The awkward silence finally dissipated when I explained that the small squirrel sitting in front of her was actually a Spiritual Beast.
Moon raised a brow and commented nonchalantly, "A squirrel can be a Spiritual Beast?"
Her tone was calm, but her expression shifted slightly—subtle surprise breaking through her usual indifference.
Seo's eyes twitched. "What's wrong with being a squirrel?" he said, puffing out his tiny chest with pride. "My ancestor reached 9-Star back in the day."
He grinned smugly, as if daring anyone to question his worth.
I clapped my hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Now, Moon, do you remember anything?"
The three of us turned to her, waiting for her response.
Moon hesitated, clearly caught off guard by the question. Her expression remained mostly blank, but her eyes softened slightly as she began to speak—her voice cool, but distant.
"I... remember fragments," she said. "i was used as a weapon in the age of 7 until i think 17 i battle monster Humans and wars... then suddenly"
Her voice lowered, almost a whisper. "I only remember blackness. Nothingness. A place without light or sound. It was suffocating. I was trapped in it… endlessly."
She paused, gaze fixed on some invisible point ahead.
"I don't want to go back there," she added quietly. "I don't want to switch with Luna Because of that."
"i don't want too go back in my Past i was Weapon i don't wanna be in that Nothingness"she said while curling up in a ball..
Her words hung heavy in the air.
Her calm delivery made it sound like she was simply recounting a dream, but both Luna and Seo looked visibly shaken. Luna's eyes shimmered with sadness, and Seo's ears drooped, his earlier smugness replaced by sympathy.
I gave a bitter smile, my chest tightening at her words. I could understand her pain—far too well. In my past life, I too had lost all sense of feeling.
Wandering through the cultivation world without purpose, without drive. The companions I once trusted, the people I leaned on… all of them had betrayed me in the end.
No light, no hope. Just a cold, endless existence.
"I understand," I said softly, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "More than you think."
But my words didn't seem to reach her. Her expression remained distant, unreadable.
I turned my gaze to the window. The streets outside were alive with people—families, lovers, children laughing under the glow of lanterns. Bright lights twinkled,
colorful decorations hung above food stalls, and music played in the distance.
Only now did I realize what was happening.
They were celebrating a festival.
A soft smile crept onto my lips. This... this was perfect.
"Moon," I said gently, "come with me. There's something I want to show you."
Luna, catching onto my intention, smiled knowingly. She, too, wanted to comfort Moon. To show her that the world could still be beautiful.
I scooped Seo up and carefully placed him into my pocket—he was already meditating, his little paws folded in concentration. I reached out and took Moon's hand.
She flinched slightly, surprised by the sudden contact, but didn't pull away. Her fingers trembled faintly in mine.
There was hesitation… but also trust.
The trust Luna had in me. The trust that was now slowly, subtly being passed to her.
Luna floated beside us like a glowing spirit, a gentle smile on her face. She looked both wistful and joyful—happy for Moon, yet still feeling like a ghost watching from the sidelines.
As we walked hand in hand through the quiet courtyard of the mansion, Moon and Luna began to talk to each other. Their personalities were night and alood and Moon..
distant and aloof Luna, bright and cheerful like a sunflower always facing the sun. But to my surprise, they didn't argue. They simply… talked.
And somehow, they found a rhythm in their differences.
Finally, we reached the festival.
The street was bursting with life. A large fountain stood at its center, glistening under magical lights. Food vendors called out to
passing crowds. Games lined the sidewalks, offering stuffed toys and prizes. The air was filled with the scent of grilled meat, sweet pastries, and laughter.
Moon looked around with her usual blank expression—but something flickered behind her eyes. A spark. A tiny ember.
Was it... curiosity?
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and gestured toward the food stalls. "Pick anything you like."
She hesitated, then slowly approached a stand. She tried a Fried Chicken first, taking a small, careful bite.
And then another.
Her face didn't change, but I could feel it—her emotions shifting, growing warmer. Each bite brought a subtle thrill. Something new. Something exciting.
Luna guided her patiently from beside me, teaching her how to hold certain foods, how to eat sweet dumplings without burning her tongue.
When we finished eating, a faint smile tugged at Moon's lips. It was barely there… but real.
I couldn't help but smile back, my heart warming at the sight.
Seo was still meditating in my pocket, thankfully too deep in cultivation to comment. His absence gave us a rare moment of peace.
Soon, we reached a game booth.
A simple contest—hit the center of the target with a bow, and win any prize of your choice.
I paid the vendor and handed Moon the bow. She took it in silence, examining it with calm precision. Her slender fingers adjusted the grip, and she pulled the string with practiced ease.
Luna stepped forward, about to teach her, but froze mid-air when Moon released the arrow.
Thwack.
A perfect bullseye.
Moon nocked another arrow.
Thwack. Again. Perfect.
And again.
Three flawless shots.
Luna gaped, stunned. "W-When did she—?"
"She said she was a veteran," I chuckled, stepping closer and gently patting Moon's head. "Amazing job."
She blinked, visibly surprised by my touch—but didn't move away.
In fact... she leaned slightly into it.
For someone who claimed to hate physical And emotional closeness, she seemed oddly fond of my praise.
We continued visiting game booths. Moon excelled at all of them—ring toss, marble shooting, magic-light puzzles. Every time she won, she'd quietly lean her head toward me.
Waiting.
Expecting.
And I'd laugh, gently patting her head again and again. "Good job." "You're incredible." "You're amazing."
And every time, that faint smile on her lips grew just a little more confident.
Hours passed. The festival slowly began to wind down. The lights dimmed, and the laughter faded as people returned to their homes.
We returned to the mansion, Moon still holding my hand.
She looked... content.
I was puzzled by the sudden change in her, but I didn't ask. Whatever was happening inside her heart—whether it was Luna's influence or it just her feeling i felt satisfied
That night, as we prepared to sleep, Moon whispered, "Can I… sleep beside you tonight?"
I didn't refuse.
We lay together in the quiet room, the warmth of her presence next to mine comforting. She gently wrapped her arms around me from behind.
By morning, Luna had fallen asleep inside their shared body, and Moon woke up hugging me closely, her breath soft against my back.
She blinked sleepily and called out to Luna in her mind.
Luna slowly stirred, and together they practiced switching control. Moon learned quickly—within minutes, Luna regained control of her body again.
Only then did she realize she was still hugging me.
Her face redden "Y-Young Master…!"
She quickly pulled away, flustered beyond words.
Meanwhile, Moon hovered quietly nearby in mid-air, her arms crossed, watching with a blank expression… though her eyes glimmered with something akin to amusement.
And then—suddenly—I felt a warm surge of energy from my pocket.
My eyes snapped open. Instinctively, I reached inside my Pocket—and found Seo glowing faintly with Qi energy.
He had broken through.
"Late layer of Qi Gathering..." I muttered, astonished.