The Aloof Master Relies on This Cat's Kisses to Survive - Chapter 14

East Street Dream-Talk

Why?

The kitty knew, but the kitty wasn’t telling.

However, Ji Wu figured out immediately who she should ask.

It was inevitable that Ji Fang would be physically weak after staying inside the Nian-Demon’s belly for a while, but why was her spirit so high? Earlier, Ji Wu had guessed she must have some form of divine protection.

Now, it was clear who the “temple” protecting her was. Yet, Ming Xi remained like a cat that wouldn’t move unless you looked it in the eye, silently watching the humans spin in circles trying to find answers.

“Since you already protected her from the Nian-Demon’s maw, why did you let her be consumed by the Yi-Ghost?” Ji Wu asked, puzzled.

Indeed, it wasn’t a temple protecting Ji Fang—it was a meow.

Being identified so directly without even a hint of a probe, Ming Xi didn’t feel the least bit ashamed. In fact, she spoke with great justification: “Because when I gave that human my whisker, I only told her not to fear the Nian-Demon.”

The stall-keeper girl hadn’t mentioned anything about Yi-Ghosts, so why would Ming Xi go the extra mile?

Her protection of humans did not stem from kindness. Ming Xi simply acted on a whim. Because she had eaten the candy from the hairpin vendor and liked the pretty things on the stall, she gave the girl a whisker.

That was all.

Had the vendor been greedy then and chosen Ming Xi’s pearl flower instead, she would be a pile of severed limbs and broken bones by now.

Or, if she had casually said it would be nice to be safe for a lifetime, then she would have received safety for a lifetime.

Ming Xi did not weigh pros and cons, nor did she judge human desires. When she was in a good mood, she gave whatever she felt like giving.

Conversely, it was the same: if she wanted something, she took it.

Ji Wu, naturally knowing the temperament of this beast, was not surprised. “I see.”

This vendor named Ji Fang wasn’t the big trouble; that fellow disciple, Zhubai, who failed to rescue Ji Fang, was likely to be the real trouble tonight.

Ji Wu lowered her gaze, pondering the connections.

The woman laughing secretly in this dream should, without surprise, be the Dream Lord, Ji Fang. But the customers didn’t seem happy when talking about Ji Fang, and the way the conversation shifted toward the eight-year-old matter of the siege against the Spirit Mountain God Lord was bizarre.

Ji Fang would have been a mere child eight years ago. What connection could she have to that event?

And how could that event… bring her joy?

“Wuwu, don’t frown.” Ming Xi only cared about Ji Wu’s joy.

She had already finished the meat pies on the table, though a small piece of crispy crust still clung to the corner of her mouth, forgotten and unlicked.

“Do you have any leads?” Ji Wu asked, turning her face toward her, spotting the crumb on Ming Xi’s small face.

“Ah, do I need to have leads?” Ming Xi adjusted the curve of her spine from her slouching posture, arching into a position that could barely be called sitting upright.

Whether it was Dongfang Qianyao or Ji Fang, Ming Xi didn’t care. But since her Master had asked, she would use her brain a little.

“Since it’s certain the Yi-Ghost’s emotion is ‘joy,’ isn’t it simple? Just make it so she isn’t happy anymore,” Ming Xi shrugged.

Humans were always fussy, liking to ask “why.” Originally, the way to resolve a Dream-Talk Realm was simply to refuse empathy and let the emotions dissipate.

Dongfang Qianyao leaned over at this moment. “But aren’t you curious why the street vendors talking about her and the siege brings her joy?”

“Wuwu, are you curious?” Ming Xi threw the question directly back to Ji Wu.

If Ji Wu wanted to know, Ming Xi wanted to know.

Ji Wu didn’t give a verbal answer. Instead, she reached out and quickly brushed the corner of Ming Xi’s mouth, sweeping away that small piece of crust.

Ming Xi froze.

