Chapter 3: The Beast Within
---
The days that followed the encounter with the wolf were filled with confusion and uncertainty. Ye Ling couldn't shake the feeling that something inside him was changing, awakening, and he could no longer ignore the dark power that had surged through him. The events of that day replayed in his mind constantly—how the wolf had seemed to hesitate when faced with him, how the strange power within him had almost felt like it was not his own. It was as if something primal, ancient, and uncontrollable had stirred inside him.
He couldn't speak to anyone about it—certainly not the villagers, who already treated him with suspicion, and especially not his mother, who seemed so determined to shield him from the truth. But the more he tried to ignore it, the stronger the urge became. The beast within him wanted to break free.
One evening, Ye Ling could no longer hold back. As the sun dipped below the horizon, he slipped out of the house and made his way to the edge of the forest. The air felt thick, charged with energy, as though the earth itself was holding its breath. He ventured deeper than usual, feeling an inexplicable pull toward the heart of the forest, where the ancient trees grew thick and gnarled, casting long shadows in the fading light.
As he walked, the air seemed to hum around him. He felt his heartbeat quicken, the power inside him waking again, louder now, more insistent. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him, and before he knew it, the forest around him had come alive. The trees whispered, the wind stirred with intent, and in the distance, he heard the low growl of something lurking in the dark.
It was then that Ye Ling realized—he was not alone.
A massive creature emerged from the shadows, its fur as dark as the night itself, its eyes glowing with an eerie yellow light. It was a wolf, but unlike any he had ever seen before. Larger than the wild wolves that roamed the outskirts of the village, its presence was both terrifying and majestic. It stopped in front of Ye Ling, its eyes locking onto his, as though it could see into the depths of his soul.
For a moment, Ye Ling stood frozen, but then the pull of the beast inside him grew stronger. His muscles tensed, and a wave of power surged from deep within. The wolf growled again, but this time, it wasn't with hostility—it was a challenge.
The Test of Power
Ye Ling felt a rush of energy coursing through him, filling him with a burning desire to confront this creature. The same power that had stirred in him during his encounter with the wolf was now fully awake, thrumming through every fiber of his being. But it was wild, untamed, and he struggled to control it.
His hands clenched into fists, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble with the intensity of the force building inside him. The wolf, sensing this, let out a low, rumbling growl, its stance shifting into one of readiness. Ye Ling felt the beast's power calling to him, as if it were testing him, gauging his strength.
For a moment, Ye Ling hesitated. This wasn't just an animal encounter. This was something more. He realized the creature before him wasn't just a wild animal—it was a challenge from the depths of his own being. It was a reflection of the inner beast he had to learn to tame.
With a deep breath, he focused on the power within him, trying to guide it, trying to harness it. The air around him crackled with energy, and the wolf seemed to pause, sensing his intent. Slowly, Ye Ling reached out his hand, not in aggression, but in a tentative attempt to connect.
To his surprise, the wolf lowered its head slightly, as though recognizing his attempt to control the power, rather than be consumed by it.
The moment of tension hung in the air, thick with uncertainty, but Ye Ling remained calm. He understood then—the key to mastering his power wasn't to fight it, but to understand it, to learn to coexist with it.
---
The Return to Safety
After a long, silent moment, the wolf slowly turned and retreated into the darkness, its glowing eyes lingering on Ye Ling for a final, meaningful gaze. Ye Ling stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The connection had been brief, but profound. He had not fought the beast, but had, in some way, befriended it.
As he made his way back to the village, the weight of what had just occurred settled over him. He realized that the power within him wasn't just a curse—it was a part of him, something he would have to learn to live with, something that could either destroy or empower him, depending on how he chose to embrace it.
That night, as he lay in his bed, Ye Ling closed his eyes and whispered a promise to himself. He would not let the beast inside him control him. He would master it. And in doing so, he would forge his own path—one that was no longer defined by the curse of his birth.