Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 68

After finishing breakfast, Lianyi wiped her mouth. As she put on her clothes, she asked Liu Fenyun, “How is the production of the antidote coming along?”

Liu Fenyun was clearing the dishes. Hearing this, she replied, “The main ingredients are mostly processed. We’re just missing the ‘Xuanmo Inner Breath’ that Master mentioned.”

“I’ve never even heard of a beast called a Xuanmo,” Lianyi said, stepping down from the couch and braiding her white hair. “What did your Master say? Does she have a way to get this inner breath?”

Liu Fenyun thought for a moment, her Master certainly seemed confident. She nodded, then corrected her: “A Xuanmo isn’t a demon beast, it’s a magic beast.”

“What’s the difference?” Lianyi didn’t understand.

In the era Liu Fenyun originally came from, magic beasts existed but were extremely rare.

“I suppose it’s a type of chimera?” She began to recall the monster manuals her roommate used to read. “For example, something with a leopard’s body and a snake’s tail, or a human face on a bird’s body. Or perhaps something with no face at all, just a pink lump of flesh with limbs and two rows of wings on its back…”

Lianyi felt goosebumps break out at the description. Frowning, she said, “The beasts you describe sound hideous. What about the Xuanmo?”

“According to the records, a Xuanmo is a creature that resembles a black cat, but it’s covered in scales and has a tail like a scythe. Usually, it transforms into an ordinary black cat to hide itself.” After explaining, Liu Fenyun remarked, “Compared to those other magic beasts, it sounds rather cute, doesn’t it?”

As soon as Lianyi heard that the Xuanmo looked like a cat and heard Liu Fenyun call it “cute” the jar of vinegar in her heart immediately overturned. She reminded her sourly, “Is that so? But it’s still a magic beast. I’ve heard they are incredibly destructive. You absolutely must not go looking for one.”

Liu Fenyun agreed that it was best not to provoke a magic beast and nodded quickly. “Since Master said she has a way, we don’t need to worry about it.”

In the afternoon, Liu Fenyun had intended to take Lianyi out to explore the city again. Since Liu Fenyun had finally switched back to women’s clothing and was in a strange land where no one knew her identity, she naturally wanted to make up for the regret of cross-dressing as a man for five and a half years.

However, before she could tell Lianyi her plan, she was summoned by Yu Qingyue.

In the quiet room of the Wutong Pavilion, only the two of them remained.

Yu Qingyue personally brewed tea for Liu Fenyun. After the disciple took a sip, Yu Qingyue asked calmly and seriously, “Disciple, in your opinion, if the Great Priest of the Candleglow Kingdom were to be attacked by demons while abroad and leave no remains, how would the Candleglow Kingdom react upon hearing the news?”

Liu Fenyun: “???”

Why is the cliché of ‘faking death by being eaten by a demon’ still a thing?

But seeing that her Master was genuinely consulting her, Liu Fenyun thought it over and said, “It’s inappropriate. Priest Luo is different from you. You came to the Flowing Weave Kingdom alone without a family, but Priest Luo comes from the Luo Clan. If she dies violently abroad, it will inevitably trigger internal power struggles in the court, and her family will be implicated. Furthermore, someone must inherit the vacant position of Great Priest. Candleglow selects its Saintess through ‘reincarnation,’ but the Great Priest is different. In short, it’s best if Priest Luo goes back and handles this herself.”

She paused. “Actually, by sneaking Priest Luo out of the city, we’ve already brought considerable trouble to the Luo family. To be honest, she shouldn’t stay away for long; she needs to return as soon as possible.”

Yu Qingyue nodded in agreement and fell into thought while holding her teacup.

Sensing something unusual, Liu Fenyun’s intuition told her that her Master had changed. She tested the waters: “Master, why do you ask this suddenly? Could it be… your memory has returned?”

She remembered Yu Qingyue had left the Pavilion for a long time yesterday, but when she returned, Liu Fenyun and Lianyi had already finished washing up and gone to bed.

Yu Qingyue didn’t hide it, admitting frankly, “Part of it has returned. But to fully recover my memories, I suspect I still need to take the antidote.”

Since the antidote was mentioned, Liu Fenyun took the opportunity to report on the ingredients and ask about the Xuanmo.

Hearing that the main drugs were ready so quickly, Yu Qingyue’s eyes filled with praise. “My disciple is truly efficient.”

Liu Fenyun accepted the praise without false modesty, then asked, “Master, about the Xuanmo Inner Breath…”

She expected Yu Qingyue to provide a location and send her to find it, but instead, Yu Qingyue said, “Yes, I am going to find it now. If you are free, you may bring your wife along.”

Liu Fenyun was stunned. “You already know where it is? But don’t those magic beasts travel through space time without a fixed home?”

“Princess Qiongruo keeps a black cat in her manor,” Yu Qingyue said calmly. “I heard some rumors in the streets yesterday. They say the black cat occasionally comes out to wander, and some have seen it reveal a scythe like tail.”

Liu Fenyun: “…Your intelligence sources are certainly interesting.”

Despite not knowing if it was true, they decided to visit the Princess’s Manor.

