The Scholar and the Tiger Demon

Beautiful, independent Bottom × strong, good-natured Top

The scholar was a handsome young man, learned and refined. The tiger demon was a tiger demon, barely able to maintain human form, surrounded by hunters and on the verge of death.

They met in a dilapidated temple during a heavy rainstorm. The scholar treated the tiger demon's wounds, and then they parted ways: one went to sit the imperial examinations, the other returned to continue ruling his mountain.

The scholar thought their paths would never cross again.

Later, the scholar became a minor official and lived a quiet life.

Until war broke out.

War had many causes: an incompetent ruler, poor harvests caused by natural disasters, foreign invasions, and vassals declaring themselves independent. In short, hard times had arrived.

During the war, human life was worth less than grass, and the scholar nearly died. Luckily, a kind stranger took him in, and he made it through those days.

The kind stranger desired him, but treated him with the utmost respect.

When the war ended, the scholar returned to his post, but never saw that kind stranger again.

Later, the scholar rose steadily through the ranks and became a close aide to the emperor.

One day, he heard that the bandit chief who had long plagued the court had finally been captured. He happened to pass by and went to take a look, only to discover that the man was the very same kind stranger who had saved him.

When the man saw him, his eyes filled with astonishment.

And just like that, the astonished man's head rolled to the ground.

The scholar watched the tiger demon's head fall. For some reason, his heart ached faintly.

Afterward, the scholar served the court diligently and eventually died of old age. Strangely, for a man of such high rank and power, he never married.

Others found this deeply puzzling, but the scholar knew the truth: he owed the tiger demon his life.

He opened and closed his eyes, and somehow... he had truly come back to life...

It was the moment he had first met the tiger demon, in that very same dilapidated temple.

And the person before him was the tiger demon he had wronged so deeply.

The scholar's eyes stung. He threw himself into the bewildered tiger demon's arms and said through tear-filled eyes, "I love you."

The tiger demon, with the beautiful man in his arms, stared at him in utter confusion with his golden, round eyes.

P.S.:

The tiger demon will regain his memories later on. At first, he's a bit of a lovable dummy.

Theme: Strive tirelessly to better yourself.