Chapter 81: Entitled to Know What Has Happened

Wangchuan smiled faintly. “It doesn’t hurt anymore?”

“Life needs a little spice!”

“But I’m a fierce beast.”

“Fierce beasts are great, fierce beasts are powerful!”

With a laugh, Wangchuan pulled me into his arms. He said little, yet gave me everything he ought to. I let out a long sigh of relief, thinking happiness had almost slipped through my fingers!

Days slipped by much as they had before—quiet, uneventful, save for our after-meal exercise. The occasional feeding incident, though, made things rather amusing. Being with Wangchuan felt like playing a game. Even being teased by him brought me an odd happiness.

Sometimes, as I watched him sleeping beside me, I couldn’t help but feel—he was my man.

Still, a question lingered: why had he chosen me? In the rift, there were so many kittens—elegant, lively, sultry, charming, all types imaginable. When they transformed, they were all human too.

Why had Wangchuan passed them all by, only to pick me up and bring me home? He spoiled me, but not as though I were something precious—more like he was taming a pet. Yet sometimes, I’d sense, almost against my will, that he truly liked me, loved me, that there was real feeling between us!

The confusion gnawed at me, leaving my thoughts in disarray. During that time, I even visited Xiaoyun less often, until one day Wangchuan told me he had some business to attend to, and might be gone for several days.

I hated to see him go.

He dressed formally that day, all in black embroidered with gold thread, much more stately than his usual attire, with wide cuffs. The sleeve patterns were intricate, the collar stood just a little higher, making him appear even more tall and robust. There was a touch of the ancient in that robe, stately and elegant, but with the belt drawn tight, he looked every bit the handsome, heroic prince.

I practically drooled, barely able to restrain my swooning. For the first time, I told myself it was perfectly natural to be smitten with one’s master.

And for the first time, when Wangchuan left, I smiled stubbornly and said, “Goodbye, Master.”

...

But when he was truly gone, I turned and buried myself in the covers, sobbing. I didn’t understand my own feelings—this sense of falling in love was so tangled.

But… should I?

Wangchuan locked me up again before he left, saying one of the kittens would bring me food, but I refused! If I let someone else feed me, I’d really be nothing but a cat! I could just about accept being Wangchuan’s cat, but letting another do it? Absolutely not!

So, I made him leave several large buckets of milk by the bed, enough for a few days!

I didn’t resist when he locked me up. In truth, I was puzzled—why did he always lock me away?

My guess was that he feared I’d run away if he didn’t?

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Maybe he cared for me, and being such a large cat, he was especially insecure, afraid I’d slip away once I was his?

It sounded a little absurd—someone as powerful as Wangchuan, afraid of losing something?

But that theory lasted only until noon the next day.

This time, the chain Wangchuan left me was long enough. After I’d finished my milk, I’d curl up by the window and bask in the sun. I could wear clothes now, but I still preferred lounging in Wangchuan’s oversized garments: loose, and scented with him, which made me feel safe.

It was almost pathetic—how I longed for his return. When would these days end!

Lost in self-pity, I didn’t even notice when a bird fluttered in from somewhere.

Though this was a rift-space, Xiaoyun had said Wangchuan didn’t care about much, but Pei Mu did. They’d known each other for ages, along with another person Xiaoyun hadn’t named.

Between them, they’d smuggled in almost every kind of grass seed, creature, and spirit from the heavens, demon realm, human world—even little animals, bugs, birds, turtles, frogs, bats—everything, really. Except for the likes of elephants, rhinos, and hippos, Pei Mu and his friend had brought in nearly everything that could exist.

So when a bird landed in front of a cat, well, the outcome was predictable. I launched myself with all my might!

With Wangchuan away, catching a bird to play with was a treat!

But just as I reached out, stretching for the balcony, I suddenly slammed into an invisible membrane with a painful thud!

“Hiss—!” I clutched my throbbing fingers, nearly in tears. What was blocking me?!

I reached out—there seemed to be an invisible glass wall over the window!

Had Wangchuan placed a barrier outside?!

Why?

Was locking me up not enough—did he have to set a barrier too?

Fear crept in, my heart pounding, a sense that something terrible was about to happen!

Had Wangchuan set a barrier every time he left, locking me up like this? Was it not to prevent me from running, but to keep me safe?

I tapped the glass-like surface, testing it, and wondered if it was dangerous.

After a few minutes, I poured a bowl of milk and set it on the balcony, then hid inside to wait.

There were fat mice in the rift. Lots of cats, but they were all actually people, who didn’t eat mice—and some were even afraid of them. So the few mice that were there acted boldly.

I crouched under the bed watching, eyes wide, until night fell and the stars sparkled outside, insects began to sing, and finally a fat mouse, drawn by the scent, scurried up.

It barely hesitated before racing in!

Thud—it hit the same invisible barrier!

The next moment left me speechless.

The mouse burst into flames!

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As if struck by lightning, it was incinerated on the spot, its remains crumbling to ash like burnt aluminum, scattering in a pile.

Alarms blared in my mind. I suddenly understood—Xiaoyun had said something was off in the rift lately, all the kittens on high alert!

Had it all started the day I was locked up?

The more I thought, the more terrified I became. I huddled beneath the bed, shaking uncontrollably, finally blocking the space with blankets, leaving only a small hole.

I didn’t know where this sense of danger came from—maybe just because Wangchuan wasn’t here!

And life in the rift had taught me—anything was possible!

Thankfully, Wangchuan had said he’d only be gone three days, and by the time I realized all this, it was already the second night.

I didn’t sleep at all that night, and only at dawn did I see Wangchuan, dressed in black, appear at the door!

He wore a faint smile, bent slightly, reaching out as though to hug me.

Without thinking, I leapt into his arms! I didn’t cry—but I did tremble in fear!

Wangchuan noticed the blanket fort I’d built on the floor, pinched my cheek and smirked mockingly.

“What, missed me so much you hid under the bed?”

“No!” I shook my head. “Why is there a barrier outside?”

He laughed, setting down what he’d brought home. “You actually know about barriers.”

“Of course I do!” I said grandly, hands on my hips. “I’ll have you know, I’m your bed pet now, aren’t I? I have the right to know why I’m being chained up!”

“Yes, yes.” Wangchuan chuckled. “Greetings, bed pet.”

I froze, frowning and protesting, “That’s not the point!”

But he simply pulled me close. “You just need to stay here. No matter what happens outside, don’t worry. Trust me.”

Gentle… Was he being gentle?

Could this guy actually be gentle?

I stared at him in astonishment—was this really Wangchuan? This pervert?

Suddenly, he flicked my forehead. “What, a little kindness and you’re dazed? Do you need your master to spank you?”

“No, no, no—” I shook my head, biting my lip. “But could you at least give me a little hint about what’s going on?”

My feline curiosity had grown overwhelming. When I was human, it was nothing much, but after becoming a cat, I could always excuse it as “I’m a cat.” But now, half-human, half-cat, I realized my curiosity had become insatiable!

If Wangchuan didn’t tell me what was happening, I’d go mad with anxiety!

Wangchuan pinched my cheek again, then changed into something more comfortable. Only then did he turn back, as if ready to explain.

I immediately perked up, paws at attention, pretending to be the most obedient creature in the world, and settled quietly on his knee to listen.