Chapter 8: The Cat’s Kneading

The meeting content involved not only the bizarre death of that man from the other night but also several strange recent cases in the Empire.

Logically speaking, these cases should have been handled by the Imperial Police Department, but now that they had been handed over to the Imperial Military, it indicated that the situation had become serious.

At the end of the meeting, the Central Laboratory connected online and delivered the results of overnight tests, immediately classifying the case.

The genetic test results for the victims were positive; they had been infected, but not by abyss pollutants—instead, by crystal stones.

There was also another type of infection left on their bodies, which did not originate from the victims themselves and was very likely left behind by the culprit.

The saliva tissue tests were also positive. The culprits in multiple cases across different planets were all infected by abyss pollutants.

In other words, those infected by abyss pollutants were preying on those infected by crystal stones.

Moreover, those abyss pollutant infectees were very likely humans rather than plants or animals, and they had probably already been controlled by the abyss pollutants.

Abyss pollutants capable of controlling humans and possessing intelligence, using human bodies as camouflage to hide in human society.

This was unprecedented and extremely dangerous.

–

When the meeting ended, the officer who had been waiting outside knocked and entered.

Li You recognized the officer at a glance; he was the big brother from the front desk storage area.

When Big Brother saw the cat in Li Ye’s arms, he clearly froze for a moment before standing at attention and saluting. “Your Highness, we apologize for our negligence in failing to watch this cat properly, allowing it to disturb the meeting. It is the cat that a villager brought today for genetic testing at the Imperial Military and temporarily left at the front desk. We just received word that the cat’s owner’s test results won’t be available tonight, so she has to stay at the Imperial Military. She has entrusted us to send the cat to the Sunlight Palace in the Memorial Garden.”

“The lady from the pet shop?” Peisengke packed up his files and stood, looking at the ragdoll cat on Li Ye’s lap. “This place isn’t far from the town. Just send it back to the pet shop.”

“…We had the same idea, but the lady refused, citing concerns that strangers might stress the other cats in the shop.” Officer Big Brother glanced at the ragdoll cat. “She said that the Sunlight Palace in the nearby Memorial Garden also has a cat nest and cat food, and hoped we could take the cat there.”

Peisengke looked at Li Ye. “What do you say, Your Highness? Shall we hand the cat to this brother?”

Upon hearing this, Li You flicked his big tail and looked up at his brother.

Li Ye placed the files on the edge of the long table, turned off the light brain screen, and lifted the cat with one arm. “I’ll take it to the Sunlight Palace.”

The officer who had come for the cat nodded and immediately withdrew. Peisengke whistled lightly and playfully, reaching out a finger to tease the cat in His Highness’s arms while grinning lazily. “The Imperial Military lounge is much more comfortable than the Sunlight Palace. And yet you run off to the Sunlight Palace every night—aren’t you tired?”

He addressed Li Ye, but the clueless Li You pushed away Peisengke’s rough finger with his paw pad and meowed “meow meow” up at Li Ye.

Li Ye said nothing, extending his hand to the cat. When Li You saw the black mini-snake, he immediately stopped meowing and started battling the little monster again.

This battle ended without a victor; he still hadn’t caught the little monster and even got taunted by it. The angry kitty stopped clawing, and when he came back to his senses, they had already arrived at the Sunlight Palace lounge.

Dim, warm lights came on. After Li Ye placed him on the soft couch, he turned and headed toward the inner room.

Li You stayed on the soft bed, staring unblinkingly at his brother.

The door opened and closed; his brother went in.

The kitty was bewildered for a moment, then jumped off the bed and padded over, scratching at the door with his front paws.

He just left like that? Leaving this cat here all alone??

At least arrange some food!!

The kitty roared, his voice loud and shrill, sounding utterly tragic.

Moments later, the door clicked and was pushed open from inside. Li You, who had been scratching at it, was shoved back, stumbling several steps before landing on his butt on the floor.

Fortunately, his fur was thick, so the fall didn’t hurt at all, but he still meowed angrily at the emerging Li Ye.

The next moment, a cat treat was offered to his mouth.

The kitty immediately stopped meowing and licked at the treat with purring sounds.

Only afterward did Li You realize he was a bit spineless, and his face flushed hot.

But a meow was iron and food was steel—he was really hungry right now!

He decided to settle the score after eating!

