Chapter 32: D-Don’t Touch!

The little black cat, caught completely off guard by the head-pat, froze. Motionless, even his tail went stiff in mid-air.

Once he snapped out of it, he lunged at the hand, claws outstretched.

But Gu Jingshan simply held him at bay with a fingertip to his forehead.

The little black cat flailed for ages, unable to even graze Gu Jingshan’s sleeve. Instead, he lost his balance and tumbled head-over-paws on the table.

Thankfully, Feng Xixing had quick hands. He caught the little black ball, saving the little guy from a painful fall.

Holding the little black cat securely, protecting him with meticulous care, he reached up to smooth the slightly ruffled fur on the cat’s head. Only then did Feng Xixing look at Gu Jingshan, his expression tinged with hostility.

“What is the Acting Sect Leader implying?”

Gu Jingshan clasped his hands behind his back, his fingertips rubbing together lightly. “This Immortal Lord was merely probing Junior Brother Lin’s Qi Sea.”

It was a perfectly noble and official-sounding reason. Probing a Qi Sea by patting his head? Did he think Lin Chuyun would believe that?!

The little black cat was so angry he was practically spinning circles in Feng Xixing’s palm. If Feng Xixing hadn’t held him back, he would have definitely taught this handsy guy just how sharp a cat’s claws could be!

Feng Xixing’s face was dark, and he said nothing.

The atmosphere inside the bamboo hut grew tense. Yet Gu Jingshan acted as if he didn’t notice, taking a jade bottle from his sleeve and placing it on the table.

The bottle made a soft sound as it touched the wood.

The little black cat heard it and curiously poked his head out. Emerald cat eyes scrutinized the jade bottle for a moment before curiosity finally won out, and he slipped out from under Feng Xixing’s hand.

Feng Xixing narrowed his eyes, suppressing the urge to snatch the little black cat back.

The little black cat circled the jade bottle twice, curious. Just as he was about to look up and ask Gu Jingshan what was inside, he met the man’s slightly strange gaze.

Lin Chuyun’s mind instantly replayed the sensation of a fingertip poking his head moments ago.

Whoosh. The little black cat darted behind his disciple’s wide sleeve, tail plastered against Feng Xixing’s side, not a single strand of black fur visible.

Feng Xixing coughed lightly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. He scooped the little black ball back into his palm, sheltering him completely. “May I ask what is in this jade bottle, Acting Sect Leader?”

Seeing his attempt to lure the kitten out fail, a trace of disappointment flashed in Gu Jingshan’s eyes. Still, he composed himself and explained, “Illusory Form Pills. They allow an untransformed Demon Beast to maintain human form for one hour.”

Lin Chuyun didn’t catch the first part of the sentence, only the last few words.

Maintain human form!

If he ate a dozen a day, that meant he could stay human all the time!

A spark of delight had just flickered in his cat eyes when Gu Jingshan added, “However, if taken too frequently, the medicinal efficacy diminishes. They cannot be overused. One pill per day only.”

The little black cat instantly deflated, but being able to become human was still pretty good. Lin Chuyun was about to put the jade bottle away when he saw Feng Xixing pick it up, examining it closely.

“The Acting Sect Leader just said… ‘untransformed Demon Beast’?” Feng Xixing asked.

Lin Chuyun froze. Slowly, he realized what he had overlooked. His emerald cat eyes narrowed into thin slits, fixed intently on Gu Jingshan.

“Meow…?” …Demon Beast?

For once, Gu Jingshan hesitated.

Everyone in the sect knew that Gu Jingshan, as Acting Sect Leader, was always impartial and strict. He never showed favoritism or soft-heartedness. Yet, seeing the panic in the little black cat’s eyes on the table, he found it hard to speak.

Gu Jingshan’s silence confirmed Lin Chuyun’s suspicion. He couldn’t help but feel stunned.

To think I’d transmigrate into a book only to be stripped of my human status?!

The little black cat was visibly dazed, his tail swishing slowly behind him as if pondering some profound existential crisis.

Gu Jingshan narrowed his eyes. Just as he took a step forward, the little black cat’s ear tips twitched. He whipped his head around, cat eyes eyeing Gu Jingshan warily.

No more petting.

Gu Jingshan thought ruefully, and had no choice but to step back.

Feng Xixing’s expression had turned thoroughly grim.

If anyone else dared covet his cat right in front of him, he would have thrown them out long ago. But though Gu Jingshan was only the Acting Sect Leader, his cultivation had already reached the Late Grand Ascension Stage. Even in his past life, before fully succumbing to the Devil Path, dealing with Gu Jingshan would have taken considerable effort.

