Chapter Twenty-Five: Master, Please Don’t Be Like This

After that, Pei Mu and I played together for a long time. Or rather, it could be said that Pei Mu played with me for a long time.

First, he had me recite melodramatic lines with him from those romantic dramas. With a face full of exasperation, I played along, reciting dialogues, and he declared I was the most ‘fun-loving’ cat. But since when did those sappy dramas become associated with ‘fun’ in that sense?

I put up with everything until he tried to lift my tail to study my behind. That was the final straw—I lost all patience, standing at the edge of the table, meowing in outrage.

“Don’t you have your own butt? Why are you looking at mine!” I clamped my tail down, bared my teeth, and glared at him, thoroughly displeased.

Pei Mu glanced at his own rear, spun around a few times, and then, as if struck by some idea, let out a howl!

The earth-shaking roar was followed by a beam of green light shooting skyward. Before me, he transformed into a gigantic, green beast! His body was covered in blue-green scales, his tail blazed like emerald flames, and his head was dragon-like with two trident-shaped horns. He roared at me.

The gust from his nostrils made my fur stand up as if it had been set with hairspray. I was left speechless, stunned by the sheer force of his breath. While I was in disarray, Pei Mu turned in a circle, trying once more to look at his own rear.

“I can’t see. Why don’t you take a look for me?” he said, flicking his short, flame-like tail to reveal a little green star, his dragonish head turning toward me with a flirtatious wink.

I gulped awkwardly.

“Wanna touch it?” he asked, tapping his hoof impatiently on the floor, eager as ever.

A vein throbbed on my forehead, and I had half a mind to strike him. Someone tell me, what exactly is this creature? A qilin? A mythical beast?!

“Hey? Are you stupid?” The enormous qilin creature blinked its lantern-like eyes at me.

But before I could reply, a gust of black mist howled past—Wangchuan burst in, roaring, “Pei! Mu!!”

“Woof woof woof… Wangchuan.” Pei Mu backed away a few steps, pretending to be frightened.

“Have you turned into a dog?” Wangchuan pulled me away from the qilin, scolding, “You! Go reflect on your behavior behind closed doors!”

“No—” Pei Mu’s anguished howl echoed behind me. “How can you be so heartless, cruel, and unreasonable! My cat, my cat—!”

A qilin beast, using such melodramatic lines, made me burst out laughing.

I thought Wangchuan would be furious, but to my surprise, after carrying me to another of his chambers, he tossed me onto his bed!

The dark bedding, embroidered with golden patterns, set off the silvery-white kitten in a scene both eerie and lavish. Dizzy from bouncing on his soft bed, I barely managed to sit up, only to gasp in shock!

“Master, what are you doing?!”

In a flash, I darted under the covers! The man before me had dropped his coat without a hint of modesty, revealing a well-built torso and two enormous wings dark as obsidian.

Even under the covers, I couldn’t ignore the allure of his beautiful form. I knew it was wrong to peek, but my body and eyes refused to obey, so I snuck a glance.

The image from just moments before still lingered in my mind, a scene so suggestive it was impossible not to dwell on.

“Impatient, are you?” Wangchuan raised his head, a teasing smile playing at his brows as he slipped into a more relaxed robe.

I immediately leapt off his bed, standing awkwardly on the covers and looking elsewhere.

A faint, amused smile flashed in his jet-black eyes as he propped himself up on the bed, baring two sharp fangs, his gaze level with mine.

“Hey, hey, hey—”

Even I couldn’t tell what sound I made. My body went rigid, my front paws raised instinctively as I stood up straight.

Then, my body stiffened further, my hind paws slipping and sending me tumbling onto Wangchuan’s pillow with a thud—legs splayed, playing dead.

A faint scent drifted to my nose—the bedding and pillow carried a masculine aroma, but with a wild, animalistic undertone. It made my fur stand on end, as though I’d stumbled into a beast’s lair.

When I was still human, facing that fierce dog gave me the same feeling. Now, with Wangchuan, it was even stronger.

“Come here.” Wangchuan beckoned.

Stiffly, I rolled to my feet and took a few awkward steps, left foot, right foot, until I stood before him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to let Pei Mu be your new master?”

I held my breath, not daring to answer, just shaking my head furiously.

“Following him, you’d never worry about food or drink, no need to fight for souls or take risks. All you’d have to do is act in those melodramatic plays—what’s not to like?”

He sounded entirely casual, but I kept shaking my head. “I don’t care about any of that, I just want to be human again.”

