LI YU WAS DELIGHTED. So there was someone who didn't kiss up to
Master Cat!
If a cat's intellect could be compared to that of a two-year-old, then
this large white cat was a spoiled child. No one had ever denied it anything.
It had always gotten anything and everything it wanted. How dare this
person presume to stand in the cat's way when it had a fish in its mouth!
The white cat spun on the spot a couple of times, deciding it would
demonstrate just who the real master was here. With the fish held firmly in
its jaws, it pounced on the young man's shins.
THWACK!!!
The white cat pounced so hard that, even trapped inside its mouth, Li
Yu could feel its muscles tense up. But its target didn't even flinch.
Yowling, the cat bounced off the young man's firm legs. Li Yu felt its jaws
loosen around him with a rush of elation, and rolled out of its mouth and
onto the floor. Luckily, Master Cat wasn't very far from the ground, so the
impact wasn't too harsh.
The white cat froze. Letting out a "meow," it readied itself to
recapture its prey. Li Yu had only just managed to escape the cat's mouth—
how could he let it snatch him up again? Desperate, he flapped his tail
wildly and leaped into the air…only to leap so far that his tail slapped the
cat right in the mouth with a resounding smack!
Li Yu was speechless. So was the white cat.
No way! All he wanted was to escape! How did he manage to
accidentally slap the cat instead?! If fish could sweat, Li Yu would have
been sweating bullets. As a fish that dared to slap a cat in the face, wasn't
he asking to be eaten immediately?
With its fur standing on end from the sudden slap, the white cat
raised one heavy paw and pressed it down on Li Yu's body. To the little fish, the cat's sharp claws might as well have been made of steel. Li Yu
continued to struggle. Ow, don't press on my head! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
As a fish that dared make such a scene in front of a cat, it was a
wonder he hadn't been swallowed already. Was his illustrious life really
about to come to an end in a cat's mouth? Under the cat's paw, Li Yu's body
hurt all over. He went limp from the pain, but unwilling to accept his fate,
the tip of his tail still trembled.
It was then that he saw a pair of pitch-black, cloud-patterned boots
slowly approaching. When the white cat caught him the second time, the
youth in the luxurious robes noticed the commotion too.
Li Yu wasn't sure if he was imagining things now that his death was
imminent, but he thought the young man had glanced over in his direction,
just briefly.
But how was that possible? Neither Gao-gonggong nor Xiaolinzi
deigned to spare him an extra glance. Just the briefest look at his opulent
robes was enough for Li Yu to see that this youth was someone of status.
Was it really possible someone like that would notice a little fish like him?
Li Yu's reserves of energy were almost depleted, and he could hardly
lift his tail anymore. He laid there quietly, channeling the last of his strength
into just taking breath after difficult breath. Fish couldn't stay out of water
for too long. Nor could they bear being bitten or clawed at by a cat. Poor Li
Yu had managed to check both boxes.
With a swish of his robes, the youth crouched down. Li Yu watched
his handsome face grow larger and larger as it drew closer and closer…
This face was handsome in the extreme, but as cold and beautiful as
icy frost. The hair at his temples was so neatly arranged that it could have
been cut by a knife, and he had eyes like cold stars, skin as pale as jade, red
lips, and snowy white teeth. If Song Yu or Pan An4
were still alive, he
probably could have given them a run for their money.
Li Yu's vocabulary was quite limited when it came to compliments,
so his brain very quickly ran out of words. Back when he was still human,
he had been very confident in his own appearance and thought he was
rather good-looking. Did the heavens know he was close to death and deliberately arrange for him to meet a more beautiful, ethereal man just so
he could die with jealousy in his heart?
Whether you were a fish or a person, being close to death really
brought out your honesty. Okay, fine. It was true, he was a little jealous.
Experiencing the phenomenon known as terminal lucidity, Li Yu's
brain started to spiral into nonsense. Next to his ear, the large white cat
meowed extremely unhappily—and all of a sudden, the pressure on his
body disappeared, and the sharp claws that had held him down so tightly
were gone!
