Looking at the torn body of the once beautiful panther I can’t help but grimace at the gore displayed in front of me. Bones and limbs twisted in unhealthy ways as I scan for any signs that tell me if this creature will live or die.

“I thi-“

Unable to help myself anymore, I regurgitate like a kid as I drop to my knees while puking after spotting the thorn paw of the animal. I had never seen mingled body parts back on earth, sure broken bones or tore muscles like any person but never severe injuries like the ones the panther had.

Diverting my eyes from the horrible spectacle, I try to only focus on the beasts slow gasps and chokes on what I presume to be blood.

Lifting slowly lifting my torso with watery eyes, a myriad of feelings go through me as I try not to wince at my own pain.

“Even if I wanted to help yo-.”

With shallow breaths that create small clouds of moisture, the panther focuses its hazy eyes on me.

'Help.'

"What the fuck!?"

Confused and flabbergasted I look at the dying panther laying on the hard ground.

'No it can't be, this is not happening. Daemon beasts in this world talk via telepathy or am I just going crazy?'

With a surprised face that says all about my disbelief, I speak to the animal.

"I can't help you, I don't even know how to treat myself, so how could I treat you?" I shake my head still in disbelief at the absurdity of talking to an animal while saying. "You're worse off than I am unless you have a miracle medicine I can't help you."

With a low growl of frustration the panther's eyes harden as it says.

'I have plants, they be white and glow.'

While the effort is clearly exuded through the panther as it tried to make its thoughts clear, I winced at its pain while nailing my eyes to the ground unable to feel anything else than remorse.

'Heal me and then you. Deal?'

With a doubtful face, I tried to make sense of what I just heard.

'Could it be true, should I just trust it and go for it?'

'Help now.'

"Argh...Ok, ok...Where are they, these miracle plants that you speak of?"

As if thinking the same thing I had just a moment before, the beast face is filled with doubt and uncertainty. I patiently wait for the reply not wanting to waste something that from its reaction was very helpful and valuable.

'South-west, one-hour human run. Only if fast.'

I try to get up from my uncomfortable position while gritting my teeth and enduring hellish pains in both my arms but ultimately favoring my left arm to help me as it had fewer injuries.

Having hoisted myself upright I walk towards the forest while slowly re-enter it with a somber look in my eyes. Just as I was about to cross the trees and lose sight of the panther I shoot it a last meaningful glance hoping to distinguish any abnormalities in its behavior, but after straining my eyesight in the dark night and not finding anything I continue to walk.

Before being injured, I was fairly confident in my own abilities to deal with whatever animals I would encounter in the forest, but after having run into the panther I wasn’t so sure anymore. Above all the things I disliked about this new world, cruising through the wilderness in the middle of the night was at the top of the list and right behind were talking monsters.

'Are all of them able to speak with humans?

I need to find more information about the wildlife and other subjects, unfortunately, the sect didn't exactly provide the best information on their behavior.'

While slowly pacing myself with a busted hand and a torn arm I continue to walk with my senses on high alert, towards aforementioned south-west direction while struggling with the pitch darkness and uneven soil.

'Even if I don’t have a book on wildlife I am glad I studied the book on geography, it's making this much easier than just aimlessly going about in the forest.'

*************

(Change of P.o.V: third person)

Every being that the panther had ever encountered inside the forest hid from his majestic aura, even the bigger daemon beasts were afraid of its sharp claws and fast body.

It only had encountered someone stronger here once and that was the most dangerous life form in the forest, an azure minor dragon.

Although relatively small, they were dangerous because of their mist illusions and water techniques. Being the fastest in the dragon forest made him barely able to escape the azure’s claws.

But the human, he was different, almost as fast as him.

It had taken everything left in its strength to look at the youngling and was instantly offended by its eyes.

Eyes that showed pity, pity for an enemy and that infuriated the beast to no end. To be so soft-hearted towards an opponent... Raging inside the panther only wanted to rip apart the kid in two, to tear him to pieces.

After the kid puked all over the floor a look of distress clear in his face the panther formulated a quick plan with high risks but higher rewards.

