Chapter Eight: A Gathering of Cats and Dogs

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s acting reached its peak; he lied with open eyes, tears welling up pitifully, utterly shameless, a stark contrast to his innocent, adorable appearance.

Ling Qiqi, drenched in filth, was angry but refrained from dealing further with the mischievous child. She had realized that the more attention she gave him, the more energized he became.

Cheng Xiaoxiao had spewed a torrent of nonsense, some of which warranted scrutiny. Ling Qiqi quietly sifted through the information, the sense of discord she’d previously ignored surging stronger within her. The source of her unease was Senior Brother Ling Xiaozi’s inexplicably shifting attitude.

For reasons unknown, the first time Ling Qiqi met Ling Xiaozi, she sensed an indescribable summons, as if fate intended for them to be together.

This feeling had been repeatedly validated—from the moment Senior Brother chose her at a glance, to his meticulous care in daily interactions, to his life-risking protection during the Demon Lord’s attack.

Everything seemed to proclaim that her intuition was indeed the mandate of destiny.

But ever since Ling Xiaozi was injured and moved to Kongming Peak, Ling Qiqi’s intuition had been repeatedly disrupted by various unexpected events, as if a smoothly sailing ship had suddenly encountered an undercurrent, spinning off course and heading toward an utterly unknown path.

Faced with such change, Ling Qiqi instinctively sensed danger. She wanted desperately to steer the wayward ship back on track, but increasingly felt powerless.

Cheng Xiaoxiao, mid-performance, was left hanging as Ling Qiqi fell silent, so he shifted his focus to Cheng Yu, who was merely spectating: “After surviving this ordeal, I’ve come to realize many things. The most important is to find a like-minded Dao companion early, lest I die unnamed and unclaimed on the streets one day. What do you think, Brother Cheng Yu?”

Cheng Yu replied with disdain, “What’s it got to do with me? You’re just a kid, always thinking about marriage and the heavens. Do your parents know?” Seeing that the heroine paid little heed to their conversation, his courage returned somewhat.

Cheng Xiaoxiao poked Cheng Yu’s chest with a finger, feigning shyness: “Brother Cheng Yu, you’re so slow. Surely you understand my feelings after all this? From the moment I first saw you, I felt we were kindred spirits.”

Little brother, your antics are a bit much! Cheng Yu felt utterly defeated, convinced he had transmigrated into an incomprehensible world.

The two uncles, carrying their idol airs all the way, pushed open the room door only to witness this confession scene, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward.

Ming Shuang and Yun Ting, having already been wary of Cheng Xiaoxiao after the events on Kongming Peak, now saw him professing to another ordinary boy, and felt his behavior even more suspicious.

None of the youngsters inside had expected visitors. Cheng Xiaoxiao reacted quickly, greeting them, his gaze flitting meaningfully between Ming Shuang and Ling Qiqi, smiling suggestively.

Ling Qiqi, however, had sobered considerably. Realizing that profound, inscrutable matters like “ships veering off course” were unfolding around her, she suppressed her ambiguous feelings for Ling Xiaozi and formally greeted the two at the door.

Thus, apart from the comatose patient, four of the five people in the room were acquainted, leaving only Cheng Yu, clueless as ever, who awkwardly imitated Ling Qiqi’s polite gesture.

One had to admit, as the original author, Cheng Yu felt complicated at the chance to meet his own characters up close. Though Ling Qiqi was the main heroine, she was still an ordinary, pretty girl in her youth. If not for the infamous brick incident, perhaps Cheng Yu wouldn’t be so intimidated by her.

As for the two men before him, they were entirely different. Their faces were striking, their bearing extraordinary, and their unrestrained spiritual pressure made it hard for him to breathe.

Cheng Yu could only blame himself for writing Ling Xiaozi with such high cultivation. As for the beautiful cannon-fodder uncle, he was meant to be a handsome candidate for the heroine’s harem, but Cheng Yu forgot about him midway and ended up killing him off at the finale. He’d felt a bit guilty, but seeing how handsome he was now, his cultivation must be formidable; even if he’s doomed, he’s a standout among cannon-fodder, far better than a mere passerby like Cheng Yu.

“No need for formalities. Uncle Kongming and I are here by order of the sect leader…” Ming Shuang waved his hand, hesitating. “To find the old man’s rival in love. I hear you’ve been fighting for the sect leader’s beloved?”

All eyes turned to the only girl in the room. Ling Qiqi, suddenly labeled as the sect leader’s sweetheart, felt immense pressure.

Cheng Xiaoxiao, thrilled by the news, clapped his hands, his small tiger teeth showing as he grinned: “Wow! Who’d have thought this sister is so powerful. Couldn’t win over Senior Ling Xiaozi, but now she’s latched onto an even greater figure. I’m truly impressed.”

“Qiqi has only been here a month and has barely met the sect leader. Please, Senior Brother, see clearly,” Ling Qiqi felt her head splitting, her temples throbbing, and after a deep breath, suppressed her anger to answer Ling Xiaozi’s question.

