The Aloof Master Relies on This Cat's Kisses to Survive - Chapter 32

Wuwu is Fragrant, Wuwu is the Most Fragrant

Ji Wu raised her hand and unhurriedly pinched the coarse cloth wrapped around her long sword. Several figures in white, certain she was about to unsheathe her blade, quickly took their positions to form a formation for a counterattack. To their surprise, Ji Wu merely…

Tightened the wrapping of the cloth. Clearly, she had no intention of letting the sword leave its scabbard.

Indeed, the insult was extremely potent.

Ming Xi rolled her body over slightly, finding a more comfortable angle to half-recline.

“Evil cultivators?” Ji Wu finished tightening the cloth. “Your words and deeds tonight can hardly be called orthodox.”

“Is it your turn to meddle?” The Eldest Senior Sister was naturally defiant. However, having just been struck, she was in a sorry state. If she attacked again and lost, wouldn’t she lose even more face? “Why should members of the Xuanling Sect listen to a lesson from an outer disciple like you?”

“If they aren’t well-behaved and don’t listen, then a beating will do.” Ji Wu’s eyes were directed toward Ming Xi, but her words were pointed at her several “grand-disciples” of the Xuanling Sect.

It was a case of “scolding the cat to lecture the disciples.”

“Wuwu is so fierce,” Ming Xi replied lazily, stretching her back and legs across Xiao Xiyue’s beautiful cloak.

“This cat is bizarre!” The white-clad disciple holding the dog looked on with utter disdain. “How can it be so intimate with its master? Look at the way it addresses her—the tone is so clingy and saccharine. It’s truly unbearable to watch!”

“If it’s unbearable, then don’t watch.” Ji Wu’s hand moved, and her sword fell. An incredibly swift flash of light and shadow suddenly swept across the bamboo forest’s mottled moonlight, pressing directly toward the eyes of the woman with the dog, forcing her to shut her eyes and stumble back several steps.

The speed of that sword strike was too fast—so fast that by the time the woman realized where it would strike, she had no time to react. She could only rely on her instincts to dodge in a panic, unable even to activate her protective spiritual arts.

It’s over.

That was the only thought in her mind. Fear instantly seized her, and her legs felt so weak she could barely stand. Yet, no pain arrived in her eyes as she had expected; only tears, which she couldn’t hold back, overflowed.

Ji Wu had only shaved off her eyebrows. To finish, she lightly tapped the center of the woman’s brow with the sword tip, leaving a dark bruise.

Two moves. She had scared someone to this extent with a mere feint?

And she had used a scabbard wrapped in coarse cloth to shave someone’s eyebrows?

After the extreme terror, the woman in white quickly felt humiliated. She swung her sword upward, lunging toward Ji Wu’s throat with fierce momentum.

But aside from Xiao Xiyue letting out another frightened shriek, Ming Xi and Ji Wu remained very quiet.

“Whoa!”

Xiao Xiyue hadn’t seen how Ji Wu struck before, and she couldn’t see how Ji Wu counterattacked now either. She only saw another incredibly fast dark shadow flash across the elbow of the woman with the dog, coming extremely close to the woman’s heart.

The seemingly light touch caused the woman’s arm to dislocate instantly. The pain made her drop her sword, and she fell to her knees with a thud in front of her own dog.

Despite the dog being in great pain, it still worried for its master. It dragged its broken body upward, barking at Ji Wu as if it would protect its master even at the cost of its life.

Ji Wu, of course, had no intention of fighting a dog.

She flipped the tightly wrapped sword and tapped the jade token of another attacker, carving a mark over her name.

“What are you doing! Ah—” That person was the clever, round-faced woman in white. Just as she was about to demand what right Ji Wu had to touch her jade token, she was pushed by the residual force of the sword tip. A horizontal force struck her waist out of thin air, sending her flying.

“Watch out!” The remaining two, slightly more composed disciples of the Xuanling Sect, immediately gathered their spiritual energy to cast a wind defense. However, the spiritual barrier was useless; it was shattered directly by the hilt of Ji Wu’s sword, leaving the casters staring in stunned silence.