Then, she couldn’t help but let out a smile. “Wuwu~”

“Yes, I am somewhat curious,” Ji Wu followed up solemnly, as if the person who just wiped Ming Xi’s mouth wasn’t herself.

“Alright, alright. Then Ming Xi will…”

Think a bit more?

Forget it. She didn’t like exerting effort for others. Ming Xi chose to find Ji Fang directly.

She stood up and hopped over to the hairpin stall, knocking on the counter three times. “I want to buy this flower.”

“Little guest, did you bring money this time?” The stall-keeper girl was indeed easily summoned out like that.

Watching from behind, Dongfang Qianyao was stunned. “Eh? Why?”

Only the souls of the dead followed rigid logic in a dream, not the Dream Lord.

Unless…

“Oh no.” Ji Wu had walked up to the stall by then. “We are a step too late after all. What a pity.”

Ji Fang had likely become a departed soul herself.

“Sister Ji Wu, please don’t speak in riddles, teach me.” Dongfang Qianyao really couldn’t figure it out.

She now knew why Ming Xi called her stupid.

She really was stupid.

“The Dream Lord has likely become a part of the Yi-Ghost,” Ji Wu shook her head.

“Ah!” Dongfang Qianyao was filled with regret. “It’s my fault for not being skilled enough, but…”

She looked at the young vendor.

The hairpin girl, Ji Fang, was about the same age as Dongfang Qianyao—perhaps a year or two older. She was somewhat thin and small, but charming and lovely.

“Why is that?” Dongfang Qianyao asked.

“There is some complexity here; this is no longer an ordinary Dream-Talk Realm.” Ji Wu had only just pieced it together. “There are two reasons why this Yi-Ghost can reform after being slain.”

“First, the Spirit Mountain is here.” Ming Xi was also present.

“Second, Ji Fang invited it in of her own accord.”

“Invited it?” Dongfang Qianyao was even more confused.

“As the sole survivor, Ji Fang probably couldn’t let go of her neighbors. So, as their emotions were dissipating, she subconsciously opened her own dreamscape and kept their intentions behind.”

A dying person’s mind is turbulent, existing in a state of a detached soul. Although Ji Fang didn’t understand why she alone survived, she felt guilt. Thus, using the whisker Ming Xi gave her, she created this Dream-Talk Realm to preserve the emotions of the vendors and passersby.

“It can even work like that?” Dongfang Qianyao turned to look at Ji Fang again. “Then her heart must be so cold.”

“Cold?” Ming Xi clearly disagreed. “She is clearly smiling.”

Having said that, Ming Xi continued her conversation with Ji Fang. “I didn’t bring money, but I can help you. You humans can exchange favors for things, right?”

She pointed to the hairpin she had eyed from the start. “I still want this one; it’s the prettiest.”

“What do you want to help me with, little guest?” Ji Fang looked at Ji Wu and Dongfang Qianyao. “Is it a big favor? Do you need helpers?”

“It is a very big favor,” Ming Xi nodded. “After all, you’ve stirred up quite a big trouble.”

“I am truly sorry.” Ji Fang sighed. “I am useless.”

“People aren’t meant to be ‘used,’ so why seek out such bitterness?” Ming Xi offered a rare word of enlightenment. “My Wuwu is curious about your story. Can you tell her about it?”

After saying this, Ming Xi turned around and used the momentum of her words to huddle close to Ji Wu. “Wuwu, I’m so tired. Using my brain is hard work.”

As she spoke, her hands coiled around her again. Ji Wu, who was busy thinking about how to escape the dream, was completely off-guard and nearly let out a gasp.

Her parched spiritual mansion was suddenly warmed by an unfamiliar heat. Ji Wu almost lost her composure, nearly wanting to lift her arms to return Ming Xi’s embrace.

It must be the cluttered emotions within the dream that clouded Ji Wu’s clarity. This dream beast was indeed terrifying—had Ji Wu actually thought just now that she could tame this wild creature?

If Ji Wu indulged her even a few moments more, she would surely cling to Ji Wu again, taking and demanding everything!