“If so, then perhaps I made a mistake. Please forgive me, Junior Sister.” Ming Shuang surmised he must’ve misheard the secret message, prepared to apologize and leave.

The young uncle, however, walked straight to the bedside, eyeing the bandaged patient: “Who is this, and what caused his injury?”

Ling Qiqi was speechless; she couldn’t very well admit she’d been playing with a brick and accidentally cracked someone’s skull. Cheng Yu, not wanting to offend the heroine, remained quiet as a mouse.

Some kept silent, others spoke. The little demon king was always ready to stir trouble.

“Qiqi lost the contest and tried to murder me with a brick, but this brave senior blocked the blow for me. Now he’s unconscious, and I’m truly grateful and ashamed,” Cheng Xiaoxiao’s performance was flawless, tears flowing, lines delivered perfectly, even using Cheng Yu’s sleeve to wipe his nose.

Go join the children’s version of the Best Actor contest! Cheng Yu yanked back his snot-stained sleeve, unwilling to deal with Cheng Xiaoxiao’s drama.

“You clearly pushed him in front of me; don’t spread lies in front of the seniors,” With Uncle Kongming now questioning them, Ling Qiqi refused to be maligned further and retorted decisively.

The pair with repetitive names argued, and Ming Shuang turned to the silent Cheng Yu: “Were you present when this happened, little brother?”

“I… I know nothing, please don’t ask me.” Cheng Yu desperately wanted to remain a passerby, unwilling to get tangled in the protagonists’ disputes, even though he’d been among the onlookers.

Ling Qiqi was displeased; she suspected Cheng Yu was in league with Cheng Xiaoxiao—not only sharing a room and conspiring to escape, but now colluding in silence.

Cheng Yu’s neutrality actually disadvantaged Ling Qiqi, making Cheng Xiaoxiao quite happy. He even tossed Cheng Yu a flirtatious glance, though it was met with no response.

“Senior Brother Ling Xiaozi, you mustn’t trust him! He’s close to Cheng Xiaoxiao and will only assist in wrongdoing,” Ling Qiqi protested angrily.

Ming Shuang, not adept at handling such matters, looked to the young uncle for help, only to see the graceful gentleman approach the injured man’s wound. Previously, Ming Shuang had failed to play dead when first meeting his uncle, ending up with a broken belly; now ‘Broken Head’ was about to suffer the same fate. History repeats itself in astonishing ways.

Uncle declared righteously, “If a feigned corpse won’t wake, it’s because the pain isn’t enough.”

With these words, Yun Ting mercilessly slapped the patient’s head, eliciting a wailing cry. Ming Shuang covered his face, unable to bear watching his uncle’s brutality.

The man was not seriously hurt and, after regaining consciousness, had been listening to the quarrel, feeling that waking was not necessarily a good thing, and so had become adept at playing dead.

Unfortunately, he was exposed on the spot, and, disregarding the pain, scrambled off the bed and knelt before Kongming, flustered: “I meant no deceit, Senior Kongming. I was simply terrified and resorted to this.”

“In broad daylight, what makes you so fearful?” Ming Shuang helped the bleeding man up and asked. Yun Ting remained indifferent, wiping his hands on Ming Shuang’s sleeve.

‘Broken Head’ glanced furtively at Ling Qiqi and Cheng Xiaoxiao, pale-faced: “I am truly afraid of these two juniors.”

Since he feared both, it must have been Cheng Xiaoxiao who pushed him, causing him to be knocked out by Ling Qiqi’s brick. Their fault was equal, though the one who pushed had the worse intent.

Ling Qiqi lowered her head and apologized, and Cheng Xiaoxiao hesitated a moment but then bowed in admission as well.

Yun Ting tossed a bottle of medicine to ‘Broken Head,’ and Ming Shuang, figuring the aloof uncle wouldn’t comfort the pitiful youth, took it upon himself to say, “I’ll report this matter to the sect leader. Focus on healing, and don’t let anyone bully you again.”

The patient, deeply grateful, agreed, watching Kongming and Ling Xiaozi depart, thinking Senior Brother Ling Xiaozi truly gentle and amiable, while Senior Kongming, though cold, was well-intentioned. His admiration for both deepened.

Oblivious to their new admirer, the two were discussing how to report to the sect leader, as the whole matter had nothing to do with any rival in love, and they didn’t know the leader’s true intent. Going directly might expose Ming Shuang’s current memory loss and confusion.

“In summary, let’s keep it simple. Ignore the rival in love, and just tell the sect leader what we know,” the young uncle advised.

Ming Shuang, the diligent student, asked, “What if he asks why I didn’t reply with a secret message?”

“Just say you missed him, and wanted to deliver it in person,” the young uncle lied with ease.

Ming Shuang, embarrassed at the thought of acting coy with his stern master, sighed, “Ah, it’s awkward, but let’s do it.”