Feng Xixing could only suppress his displeasure. “Is there anything else, Acting Sect Leader?”

Gu Jingshan’s gaze swept past Feng Xixing’s brow. Strangely, the Devil Transformation Omen he could see on this disciple earlier had now completely receded.

Putting the doubt aside for the moment, Gu Jingshan looked at the little black cat. “I presume Junior Brother Lin has questions he wishes to ask me directly.”

Feng Xixing’s grip on the jade bottle tightened. “Acting Sect Leader, isn’t that a bit…”

“Meow~”

Disciple, the pills.

Lin Chuyun knew his little disciple was defending him, but there were some things he had to ask clearly himself.

The little black cat looked up, his cat eyes fixed quietly on the jade bottle in Feng Xixing’s hand.

Feng Xixing’s fingers around the bottle twitched. In the end, he couldn’t resist that little black ball’s stare. He had to pour a pill out into his palm.

The little black cat placed one paw on Feng Xixing’s palm, lowered his head, and lapped the pill into his mouth.

Feng Xixing felt a flicker of warm wetness across his palm. When he came back to his senses, Lin Chuyun was already standing before him. Feng Xixing’s left hand closed on empty air, his palm still seeming to feel the lingering warmth.

Lin Chuyun saw Gu Jingshan and his expression turned slightly awkward.

The original host had bad relationships with all his senior brothers. He’d even cursed out Gu Jingshan in front of the entire sect—showing this Eldest Senior Brother absolutely no respect.

But now he needed something from him…

“Chuyun greets Eldest Senior Brother.” Lin Chuyun bowed his head and performed a respectful salute.

Gu Jingshan’s expression was noticeably less gentle than before, but he didn’t make things difficult for Lin Chuyun. “Mm.”

Lin Chuyun paused, then decided to ask about the most important thing first. “This matter of the Demon Beast… did Shizun tell Eldest Senior Brother himself?”

“No,” Gu Jingshan replied. “Shizun merely gave me this bottle of pills before going into seclusion, instructing me to pass it to you at the appropriate time.”

He had originally thought Lin Chuyun was raising an un-transformed Demon Beast. Who would have guessed that Lin Chuyun himself was the Demon Beast.

And a very cute one at that… Gu Jingshan’s mind drifted for a second.

Seeing this, Lin Chuyun couldn’t help but try one last desperate attempt. “Eldest Senior Brother, could it be that I’m not a Demon Beast at all, but merely afflicted with some poison that turns me into a cat…?”

“The poison in the Spirit Tea was Soul-Dissolving Powder.”

Gu Jingshan’s tone was completely calm, but Lin Chuyun’s heart lurched violently. He suddenly felt a little afraid to look back at Feng Xixing.

“Soul-Dissolving Powder dissolves a cultivator’s soul. Even if one survives, the damage to the soul will lead to the Devil Path.”

At this, Gu Jingshan seemed puzzled. “You… drank that cup of Spirit Tea?”

Although he had learned from Steward Wang that Lin Chuyun had brought the poisoned Spirit Tea into Feng Xixing’s hut, he hadn’t imagined Lin Chuyun would drink it himself.

Wasn’t Lin Chuyun the one who had ordered the poison?

Inside, Lin Chuyun was already crying rivers of tears. His little disciple had never asked him about that cup of Spirit Tea, so he’d just glossed over it. Now it was being thoroughly exposed by Gu Jingshan.

Eldest Senior Brother, please, stop talking! Don’t you feel the temperature around here dropping to freezing point, wuwuwu…

Remembering how the original host in the novel had been burned for two hundred years, Lin Chuyun began to seriously consider: if he confessed and sought leniency, could he maybe get a few years shaved off his sentence?

Gu Jingshan was still waiting for Lin Chuyun’s answer. Under the scorching intensity of Feng Xixing’s glare behind him, Lin Chuyun had no choice but to stiffly nod his head.

Seeing this, Gu Jingshan frowned slightly. He reached out and placed his fingers on Lin Chuyun’s wrist. But no matter how he probed, he could find no trace of the poison within Lin Chuyun’s body.

Behind him, Feng Xixing watched Gu Jingshan’s fingertips rest on Lin Chuyun’s wrist and felt an inexplicable surge of displeasure.

In the end, Gu Jingshan had to withdraw his hand, shaking his head. “There is no trace of the poison in your body… but just to be safe, I will have someone send the antidote to you later.”

