NOVEL NEXT Chapter Six: The Cat Version of “I Came First”
Dinner was pretty bland.
“By the way, I think I heard some noise at the door just now.”
While munching on fish, Young Master Sang asked, “Did someone come by?”
“…No.”
Zhang Xiaoying quietly replied, “It was just the cat knocking over a potted plant.”
“Oh.”
Young Master Sang didn’t press further and continued his fish feast.
“But, I’m a foolish servant.”
She seemed to want to shift the topic: “What does the master want these cats for?”
“One ragdoll isn’t enough. I need you to go to the market and buy me a well-trained one…”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Young Master Sang hastily shoveled a few bites of rice before urgently getting dressed: “Is everything you were told to prepare ready?”
“Ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Before leaving, he made sure to finish the fish soup in his bowl, smacking his lips in satisfaction.
“Tonight, we’re giving Yan Rouwan a big surprise.”
——
——
Midnight.
But honestly, the time didn’t mean much to Yan Rouwan anymore.
Ever since being locked in this prison, her sense of time had become very vague.
The dim light from the oil lamps surrounded her, and the only way she could make out the time of day was through the few iron bars on the walls.
Today, the light seemed even worse.
In the past, a sliver of moonlight would occasionally sneak in through the gaps. But today, it was just an overwhelming darkness.
The darker it got, the more Yan Rouwan thought of her beloved cat suffering in Young Master Sang’s hands, her heart growing heavier with despair.
“Jiao Jiao…” she murmured gloomily.
Just then, a faint rustling sound broke the silence.
Though soft, in a quiet prison, it was quite pronounced.
Yan Rouwan immediately became alert.
“W-What is that?”
The rustling grew louder and more distinct.
In the darkness, something scraped across the ground.
Yan Rouwan instinctively recoiled, anxiously swallowing.
But she couldn’t see; the dark floor held no light.
She could only vaguely sense something lurking in the shadows.
Slowly creeping closer.
“Hey… hey! Is anyone there?”
The more anxious she became, the more frantic the rustling sounded.
But no one responded.
As the sound reached her feet, Yan Rouwan’s heart felt like it was in her throat.
Holding her breath and focusing, she tried to discern what it was in the dark.
But the next moment,
A slick, cold sensation brushed against her ankle.
“Ah!!!”
Yan Rouwan desperately kicked her foot, trying to shake off whatever it was, but it felt like kicking a rope—no power at all.
Then the clouds outside seemed to part a bit, letting a dim moonlight trickle in.
Finally, Yan Rouwan caught a glimpse of the thing.
All the goosebumps and hairs on her body stood on end.
…It was a snake.
She couldn’t make out its exact shape.
At that moment, it coiled up, crawling darkly and twisted. Its thin tongue flicked out under the moonlight.
“Ahhh!!! No!!!”
She screamed with all her might.
Yan Rouwan was really scared of snakes.
Even outside this situation, she had no defense against these cold, slippery creatures.
If she saw one, she would be paralyzed in fear.
And right now, she was bound, unable to use any power or escape.
She could only watch in horror as that smooth, twisted thing crawled closer, inch by inch.
Yan Rouwan felt like she was about to pass out.
Then, at that moment.
A sharp, clear voice called out from the window.
“Meow!”
Yan Rouwan didn’t even have time to turn around when a shadow leaped swiftly through the window.
Like a battle god, it stood protectively in front of Yan Rouwan.
The moonlight brightened just a bit more.
Only then did Yan Rouwan see the figure that had appeared before her like a celestial being.
It was a black cat.
Completely jet black, with only its eyes shining like clear amber.
Not as pretty or pure as Jiao Jiao, and even looking a bit scrawny with some messy fur.
But at that moment, it stood before her.
Bringing an indescribable sense of safety.
At the sight of the black cat, the snake seemed to retreat a bit, sizing it up defensively.
The black cat, unfazed, arched its back, tensed its limbs, and kept emitting a rumbling sound from its throat.
A standoff between cat and snake.
Finally, the snake couldn’t hold back and lunged first.
But the black cat was quick, slapping its paw precisely onto the snake’s head.
With just one hit, the snake slithered away, retreating into the shadows.
When the horrific rustling faded into the distance, Yan Rouwan finally felt herself relax almost as if she’d just melted.
And as her tense nerves eased,
The flood of sadness washed over her.
“Thank you, little one…”
In the dark, curled up with red-rimmed eyes, Yan Rouwan choked out her words.
