Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 30

Sangjia Cuixiao muttered that he didn’t like demons, but no sooner had he said that than a soft “meow” came from behind him. A plump, spotted cat appeared, rubbing affectionately against his leg.

Sangjia Cuixiao’s wrinkled old face immediately broke into a smile, and then he said to Liu Fenyun, “Let the Seventh Princess stay. The big flower can keep her company.”

Liu Fenyun had just used the system to check the spotted cat and found out it was actually a demon. She was confused and looked down at Lianyi in her arms, about to ask her what she meant. But Lianyi jumped down on her own and went over to the spotted cat.

“Your Highness, wait for me! I’ll be right back!” Liu Fenyun said, leaving her words behind as she hurried to follow Sangjia Cuixiao. Despite his old age, the elderly man’s steps were steady and fast, looking like someone who had practiced martial arts for years.

After they left, Lianyi asked the spotted cat, “You actually live here? Aren’t you afraid he’ll recognize you as a demon?”

This cat wasn’t one of her subordinates, but she had seen it multiple times in the outer city and had even helped it drive away wild dogs before.

The spotted cat wagged its tail and said, “Of course I’m afraid! But if I’m not here, he’d be very lonely. His wife passed away early, and I see him all alone, every day looking dazed. I just want to keep him company. Besides, humans don’t live long he’ll probably be gone in five or ten years.”

“He used to be a royal appointed Heavenly Demon Slayer,” Lianyi reminded her.

“So what if he was a Heavenly Demon Slayer?” the cat replied nonchalantly. “If I didn’t have the courage to stay, I could leave anytime. And actually, Sangjia doesn’t dislike demons that much. Because he’s a Demon Slayer, he’s more eager to be close to demons than anyone else.”

Lianyi didn’t understand the reason, but seeing that the cat didn’t care, she didn’t ask further.

“I want to see my husband,” she said. “Do you know where they’re holding the examination?”

“I do, I’ll take you there, follow me closely,” the cat said, pushing open a door and gesturing for her to follow.

The two cats leaped onto a wall, and under the cover of trees, they quickly reached the training yard in the back.

The open space was vast, and the air was swirling with energy. Liu Fenyun was already sparring with Sangjia Cuixiao.

Lianyi crouched on the wall, watching Sangjia Cuixiao’s movements from afar, and began sensing the blood contract marks on Liu Fenyun’s body.

Liu Fenyun was about to cast a spell when she heard Lianyi’s voice in her mind: “Wood talisman to your left, dodge it.”

She didn’t have time to think and instinctively evaded, just barely avoiding a green vine that would have pierced her arm if she had been a moment slower.

“Gold talisman, start releasing by your right foot,” Lianyi warned next.

Liu Fenyun had a system that allowed her to predict the enemy’s next moves, so she wasn’t truly afraid of Sangjia Cuixiao’s talismans.

But she didn’t want to let Lianyi down, so she deliberately slowed down her movements, pretending that she was successfully evading every attack only with Lianyi’s guidance.

Lianyi was nervous at first but relaxed when she saw Liu Fenyun calmly avoiding all the talismans with her advice.

The talisman examination included supportive talismans and combat talismans. Sangjia Cuixiao, being old, didn’t have the stamina for prolonged fights, so he incorporated both into one test.

Liu Fenyun dodged steadily, occasionally using elemental countering to neutralize his talismans. Only after she had used up all the talisman papers she brought did Sangjia Cuixiao stop.

“As a Demon Slayer, your talisman skills are still pretty weak,” Sangjia Cuixiao commented, “but as a medicine practitioner, this is acceptable. You’ve passed the test.”

Overjoyed, Liu Fenyun saluted before she had even caught her breath. The thin old man reached out, plucked the Medicine Practitioner Seal from her sash, etched his name on it with his “Qi,” and hung a prepared jade tassel on it.

“The other two Medicine Practitioner Masters aren’t as kind as me. When you meet them, remember to go alone,” Sangjia Cuixiao said, glancing toward the empty wall as if aware of the cat, “They’ll kill any demon they see, no mercy.”

Liu Fenyun didn’t notice his gaze. She asked dumbfounded, “Are all the Medicine Practitioner Masters Demon Slayers?”

“Not all. Back when the former Master Medicine Practitioner was in charge, our city wasn’t developed enough and was frequently attacked by demons,” Sangjia Cuixiao shook his head. “So the priests trained many Demon Slayers. Half of them stayed at the Saintess Hall, and the former Master Medicine Practitioner just happened to select us three Demon Slayers as Medicine Practitioner Masters.”

After receiving the seal, Liu Fenyun hesitated and asked, “Can I also have a Medicine Practitioner Master?”

Sangjia Cuixiao nodded. “Wood-level Medicine Practitioners can choose their own Master.”

“Can it be a demon Master too?” Liu Fenyun asked, observing his expression.

