The Cat Demon’s Diary of Marrying into Luck - Chapter 1

This is a story passed down through the generations in Linzhou Prefecture.

Year 10 of the Yuancheng Era, Suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture, Mount Qintan

White rain bounced like pearls, black clouds spilled ink across the sky, and a sudden clap of thunder erupted.

“Meow!”

A bolt of purple lightning struck the mountain peak. Accompanied by a miserable cat’s cry that echoed across the fields, the world plunged into darkness.

“Look, this is the one.”

Amidst his fading consciousness, Sang Biao felt the scruff of his neck being pinched tight. Noisy, boisterous voices rang incessantly in his ears. His ears flickered instinctively as he struggled to open his eyes, only to see a prosperous estate.

Several days had passed since that lightning tribulation. Linzhou Prefecture had returned to its usual bustling state, and he had been picked up by someone and brought to this strange place.

Curse that heavenly thunder for blasting me straight down from Mount Qintan, Sang Biao cursed inwardly as he assessed the situation. He had lost eighty percent of his demonic power. Having failed to survive the tribulation and ascend to immortality, every inch of his bones now seeped with pain.

Sang Biao’s heart bled with regret. He had lost everything and was now being bullied by humans like a cat stranded on flat ground. A woman pinched his chin, forcing him to lift his head.

A cat can only endure so much.

“Meow!”

Sang Biao bared his teeth at her, but he was hoisted up by the scruff of his neck. He quickly tucked his tail to protect his belly.

“Look at this tabby. Its coat is glossy, its markings are perfectly symmetrical, and its build is top-grade. And these eyes, they are green, as clear as if they were washed in water. How beautiful.”

The person continued to ramble on. Sang Biao struggled impatiently, glaring at her fiercely.

“Master Lin, Madam Lin, believe this old woman. This cat will surely drive away the illness and bad luck from the Young Master.”

Seeing that no one was paying him attention, Sang Biao looked up and saw a couple supporting each other. Judging by their clothes and aura, they were likely the Master and Madam of the Lin household.

The Madam’s eyes were already swollen from crying. Upon seeing Sang Biao standing in the courtyard, she couldn’t help but dab her eyes with a handkerchief again. The Master beside her appeared steady, but his face was clouded with worry.

Madam Lin wiped away her tears, looked at the tabby cat in the courtyard, and choked out, “Can this one truly work?”

“It definitely will. Tabbies are the most robust, and this one is a superior specimen. Please rest assured, Madam.”

Master Lin walked over to embrace Madam Lin, comforting her, “Cen is a person of good fortune, do not worry too much. Let us write the Cat Recruitment Contract first.”

Madam Lin nodded. The old housekeeper quickly brought out the prepared contract, noting the date of recruitment, the cat’s appearance, and invoking the Queen Mother of the West and the Royal Lord of the East as witnesses.

Madam Lin stroked Sang Biao’s head and said softly, “I only wish for the celestial cat to protect my son, dispel his illness, and grant him a long, peaceful life.”

Master Lin took Sang Biao’s paw and pressed it into the red ink pad, then stamped a bright red paw print over the eight characters on the contract that read: The contract is set here, never to be regretted.

Sang Biao looked at his paw, stained red by the ink, and then at the red print on the contract, tilting his head in confusion.

Why do I feel like I’ve been sold.

“Ugh”

Before Sang Biao could think further or run away, he was carried off to bow before the Lin household’s Kitchen God.

By the time he had been circled around the stove several times, he still didn’t understand what these people were doing. They were crying and laughing, acting quite eccentric. He gave a bored yawn.

“Send him to the Young Master’s room.”

Young Master Lin’s bedroom was in the backyard, quiet and spacious. As soon as Sang Biao entered, he smelled a thick, bitter scent of medicine. However, it was strangely mixed with a refreshing air that caused his damaged demonic power to stir.

