Chapter Thirteen: The Black Cat’s Passionate, Dramatic Confession and Departure

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The beginning has ended, and now, the first world of cultivating immortality begins. Sample of casual conversation between friends.

Qi’s face lit up with joy as he said, “Have you forgotten everything that happened before? In Qidian Village, we found the Qidian, and discovered a way for you to return to your world. At the same time, I also found clues about my own origins. That urgent flight just now was the final trial, you know.”

“Is that so? Why can’t I remember anything? But since you know about my world, I suppose it must be true. So, what’s the method for me to return?” The black cat was a little puzzled, but she trusted Qi. Even before their relationship became so close, Qi had confided his most important secret to her—although she had actually found out about it first. Still, it spoke volumes about his character, so she never doubted a word he said. She was successfully distracted by Qi’s words and happily inquired about the way home.

“Yes,” Qi replied with a smile, summoning the Qidian again to confirm his words. “But time is short. I have to use the Qidian to go to another world immediately, so before that, I’ll send you back to yours. Once I’ve finished my business, I’ll come and visit you in your world. Don’t find me too much of a bother then, all right?”

The black cat nodded in understanding, then suddenly lowered her head, a little shy, and let out a strange, humming giggle. Qi was already used to this.

“As we’re about to part, I wish to commemorate your courageous deeds along this journey. I have a gift for you, and I hope to formally sign a demon contract with you. What do you say?” Blushing, the black cat drew a piece of clothing from her bosom.

She had woven it herself from cloth she’d bought earlier, having secretly measured Qi’s size while riding on his back.

Qi was slightly taken aback. This was the first time he had ever received such a gift, and his heart felt warm. “I really like this. It’s the first time someone’s given me clothing, and you made it with your own hands. I’m very happy. But what do you mean by a demon contract?”

The black cat’s cheeks reddened even more, but she bravely met Qi’s eyes and said, “The demon contract means… It’s a contract to become boyfriend and girlfriend. In our world, a boyfriend and girlfriend are more than friends, not quite fiancés, but it’s like a private vow for life. Will you… sign a demon contract with me?”

Qi was stunned again. What did that mean—a private vow for life? Memories of the time they’d spent together flashed through his mind. Their relationship was close; he had not shied away from her affectionate gestures, and he was truly fond of her cuteness, strength, intelligence, and her forgiving gentleness. Wasn’t it true that he liked her? If so, there was no reason to hesitate.

Qi’s silence was mistaken by the black cat for indecision. Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I may not know how to fight, but I’d learn for your sake. I’m good at cooking and weaving too. I could cook for you every day. Are you thinking of that beautiful princess, your betrothed?”

Qi shook his head. “I only met her once. We’re not even familiar, let alone in love.”

“Then do you hate me? Do you not want to be with me?”

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“I don’t hate you.”

“So, even you would hesitate when it comes to feelings? But that’s all right. I like this innocence in you, too.” The black cat smiled a little, hands clasped in a prayerful gesture, her bright eyes gazing into Qi’s. “Remember, I’ll only say this once. I like you. My love for you surpasses all longing in this world; from ancient times to now, this feeling will never be defeated by anyone. Even if my soul were to scatter and vanish into dust, in the next life, my heart would remain unchanged.”

Qi listened to her confession with a gentle smile. “Yes, I am willing. Qi and the black cat shall make this pact, and from now on, we are boyfriend and girlfriend. I like you very much, black cat. We haven’t known each other long, but you’ve captured my heart. In this life and the next, for eternity, I will always love you. So, once I’ve handled everything on my side, I’ll come find you in your world. Wait for me, all right? (If I am still alive, that is.)” Qi softly stroked the black cat’s silky hair. In the next life, I’ll find you for certain.

A beautiful smile blossomed on the black cat’s face. “All right, then I’ll wait for you in my world.”

Qi smiled and reached out his left hand, holding the Qidian.

“My dear, let me say this one last time: I love your heroic bearing when you descended from the sky to save me from the brown bear. I love your care in picking herbs for me. I love how you never gave up, carrying me on your back as we fled. I love your honesty when your secret was discovered, and I love how you sheltered me from the wind and rain while flying through the sky. And everything else, everything—you’re the one I like the most.” The black cat gazed into Qi’s eyes, speaking gently.