Li Yu couldn't believe his luck. He tried moving his fish body. The
pain was still intense, but…he really could move. What happened? Why
would the white cat let him go for no reason? Li Yu looked up slightly and
saw the cat rising up into the air! The youth in the opulent robes had picked
it up roughly by the scruff of its neck.
Although this was a rather burly cat, it was obviously an expensive
breed, with its pure snow-white fur and eyes like clear blue sapphires. Most
people would at least pity this soft white fluffball and treat it tenderly, even
if they didn't care for the noble consort. But this youth's expression was
indifferent, with absolutely no regard for the cat at all.
Li Yu didn't understand what was happening. But what was most
important here was that there was a sliver of hope for his life as a fish.
Thank the heavens, and thank this beautiful man!!
Having been dragged away from both the fish and the floor by force,
the cat let out a furious, shrill yowl, its claws slashing wildly in the air.
Perhaps this would have been enough to intimidate anyone else—but the
tall young man was unimpressed.
Xiaolinzi, who had belatedly rushed to the scene, immediately fell to
his knees upon witnessing all this. Li Yu couldn't help feeling shocked
through his haze of pain. What was Xiaolinzi doing? There was no way he
was kneeling because he wanted to save an ingredient, right?
Reality soon proved him wrong: Xiaolinzi was kneeling before the
finely dressed youth. Kowtowing, he stumbled over his words. "Prince Jing,
th-this is the noble consort's precious Master Cat, please have mercy…"
Li Yu was stunned. This youth was a prince? Prince Jing?
Hearing "noble consort" or "gonggong" had been one thing, but why
did "Prince Jing" sound so familiar? But the thought only crossed his mind
for a second. Li Yu had more important things to worry about; his fish life
was still in danger.
The extravagantly dressed youth, Prince Jing, scoffed. His dark eyes
swept across Xiaolinzi, but he made no move to release the cat.
The white cat had been yowling vigorously, but it seemed to have
exhausted itself, its cries getting quieter and quieter. Prince Jing, exuding a
commanding air, ignored it. Xiaolinzi remained kneeling on the ground,
more and more sweat collecting on his forehead.
Li Yu was still lying on the ground. He was extremely grateful that
this Prince Jing saved him from the large white feline bully, but could
someone pay attention to him and put him back in the water? He was about
to turn into a dead fish!
What to do… Li Yu wearily curled his tail, but no one could hear his
thoughts.
"Your Highness, Your Highness… Wait for this old servant, I'm
coming!" Another unfamiliar figure came running from the distance,
hollering and yelling. It was an older eunuch. He came to a stop in between
Prince Jing and Xiaolinzi, then took a huge gulp of air. This was Prince
Jing's personal servant, Wang Xi.
"Wang Xi-gonggong, you're here!" Xiaolinzi's eyes brightened,
thinking his savior had arrived. He hurried to bow as he said, "Please,
please help me ask Prince Jing for forgiveness…"
"Forgiveness?" Wang Xi had finally caught his breath. He glanced
carefully at Prince Jing's expression before shooting a fierce glare at
Xiaolinzi. "This cat was the one that jumped at His Highness. Are you
saying His Highness can't punish it?"
Xiaolinzi felt the world spin. He whimpered, "That's the noble
consort's prized Master Cat…"
Wang Xi had already recognized the white cat, but as soon as
Xiaolinzi brought it up, his rage shot through the roof. "It's just a cat! How dare it try to act like a master in front of His Highness!" he spat.
"W-Wang-gonggong…" Xiaolinzi had a sinking feeling he had
misspoken and hurriedly slapped a hand over his mouth. While the noble
consort's cat was essentially half a master compared to servants like him, it
was nothing in front of descendants of the dragon!
Indignant with fury, Wang Xi spat on Xiaolinzi and cursed him out.
Xiaolinzi trembled all over, head lowered, and was even more afraid to
speak than before. After he was done with his tirade, Wang Xi turned back
to look at Prince Jing. The prince's icy eyes moved slightly, and Wang Xi
immediately understood.
