Chapter 27: The Shy Kitty

Li Ye dried his hair and did not go to sleep right away. He came to the bedside and glanced at the Ragdoll Cat curled into a round ball, dozing with its eyes narrowed. He reached out his hand to cover it, but before he could touch it, the cat’s ears seemed to sense it from afar and slowly flattened into airplane ears.

Li Ye paused and pulled his hand back a bit farther. The cat’s ears slowly perked up again. He lowered his palm, and the ears flattened once more. His hand never actually touched the cat’s ears, and the cat never opened its eyes.

It was very magical and quite amusing.

He moved his hand away and gently hooked a finger around the smart whisker on the cat’s ear. The drowsy Li You twitched his nose, pursed his lips, lifted a paw to scratch at the trembling ear that itched, then tucked the paw back under the fluffy fur and continued lying there asleep.

Li Ye stopped disturbing the cat’s sweet dreams. He went to the nearby lounge seat, opened his light brain, and began handling work.

Lude’s behavior was highly suspicious and required a deep investigation. Jason could not be ruled out either. No claims without evidence could be taken as true.

Which of these two was lying, or were they both lying? Or perhaps it was not one of them who leaked the Kailenoa matter to Li Yiwan, but someone else—who could that “someone else” be? All of this needed time to investigate.

Peisengke complained to him via communication about the overwhelming imperial affairs; the cat hair and saliva entrusted to Yulian could not be sent back through the Teleportation Space Station and had to be transported by warship, which would take more time; Li Yiwan’s condition was gradually improving but she still had not awakened; multiple cases had emerged within the empire of abyss pollutants infecting humans and controlling them to lurk and cause chaos in society; and infections of humans, animals, and plants by crystal stones were also increasing.

With matters piling up, Li Ye did not rest until the early hours of the morning. As he closed his eyes to relieve the pressure, he heard a few “hmph hmph” sounds from nearby—the cat murmuring in its sleep.

Li Ye opened his eyes and looked over. Only the small lamp in his corner of the room was lit, leaving the bed area somewhat dim. A small, lumpy bundle on the bed rose and fell gently.

The cat occasionally let out soft purring sounds while sleeping, or sometimes hmphs. Either way, they had a rhythmic quality, like an alternative form of white noise that smoothed out much of Li Ye’s restless mood.

Li Ye knew full well that he had never been infected by abyss pollutants, but in essence, he was a composite of them, no different from those filthy things. Thus, the purification from crystal stones worked on him, soothing his uncontrollable restlessness.

If Li You had truly turned into a cat due to some accident and had once truly been infected by crystal stones, then his body should be capable of purification.

Moreover, Li Ye’s condition had indeed improved a lot these past two days.

Perhaps Li You really was helping him.

Of course, it was also possible that he was overthinking it.

Li Ye lowered his eyelids, his gaze returning to the light brain. He tapped into the item delivery backend to check the status of the cat hair and saliva he had sent back.

They still had half the journey left.

Li Ye closed the light screen, shut down all the work interfaces he had finished, removed his light brain and tossed it aside, then leaned back against the lounge seat and closed his eyes to empty his mind.

At that moment, the cat in the distance started hmphing again. He opened his eyes and looked over to see a pair of perfectly round eyes hovering above the sleeping Ragdoll Cat in the darkness, staring intently at it.

The Little Black Cat blended completely into the shadows, with only its red eyes glowing.

Li Ye furrowed his brow slightly. He did not remember letting this guy out, but realizing it might be his subconscious, he felt a bit surprised.

The black cat was his main body, a composite of pollutants with no fixed form.

Little Black’s actions and behavior were mixed with Li Ye’s emotions, expressing what Li Ye wanted to express.

Before the disobedient main body could do anything, Li Ye got up to put it away, only to see it nudge the soundly sleeping Ragdoll Cat with its nose and, unusually, lick the Ragdoll Cat’s face with its tongue.

Li Ye: “…”

His expression gradually grew complicated as he went over and picked up the black cat by the scruff.

The black cat let out a soft “mrr” and, with a swish, turned into a swimming snake that drilled into Li Ye’s sleeve and vanished.

The Ragdoll Cat did not wake. It rolled over, exposing its belly with all four paws dangling, smacking its lips in its sleep with eyes still closed.

Li Ye’s gaze shifted. He went over to turn off the lamp by the lounge seat, returned to the bedside, lifted the covers, lay down flat on the bed, pulled the covers over himself, and stared thoughtfully into the pitch-black ceiling. Moments later, he lifted a corner of the covers to drape over the belly-exposed Ragdoll.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened them again and decisively nudged the nearby Ragdoll closer to settle it by his side. He turned his face sideways, his nose just able to bury into the cat’s fluffy, warm fur.

Soft, warm, with a faint fragrance.

