Chapter 25: The Cat’s Revelation

Prior to this conversation, Ouyang Xiu had believed his extensive research had given him a thorough understanding of Lian Yueying, yet he found himself utterly flustered.

He had never encountered a woman who would discuss such a topic with a man.

For Lian Yueying, however, fabricating such a tale served a dual purpose.

On one hand, it deftly explained away her pale complexion.

On the other, since Ouyang Xiu held no enmity towards her, this method allowed her to keep him at a respectful distance without resorting to an awkward confrontation, truly killing two birds with one stone.

Lian Yueying slurped a mouthful of noodles, then lifted her gaze to Ouyang Xiu, seeing his speechless expression, she immediately knew her ploy had succeeded.

A long moment passed before Ouyang Xiu recovered, murmuring, “I understand,” just before he picked up his chopsticks.

Lian Yueying, confused by his words, pondered their meaning, but then he spoke again.

“So, this is how Junior Sister truly sees me.”

‘How she sees him? In what way? What did I say that implied such a thing?’

At this, Lian Yueying could no longer remain silent.

Stirring her noodle soup, she feigned nonchalance and asked, “Senior Brother must have misunderstood.

I didn’t offer any opinion on Senior Brother just now.”

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xiu glanced left and right, then whispered, “I once accidentally overheard my sisters at home discussing such matters.

My eldest sister said that a woman’s monthly cycle is a delicate topic, but it’s fine if those close to you hear about it.

I thought, perhaps Junior Sister feels a sense of closeness towards me?”

Lian Yueying felt her mind go blank, momentarily speechless.

Ouyang Xiu was being utterly cringe-worthy, yet she knew she had initiated the cringe, leaving her to suffer in silence.

“Senior Brother… you truly have misunderstood.

I believe that as cultivators seeking immortality, we have long since shed worldly conventions.

Such natural physiological processes need not be avoided like mortals do, which is why I spoke of it.”

Ouyang Xiu’s eyes widened at her explanation, and he promptly stood up, cupping his hands in a bow.

“Ah, it was my misunderstanding.

Junior Sister, please don’t take offense.”

Ouyang Xiu’s voice had risen, drawing curious glances from those around them.

Lian Yueying quickly gestured for him to sit down, a swirl of conflicting feelings churning within her.

‘Truly cringe-worthy! And I am even more cringe-worthy!’

Lian Yueying wished to drop the subject entirely.

Seeing Ouyang Xiu still deep in thought after sitting down, she changed the topic.

“Senior Brother, you often come here.

Do the ingredients in this roasted meat noodle dish have any special effects?”

“No special effects, Junior Sister.

You shouldn’t believe what’s written on the sign.

It’s just that all the ingredients used are extraordinary, so eating them won’t produce impurities, and they satisfy one’s cravings.”

‘Ouyang Xiu… he’s quite honest, an interesting person.’

Lian Yueying couldn’t find another topic, and seeing Ouyang Xiu still somewhat quiet, she simply buried her face in her noodles.

‘It truly is delicious.’

The noodles, vegetables, and meat were, of course, excellent.

Lian Yueying drank every last drop of the soup.

Setting down her bowl, she noticed Ouyang Xiu had long finished and was waiting.

“Is there anything else, Senior Brother?”

“Ah, about the sparring… since Junior Sister is… unwell, let’s postpone it for another day.”

Perhaps Ouyang Xiu was distracted, speaking without realizing it, but Lian Yueying nodded.

This time, she did not refuse, and after leaving the dining hall, they went their separate ways.

‘Sparring, huh… Today, I managed to kill Wang Zhi mostly through traps.

If it comes down to a direct confrontation, how strong am I now that I’ve made such a significant leap?

Ouyang Xiu seems quite earnest, and his strength is among the top-ranked Qi Condensation disciples.

Sparring with him should help me improve.’

Pondering these thoughts, Lian Yueying leaped down the mountain path, but as she neared her courtyard, she felt the spiritual talisman at her door react.

Upon closer inspection, she realized two people had indeed entered.