The black cat seemed very perceptive.
It turned to look at the weeping girl, gently hopped to her side, and softly meowed.
Then, like a comforting gesture,
It stretched out its tongue and gently licked her hand.
At that moment, all her accumulated grievances and pain poured out in tears.
She curled up with the cat, sobbing uncontrollably.
——
——
“Little one, are you also homeless like me?”
“That’s it… by the looks of you, so thin and messy, you must be a stray from around here.”
“Young Master Sang, that bad person, talked about how the Demon Cultists have recently grown keen on rearing raccoon slaves. You’re probably just a pitiful creature someone abandoned.”
With what little moonlight there was, Yan Rouwan leaned against the wall, repeatedly petting the little black cat in her arms.
Her eyes softened as she talked to the little kitty:
“How sad… just like me.”
“If we both manage to survive until the day we get out, would you like to come home with me?”
“Did you know? I also have a cute little cat at home just like you. Her name is Jiao Jiao.”
As she mentioned Jiao Jiao, Yan Rouwan’s expression dimmed again.
The black cat seemed to notice her mood and tipped its little head, meowing softly.
Then it nudged her chest gently with its small head.
The little creature’s comforting gesture made Yan Rouwan chuckle through her tears, her face slightly reddening as she scratched its head:
“Stop it~ that’s ticklish.”
“By the way, Jiao Jiao has a terrible temper.”
She began narrating like she was telling a story to the black cat: “She’s a little jealous pot. If she smells another cat or dog on me, she’ll throw a fit and ignore me for the whole day.”
“It’s even caused me to avoid petting stray cats and dogs when I pass by the market.”
“But I think you’ll be just fine.”
Yan Rouwan held the little black cat like a treasure, raising it above her head, her eyes bright and sparkling as she said:
“You’re my heroic little cat. Jiao Jiao will definitely like you.”
The black cat meowed, its tail waving gently in the air.
“I haven’t named you yet…”
“Ah, right.” After a moment of hesitation, Yan Rouwan’s eyes lit up again, “You’re so black and handsome, like a little hero, so I’ll call you Hei Xia.”
“He Xia~ come here for a kiss~ mwah~”
In that cold prison.
One person and one cat snuggled up together, sharing warmth.
Yan Rouwan seemed to pour all her felt loss and tenderness for Jiao Jiao onto Hei Xia.
This was, at that moment, the happiest she felt since being captured.
——
——
Meanwhile, outside, Zhang Xiaoying was still somewhat puzzled after putting away the snake into a barrel.
“Master… I’m foolish.”
“What kind of interrogation is this? Can it really make Yan Rouwan willingly join the Demon Cult?”
Young Master Sang remained unhurried, smiling as he said, “Don’t worry. Haste makes waste.”
“The likes of Yan Rouwan, raised in a sect since childhood, have been taught loyalty to the righteous path and disdain for the demon one.”
“Their views are deeply ingrained, resistant to change. Even using torture wouldn’t have much effect.”
“To break through their defenses, brute force and coercion will be useless.”
“First, one must find a soft spot in their solid armor.”
Seeing Zhang Xiaoying still looking confused, Young Master Sang further explained:
“No matter how hard a mouth is, it’ll be soft when kissed.”
“Don’t be fooled by Yan Rouwan’s tough demeanor during interrogation; beneath it all, she’s just a young girl.”
“While she’ll be on high alert against us, she’ll eventually lower her guard against softer things, revealing her innocent side.”
“And once that crack appears… it’s a flaw.”
Zhang Xiaoying still didn’t fully understand.
But she didn’t need to.
She only knew that her master always had a way to make the fairies yield before him.
Young Master Sang couldn’t explain it all clearly either.
After all, this method came from the system.
He was merely picking the one that seemed the most entertaining from a few suggestions.
“Just wait. Tonight is just the beginning.”
With a confident grin, Young Master Sang declared: “If I want to make a woman like that drop her guard, I need something even bigger.”
Saying this, he chuckled.
As he laughed,
He gently patted the ragdoll cat in his arms.
At that moment, Jiao Jiao seemed indifferent to the fact that Young Master Sang was tormenting her.
Her blue eyes remained fixed on the prison.
That gaze seemed puzzled.
Or perhaps it expressed resentment.
Or maybe disappointment.
She just watched her master, who was smiling and looking happy.
…while petting another cat.