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Chapter 1: A Cat Among Tigers

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Taking off the lid with meticulous care, Kyu Cao peered inside the pill cauldron.

Although his expression was calm and impassive, almost giving an impression of disregard, inside he actually felt some degree of nervousness and anticipation.

At the bottom of the cauldron, three small round-shaped pellets could be seen, each no bigger than a fingerclaw. The pellets were the color of turbid tea, and the surface had a rough texture, looking quite unappetizing. Yet, a faint herbal smell wafted from the cauldron, both sweet and at the same time a little bitter, though one had to be close to notice it.

Kyu Cao introduced his paw inside the cauldron and carefully picked a single pellet with the tips of his claws.

Once the pellet was out he quickly put it on his free paw. The murky color of the pellet sharply contrasted with his soft pink pads.

"Felicitations, Young Master! Congratulations, Young Master! Young Master has finally reached the level of a Personage Apothecary!" At one side stood an old tiger, who upon seeing the pellet on Kyu Cao's paw exploded with exclamations of praise.

He was a scrawny fellow, his fur already colored gray and a pale orange. A pungent smell to bitter herbs emanated from him.

His name was Jon Che. He was the Grandmaster Apothecary who managed the infirmary in the Bloodstripe State.

Kyu Cao dedicated a subtle smile to his mentor, then turned to admire the small pellet on his paw.

This small thing was called a Bone Hardening Pellet. It was kind of medicine that strengthened the bones and nourished the marrow.

This Bone Hardening Pellet was considered the minimal requirement for the Personage Apothecary level. Only those who could prepare a batch of Bone Hardening Pellets with at least seventy chance of success could consider themselves one.

And now Kyu Cao could consider himself one.

"Once Master hears of this he will surely be delighted," excitedly, Old Che spoke.

The old tiger's expression was usually truly stern. Sunken eyes and caved cheeks made him resemble a skull. There wasn't a patient of his that didn't feel spooked when being treated by him.

It was like having the Emperor of the Underworld himself as your doctor.

It was only when he was with this pupil of his and received these pleasant surprises that he resembled the living more than the death.

Old Che recalled that when he reached the Personage Apothecary level he was more than thirty years old. This was actually an impressive achievement. But this Young Master Kyu Cao, he had reached the same level in less than half of that!

Such a young Personage Apothecary!

He was definitely a genius.

However, upon realizing his words, Old Che's expression stiffened.

At the side, Kyu Cao faint smile disappeared, and his face became once more calm and unmovable.

"I deeply apologize, Young Master," the old tiger bowed deeply towards the cat youth, his dropped ears displaying how ashamed of himself he felt. "This servant spoke carelessly."

"Do not mind it, Senior Che. Please, raise your head."

Although he spoke with a flat, almost cold voice, there was no reproach or anger in the young cat's tone, and his words could actually be considered somewhat warm. Old Jon Che, however, didn't move, and continued to bow.

Kyu Cao could only helplessly sigh inwardly at this.

Despite Old Che being his tutor, who taught him greatly about the mysteries of medicine and pellet confection, the barrier between master and servant had always been as insurmountable as the tallest of mountains.

For the old tiger, teaching this third young master of the Bloodstripe Clan his lowly profession of Apothecary was his lifetime's greatest honor.

Even more when he saw the young cat's accomplishment, which surpassed his by a wide margin. He simply didn't dare to proclaim himself his master.

The relationship between the two was good, but it had never progressed to the point of being close.

"Rise your head."

Kyu Cao spoke again, this time using a more commanding tone.

Old Che straightened his back, his face now his trademark grim expression, though traces of awkwardness could be seen like the stripes on his fur.

Kyu Cao picked up the pellet on his paw and returned it to the cauldron. He took a handkerchief from his robes and began to wipe the residual traces of medicine on his paws.

"I will leave the disposal of these pellets to Mister Jon Che as always. It seems it has become late so I'll be returning to my courtyard. I thank Mister Jon Che for his guidance."