The Qiongruo Manor was somewhat remote. Since Luo Binglun was unwell and needed rest, Liu Fenyun only went with Yu Qingyue and Lianyi.

After getting directions, they crossed Flower Viewing Alley, crossed three bridges to the south, and walked three miles east along the waterway until they reached the manor.

The hierarchy in Qifeng City was unique. Because the rulers were female and could grant titles to those of the same gender, the Empress enfeoffed her sisters as Princesses and built manors for them in the inner city.

Princess Qiongruo, Xiao Yingluan, was one of the Empress’s younger sisters, only ten years old. When they arrived, a lady in waiting greeted them.

“Her Highness’s parents are both court officials; I hope the three of you do not take offense,” the lady in waiting explained, fearing they would find it odd to see the young princess alone.

Xiao Yingluan was small but very hospitable. When they were led into the hall, she ran out of the study, ordering servants to serve tea while cradling a small black cat in her arms.

Sensing the thick demonic aura on the three visitors, Xiao Yingluan greeted them tentatively: “Qiongruo greets the three… Demon Lords?”

Liu Fenyun had inherited Yu Qingyue’s medical skills and her introversion, she wasn’t good with children. Lianyi, however, found the girl quite likable. She took the girl’s small arm and introduced them: “My name is Liu Yi. These two are Qi Qing and… Yun Yun.”

Aside from Yu Qingyue’s real name, both she and Liu Fenyun were using aliases.

Lianyi actually thought the alias Liu Fenyun gave herself was too “soft,” but Liu Fenyun hadn’t seen the problem: “‘Fenyun’ means ‘many clouds.’ ‘Yun Yun’ sounds a bit repetitive for a name, so I just changed the second ‘Yun’ to the character for ‘Rhyme’ (Yun).”

Lianyi didn’t realize that in the modern world Liu Fenyun came from, this was essentially a “straight-man style” naming convention.

Xiao Yingluan greeted them politely, and servants soon brought tea.

The black cat in her arms had been lazy, but the moment it caught Liu Fenyun’s scent, it perked up, staring at her repeatedly.

Lianyi naturally noticed. Smelling a faint scent of blood on the cat, she realized this was likely the Xuanmo. She immediately glared back, grabbing Liu Fenyun’s arm to assert her “ownership.”

The black cat gave a dissatisfied “Meow.” It closed its eyes, and when it opened them again, they had turned blood-red, staring aggressively at Lianyi.

As it tried to intimidate her, its fur puffed up. Xiao Yingluan felt the change in texture and looked down in surprise, the cat immediately reverted its eyes to their normal color and rubbed affectionately against her hand with a soft “mew.”

“Little actor,” Liu Fenyun heard Lianyi hiss under her breath.

Yu Qingyue was also observing the cat. Having seen the blood-red pupils, she was now certain of its race.

“Your Highness, may I hold your cat?” she asked.

Xiao Yingluan nodded and whispered to the cat for a moment. Only then did the black cat reluctantly stretch out its front paws in a “pick me up” gesture, allowing itself to be held by Yu Qingyue like a grand lord.

Liu Fenyun noticed Lianyi’s sour expression and joked to lighten the mood: “If it could talk, it would probably be saying, ‘Hold your master!'” (Note: “Laozi” – a cocky way to refer to oneself).

Thinking of the “Hold your master” meme, Liu Fenyun couldn’t help but chuckle.

To her surprise, Lianyi rolled her eyes, told the others “Excuse me,” and dragged Liu Fenyun to a secluded spot outside. She spread her arms wide and said huffily, “Hold your master!”

Liu Fenyun: “?”

She was dazed by Lianyi’s sudden use of the rough pronoun and the demand, but she obediently hugged her.

“Now smile for your master,” Lianyi said, pushing her back slightly, her voice sounding “fierce.”

Liu Fenyun: “???”

It took her a good while to realize the cat was jealous again.

“That black cat is likely the magic beast Xuanmo,” Liu Fenyun whispered after laughing. “Later, Master will take it back to the Pavilion to harvest some inner breath.”

Lianyi asked coolly, “Can’t she just take it here?”

“We don’t want to expose its identity…” Liu Fenyun smiled wryly. “The ability to tear through space-time is something too many people and demons covet.”

Lianyi thought for a moment and tested, “If that’s the case, do you want to ask it if it can take you home?”

In the past, Liu Fenyun definitely would have considered it. But now that she knew she was the God of Medicine, she had no obsession with “going home.” She only wanted to max out the affection level so she could take her cat back with her.

Seeing her shake her head without hesitation, Lianyi’s mood improved significantly.

It seems Ayun cares more about me.

“Lianyi’s affection has reached 95 points. The Green Ghost Lotus is opening a new petal,” the System suddenly announced, startling Liu Fenyun.

Why did it jump up so suddenly?! While puzzled, Liu Fenyun opened the panel. It was indeed 95.

She knew that after reaching 90, gaining points was pure “metaphysics” she never knew what specific event would trigger an increase.

Regardless, an increase was a good thing. Thinking of this, Liu Fenyun rubbed Lianyi’s cat ears as a reward.