Chen Ji moved with swift precision, snapping photos of the White Tiger before deftly removing the bow tie. He rubbed the side of its neck, his voice soft and soothing. “There, all done. It’s over now—no more messing with you, okay?”
“Be a good boy, Xiangxiang~”
The White Tiger slumped, resting its head heavily on Chen Ji’s shoulder, exuding an air of utter resignation, as if to say whatever you want. Chen Ji couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Leaning in, he planted a firm kiss on its cheek, overcome with the sudden urge to bundle up the big cat and take it home to curl up with him at night.
Too bad he already had a territorial guardian cat at home. Bringing another one would spark chaos and nonstop biting.
[System Cat: [Chen Ji~ When are you coming back?]]
[Chen Ji: [What’s up?]]
The System Cat silently shared its view. There it was, huddled in a corner, surveying Chen Ji’s room. The space was crammed full of dark, vine-like tendrils snaking everywhere. They weren’t moving, but an inexplicable sense of agitation radiated from them.
After all, with the room’s contents scattered in disarray, who could miss the telltale calm after a frenzy?
It must have been because he’d slipped out at midnight and used the Jade Jue to block the Mountain Lord’s senses. No wonder It had grown restless.
Fine then—looks like saying the wrong thing at night really did summon trouble.
Chen Ji planted another hearty kiss on the White Tiger. “Alright, I’ve got to head back.”
The White Tiger shifted slightly, its tail snaking out from the nearby underbrush to drag over a cloth bundle, depositing it right into Chen Ji’s hands. He wasn’t sure whether to praise it for being so tidy as to wrap things up or scold it—this pattern was unmistakably the bed sheet he’d thought was missing.
Had he assumed the System Cat tossed it? And here it turned up.
Chen Ji rubbed its ears. “I’ll check it out when I get home. Thanks for the trouble, Baby~”
The White Tiger nimbly dodged his approaching lips. Chen Ji’s shoulders sagged in disappointment, his gaze drooping as he looked at it. “Xiangxiang…”
The White Tiger’s ears twitched. Sensing the next words wouldn’t be good, it braced itself—and sure enough, Chen Ji said, “Do you hate me or something…?”
The White Tiger paused for a beat, then lowered its head to lick the back of Chen Ji’s hand. With graceful ease, it sprang into the underbrush. Chen Ji stared at his now-damp hand, then burst out laughing. “Guess I’ll head out first, then.”
“Take good care of that injury. I’ve got plenty to eat—no need to worry about me.” With that, Chen Ji set down several cans of cat food and cat treats on the spot. He pulled out an oversized thermos, turned, and left.
Once his figure vanished from sight, the White Tiger reemerged. It lowered its head to sniff the pile on the ground, unable to resist its instincts. Everything carried Chen Ji’s scent, as if he’d never left at all. It sat beside the items, tail curled over its sturdy paws, and remained silent for a long moment. At last, it transformed into a tall, stern young man and picked up the thermos.
His pale lips seemed to flush rosier from the rich chicken soup aroma. He drank slowly, sip by sip, until he discovered a chicken leg inside. A deft flick of his tongue drew the tender meat straight into his mouth.
Once finished, he set the thermos down, gathered the rest of the items, and vanished into the mountain woods.
Halfway back, Chen Ji spotted a yellow shadow in the distance. He stopped and waited for it to approach.
Second Master Huang came bounding over, panting with his mouth half-open. Chen Ji handed over the bundle and rubbed his head. “Second Grandpa, thanks for the trouble.”
Second Master Huang nodded. Chen Ji removed the Jade Jue, and that familiar sensation of being watched returned in an instant. Pretending to notice nothing, Chen Ji bent down to rub Second Master Huang’s head again and took the bundle from its mouth. “Thanks again.”
Second Master Huang hopped onto Chen Ji’s shoulder, and they ambled back slowly. “I figured the Daoist priest would come down the mountain to deliver those herbs himself.”
Second Master Huang hadn’t rehearsed with Chen Ji, but he played along seamlessly. He snorted with a laugh. [That Daoist’s got no real skills. As if he’d dare come up the mountain in the dead of night. And making this Second Grandpa fetch him? Bah!]
Chen Ji grinned. “Thanks for the hard work, Second Grandpa. What do you want to eat tomorrow?”
[Fish. Those fillets you made last time were good.]
“Deal. Fish it is today too.” Chen Ji added, “Though we’re running low on cod fillets. Next time, Second Grandpa, take me fishing!”
[The back mountains?] Second Master Huang said. [You’d have to say hi to that old mulberry tree first. Otherwise, watch out—it might eat you.]
“No way…” Chen Ji shoved his hands in his pockets. “I haven’t offended Grandpa Sang, so it should be fine.”
“Eh, we’ll see.”
[Or I could take you to the pool halfway up the mountain. Fish there are delicious.] Second Grandpa offered. [They’re just slippery little devils to catch.]
Chen Ji teased, “I’d be too scared to eat them… Those are Class II protected species. Eat one, and it’s three years in prison.”
Second Master Huang shot him a disdainful look. [Doesn’t look like you’ve held back much.]
“I can’t eat them, but Grandpa Mountain Lord probably loves them.” Chen Ji said, “I’ll have Little Red snag a couple for me later. I’ll supply Him… Man, it’s been exhausting lately, but the temple renovations are almost done. Just got that big cleanup ahead… Hate those the most.”
[Get a couple folks to handle it for you.]