Lin Chuyun nodded obediently.

Seeing him so well-behaved, Gu Jingshan’s expression softened.

“Currently, your body holds both a cultivator’s Spirit Power and a Demon Beast’s Demon Power. Your Demon Power is insufficient to form a core, so the unformed Demon Core is constantly absorbing your Spirit Power.”

Gu Jingshan explained, “The solution is simple. You only need to cultivate your Demon Power to the Transformation Stage.”

What could Lin Chuyun do? He could only nod obediently and promise to cultivate diligently.

Seeing this docile behavior, Gu Jingshan finally voiced the suggestion he had been hesitating over. “Spirit Cloud Peak is sparsely populated and inconvenient in many ways. If Junior Brother Lin doesn’t mind, you could move to Spirit Stone Peak. It would be easier to have someone look after you.”

Before Lin Chuyun could even open his mouth, Feng Xixing completely lost his composure. This was no longer mere coveting—this was a blatant attempt to steal his cat!

“The Acting Sect Leader is busy with affairs. Shizun’s matters need not trouble you.” Feng Xixing’s reply was practically hissed through gritted teeth. He strode in front of Lin Chuyun, shielding him. “This disciple will naturally take good care of Shizun.”

Gu Jingshan frowned, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Feng Xixing.

“Eldest Senior Brother!” Lin Chuyun quickly stepped in front of Feng Xixing, shielding him. He coughed lightly. “Xixing was merely over-worried for his junior brother, hence his hasty tone. Eldest Senior Brother… please do not take offense.”

Lin Chuyun was also puzzled. His little disciple was usually so well-behaved. Why was he suddenly so surly today? The original novel didn’t mention any conflict between these two, and in the original host’s memories, they’d had no interaction whatsoever.

“As for Eldest Senior Brother’s suggestion…” Lin Chuyun paused.

He didn’t notice that behind him, Feng Xixing’s breathing had stopped entirely at that pause, as if afraid the sound of his breath would make him miss Lin Chuyun’s words.

“Ahem… your junior brother is more accustomed to Spirit Cloud Peak. I won’t impose on Eldest Senior Brother.” Lin Chuyun politely declined.

Feng Xixing finally relaxed, only just realizing how tense he had been. He’d been dangerously close to failing to suppress his Devil Qi.

Since Lin Chuyun put it that way, Gu Jingshan didn’t persist. He nodded to Lin Chuyun and turned to leave. But as he crossed the threshold, he stopped, his back to the two of them, and dropped one last remark.

“Steward Wang has been dealt with.”

And with that, he left.

Lin Chuyun stiffened. He strongly suspected Gu Jingshan did that on purpose—retaliation for Feng Xixing’s earlier behavior.

But the problem was: why drag your junior brother down just to get back at Feng Xixing?!

Behind him, Feng Xixing’s voice drawled ominously, “Shizun…”

“Ahem! This teacher just remembered he has something to organize. I won’t disturb you!” Lin Chuyun didn’t dare look back. He tossed out that excuse and fled from the doorway.

Leaving Feng Xixing alone, staring at the empty door. He chuckled and shook his head.

Sure enough, when the door stirred again, it was an hour later.

Feng Xixing opened the door to find a little black cat sitting by the entrance, his tail resting neatly over his snow-white paws. Seeing him, the tail tip curved up, and a soft voice sounded.

“Meow…” Your teacher is back…

Feng Xixing crouched down with a smile, gently flicking the little black cat’s drooping ear tips. Although Lin Chuyun had disguised it well, his cat ears betrayed his guilt.

“Shizun, don’t worry. Xixing won’t be angry with Shizun.”

Feng Xixing scooped the little black cat into his palm and gently rubbed the top of his head. “Besides, Shizun already promised Xixing that he would only care about Xixing from now on. The past is in the past.”

Lin Chuyun was practically tearing up. His little disciple was truly too kind.

And because of this touched feeling, when Feng Xixing inexplicably decided to wipe his paws, Lin Chuyun cooperated beautifully, extending each paw when asked.

But his little disciple was taking an unusually long time wiping them this time…

Although the Spirit Silk was soft enough not to hurt the pads, a kitten’s paw pads were simply too sensitive. Having them turned over and fondled like this, it wasn’t long before Lin Chuyun couldn’t take it and smacked Feng Xixing’s hand with a paw.

“Meow…”

S-Stop touching!

The little black cat’s ear tips twitched, involuntarily revealing a blush of red.