The living quarters of inner disciples were not as secure as the cave dwellings of Foundation Establishment cultivators; without protective formations, they relied solely on sect rules to deter intruders.

Yet, Zhou Yan’s actions had practically shown Lian Yueying that sect rules could be meaningless at times, compelling her to be vigilant.

Although Lian Yueying didn’t consider that small courtyard her true home, it was nonetheless her sanctuary, and she absolutely would not tolerate others trampling upon it.

Stepping over the threshold and into the room, Lian Yueying picked up the spiritual talisman affixed to the wall, carefully sensing it.

Confirming there was only one sign of intrusion, she then walked towards the bedroom.

Tables, chairs, teapot, teacups, the spirit gathering array…

Lian Yueying meticulously compared everything to her memory.

Aside from the Tabby Cat’s sleeping spot being different, everything inside the room was exactly as she had left it.

Puzzled, she returned to the living room, finding no changes there either, which made her even more perplexed.

‘They trespassed into my house, yet touched nothing.

What was the purpose of those two?’

Despite nothing being stolen, Lian Yueying’s mood remained sour.

“Kitty, do you know who did it?”

Lian Yueying bent down, cradling the Tabby Cat by her armpits and lifting her up.

She watched as the cat yawned, her golden eyes seeming to hold a hint of human emotion.

‘No, I can’t attribute human emotions to an animal’s feelings.’

As Lian Yueying thought this, she suddenly heard a clear, feminine voice say, “That’s very rude of you.

Put me down.”

In the empty room, there was only one person and one cat.

Lian Yueying instantly grew alert, scanning her surroundings but seeing no one.

Her gaze then returned to the Tabby Cat.

“If you don’t put me down, I’ll bite you.”

Although the Tabby Cat hadn’t opened her mouth, it could only have been her speaking.

Startled, Lian Yueying flinched and quickly released her grip, allowing the Tabby Cat to land gracefully.

“Are you a demon?”

Lian Yueying had a rough understanding of the concept of ‘demons’ from books, and she immediately felt less at ease than before.

‘Strange, I didn’t sense any cultivation from her before.’

Lian Yueying grew wary, recalling countless nights of cultivation with this cat by her side, and a wave of trepidation washed over her.

The Tabby Cat looked up at Lian Yueying’s cautious expression, then turned and leaped onto a chair, settling down.

Immediately, a faint, pure white glow emanated from her, and the Tabby Cat transformed into a young woman.

Seeing that she merely sat there, making no further moves, Lian Yueying lit the oil lamp, trimming the wick to make the flame brighter, and placed it on the table to illuminate both of them.

The young woman’s soft, beautiful hair was tawny brown, unadorned yet not disheveled.

Instead, it was simply tied back with a white ribbon, falling naturally to her waist and outlining the perfect curve of her back.

On her exquisite, charming face, her delicate nose was petite, her cherry lips alluring, and her skin was undeniably fair and tender.

Most striking were her golden eyes, which for a fleeting moment after the lamp was lit, transformed into vertical slits before gradually returning to normal as they adjusted.

‘They look like human eyes now, quite normal and sparkling.’

Her gaze shifted downwards.

A red ribbon was tied around her snow-white neck, its bell-adorned ends resting between her exquisite collarbones.

Further down, a flowing, high-waisted *ruqun* (TL Note: A traditional Chinese dress, typically with a top and a skirt) enveloped her graceful figure.

Over her light purple short top was a layer of sheer gauze, and from its craftsmanship, the short top and gauze appeared to be a single, connected garment.

Finally, as the young woman shifted her posture, a corner of her exquisitely embroidered shoes became visible.

‘She moved…’

Lian Yueying looked back at the young woman’s charming face, seeing her tilt her head, propping it on the table, watching her with a half-smile.

After meeting her gaze, the young woman spoke with a hint of expectation.

“Do I look good?”

“Your *qunzi* (TL Note: A skirt or dress, referring to the lower part of her attire) is very beautiful.

I thought clothes transformed by a demon would be the same color as their fur.”

At this, the young woman’s delicate brows furrowed in displeasure, and she rolled her eyes.

“This outfit is one I bought!

