The Cat Demon’s Diary of Marrying into Luck - Chapter 3

“Give me your wrist, just hold my wrist from now on,” Lin Qingcen said, turning his face away, his voice raspy. “Don’t ever do what you did today again.”

Sang Biao nodded and scrambled forward to grab Lin Qingcen’s wrist. Sitting obediently on the footstool, he suddenly remembered the reddened skin from earlier and looked up. “Does it hurt when I hold you like this?”

“No, I’m not a porcelain doll.”

Sang Biao began to transfer his internal energy. Lin Qingcen clearly felt a wave of warmth flowing into his body, washing away years of chronic, stagnant illness. His entire being felt refreshed.

Lin Qingcen let out a soft sigh and instinctively leaned closer to Sang Biao. It was a primal reaction, an unconscious urge to move toward warmth and dispel the lingering chill in his bones.

Sang Biao had been leaning against the bed with his eyes closed, focusing on the energy transfer. When he felt it was sufficient, he opened his eyes to end the session, only to see a face magnified right in front of him. At such close range, he could even see the tiny red mole hidden in Lin Qingcen’s eyebrow.

A fresh fragrance mixed with the scent of medicine wafted into his nose. Sang Biao felt as if he’d been burned, abruptly letting go and springing back several steps. Realizing his loss of composure, Lin Qingcen slowly tucked his hand back under the quilt and remained silent, his lips pressed together as a blush burned his ears.

Sang Biao cleared his throat to break the silence. “Do… do you feel better?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Then get some rest, I’m going to go practice my cultivation.”

“Okay.”

Sang Biao transformed back into a cat and darted out the window. Lin Qingcen wrapped himself tightly in the quilt but found no sleepiness. He only felt that the section of his wrist that had been held was still startlingly hot. He reached out with his other hand to cover it, but he could no longer find that exact surge of heart-fluttering warmth.

Lin Qingcen’s body had been thoroughly warmed by Sang Biao’s energy, and before he knew it, a heavy drowsiness overtook him, and he fell into a deep sleep.

By the time he woke up again, it was already dusk. The lamps in the room hadn’t been lit, leaving everything in dim shadow.

Lin Qingcen sat up in bed and called out toward the door, “Wenzhu, light the lamps.”

As soon as he spoke, the door was pushed open.

“Young Master, you’re awake?” Wenzhu had grown up with him and was naturally energetic, but at this moment, he walked in cautiously carrying a tray. “This is the rock sugar and pear stew the Mistress ordered. Your voice is hoarse, Young Master, so please drink it while it’s hot.”

“I’ll get out of bed to drink it. My back aches from sleeping so long.”

Seeing Wenzhu’s disapproving look, Lin Qingcen feigned a stern expression to urge him. “Are you refusing to listen to me now?”

Wenzhu pouted and shook his head. “Wenzhu wouldn’t dare.”

Lin Qingcen got out of bed and sat on the daybed by the window. He enjoyed the scenery outside while eating his pear stew, not forgetting to warn Wenzhu, “Don’t you go tilling on me to Mother.”

“Do you know the background of the ‘Great Immortal’ who told my parents to get me a cat?”

“No idea, the Master and Mistress never mentioned it.” Wenzhu scratched his head. “Is there something you want to ask him, Young Master?”

“It’s nothing.”

He wasn’t sure if the demon’s internal energy was taking effect, but Lin Qingcen felt his body was a bit lighter today. As the evening breeze brushed his face, the crisp chill made his mind feel clear.

Lin Qingcen’s brow relaxed as he leisurely enjoyed the hard-won fresh scenery.

“Oh, my goodness, Young Master! Put a blanket on! Winter is almost here, don’t catch a cold.”

Wenzhu’s loud voice shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Lin Qingcen took a fierce bite of a pear, wondering how to send him away.

Suddenly seeing a dark clump in the grass, Lin Qingcen looked closer and smirked. He pretended to be startled and shouted, “Wenzhu, look! What is that black thing over there? Go check it quickly, don’t let some stray creature sneak in.”

Worried his master was frightened, Wenzhu didn’t look closely and immediately ran out to call for help.

Finally, the world was quiet.

As soon as Wenzhu opened the door to leave, the black clump darted away, aggressively running all the way to the window to hiss at Lin Qingcen.

Lin Qingcen was in an excellent mood and didn’t mind Sang Biao’s attitude. He went about eating his pears and enjoying the view, humming a little tune in the evening breeze.