“My little cat,” Wangchuan stroked me, “you’ve always been anxious to return to human form. Is it only for your sister?”

I lowered my head, thinking for a moment. “Mostly, yes. But now I’m a bit lost.”

“Tell me more—” Wangchuan lounged sideways on the bed, propping his head elegantly, waiting for my explanation.

“I…” I smacked my lips, “My sister’s time is running out, and I don’t know if I can become human again before she’s gone.”

He chuckled, reaching out to tilt my chin. “Is that all?”

“Yes,” I drooped my ears, dodging his hand, thoroughly unhappy.

I wasn’t in the mood for this. I knew that if he kept touching me, I’d end up losing control and rubbing against him on his bed again.

But Wangchuan was insistent. He turned my head and gripped my slender neck.

“No one can refuse me.”

I craned my neck, at a loss for words, watching as he slowly lifted my tail.

“Did you know, all little cats retain human senses and touch? Here—” His hand slid lower, touching the most forbidden spot.

“Ah!” I yelped, nearly leaping away. “Master, you—”

“Yes, I want to.” His wicked smile stopped me from even finishing the question. Before I could protest, he pinned all four of my paws beneath me.

“I—I—I—” My mouth twitched as I looked up at his handsome, looming face, utterly bewildered.

Why did things always take such a sudden turn? Why did he always look like he was about to… have his way with me?

But I was a cat! And he was human—surely this was a joke?

Yet Wangchuan wasn’t joking in the slightest. He held my upper paws with one hand, lifted my tail with the other, gripping the tip.

“Mmm—” Tails are sensitive, and being held like this hurt a little.

Then, I felt his fingers searching near the base of my tail, as though looking for something.

My mind buzzed. What did I do wrong? Did I anger my master?

Just a moment ago I was a proper soul-suppressing cat, then I was tormented for hours by that lunatic qilin, and now I was pinned down here… molested…

I couldn’t help but squirm, my waist twisting at the unfamiliar sensation, my head tossing in confusion.

“Never experienced this?” Wangchuan’s hand glided over me again, making me shudder. He smiled, clearly satisfied. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“It’s not!” I gritted my teeth, barely holding back a moan.

He tugged my tail, stroking it back and forth beneath me. My claws extended, trembling as I begged for mercy.

“Master, I was wrong, I—I—please don’t…”

“No touching?” Wangchuan laughed, amused, using my own tail to tease me.

“I never said you couldn’t…” I replied, aggrieved.

“Then why not let Pei Mu?” Wangchuan seemed very interested, propping his chin on his hand as he continued to play with my tail.

Squirming, I finally muttered, “Because he’s not my master…”

Wangchuan seemed delighted, clicking his tongue before lowering his head and kissing my neck.

I could feel every strand of fur on my neck stand on end!

My master actually kissed my neck!

“I like obedient cats. So, do you want to continue? Or—” He deliberately drew out the word, his eyes and brow tinged with a flirtatious gleam, as if seducing me.

“I…” I was embarrassed, unable to decide.

I didn’t want to hide my true feelings; being held and stroked by my beautiful master felt wonderful. My heart raced, my face burned.

But my conscience screamed at me: I was a beast, my master a man. Such things were forbidden!

Yet before I could voice my refusal or consent, a piercing howl came from outside the window!

It was as if a hundred people blew trumpets at once, deafening! Then it drew closer, becoming a drawn-out “Roar—!”

Having just heard the qilin Pei Mu’s call earlier, I instinctively covered my ears!

Wangchuan reacted swiftly, snatching up his pure black velvet quilt and covering me in a flash!

A loud crash—glass shattered everywhere! Pei Mu’s voice, shrill yet domineering, rang out:

“Wangchuan! You villain! Give me back my cat!”

Struggling out from beneath the covers, I poked out my cat head for a look.

What a sight! Wangchuan, in his hurry to cover me, must not have seen Pei Mu crash through the window, landing right at the foot of the bed.

Now Wangchuan was dusted head to toe with sparkling shards of glass, his face contorted with barely-suppressed rage.

I was nearly cracking up, but out of respect for my master, I held it in.

He was holding back a laugh, I was holding back anger, and together we stared at the crazed qilin who, at some point, had dressed up as a Peking opera warrior.

“Dun-dun-dun—” Pei Mu supplied his own musical cues, the red pompom atop his head bobbing as he circled with his staff, gazing at me with deep affection.

“Little white cat! Can’t you hear my heart beating for you? You’ve bewitched my soul! Yet you left me, so now I shall punish this cruel, callous villain—!”