Hidden By Moonlight

Birds sang softly in the forest, and the sweet scent of spirit rice floated on the breeze.

Lin Yuan stirred beneath a soft, warm embrace. Opening his eyes, he found Lady Mingyan — his tiger demoness mother — smiling down at him, her tawny hair falling over one shoulder, her eyes filled with pride and affection.

"Awake already, my little cub?" she purred gently.

He rubbed his eyes. "Did I fall asleep outside again?"

"You trained hard. You earned your rest," she replied, brushing his hair.

After washing in the cool spring fed by a spirit vein, Lin Yuan dressed in fresh robes laid out by Lady yinluo. The fabric clung lightly to his newly strengthened frame — training was beginning to change him.

Inside the cozy home, a warm breakfast awaited: steamed buns, roasted herbs, and spiritual beast eggs. Lady Baihua poured fragrant tea with delicate grace while Lady Fengyan carefully carved dried fruit for Qingxue and Xiao Hu.

"Lin Yuan, today you begin your journey,to be the flowing sky pavilion" Lady Baihua announced.

"To... the Flowing Sky Pavilion?" Lin Yuan asked hesitantly.

She nodded. "Take Xiao Hu and Qingxue with you. Say they are your spiritual pet and bonded companion."

Lady Baihua smiled warmly. "You will go as yourself. Be proud of who you are."

Lin Yuan hesitated. "And what about all of you?"

Lady Mingyan reached forward, placing a jade pendant on a red string around his neck.

"We will remain hidden in the pocket dimension, linked to your soul. If danger comes, we will be near. But this path — you must walk it on your own feet."

---

Word of Lin Yuan's departure had spread through the village. At the gate, dozens of familiar faces gathered to see him off.

Old Master Heng, the village blacksmith, pressed a small hammered copper charm into Lin Yuan's hand. "For protection. Made with heart, not enchantment."

A shy girl with pigtails handed him a pouch of dried plum candy. "For when you miss home!"

An elderly herbalist slipped a tiny gourd into his robe. "Empty now. Someday, you'll fill it with something rare."

A barefoot boy held out wooden beads, uncertain but hopeful. "My papa says you're strong. So maybe you don't need this. But just in case."

A stooped granny gave him a folded embroidered cloth. "My mother stitched this for luck. I kept it safe."

Qingxue and Xiao Hu carried the growing pile of tokens, while Lin Yuan bowed deeply. "I will carry your blessings with me."

The village elder stepped forward solemnly. "Lin Yuan, you were never ordinary. Gifted with strength and heart. Today, you walk the path of destiny."

"Travel well, Yuan'er!"

"Don't forget your home!"

"Come back strong and proud!"

Lin Yuan turned to the road, his siblings by his side, the pendant warm against his chest, memories of home etched in his heart. He didn't look back.

Behind him, his three powerful mothers watched silently from within the jade pendant.

The road ahead shimmered with possibility.

---

Lin Yuan, the young tiger cub, and the golden-haired girl traveled on foot, moving from village to village. Some welcomed them with warm meals; others, wary of the black tiger cub growling by his side, turned them away.

"No problem," Lin Yuan said with a grin. "We'll sleep in the trees." And so they did.

Thanks to Lady Mingyan's training, Lin Yuan had learned to hunt, climb, and survive with little. Lady Fengyan gifted him a spiritual feather sword that could turn into a sharp flying blade, warding off dangers and even annoying insects.

A gourd of spiritual water never ran dry — refreshing and potent enough to heal wounded beasts. A golden bracelet released a protective aura, while two others could slow enemies or speed his movements. A silver belt automatically formed a defensive barrier when his life was threatened.

Though he didn't fully grasp their power yet, these treasures made Lin Yuan a walking fortress.

---

On the twelfth day, as they passed through a dense pine forest, a streak of silver light crashed from the sky with a thunderous explosion.

The earth trembled, birds scattered.

Lin Yuan and his siblings rushed to a clearing. There lay a woman — her robes torn, her face pale, spiritual energy chaotic.

His pendant glowed faintly.

"Poisoned by an aphrodisiac," Lady Mingyan's voice whispered in his mind. "Don't panic. You're too young to understand. Follow my instructions."

Lin Yuan worked quickly — giving spiritual water, healing pills, and a Cleansing Moon Pill. He tied the woman firmly to a tree with magic rope and poured more spiritual water over her head.

Qingxue helped build a chi-gathering formation, which Lin Yuan layered carefully with guidance from Lady Mingyan.

"Ask Xiao Hu to roar — right into her ear."

Xiao Hu's ears perked. "RAAWWR!!"

The forest shook. The woman's eyes snapped open.

"What…? Why am I tied to a tree?"

Lin Yuan stepped back. "You crashed, you were injured. I gave you medicine…"

Her eyes scanned the ropes, the glowing formation beneath her, then rested on Lin Yuan.

"Who taught you this formation?"

"My mother," Lin Yuan said simply.

Lady Mingyan's voice guided him again. "Say your family is gone."

The woman smiled faintly.

"What do you want in return?"

"My family is gone. I want… to be your disciple."

"Your name?"

"Lin Yuan."

