Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 83

In order to enter Shengkun City smoothly, the four of them even began rehearsing their cover story.

Since Lianyi said she wasn’t suited to be an assistant, she would only make things worse if she tried to help. Qi Ran arranged for her to act as Liu Fenyun’s demon bodyguard. Qi Ran herself would play Liu Fenyun’s disciple, handing the only pass token to Liu Fenyun.

After finalizing their roles, Qi Ran began choosing clothes for everyone. Fortunately, Liu Fenyun and the others had bought quite a few women’s outfits in Qifeng City, saving them the trouble of searching for suitable attire.

With Lianyi’s permission, Qi Ran picked out four sets of clothing, handing the most dignified-looking one to Liu Fenyun and deliberately emphasizing, “From now on, you are Physician Ran Ji, a Xuan ranked doctor.”

In the human realm, physicians were ranked Huang, Xuan, Di, and Tian. Though Xuan rank was second-tier, it was relatively easy to obtain and fairly common. Di and Tian ranks, however, were extremely rare.

Both Liu Fenyun and Qi Ran had once obtained Xuan rank, but Liu Fenyun’s certification had been endorsed by Yu Qingyue. Now that Yu Qingyue was publicly considered dead and had very few disciples, this posed an awkward problem. Liu Fenyun had no choice but to use Qi Ran’s rank token and temporarily disguise herself as her. Fortunately, they only needed to blend into the city for a few days.

While Liu Fenyun changed clothes, Qi Ran distributed two more outfits to Lianyi and Meng Nie.

Lianyi was long accustomed to exchanging clothes with Liu Fenyun, so she didn’t mind what she wore. General Meng was taller than Liu Fenyun and a seasoned warrior; wearing women’s clothes felt uncomfortably tight. She said to Qi Ran, “How about I just act as a guard too? Fenyun’s clothes are too small if they tear, that wouldn’t be good.”

Qi Ran, busy packing essentials for entering the city, nodded and reminded her to conceal any marks connected to Liuzhi Kingdom. But Lianyi suddenly asked coldly, “What did you just call Ah Yun?”

“Fenyun!” Meng Nie answered naturally, not realizing the issue.

“But Ah Yun is no longer called Liu Fenyun. She’s Ran Ji,” Lianyi reminded her, suppressing the jealousy stirring in her heart. “Before entering Shengkun City, you must change how you address her.”

Meng Nie laughed. “That’s unnecessary, isn’t it? I’m not that slow…”

“No. The guards of Shengkun City are sharp. Even a small mistake could get us chased again if we’re unlucky!” Lianyi insisted firmly. “Besides… Ran Physician, we should address each other by code names as well.”

She didn’t explain the real reason, she believed only Yu Qingyue, Luo Binglun, and Lady Chong had the right to call Ah Yun “Fenyun.” No one else did.

“Listening to you, we sound even more like fugitives!” Meng Nie sighed, though she agreed. “Then I’ll be Lu Gui. Gui, as in ‘gui-nie’ (standard).”

Thus Qi Ran became Wen Zhi, and Lianyi became Yun He. After disguising themselves, the group set off for Shengkun City.

Traveling deliberately at a slow pace, they arrived the following morning, coinciding with the guards’ shift change and peak entry hours.

Liu Fenyun halted her horse Wangyun at a distance from the checkpoint, calm and prepared for strict inspection.

When their turn came, the guards questioned them carefully, names, origins, occupations. Liu Fenyun answered steadily, the other three responded without the slightest flaw.

“You are a Xuan ranked physician?” asked a general after examining the token. His previously stern face softened slightly. “Good timing. We have several wounded who require treatment. Would you be willing to see them?”

This was unexpected even Qi Ran, who had been here before, was startled.

Liu Fenyun, however, remained composed. She dismounted, took the medical kit Lianyi handed her, passed the reins to Meng Nie, and followed the general into a silent alley.

The other three tried to follow but were stopped. Watching Liu Fenyun disappear into the distance, Qi Ran shouted, “I’m Physician Ran’s disciple! I must assist my master!” Only then was she allowed to follow.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Fenyun slowed, signaling Qi Ran to return.

Qi Ran, well aware of Shengkun City’s unfavorable rules toward traveling doctors, pretended not to see and followed silently.

The general led them through twisting alleys to a locked door. When opened, a foul stench rushed out. Liu Fenyun had anticipated this, merely covering her mouth briefly. Qi Ran, far more sensitive to smells, nearly fled.