Xiao Xiyue didn’t miss the chance to mock them from the side. “You might as well put away the magical artifacts in your sleeves. It’s quite embarrassing; you’re better off without spiritual power.”

“We wouldn’t dare anymore! Your Excellency, please spare us!” The two were sensible enough to quickly kneel on the ground, begging for Ji Wu’s mercy.

“I will report your conduct today truthfully. Once you return, you shall accept your punishment voluntarily,” Ji Wu commanded coldly.

They wanted to say more, but Ji Wu cut them off. “I have other business in Xitan this time and have no intention of visiting the Sect. However, your methods are simply reckless, and I had no choice but to intervene.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Ming Xi. “Have you played enough? Give the collar back.”

Although Dream Beasts are naturally incompatible with the waters of the Southern Ling, this small amount wasn’t enough to bother her. That was why she had put it on to play. Being asked for it by Ji Wu, she took it as the other person worrying for her, and immediately acted frail. “I have no strength left to take it off. I want Wuwu to do it.”

“Absurd.”

Ji Wu reached out with her sword, tapping the back of the Dream Beast’s neck, hooking the collar, and pulling it away.

Ming Xi took the opportunity to roll over. She landed in Ji Wu’s palm even before the collar did, using the momentum to climb back onto Ji Wu’s shoulder. “Wuwu is so cool. Can’t you hit them a few more times?”

“Hit you?” Ji Wu tucked the sword back into her waist and held the restless, nuzzling little cat. “Quiet down.”

“Hey, hey, hey! The compensation for the corpse hasn’t been paid yet! Also, your dog’s foam is all over the ground, staining my corpse. You have to give me something for that too, right? Let’s round it up to ten thousand,” Xiao Xiyue chased after the Xuanling Sect members, demanding money.

The heroic Eldest Senior Sister turned her head and glared. “Are you dreaming? If you keep this up, I’ll tie you up and take you back.”

“Oh, you still dare to be fierce? This… this Master? This Great Master is still here, and you’re acting arrogant again? Don’t go so fast! I saw everything when you were being lectured. If you don’t give me hush money, I’ll tell everyone!” Xiao Xiyue chased them for a few more steps before retreating, likely feeling it was unsafe to be far from Ji Wu while hauling a corpse.

Ji Wu didn’t wait for her and was already walking across the stone bridge.

Xiao Xiyue hurried her corpse along to follow. “Master! Master!”

Ji Wu ignored her.

“Then how about Immortal Venerable? Is calling you Immortal Venerable okay?”

“Aya, don’t ignore me. The place where the Immortal Venerable’s cat was lying was my clothes. At least give me some money for cleaning!”

She was persistent. Ji Wu already found her noisy, but Ming Xi seemed to like her, peeking at her from Ji Wu’s shoulder and striking up a conversation. “What incense do you use on your clothes? It smells quite nice.”

The scent on Xiao Xiyue’s cloak was similar to Ji Wu’s.

“You like that? That’s—”

“—Since the cat lay on it, take the cat as compensation.” Ji Wu suddenly stopped, pinched the back of Ming Xi’s neck, lifted her up, and tossed her toward Xiao Xiyue.

“Ah? Ahhh!” Xiao Xiyue hadn’t expected this move and instinctively reached out to catch her. However, Ming Xi was even more mischievous; she kicked off Xiao Xiyue’s flat palms and jumped right back.

She clung to Ji Wu’s neck with a look of grievance. “Wuwu is bullying me again, bullying me again.”

“If you like the scent so much, go and smell your fill.” Ji Wu didn’t even look at the Dream Beast. “Get down. We’re entering the county. How much longer do you want to be carried?”

“For a long, long time.” Ming Xi pressed her fluffy cheek fur against Ji Wu’s chin. “Wuwu is fragrant. Wuwu is the most fragrant.”

