The Aloof Master Relies on This Cat's Kisses to Survive - Chapter 31

A Soft, White Belly and Mellow Sweetness

Ji Wu was dressed simply. Having just spent two days on a boat followed by a trek on foot, she wore a veiled bamboo hat, and her plain clothes were stained with dust. There was not a ripple of spiritual fluctuations around her, and even the sword at her waist was wrapped in coarse hemp cloth. She did not look like anyone of consequence.

But how could someone of no consequence dare to walk through this Ghost Bamboo Forest alone in the middle of the night, carrying a cat?

Forget it, best not to provoke her.

Xiao Xiyue’s fingers, which had been ready to twist into a spell, relaxed as she abandoned the idea.

She was ever fickle. After weighing her options, she redirected her fire back toward the several members of the Xuanling Sect. “You Xuanling Sect people always love meddling in the affairs of the Xitan sacrifices. Don’t think I don’t know!”

“Besides, hasn’t it been rumored lately that the Spirit Mountain God-Lord has awakened? The Xuanling Sect can barely protect itself; why are your hands reaching out so far?”

“I advise you all to settle down. Interfering with the sacrifice is equivalent to provoking the entirety of Xitan. You people in white clothes are already unwelcome here—don’t you know how to be quiet?”

“What kind of tone is that? Do you truly think a hybrid monster like you can argue with us? The Xuanling Sect couldn’t care less about your rituals; we are headed to Zhaoli to investigate the loss of control among spirit beasts.” The heroic-looking Eldest Senior Sister spoke, turning her face to scan Ji Wu as Xiao Xiyue moved.

Seeing her holding a cat, she asked casually, “Where did this rogue cultivator come from? Is that a cat or a spirit beast in your arms?”

How could Ming Xi allow Ji Wu to be addressed this way? She was ready to pounce immediately and tear the woman’s head off.

Ji Wu unhurriedly held the Dream Beast by its cat-waist, pulling her back. “There is no need for anger.”

Ming Xi wanted to say more, but Ji Wu cut her off, saying only, “The ground is dirty, and those people are not clean. Do you not fear for your claws?”

Huh?

Ming Xi opened her round, jewel-like cat eyes wide. Had she heard correctly? Was Ji Wu just… being sarcastic?

Her Wuwu was so adorable! It turned out Ji Wu just spoke little; she wasn’t boring at all.

She had spoken up for Ming Xi—the kind of words from storybooks that made a cat happy. This cat liked it!

“Meow~” she responded clearly, expressing her mood to Ji Wu.

However, the Xuanling Sect members had to ruin the atmosphere. “It’s a spirit beast, isn’t it? Why are you raising a spirit beast without a collar?”

“Exactly. Has it been registered? Such a beautiful—ahem—a cat-demon with this fur color, I don’t recall seeing it in the records.” The clever, round-faced girl in white was likely a local disciple in charge of such matters. As she spoke, she looked at another companion.

That companion was leading an animal on a leash with a collar. Its build looked somewhat like a dog, but slightly larger, and it was exceptionally quiet.

Its owner also seemed to feel that the dog was eerily docile tonight. Clearly, when they first entered the bamboo forest, it had been thrashing and barking wildly, only settling down after being frozen by the Ling-bone in its collar.

Why was it so well-behaved now that it had encountered a Jiao-demon (dragon-demon)?

Could this Jiao-demon have some level of cultivation? The Xuanling Sect disciple holding the leash frowned. She didn’t think Xiao Xiyue had much capability, so she followed her spiritual vision to look at Ming Xi, yet she found it hard to believe.

Among this group of humans and demons, the one with the heaviest spiritual pressure was actually this smallest cat.

“Hey, you.” She simply tossed a portable taming collar over. “Spirit beasts have been restless lately. Follow the rules; I’m rewarding you with this collar to wear.”

Xiao Xiyue gasped and instinctively backed away, fearing a conflict would break out and injure her or her corpse.

Unexpectedly, before Ji Wu could move, Ming Xi reacted first. She stretched her neck and caught it, letting the collar settle neatly on her.

