Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 29

Returning to her quarters, Liu Fenyun saw that Lianyi still hadn’t returned to human form. She placed her on a soft mat and quickly began searching for the antidote.

She found the pills and squatted beside Lianyi, staring at her tightly closed cat mouth, lost in thought.

Without a feeding tool or syringe, how does one normally give medicine to a cat? If she tried to force the pill in directly, would she get bitten?

Liu Fenyun decided to give it a try. She couldn’t afford to wait for her master.

Lianyi’s demon form hadn’t shrunk despite being unconscious she was about the same size as Liu Fenyun. Liu Fenyun rolled up her sleeves and, with great effort, managed to pry open the cat’s mouth.

Before she could drop the pill inside, her arm holding the cat’s mouth suddenly felt a sharp pain. The white, pointed teeth pressed down, piercing her skin.

Liu Fenyun hissed and quickly dropped the pill, watching it roll out before hearing a faint swallowing sound, then slowly allowed the cat’s mouth to close.

Blood flowed from the wound, soon dripping from her fingertips.

After stopping the bleeding and disinfecting the wound, Liu Fenyun endured the pain and gently stroked the still-quiet white cat.

“You’re such a good girl, Your Highness,” she whispered with a smile.

She covered Lianyi with a blanket and sat at her desk, quickly drawing ten talismans of different attributes, hiding them in her sleeves to prepare for her master’s upcoming test.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard a muffled groan. Turning, she saw the white cat squinting at her.

Lianyi had been woken by stomach pain. Seeing Liu Fenyun beside her, she put her paws on her belly, tears welling in her eyes.

“Did your master poison me? It hurts so much!”

Seeing her in such discomfort, Liu Fenyun couldn’t bear to leave. She rushed over and held Lianyi’s demon body, massaging along the acupoints.

“It’s not poison, just a sleeping pill, but your master’s medicine was too strong, so Your Highness’s stomach can’t handle it,” Liu Fenyun said softly, stroking the cat’s fur. “I’ve already given you the antidote. It won’t be painful for long.”

She didn’t think about whether Yu Qingyue would punish her. Right now, her only concern was taking good care of Lianyi until she recovered.

Lianyi curled into her arms, pain evident, and with red-rimmed eyes asked, “Am I going to die…?”

She was still frightened. The pain was unlike anything she had felt before, leaving her deeply uneasy.

Liu Fenyun rubbed her cat ears and repeatedly said softly, “No, absolutely not. You won’t die. Rest assured, Your Highness.”

The warm breath brushed her ear, making Lianyi shiver involuntarily, her fur almost standing on end.

How could this person even while comforting her still manage to tease her?!

Unable to resist, she transformed back into human form, resting her head on Liu Fenyun’s shoulder. Her slightly curled brown hair rubbed against Liu Fenyun’s jaw along with her soft cat ears.

“Did you pass your master’s trial?” she asked.

Liu Fenyun shook her head. “I didn’t want Your Highness to feel uncomfortable, so I brought you back first.”

“And your master?”

Liu Fenyun opened the system map and saw Yu Qingyue was already in the guest room. Unsure, she replied, “She’s probably drinking tea in the guest room… I think?”

Seeing her hesitant expression, Lianyi spoke bluntly, “You stood your master up.”

Liu Fenyun coughed awkwardly and looked down silently, essentially admitting it.

Seeing that Liu Fenyun did it to take care of her, Lianyi sighed and quietly asked, “When your master is angry, how does she usually punish you?”

“It depends on her mood,” Liu Fenyun answered calmly, as if used to it. “She could make me hold a horse stance, test medicines, or even whip me… whatever she thinks of, she chooses.”

“Test medicines? Whip you?!” Lianyi was shocked, her cat tail flicking nervously. “Do you always obediently accept punishment?!”

Liu Fenyun laughed, “Of course not. I’m not a masochist.”