And you keep saying ‘demon, demon’ this and that.

Can you please stop comparing me to those beasts?”

‘Fowl, beasts, marine creatures, or rather, any non-human transforming into human form should all be considered demons.

However, she is indeed different.’

It was clear that the young woman bore no features of her true form; externally, she was entirely human.

Normally, demons transforming into human form would retain some previous characteristics, such as cat ears and tails, snake scales and tongues, or bird ear feathers.

‘By denying she is a demon like this, does she lack a sense of belonging to her true form?’

Seeing Lian Yueying’s utterly bewildered expression, the young woman seemed a little helpless.

She then rose and approached Lian Yueying, which made Lian Yueying wary.

“You…”

“What’s wrong?

I won’t harm you.

After all these nights we’ve spent together, don’t you trust me?”

‘If I had known you weren’t an ordinary cat, I probably wouldn’t have let you come and go as you pleased.’

Thinking this, Lian Yueying indeed didn’t resist.

She watched the young woman draw closer until their foreheads touched, even feeling each other’s breath.

This lasted for a few breaths before they separated.

“How was it?”

The young woman’s face was slightly flushed, but this action left Lian Yueying utterly confused.

“How was what?”

“When cats touch foreheads, it means they’re about to fight.

But I don’t think that way at all.”

Seeing Lian Yueying still didn’t quite understand, the young woman could only sit back down and ask, “You must have read the *Daoist Records Compendium: Non-Human Chapter*, right?”

Prompted by the reminder, Lian Yueying recalled the book she had read, finally understanding the young woman’s meaning.

The *Daoist Records Compendium* recorded: All things possess sentience, with humans as the most sentient, cultivating the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within themselves to ascend to immortality.

Once non-human beings gain intelligence, those who cultivate a beastly form become beasts; those who cultivate demonic arts become demons ;

those who transform into human form and cultivate Daoist arts become spirits, and can also be called humans.

In fact, demons can also transform into human form, the difference being that they retain their primal instincts, feel more comfortable in their true form, and can unleash their full strength.

Conversely, those who transform into spirits and cultivate Daoist arts are just like human cultivators; their status depends solely on their cultivation and the depth of their Daoist arts.

Their true form is no different from ordinary animals, and they are not bound by primal instincts, with their own bloodline being virtually non-existent.

‘When I first read it, I merely memorized it.

Now, it seems, from the perspective of cultivation, they are indeed no different from humans, except…’

It was true that the *Daoist Records Compendium* was written by humans, but it didn’t exaggerate their own superiority.

As the most sentient of all beings, humans, from those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots down to those with Waste Spiritual Roots, possess all five elements, albeit with different weightings.

Non-human creatures, however, depending on their species, have deficiencies in their five elements, making the difficulty of cultivating Daoist arts on par with someone with a Waste Spiritual Root.

Relevant knowledge continued to surface in her mind, truly understood only after experiencing it firsthand.

Thus, Lian Yueying looked anew at the young woman.

“I understand.

Then… my name is Lian Yueying, Fellow Daoist.”

“My name is Li Niang, ‘Li’ as in ‘dawn’.”

The young woman stood up, cupped her hands in a bow, then revealed a charming smile.

“We’re so familiar with each other, there’s no need to be so serious.

Relax a little.”

‘Is she trying to get close, or is she being genuine?

Perhaps for her, it truly is so… She has hidden her cultivation for so long, meeting me in the form of a cat.

Does she have some ulterior motive?’

If it were the former, Lian Yueying would certainly become vigilant.

Unable to ascertain her true intentions now, she could only respond, “Li Niang is a very lovely name.”

“Then I’ll call you A Ying!”

Saying this, Li Niang moved closer, but saw Lian Yueying smiling as she subtly retreated a step.

Li Niang’s beautiful eyes twinkled as she chuckled, “What’s wrong?

You’re not very good at hiding your expressions.

We’re so familiar, why are you still so wary of me?”

“If we’re talking about truly meeting, this should be the first time.”

“What do you mean!

You’ve touched every inch of me for so many days, yet you’re still talking so formally!”

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