Thump. She immediately flopped onto the ground, landing right on that beautiful cloak Xiao Xiyue had dropped but failed to cover the corpse with.

This “boneless” bad cat admired Ji Wu’s slightly surprised, eyebrow-arching expression. Then, she flipped onto her back, baring her white belly and letting out a soft, mellow meow.

That meow wasn’t even half as majestic as her previous roar, nor was it a spoiled plea. It was a blatant act of playing weak.

Translated into human speech, it would roughly be: Oh dear, I’ve fallen, I’m trapped, I can’t get up.

“Shameless,” Ji Wu lowered her eyes to chide her, then looked up at the Xuanling Sect disciple who had thrown the collar. “Since when did the Xuanling Sect start overstepping so much? You truly bring shame to the ancestral teachings.”

“Ancestral teachings?” The eldest white-clad disciple’s expression tightened slightly, likely trying to guess Ji Wu’s identity. But Ji Wu had no spiritual power on her.

When spiritual cultivators traveled abroad, they only looked at spiritual power.

“Are you from the Xuanling Sect? Which branch? Do you have your white slip?” The heroic Eldest Senior Sister scrutinized Ji Wu. “Let me see your jade pendant.”

Every inner disciple of the Xuanling Sect possessed a jade pendant engraved with their master’s name. In dire circumstances, shattering the pendant would summon nearby disciples for rescue.

That was something that had existed since Ji Wu was still in the sect, but of course, she herself did not have a jade pendant.

“My travel this time is for private matters.” Ji Wu gave them face, not wanting the Xuanling Sect to lose dignity in front of outsiders.

However, the actions of these white-clad disciples tonight were indeed ill-considered. Xiao Xiyue’s corpse-control was also poor. Both sides shared equal responsibility; they should have just acknowledged it and moved on. This bickering was utterly beneath them and lacked decorum.

Furthermore, now they were dragging the bystander Ji Wu into it for no reason, using disrespectful language. It was truly embarrassing.

Ji Wu was already considering whether to re-establish the sect’s rules because of Ji Fang—someone with talent who hadn’t been chosen for the inner sect. Now, seeing her fellow disciples acting like bullies, she felt a chill in her heart.

She had merely ascended; she wasn’t dead. She could not sit by and watch the sect she held in her hands lose its integrity like this.

“Oh, an outer disciple, then.” The clever, round-faced girl was more interested in the cat. “Never mind. We won’t bother you, just manage your cat. Spirit beasts have been losing control frequently lately. Xitan likely has something unclean that specifically targets these beasts for possession.”

As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Xiyue. “Perhaps it’s not just beasts; even half-demons are going mad.”

“Huh? Say that again?” Xiao Xiyue was naturally indignant. “Is being controlled the only way to not be ‘mad’? Is being tamed the only way to have ‘rules’? Hmm? Are you controlled? Are you humans controlled? By that logic, aren’t you humans the maddest of all?”

“Hehe.” Ming Xi was amused and acted spoiled toward Ji Wu again. “She’s quite interesting. Wuwu, help her.”

“What ideas are you coming up with?” Ji Wu hooked her finger ever so slightly, signaling for Ming Xi to return.

Ming Xi refused.

The beautiful cloak was quite comfortable. The earthy, ghostly scent was also to Ming Xi’s liking.

Moreover, Ji Wu’s other hand was resting on her sword, looking as though she was about to do something. Ming Xi found lying down to watch the show to be the most appropriate position.

“Hmph, things truly have fallen into chaos. A half-demon barking at the Xuanling Sect, a kitten talking to humans, and even an outer disciple acting so arrogant?” The heroic Eldest Senior Sister rolled her eyes. She could guess Ming Xi wasn’t a simple cat, but she didn’t believe the cat was particularly powerful.

Just a small animal. Even if it were a demon beast, so be it. As for the pressure? It must be reinforced by some magical artifact.

“This outer disciple can’t circulate spiritual power; she has to rely on this cat as an assistant.” She turned to the companion holding the dog. “Test her. If she’s no threat, make her leave immediately.”