Li Ye picked up the cat and brought him back to the bedside. After feeding him the treat, he prepared lactose-free warm milk and cat food. He watched the cat eat earnestly, then got up a moment later and went to the semi-open wardrobe by the nearby island counter. He unbuttoned his military uniform, took off his shirt, and retrieved an injector from the depths of the wardrobe, injecting it into his arm.

Li You ate his fill and drank his fill, licking his paws and smoothing his fur. When he turned his head, he saw his brother standing shirtless in the wardrobe area.

Li You’s cat body jolted; the meow that nearly escaped swirled in his mouth and was swallowed back down. His pair of crystal-blue eyes stared blankly at his brother.

Li Ye stood sideways in the semi-open wardrobe, the goose-yellow wall lights casting light and shadow on his sharply defined features and superior abs.

From a distance, Li You could better see the changes in his brother over these years, especially his height—he seemed cramped even in the dressing area.

Li Ye was tall, taller than ten years ago. His muscles were distinctly defined yet not bulky. There were faint knife scars on his left arm, a healed bullet wound scar on his abdomen. His nearly sickly pale skin glowed under the goose-yellow lights; on the lower abdomen dipping into his pants waist, bluish veins faintly appeared, rising and falling with his breaths…

Li You stared in a daze, smacking his lips, not knowing why he suddenly looked down at his own front.

Then he saw a fluffy tuft of cat fur.

“…”

He dejectedly lifted his head to continue staring at his brother, thinking to himself that if he were still alive, he would definitely be taller and more imposing than his brother! He might even be able to lift his brother up with one hand!!

The little cat proudly puffed out his chest, then suddenly spotted a strange, totem-like black pattern appearing on Li Ye’s back.

It covered a large area, spreading from the shoulder blades downward, like a tattoo. Those strange patterns combined and slowly twisted and writhed, forming a coiling black python—but not quite; it was impossible to tell what creature it actually was.

The monster crawled across his brother’s back, its two-horned head emerging, a pair of blood-red eyes lazily looking toward the peeking Li You.

Li You got a huge fright and trembled on all fours as he hid in the corner.

Li Ye seemed to sense something and turned back toward the milk area, but the ragdoll cat was gone.

His gaze slowly shifted, finally spotting a big tail in the corner.

Li Ye set down what he was holding and walked toward the cat, crouching down to quietly watch the ragdoll cat trying to squeeze into a narrow gap. After a moment, he reached out, gently stroking the cat’s fur with his fingertip. His voice was calm and low. “It won’t come out. Don’t be afraid.”

Li You, who had been burrowing in, froze instantly and turned to look into his brother’s eyes.

Li You had always thought his brother’s eyes were beautiful since he was little, and he still felt that way.

He was very afraid of his brother—afraid when he discovered his brother was a monster before, and afraid now too—but he always trusted his brother.

The kitty hesitated but mustered his courage and extended a paw toward Li Ye.

Li Ye gently pinched its plump paw pad and slowly lifted the cat, returning to the wardrobe area.

Li You lay on his brother’s body, poking his head out to look at Li Ye’s back—no sign of that monster anymore.

His brother had never hurt anyone; his brother was a good person. He had never scared him back then, nor revealed his non-human nature during those ten years. And now, he wouldn’t scare a little cat either.

Li You’s head flopped softly onto Li Ye’s shoulder as he spaced out, thinking that even if it happened again, he would still choose to save his brother.

But right now, he didn’t know if his brother was truly okay.

The kitty dazed off, and his soft paws unconsciously began kneading on Li Ye’s chest, the pink paw pads rhythmically pressing, leaving faint paw prints with each step.

Li Ye held the cat with one arm, leaning against the wardrobe. With his other hand, he slid across the light brain screen, handling work in between while quietly waiting for the injected drug to take effect.

Moments later, his body began to feel pinprick-like stinging pain rising from inside out, tearing through his organs, every vein, every pore.

He showed no reaction, as this pain was within his tolerance; he didn’t even change his posture holding the cat throughout the process.

But the pain was impossible to ignore. Unwittingly, he felt a soft kneading sensation on his chest. Looking down, he saw the cat on him kneading.

Li Ye: “…”

He quietly watched the ragdoll cat’s blooming paw pads as it kneaded, then set down the light brain and pinched the cat’s ear.

The little cat’s ear twitched sensitively and flattened. He looked up at Li Ye in confusion. “Meow.”

What? Why touch the kitty’s ear?