“These men are our brothers,” the general said. “Treat as many as you can. I will return by dusk.” He sighed. “As you see, they are near death. City doctors refuse to come, and the Imperial Medical Bureau does not treat soldiers injured outside wartime…”

Liu Fenyun nodded. “I will do what I can. Before dusk, please ensure my two guards and horse are cared for.”

“Of course. But do not attempt escape.”

Sensing his killing intent, Liu Fenyun calmly cupped her hands in acknowledgment.

After he left, she donned a mask and handed one to Qi Ran, then rolled up her sleeves and knelt beside a wounded soldier.

“This place is still the same as ever,” Qi Ran muttered telepathically. “Shengkun City’s rulers revere physicians as gods, but that only made them arrogant. Many lost their compassion, exploiting their positions for profit. Ordinary people resent them. They dare not offend city elites, so they bully traveling doctors instead!”

“Are there no folk healers?” Liu Fenyun asked.

“There are but none as thorough as you. Most only prescribe medicine and ignore follow-up.”

There were over twenty wounded men crammed inside. Their injuries were from demon beast bites untreated, festering, oozing pus.

Liu Fenyun immediately began treatment using the system’s support. Qi Ran ventilated the room and questioned the conscious men.

They had been attacked at Yellow Leaf Hill by a many-tailed fox demon battling the city’s guardian beast. The fight drew other demons, causing casualties. The court ignored it, since the battle remained outside city walls, no one reported it during wartime mobilization.

Most victims of demon attacks lacked proper antiseptics or medicine and simply awaited death. Liu Fenyun refused to stand by.

Ensuring no one was watching, she retrieved disinfectant and anesthetics from her herb garden, carefully cleaning wounds. Qi Ran burned the excised flesh and pus outside to prevent infection.

They worked from morning to afternoon without food or water. Qi Ran sensed the Nourishing Deity quietly sustaining them.

During a rest, the deity scoffed at being the God of War. “When demons fight, innocents suffer.”

She revealed the fox was likely a descendant of the ancient Tushan clan, a Nine Tailed Fox, born with an inner core, far stronger than ordinary demons.

Rather than discouraging Qi Ran, this only fueled her determination.

After finishing for the day, Liu Fenyun and Qi Ran discussed confronting the fox at Yellow Leaf Hill, which lay on their route to the demon realm.

Returning to the inn arranged by the guard, they found modest but comfortable quarters only one bed.

That night, Lianyi whispered, “Can you send me to the herb garden? I want to sleep there.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Liu Fenyun refused.

Unable to sleep, they chatted quietly, about the wounded, about the Nine Tailed Fox, about contacting her master for help.

Eventually, Lianyi drifted into a dream.

She dreamed of before ascension.

In the dream, Liu Fenyun left her research lab, removed her white coat, and prepared dinner. Lianyi then an ordinary lion cat waited on the table, listening to chopping and sizzling sounds.

Soon the scent of fish drifted out. She meowed eagerly, rubbing against Liu Fenyun’s legs.

“Stop, that tickles!” Liu Fenyun laughed, continuing to cook cat food while simmering cream mushroom soup for herself.

“You’d be better off as a demon,” she said fondly. “Then you could transform and eat anything. No more worrying about what makes you sick.”

They ate quietly. Later, Liu Fenyun checked her phone and murmured, “Oh…it’s Qixi already? Time flies…”

Qixi was a Huazu festival. Curious, Lianyi meowed.

“You want to celebrate? It’s lively outside. If you dare go out and eat some ‘dog food.’”

(“Dog food” meaning public displays of affection.)

Lianyi didn’t understand but agreed.

They walked along the river, where couples strolled hand in hand.

“See? We’re eating dog food already,” Liu Fenyun joked. “An old cultivator and a little she cat both single dogs.”

Lianyi wanted to protest one day, they would walk hand in hand too.

They visited a cat café to meet a friend, then a cinema. Liu Fenyun cast invisibility on her and brought her into a children’s movie. The noise drove Lianyi mad, so they left midway.

Stubbornly, Liu Fenyun bought tickets for a horror film instead despite being terrified of ghosts.

The theater echoed with her screams and sobs.

“I shouldn’t celebrate Qixi… staying home cuddling Yiyi is best…”

That was the line she repeated most on their walk home.

Lianyi, even without prior memories of Qixi, had read many romances but she doubted any protagonist had ever celebrated the festival quite like Liu Fenyun.