Imperial Palace.
Yaoguang Palace.
A palace maid carrying an ice basin walked to the palace gates.
Suddenly, shrill sounds of arguing erupted from within.
"Your Majesty, you held a selection just last year, and now you want to hold another? I fear this inner court will soon be unable to hold any more people!"
"Weige, do not make a scene. I am doing this for the sake of an heir. Do you not know that the ministers' memorials are piling up? The Imperial Astrolabe Bureau has clearly stated that if I do not have a child this year, I shall have no descendants!"
A woman with a plump figure and a stunningly beautiful face stood up abruptly, her flesh trembling with the movement.
Ignoring her own image, she stumbled, taking a few steps toward the Emperor, who was dressed in his dragon robes. Her eyes filled with tears, brimming with resentment. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You once said yourself that for my sake, you would have no more than ten consorts in the inner court, and that you would favor me alone!"
"But now, the inner court is already full with ten consorts, and you still want to hold another selection. I fear that before long, you will only see the new favorites smile, while no one hears the old favorite—me—weeping!"
The Emperor, losing patience, stopped looking at her. "Do you think I want this? Everything is for the sake of the country!"
In a corner, a cage held three white Cat-Spirits.
Cat-Spirits were known for their fertility, producing large litters, and every consort in the inner court wanted to keep one to bring them good fortune.
These few were simply unlucky enough to be caught.
A snow-white kitten poked its head through the gaps in the cage. Its ears twitched twice as it stood still, its blue-and-green eyes curiously observing the surroundings.
"Mother, what is a selection?"
The large cat beside it licked its fur. "It is when the Emperor searches for wives to bear his children. But he is not looking for just one wife; he seeks many, so that he might have a chance at fathering a child."
Bai Wutong could not understand. "Is having children so difficult?"
Their family carried the bloodline of the ancient divine beast, the Nine-Tailed Cat. Although there were very few left and they possessed little magical power, when it came to bearing children, it was extremely simple for them.
Not only was it painless and free of lingering illnesses, but they could even control the gender of their offspring.
Bai Wutong understood humans less and less. Why make such a massive fuss over something so simple?
Its mother looked at it with doting eyes. "You silly child, humans are not like us. Among them, some can bear children, while others cannot for their entire lives. Each birth is like a journey through the gates of hell. The Emperor of Darong State still has no heir; he held a selection just last year, and now he holds another, all to find a woman who can bear his children."
Low sobs echoed.
"Your Majesty, I know your hardships, but I suffer even more! In the past, you only visited my palace, but now you must sleep in the arms of other women. Just thinking about more women surrounding you makes my heart ache!"
The woman touched her belly, her eyes clouded with tears. "If only our child were still here..."
The Emperor's expression instantly turned cold. If Noble Imperial Consort Rong had been able to save that child, he would not have been subjected to such criticism all this time.
Now, after finishing his duties at court every day, he had to busy himself in the inner court trying to produce an heir, and he was exhausted.
He felt no pity, and with a flick of his sleeves, he turned to leave. "If you continue to make a scene, I shall place you under house arrest until the selection ends."
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The tall figure did not hear her, quickly disappearing into the thick night.
A moment later, a palace maid stepped forward cautiously. "Your Highness, just now... just now the Emperor ordered the Yaoguang Palace to be locked until the selection concludes."
Jin Weige’s expression turned hideous. Gone was her previous delicate and charming appearance. Her nails, protected by gold guards, struck the maid’s face as she gritted her teeth. "I am the only consort the Emperor has ever impregnated! Other sluts dreaming of climbing above me can keep dreaming!"
She swept her gaze across the room and saw the three Cat-Spirits huddled in the corner. Her rage flared even higher. "If two base beasts can give birth, why can’t I? Someone, open that cage!"
Several servants rushed forward.
The mother’s expression changed drastically. "This is bad! This woman is going to take her anger out on us!"
"Wutong, run! Your father and I will cover you!"
