Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 71

Yu Qingyue ignored the woman who had suddenly appeared. She rushed to Luo Binglun’s side, silently checking her for any injuries.

Liu Fenyun noticed that the Danhui Demon had brownish hair and red eyes, her humanoid features bore a striking resemblance to the legendary Red Dragon clan. Her cultivation was likely quite profound, perhaps even surpassing her master’s.

While the others did not recognize this Danhui Demon, Luo Binglun and the stranger were acquaintances, though she had never seen the demon’s true form before. Recovering her wits and seeing the woman’s face clearly, Luo Binglun hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Imperial Preceptor!”

Though Luo Binglun was the Great Priestess of a nation, the woman before her was the teacher of the Sovereign, a formal greeting was only proper.

Seeing this, Liu Fenyan jumped out of the window while holding her cat and also bowed to the Danhui Demon, addressing her as Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor, Chi Jin, merely smiled at Luo Binglun. However, when her eyes fell upon Liu Fenyun, a flash of surprise crossed them. The surprise vanished instantly as she turned back to Luo Binglun, asking with a smile, “Priestess Luo, you detested the demon race only a few years ago. Why are there so many demons gathered around you now?”

Luo Binglun had not hidden her identity from Chi Jin or the Sovereign. Hearing this, she gave a bitter smile. “It is a long story…”

After listening to the concise explanation, Chi Jin understood. She gently shook her wooden folding fan and said leisurely, “It seems the Kingdom of Zhuhuang is not peaceful lately. The Great Priestess is actually being hunted, and even the death-sworn assassins of the Kingdom of Gehua have managed to find their way into Qifeng City.”

Hearing this, Liu Fenyun instinctively checked the system map. The red dots representing the two assassins still overlapped with the Imperial Preceptor, though they were significantly smaller than before.

Luo Binglun had witnessed Chi Jin’s demon form devour the two assassins with her own eyes. Even now, the memory made her shudder, but she couldn’t help but offer a warning: “The assassins of Gehua are skilled in using Gu poison. Please be careful, Imperial Preceptor.”

Chi Jin was indifferent. “I am a venomous serpent myself. Why would I fear their petty tricks?”

She snapped her fan shut and pointed it toward the room. Licking her lips with a pink tongue, she said with interest, “On the other hand, Priestess Luo, if you wish to pull this up by the roots, why not let me handle the great demon inside your room?”

“You must not!” Yu Qingyue guessed that she wanted to eat Qi Ran. She immediately blocked the window, stopping her with a heavy voice. “That demon is my fellow disciple. I ask the Imperial Preceptor to allow me to take her back to our sect for judgment!”

“That demon has countless lives both human and demon on her hands. I can smell the blood from several walls away,” Chi Jin said, half-joking and half-serious. “Cleaning up your sect’s mess for you… why not? Fine, since it’s a matter for your sect, handle it as you see fit.”

With that, she vanished from the courtyard in an instant, as if she had only appeared there to eat those two assassins.

The group returned to the room. Luo Binglun explained apologetically, “I spoke to the Sovereign yesterday about the assassins. The Sovereign did mention that the Imperial Preceptor had been idle lately and might stop by.”

“And so she did,” Yu Qingyue said, picking up Xuan Mo and stroking its smooth fur. “Had I not been here, I fear I would have lost a junior sister today.”

Qi Ran’s demonic energy had been drained, and she had been forced into a master servant contract with Luo Binglun, she was currently powerless.

Lian Yi asked, “Physician Yu, Qi Ran’s actions are unpardonable and her death would not be a loss. Why do you sound like you still think she might change her mind?”

Yu Qingyue shook her head. She only said, “No matter how bad she is, she was once my junior sister.”

Lian Yi curled her lip. While Yu Qingyue went to the side room to check on Qi Ran, she whispered to Luo Binglun, “Physician Yu just hasn’t fully regained her memories yet. Don’t you dare take those words to heart!”

Luo Binglun understood Yu Qingyue’s nature better than anyone. Even if she heard it, she acted as if she hadn’t.

With the pursuit of the assassins temporarily over, the group decided to leave as soon as Yu Qingyue took the antidote for the Love Gu. They planned to return to the Kingdom of Zhuhuang first before heading to the Demon Realm, fearing that the Kingdom of Gehua might send more assassins and cause trouble for the Sovereign and the Imperial Preceptor.