The housekeeper instinctively softened his footsteps upon entering. He carefully placed the cat on a pre-prepared bed, cast a worried glance at the person hidden behind the bed curtains, sighed, and left.

Sang Biao crawled out of the cat bed and looked around the room. He patrolled the area, climbing the beams and walls, finally reaching a conclusion, this place was an excellent “feng shui” treasure trove.

It was perfect for cultivation.

There was only one place left to check. Sang Biao slowly approached the bed, naturally lightening his steps. The person who needed him for the “wedding” should be there.

He extended a paw, gently parted the hanging curtains, and slipped onto the bed.

Casting a casual glance at the person on the bed, the cat, who hadn’t seen much of the world, was immediately captivated by the ethereal man. His green eyes suddenly widened.

The person on the bed looked like a deity from the heavens. His skin was fair, like cold jade, with faint blue veins showing through. The red mole on his wrist was even more eye-catching and alluring. His black hair was scattered over his shoulders like an ink painting. His long, narrow eyes were tightly shut, and his hands resting on the quilt had distinct knuckles. Sang Biao suddenly felt an itch in his teeth, he really wanted to bite.

He moved closer to the young master’s pillow, his nose tentatively brushing against the man’s face. The bitter medicine scent mixed with a crisp aura hit him, smelling so good that he couldn’t help but lick the man’s face.

The sleeping man moved his fingers as if uncomfortable, his brows furrowing. Sang Biao backed away, feeling relieved when the man didn’t wake up.

Only then did he remember that his tongue had barbs. Fearing he might scratch such a beautiful face, he quickly reached out his paw and rubbed it guiltily.

Sang Biao rubbed his head against the man’s hand. Once he had rubbed his fill, he curled up at the head of the bed, found a comfortable position, and fell asleep.

The heavenly thunder had injured him severely. It would likely be difficult to restore his original demonic power in a short time.

Since things had come to this, he might as well sleep.

As night fell, Lin Qingcen, who had been unconscious for two days, flickered his eyelids and finally opened his eyes.

Just as he woke up, he felt a warm sensation against his neck. He turned his head and found a small cat head curled into a ball, sleeping soundly.

It was the first time Lin Qingcen had touched such a warm living creature. He could even hear the faint purring of the kitten as it slept. He instinctively nudged it and murmured, “Little cat.”

Sang Biao, who was sleeping soundly, was nudged repeatedly. He couldn’t stay asleep any longer. He opened his eyes impatiently, only to find that the ethereal man was rubbing his face against him.

In his excitement to greet the person, he accidentally transformed into his human form.

As Lin Qingcen was rubbing, he suddenly realized the fluffy fur had turned into firm, well-shaped muscle. Frowning, he looked up and locked eyes with the human-form Sang Biao.

Those eyes were as clear as a stream, more moving than the spring water atop Mount Qintan.

“You— mmm mmm—”

Sang Biao quickly covered the man’s mouth and pressed his whole body down on him, pinning him so he couldn’t move.

“Shh,” Sang Biao threatened sharply, though his ears twitched uncomfortably, “don’t make a sound if you want to live.”

“Otherwise you, uh… your whole family will be dead!”

Sang Biao hadn’t expected this place to be so good. He had stayed for less than a day and already regained the ability to transform. Although his demonic power hadn’t fully recovered, at this rate, it certainly wouldn’t be long.

However, the most important thing right now was to intimidate the person beside him so he would stay quiet and behave.

Lin Qingcen gradually calmed down, and his struggling slowed. However, due to the lack of air, his eyes were red with physiological tears, looking as if he had been severely bullied.

Sang Biao was startled and quickly got off him, “I didn’t hit you, don’t try to frame me.”

Lin Qingcen sat up with difficulty, his face returning to an unnatural paleness. He shrank into the corner of the bed, took a breath, and asked warily, “What kind of thing are you? What are you doing in my house?”

When Lin Qingcen’s eyes were closed, he carried a cold, detached, and sickly aura. Now, with his red eyes, he seemed a bit more vivid, diluting the gloomy atmosphere.

