"Zhu, why are you buying so many peach-wood Xuan papers?"
"I have a big use for them." Peach-wood is used for drawing talismans, which should allow Yaojiu to successfully enter an object and use it as a body.
It was a last resort; otherwise, she would have to consume a massive amount of spiritual power to forcibly transfer Yaojiu's spirit.
There were some complications due to the restrictions of the laws.
In the Mortal Realm, one's spiritual power was suppressed all over, making things very restricted. If not for this suppression, things would be much easier, and Yaojiu could directly enter an object, whether dead or alive.
Yet Yaojiu had been running for his life, which proved he was terrified—terrified of the Hidden Realm.
What on earth had Yaojiu done to be hunted down by the entire might of the Hidden Realm, despite being the ninth greatest beast, to the point of causing a ruckus in the Mortal Realm where peace was valued above all?
Logically speaking, ranked beasts should receive offerings and adulation from the Hidden Realm. Humans were accustomed to turning power to their own use; for a Nine-Tailed Spirit-Absorbing Cat to be reduced to being hunted was exceedingly rare.
Yanzhu had successfully taken him in, but who could say whether taking him in was right or wrong? And who was qualified to judge right or wrong?
Yet his combat prowess was indeed highly sought after.
Yanzhu: Once my physical condition recovers a bit, I'll have to start doing some divination.
Gaoshu rubbed his nose. Although Yanzhu did things strangely, she always had a reason.
Yanzhu had been mysterious and witty since childhood, bringing a sense of happiness to everything she did.
Yanzhu felt these papers should be enough for her to play with for now.
Yanzhu stopped in front of a doll shop, pushed the door open, and walked in, with Gaoshu following closely behind.
A dazzling array of cloth dolls was neatly arranged.
Looking at the dizzying array of dolls, Yaojiu was ecstatic in his heart and began picking one out in a daze.
So many, so many! Would one of these be my future host body? Ah! Calico, calico! Yanzhu, I want the calico! That big-tailed calico!
Ignoring Yaojiu's frantic screeching in her Consciousness Sea, Yanzhu went straight for a white-furred cloth doll, paid, and left.
Yanzhu's movements were smooth and fluid, completely dumbfounding Yaojiu in the Consciousness Sea.
Staring at the white-furred cloth doll in Yanzhu's hand, Yaojiu screamed in a breakdown: "Stop right there! I want the calico!"
Yanzhu shook the white cat doll in her hand, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. "This one."
Unable to accept Yanzhu's choice, Yaojiu accusingly broke down. How could anyone possibly dislike a big-tailed calico?
"The calico! That's a calico! I want that big-tailed calico!"
A calico was a beauty in the cat world! How could a mere white-furred thing compare to it?!
"Oh, come on, it's not that the calico isn't good, but the white cat suits you better."
"We need to learn to keep a low profile."
Yanzhu never expected that the noble Nine-Tailed Spirit-Absorbing Cat would also have a soft spot for this sort of thing.
Glaring at Yanzhu's perfunctory comfort, Yaojiu thought to himself: *Bah.*
His spirit directly and forcefully dashed over to the favored calico, and with an air of supreme arrogance, he said to Yanzhu, "This one, or else... or else I'm not leaving."
Yanzhu let out a soft sigh. He had held out in suspense for so long, only to end up with just this line? Where had the pride of the Nine-Tailed Spirit-Absorbing Cat clan gone?
The compromise Yaojiu had imagined never materialized. Instead, he only heard Yanzhu's relaxed tone: "Suit yourself whether you leave or not. Fine, just stay there then. I don't care anymore, goodbye to you." If this fellow really left, she would have it much easier in the future.
Yaojiu watched as Yanzhu pulled Gaoshu along and left without looking back.
Yaojiu: Ah? She really doesn't want me anymore?! Is finding a substitute really this hard?!
Yaojiu wanted to cry, but could only manage all thunder and no rain.
Dejected, Yaojiu scurried back into Yanzhu's Consciousness Sea.
