[Can’t understand that.]
Chen Ji immediately issued the latest instruction in a cold and merciless tone. Then he turned his head, his expression softening into a gentle smile as he stuffed a large piece of snowflake-patterned beef into the White Tiger’s mouth. “Guai Guai, try this meat. Is it tasty?”
System Cat: [Wait, you knew all along that Guai Guai was the Mountain Lord?!]
[What else?] Chen Ji drawled. [Did you think I was some pervert who gets a reaction from tigers?]
But Chen Ji only knew that the White Tiger was Chang Xu. He had no idea that Chang Xu was actually the Mountain Lord—which meant, if Chang Xu was the Mountain Lord, then what was that thing on the altar? And all those encounters he’d had in the temple… they clearly weren’t something Guai Guai had approved.
Guai Guai was just a socially awkward pushover. A single pat on the butt would make him leap three feet into the air. How could he possibly sneak into Chen Ji’s bed in the dead of night to molest him?
It was just that with Blue-Clothed around, Chen Ji couldn’t make too big a deal of it.
System Cat: [Emmm…]
Hard to judge. It was just a simple little system. It had always assumed that human fetishes were that broad and twisted.
Through Chen Ji’s eyes, the System Cat watched the White Tiger, who had been all but coaxed into a simpleton by him. Then it glanced at the Blue-Clothed Ghost Immortal, who was beaming at it with a fond, doting smile. It sincerely thought that it and Chen Ji should go into show business—three years to snag two Oscars, five years to fame worldwide. No problem at all.
Chen Ji paid no attention to that. He focused intently on waiting for the White Tiger’s response. This meat was a special treat he’d prepared just for him. Good beef didn’t need to be fully cooked—as long as the knife work was precise, a quick sear in the pot for a minute or so made it perfect.
The White Tiger chewed once, and pure meaty flavor burst in his mouth along with the tender beef. The rich fat triggered his instincts, filling him with instinctive delight. He ate with his eyes squinted in bliss.
Seeing how utterly content he looked, Chen Ji couldn’t help but rub his head. “Alright, go play off to the side. Dinner will be ready soon.”
There were guests at the temple today, after all. It wouldn’t do to serve them leftovers. Chen Ji started a fresh pot, specially making spicy hot pot for the one on the altar and for Xiangxiang and the others.
About twenty minutes later, Chen Ji carried the hot pot out. Blue-Clothed’s eyes lit up at the sight of the yin-yang pot. She set the System Cat aside and got up to help bring out the dishes from the kitchen. Before long, the table was laden with food. Without another word, Blue-Clothed sat down and dug in.
Chen Ji poured her a drink. With her head buried in her bowl, she mumbled a thank you. Astonishingly, she polished off nearly the entire spread by herself. Chen Ji kept her company and ate his fill too. The meal ended on a warm and jovial note. In parting, they added each other on WeChat. As Chen Ji saw her off, she paused mid-step and said without the slightest pretense, “You’d better watch out for your guy at home. Don’t make him jealous.”
Chen Ji’s first thought was Xiangxiang—who would ever get jealous? But then he realized that didn’t fit. He started to ask more, only to find that Blue-Clothed had vanished without a trace. A cool mountain breeze swept through, refreshing and pleasant. Chen Ji chuckled to himself and turned back inside.
Before the meal, he had already given the spicy hot pot to the little ones. Now he reheated the leftovers and carried them to the main hall.
The statue was draped in dark purple cloth, like some monster caged inside. Chen Ji paused, a mild and pious smile on his face. Whatever the color, even if he brought over something bright red, the Mountain Lord statue would still look eerie and terrifying.
He set the spicy hot pot on the offering table. As usual, he opened a bottle of cherry cola, lit three sticks of incense, and kowtowed properly. “Grandpa Mountain Lord, a Ghost Immortal visited the temple today. Second Grandpa Huang mentioned it, and I was a bit scared at first. But when I actually met her, she turned out to be quite friendly.”
“I didn’t dare neglect a guest like her, so I was a little late today. Please forgive me, Grandpa Mountain Lord.” With that, he rose, placed the incense in the burner, and turned to leave.
Click. The main hall’s doors locked shut.
A thumb-thick iron chain. A plain black iron padlock. If the wind could blow those doors open, the whole thing would probably fly away.
Chen Ji eyed the brand-new, heavy-duty stainless steel hinges he’d installed not long ago—thicker and wider than standard. Most doors needed two or three; for safety, he’d used six, secured with expansion bolts and welds. If there was still a problem, it sure wouldn’t be the hinges.
The main hall plunged into darkness. The light from outside seemed cut off entirely, not a sliver leaking in. Something churned and thrashed in the shadows. Then, with a drip, a faint glow sparked to life—the only light in the gloom. A crisp child’s voice rang out: “Yun Bao commencing floor-cleaning task!”
It was the robot vacuum.
Darkness settled back into calm.
The System Cat crouched at the hall’s entrance. When Chen Ji emerged, it blocked his path, waiting for him to hoist it up. Chen Ji bent down and slung it over his shoulder. The System Cat asked, [What about today’s events?]
[Pretend I don’t know.] Chen Ji checked his phone for messages as he explained. [Guai Guai doesn’t want to reveal his identity. He must have his reasons. There’s no point in me exposing him.]
