The Azure Sky Sect was quiet that morning.

Dew still clung to the tiles. A faint mist curled over the training yards. Somewhere, a bell chimed softly—then was immediately drowned out by a deep, rumbling snore.

Li Ming opened one eye.

The snore came from directly on top of him.

He looked down. A small, fluffy, lightning-patterned ball of fur was sprawled across his chest, sparking faintly with every exhale.

"...Lei Shan," he muttered, voice hoarse.

It is a good name .

You know what, that's your name from now.

And get off my bed.

"You're supposed to sleep on the mat."

The cub's fur bristled as he glared up at the human.

Lei Shan? he repeated inwardly, lightning flickering behind his fangs. That sounds like some old ancestor, not me!

His tail lashed once, sparks snapping off the tip. And "Little Thunderbub"? What kind of humiliating title is that? I am thunder incarnate, not a pet!

He huffed, a small puff of smoke curling from his nostrils. Just wait… when I grow up, they'll tremble when they hear my real name.

---

The cub twitched one ear and, instead of moving, rolled further up until its horns poked under Li Ming's chin.

Bai Guo perched on the windowsill, sipping from a teacup much too large for him. "Parenthood suits you, descendant."

Li Ming shot him a glare. "It's been three days and I haven't meditated once."

"Progress! You've learned the art of sleep deprivation."

The cub stirred, blinking up at Li Ming with wide golden eyes. A spark popped between its horns, singeing a strand of his hair. Then it made a noise halfway between a chirp and a purr.

Li Ming sighed. "You're lucky you're cute."

---

By the time he got outside, the courtyard looked as though a miniature storm had passed through. Patches of grass were charred in neat circles; one training dummy was missing a head; and a nearby rock glowed faintly from residual Qi discharge.

"Little Thunderbub," Li Ming said, using the nickname he'd accidentally blurted out yesterday, "we're going to work on control today. No zapping random rocks."

The cub tilted its head. Its tail gave a happy wag—and a soft crack of lightning jumped from it to a nearby flowerpot.

The flowerpot disintegrated.

Li Ming stared. "...You just proved my point."

Bai Guo landed beside him. "He's a natural talent. Very destructive. You two have so much in common."

"Not helping."

---

Lei Shan padded closer and rubbed against Li Ming's leg, sparks crackling harmlessly this time. A faint pulse of Qi rippled between them—Li Ming could almost feel the cub's emotions, bright and eager, like a restless storm waiting to burst.

He crouched, resting a hand on its head. "Alright. If you're going to stay in this sect, you'll learn discipline. That means no random discharges, no chasing disciples, and no—"

A distant scream echoed from another courtyard.

"—stealing food from the kitchens," he finished flatly.

Bai Guo folded his wings. "I'd call that impressive multitasking."

Li Ming pinched his temples. "Training starts now."

The cub chirped happily.

Somewhere behind them, another flowerpot exploded.

---

And just like that, the quiet morning of the Azure Sky Sect began— filled with thunder, feathers, and the sound of one very tired cultivator questioning all his life choices.

----

The training yard was already a disaster before they even started.

Charred dummies. Burnt grass. A faint smell of ozone that never quite faded.

Bai Guo floated above it all, shaking his head. "Descendant, maybe we should start in an empty field. Preferably one that's already on fire."

Li Ming ignored him. "No. We're teaching discipline today. If he's going to be my companion, he needs control."

Lei Shan sat obediently in front of him — at least for five seconds.

Then the cub spotted a butterfly.

A flash of light. A small thunderclap.

Butterfly: gone.

Half the nearby fence: also gone.

Li Ming's expression didn't change. "Alright. Step one: focus."

The cub blinked up at him, sparks still popping between its horns.

"Sit," Li Ming commanded.

The cub sat.

Then rolled onto its back, paws up.

Bai Guo snorted. "He's mocking you."

"No, he's being playful," Li Ming said, trying to sound confident.

The cub kicked its legs happily, accidentally firing a lightning bolt that turned a bucket into molten art.

"…Okay," Li Ming admitted. "Maybe both."

---

He sat cross-legged, breathing deeply. "Lei Shan, watch."

Blue arcs shimmered across his fingers as he gathered Qi, shaping it into a tiny orb of lightning that hovered neatly above his palm.

"See? Small. Controlled. Gentle."

The cub tilted its head. Then, copying him, it scrunched up its face—sparks gathering between its horns.

Li Ming nodded encouragingly. "Good. Now slowly—"

The cub sneezed.

A flash of light. A gust of wind.

When the smoke cleared, Li Ming's hair stood perfectly upright.

Bai Guo fell out of the air laughing silently.

Li Ming just sighed, brushing soot off his sleeve. "At least the shape was right."

Lei Shan blinked innocently, tail wagging, then waddled over and dropped a small piece of charred grass in front of him—its version of an offering.

Li Ming's lips twitched. "You're impossible."

---

After a while, Li Ming gave up on serious training and tried something else.

He tossed a small orb of Qi into the air, letting it arc faintly. "Fetch."

Lei Shan's eyes widened.

The cub leapt after it—vanished in a streak of gold—and reappeared with the orb in its mouth, crackling faintly but still intact.

Li Ming blinked. "Wait… you can teleport?"

Bai Guo whistled. "No wonder the Sect couldn't catch him."

Lei Shan puffed up proudly, chest glowing with sparks.

Li Ming smirked, finally breaking into a grin. "Alright, Little Thunderbub. Maybe you're not hopeless after all."

The cub chirped, tail wagging so fast it left a faint trail of static in the air.

Bai Guo landed on Li Ming's shoulder, eyes gleaming with mock seriousness. "So, descendant, when's his official naming ceremony? Should I bring snacks?"

Li Ming exhaled. "He already has a name. Lei Shan. But apparently everyone insists on calling him—"

The cub let out a small bub noise, sparks popping perfectly in rhythm.

Li Ming groaned. "—Little Thunderbub. Great."

---

As the sun began to set, Li Ming sat against a rock, the cub curled on his lap—purring softly like distant thunder.

For once, the courtyard was quiet.

Bai Guo fluttered down beside him, watching the sunset. "You know… he listens to you. In his own chaotic way."

Li Ming smiled faintly. "Yeah. I guess he does."

The cub shifted, letting out a small snore.

Bai Guo tilted his head. "You're smiling, descendant. Should I be concerned?"

Li Ming chuckled. "Maybe. But for now… let's just enjoy the peace."

The wind carried a faint scent of ozone again.

Somewhere nearby, another fence post smoked faintly.

Peace, apparently, came with lightning.

To be continued...

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