Chapter 12: Cats Huddling for Warmth

As the leech was about to spring at Li You, a handful of salt descended from above and piled onto it.

The leech, with its suction cups wide open, instantly curled up and went limp in the white pile of salt.

Li You was stunned for a moment before he looked up at Little Wan Sis, who had squatted down. His gaze fell on the hand she used to pinch the salt.

“Good thing I bought some salt earlier.” Little Wan Sis pinched another handful of salt and sprinkled it over the leech. She stood up, put the jar of salt back into the bamboo basket full of flower seeds, skirted around the leech, and bent down to pick up the ragdoll cat.

“Sorry to keep Little Mimi waiting so long. Let’s go home.”

“Meow…”

Li You’s eyes were still fixed on the mountain leech, which had clearly lost its aggressiveness. His heart filled with a strange feeling, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what was off.

He looked up at Little Wan Sis and meowed “meow meow” at her, his tail swishing left and right. Remembering something, he turned back to where Little Black was.

Little Wan Sis followed the ragdoll cat’s gaze but saw nothing.

Suddenly, two little red lights lit up in the pitch-black flower bushes.

“What is…” Little Wan Sis was taken aback and squatted down again. Only then did she clearly see that it was a black cat almost perfectly blended with the darkness.

“Why is there a black cat in the Flower and Bird Market?” She was slightly surprised but then smiled and took the ragdoll cat’s paw-like hand, pinching it twice. “Is this Little Mimi’s friend?”

The ragdoll cat lifted its head: “Meow—”

No way, it’s little brother!

“Alright, Little Wan Sis gets it.” She smiled, though a bit troubled. “But I only brought one leash today. Hmm… how about this: Little Mimi’s chest harness goes to this little friend, and I’ll carry you back?”

Cats shouldn’t understand human speech, but Li You still showed his refusal. He leaped down from Little Wan Sis’s arms, walked steadily to Little Black’s side, hooked his tail around Little Black’s tail, and meowed softly at Little Wan Sis a few times.

In the end, the chest harness stayed on the ragdoll cat. Neither cat let Little Wan Sis carry them. The two cats huddled together and followed step by step at Little Wan Sis’s side.

As the human and cats gradually walked away until they disappeared, Li Ye finally stepped out from the darkness. He kept his left hand in the pocket of his military-style coat, his fingertips slowly rubbing the Old Pen inside, tracing its engravings.

The limp mountain leech on the ground sensed someone approaching. Even though it had lost its activity, it suddenly perked up and sprang from the ground toward Li Ye.

In that instant, a black mini-snake emerged from Li Ye’s sleeve. It opened its jagged maw silently and swallowed the leech, which wasn’t even enough to pick its teeth, before quietly retreating back into Li Ye’s sleeve.

Meanwhile, on the way back, Li You suddenly heard Little Black Cat’s belly rumble twice beside him. He turned his head and met the red cat eyes that Little Black turned toward him.

“…” Li You looked at Little Black’s eyes, then at its belly, and tilted his head. “Meow.”

Little Black leaned over and rubbed against him: “Meow~”

This guy must be hungry, right? Li You staggered a few steps from the enthusiastic rubbing but steadied himself with legs spread. Though he felt a bit awkward inside, he still amiably stepped forward and licked Little Black’s ear.

Just endure it; there would be freeze-dried treats at home.

Little Black didn’t understand and rubbed against him even more enthusiastically.

“They get along so well.” Little Wan Sis watched the two cats interact so cutely. “Now Little Mimi has a friend too. I’ve been worried lately that you don’t play well with the other little ones in the shop. With Little Black around, you’ll be much happier from now on.”

Li You looked up: “Meow—”

It’s little brother, not a friend—

The two cats and one human strolled leisurely back to Sunrise Village. By the time they reached the pet shop, it was already late at night. Li You generously gave his freeze-dried treats to Little Black, but the guy didn’t seem hungry and pushed the freeze-dried treats back to Li You.

Li You had a great appetite and wasn’t polite at all. Not only did he eat his own share later, but he also polished off Little Black’s portion clean.

Late at night, he nestled comfortably in his little nest, almost asleep, when suddenly a pair of round red eyes lit up outside the nest.

“…” Li You blinked at Little Black standing outside the nest and let out a soft “meow” in a low voice.

What are you doing, not sleeping in the middle of the night?

Little Black said nothing and lifted its front paw to burrow into Li You’s nest.

Li You: “??”

The small round cat nest was fully enclosed, with only a small entrance at the front just big enough for one cat. Little Black forced its way in through the arch-shaped door, taking up half of Li You’s space. It cautiously slid its liquid-like body, flexibly curling into a cat strip that perfectly fit against Li You.

The nest was crammed with two cats. Li You’s face was pressed against Little Black’s, his whole body compressed—crowded and hot.

“Meow—”

The ragdoll cat meowed in dissatisfaction. His meows drew responses from the other cats in the pet room that weren’t asleep yet. For a moment, meows rose and fell everywhere before finally quieting down after a while. From then on, Li You stopped meowing.

He couldn’t chase away this little monster, who even presumptuously started grooming him.

