Both of them were apart within split seconds, weapons up and standing against each other, back against back. Glaring into the forest.

That was when a large stag walked out of the forest. It's head held high as it bent one leg and lowered its head in inclination towards them before it rose.

The large black eyes blinked at her as it walked up to Jiang. Jiang smiled and then gently stroked its head.

"He wanted to say hello," Jiang told her.

"Why isn't he..." She quieted.

"He is not old enough for human speech. Ten thousand years old is not where he would need to be if he wanted to."

"Oh."

"Want to touch him?" Jiang asked, and Yin nodded. Walking to the stag, she raised her hand without touching him when the animal stubbed his head against the balls of her hand.

The sensation of soft fur beneath her hands was startling. The feeling was gentle and comforting.

Smiling, she grinned and then started scratching behind his ear. Suddenly, from the forest, more and more deer came forward eyeing her curiously. She was surprised when one of them stubbed her and observed her with curious eyes. Yin looked at Jiang for help, and he only smiled.

"They seldom see humans. Many fewer humans who do not want to hunt them. That is why they are not afraid." He said, and she noted how her eyes went wide as saucers. She touched them when another deer stubbed her again. She turned and saw a large deer give her a look. A grin spread on her face. Well, that was not so difficult to understand.

"Wanna play?" she asked, and it nodded enthusiastically with its head up and down.

"Alright, how about catch? You know, catch?" She asked, "The rule is to stay in sight of the lake. Alright?"

The deer and the stag nodded while Jiang, behind her, let out a hard laugh. "Well, I don't intend to lose." He said, and she grinned as she turned around to him. "Rule: we cannot use wings, and you have to hold back."

Jiang blinked. "What does that mean?"

"Well, we don't stand a chance otherwise, do we?" She explained. "Mr., I am a high and mighty."

"Alright." Jiang narrowed his eyes at her as the herd around her nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

"Okay, then let's go." She announced. "I am the first catcher." Then she grinned. "I am counting to five, got it."

She raised her arm.

"One, Two, Three..." The animals and Jiang around her began to move, heading into the forest along the river's shore. Four, Five. I am coming!" She shouted and then ran.

Her feet hit the ground rhythmically as she sped up, channeling spirit power to generate more speed. Her body moved nimbly on the uneven ground as she headed for the first deer, a young roe. She touched his flank in full run.

"Gotcha." She shouted, and the roe made a disgruntled sound as she spun away.

After that, it was pure chaos and fun. Eventually, a few more spirit beasts joined in as they played catch with each other.

Narrow escapes, adventurous maneuvers in the forest, and daring hiding spots. Yin laughed out of her lungs as she was caught by Jiang, who was out for her before pursuing a large saber-toothed tiger that was moving at blazing speed as he ran through the forest.

Eventually, completely dead on her feet, Yin tumbled down and settled on a fallen tree. "daaaammmmn," she said, panting. "I am done, guys."

The spirit animals settled around her. The herd gathered together as the large stag walked forward and then touched her head with his long antlers as if to say goodbye. She smiled. "Goodbye to you as well."

Then the herd headed away. Followed by the other animals, bit by bit, they vanished back into the forest. She watched them meld into the green of the forest, knowing most would never be seen or eventually hunted down by spirit masters. "Jiang...I really, really hope that one day there will be a way for humans and spirit beasts to coexist peacefully without the need to hunt and be hunted."

"I hope with you. Maybe you find a way, Yin." He said, smiling as she shook her head.

"I doubt it. I am a passable student, but I am not really inventive about things." Yin sighed. "I will try anyway, though. Maybe ask Gale, he is more of a scholar."

"He is not a spirit master, though."

She blinked and looked at Jiang. "In how far does that matter, coming down on intelligence and finding solutions? In my opinion, Gale is a genius. So he is not a spirit master, will never be, but he has more brain cells working up there," She patted her head. "Then anyone else I know, that includes my brother. In an intelligence match between Bro and Gale, I would say Gale will win."

He stilled for a moment and then nodded. "You are right. I hadn't considered that."

"I think most overlook it. I wonder how many geniuses like Gale are simply forgotten or never reach their full potential, just because they haven't had a chance at a good education. Or because they are not spirit masters. If it wasn't for the grandmaster...I think our literary department would never exist. None of us would be where we are today."

"Probably". Jiang agreed. "But I think if it wasn't for you being there and being Tang Sans sister the grandmaster would probably never even have realized the department existed."