that my brother is dead. He digs the knife in deeper saying [Li's dead wife] would truly be ashamed of him.

Li is immensely angered but he proves Xiusho wrong. A shred of humanity does remain, and it's all that's stopping him from killing him brutally. He makes very sure Xiusho understands that his love for his little brother is the only thing letting Xiusho walk out of this room. We will have a ceremony for Paoshi, retrieve his corpse, mourn, all that bullshit, but you will regain your senses and look back to the greater picture.

Is that understood. Xiusho, afraid, indeed understands. He thanks his brother for his mercy and leaves the office. Alone in the hall, Xiusho looks at the bigger picture. When you boil it down, he's a father before he is a member of the Sasei clan. Even if his family forsakes him, that tigress must die by his hands, and her lover, too.

He will have justice.

Vol 1 End