Li You was annoyed, but he had to admit that this guy’s grooming technique was actually pretty good.

Fine, he wouldn’t argue with it for now.

It rained at night, and the temperature dropped sharply overnight. Li You, who slept groggily, didn’t feel the cold at all. In fact, he felt warm all over the entire night.

A good sleep brought good dreams, and he had a rare good dream.

It was a very… fantastical dream.

When Li You opened his eyes, he was on the open-air terrace of the Royal City palace. It was empty all around, with a curved purple-red glow in the sky.

Soft singing surrounded him—the piano piece commonly played at banquets in the Imperial Palace. But on this terrace right now, there was no one else besides him.

Evening glow banquet, candlelights and flowers, cakes and fireworks, yet he was the only one here.

Li You looked around and walked to the left. He stopped when passing a large floor-to-ceiling glass window and stared blankly at his reflection in it.

He wore a little formal suit: a white satin shirt, black high-waisted suspender shorts. The shirt collar and cuffs had layers of ruffles blended with a bit of white lace; the shorts had a neat cut, with golden gem buttons and rings on the sides at the waist that looked especially cool.

Li You liked this outfit, though the leg rings on his thighs pinched a bit. He looked down and hooked a finger under the leg ring, seeing that the skin inside had been squeezed red.

He had no memory of wearing this outfit before.

Li You paid no more attention to the leg ring and looked up at his reflection again. Suddenly, he noticed a pair of fluffy cat ears on his head. Looking closer, there was also a big tail trailing behind him.

“…”

What… what is this??

He turned his body to inspect carefully, confirming the ears and tail were on him. His heart jolted as he finally sensed something wrong.

This place was fake, right? An illusion?

He turned back to the empty banquet site. It was very familiar, yet seemed covered in a layer of unfamiliar haze. He had been to this place countless times before he died, almost always for banquets.

None of which had been happy.

Unworthy of reminiscing, Li You decisively stopped thinking about it. With the pair of cat ears on his head and the big tail dragging behind, he continued wandering this apparent illusory realm.

The place was huge. He walked two steps, stopped to adjust his slightly ill-fitting little leather shoes, tapped the ground lightly with his shoe tip, then continued strolling. When he rounded a corner to the side platform, he spotted from afar a familiar person sitting with arms hugged in a booth seat.

Li You shuddered in fright, his feet backing away uncontrollably. When Li Ye opened his eyes from afar and looked over, he hurriedly hid behind a flower bed, hugging his knees in a squat.

Li You widened his eyes, then slowly blinked. His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously.

Just now… did he see that right?

That was his brother?

He held his breath, but his ears perked up to listen carefully.

The surroundings were extremely quiet. After a moment, the dull sound of military boots on the floor approached from far to near.

Li You’s heart leaped to his throat. He pursed his lips tight. Only when a shadow loomed over him did he slowly raise his head.

Their eyes met. Li You’s bright, clear blue eyes stared dazedly at Li Ye. The words stuck in his throat came out after a long while, in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s.

“Bro…”

Li Ye looked at the boy squatting in the corner, his reaction indifferent. “Mito can only create hallucinations. Even as a high-tier mutant species, it can’t produce an illusion realm. Once in Yel Forest, once in Sunlight Palace, and now again. You’re the one controlling Mito; those mountain leeches are your true body.”

Li You froze.

“Why use Li You’s appearance?” Li Ye looked at him, his gaze sweeping over the ears and the tail coiled beside him. He frowned. “You’re warning me not to forget him, so why use his appearance to do this?”

Having understood half of it, Li You finally regained his senses. He abruptly stood up, face tense as he stared into his brother’s eyes, wanting to explain but suddenly realizing he couldn’t.

Because if this really was an illusion realm, then in reality, he was still in his dead state. No one knew he had been reborn as a cat—not even Li Ye. Explaining would expose his rebirth, and…

He couldn’t just bluntly say he had turned into a cat.

Who would believe that?

Besides, he still wanted to live his free and easy cat life…

Li You hesitated to speak, suddenly feeling a bit wronged. His stubborn face drooped at the corners, his tail and ears also hanging listlessly. After a long silence, he could only squeeze out: “Your analysis makes so much sense. You must be close to uncovering the truth in reality, right?”

Can’t tell the truth, can’t refute—just sarcasm it is.

Li You sulked, glanced at Li Ye and huffed softly, his tail behind him swishing irritably back and forth.

Li Ye’s brows slowly furrowed. He silently watched this boy whose expression was full of defiance, and his heart stung for an instant.

“Hey.” Li You, sulking with his head tilted, shifted his gaze back. He looked up at his brother, now much taller than him, and called out seriously with a stern face. “Li Ye.”

Li Ye looked at him quietly.

“He…” Li You paused, coughed lightly with his fist to his mouth. When he raised his eyes, those beautiful sky-blue eyes shone brightly, but his serious demeanor was just like a kid pretending to be an adult. “…What I said that day in Sunlight Palace doesn’t count. It was actually… just to piss you off a bit.”

Li You watched his brother’s face, his tense expression easing somewhat. He chose his words carefully and forced a smile he thought was casual: “Li Ye, you don’t need to remember Li You. Just forget about him.”