“Understood, Senior Sister.” The white-clad disciple holding the dog complied and raised her hand, but unfortunately, the dog did not respond actively as it usually did.

She scolded it unhappily, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you today, you beast. One moment you’re agitated, the next you’re dazed.”

As she spoke, she kicked the dog—an action she had clearly done many times. Unexpectedly, something went wrong today.

The previously docile dog suddenly let out a wild howl and bit down hard on the master who had kicked it.

At the same time, a dark wind blew in again, aggressive and fierce. Not only did it startle the crows into flight, but it also turned Xiao Xiyue’s eyes red, making her whole body tremble.

Ji Wu flicked a bamboo leaf with a snap of her fingers. It grazed the earlobe of the Jiao-demon, instantly restoring Xiao Xiyue’s clarity.

Ming Xi laughed inwardly. Ji Wu was indeed naturally gifted. She was using a method of Dream Arts—the same method Ming Xi had used to wake Dongfang Qianyao and Ji Fang a few days ago.

The bamboo leaf Ji Wu flicked had a few strands of Ming Xi’s cat hair stuck to it from her collar, thus carrying the spiritual grace of the Dream Beast. This was something only the Dream Beast itself or a bonded partner could achieve.

Yes, this was another joint casting.

Ming Xi felt satisfied. Just as she was about to get up and pounce back, Xiao Xiyue crouched down beside her and said solemnly, “Little cat, there’s a trick to this collar you’re wearing. Look at that dog.”

She pointed with her chin. The biting dog was now whimpering and collapsing on the ground in extreme pain. It was clearly being tortured by something; it was foaming at the mouth and had bitten its own tongue several times.

“This thing is very malicious, but I know how to break it. Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Xiyue continued mysteriously.

Nearby, Ji Wu glanced at them, looking displeased. The night wind lifted the white veil of her hat, faintly revealing her porcelain-like jawline, which tightened for a moment.

She seemed to be grinding her teeth. Ming Xi observed silently and heard Xiao Xiyue continue in a hushed tone, “Eight hundred spirit stones.”

“Aow?” Ming Xi lifted a small cat paw and pushed at the collar around her neck.

Eight hundred? Hmm?

The cat tilted its head to look at the Jiao. “Just now, my master cured your nightmare using a few of my hairs. I am raised on heavenly treasures every day; one hair should be worth eight hundred. You owe me four thousand.”

Ming Xi skillfully repeated the bargaining she had heard not long ago.

Of course, she knew the collar around her neck wasn’t friendly. It contained the Nanling seawater that Ji Wu had steamed in the back mountain forest a few days ago.

The thing causing the little dog such agony was precisely the ice needles formed by the condensed Ling-water.

However, this object required the spirit beast’s master to perform specific hand seals and incantations to take effect. The little dog was unlucky to have a cruel master; Ming Xi’s Ji Wu was not such a cold-hearted person.

So, Ming Xi wasn’t afraid.

She lay there unhurriedly, waiting to see Ji Wu discipline her “Junior Sisters.”

The Xuanling Sect using such methods to control spirit beasts was yet another shameful display. Ming Xi knew Ji Wu would take charge.

And she just happened to love seeing Ji Wu angry.

The Ji Wu who traveled abroad was already colder and more austere than her private self; now, she looked truly majestic. She cast a sharp glance, raised her sword, and spoke several obscure four-character phrases—all admonitions that Ming Xi didn’t understand.

However, Xiao Xiyue seemed to understand and swallowed hard, feeling a bit afraid. “I told you, she’s not to be provoked. She must be from Spirit Mountain. She sounds much more authoritative than these small fry.”

Except the “small fry” weren’t intimidated; they were ready to strike.

The white-clad disciples, having been lectured on ancestral teachings, felt they had lost face and immediately made their move.

Ji Wu was prepared. Her raised sword easily blocked the attack, knocking the most impulsive Eldest Senior Sister back several steps.

The woman clutched her wrist and screamed in pain, looking at Ji Wu with eyes full of venomous resentment. “Just what kind of evil cultivator are you?!”