Seeing as how the atmosphere had turned weird Kyu Cao deemed that the quickest way to solve it, was to leave. Today session had indeed ended anyways, so Old Che would not find his departure odd.

The wizened tiger of course understood the young cat's intention. He offered another bow, this one less pronounced, and he spoke in a smooth breath.

"Yes, this servant will take care of it. As always, it is this servant honor."

"No need to see me out. Farewell."

Not waiting for the old tiger to raise his head, Kyu Cao turned on his feet and strode away.

The Wake Breaking Empire was one of eight countries in the vast Constellation Lookout Continent. It was located at the utmost southwest edge, neighboring the Immortal Forest at the northeast, and the Heaven Cleaving Kingdom at the east, while most of its borders were surrounded by the Milky Blue Sea.

Although they were in a state of constant strife with the Heaven Cleaving Kingdom, the Wave Breaking Empire position was extremely enviable.

The land was fertile, and resources were plenty. The climate was pleasant all year around, and natural disasters were rare.

While both the Immortal Forest and the Milky Blue Sea were areas fraught with danger, making even the most courageous generals shiver down to the tips if their tails at the idea of adventuring deep inside, they mostly keep to themselves, leaving the Wave Breaking Empire alone. The Wave Breaking Empire's only worry was protecting itself from its greedy neighbor.

This duty of protecting the Wave Breaking Empire's borders fell on the shoulders of the Bloody Army , leaded by the Blood General of the Bloodstripe Clan.

Tiger Back Mountain, located close to the junction point where these three territories meet, was where the Bloodstripe State could be found. Here was the main base of the Bloody Army.

After exiting the infirmary, Kyu Cao leisurely walked through the Bloodstripe State.

The infirmary was located in the southern quadrant, while his courtyard was in the western quadrant.

They were adjacent areas, yet the immensity of the Bloodstripe State made the distance not short at all. With his pace, there would still take some time for him to reach his destination.

Kyu Cao walked with a straight back, his head held high and his eyes staring forward. Behind him, his tail made a refined, gentle arc.

Each stride was evenly spaced and firm, without an ounce of insecurity in them, and his unordinary bearing was completely undisguised.

His magnificent teal colored robe swayed gently with each step, each smooth flutter showcasing the exquisiteness of the silk it was cut off.

When servants of the state crossed paths with Kyu Cao they would respectfully step aside and bow in his direction.

The patrolling guards would open their files and create a path for him to cross.

During all this, Kyu Cao's expression would remain calm and impassive. It not even twitched in front of all the fawn and attention, or even under the fur-rising bloodthirstiness of the soldiers.

Anyone seeing this would without doubt be able to tell that this young cat upbringing was extraordinary, and his position in this state was high, and would be left staring in admiration and awe.

And yet, all this was an act.

No, it would be more precise to call it a formality.

Respect and sincerity, there was none behind those gestures.

It was not that their actions were fake.

Because they didn't seek to put up a front or curry favor with this third young master.

There was not even disdain or mockery hiding behind their respectful gestures.

They did it because the title of the Third Young Master existed, and he was the third son of the Master of the Bloodstripe Clan.

As servants of this state, they held the great Blood General in great regard and felt a respect toward him as deep as the oceans. No matter if it was big or small matter, how could they not give him face?

Just as it was a show of respect to close the door on your way out, it was the same logic.

Of course, nothing could be glanced from the surface. But Kyu Cao had spent years under this treatment and he was no longer a naive and ignorant kitten.

This was his position as the Third Young Master. Only a handful of theriopes in the state actually respected him for him.

While he absentmindedly admired the beautiful gardens and the majestic manors, Kyu Cao thought about these matters in a rare whim.

No doubt this impulse had been stirred by Old Che's previous careless words.

It also had to be added the fact that he would be turning sixteen in a short few days.

Sixteen years.

It was the age when the rest of a theriope's life truly began.

Cubs were considered adults when they reached thirteen years old. But only at sixteen did their mentality truly start to change to that of an adult, and were they truly accepted as mature theriopes by the older generations.