She extended a hand. "Give me one drop of your blood."

The drop vanished into her palm, glowing softly.

"From this day, you are a disciple of Taiyin Sect."

Lin Yuan's eyes widened.

"But I'm a man!"

She shocked ,"Ask why do you look like a girls,your name is sound like girls?Your name is now in the Hall of Eternal Moonlight. Our souls are linked. You cannot leave the sect except by death."

Lin Yuan ask, "Why do you have token of Flowing Sky Pavilion. "

She say,"I am undercover.Actually I am the most beautiful elder of tai yin sect. " Lin Yuan turned to Xiao Hu. "Is she beautiful?"

Xiao Hu snorted. "Not really."

"Qingxue?"

"A little…"

Lady Qingxuan raised an eyebrow. "What did they say?"

Lin Yuan shrugged. "They said you're not *that* beautiful."

She sighed. "You little brats know nothing of beauty. Now let me heal myself."

Suddenly, a crashing noise broke the silence.

"Wild boar," Lin Yuan said.

She smiled. "Perfect. My disciple, go kill that boar and roast it. A test. Don't worry — I'll save you if you're about to die."

---

They found the massive boar soon, eyes glowing red.

Lin Yuan nocked a poison arrow. *Thwip!* It struck near the snout.

The beast shrieked and charged.

He fired three more arrows at its heart and lungs, but the boar grew furious.

Climbing a boulder, he shot twice into its neck. The boar smashed the stone, knocking Lin Yuan down.

Xiao Hu roared, stunning the beast.

The tiger lunged, but its hide was too thick.

Lin Yuan dodged a charge and smashed the boar with his hammer.

Xiao Hu roared again. The beast faltered.

Lin Yuan summoned his flying sword, stabbing twice in its neck.

The boar lunged with tusks.

His silver belt activated a shield, saving him.

Xiao Hu bit his shoulder, dragging him to safety.

The boar crashed through trees — then finally collapsed.

---

Lin Yuan lay dizzy, drinking spiritual water and swallowing healing pills.

Lady Qingxuan arrived, unimpressed.

"You killed the Boar King? I don't believe it."

She tended his wounds, scolding him for pill abuse.

"I'll be fine," he smiled weakly.

Sharing candy, they settled in.

"Why aren't you crying?" she asked.

"It won't help," he said.

Qingxue began singing softly.

Lady Qingxuan pulled out a flute, playing a gentle melody.

Under moonlight, warmed by music and companionship, Lin Yuan drifted into deep, healing sleep.

---

When Lin Yuan woke, he found himself in a body of light. Before him stood his four mothers, radiant with spiritual energy.

"Is this my soul body?" he asked.

Lady An smiled. "No. You're in the pocket dimension. We changed planes. You should join the Taiyin Sect. It is a holy place for cultivation."

Lin Yuan asked the Golden Rock Bird why she hid there.

"An ancestor of the Taiyin Sect approaches. I must stay hidden. If danger comes, I can stop time and take you away."

He awoke in his physical body, four women watching him with mixed expressions.

One stepped forward. "We entered your formation through a small hole."

She questioned Lady Qingxuan about recent events.

Qingxuan explained the aphrodisiac poisoning, the Boar King hunt, and their narrow escape.

Her master eyed Lin Yuan sharply.

"Don't tell me you used dual cultivation to detoxify yourselves."

Qingxuan flushed. "No!"

Lin Yuan scratched his head. "What is dual cultivation?"

"You don't need to know!" Qingxuan snapped.

Her master turned serious. "What happened next?"

Lin Yuan recounted tying Qingxuan to the tree and healing her.

"She is your disciple?" the master asked.

Qingxuan nodded. "When I accept him I thought he is a girl.he saved my life and asked to be my disciple. I accepted."

Lin Yuan added, "I thought she was an elder of the Flowing Sky Pavilion."

Qingxuan smiled. "And he is strong — he killed the Boar King."

All eyes turned to the fallen beast in disbelief.

Qingxuan bowed. "Ancestor, this is my fault. Please help."

The grandmaster sighed. "I see nothing. I was never here."

She handed Qingxuan a jade box.

"This Impartial Weapon reshapes bodies for disguise. It will soften Lin Yuan's voice, add chest muscles, and alter his form temporarily."

She gave Lin Yuan a shimmering outfit.

"Robes of a Taiyin Maiden. This armor will meld with your body."

One woman stored the boar and drew her massive sword.

She turned to Lin Yuan. "Call me Grandmaster, Outer Sect Leader. I rule ten countries."

She handed him a heavy high-grade spirit stone.

"Can you lift it?"

Lin Yuan smiled. "My spiritual bottle holds five hundred kilograms."

"Good." She handed him a thousand ordinary spirit stones and a jade emblem granting access to sect libraries and markets.

"You are one of us now."

She turned to Qingxuan sternly. "You're grounded for two years."

"Master! I must teach my disciple!"

"You don't need to worry. I'll teach better."

She faced Lin Yuan.

"Our journey is long. When tired, sleep. You are safe here."

---

The path to cultivation was long and difficult you have to be careful or you die. Sect is dangerous for you.