Fluffy’s Midnight Adventure

The aftermath of the neighborhood watch meeting left the family in an unusual state of quiet. Back home, Son-Wu San leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping tea while watching Fluffy sprawl across the living room floor like he owned the place.

Li-Yan Mei sat beside him, her head resting in her hand. "We need to talk about the kids. And the dog."

Son-Wu San sighed. "The kids are curious, Mei. And Fluffy... well, Fluffy's a problem of his own."

Fluffy wagged his tail at the mention of his name, thumping it so hard against the floor that the vase on the coffee table wobbled.

"Problem?" Xian Xue peeked around the corner, her big eyes shining with innocent mischief. "Fluffy's perfect!"

"He's a glowing, ancient spirit wolf," Son-Wu San muttered. "Normal families don't have those."

"Maybe they should," Xian Long added, sliding into the room. "Fluffy makes everything more exciting!"

Li-Yan Mei raised an eyebrow. "Exciting isn't the goal here."

But Fluffy, as if to prove his worth, let out a low rumble that sent the kids giggling. He leapt to his feet and trotted to the door, pawing at it insistently.

"Is he... asking to go outside?" Son-Wu San asked.

"He's probably bored!" Xian Xue said, grabbing the door handle before anyone could stop her.

"Wait!" Li-Yan Mei shouted, but it was too late.

Fluffy bolted into the yard like a streak of white lightning, disappearing into the night.

As Fluffy raced through the quiet streets, his glowing form attracted every dog, cat, and nocturnal creature in the area. Barking erupted from backyards, lights flickered on in windows, and one unfortunate neighbor tripped over their own feet as Fluffy zoomed past.

At the corner convenience store, a group of teenage delinquents loitered by the entrance. One of them spotted Fluffy bounding toward them, his blue eyes blazing in the dark.

"Bro, what is that?!" one of them yelled.

"It's a wolf! Run!"

The group scattered like leaves in a storm as Fluffy stopped to sniff a trash can, completely oblivious to the chaos he was causing.

Back at the house, Son-Wu San paced the living room. "I told you to keep the door locked!"

"He just wanted some fresh air!" Xian Xue protested.

"Do you know what happens if someone sees him?!"

"Uh, they pet him?" Xian Long suggested.

Li-Yan Mei pinched the bridge of her nose. "We have to find him before someone calls animal control—or worse."

The family quickly set out into the night, each of them following Fluffy's faint glowing trail.

In the park, Fluffy stumbled upon a group of amateur cultivators practicing their techniques under the moonlight. They froze as his radiant form emerged from the trees, his presence overwhelming their meager spiritual energy.

"Is that... a divine beast?" one of them whispered.

"Bow," another hissed. "Don't make it angry!"

But Fluffy had no interest in them. He bounded past, accidentally swiping his tail against their formation. The resulting gust of wind sent them tumbling like bowling pins.

"That thing's too powerful!" one of them shouted as they scrambled to their feet. "We're not ready for this!"

Fluffy let out a cheerful bark, sending a shockwave through the clearing, before dashing off toward the river.

By the time the family caught up with him, Fluffy had somehow gathered a following. Stray animals, awestruck cultivators, and confused mortals trailed behind him as he trotted along the riverbank.

"Oh no," Li-Yan Mei muttered.

Son-Wu San crossed his arms. "This is why we don't let him outside."

Xian Xue ran ahead and wrapped her arms around Fluffy's neck. "There you are! Did you have fun?"

Fluffy licked her face, his tail wagging furiously.

The crowd that had gathered stared at the family in stunned silence.

"Uh... is this your dog?" one brave soul asked.

"Dog?" Son-Wu San repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Li-Yan Mei said quickly, cutting him off. "This is our... unusual dog. He's very friendly but also very... energetic."

The crowd nodded uncertainly, too intimidated to question her further.

As the family herded Fluffy back home, Xian Long looked up at his parents. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Not bad?!" Son-Wu San said. "Do you realize how many people saw him?"

"But they didn't figure out anything weird!" Xian Xue chimed in. "Everyone just thought he was a dog."

Li-Yan Mei sighed, shaking her head. "We can't keep living like this. We need to set rules for Fluffy. And for you two."

"Rules are boring," Xian Long muttered under his breath.

"Rules keep us safe," Son-Wu San said firmly.

As they reached their house, Fluffy trotted inside and immediately curled up on the rug, looking perfectly innocent.

"See?" Xian Xue said, stroking his fur. "He's just a good boy."

Son-Wu San and Li-Yan Mei exchanged a glance.

"We'll deal with this tomorrow," Li-Yan Mei said finally.

"Agreed," Son-Wu San said, already exhausted.

As the kids giggled and Fluffy snored, the parents sat down on the couch, wondering how long their fragile "normal" life would last.