Sang Biao gave a light snort and pointed at the cat bed nearby, saying, “You don’t know? Well, I’m the cat your parents hired to bring you good luck.”

Lin Qingcen did indeed know about this. His parents had originally planned to find him a wife to bring him luck, but he had refused. He didn’t believe in such superstitions, and besides, with a body like his, why bother a good girl?

He hadn’t expected that after he fell unconscious from a cold, his parents would actually hire a cat.

“You are a demon.”

Lin Qingcen had never believed in gods or demons, but the cat head that had been sleeping soundly beside him had suddenly turned into a tall, handsome man. His past perceptions were inevitably shattered.

The corners of Sang Biao’s mouth curled up instinctively. Then, realizing he had to maintain a demon’s proud demeanor while away from home, he lifted his chin high and spoke concisely, “Naturally.”

Lin Qingcen’s pupils shrank, and his already pale face turned even more ghastly. Upon closer inspection, his shoulders were trembling slightly as he took a defensive posture, thinking of a counter-strategy.

Sang Biao was very dissatisfied with his reaction. He couldn’t maintain his cool anymore and plopped down on the edge of Lin Qingcen’s bed, showing off eagerly, “Your family actually has quite good taste. I am the most powerful cat demon in the world, and I was just one step away from becoming an immortal.”

Lin Qingcen wrapped himself tightly in the quilt to gain a sense of security. He pulled the quilt over himself completely, watching Sang Biao warily. Although he was indeed afraid, he didn’t dare show it, lest the demon take advantage of him.

“If it weren’t for… for my current weakness and being caught by your family, you wouldn’t even have the chance to see me.”

Sang Biao didn’t notice his small movements, still immersed in his own world.

Lin Qingcen looked him up and down, “Then, do you intend to take revenge on us?”

“Huh?”

“Why would I take revenge on you?”

Lin Qingcen’s grip on the quilt slowly relaxed. It seemed the cat demon in front of him wasn’t very bright.

His courage grew a little. Being involved with a demon was clearly dangerous, so he tested the waters, “Then you should leave, I won’t stop you.”

“I won’t leave just because you tell me to! Your parents used a dowry to hire me, so this is my territory. Why should I leave?”

Sang Biao was naturally rebellious; the more he was told to go, the more he stayed. Moreover, this place was a rare treasure trove. He had regained his transformation power in less than a day here. If he practiced here, wouldn’t he get twice the result with half the effort?

Lin Qingcen was helpless. He was no match for this demon and didn’t plan to use force. He asked casually to soothe him, “May I ask how to address you, sir?”

“Sang Biao.”

“What?”

“Sang Biao!”

“What’s wrong?” Sang Biao tilted his chin at him, looking quite arrogant, “Are you intimidated by my mighty and domineering name? What’s your name?”

“Lin Qingcen.”

Lin Qingcen saw that he wasn’t a wicked person and seemed quite naive, but he was a demon after all. With dozens of lives in the Lin household at stake, he didn’t dare be careless.

“I apologize on their behalf, please let our family go, Great One.”

Sang Biao, however, pressed his hand on the man’s shoulder, “You don’t need to say so much, I’m not leaving anyway.”

Who would leave? Only a fool. What demon would give up a “feng shui” treasure trove after being struck by lightning?

Lin Qingcen was about to speak again when he suddenly detected a strange power nearby. He immediately went silent and walked to the window to check, but found nothing.

As Sang Biao made a move to jump out the window, Lin Qingcen behind him suddenly erupted into a world-shaking fit of coughing. Sang Biao turned to signal for silence, but Lin Qingcen’s vision went dark, and he fainted.

Sang Biao was left in a daze. How could a perfectly fine person just faint? He couldn’t worry about anything else now and quickly stepped forward to check on him.

At that moment, a white shadow flickered outside the window and disappeared into the horizon.

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