[That’s not how it works!] the System Cat retorted. [Have you forgotten that thing that kept sneaking in at night to molest you?! If Guai Guai is the Mountain Lord, why let that creep in to mess with you?! Don’t tell me you actually bought that Fire Dragon Waist Entwine story?!]
Chen Ji countered, [Maybe that’s part of his troubles?]
[Don’t get involved until you have the strength.] There was an emotion in Chen Ji’s voice that the System Cat couldn’t quite grasp—a mix of detachment, anger, and sarcasm. It couldn’t make sense of it.
Chen Ji added casually, [When big shots fight, what business is it of a small fry like me? I wouldn’t even know how I died.]
The System Cat gave him an odd look. [What if you’re the missing piece?]
Chen Ji replied, [If he needs something from me, he’ll say so. If he doesn’t speak up, then he doesn’t need it.]
Chen Ji was no longer some hot-blooded kid in his mid-teens. Having clawed his way this far alone, he had long since learned that “helping” depended on the situation—could he do it? Did he have the ability? Should he?
Self-awareness was key. Even helping a fallen elder on the road required weighing the worst-case scenario—like whether he could afford the compensation if things went south. The same logic applied everywhere else; he had to think it through clearly.
He wasn’t Guai Guai’s mom. He didn’t need to play the smothering type who insisted, “Mommy thinks you’re cold—put on a jacket.”
Did he not know something was off with the Mountain Lord on the altar? If he didn’t, then why cover It with that silk? Just because Daoist Qingjing said so?
Daoist Qingjing had kept dropping hints that Little Azure Mountain’s Mountain Lord wasn’t benevolent. Second Master Huang’s sudden shift in attitude. The inexplicable snake demon attack… No grudges there. But if those things really loved eating people so much, Yang Village would be empty by now. How could Little Azure Mountain still stand? It would’ve been bombed flat ages ago.
China hadn’t exactly skimped on mountain-busting over the years. At the very least, they could’ve cordoned off the whole area, like they did with Ailao Mountains or Zhangjiajie—designate it a no-go zone.
None of that happened. It proved Second Master Huang and the rest had targeted only him from the start.
Second Master Huang’s attitude flip was so abrupt that it screamed orders from the Mountain Lord. It didn’t know him, had no feelings for him. Kill him? So what?
Just like the Red-Furred Fox getting orders to head down and harass the Wang Family. No big deal. Strangers. Kill away.
Chen Ji stayed silent to this day, pretending ignorance and living his life, because he couldn’t figure out where the Mountain Lord truly stood. On one hand, sending monsters to hunt him down; on the other, protecting him… It was downright bizarre.
Plus, he still needed to deal with his nightmares.
That’s why he’d come back. Why he’d stayed, even with all those monsters after him.
Now, he just needed to focus on his own affairs and expand his abilities as much as possible. At his current level, he could squash a minor demon at best. He might not even beat the Red-Furred Fox. How could he meddle in the games of Ghost Immortals and deities?
Unless… he gained the power to sway the outcome.
The System Cat mulled it over and surprisingly found Chen Ji’s logic flawless. Any being with agency should pay the price for their actions. [Fair enough… So when are you learning the Five Thunder Talisman?]
Chen Ji went quiet for a beat, then ruffled the System Cat’s head. Ungrateful little thing—that wasn’t something you just picked up overnight! He was still practicing!
A text notification popped up. Chen Ji tapped it open. It was from the Daoist, with a photo of neatly stacked silver ingots. He asked if Chen Ji wanted them shipped up the mountain or if he’d come pick them up himself.
Of course, ignoring that “gonna shave your dog head” emoji made it even better.
Chen Ji texted back, suggesting the Daoist throw in a red envelope to burn them for him, complete with family name and details.
The Daoist replied with a middle finger emoji.
Chen Ji chuckled and powered off his phone. Spotting the White Tiger perched primly around the corner, he hurried over. “Guai Guai, all full?”
The White Tiger nodded obediently, letting out a soft rumble from his throat—like coquettishness, or just acknowledgment. Chen Ji rubbed his head. “Then off to bed?”
The White Tiger rumbled again. It was as if he’d been waiting right there for Chen Ji. Hearing this, he fell into step beside him on the way back.
The System Cat tsked. [I get what you’re saying, but look at this. Look! Guai Guai’s protecting you like this, and you’re just gonna stand idly by… You’re no human, Chen Ji!]
Chen Ji stroked the White Tiger’s sleek fur. [That’s different.]
[If he doesn’t need me, I live my life.] Chen Ji said offhandedly. [If he does, I can give my life for him.]
“Guai Guai, I’m scared. Can we sleep together tonight?”
The White Tiger went still for a moment, then nodded with visible difficulty. Chen Ji whooped in delight, lunging onto him to nuzzle his face and take a big sniff.
The White Tiger wanted to dodge but didn’t dare, so he let Chen Ji cling.
System Cat: […I reasonably suspect you babbled all that just to get Guai Guai to ask you himself.]
…
That night, as wind scattered the clouds, Chen Ji heard someone calling him.
“Master Chen, Master Chen—are you awake?”
Without Xiangxiang, without Xiao Ba, he found himself in a dream once more.
The Daoist priest had only just burned paper money for Grandpa that very day, and tonight Grandpa had immediately appeared in his dream?
…Could Grandpa possibly be stationed at the Heaven and Earth Bank, just waiting for him to wire some money over?
