NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: The Classic Choice
After fishing for two days.
Early in the morning, Sang Zhe was awoken by the system’s voice.
[Yan Rouwan: Little Black Cat’s affinity is at 95%.]
…It’s already 95%.
Women really do love cute things; they see one and fall for it.
Sang Zhe yawned as he got up, quickly washed his face, and casually grabbed a few steamed buns made by Zhang Xiaoying before heading out.
“Master, you’re up so early today?”
“Mm.” With a bun in his mouth, Sang Zhe mumbled, “There’s progress with Yan Rouwan.”
“Let’s impress her with something big today.”
Zhang Xiaoying didn’t say much else.
She was washing dishes, and after drying her hands, she quietly adjusted Sang Zhe’s appearance.
“Master, I heard things haven’t been peaceful outside lately; be careful on your way to and from work.”
“If there’s anything…” She hesitated for a moment and softly murmured, “I can come pick you up.”
She looked just like a worried wife seeing her husband off.
Sang Zhe thought for a moment and shook his head.
“Forget it.”
“With my pitiful life, the fairy gate probably wouldn’t want me.”
“Even if I were unlucky enough to be attacked, bringing you along would just give one more life to waste.”
“You’d better stay home and look after the place.”
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoying’s pretty face flashed a look of panic, and she nervously said:
“No way, what if something happens to you, Master?!”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Sang Zhe was puzzled: “Aren’t you free now? You can do whatever you want.”
“No… I will accompany you to death.”
Zhang Xiaoying declared firmly.
Even Sang Zhe didn’t expect her to be so serious.
So, he gently patted Zhang Xiaoying’s head and reassured her, “Alright. Just teasing.”
“I’ll take care of myself. You need to protect yourself too.”
“I only have you as a maid. If something happens to you, I would feel heartbroken.”
…Master cares about me?
Zhang Xiaoying was taken aback.
Moments later, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head in silence.
“Okay, be good and take care of the house.”
Sang Zhe picked up the cat cage with Jiao Jiao in it and walked out the door.
Zhang Xiaoying stayed in place for a moment.
Her beautiful eyes slowly drooped, seemingly struggling.
After a moment, she slowly shook her head.
“…No.”
“I’m worried about you, Master.”
After saying this, her figure gracefully vanished from the doorway.
——
——
“Heixia~ Mew Mew~”
Inside the prison, Yan Rouwan was kneeling on the ground, gently scratching the chin of Little Black Cat.
Cats seemed to enjoy being teased like this.
Little Black Cat didn’t resist at all, rolling over to expose its belly, relaxing in Yan Rouwan’s arms while she scratched its chin.
It even closed its eyes comfortably, purring away.
“Hehe.”
Yan Rouwan looked at Little Black Cat, her eyes filled with affection.
These days, Little Black Cat had almost become her emotional support.
In this dark prison where day and night blurred together.
Without the company of this agile and adorable little life, Yan Rouwan wondered if she would have gone insane first.
At first, she wasn’t so fond of this somewhat dirty little cat.
Her heart still lingered on Jiao Jiao, who was trapped in Sang Zhe’s hands.
But under the pressure of mental strain these past few days, Yan Rouwan gradually began to avoid thinking about Jiao Jiao.
Thinking about Jiao Jiao suffering and humiliated in the clutches of villains while she was powerless.
Yan Rouwan could only feel drained, caught in an increasingly painful vicious cycle.
Then the arrival of Little Black Cat.
It seemed to fill a gap perfectly.
It’s not as pretty as Jiao Jiao.
But much gentler than Jiao Jiao and very clingy.
And it doesn’t get jealous unnecessarily.
It felt like a vermilion mark that landed between her brows after the white moonlight left her.
Whenever she was with Little Black Cat, Yan Rouwan could subconsciously forget the sorrow of losing Jiao Jiao.
“Heixia… You are all I have left.”
She held the black cat in her arms, her beautiful eyes tinged with sadness as she softly said, “Please don’t leave me.”
The black cat obediently meowed.
Just then, the prison door creaked open.
Yan Rouwan knew she couldn’t let Sang Zhe find out about Little Black Cat.
As soon as the noise started, she hurriedly tossed the cat to the window and whispered urgently:
“Quickly, don’t let that demon find you!”
When Sang Zhe lit the oil lamp and arrived at the prison door,
Yan Rouwan, as usual, coldly stared at him with an unwavering expression.
“Fairy Yan, will you speak today?”
“I spit.” She spat at Sang Zhe viciously, “Release Jiao Jiao, and I’ll have the Sect Leader and Senior Brothers give you a quick end.”
“Then there’s nothing I can do.”
Sang Zhe helplessly sat at the table.
Then, the two of them began a silent stare-down, staring at each other with no words.
Yan Rouwan actually found it strange.
These past few days, Sang Zhe not only didn’t use Jiao Jiao to threaten her.
He didn’t even mention torturing her.
Every day he came in, he just sat at the table.
And did nothing at all.
It was as if he was wasting time waiting for his shift to end.