Holding his hands up daintily, he turned around and loudly yelled,
"This cat has offended His Highness, and His Highness is disciplining it a
little. Why are you getting so worked up?"
Since the cat in Prince Jing's hand had failed in its attempts to
intimidate him, its temper had more or less subsided. It seemed to realize it
had hit a brick wall and settled on sticking out its pink tongue and mewling
pitifully.
Most people's hearts would've softened at this point. But Prince Jing
was not most people. He waited until the white cat stopped meowing and
demurely lowered its head and then casually tossed it at Xiaolinzi.
Cats didn't fear heights. It soared from Prince Jing's hands and
eagerly threw itself straight into Xiaolinzi's arms. Xiaolinzi barely had any
meat on his bones, and he nearly coughed up blood when the cat collided
with his chest.
Wang Xi coughed lightly. "His Highness is evidently in a good mood
today, as he only reprimanded it a little. You'd better keep an eye on it,
though. Should there be a next time… Hmph, I've lived to this age, and I
have never seen anyone dare to anger His Highness twice."
"This servant understands!" Xiaolinzi kowtowed several times in a
row.
Prince Jing waved a hand carelessly. Wang Xi spat at Xiaolinzi again
and followed behind the prince.
Wait, they were going to leave? Just like that?
Li Yu had waited so eagerly for so long, but this Prince Jing, who had
saved him and even spared him an extra glance, didn't seem to have any
intention of helping him further.
Escaping from the jaws of the cat had already taken everything Li Yu
had. Since no one could understand him, all he could do was muster up the
last of his strength to curl his tail. His fish tail struck the floor lightly. Once,
twice. His plea for help was so weak and pitiful, it was practically
inaudible. It was enough to make anyone lose hope. But each time Li Yu
wanted to give up, he pushed himself to keep going. Perhaps if he
persevered, there would be a miracle.
There wasn't.
He kept swishing his tail until he couldn't lift it anymore. The boots
that had once saved him didn't stop for him again. Li Yu gradually lost
consciousness, his tail falling still. The air settled around him.
Prince Jing was already several meters away when he suddenly
paused and turned around. A hint of confusion flashed across his cold eyes.
"Your Highness, wh-what's wrong?" Wang Xi also looked around,
perplexed. Xiaolinzi had already run off with the white cat. There was no
one else here.
Brow furrowed, Prince Jing made a shushing motion and walked
back, Wang Xi following a few steps behind. The prince's attention was
focused on the ground below his feet—he seemed to be looking for
something. He soon arrived back at the spot where he had stopped before.
Suddenly, he paused and crouched down.
"Your Highness, please don't trouble yourself. What do you need?
Let this servant do it instead!" Wang Xi clamored to stop Prince Jing, but
the prince took no notice. He stubbornly pulled Wang Xi aside and picked
something up from the ground with his own hands…
A palm-sized fish, to be exact. A fish that had been clamped between
the jaws of a cat and was now covered with wounds.
"Your Highness, this…" Wang Xi trailed off uncertainly. Isn't this a
very ordinary carp? Why did Your Highness come back for this fish?
This was the first time he'd ever been unsure he could understand His
Highness.
Prince Jing hesitated for a moment. He reached out and touched the
limp fish tail with his finger. The tail flopped against the floor lightly,
weakly. Prince Jing's expression darkened. But the way he held the fish was
exceedingly gentle.
"Your Highness! Your Highness, please let me!" Wang Xi spread his
arms.
Prince Jing shook his head, holding the fish himself, and headed
straight for the nearest garden. A dazed and uncomfortable Li Yu felt a long-
awaited warmth. He could have sworn it was blankets and a pillow.
Sob sob sob, life as a fish was much too hard. But if he was going to
die and turn back into a human, perhaps all this suffering would be worth it.
Li Yu was already celebrating on the inside when he heard the sound
of the system: ‹Congratulations, user, the first part of the 'Moe Pet System'
main quest, 'Tyrant's Priceless Pet Fish—First Meeting with the Tyrant,'
has been completed.›