Lianyi relaxed, then said, “That’s still not okay. You can’t just do whatever she says. You’re her disciple, not her servant. And… and she…”

She hesitated, then finally said what she had been holding back: “A Yun, she’s not human.”

Liu Fenyun nodded instinctively. “Yes, my master’s actions can be strange at times. It’s true that humans can’t always accept them…”

Suddenly, she realized something.

“My master isn’t human?! Are you sure, Your Highness?!” she asked, astonished. “How… how is she not human?”

“By her scent,” Lianyi explained, pinching Liu Fenyun’s cheek. “You are human and cannot detect a demon’s scent, but I can. Her scent is the same as Luo Binglun’s, and among non-human beings that were raised by Luo Binglun, there is only one Hai Dongqing.”

The news hit Liu Fenyun suddenly.

“Master… she’s that Hai Dongqing?!” She froze for a moment, then recalled old events and suddenly felt everything made sense. “No wonder she always ignored the Grand Priest. The Grand Priest despises demons; she couldn’t accept that her friend was a demon, could she?”

Lianyi nodded but didn’t tell her that she suspected a budding romantic relationship might have developed between the two.

“If you’re sure she’s a demon, would you still treat her as your master and obey her?” Lianyi asked, changing the topic.

Liu Fenyun didn’t answer immediately. After a moment of eye contact, she said, “My master treats me well, just like Your Highness treats me well. I’ve long said I wouldn’t hold any prejudice against demons because of their race.”

“But… but demons don’t like humans either. Aren’t you afraid your master would harm you?” Lianyi asked anxiously.

Liu Fenyun shook her head, put Lianyi across her arms, and walked toward the bed.

“A demon I trust is nothing to fear.”

Her gentle words fell into Lianyi’s ears, leaving her both reassured and uneasy.

After coaxing Lianyi to sleep, Liu Fenyun hurried to the guest room.

To her surprise, Yu Qingyue hadn’t left all this time. The table, besides the teacups and teapot, had three empty plates, cleaned perfectly. Liu Fenyun could only judge from the lingering sweet aroma in the air that her master had eaten three plates of pastries while waiting.

As usual, Liu Fenyun knelt in greeting.

“How is the Saintess?” Yu Qingyue asked calmly, holding her teacup.

“She’s stable and resting now,” Liu Fenyun answered, bowing her head.

“Rise. This is your territory; no need to be so formal.” Yu Qingyue gestured for her to sit across.

Liu Fenyun had barely sat when she felt a sudden flow of energy. A barrier immediately formed around them while Yu Qingyue drank her tea, obscuring them from view in an instant.

Liu Fenyun: …

This feeling was familiar. It was similar to the time she used Lianyi’s demonic aura to set up a barrier. Humans have similar magic, but they need a magical instrument as a medium; demons could do it barehanded.

“Master, are you really a demon?” she asked after Yu Qingyue finished her tea.

Yu Qingyue looked up, meeting her gaze with eyes sharp as a hawk.

Her calm, black eyes gradually turned amber, identical to Hai Dongqing’s eyes!

Even prepared, Liu Fenyun broke out in a cold sweat.

“What? You weren’t afraid of killing humans or eating people, but now you fear your master?” Yu Qingyue smiled. “When you were in Liuzhi Kingdom, you even combed my demon feathers.”

“No, no! How could I ever fear Master!” Liu Fenyun hurriedly waved her hands, stumbling over her words, “I mean… no, no!”

“Strong emotions harm the body,” Yu Qingyue said as she poured tea for her, her gaze returning to normal. “Just keep this in mind; don’t dwell on it too much.”

Liu Fenyun took the tea, blowing on it, confused.

“Master, can your human and demon forms still separate? I remember when I combed your feathers back then, you were sitting beside me writing medical records…”

“The higher the cultivation, the easier it is to separate human and demon forms,” Yu Qingyue explained. “I have long cultivated into a great demon.”

“Oh! Oh!” Liu Fenyun exclaimed, strangely excited.