Li Ye’s emotions reached an unprecedented calm. Sleepiness gradually came over him, and soon he fell into deep sleep alongside the cat, which had a poor sleeping posture but excellent sleep quality.

Li You slept hotter and hotter, as if baked in a fire pit.

He struggled to open his eyes, stimulated by the bright sunlight, and quickly closed them again. But suddenly, he felt a warm breath on the side of his face.

He froze for a moment, opened his eyes, and turned his head. His brother’s face appeared before him, close at hand.

Li You’s breathing tensed up abruptly. He subconsciously tried to sit up, only to suddenly realize he was in human form, not cat form.

He froze in place, his hands gently grasping his brother’s arm draped across his front, staring dazedly at the ceiling.

This place was not the Imperial Military room where he had fallen asleep. This was a palace similar to the Sunlight Palace.

So, it was the Illusion Realm again!!

Li You pursed his lips, then carefully turned his head to glance at the still-sleeping Li Ye. His hands cautiously gripped his brother’s arm and slowly lifted it. But before he could raise it a few centimeters, a faint voice came from beside him.

‘Sneaky as a ghost—really afraid I’ll eat you?’

Hearing this, the tense-breathing Li You promptly let go of the hand, lay flat without moving, stared at the ceiling, and muttered with pursed lips: ‘If I’m not sneaky, should I just boldly wake you up?’

Li Ye looked at the young man’s profile. It was still the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old appearance from the last Illusion Realm. Li You had not yet turned eighteen when he left that year—he had been in his boyhood.

He withdrew the arm draped across Li You’s front, sat up, bent his left leg, and turned his head to survey the surroundings.

One glance confirmed it was the Illusion Realm.

Li You, lying in the soft covers, glanced at Li Ye sitting beside him and felt depressed inside.

What the hell was going on?

Who had created this Illusion Realm? They had already arrived at Anjiel Planet—how could there still be an Illusion Realm? Could that guy have followed them?

Damn it! If he caught that guy, he would definitely…

Li Ye looked over. The inwardly fuming Li You quickly blinked a few times, unsure what expression to make, and decided to smile.

‘Fake.’ Li Ye lowered his eyes to look at him.

Li You’s smile froze: ‘Huh?’

Li Ye had no intention of exposing Li You. He leisurely watched the young man lying on the bed, fully cooperating as he continued the pretense: ‘What happened this time?’

‘I don’t know.’ Li You was somewhat self-abandoned. He did not want to make up excuses or know how to, so he simply closed his eyes, rolled over to face away from Li Ye, pulled at the covers to cover himself: ‘I used his appearance again. If you have the ability, go find my real body in reality and kill me.’

Li Ye looked at the back of his head and said nothing.

His original intent had been to catch a bit more sleep in this Illusion Realm, but his brother’s presence behind him was too strong. Li You could not fall asleep at all. He opened his eyes again, felt depressed for a moment, then rolled back to lie flat. He shifted his eyeballs sideways to peek at Li Ye and found him looking at him. Startled, he blurted out: ‘What are you looking at?’

Li Ye suddenly said: ‘Your imitation of him is very lifelike.’

Li You’s expression went blank: ‘…What?’

‘These recent Illusion Realms are different from the one in the Sunlight Palace before.’ Li Ye stared into his eyes. ‘That time in the Sunlight Palace, and these recent times—you’re not the same one.’

‘…’ Li You pursed his lips and said nothing, his gaze evasive. ‘That time, I wasn’t good at pretending. Later, I got better at it.’

Li Ye raised a brow: ‘Is that so?’

‘Yes.’ Li You’s gaze kept dodging, his face not red but his heart pounding as he made things up: ‘People grow and improve, you know.’

He did not dare look at his brother, unaware that there was a faint, imperceptible amusement in Li Ye’s eyes above him.

Li You lay stiffly straight on the bed. After a long while, he blinked once. Neither spoke, and the silence made even his breathing feel awkward. He tried to start a topic, sneaked a glance at Li Ye, and found him still looking at him. His heart pounded wildly: ‘You…’

Li Ye lifted his eyelids slightly: ‘What?’

Why do you keep looking at me…

The words swirled in Li You’s mouth but did not come out. He smacked his lips, pulled the covers over his face, and mumbled through the fabric: ‘I’ll sleep a bit more. If you’re not going to kill me, then don’t make a sound.’

Li Ye withdrew his gaze: ‘Sleep then.’

Li You abruptly opened his eyes wide under the covers.

Something was wrong!

Very wrong!!

He yanked the covers away. His overheated face was flushed red, his eyes dazed and surprised as he stared at his brother’s profile. He opened his mouth, closed it, considered for a moment, and tentatively asked: ‘You’re not going to kill me?’

Li Ye lifted the covers and got up, turning back to look at the disheveled-haired youth on the bed and counter-asked: ‘You seem pretty eager for me to kill you?’