Sang Biao jumped through the window into the room and, just like that morning, transformed into his human form. He had intended to interrogate Lin Qingcen, but he was immediately distracted by what was in the man’s hand.

He sniffed the sweet-scented air and asked, “What are you eating? It smells so sweet.”

Lin Qingcen showed it to him generously. “Rock sugar and pear stew. Do you want some?”

Sang Biao desperately wanted some. He had never eaten anything so sweet. However, remembering Lin Qingcen’s trickery just now and his own dignity as a demon, he painfully turned his back and gritted his teeth. “No. Demons don’t like that stuff.”

“Are you sure?” Lin Qingcen smiled mischievously. “This is our family chef’s specialty dessert. You won’t find it anywhere else.”

The air was thick with the sweet scent of pears. Since a cat’s sense of smell is incredibly sharp, Sang Biao was nearly dying of cravings, yet he had to maintain his damn pride.

He kept his neck stiff and lied through his teeth, “I’m not interested.”

Seeing that he had teased the “cat” enough, Lin Qingcen took a teacup from the small table and poured some of the sugary liquid into it. “I’ll share a little with you.”

After these past two days of interaction, Lin Qingcen knew this demon loved his pride more than anything. He softened his voice, coaxing him, “Just have a taste, Great Cat Demon.”

Sang Biao finally couldn’t hold out any longer. Taking the offered path, he turned around and sat on the daybed, pretending to be reluctant. “Since you’re begging me to try it, I’ll give you face.”

Lin Qingcen rolled his eyes secretly. He watched Sang Biao intently, who, despite his sharp words, was eating more enthusiastically than anyone.

Sang Biao took a cautious sip and was instantly conquered by the warm, sweet flavor. His green eyes widened, and the vertical slits of his pupils rounded into circles. He looked at the cup in his hand in shock, his face full of intense disbelief and poorly hidden joy.

How can something be this delicious?

Looking at his expression, a part of Lin Qingcen’s heart softened, feeling itchy and warm. He shared some more of the snow fungus and pear with him. “Have some more.”

Sang Biao accepted everything offered. When he finished, he wanted more but was too embarrassed to ask, so he just stared straight at Lin Qingcen with his large green eyes.

Lin Qingcen held back his laughter and didn’t call him out. He pretended he couldn’t finish his portion and gave the rest to him. Seeing him eat so happily made Lin Qingcen’s own appetite improve significantly.

The man and the cat finished the bowl of pear stew together.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Lin Qingcen curled up in his quilt to chat. “Is your name really just Sang Biao?”

“What else would it be?” Sang Biao was lying on the table playing with a teacup. “Isn’t it a majestic name?”

Actually, no. It’s quite silly.

Lin Qingcen found it difficult to say the name out loud. He tested the waters, “Don’t you want to change it to something else?”

“No. I think it’s a good name. I heard a storyteller once say that people with this name are all great fighters.”

Lin Qingcen let out a long sigh. After a moment of thought, he encouraged him again, “Don’t you want to ascend and become an immortal?”

“Think about it. The immortals in heaven are called things like the Chang’e Fairy or the Donghua Emperor. If you’re called the Sang Biao Immortal, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

Sang Biao looked down and thought about it. It seemed to make sense; other immortals’ titles were grand, but he didn’t know how to choose a name. He scratched his hair in frustration. “But I don’t know what I should be called.”

Hearing this, Lin Qingcen said, “How about I choose one for you?”

Sang Biao figured that as a wealthy young master, he must have read many books, so he agreed. “Fine.”

Lin Qingcen spread out a sheet of paper, picked up a brush, and thought for a moment. He looked up at the demon opposite him. “Xuan Li.”

Sang Biao was illiterate. He tilted his head at the characters on the paper and asked in confusion, “What do those words say?”

“Xuan Li,” Lin Qingcen taught him how to read his name. “Xuan means black.”

“And since you are a ‘Li-nu’ (tabby cat), ‘Li’ is a homophone for this character, ‘Li.’ ‘Li-ming’ (dawn) also uses this same ‘Li.'”

“Dawn is the time when the sky is about to brighten but hasn’t quite yet, just as you are about to ascend but haven’t quite yet.”

Lin Qingcen thought for a moment and added, “The sun will certainly rise, and you will certainly ascend to become an immortal.”

Xuan Li stared at him blankly, immersed in the elegant, scholarly aura surrounding Lin Qingcen. Upon hearing the last sentence, his heart skipped a beat and began to throb uncomfortably.

He picked up the paper, examining it carefully, and mirrored Lin Qingcen by whispering his name, “Xuan Li. Xuan Li the Immortal. This is a good name. I like it.”