Yaojiu knew Yanzhu could abandon him, but right now, he couldn't afford to leave Yanzhu. Preserving his life was paramount; after all, the humans who could directly accommodate him could be counted on one's fingers. For such a human to be in the Mortal Realm and have nothing to do with the Hidden Realm was a one-in-ten-thousand chance. One day...
"Yo, you're back." Yanzhu teased him unceremoniously.
Facts proved that everything was negotiable, but nobody could be spoiled—not even a cat, lest it push its luck one day and grow completely lawless.
Yanzhu knew this cat would definitely be back; for some unknown reason, Yaojiu couldn't leave her right now.
Yanzhu: You always have to let this cat know whose territory this is and who calls the shots.
Being well-behaved was good for everyone.
Yaojiu let out a cold snort, then fell silent. Using his claw, he drew circles on the ground and whispered unhappily, "I curse you, bad woman!"
Draw a circle to curse you!
Yanzhu guessed this fellow was secretly cursing her. "So childish." How could a white cat be this ugly? Anyway, it was just a test subject, and a white cat was convenient. Yanzhu felt as long as it was usable, there was no need to be so particular; they weren't walking a runway, so what did beauty matter?
Yanzhu threw a punch at Gaoshu's shoulder. "Shu, what on earth did you come here for?!"
"I told you, don't mention math to me, and don't call me Math! Ahhh, Zhu!" Furious, Gaoshu spun around in circles, pointed fiercely at Yanzhu, and then helplessly retracted his finger.
He was furious, but he couldn't lose his temper at Yanzhu.
Ever since he was little, the name Gaoshu had always drawn attention, especially from math teachers, yet Gaoshu detested math the most.
Elementary school math teacher: "The name Gaoshu is sophisticated, a great name. Gaoshu, study math hard."
Middle school math teacher: "Your parents must have expected great achievements in your math. Gaoshu, come here and answer this question."
High school math teacher: "Gaoshu, not bad, you're bound to have an unbreakable bond with college calculus." "Gaoshu, come up here and solve this advanced math problem."
Since childhood, Gaoshu had always been the apple of the math teacher's eye. Gaoshu was left speechless with grief, and even in college advanced math classes, he never missed a single session because the math teacher's opening line was always: "For this advanced math class, has that Gaoshu arrived?" Gaoshu was guaranteed to be called upon.
Therefore, whenever anyone mentioned math to Gaoshu, he would instantly blow his top.
Gaoshu: Don't get angry, don't get angry. Zhu just woke up and her health is poor.
"Let's come up with a strategy."
Hearing Gaoshu's deflated voice, Yanzhu couldn't help but burst out laughing. "No way, you're about to graduate from college, and you're still dwelling on that matter?" It seemed the trauma ran deep.
A hand slapped onto her shoulder. "Young man, look on the bright side. What's past is past, and there'll be plenty more of that kind of thing called out in the future. Besides..."
"..." Gaoshu shrugged. "It's not really that, the impression was just too deep. I came here this time just to get familiar with the situation along the way, to prepare for Yanshang's pursuit of his love."
Yanzhu asked somewhat uncertainly, "You aren't acting as Yanshang's military strategist to plot and scheme, are you?"
Gaoshu straightened his back and patted his chest. "Doesn't it look like it? When I make a move, one of me is worth two!" He was bound to win that young girl over and make Yanshang a successful man.
Gaoshu declared confidently and loudly, "What does a successful man lack? He lacks a good bro like me, who can climb mountains to chop bamboo for wisdom, and go down to the earth to investigate and devise strategies. To sum it up in one word: superb!"
Right now, Yanzhu only saw a strutting, self-important rooster puffing out its chest and showing off.
Before even the first stroke of the character was written—sure enough, youth meant confidence.
Yanzhu wanted to know who had given him such confidence; it was just too mystical, and she felt it was definitely going to fail.
Yanzhu rubbed her nose and said, "Keep it up, Zhuge Gaoshu."
It was the exact same tone Luomingjing had used earlier. If she didn't know that Yanzhu had "just woken up" recently, he would have been one hundred percent certain these two had colluded in advance. Gaoshu could hear an inexplicable sense of speechlessness and mockery in those words.
*I don't believe it. I'll use my strategies and results to make you guys eat your words and admit defeat.*