Liu Fenyun officially entered a state of secluded medicine making. During this time, with Lian Yi’s permission, she took a moment to visit the Princess Qiongruo’s manor to see Xuan Mo under the pretext of petting the cat.

As expected, Xuan Mo was very happy to be near her and would even lie in her arms all morning.

Liu Fenyun couldn’t find any divine markings on the cat. She only discovered a bracelet shaped artifact within its Zifu (inner palace). However, the aura emanating from this artifact was very weak and belonged to the long-secluded Demon Race, it had nothing to do with the gods.

Furthermore, she discovered this Xuan Mo was mute. It likely wouldn’t be able to speak after taking human form, though for some reason, it could make sounds in its animal form.

“A-Xuan, you can understand what I’m saying, right?” Liu Fenyun asked while petting the cat.

Xuan Mo nodded its head and let out a meow-woo, waiting for her question.

Liu Fenyun nodded back. Seeing that no one was around, she took a painting out of her medicine garden and unrolled it. “Has A-Xuan ever seen this person?”

This was a portrait she had asked Xian Lihua to paint based on the appearance of the white-clothed woman from the illusion.

Liu Fenyun hadn’t held much hope, but as soon as Xuan Mo saw the portrait, it immediately lunged forward and rubbed against it several times. Soon, however, its energy slumped, and it let out a dejected whimper toward the image.

Liu Fenyun: ?!

“Is she your provider?” she asked tentatively. Since the woman hadn’t left a mark, she wasn’t the cat’s “Master,” but rather a “Provider” who had raised it.

Xuan Mo nodded repeatedly. It extended a paw and scratched at the ground for a few moments, gesturing for Liu Fenyun to look.

Liu Fenyun looked down. Though the writing was crooked and messy, there were two characters: Xuan Lan.

This Xuan Mo actually knew how to write.

“Is that your provider’s name?” Liu Fenyun asked again. After getting a positive response from Xuan Mo, she recorded the name in her system memo so she could ask Qi Ran’s master about it later in the Demon Realm.

Xuan Mo cried out twice more. Suddenly, it used its demonic energy to nick its own paw. It touched Liu Fenyun, then let the blood drip into its own mouth. It then squatted obediently on the spot, looking at Liu Fenyun expectantly.

Liu Fenyun waved her hands hurriedly. “No, no! If you are the spirit pet of another god, I cannot enter a master servant blood contract with you!”

Xuan Mo shook its head and quickly scratched two more characters on the ground: Want to eat.

This time, Liu Fenyun understood. “You just want to consume my blood?”

Aside from Lian Yi, Liu Fenyun had never given her blood directly to anyone. Plus, since she could now release a trace of divine aura, she felt hesitant. “That won’t work either. What if you can’t handle it? Have you ever drunk the blood of a god before?”

The expectant Xuan Mo instantly wilted. It truly hadn’t drunk the blood of a god before, it had only heard stories of its effects.

After a moment of silence, it extended its paw again: I want to go home.

It seemed the cat wasn’t sure if it could absorb divine blood either, so it changed its request.

Liu Fenyun was a bit surprised. Generally, a Xuan Mo should be able to travel through space-time, but this one was asking her for help. Perhaps its demonic energy was insufficient, or… perhaps it wasn’t an adult yet?

Liu Fenyun didn’t know where its home was, nor did she have a way to send it back. She thought for a moment and said patiently, “When I meet your provider, I will remind her to come and get you. However, if you are currently in the mortal realm undergoing a trial, you probably can’t go back until the trial is complete.”

She remembered that when she saw the white clothed woman by chance last time, that was exactly what she had said.

Xuan Mo became happy again. It washed its dirty little paw in a nearby pond, clawed open a space-time rift, and pulled out seven cat treats, piling them all into Liu Fenyun’s hands.

Liu Fenyun failed to decline the gift and could only rub its large head, thanking it. “Thank you for the cat treats!”

Having finished their business, Liu Fenyun tucked away the treats, said goodbye to Xuan Mo, and hurried back toward the Wutong Pavilion.

The time she had agreed upon with Lian Yi was almost up. If she was late, the cat-girl would surely be angry again.