If he couldn't move, it would make the kid for him by manipulating his feelings, and if that didn't work, he would use enticement. Concentrating in his rapidly fading Qi the panther used it to send a telepathic message to Li and by its surprised face, he made the panther confirmed that it had received it.

After a brief exchange between the two about the medicinal plants he had managed to collect throughout his life, his plan bore fruit as the kid went on about to collect the much-needed medicine.

As his back faded away into the dragon forest, the mind of the beast suddenly entered into a fear-induced turmoil as he thought about the possibility that the kid would simply leave to never again come back. The probability that he would return with the medicine was very low, but he still wanted to hope that the kid was somewhat honest.

***********

Hours passed as the beast agonized from both the pain and worry over deal with the child, not wanting to think about betrayal.

Although having somewhat developed sentience and thought process, the creature was still an animal at heart and could not entirely trust the human with the plants, even thinking of far-fetched scenarios where the kid came back with more people and tortured him.

It waited in agony while circulating Qi through its body just to stay awake but failing most of the times, losing consciousness in the process.

Dark thoughts prevailed as the hours kept passing in flurried dazes.

Finally, the animal heard noises coming from the conglomerate of trees that the human boy had left though and a shadow came into view.

As it made itself known, the kid, wearing the same tattered clothes, appeared to be better than he had been before he had left. After it came within a few feet, the panther could now distinguish the kids left arm, and to its surprise, it had no blemishes from the biting marks while his once gruesome and twisted hand was only swoll as if he had punched a steel plate.

The animal was both angry and happy at sight of the human boy.

Angry that the boy had taken so long to get the plants while even using them without its permission, and ultimately happy that he hadn't forgotten their deal.

(End of P.o.V: Back to Li’s pov)

*************

Sighing I approach the wounded animal with caution because of its expression while half expecting it to jump at me in a maddened craze and half expecting it to lick my hand in gratitude.

'Truly a wild animal, no matter how much intelligence it shows it still oozing a dangerous aura .'

Not wanting to approach the creature more than necessary I deposit the white glowing herbs I had found in its home by its side.

While I watch the animal try to eat the fragrant herbs, I think about the time I've wasted that I could have used to save Yao and how these setbacks had horrible timing.

Between the slow pace in the jungle like forest, the breakthrough, fighting and consequently helping my enemy, it had all come at high costs, burning precious time that would be best used in saving Yao Chen.

'If only this was back on earth, it was as simple as grabbing a heli-jet and flying off to pick someone up or search for missing people.'

As I had these thoughts about the amazing commodities of my former planet, I watched mesmerized as the animal's body started to twist and mingle back into place just like my body had when I found the seemingly magical plants.

Although reaching the lair of the panther had been somewhat difficult because of its hidden location, the items themselves had been easy to locate inside the dark and humid cave. Footing turning out to be the only problem as I was injured and moss covered the cave's floor made me 'dance' in a weird way as I reached the back wall where I saw a nest of sorts made out of feathers.

Right beneath the feathers, there were glowing herbs that gave a minimal glow to the cave. I had picked them up and inspected them with a curious look trying to find where the actual light came from.

Awkwardly looking at the white petals I reached the conclusion that they had some sort of bioluminescence to them and without hesitating, I ate two of the herbs raw and waited. The healing process took longer than expected as only after waiting for three hours I was almost one hundred percent healed.

I could only marvel at this world's magic as I backtracked my way towards the panther, only reaching him at dawn.

Heavy tremors made me concentrate on the animal again as it tried to get up despite its paw's swelling.

Nervousness built up inside me as I slowly walked backways and away from the gigantic beast.

"I'm leaving, y-you do your thing...and be good man..."

'don't run, me no hurt you.'

Turning my body in the azure mountain's direction, I leave any face I had behind as I quickly rush out of the dead-end, still feeling pain but nothing that could stop me from leaving the beast at high speeds.

I had doubts about the sincerity of the animals words so I went ahead and excused myself from the volatile situation while worrying about Yao Chen.