Beside them, the father bit down on the bamboo cage, straining to bend it. The mother took the chance to push the smallest of them, Bai Wutong, out. "Wutong, run, and don't look back!"
Bai Wutong was frantic, knowing only to charge forward with its head down.
Jin Weige raised her leg and kicked out.
The kitten instinctively swiped back.
The magnificent palace robes tore, revealing the snow-white, fatty flesh beneath.
Its claws were too sharp; a single hook ripped away a chunk of flesh.
Bright red blood spilled out, and the servants fell into chaos.
Bai Wutong took the opportunity to bolt out of the palace hall.
Jin Weige’s willow-leaf brows arched in pain. "A little beast dares to scratch me? Keep none of the three! Hold them down!"
The cage was too small; the two larger Cat-Spirits could not escape and were pinned to the floor by the servants.
Jin Weige walked over, picked up a dagger, and stabbed down viciously.
A jade-green eye was instantly pierced through.
Listening to the piercing, baby-like cries, the anger in Jin Weige’s heart finally subsided a little.
She raised her hand again. This time, she pierced the other blue eye.
Fresh blood flowed into the snow-white fur, the crimson color startling to the eye.
She found amusement in it. "This fur is not bad. It would be a pity to ruin it like this. Since the weather is turning cold, skin it for me and send it to the Imperial Household Department. Have them make me a shawl. Being used by me is the greatest honor for these beasts."
Screams of agony rang out again, shrill and plaintive.
The sharp dagger descended onto the top of the Cat-Spirit's head.
*Puchi!*
The sound of blade entering flesh followed.
A streak of red appeared in the snow-white fur, growing longer and longer.
A moment later, the hide was peeled away completely.
The Cat-Spirit, covered in blood, was not yet fully dead, lying on the ground in constant convulsions.
Bai Wutong hid outside the palace gates, its vision filled with blood-red.
Its father lay on the ground, already skinned and gutted.
Its mother was held down by several servants, a dagger poised to pierce her soft belly.
It wanted to rush in. "Mother!"
"Wutong, run!" Its mother’s eyes were full of tears. "Don't let your father and me die in vain!"
Bai Wutong was heartbroken. Seeing that the servants had noticed it and were rushing toward it, it had no choice but to dodge.
The dagger plunged deep into its mother’s body.
Those jade-green eyes dimmed, her tail went limp, and she breathed her last.
Bai Wutong stared fixedly at Jin Weige, burning her image deep into its memory.
"Damned beast, it dares to look at me like that! Catch it!"
The servants lunged.
Bai Wutong dodged nimbly, diving into the nearby flower bushes and vanishing without a trace.
...
Beyond the palace walls, the forest swayed.
Bai Wutong lay on the ground, its eyes filled with sorrow.
As a descendant of the Nine-Tailed Cat, it possessed little magical power. Only after practicing for countless years could it truly attain enlightenment and take human form.
However, once one achieved spiritual awakening, one could forcefully transform into a human. But in doing so, one would lose the chance to pursue the Tao, becoming an ordinary human forever. Even with the body of a demon, one would no longer be able to cultivate and would likely die prematurely.
It was a high-stakes gamble, but Bai Wutong did not hesitate.
"Father, Mother!" Its body emitted a faint, soft light, and after a long while, the glow completely enveloped it.
After some time, when the light faded, the Cat-Spirit was gone. In its place was a naked young girl.
She looked to be no more than sixteen or seventeen, with a lazy, just-awakened appearance. With bright eyes and white teeth, brows like a new moon, and lips like vermilion, her eyes were filled with unshed tears. A single glance was enough to create ripples in a still pond, stirring pity in any onlooker.
The girl’s skin was like curdled cream, snow-white and smooth. Her slender limbs and slim waist were perfectly proportioned; a fraction more would be superfluous, a fraction less would be dull.
Everything was just right.
The girl stood up, stumbling into the depths of the mountain forest. Looking back at the towering palace, tears streamed down her face. "Mother, Father, I will avenge you..."
"What does it matter if I have lost this chance at cultivation? I will take this human form and make the executioner pay in blood!"