Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

"That's how it is." Liu San Niang reached through the iron cage, wanting to stroke the dirty bird. "The poor little thing, it just won't listen to me no matter what, it really breaks my heart."

"So you're thinking of advancing quickly so you can forcefully subdue it with greater strength?" Liu Xingmo also stared into the crow's dark eyes.

"I feel it's almost time!" Liu San Niang smoothed her disheveled black feathers with her pale hands, humming a little tune, "Little crow, little crow, you can't fly high, you can't fly high... You can't escape my palm, hahahahaha!"

Liu Xingmo said in a deep voice, "You're wrong! Crows are among the most intelligent birds, and they're extremely difficult to tame. Third Sister, you haven't been in the third tier for long. Even if you advance a few more levels, you still won't be able to subdue it."

"Then let's just wait it out!" Liu Sanniang said through gritted teeth, her voice filled with resentment. "Even the mighty eagles high in the sky eventually have to be worn down. Let alone a little black bird!"

"What if it can't survive? It would be a complete waste of a naturally born rare beast." Liu Xingmo also reached into the cage and carefully wiped the dust off the black feathers. "Look at this crow, how hungry it is! The most important growth period for a rare beast has been wasted. If you keep it locked up any longer, it might become depressed, self-harm, and eventually die in this iron cage."

"This beast won't listen to me, what can I do? I refuse to believe I can't tame it!"

Two large, colorful snakes slithered around the iron cage, their long, forked tongues flicking in and out.

Liu San Niang took out her key and opened the iron prison gate directly.

A crow, taller than a person, timidly retreated to a corner in the cell.

A sinister smile appeared on Liu San Niang's face. She quickly made her move, her five slender, white fingers like eagle claws, firmly gripping the crow's head.

The poor bird flapped its wings with all its might, shaking off a pile of black feathers, but it could not escape the clutches of evil.

Outside the window, the north wind howled.

The mountain wind in winter always carries ice shards, howling as it blows through the branches, like someone playing a melancholic, off-key tune in the distance.

After a while, Liu San Niang released her grip and threw the large crow to the ground.

An impatient look appeared on her face: "Hmph! I'll give you a few more days of freedom, let's see how long you can be so smug."

"Can this be called freedom?" Liu Xingmo muttered under his breath, then walked into the iron cell. "Third Sister, subduing contracted beasts can't be done entirely by brute force. Even schools that teach children will teach the principle of 'influence through kindness'."

"Pah, you little brat, putting on airs!" Liu Sanniang waved her hand dismissively. "Do you think the real world is some kind of fictional novel? Trying to reform people with your own hands? Aren't you ashamed to admit it?"

"Then I'll give it a try."

Liu Xingmo said no more, slowly approached the large crow in the corner of the cage, and gently stroked its round head with his hands.

"Hmph!" Liu San Niang snorted, crossed her arms, and looked on with amusement.

"Caw caw..." The large crow on the ground cawed softly, folding its wings and sharp claws.

Liu Xingmo directly summoned the soul imprint generated at the seventh level of the first tier and attempted to integrate it into the spiritual world within the crow's mind.

Like birds skimming across light snow, like fish diving into ice.

The soul imprint entered it unimpeded, merging with the crow's wounded soul.

The large crow broke free of its hands and then approached its owner's face, nuzzling affectionately.

Liu Xingmo stroked the rough feathers and conveyed a reassuring thought.

Outside the window, the howling of the cold wind had lessened considerably. Inside the treehouse, all was quiet.

Standing to the side, Liu San Niang's jaw almost dropped to the ground.

Liu Xingmo turned to look at her, spreading his hands innocently: "I told you, as long as you put your heart into it, you can subdue a contracted beast in no time."

"You bastard! What have you done?" Liu San Niang's shrill scream was earth-shattering, even causing the snow on the roof to slide down.

"Well, I was just giving it a try." Liu Xingmo scratched his head with a wry smile. "I didn't expect the soul imprint to slip in so easily."

"You bastard!"

Liu San Niang shattered the floor with one step, rushing towards Liu Xingmo with a fierce gust of wind. She reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling the young man's face close to hers, their noses almost touching, their eyes locked in a tight gaze.

In the man's eyes, the woman saw a frozen snow-capped mountain, a rusty cage, and her own face.

Is this all you see?

Liu San Niang's heavy breathing suddenly caught in her throat.

She casually released Liu Xingmo and said irritably, "Take back your soul imprint, hurry up! There's still time."

"Well, Third Sister. It's fate that this poor little bird chose me as its master." Liu Xingmo forced a fawning smile and continued, "Do you think you could..."

"You can do whatever you want!" Liu Sanniang took a step back, growing angrier the more she thought about it. She grabbed the young man in front of her again and roared, "What the hell did you just say? Your soul imprint slipped in without you noticing? Believe me or not, I'll make sure you slip in without even noticing!"

"In that case, I'll find you another rare beast as compensation," Liu Xingmo said solemnly.

"You think you can just come here like that? Who do you think you are?" Liu San Niang shouted.

"Actually, I do have this ability. Look at my turtles and scorpions, they're quite amazing, right?" Liu Xingmo smiled, but the smile carried a heavy weight.

"Hmph!" Liu San Niang snorted coldly, turned around and kicked open the door of the treehouse.

The white light, accompanied by the biting wind and snow, drifted into the dimly lit room.

The woman's figure disappeared into the white world.

Liu Xingmo was speechless, unsure of what to say.

The two large snakes reluctantly slithered back into the haystack, curled up, coiled themselves into a ball, and went back into hibernation.

"Caw caw caw!" Only the cheerful chirping of birds echoed in the dull room.

Looking at the large crow hopping around him, Liu Xingmo felt a mix of emotions, but he was still very happy.

"You unlucky crow, you'll have to follow me from now on."

"Uneducated people will say you bring bad luck and death. But I know you are a divine bird symbolizing good fortune."

"You shall be called Fuhei. May you feel happiness in the days to come and bring that happiness to those around you."

Fuhei doesn't yet understand the meaning of the words; it only vaguely knows that its fate has undergone a dramatic change.

It folded its wings and followed its new master step by step, leaving the iron cage that imprisoned it and the wooden house that held it captive.

The wind and snow in the mountains and forests became even more ferocious at this moment. The air currents, carrying white ice crystals, seemed intent on stripping away all life from the world.

Fuhei was not afraid, but instead spread its wings against the wind and snow.

This wounded and thin crow, with its frail wings whipping up two whirlwinds, soared into the sky and danced with the wind and snow.