Bi De raised a brow at the prostrating creature as the Spirit Beast begged for his life, repeatedly smacking his forehead into the ground. It was a pitiful sight, all told. “Please, stop. I have no intention of killing you,” Bi De said, pulling in his Qi. Paobu paused, his teary eyes rising up to meet Bi De’s gaze. ‘You don’t?’ he asked, his voice wavering. ‘But you were so scary back in the forest, Blaze Douser! You defeated so many Blaze Bears! And you're even stronger now!’ “...not unless you attack my home, no,” Bi De replied. Blaze Douser? They had given him a nickname? “But… why are you here? What drives you to such haste?” Paobu swallowed. ‘I was chased! Chased by those monsters! So many dead—Please, Great Lord, this Paobu begs of you, grant him succour within your domain!’ Bi De took the Spirit Beast in. The Blaze Bear had large, ugly lumps under his fur—welts the size of hand balls that were weeping poison. His ribs were clearly visible, like he had not eaten in a long time. The fur on his back, where flames normally sprouted, was thin and brittle like rice straw, so thin the skin was visible. He smelled very strongly of ash and the scent of burnt meat, to the point where it was almost overpowering. Not too long ago Bi De had stood upon these pillars and looked down upon a community of Spirit Beast rats. They had begged (...)