It was supposed to be a normal morning.
I was planning to fake train, eat expired spiritual dumplings, and stare at Yura while she napped like a smug cat.
Instead—
> "By Elder decree of Rustcloud Sect, the fox… cough, your esteemed spirit beast, is hereby accepted into the Inner Court as a Core Disciple!"
I blinked.
Yura blinked.
We were standing outside my cabbage shack, surrounded by sect disciples holding banners that read WELCOME HOLY TALENT! and WE KNEEL FOR THE FOX GODDESS.
Yura looked down at her own claws. "I literally killed a few intruders."
"You vaporized four Qi Refinement disciples and a Foundation Realm cultivator in under five seconds," I replied. "That's practically a sect resume."
> [New Title Gained: "Beast of the Inner Court" — Applied to: Yura]
[You have been designated: "Beast Handler Lv.0"]
Benefits: Free hay, occasional scraps, no dignity.
---
Scene: Inner Court Registration Pavilion
The elders bowed to her.
They offered her spirit pills, golden robes, even a jade token with her name inscribed in phoenix blood.
Meanwhile…
They gave me a wooden nametag that read: "Handler of Spiritual Pet #9: FLUFFY"
It had a tail drawn on it in ink. Poorly.
> "You may rest in the stables behind the Spirit Beast Tower," one elder told me.
"I'm a human!"
"Then you'll be the cleanest one there."
> [New Quest Unlocked: "Survive Inner Court Without Dying of Shame"]
Reward: "Basic Cultivation Technique (probably trash)"
---
Later That Day
Yura lounged on a silk bed in her personal tower suite, sipping chilled spiritual wine.
I swept the floor outside her door, dressed in what could only be described as… beggar cosplay.
> "This is humiliating," I muttered.
Yura poked her head out. "Servant, warm my foot bath."
"You don't even bathe!"
"I'm roleplaying."
"…I'm rethinking the harem route."
> [Reminder: She is 9 times more powerful than you, and 90% more tsundere.]
---
Inside her room
I poured steaming water into a golden basin.
Yura rolled her shoulders, her robe slipping slightly off her shoulder. Her tails flicked lazily behind her, each one softly glowing.
> "You really thought I was a pet," she said.
"I still stand by my logic. You had tails."
"And now you're washing my feet."
"…I'm flexible."
She raised a foot.
Then, without warning, she splashed water directly in my face.
> "Oops."
I coughed. "This is harassment."
She leaned in, smirking. "And?"
I blinked. My heart stuttered a bit.
> [Warning: Flirtation Detected. Heart rate increasing. Cultivation level still pathetic.]
[Suggest: Retreat. Or confess. Or combust.]
---
Just then…
BOOM!
Another sect explosion. (At this point, I think it was part of daily routine.)
A disciple ran in, screaming:
> "The Moonlight Edge Pavilion sent another challenger! Core Realm this time!"
Yura stood, her aura erupting in red flames.
> "They dare disturb my… foot bath?"
Her tails began glowing ominously.
> [System Note: Pet is now more master than you.]
[Pet is also now publicly considered Sect's Top Genius.]
I stared at my wooden name badge.
The words Beast Handler glowed with quiet shame.
---
Hours Later – Arena
The challenger was already unconscious.
Yura sat in the winner's seat, polishing her claws.
I stood behind her, holding a parasol over her head like some kind of imperial maid.
> "Good job, Fluffy," I said.
She narrowed her eyes.
"I'm going to curse you with fleas."
> [New Passive Gained: "Sect Reputation -5 (Handler of Divine Beast with Death Glare)"]
[Also: New Technique Received — "Inner Dao of Deep Breathing"]
Instruction: Sit. Inhale. Do nothing. Receive +0.00001 Qi per hour.
"…You gave me a yoga pamphlet," I muttered.
> [That cost 1,000 original system points. You got it because your real prize — "Heaven Piercer Finger" — was sold for 13,000 spirit stones on BlackNet.]
"I want to die."
> [That will cost extra.]