The rain was harsh and the thunder loud, loud enough to drown out the wailing of a child.

The Wailing was caused by an infant, left on the step of the temple swaddled in fine silk cloth, embroidered with cherry blossoms.

The child was obviously from a wealthy household so why it was left there on the step of a temple was a mystery.

The night passed, as did the rain and the wails of the child were finally heard.

A priest had awoken early to sweep the steps but when he got there, a bundle of fine silk greeted him.

The priest stared at the bundle for a while, looking for any movement, if the child has been brought there the night before it would probably be dead, he would not bring back an infant's corpse.

When the bundle wriggled, the priest looked down at the bundle in resignation, The priest none to gently grab the bundle and brought it back to the temple.

Tucked into the swaddling was a note and a ring that had a cherry blossom insignia on it.

- 6 years later -

Xiao Lanmei stumbled upon a rock that lay carelessly on the dirt path, he'd run away from the temple to play in the forest with his friends. none of his friends were like him though.

His friends were all animals, some could even talk, but when he'd told the old Priest about his friends he would scold him, he would say never to go there again and increased his work around the temple.

Xiao Lanmei thought this was all very unfair, so he ended up sneaking out of the temple when the old priest wasn't there.

He had three little friends that could talk to him, a hamster, a crane and a tiger that had a big tummy. His little friends all said something about cultivation, apparently it made people stronger.

Xiao Lanmei wanted to get stronger, maybe then the old priest wouldn't yell at him as much, and he could help with the chores even more.

The tiger said that the boy could cultivate too, he just needed someone to teach him, the boy looked at the tiger with big, hopeful eyes " will you help me?" the tiger laid herself down.

"of course little one, and when my cubs come you can help them, how does that sound little one?"

Xiao Lanmei's face lit up as he ran around telling all of his friends the happy news.