Of course, this was a good thing for Yan Rouwan.
But she couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling in her heart.
Could there be some more terrible scheme hiding behind such tranquility?
Suddenly, as usual, Sang Zhe, who had been napping with his head on the table, suddenly asked:
“Fairy Yan, have you heard any cat meowing nearby these past few days?”
Yan Rouwan instantly tensed up.
Could it be he discovered Little Black Cat’s existence?
“No.”
She decisively replied, “These past few days, I haven’t seen a single living person besides you.”
“Oh.”
Sang Zhe replied lazily then rested his head back on the table.
“Sigh, I guess I must have imagined it after playing with your little cat these days.”
“Why do I keep hearing cat meows in my ears?”
“By the way, I must say, Fairy Yan’s cat… is very refreshing.”
He suddenly grinned wickedly, looking very pleased:
“That meow is both soft and loud; it truly makes one unable to resist… tsk tsk tsk.”
“I should record a segment for Fairy Yan so you can hear how your beloved cat sweetly indulges under my hand.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Rouwan’s eyes turned red.
She bit her lip hard, blood seeping out, filled with deep resentment:
“Sang! Zhe!”
“One day, I will kill you! Tear you to pieces!”
Sang Zhe smiled indifferently, laying back on the table.
But the brief silence was soon broken.
Suddenly, outside the prison window, a commotion erupted.
Among it mixed the sharp cries of a cat.
“…Where did this stray cat come from? Don’t let it run around, catch it…”
Yan Rouwan nearly tensed up immediately, straining to listen to the noise outside.
But the more she listened, the paler and more uneasy her expression became.
…Oh no.
Little Heixia, Little Heixia…
It wouldn’t have fallen into that demon’s hands too, would it…?
“Fairy Yan.” A flippant voice interrupted her thoughts.
Sang Zhe smiled at her, softly saying, “Looks like Fairy Yan’s mind is somewhere else.”
“What’s the matter? Any worries?”
Yan Rouwan forced herself to calm down, feigning tranquility as she said, “I was thinking about how to torture you after capturing you.”
“Is that so?”
Sang Zhe’s face still held that smirk of amused indifference.
That expression made Yan Rouwan feel increasingly unsettled.
It seemed like every time this demon thought of some bad idea, he smiled at her like this.
Moments later, a loud commotion broke out outside, and a demon cultivator entered with a black cat by the scruff of its neck.
“Sang Ge, the thing you wanted has arrived.”
The moment Yan Rouwan saw the black cat, her heart nearly stopped.
“Little Heixia!” She cried out involuntarily.
“Thanks for your hard work.”
Sang Zhe took the black cat from the demon cultivator’s hands, satisfied as he held it in his embrace.
“Fairy Yan… do you happen to recognize this little wild thing?”
Yan Rouwan’s eyes turned red as she stared at the little black cat, her face showing a trace of despair.
“How could it be… even Little Heixia has fallen into your hands…”
“Haha, Fairy Yan finally reacted, huh?”
Sang Zhe laughed while petting the fiercely struggling Little Black Cat, softly saying: “Did you really think I was unaware of what you’ve been doing in the prison?”
“You honestly thought… I didn’t know you had other cats outside?”
Yan Rouwan’s heart trembled.
“Let it go… it’s innocent.”
“It’s not innocent.” Sang Zhe shook his head.
“This little wild thing, it’s said to have injured its original owner’s child and nearly got turned into soup.”
“In the end, it was for its life that it escaped and became a stray cat.”
“Let’s just say, this little guy has quite a temper and can be stubborn.”
He continued patting the black cat’s little head, a clear smile on his face:
“Just like Fairy Yan.”
Yan Rouwan bit her lip hard, remaining silent.
“But you see, I’m not that cruel.”
“It’s a shame to stew such a cute cat into soup.”
“How about this, let’s play a game, Fairy Yan.”
Sang Zhe gently walked over to Yan Rouwan’s side, coaxing her with sweet words: “Aren’t you lonely all alone in this cold, dull prison?”
“After all, I’m not a devil. I can show mercy and return a cat for company.”
Yan Rouwan still watched him warily.
She naturally knew that this vicious demon couldn’t possibly suddenly have a good heart.
There must be some kind of trick waiting for her.
Sure enough, the next moment, Sang Zhe continued:
“However… as a trade.”
“The other one won’t be so lucky.”
Sang Zhe chuckled lightly, saying: “If Fairy Yan chooses Jiao Jiao.”
“Then I will return this little wild thing to its original owner. Whether they turn it into soup or not, I wouldn’t know.”
“If Fairy Yan chooses this little black cat…”
“Then Jiao Jiao will appear tomorrow in the most bustling tavern in town, becoming the tavern’s signature cat.”
“Just come in for a drink, and you can pet a cat for free——sounds pretty tempting, right?”
Yan Rouwan’s face grew paler and paler.
“Fairy Yan, what will you do?”
“How to choose… it all depends on you.” Sang Zhe grinned mischievously.