The Mighty Mage

Bam!

Before he could even finish his sentence, Mimi's tiny fist flew right into his stomach.

"Ugh!" Long bent over, clutching his belly with both hands. His face twisted in pain as he looked up at her with a death glare. "You... you little brat! Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I won't fight back!"

He straightened up slowly, raising his hand to respond, but Mimi didn't even give him the chance.

Whack! This time, she punched him right in the face.

Long stumbled back, holding his nose, shocked and furious. "You hit me AGAIN?! That's it!"

He raised his hand again, ready to strike, but just then,

"Stop it!" Gu Jin's voice cut through the room like thunder.

She stepped forward and grabbed Long Yifan's wrist.

"What you're doing is wrong," she said calmly, but her tone was sharp like a blade.

Long pointed at Mimi angrily. "She punched me twice! Why didn't you stop her?!"

Gu Jin paused. She looked at Mimi, then back at Long. "She's just a little girl. She doesn't even have mana. How much damage could she even do to someone like you? You're probably just acting… being dramatic."

Long Yifan's mouth dropped open. "What? I'm not faking this!" He held his stomach and nose. "She's got fists like iron!"

Before he could say more, Mimi crossed her arms and said coldly, "I'll punch you again. This time, Gu Jin won't stop me."

Long looked at her, stunned and furious.

He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Mimi grabbed his collar and dragged him into the next room, slamming the door behind them.

Gu Jin blinked, confused. 'Do they know each other?' She thought. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the closed door. 'There's something off about Mimi…'

Gu Jin remembered saving Mimi from that criminal city. She always thought Mimi was just a lost girl… but now?

'Could she really not be human?'

....................

Long Yifan glared at Mimi. "You're truly something else. Always acting like a little angel in front of Gu Jin."

Mimi smiled sweetly. "And you're no better. Acting like some innocent prince. As if you didn't destroy my whole house."

Long snorted. "Your house attacked me first."

Then he paused and corrected himself. "Wait. No, they weren't even people. They were ghost beasts. Don't pretend otherwise."

Mimi's eyes turned sharp. Her hands clenched into fists. "You act like such a man-child."

Long crossed his arms. "You act like a child. And you're not even one."

They stared at each other with fire in their eyes.

Then Long asked, "What are you doing with Gu Jin? Why are you following her?"

Mimi shrugged. "Not your business. And if you dare tell her what I really am…" Her voice dropped low. "I'll kill you."

Long laughed. "Please. You think you can beat me? I'm way stronger than you."

Mimi's jaw tightened. "Even if I'm weaker, I have others. With a snap of my fingers, they'll all come."

Long smirked. "Let them come. I'm already in the transcendental stage. I'll crush every one of them."

Mimi's face went pale. She looked at him with deep hatred. "You…"

Long leaned closer. "Now, tell me. Why are you really with Gu Jin?"

Mimi took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "I want to become Gu Jin's contracted beast."

Long froze.

Then, he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he nearly fell over.

Mimi's face turned red with anger. "Why are you laughing?!"

Long wiped a tear from his eye. "You actually think she'll contract you? A ghost beast? Dream on. As long as I'm around, I won't let it happen."

Mimi glared at him. "I like Gu Jin a lot. She'll love my powers, too."

Long shook his head. "It's not about power. It's about danger. You'll drag her into trouble. I won't let that happen."

Mimi gritted her teeth. "I'll protect her. I'll take care of the problems!"

Long stepped forward, his face serious now. "That won't do. I can't let her fall into a mess. I won't watch her suffer. So if you're a risk.."

He raised his hand. "I'll deal with you here and now."

Mimi stepped back into a battle stance, ghost-like energy gathering around her. She was ready to fight.

But before they could even throw a punch, a green vine swept through the room.

It came through the small space under the door like a wind carrying pressure.

Both of them froze.

The door swung open.

Gu Jin walked in slowly, arms crossed.

"If you two dare to fight," she said coldly, "I will beat you both up."

