Transmigrated Into the Body of a Sickly Villain's Kitten - Chapter 9

Seeing the smug smile on the face of the big villain before her, Fu Rou finally understood exactly what Shi Yao had just done to her.

Shi Yao had transferred all the spiritual power reclaimed from those cats to her, which was why her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Even the cat language that Shi Yao couldn’t understand before was now instantly comprehensible.

What a cunning and profound demon lord! Claiming to bring her here to watch the excitement, but actually using the opportunity to drive away the cats from the back mountain, and “incidentally” boosting her cultivation in the process?

Who was all this for? Could it be that Shi Yao was afraid she might get jealous?

Noticing the dazed look on the cat in her arms, Shi Yao reached out and scratched Fu Rou under the chin, asking with a hint of confusion, “Isn’t it good that I helped you increase your cultivation?”

Her innocent tone was like that of someone who had given a gift to their beloved, only to find it wasn’t well received, tinged with a sense of disappointment.

Fu Rou turned around in Shi Yao’s embrace and suddenly realized she could float in mid-air, no longer weighed down by gravity but feeling incredibly light.

“Huh?”

“These cats have been hiding and cultivating on the back mountain for many years. If I were to directly transfer my own cultivation to you, your small body wouldn’t be able to handle it. They are cats just like you, sharing the same aura, bone structure, and lineage, transferring their cultivation to you is the most suitable option.”

Shi Yao had initially worried that Fu Rou’s body might not withstand so much spiritual energy and cultivation, planning to take it slow. But to her surprise, the moment the gathered spiritual energy touched the kitten’s body, it eagerly surged in, saving her the trouble.

“Do you know what ‘pulling up seedlings to help them grow’ means?”

Fu Rou wasn’t quite used to the xianxia trope of flying around at the drop of a hat. She still preferred the feeling of having her feet firmly on the ground.

She walked along the familiar path of the back mountain, stepping on fallen leaves from the towering ancient trees, each step producing a soft crunching sound.

Shi Yao followed slowly behind, the corners of her lips slightly upturned, looking quite pleased. “This isn’t ‘pulling up seedlings to help them grow.’ Ordinary demons can take human form after just a few hundred years of cultivation. With all the cultivation you’ve gained now, why are you still in this kitten form?”

“How should I know?”

She still looked the same as before, aside from feeling a bit lighter, with no other noticeable changes.

Shi Yao crouched down and picked Fu Rou up again, lowering her head to nuzzle against the fur on Fu Rou’s back, her expression one of pure bliss. “This is fine too. When I first met you, you were already a full-grown cat, always perching on my shoulder. Now, getting to accompany you as you grow up again, it’s not so bad.”

Fu Rou, with her fur all ruffled, wore an expression of utter resignation.

They continued their slow ascent up the mountain. When they reached the mountainside, Fu Rou suddenly tapped Shi Yao’s arm with her paw pad. “Can you take me to see Brother Ping Tou? I want to check how he’s doing now!”

“Brother Ping Tou? Who’s that?”

“That’s the cat you said you’d send to Crescent Moon Pond, where he wouldn’t have to worry about food or drink! When I first arrived here, if it weren’t for him, I would’ve starved to death long ago.”

Shi Yao abruptly changed direction. Fu Rou, with her little paw still resting on Shi Yao’s arm, asked, “Where are we going now?”

“Crescent Moon Pond.”

“Oh.”

Fu Rou had thought Shi Yao would deliberately do the opposite.

She hadn’t expected Shi Yao to be so accommodating. Fu Rou had even considered slipping away quietly if Shi Yao refused.

In the past, when she held cats, they felt as if they were made of water, slipping away with the slightest carelessness. Fu Rou wanted to try it too, but now it seemed there wasn’t much of a chance.

“Do you think I would deliberately not take you?”

Fu Rou: “…”

At times like this, pretending not to hear anything was the best approach.

Shi Yao didn’t press further. She gently stroked the kitten’s fur, and Fu Rou felt so comfortable that she even began to doze off, her eyes slightly narrowed.

Truly an expert at petting cats.

The last time Fu Rou came to Crescent Moon Pond, she had looked down from above with Shi Yao. The pond truly resembled a crescent moon, its water so clear that you could see the bottom, and every swimming fish was clearly visible.

This time, when Shi Yao brought Fu Rou to Crescent Moon Pond, Fu Rou realized just how large the pond really was.

Not only that, but many small animals lived nearby, and they all hid as soon as they saw Shi Yao approaching.

“It’s so lively here.”

“Indeed, it is lively.”

But wherever Shi Yao went, the leaves around her seemed to droop. Fu Rou found it quite fascinating.

When they reached the edge of Crescent Moon Pond, Shi Yao stopped and said, “Call him.”

Huh? Who was she supposed to call?

“Aren’t you here to see your Brother Ping Tou? Call him out.”

Fu Rou: “…”

She genuinely wished Shi Yao wouldn’t speak as if everything she said was laced with jealousy. Not only that, but there was also a hint of provocation, as if she were catching her wife in an affair and ready to pick a fight.

“With you standing here, even the wind seems quieter.”

Whether it was due to Shi Yao’s villainous aura, Fu Rou always felt that wherever Shi Yao went, the surroundings became unnervingly quiet.

At first, she thought Crescent Moon Pond was quite fun, but now, seeing all the hidden trees and spirits around, she found it rather dull.

Shi Yao sensed a hint of disdain in the kitten’s tone.