Xuan Li felt this name was much more prestigious and accepted it happily. Then, realizing he didn’t know how to write Lin Qingcen’s name, he pestered him to write it.

“What about you? How is your name written?” Xuan Li leaned close to Lin Qingcen, shaking his hand. “Write it for me to see.”

Lin Qingcen couldn’t refuse him. He wrote his own name next to the demon’s. “Lin Qingcen.”

The three characters were like pine branches covered in frost, forceful and sturdy, with their sharp edges restrained yet possessing a striking aura. It was entirely unlike Lin Qingcen’s weak outward appearance.

“Your handwriting is so beautiful,” Xuan Li said. He didn’t understand calligraphy, but he just thought it looked good and didn’t hesitate to praise him. “I like it just looking at it.”

“My father spent a great deal of money to invite calligraphy masters to the house to teach me,” Lin Qingcen put down the brush and straightened his sleeves with quiet dignity. “Naturally, it is different.”

“So, is there a meaning to your name?”

“Qingcen refers to lush, towering mountain peaks,” Lin Qingcen paused, reciting a poem his father often mentioned. “The Songs of Chu say: ‘How towering are the green peaks (Qingcen), where clouds and rainbows blot out the sun.'”

His mood dipped, and his voice filled with melancholy. “There are so many mountains and rivers in this world, yet I am trapped in this tiny courtyard, barely hanging on with this sickly body.”

Xuan Li smelled a faint bitterness in the air. Looking at his profile, he also began to feel dejected.

Xuan Li thought for a moment and poked Lin Qingcen’s hand. “You like looking at mountains and rivers? When you’re better, I’ll take you to Qintan Mountain.”

“Qintan Mountain?”

“Yeah. I’ve always practiced there. The mountain is green all year round, full of spiritual energy and elegant scenery.”

“There’s also a temple there called Konglin Temple. It’s very popular and busy. I often go there to steal offerings to eat.”

Lin Qingcen began to imagine the scene through his words. Thinking of the uncertainties of the future, he felt a bit anxious and stared into Xuan Li’s eyes.

“Truly?”

Xuan Li looked back at him, his eyes filled with pure persistence and determination. “Truly.”

Neither spoke for a while, and neither was the first to look away. The air fell into a strange, inexplicable tension.

“Lin Qingcen, guess who’s come to see you?”

A voice sounded from outside. Lin Qingcen snapped out of it as if waking from a dream, hurriedly pushing Xuan Li. “Someone’s coming, change back quickly!”

Xuan Li pouted, unhappy. “Am I really that embarrassing to be seen?”

But he still obediently changed back and was scooped into Lin Qingcen’s arms. Feeling a bit stifled, he decided to vent and bit down lightly on Lin Qingcen’s long finger to grind his teeth.

Lin Qingcen grabbed a piece of dried meat from the table and held it to his mouth. “Grind your teeth on this, don’t bite me.”

Just then, the person outside strolled in. Ji Yunxiao looked at his healthy complexion and teased, “You’ve recovered quite well this time.”

The Lin and Ji families were old friends, and Ji Yunxiao was one of Lin Qingcen’s few close companions. “Were you scolded by your parents again?”

Ji Yunxiao felt guilty for a split second. Seeing the cat in his arms, he quickly changed the subject. “So, this is the cat your family hired? It’s so pretty, let me pet it.”

Xuan Li momentarily dropped the meat to hiss at him, but the guy couldn’t read the room and still tried to pet him. Xuan Li spat at him, several times in a row.

“Your little cat is unexpectedly fierce.”

“If you know he’s fierce, don’t provoke him,” Lin Qingcen stroked Xuan Li’s head and put the meat back in his mouth. “If he scratches you, don’t come crying to me.”

“Tch, what’s the big deal?” Ji Yunxiao, being thick-skinned, switched to another topic. “Do you know? A very powerful demon hunter has arrived in the capital. He’s highly favored by the Emperor.”

Xuan Li stopped chewing his meat. Even Lin Qingcen stiffened, his grip on the cat slowly tightening. “Is that so?”

“Yeah! He’s captured quite a few demons in the capital. Now he’s heading south by imperial decree to hunt demons along the way and bless the region.”

The more Lin Qingcen listened, the heavier his expression became. He even forgot to make polite conversation with Ji Yunxiao. His back was stiff, and a wave of panic rose in his heart.

Ji Yunxiao suddenly said, “Do you think we’ll have demon hunters coming here?”

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