Liu Fenyun concentrated her demonic energy into her legs to speed her journey. In Qifeng City, humans and demons lived together along with half-demons, no one would find her strange.

However, halfway there, the system issued a warning: “A red named character has appeared within 100 meters of the host. Identity unknown. Although there is only one person, the host is advised to hide as soon as possible!”

Liu Fenyun was shocked. She remembered the serpent Imperial Preceptor had dealt with Qi Ran’s subordinates a few days ago. Theoretically, no red named characters should be left in Qifeng City.

She couldn’t be sure if they were coming for her, so she immediately changed direction and ran toward the outskirts of the city.

On the busy street, a woman asked the cold faced young woman beside her anxiously, “General Meng, are you truly certain that person is Yun’er? But Yun’er… Yun’er is clearly a man…”

The woman was wearing a gray cloak. Her sword-like eyebrows were furrowed, and her eyes held a natural, intimidating anger. Hearing this, she looked down at the older woman and said coldly, “Madam Zhong, if you continue to hide the truth at this point, don’t blame me if I simply bring back your daughter’s corpse.”

The two had come from the Kingdom of Liuzhi. The older woman was Liu Fenyun’s biological mother, and the younger woman was General Meng Nie. She owed Madam Chong a life-debt from her youth, and a few days ago, at Madam Chong’s desperate pleading, she had agreed to come out and find the girl.

Meng Nie had a foul temper and often released her killing intent unconsciously. Madam Chong, however, did not fear her. She only chased after her, saying, “The Sov… my husband wants a sacrificial lamb to appease the Di people. He has so many children, yet Yun’er has been studying medicine with Physician Yu since childhood. This had nothing to do with her…”

At this, Meng Nie stopped in her tracks, her killing intent thickening. Madam Chong sighed. “It is my fault for wanting her to never be like other women, bound by romantic feelings until she can never escape, just like I was. That is why I had her disguise herself as a man to study medicine.”

“Heh… what’s done is done. Speaking is useless now,” Meng Nie continued her pace, picking up the conversation. “The news that ‘Liuzhi sent a female consort’ has already reached our country. The Kingdom of Zhuhuang is currently suffering from demon calamities, and their King is furious because of the departure of the Saintess and the Physician. Only by bringing your daughter back to clarify things with the Di envoys can Liuzhi be spared from the flames of war.”

She paused. “Madam, you should know that this marriage alliance is our last chance. If your daughter remains missing, or if her identity as a woman is exposed, you only lose one child but the entire Kingdom of Liuzhi will suffer the wrath of the great powers, and the surrounding small nations will take the opportunity to swallow us whole.”

Madam Chong remained silent.

“If you must blame someone, blame your daughter for being so careless.” Leaving these final words, Meng Nie picked up her pace. “Madam Chong, go to the relay station to rest. I shall return shortly.”

After shaking off Madam Chong, Meng Nie’s speed increased further. She quickly tracked the lingering demonic energy in the environment and found Liu Fenyun. Her eyes narrowed as she lunged forward.

Gemini said

Liu Fenyun had already noticed the red named character pursuing her. Hearing the system report the distance closing in, she could only send a silent apology to Lian Yi through their telepathic link before bolting toward the nearest open area at full speed.

She was wearing feminine robes and shoes, which restricted her pace. Even with the enhancement of her demonic energy, she was no match for Meng Nie and was quickly overtaken.

“Stop right there, Liu Fenyun!” Noticing Liu Fenyun glancing toward the nearby turbulent river, Meng Nie immediately threw out a flying claw. With a wet thwack, it hooked into her shoulder, intending to jerk her back.

Unexpectedly, the claw struck the Feather Shield. With a violent shrug, Liu Fenyun shook off both the claw and the shattered remains of the shield. Without stopping, she ran to the riverbank and dived in without hesitation.

Meng Nie stamped her foot in frustration, retracted her flying claw, and jumped into the river after her.

Both were from the Kingdom of Liuzhi and had learned to swim as children. However, Meng Nie was a general who had spent years campaigning in harsh environments, her swimming skills far surpassed Liu Fenyun’s. Before long, she was gaining on her again.

However, they had reached the swiftest part of the current. Just as Meng Nie was about to grab her, Liu Fenyun kicked out, widening the gap between them once more.