She stopped talking, crouched down, and placed the kitten on the ground.

“Then I’ll be going.”

Shi Yao truly turned and left without looking back. Fu Rou stood there motionless, watching Shi Yao’s figure grow smaller and smaller.

What? Is she angry? Did she really just leave me here?

I really don’t understand what’s going on in that big villain’s mind.

Fu Rou slowly walked along the edge of the pond and noticed that the curled leaves still hadn’t unfurled. The surroundings remained eerily quiet, and even the fish in the pond began to swim much more slowly.

Fu Rou was full of questions. She had initially thought the creatures were afraid because Shi Yao was here, but now it seemed like it might be because of her?

But she was just a two-month-old kitten!

“What are you doing here?”

“Brother Ping Tou!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Fu Rou quickly turned around. Seeing that the Brother Ping Tou was still as agile as ever, she grinned and said, “I came to see you!”

Brother Ping Tou let out a proud laugh. “Hmph, what’s so interesting about me? This is indeed a great place, the fish in the pond are endless and delicious. If you hadn’t come, I might’ve almost forgotten who you were.”

“Really? I’d love to try some fish too. Hearing you talk about it makes it sound so tasty.”

Brother Ping Tou had intended to imply that he hadn’t missed Fu Rou at all, hoping to see her flustered. But to his surprise, Fu Rou’s focus was solely on the fish.

This little kitten was truly thriving under the care of the Wuqi Mountain’s master, not only had she grown considerably, but her fur had also become glossier and snowier.

Well then, he could rest easy.

But…

“How did you suddenly gain seven hundred years of cultivation?”

“Huh?” Had Shi Yao just casually given her seven hundred years of cultivation?!

Seeing that Fu Rou was equally astonished, Brother Ping Tou grew even more puzzled: “Did you really not know about it yourself?”

Fu Rou quickly shook her head: “I knew, but I didn’t expect it to be this much…”

Brother Ping Tou mulled it over for a moment before asking Fu Rou: “Did the master of Wuqi Mountain transfer all the spiritual energy from the cats in the back mountain to you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Brother Ping Tou felt it was a bit inappropriate. He had revealed too much too quickly, would this little kitten be sensitive enough to notice?

But Fu Rou didn’t catch on: “Yes, and not only that, she drove them all away.”

Seeing that the kitten hadn’t paid much attention to his earlier question, Brother Ping Tou breathed a sigh of relief.

He reassured Fu Rou: “It’s fine, as long as she treats you well.”

In the distant mountain forest, Shi Yao raised a hand to touch her pointed, elongated ears. The mermaid-like ears slowly returned to normal, and a faint, mocking smile curled on her pale lips.

Interesting.

So that cat didn’t just appear by Youyou’s side for no reason.

He definitely had an agenda.

After chatting with Brother Ping Tou, Fu Rou prepared to leave. After all, wasn’t she Shi Yao’s kitten now? Surely Shi Yao wouldn’t just abandon her, right?

Noticing the curled-up flower branches nearby, Fu Rou reached out with her slightly soiled paw to touch them. The branches tightened even more.

She glanced back, but Brother Ping Tou had already gone back to fishing and was nowhere to be seen.

Fu Rou stretched her front paws forward, bent her hind legs into a curve, and crouched down. Her ears tilted slightly backward as she narrowed her eyes, lost in thought.

She couldn’t possibly have missed the inconsistencies in Brother Ping Tou’s words, but no matter what, the month he had helped her survive in the back mountains of Wuqi was a great kindness to Fu Rou.

So, whether Brother Ping Tou’s presence by her side was intentional or coincidental, Fu Rou wouldn’t question it too much.

But now, she was truly beginning to have serious doubts about this feline body of hers.

How had she ended up here? When she was surrounded by that group of cats, the golden-eyed white cat had said Brother Ping Tou was her bodyguard, was that just a metaphor, or did the golden-eyed cat already know something?

Shi Yao had recognized her at a glance, calling her Youyou, and insisted she couldn’t be mistaken.

Where did such confidence come from?

Fu Rou stood up and continued on her way. She shook her little head lightly, trying to clear away the jumble of thoughts, and let out a loud meow.

“Hey! When are you taking me back?”

“What mischief should we get into today?”

“You’re not showing up? If you don’t appear, I’m leaving, you know!”

Receiving no response, Fu Rou truly began to descend the mountain along the path Shi Yao had taken her up earlier. But after just a couple of steps, she felt herself being scooped up abruptly.

Shi Yao’s hand wrapped around Fu Rou’s belly, startling her so much that all four paws splayed out, revealing her tiny, sharp claws. Then, she was pulled into an embrace.

“There are barriers all around the foot of the mountain. Those people went through a lot of trouble to get the cats in here, but you wouldn’t know that. If you run into one of those barriers, you’ll be turned into mincemeat. So, stop running, understand?”

“Meow…” I was just teasing you, and you actually took it seriously.

Fu Rou retracted her claws, nestled comfortably in Shi Yao’s arms, and dozed off peacefully.

In a situation like this, who had time to worry about so much? For now, as long as she could be a cat, she’d happily live as one. If she couldn’t be a cat anymore, she’d deal with it later.

How rare was it to have someone feed her and let her play from morning till night? Fu Rou had no intention of pointlessly chasing after things like the “truth.”

She’d worry about the future when it came. The most important thing right now was…

“Meow!” I’m hungry!