Chapter 6: Lan Li, the Cat Demon

Liu Junlin opened his eyes to see a road stretching into infinity. Yet as he took his first step, the scene changed: on either side bloomed the red flowers of the Other Shore, swaying in the wind, dazzling and decadent.

It is said that on the Road to the Yellow Springs, when one sees the blossoms of the Other Shore, memories of the most beautiful moments in life return. At this moment, Liu Junlin’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he recalled his first visit to the Temple of Illusions. Yan Liu pulled him along by the hand, complaining incessantly about his shortcomings, a troubled expression on her face, yet her grip was firm and unwavering, never letting go for the entire journey...

Liu Junlin walked slowly along the path, fragments of memory flickering in his mind before gradually fading away. His vacant gaze was halted by Granny Meng. “Sir, drink a bowl of Meng Po’s soup to sever the ties of your former life. All that was will no longer concern you.”

Liu Junlin replied softly, “Very well.”

He took the bowl of clear soup and drank it in one gulp. The corners of his eyes reddened, yet already he began to forget the cause of his sorrow.

Granny Meng smiled. “Sir, cross that bridge and be reborn.”

Liu Junlin nodded, silent tears streaming down his face as he walked toward the far side of the bridge, gradually vanishing from Granny Meng’s sight.

“Granny Meng greets the Lord of Ghosts. What brings Your Excellency to visit this old woman?” she addressed the empty air before her.

The Lord of Ghosts cast her a sidelong glance, no longer bothering to conceal himself. “You meddlesome old woman.”

Granny Meng chuckled, covering her mouth. “Don’t judge by appearances. Every few centuries, I must also wander the mortal world.”

The Lord of Ghosts snorted. “You’d do better to mind your own business!”

With that, he turned and departed.

Granny Meng clenched her teeth in annoyance. Who was he calling old? Everyone in the Five Realms knows the Lord of Ghosts is the oldest—he’s infamous for his shamelessness!

The Lord of Ghosts, however, was in no hurry to return to the Palace of Asura. First, he had to collect the wager promised by the old man. To him, mortal affairs were as if experienced by another; he retained the memories, but the events meant little. What mattered most now was the wine brewed by that old man!

Thinking of this, the Lord of Ghosts quickened his pace, and in the blink of an eye arrived at the Pavilion of Longing, the domain of the Old Man of the Moon. The faint aroma of wine wafted through the air as he slipped silently into the courtyard. Near the window, on a table of dark wood, stood a jug of wine. He reached for it, but suddenly a black paw pressed firmly against his hand.

He couldn’t help but laugh. The black cat stared at him in disbelief, intending to display its sharp, proud claws—only to find upon waking that they were gone. The cat whimpered, recalling the cause: he had promised Little Moon that if he drank the wine, he must have his claws trimmed. He had thought Little Moon was joking, but now, it seemed...

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The paw pressed against his hand felt soft and pleasant. Amused, the Lord of Ghosts lifted the black cat and began to play with it. Before he could fully enjoy himself, the cat transformed into human form, pinning the Lord of Ghosts beneath him.

The Old Man of the Moon entered and was greeted by this scene. “What are you two doing?” he asked, puzzled.

Seeing the Old Man, the black cat hurried over, his voice hoarse and low, as if unused to speaking. “He, wine.”

Just two words, but the Old Man understood: Lan Li must have thought the Lord of Ghosts came to steal the wine—a suspicion not far from the truth. Smiling, he patted Lan Li’s head.

The Old Man drew Lan Li over and sat with him before the Lord of Ghosts. As the Lord of Ghosts reached for the wine cup, he was stopped again. Lan Li hugged the jug tightly. “Wine, mine.”

The Lord of Ghosts laughed softly. “When did you start keeping cats instead of dogs, old man?”

The Old Man replied calmly, “The cat was injured and happened to take shelter here.”

The Lord of Ghosts said, “You are truly fortunate. This is a rare nine-tailed spirit cat. Many have offered fortunes for him, but you found him without ever leaving your door. I truly admire you!”

The Old Man was surprised and glanced quietly at Lan Li, who gazed at them in confusion, unable to follow the conversation. After a moment, Lan Li put down the wine jug and hugged the Old Man tightly, declaring with resolve, “Moon, mine.”

The Lord of Ghosts’ lips curled upward as he took the wine jug. “Indeed, he is yours, but the wine is mine.”

In human form, Lan Li was much taller than the Old Man. From the Lord of Ghosts’ perspective, it seemed the Old Man was enveloped in Lan Li’s embrace. The Old Man’s face was flushed, yet Lan Li held him even tighter, repeating, “Moon, mine.”

The Lord of Ghosts was thoroughly entertained. “Old man, you are truly blessed!”

His words carried a deeper meaning. The Old Man rolled his eyes helplessly and pulled Lan Li’s arms away. “How did you find mortal life?”

The Lord of Ghosts lowered his gaze and sipped his wine. “It’s nothing more than the affairs of ordinary men.”

The Old Man sighed inwardly. “You came for the wine? Take all those buried beneath the peach tree. If you wish for more, send word.”

The Lord of Ghosts shook his head gently. “I prefer to fetch it myself—makes life more interesting.”

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With those words, the Lord of Ghosts vanished in a blink.

Lan Li stubbornly hugged the Old Man again. “Moon, mine.”

The Old Man glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then returned the embrace. “Yes, yes, I am yours.”

Lan Li smiled with satisfaction, eyes squinting in pure, childlike delight, as if he’d received a precious treasure.

Palace of Asura.

The Lord of Ghosts carried several jugs of wine back to his bedchamber, disturbing no one. Removing the lids, he inhaled the intoxicating aroma. Ah, the old man’s brew was truly extraordinary!

He drank slowly, savoring each cup. The chamber was peaceful, but with fine wine for company, it was much more pleasant than the usual tedium.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before he was awakened by commotion outside his bedchamber.

A red-haired woman shouted, “Get out of my way! What right do you have to stop me? Move aside!”

The black slave replied uneasily, “Princess, the master is out on business—he’s truly not in the palace. Perhaps you’d like to wait? When the master returns, we will inform you at once.”

The woman snorted coldly. “Don’t try to fool me. That old ghost sees me and disappears who knows where. I don’t care whether he’s here or not—if you know what’s good for you, let me through!”

She stepped forward, and the black slave hurried to block her. “Princess, the master’s orders are clear: while he is away, no one is allowed inside!”

Without ceremony, the woman produced a long red whip. “Black slave, move aside for me!”

Hearing this, the Lord of Ghosts sobered up. That voice—wasn’t it the second princess of the Demon Realm, the woman who had endlessly entangled herself with him? No, he had to leave at once!