Li Ye stared into its eyes, then shifted his gaze downward.

Li You followed his brother’s line of sight down and saw his own unruly paws.

Li You: “…………”

He instantly froze motionless, staring blankly at the red kitty paw prints on his brother’s pecs. Heart pounding, embarrassed, at a loss, he fake-licked his “crime paws” twice, meowed casually a few times as if nothing happened, wriggled free, and ran to nest at the foot of his brother’s bed.

So embarrassing, so embarrassing!!!

Li You seemed to lie still, but his face was burning so hot it was about to smoke—good thing his long fur hid it completely.

Li Ye, standing in the wardrobe area, watched the cat for a moment, then withdrew his gaze, finished the last of his work, and headed to the bathroom.

After showering, he stood before the half-length mirror. The two paw prints on his chest were faintly visible.

Not light pressure either.

The cat was still nested at the foot of the bed. Li Ye glanced at it, fetched a cold drink from the island counter, leaned against it gazing at the starry sky outside the window, tossed the empty can into the recycler, and returned to the soft couch.

The room lights went out. In the darkness, only the man’s slow breaths and the kitty’s soft purring could be heard.

Li Ye wasn’t asleep; he merely closed his eyes. After some unknown time, he felt the cat quietly curl up by his arm and settle down, and only then did sleepiness gradually come.

Deep into the night, both the cat and the man had long-overdue dreams.

……

…

“Brother—!!”

The voice drew near. Li Ye’s eyelashes trembled as he turned and caught the pouncing Li You.

Warm person, sky full of petals—he held them all in his arms.

He dazedly lowered his gaze, lightly embracing the little prince in his arms, feeling this false warmth.

“Brother, listen! Father agreed to let you stay!” Li You hugged Li Ye’s neck and spun in circles, then loosened a bit, tilting his head up with his beautiful eyes curved, gazing at Li Ye. “You can stay by my side forever and ever!”

That year, the little prince was ten, the third year they had known each other. Li Ye remembered the scene: just like this, in the Imperial Palace gardens, the elated Li You had pounced on him without restraint, hugging him joyfully for a long time.

At that time, Li You still had lingering baby fat on his cheeks, soft and fair-skinned, with golden hair and blue eyes. Dressed in a little formal suit amid the vast gardens, his smile made the whole world seem to shine golden.

Back then, Li Ye had thought Li You was a well-deserved little prince—the little prince of this world, the most beautiful one, who should forever be free and forever loved.

“Brother, we haven’t played hide-and-seek in a long time.” Li You’s tender white hands grasped Li Ye’s hand, slowly backing away as the flower sea behind him stretched far. The little prince’s body gradually dissolved into scattering petals and flew away.

“Play the game with me.” Li You stood amid countless swirling petals, gradually merging into them, smiling at Li Ye—every word, every phrase piercing Li Ye’s heart with pain.

“Brother, you have to find Youyou…”

“No…” Li Ye watched helplessly as Li You vanished. The hand he held gripped back, but in the end, he only clutched a handful of scattered petals.

Li Ye stood dejectedly in place, looking down at the drifting petals, his voice low like a murmur. “…Don’t go.”

“Li You…”

Li Ye opened his eyes, his pupils turning beast-like vertical slits, dark red monster horns growing from both sides of his forehead.

The dream scene lingered in his mind, his heart continuously stabbing with pain, the thing inside him gradually awakening.

The pre-sleep injection had no effect. Li Ye gritted his molars, took a deep breath to rise, but suddenly felt something heavy on him.

He looked down at his chest, borrowing the faint light from the skylight to see the ragdoll cat sprawled on him.

After a quiet moment, Li Ye raised both hands to pinch its face, mischievously waking the deeply sleeping cat.

“Meow!”

The rudely awakened Li You was furious and irritable, biting Li Ye’s hand before releasing and meowing wildly.

Li Ye quietly watched him, the rising irritability from before slowly dissipating.

He still held the tantrum-throwing ragdoll cat in both hands. After a moment, his hand covered the cat’s head, slowly stroking its fur to soothe its emotions. His gaze turned toward the skylight outside as he recalled the dream from moments ago.

At that moment, Li You, who no longer felt much anger, blinked his sleepy eyes. In his heart, he grumbled, ‘What is this guy doing? In the dream, he wouldn’t let go of my hand, and now he woke me up again.’

Bad guy!!