Word spread fast.

Too fast.

By morning, half the outer disciples of Azure Sky Sect had gathered near Li Ming's courtyard — whispering, pointing, and craning their necks for a glimpse of the "Lightning Beast that acts like a puppy."

Li Ming stood at the gate, arms crossed. "No visitors."

"But Senior Li!" one disciple pleaded, clutching a sack of spirit fruits. "I just want to see it. I even brought a gift!"

"Go home."

Another disciple leaned around him. "Just one pet?"

Li Ming sighed. "You touch him, you'll lose your hand."

A spark flashed behind him — and a tiny sneeze followed.

Half the crowd jumped backward.

Bai Guo perched on the roof, enjoying the chaos. "Descendant, I think your son's famous."

"Not helping," Li Ming muttered.

---

Inside, Lei Shan sat proudly in the center of the courtyard, tail wagging, little arcs of lightning dancing around him like ornaments.

He had a small mountain of snacks piled beside him — spirit fruits, dried herbs, even a jade chew toy someone had carved.

"See what you've done?" Li Ming said, glaring.

Lei Shan blinked innocently, then picked up a glowing fruit with his paws and nibbled. Sparks flew with every bite.

Bai Guo landed beside him. "He's a celebrity now. You should start charging viewing fees."

Li Ming gave him a flat stare. "And turn the sect into a zoo?"

Bai Guo fluffed his feathers. "Profitable zoo."

---

A small commotion erupted outside.

"Senior Li Ming! I'm from the Beast Control Division — Elder Wu sent me to study your spirit beast!"

Li Ming's eyebrow twitched. "Study? No."

"But—!"

"No."

The disciple hesitated. "Can I at least measure its aura?"

"No."

"...Sketch it?"

Li Ming stared him down until the disciple slowly retreated, clutching his scrolls like a shield.

Bai Guo chuckled. "You're handling this well."

"Oh, perfectly," Li Ming deadpanned. "My life's now a daycare."

---

By noon, the sect was in full gossip mode.

Rumors ranged from "Li Ming tamed a Thunder Dragon" to "He fathered a celestial beast".

Someone even claimed the cub was the reincarnation of an ancient lightning deity.

Li Ming didn't know whether to laugh or hide.

He sat down at the edge of the courtyard, rubbing his temple. "This is getting out of hand."

Lei Shan toddled over, dragging a shredded scroll in his mouth — one that read 'Spirit Beast Incident Report'.

Li Ming blinked. "You ate the report?"

The cub wagged his tail proudly.

Bai Guo snorted. "Efficient cover-up. He learns from the best."

---

That evening, when the chaos finally died down, Li Ming leaned against the fence, watching Lei Shan chase his own lightning tail in lazy circles. The little cub occasionally tripped, rolled, and popped back up as if nothing happened.

For the first time all day, Li Ming actually smiled.

"He really doesn't care what anyone says, does he?"

Bai Guo perched beside him, wings folding. "No. He just exists. Purely. Like lightning — no hesitation."

Li Ming exhaled, gaze softening. "Maybe that's something I could learn from him."

Then a zap echoed — and his sleeve caught a faint spark.

"...After I fireproof my robes."

---

Lei Shan blinked at him with bright golden eyes, tail flicking like a spark.

Li Ming sighed. "Alright, Little Thunderbub. Let's get you some real training tomorrow."

The cub yawned, hopped onto his lap, and promptly fell asleep — tiny arcs of light flashing with every breath.

Bai Guo tilted his head. "He's growing fast."

Li Ming looked up at the sky. "Yeah. Too fast."

But deep down, he didn't mind.

The sect could gossip, the disciples could crowd — but for now, his courtyard was alive with quiet thunder.

And that was enough.

---

Morning mist clung to the training field like silk.

Li Ming stood in the center, hands clasped behind his back, wearing the expression of a man who'd made peace with chaos — but not enough to enjoy it.

Across from him, Lei Shan sat on the ground, tail swishing, horns faintly sparking. His ears twitched at every sound, but his attention span… was debatable.

"Alright," Li Ming said patiently. "Today we start with focus control. When you sense the Qi flow around you, don't release it. You hold it. Contain it. Balance—"

Lei Shan blinked up at him.

A moment later, a pebble nearby began to float — then burst into harmless glitter.

Bai Guo, perched on the fence, tilted his head. "Progress?"

Li Ming sighed. "We're redefining what that word means."

---

He squatted in front of the cub. "Listen carefully, Little Thunderbub. You have tremendous spiritual potential. That's good. But your power must listen to you, not the other way around."

Lei Shan tilted his head, as if thinking deeply — then yawned and flopped onto his back.

Li Ming blinked. "…I'm being ignored."

Bai Guo nodded wisely. "He's a natural talent."

"Of napping," Li Ming muttered.

---

Still, he refused to give up. He placed a small crystal orb on the ground. "Channel your lightning into this, slowly. Control is the key."

Lei Shan perked up, curious. Sparks flickered between his paws — and then, instead of the orb, the cub focused entirely on a passing butterfly.

Li Ming saw the shift a heartbeat too late.

A bolt of lightning shot after the butterfly, carving a neat spiral through the air.

The butterfly escaped.

Half the practice dummies didn't.

Bai Guo whistled. "A solid start. Unclear goal."

Li Ming pressed his fingers to his forehead. "At this rate, he'll accidentally ascend before learning how to sit."

---

Determined, Li Ming changed tactics. "Alright, fine. Let's train reaction speed instead. When I release this stone, you catch it without—"

The stone fell.

Lei Shan disappeared in a blur of gold light and reappeared behind Li Ming, holding the rock in his mouth proudly.

Li Ming blinked. "…You teleported."

Bai Guo's eyes widened. "Advanced lightning-step technique. At his age? Impressive."

Lei Shan wagged his tail, thrilled by the praise.

Li Ming crouched, staring at the cub. "You… didn't even try to focus. You just did it instinctively."

Lei Shan tilted his head and offered him the rock.

Li Ming took it carefully, then chuckled under his breath. "So that's how it is, huh? You don't need teaching — you just need a target."

Bai Guo leaned closer. "Dangerous words, descendant. He might choose you next."

---

The moment passed quietly.

The training field shimmered under the morning sun, filled with the faint crackle of Lei Shan's energy.

Li Ming finally sat cross-legged, gesturing for the cub to come closer.

"Alright, one last exercise," he said softly. "No techniques. No control drills. Just breathe."

Lei Shan blinked, then mirrored him — sitting down, closing his tiny eyes.

For a moment, the world around them stilled.

Lightning dimmed. The wind calmed.

Qi flowed evenly between them — calm, steady, alive.

Bai Guo watched from the fence, his tone unusually gentle. "Well. Maybe he's not chaos. Maybe he's just… young."

Li Ming smiled faintly. "Maybe."

Lei Shan sneezed in his sleep, and the grass beside him turned silver.

Li Ming sighed. "…Maybe not."

---

When they walked back to the courtyard, Bai Guo fluttered alongside him.

"So how did training go?"

Li Ming adjusted Lei Shan in his arms — the cub snoring contently. "He vaporized a few dummies, discovered teleportation, and electrocuted a butterfly."

"A productive morning."

"Apparently."

Bai Guo smirked. "You sound proud."

Li Ming didn't answer, but the faint smile tugging at his lips said enough.

To be continued...

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