‘No, I mean…’ Li You sat up, his gaze flitting over Li Ye in his gray loungewear a few times before dodging away. His hands clenched on the covers. ‘Last time I pretended to be Li You, you were so angry. How come this time…’

How come it seems like you don’t care anymore?

Li You started again with his strange, contradictory feelings.

He hoped his brother was well, yet feared his brother had truly forgotten him.

He stared blankly at the back of his own hand, then looked up at the backlit Li Ye, squinting slightly as he said in a dazed tone: ‘Li Ye, I feel so strange.’

Li Ye frowned: ‘This is the Illusion Realm. I can’t do anything to you here. If I want to kill you, I have to find your real body in reality.’

Li You was dazed: ‘Oh… like that…’

Li Ye: ‘What did you think it was?’

‘…’ Li You withdrew his gaze. ‘I thought you didn’t care anymore.’

Li Ye looked at him: ‘As long as it concerns Li You, I will always care.’

‘…’ Li You lowered his head, stayed still for several seconds, then flopped back onto the bed and pulled the covers over himself tightly. After a good while, he mumbled: ‘You’re a good brother.’

Li Ye, standing by the bed, was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment. He turned his head to look out the window: ‘Am I?’

This was the first time he had heard such words from Li You’s mouth.

A long silence followed. The sunlit room was extraordinarily quiet, making even the steady breathing stand out.

Li Ye, gazing into the distance without focus, withdrew his eyes and looked down at the raised lump of covers. He asked: ‘Asleep?’

A slow voice drifted from Li You: ‘Asleep.’

Li Ye: ‘Li You.’

There was no response from under the covers.

‘Not hot?’ Li Ye asked him. ‘Want to go for a walk?’

This time, the covers stirred. Li You pulled them open, his overheated face flushed red. He breathed with his mouth slightly open: ‘Where to?’

‘It’s the Illusion Realm anyway. Let’s see what you’ve created.’ Li Ye crossed his arms. ‘I’m quite curious—where did you learn about Li You to imitate him so accurately, even replicating the places he lived in perfectly.’

‘I…’ Li You sat up and scratched his cheek with a finger. ‘Don’t worry about that. I have my own ways.’

He guiltily averted his eyes, thinking to himself that he did not even know.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes, playing along with the pretense but unable to resist teasing him. He pointed to the left side of his own face: ‘The mole on Li You’s face is below the outer corner of his left eye.’

‘You’re making that up.’ Li You retorted. ‘It’s clearly on the right side of his face!’

Li Ye looked at him without speaking.

Li You reacted, threw off the covers, got out of bed, clenched his fists, and erupted in mini-thunder: ‘You big jerk!’

Li Ye stepped aside: ‘Coming or not?’

Li You bristled with anger and stormed after him: ‘Fine, let’s go! Where to?’

Li Ye said nothing and pushed open the room door into the side hall. The further back they went, the darker the surroundings became.

The Li You behind him hugged his arms in front of him, rubbing his chilly arms, and nervously stared at Li Ye walking ahead.

Why was it getting creepier the further they went?

Was he really going to find some spot to finish him off?

‘I won’t find some place to deal with you.’ The person ahead suddenly spoke.

Li You’s heart pounded wildly: ‘You!’

He clamped his mouth shut and muttered: ‘Who’s scared? If you dare, just do it.’

Li Ye stopped in front of a tightly shut door and turned to gaze intently at Li You behind him: ‘This is a space you created—don’t you know what this place is?’

‘I know.’ Li You quibbled.

Li Ye stared at him until he panicked. Li You slowly shifted his gaze away, refusing to meet this guy’s eyes.

The password lock on the door beeped crisply as the code was entered, and the door opened smoothly. Inside was a small, windowless, fully sealed space lined with dark bookshelves on all four walls.

Li Ye opened the hidden passage in the bookshelf directly ahead and continued inside.

Li You stopped outside the passage and did not follow.

Li Ye in the passage looked back. The pitch-black environment and the backlight completely obscured the expression on his face. Li You sensed a trace of eerie chill. He pursed his lips and heard Li Ye’s voice from inside, calm to the point of being almost eerie.

“How?”

Li You frowned. “What’s inside?”

Li Ye standing in the passage stared at him unblinkingly with a pair of abyss-like red eyes.

“Inside are Li You’s relics.”

Li You was stunned.

“Don’t you want to take a look?” Li Ye stared at him unblinkingly. “I’m very curious if your illusion realm can also produce the things that I hid for him.”

Li You took a step back. Black tentacles coiled up from below, slowly climbing his body from his calves. The icy sensation wrapped around him, passing his calves and thighs before binding his waist and fixing him in place.

Li Ye walked out and stood at the boundary between light and dark. He reached out, pinched Li You’s face, and lifted his chin, forcing those eyes to look only at himself. “Why run? I said I won’t eat you.”

“Let’s go take a look together. Perhaps there will be a surprise.”