Gryffindor materialised in a sudden flash of blinding light before Bai Xifeng. He glanced down, only to find his master pinning yet another wild beast firmly to the dusty ground.

"Xifeng... what is it this time?" Gryffindor asked, his voice tinged with a hint of weary amusement.

"I want to tame this hawk and make it Nianzu’s contracted beast. I have no desire to beat it up too badly, so I want you to speak with it regarding the matter." Bai Xifeng explained calmly.

"Alright. I will see what I can do." Gryffindor stated.

He shifted his piercing gaze toward the hawk and began to speak in the guttural language of beasts.

’My master intends to tame you. Behave yourself. Otherwise, I will be forced to kill you.’ Gryffindor growled, his voice dropping into a low, threatening rumble that vibrated in the air.

’I agree! I submit!’ The hawk chirped back instantly, offering no resistance whatsoever. In fact, it seemed almost eager.

Gryffindor raised an eyebrow, feeling genuinely confused as to why this wild, soaring creature had surrendered with such pathetic ease.

’Are you attempting to play a trick on us?’ Gryffindor asked, narrowing his eyes with deep suspicion.

’No... no... actually... I want to ask this human to give me some of those incredible pills she gave to that other beast earlier.’ The hawk explained frantically, its wings twitching.

Gryffindor paused to think about it. The "other beast" the hawk mentioned must have been the black panther from earlier. His master had likely rewarded the panther with a beast pill, and this hawk had clearly witnessed the entire exchange from its high, hidden perch above.

Gryffindor knew that yearning sensation all too well. He had reacted in much the same way when he first encountered those potent, essence-filled pills. It was primarily because of those miraculous medicines that he had been so willing to follow his master in the first place.

A small, knowing grin formed on Gryffindor’s face as an opportunistic thought occurred to him.

’If you truly wish to taste those beast pills, then you should definitely follow her.’ Gryffindor stated.

’I am more than willing!’ The hawk immediately agreed, its sharp eyes now filled with shimmering anticipation rather than aggression.

Gryffindor nodded with a faint smile. He understood the feeling perfectly since he had once been exactly like this hawk. However, he did not regret his choice for a moment, as he enjoyed the benefits of the pills whenever he desired. Bai Xifeng had not been lying to him when she promised he could enjoy the bounty of her alchemy.

’However, understand this. You will not be her contracted beast, but rather the contracted beast of her subordinate.’ Gryffindor clarified, remembering Bai Xifeng’s original instructions.

’Eh? Does that mean I can still have that pill if I become the contracted beast of another?’ The hawk asked tentatively.

’Yes.’ Gryffindor nodded without a second of hesitation.

’Yes! Absolutely yes!’ The hawk replied, spreading its wings in a gesture of joy.

Gryffindor turned back to Bai Xifeng and relayed that the hawk had wholeheartedly agreed to follow her. Bai Xifeng nodded happily upon hearing the hawk’s specific reason for its sudden loyalty. The beast pills she possessed were abundant. It was a small price for her to pay for such a swift resolution. Yu Nianzu would finally have his contracted beast.

Suddenly, Bai Xifeng remembered her primary mission. Her gaze shifted back to the hawk with renewed focus.

"Gryffindor, ask him if he knows of a cave containing Xien Stones. If he does, ask if he can lead us there. Tell him I will award him the beast pill he craves immediately." Bai Xifeng said, turning to her companion.

"Understood, Xifeng." Gryffindor nodded and turned his attention back to the avian creature. He relayed the question in their shared tongue.

The hawk pondered for a brief moment before chirping a question in return.

’Is it the stone that glows with a blue colour?’ The hawk asked.

Gryffindor relayed the query to Bai Xifeng, who responded immediately with a firm nod. He then gave the hawk the confirmation it sought.

’Then I know exactly where it is. Come, follow me.’ The hawk declared.

He spread his powerful wings and took to the sky. Bai Xifeng leapt onto Gryffindor’s broad back, and the dragon-like creature took flight, trailing closely behind the hawk. They soared across rugged terrain until, beneath a jagged ridge, they finally spotted the entrance to a cave. They descended quickly. As they landed on the stony ground, the hawk perched himself upon a gnarled tree branch nearby.

A sharp metallic tang hung in the breeze, the heavy scent of raw ore and ancient, undisturbed earth. Finally, the mouth of the Xien Cave appeared before them, a gaping black maw carved into the side of a towering limestone cliff. Unlike the lush, vibrant forest they had left behind, the area surrounding the cave was eerily barren. Not even a patch of moss grew on the surrounding rocks, as if the very ground was too mineral-rich for life to take root.

"Hmm... it certainly fits the description." Bai Xifeng noted with a satisfied nod.

She reached into her robes, took out the beast pill she had promised, and offered it to the hawk. The hawk’s eyes shone with a brilliant light as he saw the round, fragrant pill. He snatched it up with his beak and swallowed it whole, a feeling of immense comfort spreading through his body as the pill settled in his stomach.

Bai Xifeng smiled as she watched the hawk’s blissful reaction. She then instructed Gryffindor to transport the hawk into the Mirror World. The hawk chirped a confused question, asking where such a place could be, but Gryffindor did not bother to answer.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*