“Not the same. The main hall? That’s gotta be me personally. Anything less would be disrespectful to Grandpa Mountain Lord…”
…
The vines in Chen Ji’s room began to stir lazily. The System Cat opened its mouth to yowl in alarm, but a vine snatched it up by the scruff and hoisted it high. The vines methodically restored everything in the room—the bedding laid out fresh and neat. The System Cat watched, dumbfounded, as a tendril grabbed two wet wipes and carefully cleaned its paws before tossing it onto the bed and vanishing.
When Chen Ji returned to the Mountain Lord Temple, he took in the spotless room and the System Cat’s bewildered expression. He smiled faintly.
…So easy to fool.
The next day, before six in the morning, Liu Datie woke up.
Despite yesterday’s exertions and less than eight hours of sleep, he felt surprisingly invigorated, brimming with energy. He glanced at his live stream chat, now dwindled to just a few hundred viewers, and greeted them with a booming voice. “Morning, fam! Everyone awake yet? Quick, hit the bathroom and crash back out if you need to!”
The chat lit up fast:
{Fuck, you legit scared me awake.}
{If you’re not sleeping, I still am!}
{No wonder the streamer’s Da Tie—guy’s an iron man for real!}
{Why not hit the Ironman Triathlon and win glory for the country?}
Liu Datie sat cross-legged on the bed, bantering with his audience. “How do you know I haven’t? Alright, truth—I tried out for sports academy back in the day and bombed… Gonna tidy up now. Stick around if you want morning mountain views, or sleep easy; I’ll edit it into a video later!”
Liu Datie had all the makings of a pro streamer. He’d brought his gear up the mountain even drunk, and after charging overnight, everything was primed. He used a dual-headed shooting pole—one end for his phone on stream, the other for the HD camera filming video.
He opened the door and spotted a tray on the ground, bearing a full outfit from underwear outward. “Whoa,” he said, reaching down to feel the fabric. It matched Chen Ji’s—prime cotton-linen blend, perfect for the mountain season: breathable, sweat-wicking, tough without chill.
{Hats off, the guy’s seriously thoughtful.}
{Da Tie shelled out big bucks—it’s the least he deserves!}
{Still, paying for clothes or not, that’s on Da Tie.}
Liu Datie sniffed his own shirt and decided in a heartbeat. “Fam, gimme a sec—changing outfits real quick!”
He emerged soon after, and the chat erupted in laughter:
{Other folks wear that like immortals; Da Tie looks straight-up farmer core!}
{Throw a hoe on his back and it’s complete.}
{Cracking up—why’s it such a mismatch?}
{Might as well swap back.}
“No way!” Liu Datie eyed his reflection in the lens, questioning his life choices. “…It doesn’t look that bad, right? Whatever, yesterday’s stuff reeks!”
He set off with the pole, but paused after a few steps. A fine misting rain was falling, barely noticeable until he stepped out. The crisp, damp mountain breeze washed over him, refreshing without a hint of cold. He inhaled deeply. “Feels like I’m alive again… Rain out there—spot it, everyone?”
Distant peaks wreathed in swirling mist and rain silk painted an ethereal scene in the air. The chat fell hushed, viewers entranced by the vista.
Liu Datie drank it in, then ventured farther—stopping short. He raised the pole just in time to capture Second Master Huang perched on the eaves, gazing skyward. The weasel’s head held high, posture impeccable, it carried an unexpected air of otherworldliness.
As if some celestial being whispered to it.
{Wow…}
{I’d kill to see that in person—healing vibes.}
{More shots, love it!}
Second Master Huang noticed Liu Datie and glanced sideways. Liu Datie, ever the social butterfly, gushed right away. “Second Grandpa, you’re gorgeous!”
“Seeing you proves all those tales of weasels being great immortals aren’t bogus!”
Second Master Huang preened inwardly—finally, someone with taste. He strode to the eaves’ edge with haughty grace, looking down on Liu Datie. Thinking it might leap, Liu Datie held out his hands. “Second Grandpa, coming down? I’ve got you!”
Second Master Huang huffed lightly, then sprang from the eaves, landing feather-light on the rain chain. He shot Liu Datie a scornful glance: Foolish mortal—did this Second Grandpa need catching to dismount?
After finishing his watch, Second Master Huang turned and walked away. Liu Datie didn’t dare chase after him. This Yellow Weasel was too spirited—someone had warned him yesterday not to offend it, and he cherished his life too much to act recklessly. But Liu Datie had one peculiar trait: if others dared to say something, he would truly believe it. And so he called out, “Second Grandpa, I want to go to the main hall. Could you point me in the right direction?”
Hearing this, Second Master Huang turned back and waited for him to approach—tsk, hadn’t Chen Ji said something about building popularity? Fine, he couldn’t very well undermine Chen Ji. If he could help, then he would lend a hand!
Liu Datie was taken aback as well. He hadn’t actually expected Second Master Huang to show him the way. Hurrying to catch up, he followed as Second Master Huang led on, staying exactly three steps ahead.
{So spirited…}
{Could it really be Great Immortal Huang?!}
Liu Datie was murmuring quiet replies to the live stream comments when Second Master Huang suddenly halted. Lifting his gaze, Liu Datie saw Chen Ji standing amid the rain, clad in a sky-blue long robe. Fine threads of mist-like rain drifted about him, catching one or two droplets in his hair. A swirl of ethereal light enveloped him, making him seem utterly otherworldly.
“…”