With that, she leapt into Qi’s arms, her hands still clasped around his neck, her cheeks crimson as she whispered in his ear, “This is my first kiss, my dear. Remember your little girlfriend’s real name: I am—Ruri Gokou.” As her words fell, a flash of light shone from the Qidian between them, and the black cat returned to her own world.

Qi sighed softly, hoping she would be happy. Hope is always better than despair. Looking up, he saw a black dot on the horizon, which in the blink of an eye was overhead—a beast shaped like a flying arrow. One of its two pairs of wings, which Qi had wounded earlier, had stopped bleeding.

With a hissing cry like a serpent, the beast—its triangular eyes full of fury—glared at Qi. After circling a few times, it shot toward him like an arrow.

Qi knew he had expended too much energy during his earlier flight and had recovered less than a third of his strength. He had to end this quickly; there was an even more terrifying presence behind this beast. He suspected it was the advance guard sent by his enemy—if he didn’t finish quickly, he would certainly die.

He slapped his storage pouch, summoning a shield and sword. Gripping the sword in his right hand and bracing the shield, he drew on his full strength, even at the cost of tearing his arm muscles, unleashing five times his normal power and thrusting at the beast.

Bang! Crack! The shield shattered almost instantly. Crack, crack, crack—the second layer, a flying sword, splintered to pieces. The third layer, his own muscles and bones, was as hard as steel. Yet his right arm, too, was breaking, and as the beast pierced his muscle and bone, he released his internal force to buffer the impact—a self-destructive move.

It worked brilliantly. The beast’s speed dropped sharply. Its arrow-shaped head pierced through Qi’s right arm and lodged in his chest, finally exhausting its strength.

“Got—you—now—” Qi’s face twisted into a fearsome grin. With his left hand, he seized the struggling beast. As its wings beat and its tail spewed fire, spinning wildly in a full circle, the immense force made blood spurt from Qi’s wounds.

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Yet Qi showed not the slightest intention of letting go. His left hand subtly transformed, slipping between the scales on his body and turning into spikes, stabbing deep into the beast’s flesh with terrifying force. The beast shrieked, the sound emanating from within Qi himself, sending violent tremors through his muscles, bones, and mind.

Any ordinary cultivator—even one at the Foundation Establishment stage—would have died from the concussion. But under Qi’s perfect control, his head stabilized at once. The flesh on his right shoulder writhed and began to burrow into the beast’s body as well. The beast’s cries grew even more piercing as Qi’s bone spikes drove straight toward its brain. The arrow-shaped head was the beast’s hardest point; breaking through the surface was impossible, he’d have to do it from the inside.

Originally, Qi had wanted to pierce the beast’s brain in a single blow, but then he thought of something, summoned the Qidian, and sealed the now feebly struggling beast inside.

—Mutant Arrow Roc Serpent, possessing faint bloodlines of Kunpeng, Ming Serpent, and Jiuying. As it retains a will to resist, it cannot be exchanged for energy points.—

“Huh? So if it has the will to resist, it can’t be absorbed?” Qi pulled the beast from his body and struck its head a few times, knocking it unconscious, then sealed it in the Qidian again.

—Severely injured and unconscious Arrow Roc Serpent: can be exchanged for 1,500 energy points.—

“Hmm, who would have thought this so-called Arrow Roc Serpent would be worth so much... in energy. If I also exchanged the green bag with the little cat and the egg inside, could I reach twelve thousand energy points?” Qi’s eyes flashed as he considered what might be his only chance for survival.

The next moment, a terrifying pressure surged from the distant horizon, nearly forcing Qi to his knees. He hadn’t even set foot on the path of cultivation; the fact he could barely withstand the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was already impressive. He had no thought of fighting at all. Qi threw everything on his body, including the Arrow Roc Serpent, the green pouch, even every ounce of internal force he had, and even stuffed his clothes and trousers into the Qidian.

—Current energy points: 12,000—displayed the Qidian, as if aware of the urgency. It didn’t bother to list the items, only the neat total, as though someone had arranged it intentionally.

Qi had no time to ponder; the black dot on the horizon was approaching fast. “Travel to the black cat’s world!” he shouted inwardly, and in the next instant, he vanished from this world.

“This is impossible! A mere mortal killed my nephew, destroyed my spirit beast, and then vanished before my very eyes—it’s the ultimate humiliation! I, Si Poxiao, will find you and tear you to pieces!” The black dot transformed into a rainbow streak, which landed where Qi had disappeared, revealing a middle-aged man beside himself with rage and humiliation.