Kyu Cao was both intelligent and literate, having received an extremely good education since birth. His temperament had also always been more mature than his peers as well, both because his rearing, as well as his situation.

Thus, he was capable of doing a pretty accurate guess of his future.

He was the Third Young Master of the Bloodstripe Clan.

However, he was more of a decoration than a member of the clan.

He had no duty, nor did he believe he would ever be bestowed one. If anything, his only duty was to make sure he didn't do something that could embarrass the clan.

He lived comfortably though.

Every need was answered, and all requests delivered.

Although he did not have personal attendants, any servant would politely, if mechanically, heed his orders.

All the areas in the state that you would expect to be open for a young master were unrestricted for him, and when bored he could go down to the city and take a stroll.

Indeed, Kyu Cao lived comfortably.

Just like the little decorative fish his courtyard's pond.

Being feed, being protected, not knowing grievances, not wishing for something else, neither receiving the hate nor the favor of anyone.

He simply swam in circles inside his beautiful pond. Four slow circles at day, another four slow circles at night.

He was doing this now.

And he most likely will be doing the same years to come.

This was his, Kyu Cao's present.

This was his, Kyu Cao's future.

Just thinking of this, Kyu Cao felt his intestines rot with a mix of trepidation and indignation.

Was this truly a life he wished for himself?

Was this truly a live worth living?

Having sunk himself in his thoughts, Kyu Cao was now walking almost automatically. Until something entering his line of vision violently shook him awake, like a thunder striking his skull.

A group of people, walking on the same path as him, heading in his direction.

Usually, this would not even stir a response from him.

But the composition of this group was far from ordinary, such that it scared him silly.

A red colored group of tigers. Dark crimson, like dyed with fresh blood.

This red color was actually the color of the armor of these several soldiers. It shone with an exquisite luster, which painted the surroundings with a dark red light. Bathed in this light, the peaceful gardens seemed to turn into bloody battlefields.

It looked both light and durable; surely each and every piece of armor was like an unordinary treasure. This was definitely not the appearance of low-ranking soldiers.

In fact, Kyu Cao knew that armor.

It was the Carnage Tiger War Armor, the exclusive equipment of the Blood General's personal battalion, the Carnage Pride, comprised of only the utmost elite soldiers.

And leading them were two tigers and a ram.

These three, Kyu Cao also knew of them. They were the three most important figures in the Bloody Army.

Specially, the one in the middle, who spearheaded the whole formation.

The Blood General, Bloodstripe Ren'd Rao. Current head of the Bloodstripe Clan.

And birth father to Kyu Cao.

What was his father doing here? Kyu Cao was flustered enough to foolishly ask himself that.

However, nothing of this showed up on his expression. It was only his step which hesitated for an instant, before continuing as before.

Both parties continued to advance steadily, until Kyu Cao reached the maximum proper distance. Then he moved to one end of the path.

As the blood crimson group kept releasing a bloodthirstiness which would be enough to make someone's heart explode from fright, the idea of completely stepping out the paved path crossed Kyu Cao mind, seeing as how the group occupied completely the path's width.

However, such a weak-willed action, Kyu Cao was certain that his father would frown upon it.

Even if his father could not care for this third son of his, Kyu Cao certainly was not one to go out of his way to lower his image even further.

"Kyu Cao greets Esteemed Father."

He bent his waist and bowed properly, calling a greeting for his father.

As for greeting the other two... it was not good to be too verbose.

Actually, any offspring would normally first give a greeting, then move aside after being acknowledged, maybe even after chatting a bit.

However, Kyu Cao held no hope for such interaction.

When he straightened up, the group was already next to him.

The sight was simply a hundred times more heart-shaking up close, and the pressure seemed to want to crush ones bones to dust.

His eyes did not deliberately try to follow someone. Yet, when his father entered his field of vision, Kyu Cao's entire attention could not help but focus on him.

The Blood General, this was an apt description.

