The world spun, consciousness sank and surged.
When Su Xiao opened his eyes again, everything had changed. The familiar ceiling of his cramped studio apartment was gone, replaced by a canopy of lush, alien leaves filtering dappled sunlight. The air carried the scent of damp earth, unknown flowers, and a vitality so rich it felt tangible. His body felt strange—heavy, padded, covered in thick, soft fur.
He instinctively lifted a "hand," only to see a black-padded, furry paw.
"This is…"
Before he could finish the thought, a flood of foreign memories surged into his mind. He had crossed over, into a world of magic and martial arts, where powerful beings soared through the skies and split mountains with their strikes, where magical beasts roamed and spells shimmered. And he, Su Xiao, was no longer human, but had become… a young, chubby panda, currently curled up in a bamboo grove in a remote mountain range.
"A panda?!" His mind went blank for a moment. As a modern person, he knew pandas were national treasures, synonymous with cuteness. But in this dangerous, survival-of-the-fittest world, cuteness might be the most useless thing. His heart sank.
Just as he was feeling lost, a crisp female voice suddenly came from nearby: "Master, look, there's a little magical beast here! It's so cute!"
Su Xiao trembled and looked toward the source of the voice.
A young girl in a light green dress was pointing at him, her eyes sparkling. She looked about sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features and an aura of agility. Beside her stood a man in a white robe. He appeared young, perhaps in his early twenties, with sharp features and eyes as deep as ancient pools. Though he didn't move, an invisible pressure enveloped the area—clearly no ordinary person.
A flash of surprise passed through the man's deep eyes as he observed Su Xiao. "A young Darkmoon Iron-eating Beast? And of such pure bloodline… Why is it alone here?" His voice was calm and pleasant.
Darkmoon Iron-eating Beast? That's my species name in this world? It sounds quite impressive. Su Xiao thought to himself, but he didn't dare move carelessly. The pressure from this man was far more terrifying than any predator he'd ever seen on animal documentaries.
The girl had already skipped over, crouching in front of Su Xiao, her big eyes filled with a desire to cuddle. "It really is too cute! Look at these black circles around its eyes, and this round body… Master, can I take it with us?"
The man in white frowned slightly. "Xiao Yan, magical beasts are not pets. Especially the Darkmoon Iron-eating Beast—it's known for its fierce nature once it matures. This one is still young and hasn't awakened its bloodline power, which is why it seems harmless."
Fierce nature? That's more like it! Su Xiao's spirits lifted at the man's words. Maybe he wasn't just a mascot in this world? He tried to recall the inherited memories in his mind, searching for information about his race. Vague fragments surfaced—images of a giant panda, roaring at the moon, its fur shimmering with a faint dark light, its claws sharp enough to tear through steel, shattering boulders with a single stomp… That was the true form of the Darkmoon Iron-eating Beast!
"Roar—!!" Excited, he tried to let out a mighty roar to prove he wasn't just a cute fluffball.
But what came out was a soft, milky, and utterly non-threatening sound: "Ow~~"
The scene froze.
The girl named Xiao Yan was stunned for a second, then burst into even more delighted laughter. "Hahaha, Master, did you hear that? It's trying to roar! So funny!"
Even the always-composed man in white twitched the corner of his mouth, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Su Xiao: "…" Damn it! This voice!
He refused to give up. Summoning all his strength, he tried to stand up and strike a fierce pose. But his chubby, short limbs and round body made even standing a bit wobbly. He looked more like a furry ball wobbling unsteadily.
Xiao Yan's heart melted completely. "Master, look how hard it's trying! It wants to look fierce! It's adorable!"
Su Xiao felt utterly defeated. Forget it. In his current form, cuteness was his original sin.
The man in white observed him for a moment, then slowly said, "Although its bloodline is pure, it has no parents nearby to protect it. Leaving it here will only make it prey for other magical beasts." He paused, looking at his disciple's expectant eyes. "Since fate has brought us together, we'll take it with us for now. Xiao Yan, you'll be responsible for taking care of it."
"Really? Great! Thank you, Master!" Xiao Yan cheered, carefully picking up the round Su Xiao.
A warm, soft sensation enveloped him, along with the girl's fresh, grassy scent. Su Xiao instinctively wanted to struggle, but the comfort made him relax. Forget it, at least I have a temporary shelter. I'll figure out how to grow stronger later.
Held in Xiao Yan's arms, Su Xiao looked back at the man in white, who was walking ahead.
Master, huh…
And that girl called him Master, so what does that make me?
The man in white seemed to sense his gaze, turning his head slightly. His deep eyes met Su Xiao's black bean-like ones. For a moment, Su Xiao felt as if he'd been completely seen through.
"From today on, you'll follow us," the man said, his tone still calm but carrying an undeniable authority. "I am Ling Canghai, and this is my disciple, Murong Xiaoyan. Since we've met by chance, I'll give you a name."
He glanced at Su Xiao' black and white fur and added casually, "Just call you Xiao Hei."
Su Xiao: "…" Xiao Hei? Can't you be a bit more creative? And with these obvious black and white colors, why not call me 'Xiao Bai'? Wait, that's not right either…
Murong Xiaoyan giggled. "Xiao Hei? That's a nice name! From now on, you're Xiao Hei!"
And so, Su Xiao, the reincarnated panda, now had a new, extremely casual name in this new world. He was carried by Murong Xiaoyan, following Ling Canghai, leaving this bamboo grove and stepping onto an unknown journey.
He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—he would never just be a cute pet!
Ling Canghai walked ahead, his robe fluttering slightly as he spoke without looking back, his voice drifting gently in the wind: "Xiaoyan, we'll rest at the foot of the mountain tonight and return to the academy tomorrow."
"Yes, Master!"
Academy? Su Xiao pricked up his round ears. It seems like I'm about to enter human society.
And that guy Ling Canghai… the pressure he exudes is definitely not that of an ordinary academy teacher.
Well, no matter what, I, Su Xiao, have taken the first step in this world.
He snuggled in Murong Xiaoyan's arms, looking at the unfamiliar yet vibrant world around him, his black eyes flickering with a mix of confusion and anticipation.
My journey as a panda in this other world begins now.
Cuteness is just my disguise. The roar of the Darkmoon Iron-eating Beast will one day shake this world.
Just you wait.