Sangjia Cuixiao froze.

As a Demon Slayer, he knew Lianyi had seven cat-demon subordinates and suspected Liu Fenyun’s intentions.

“Of course not!” Sangjia Cuixiao said sternly. “The Saintess Hall having one demon is already a headache. Young one, go around the outer city, treat more people, keep busy, don’t think about things you shouldn’t!”

Lianyi and the spotted cat quietly returned to their waiting spot.

“The old man has already noticed us,” Lianyi said coldly. “If he wants to harm you, you should escape to the Night Out Tavern. Li Hua and the others will protect you.”

The spotted cat shook its head and didn’t explain further. It fetched a scratching board and placed it in front of Lianyi. “Do you want to play with this, Your Highness?”

Lianyi politely declined. She didn’t have a habit of scratching. The cat happily scratched on its own, and Lianyi slowly walked to a small potted green plant indoors.

The tiny leaves were vibrant and full of life, but the plant felt out of place in the dead, rigid room.

“What is this?” Lianyi asked, touching the leaves.

“It’s catnip. Humans grow it for cats. It was recently introduced to Zhuohuang Kingdom,” the cat said, putting down the scratching board and picking a small bunch with a paw. “It feels great to eat. Try some, Your Highness.”

Lianyi hated eating leafy things, but she had just heard Liu Fenyun mention catnip and, after thinking for a moment, hadn’t decided yet. The smell, however, immediately stimulated her senses.

She grabbed a leaf, barely chewed it, and suddenly couldn’t stand steadily. She swayed two steps, her body softening uncontrollably, the taste spreading in her mouth.

Lianyi stretched comfortably and suddenly wanted to roll over, so she did, rolling twice, feeling unsatisfied, and then stood up unsteadily, eating two more leaves.

Liu Fenyun returned and was stunned to see the white cat writhing wildly on the ground.

She panicked, rushing over and picking up the cat. The cat’s mouth was still stained with green juice, but it was full of energy, pawing at her while rubbing its head against her.

Liu Fenyun held it tightly, afraid it would jump and hurt itself, and stared at the spotted cat.

She wanted to know what the cat had given Lianyi to eat.

Sangjia Cuixiao glanced at the “mad” Lianyi and calmly said, “It seems the Seventh Princess is quite affected by catnip.”

Catnip?

Liu Fenyun followed his finger and indeed saw a small potted green plant on the ground.

Her eyes lit up. “Grandfather, can I buy some of this catnip from you?”

Sangjia Cuixiao shooed her away. “Go, go to the flower shop on East Street; they sell seeds. All this catnip is for the big flower to enjoy. I won’t share it!”

Liu Fenyun thanked him and happily left, holding the cat.

Back at the Saintess Hall, Lianyi was still in the euphoric state brought by the catnip.

Liu Fenyun bought a pack of catnip seeds, petted the cat’s ears, and showed the seeds to Lianyi. “I’ll plant them in the herb garden. Whenever you want some, you can have as much as you like.”

Lianyi meowed, nuzzling her hand with her fluffy head, her barbed pink tongue following.

Liu Fenyun let the rough, warm moisture smear on her hand, smiling as she carried the white cat to the herb garden.

Absorbing the spiritual energy of the garden, Lianyi gradually calmed down.

“A mere plant can control me so strongly!” she transformed back into her humanoid form, both surprised and fearful.

With catnip, anyone who wanted to harm her could make her lose control as she had just experienced—a dangerous vulnerability for a demon.

“Can you make a medicine against catnip?” she asked urgently. “Something that works immediately if I eat it!”

Liu Fenyun, busy planting catnip, was taken aback.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, eating catnip won’t make you addicted…”

“But it makes me lose control!” Lianyi shouted, covering her face. “I’m a demon! How can a little plant control me…”

Liu Fenyun didn’t know how to explain, so she asked the system.

The system replied: “There is indeed a medicine to resist catnip, but it’s a mind-suppressing drug with high production costs and rare ingredients. Not very practical. I recommend the host not waste time and money.”

To dissuade her, it even listed the time and cost required to make the medicine.

Liu Fenyun felt troubled, the white cat looking at her expectantly. She thought for a moment and said, “I can make medicine against catnip. But Your Highness, just enjoy catnip normally; don’t scare yourself.”

System: “……”

It silently added “Host is a cat lover” to its notes.

Lianyi finally felt relieved, hugged Liu Fenyun, and gave her a kiss, following her to plant the catnip.

The herb garden was full of spiritual energy. As long as her favor level remained high, Liu Fenyun could speed up the plants’ growth with just a thought.

Once planted, Liu Fenyun tested it. Green sprouts emerged from the soil and expanded their leaves. Within moments, a patch of catnip had grown.

Lianyi was stunned. She had seen Demon Slayers use wood talismans to grow vines, but to grow plants without talismans was unheard of.