He was a tall tiger, with a trunk waist and mountain shoulders, his figure was extremely heroic. His bearing was extraordinary as well.

Sharp, deadly cold, yet completely silent. He was like a still, naked blade which had cut down countless foes and bathed in lakes of blood. One which made one think that it could cut simply by laying your eyes on it, and would kill even before one became aware.

Such tiger was his, Kyu Cao's father.

How long had been since the last time he'd laid eyes on his father? Kyu Cao had honestly forgotten.

This happened but in a brief moment. Kyu Cao expression remained calm and impassive from start to end. His eyes never strayed from the front nor followed after his figure.

Soon, his father disappeared completely from his sight.

As expected, not even a glance.

He did not feel sad or upset about it. It was merely a confirmation of his predictions.

Kyu Cao turned and resumed his way, walking down the path the soldiers had created for him.

It was close to half in the sixth hour and the sun was nearing the horizon. The sky was begging to be tinted with moving, warm colors.

Kyu Cao was already inside his bedchambers, kneeling in front of a chest.

He had to admit, today's events had aroused a feeling of nostalgia in him.

Nostalgia of the past, the distant past when everything seemed simple and perfect.

There was an assortment of mismatched items inside the chest. All of them could be called his personal effects; things that for one reason or another he had wanted to keep, collecting them across the years.

But honestly, years had passed since the last time he had added something new. He had actually almost forgotten about it.

The insides were organized and tidy. Kyu Cao felt some amusement thinking that even as a kitten he was quite meticulous.

He didn't move things around much, and just browsed a bit.

There were thin books with his childhood favorite stories, and bizarre knickknacks that he didn't even know the name of. A few gold coins he'd saved, and a strip of cloth he had forgotten why it was there.

One of the objects though, especially caught his interest.

It was a pendant, shaped like a small slip of jade. The color was a rich blue that would be best described as fiery.

The character "Deep" was inscribed on it, clearly legible despite a hideous crack running from one end of the pendant to the other.

Kyu Cao remembered this pendant quite well.

It'd been a gift from his mother, left to be given to him by a servant after she left.

His mother had been a cat with pristine white fur and gem-like blue eyes, delicate like a snow fairy. The word beautiful was simply lacking when trying to describe her. Although her expression was cold, it could set the hearts of males ablaze like an inferno.

They never spoke much to each other, but at that time Kyu Cao believed he loved her.

Thus, after she left, he had silently cried alone, his heart wrought by the feeling of abandonment.

He kept the pendant afterwards, clutching onto it, hoping that she would return.

It was when he realized that she would never come back for him that he'd tossed the pendant in a fit of anger, causing the crack.

Now that he held it again his expression remained calm, the pain did not come back.

He'd accepted her departure and indifference long ago.

But he wondered where she could be now, a bit of longing flashing through his eyes.

He also thought that for such exquisite looking pendant, it sure was fragile.

"Third Young Master, this servant has brought you tonight's dinner."

A sudden call diverted Kyu Cao's from his thoughts.

Looking outside the window, certainly, it was already that time of the day.

He dropped his paw and returned the pendant to the chest, not planning to delay his meal.

Crack.

But maybe because he had unknowingly used more force than intended, the distinctive sound of fragile jade breaking like glass rang.

Kyu Cao looked down with some surprise.

This pendant was really fragile!

He picked it up again, this time holding the pendant from the chain.

The blue pendant the size of a cub's paw completely crumbled apart, leaving behind only a small chunk connected to the chain.

However, this chunk seemed to have a defined shape, with clear cut edges and smooth surface, not messy at all.

Kyu Cao stared, his eyes blinking with curiosity.

This new shape, he recognized, was exactly like that of an icy bear, looking quite ferocious and frigid cold. Its size was reduced to a fraction, yet its might had increased ten times.

If he'd not seen the pendant cracking in pieces himself, Kyu Cao wouldn't have believed this was his same pendant, and would've thought it was a completely different one.

A blue, bear-shaped pendant.