The world of Cultivating Beasts was strange for Jiang Wanyin. He never assumed that after you died, you would become a spirit of some sort, an animal spirit too. Jiang Wanyin happened to die while fighting off attackers of his nation, and as a spirit his anger drove to avenge his land. Which is where he met Hong Weiyuan, the man had long black hair which a portion was tied up with a silver tie with cravings on. Two long horns emerged from his head with his whiskers hiding in his hair somewhere, the clothing Hong Weiyuan wore was similar to Wei Wuxian, Jiang Wanyin's step brother. His clothing were shades of black and red, with gold as well, and his eyes were a golden orange. Though, what surprised Jiang Wanyin was that this spirit offered to help him, Jiang Wanyin grew suspicious of Hong Weiyuan but eventually Hong Weiyuan offered him some cultivation.
"Spirits like us need Qi still? Even though we're dead?"
Hong Weiyuan nodded, the two were currently in a library looking through old books, Hong Weiyuan responded "Qi is what's keeping our spirits in tact, come now." Hong Weiyuan raised their arms and continued "You need a massive amount of cultivation if you want to defeat your foes." Jiang Wanyin questioned "Hm? We still need cultivation even as spirits?" Hong Weiyuan laughed and replied "Yes, it's what makes us strong. Say, have you heard of a story where the earth seemed as if it would destroy itself?" Jiang Wanyin was surprised and answered "Yes, but those are simple stories."
"No, they're real."
Hong Weiyuan stated, sitting down by a table.
"When you humans use cultivation, there is a remainder that gets clogged in the air and earth, causing the world to be unable to withstand the cultivation."
Jiang Wanyin choked and asked "Why hasn't it!?" Hong Weiyuan laughed and answered "Because instead of that cultivation being used to destroy, it creates us 'Cultivating Beasts.'" Cultivating Beasts are merely animals and creatures made from pure and raw cultivation, they can increase this cultivation by cultivating normally. Hong Weiyuan mentioned "Oh, by the way Jiang Wanyin, does the name Lan Xichen seem familiar?" Jiang Wanyin nodded, confused how he knew of Jiang Wanyin's old classmate and friend, though, Lan Xichen died when he was almost 50, 11 years earlier than when Jiang Wanyin had died. Hong Weiyuan said "Well, when you become more powerful, you can see him." Jiang Wanyin grew hesitant while Hong Weiyuan placed his palms on Jiang Wanyin's. He asked "Are you nervous to meet Xichen again?"
"no."
Jiang Wanyin's cold stern face looked down at their hands connecting. Hong Weiyuan smiled gently and replied "Then why do you appear so hesitant when I mentioned you'd see him again?" Jiang Wanyin turned away not answering, and Hong Weiyuan didn't pester Jiang Wanyin about Lan Xichen. Though, he did tease "I get it, being in love is rather difficult." Jiang Wanyin whipped his head towards Hong Weiyuan with a glare, the other just smiled as he continued gifting cultivation to Jiang Wanyin.
Finally, Hong Weiyuan finished and left Jiang Wanyin alone for a while in the library. Jiang Wanyin assumed that Hong Weiyuan was off to fetch Lan Xichen and his palms started sweating while his face was glowing red. He silently screeched thinking "Am I that obvious!??"
"About what?"
A voice that belonged to a young man replied, peering behind from a wall, Jiang Wanyin looked up to see it was a servant of Hong Weiyuan, he believed his name was Li Shen and he was the one that worked in the library. Jiang Wanyin muttered "Never mind..." While looking back at the shelf, Li Shen shrugged it off and continued his work. When Hong Weiyuan returned, he brought back an animal with 4 horns, specifically, a deer. Jiang Wanyin looked at the deer in confusion, while the deer panicked in it's mind, making Hong Weiyuan laugh.
"Lan Huan, I know you're nervous but please transform into a human for your friend."
The deer whined and morphed into the being of Lan Xichen. Jiang Wanyin stared in amazement at what Lan Huan had become, his classmate now had 4 horns adorned on his head with the tail of which seemed to be a deer. Nie Huaisang smiled and greeted "Hello, it's been a while, Jiang-xiong." Jiang Wanyin quickly bowed, it'd been a while since he's seen a majestic sight, from Nie Huaisang too! Nie Huaisang nodded and asked "Hong Chunhua, did you grant Jiang Cheng cultivation?" Hong Weiyuan nodded smiling. Jiang Wanyin questioned "Hah? Hong Chunhua? Who is that?"