Xiao Xiyue: Who will speak up for my hand bones?

“The ground here is clean; you can get down now.” Ji Wu crossed the stone bridge and stopped at the guide pavilion of Zhaoli County, dropping Ming Xi down.

The little cat extended its front paws long, but upon landing, it transformed directly into human form, propping itself up in a handstand. Looking at Ji Wu upside down with a beaming smile, she said, “Wuwu, Wuwu! Why is it that when I look at Wuwu upside down, Wuwu is still right-side up?”

This Dream Beast never asked anything serious; no wonder she liked being upside down.

Ji Wu turned away without answering.

Ming Xi righted herself to catch up, and Xiao Xiyue pressed forward to continue the conversation. “If you two are going to the county, where are you staying? Do you have any acquaintances?”

“We do,” Ji Wu replied, her tone dripping with rejection.

“Our Zhaoli isn’t a place for outsiders to wander aimlessly. Even though the Immortal Venerable is highly skilled, this place is for business. No matter how skilled you are, it’s useless; you still have to pay to buy things, right? And having an expert around to check if you’re paying the right amount is essential, isn’t it?”

Xiao Xiyue patted herself. “My name is Xiao Xiyue, a local. You heard those immortal sects—I’m a demon. Most people don’t welcome me, but as an Immortal Venerable, you must be different. Give me a chance; I’ll definitely treasure it.”

“Little girl? You are not a little girl. Regarding age, it is always difficult for a Demon Naga to transform. Since you look so human, you must have cultivated for a long time. There is no need to be humble about your age.” Ji Wu directly pointed out the flaw in Xiao Xiyue calling herself a “little girl.”

“Ah, that’s my mistake. But I look young, don’t I? Ordinary people always think I’m very young, but an Immortal Venerable is certainly no ordinary person. It was my oversight.” Xiao Xiyue didn’t seem to mind Ji Wu’s cold tone at all.

She continued her thick-skinned sales pitch. “The Immortal Venerable is also as beautiful as a flower; I imagine you have a way of maintaining your youth. If you’re interested, why not take a look at my family’s heirloom skincare treasure?”

She didn’t care if Ji Wu was looking; she pulled a small jar out of her bundle and held it out. “Look, top-quality corpse wax.”

“…” Ji Wu glanced at the corpse Xiao Xiyue was dragging.

“What can this be used for?” Ming Xi asked curiously. “It smells so bad.”

“No additives, so the scent is strong.” Xiao Xiyue flashed a smile. “Paint your nails, rub it in your hair, or use it for a bit of ‘ambiance’—use it however you like.”

She looked at Ji Wu, then at Ming Xi. The Grandmaster had been on a boat for two days and had just lectured some juniors; her spiritual palace was damaged, and she inevitably looked a bit weary. “I see the Immortal Venerable’s skin looks a bit tired. Look at me—how spirited and moisturized I am.”

Ming Xi didn’t like hearing that. “You’re a Demon Naga, a creature of the sea. If you aren’t moisturized, who is?”

“It’s not quite like that. I won’t deny some racial advantages, but I usually pay great attention to maintenance. If you don’t like corpse wax, I also have Naga oil, but that’s my exclusive secret formula. As for the price—”

“—Naga oil?” Ming Xi’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yes!” Seeing an opportunity, Xiao Xiyue quickly tucked away the corpse wax. “Authentic Naga oil. Buying it from me is definitely cheaper than in the county. I’m the primary source.”

“That’s oil from Naga pearls, right? The kind that can also be used as lacquer?” Ming Xi asked.

“Exactly! Do you know the Great Priestess of Xitan? She and I have a long-term business relationship. The lacquer used for her sacrificial ceremonies is all provided by me. The totems painted with it are truly divine.” Xiao Xiyue spoke with great enthusiasm, but her footsteps slowed.

The group had already walked past the small path into the county and could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter.

It was so lively, a stark contrast to the eerie bamboo forest.

It was the middle of the night—how could Zhaoli County be so bustling with music and songs?