In her previous world, there were demons, but none dared approach her. Now she had a white cat wife, seven adorable cat demon subordinates, and her master was confirmed to be a demon. Suddenly, she felt her “demon luck” was quite good.

Yu Qingyue, unaware, smiled at the gleam of curiosity in her disciple’s eyes.

“You don’t reject demons at all,” she said.

Liu Fenyun, having heard the same from Lianyi many times, responded naturally, “Actually, I think demons are pretty good. I don’t understand why so many people hate them.”

“There are demons who are close to humans, and demons who despise humans,” Yu Qingyue explained. “Humans fear demons’ innate power; demons hate humans’ scheming. Over time, enmity arises, giving birth to the human and demon realms.”

“Are you from the demon realm, Master?” Liu Fenyun asked.

Yu Qingyue nodded without hiding. “There is a city called Kongmeng in the demon realm, ruled by a great demon of the Feather Clan. Many humans live there too. The city lord’s wife is human and skilled in medicine. After I completed my apprenticeship under her, she sent me to travel the human realm to observe its customs.”

She began recounting her travels, and Liu Fenyun listened like she was hearing tales of gods and demons, completely absorbed.

After some time, Liu Fenyun asked about her master’s residence in Zhuohuang Kingdom.

“The Grand Priest has already arranged it. It’s at Shuoyue Pavilion in the Priestess Hall,” Yu Qingyue replied calmly.

Liu Fenyun: !!

She really moved in?!

Amazed, she stammered, “Master… the Grand Priest… does she have a grudge against you? Why did she arrange for you to stay at Shuoyue Pavilion?”

Yu Qingyue paused, giving her a puzzled look.

Gritting her teeth, Liu Fenyun dared to tell her suspicions: “It seems the Grand Priest has some fixation on you. The pavilion you live in, ‘Shuoyue Pavilion,’ wasn’t called that before. Four years ago, after the Grand Priest met you, she renamed it. Did something happen between you two back then?”

Yu Qingyue drank her tea and, realizing the situation, said, “I see. No wonder she has said strange things over the years.”

Liu Fenyun couldn’t understand.

Yu Qingyue didn’t need her to. After finishing her tea, she stood and said, “I will leave first. Focus on preparing for tomorrow’s assessment.”

“My disciple understands,” Liu Fenyun followed her to the entrance of the Saintess Hall and returned, feeling something was off.

When did her master become so urgent?

Walking in the Saintess Hall, Liu Fenyun realized she hadn’t seen the Grand Priest for a while. She wondered if she was busy with the spring hunt or resting.

Kuantian Residence, Grand Priest’s Quarters

A bitter medicinal scent entered the nose. Luo Binglun barely opened her eyes, seeing a moon-white sleeve brush past the gauze curtain.

Yu Qingyue placed the medicine bowl down and sat beside her, naturally taking her pulse.

“Cough… where did you go?” Luo Binglun asked after Yu Qingyue released her hand.

“Saintess Hall,” Yu Qingyue replied. “I went to check on my disciple.”

Luo Binglun wanted to ask more, but the cold beauty beside her handed her a bowl of medicine and said softly, “Time to take your medicine.”

“The poison in your body is very special, seemingly from demons. Using human medicines alone can only partially eliminate it and will leave many aftereffects,” Yu Qingyue stirred the medicine, her voice firm. “Besides the Seventh Princess, are there any other demons in the palace?”

“Hmph. Those demons have their own ways of hiding,” Luo Binglun said coldly. “Even if there were no means, there are always those with ill intentions who would protect them. Such demons are impossible for me to find.”

Yu Qingyue ignored her sarcasm, calmly feeding her the medicine.

“If I had arrived a few days later, your life would have been over,” she said lightly, her tone devoid of emotion. “Have you found anything?”

“It’s definitely connected to the Fourth Princess, Sha Xiu Man,” Luo Binglun admitted. “I have a dead guard in my palace, originally a secret guard in her residence. For some reason, he was bribed and entered the Seventh Princess’s mansion. That cat demon found him and killed him.”