Long and Mimi instantly dropped their stances like guilty kids.

"We were just talking," Long said quickly.

"Yeah. Talking. Totally peaceful," Mimi added with a fake smile.

Gu Jin narrowed her eyes.

"I don't care what history you two have. But if I see another punch or raised hand… I'll make sure neither of you walks out of here for a week. Alright. What are you two hiding from me?"

Long Yifan opened his mouth to speak, but this time, Mimi was faster.

"I'm a ghost beast," she said suddenly.

Gu Jin blinked. "…What?"

"I'm a ghost beast," Mimi repeated, louder this time. "And I want to become your contracted beast."

The room went completely silent.

Gu Jin's body stiffened. She looked at Mimi as if she had grown a second head.

'What did she just say?' That was… not something she ever expected.

Long Yifan turned his head and muttered under his breath, "Now you say it?"

Gu Jin shook off her shock and asked carefully, "Mimi… are you serious?"

Mimi nodded.

Gu Jin looked confused. "I don't really understand. What is a ghost beast?"

Seeing her puzzled face, Mimi sat down cross-legged and started explaining.

"Ghost beasts are a special kind of spirit beast. We are different from normal ones," she said. "We were once real, powerful beasts in the living world. But after we died… our souls didn't move on."

"You didn't reincarnate?" Gu Jin asked softly.

"No," Mimi said, shaking her head. "Some of us don't get that chance. Our deaths… they weren't fair. We were angry, or we had something important left behind. That's why we didn't go to the next life."

Gu Jin frowned slightly. "So what happens then?"

Mimi's eyes darkened.

"We're given a choice, either be reincarnated as something else and forget everything… or stay and become ghost beasts, and start a new path of ghost cultivation."

Gu Jin stared at her. "And you…?"

"I chose ghost cultivation," Mimi said with a serious look.

"Back then, I was close to reaching the peak. I had trained for hundreds of years. But then… my enemies attacked me. I was surrounded. Trapped. I died. I never got to finish what I started."

There was a quiet pause. Gu Jin's expression softened a little. "That sounds… painful."

"It was," Mimi whispered. "But I came back stronger."

Gu Jin was quiet for a moment, thinking deeply. Then she asked, "If that's the case, then… why are ghost beasts forbidden to be contracted?"

Mimi's voice grew smaller. "Because… ghost beasts bring problems."

Gu Jin raised her eyebrows. "What kind of problems?"

Mimi sighed and began listing with her fingers.

"First… we're tied to death energy. If the human who contracts us isn't strong enough, they get sick. Their bodies become cold. Some even die."

Gu Jin nodded and motioned for her to continue.

"Second," Mimi continued, "our presence can attract other dark things. Evil spirits. Cursed beasts. Ghosts. They can smell us… and sometimes they follow us."

"Third… ghost beasts have strong emotions. If we're angry or sad, it affects our master. They start having mood swings, bad dreams, even mental damage."

Gu Jin's face was serious now.

"Fourth," Mimi said softly, "if a ghost beast loses control… they can eat their master's soul."

Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. What a unique set of beasts...

"It's rare!" Mimi said quickly. "Very rare! And only happens if the master tries to break the bond first."

Gu Jin stared at her in silence.

Mimi looked down and whispered,

"That's why people hate ghost beasts. That's why we're not allowed in cities. They think we're monsters. But we're not. We're just… trying to live again."

Gu Jin didn't feel any kind of heartache. Call her heartless, but the brutal reality was... if any humans contract these beast god knows how the contractor will end.

First possibility? Dead.

Another possibility? Dead.

From whatever she could see, there were only cons.

Long Yifan, who had stayed quiet until now, suddenly said, "And that's why I didn't want her near you."

Gu Jin glanced at him.

"I didn't know how far she'd go to stay by your side," he said. "But if she loses control even once…"

"I won't," Mimi interrupted, voice firm. "I'd never hurt Gu Jin. I respect her. I admire her. I'd protect her with my life."