Chapter 50 It turns out that the cat is none other than Xiao Bumian, who was sixteen years old at the time...

Ye Tanzhou finally sighed in resignation and pointed out a quiet guest room to Xiao Bumian.

Xiao Bumian thanked him again with utmost politeness. His obedient and courteous demeanor made Ye Tanzhou's eyes twitch. Only then did he follow the medicine boy who was leading the way.

As night deepened, all was quiet.

Xiao Bumian lay on the unfamiliar bed, trying to close his eyes. For him, sleeping alone was a completely new field that required learning and imitation, and his consciousness gradually sank into darkness.

...

Never-Night Mountain, deep within the Spirit Pool.

A chill permeated the air, and white mist swirled between the water and the rocks.

[Memory fragments are loading...]

As the system's voice faded into the distance, Mingjian slowly opened his eyes.

He subconsciously looked down and saw a pair of furry, pink paws.

Okay, it turned into a cat again.

Mingjian subconsciously meowed.

Immediately, a warm and comfortable feeling enveloped his entire body. He looked around and found himself nestled in someone's arms, his head resting on that person's arm.

Unlike the thin, pitiful little boy I remembered last time, Xiao Bumian, who was holding him this time, looked much older, about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Moreover, it seems that those guarding him have suddenly had a change of heart, as his situation this time is much better than last time.

Although the room where the young Xiao Bumian was located was not luxurious, it was quite exquisite and quiet. There was a desk by the window with a chessboard on it, a landscape screen on one side, and a small incense burner in the corner that was emitting wisps of smoke, giving off a calming fragrance.

Xiao Bumian was taking a nap. He lay on his side, one hand supporting his head, his legs slightly bent, while the other hand rested unconsciously on the cat's body, his fingertips gently sinking into the soft fur, as if he were instinctively petting the cat even in his sleep.

By this time, his face had fully developed, revealing a breathtakingly handsome beginning. He had pale red lips, a high and straight nose, long and thick eyelashes when his eyes were closed, and his forehead was still smooth, without that eerie red lotus demonic mark.

He seems to have had a relatively peaceful time lately.

Of course, this is assuming we ignore the chains on Xiao Bumian's ankles.

The chains were long enough to allow him limited freedom of movement in the room, but they also clearly demonstrated that he was still imprisoned and bound.

Mingjian sighed inwardly.

The last time he came in, he still didn't understand what would happen on the night of the full moon, and he was hoping to figure it out next time! Who knew that the memory fragments would jump around so ridiculously, and when he came back, Xiao Bumian had grown up so much.

Is this system reliable or not?!

Oh well, what's done is done. He's here to avoid pain anyway.

The warm embrace and the boy's clean, refreshing scent had a hypnotic power. Mingjian lay there, his fluffy head nodding little by little, and he drifted off to sleep again.

When he woke up again, it was already dark outside the window, and a soft candlelight was lit inside the room.

He had just opened his sleepy cat eyes when he was unexpectedly met with a pair of beautiful eyes.

Xiao Bumian had woken up at some point and was staring at him intently.

Mingjian was so frightened that the cat's fur almost stood on end.

After a while, he remembered that Xiao Bumian had no memories of what happened afterward. Besides, he was a cat now, so what was he afraid of?

Once he understood this, Mingjian immediately relaxed, even tilting his fluffy little head and rubbing against Xiao Bumian's hand that was still on him.

Here, I'll let you pet my cat's head, okay? That's more than enough!

Xiao Bumian's hand paused slightly, as if he was stunned for a moment, but then, as if pleased, a very soft laugh escaped his throat.

Mingjian meowed, not understanding why Xiao Bumian suddenly laughed.

Could it be that, as a cat, his cuddly behavior is especially adorable? Hmm, very likely.

Anyway, he's a cat now, so what if he can be affectionate? It's only natural! Thinking of this, Mingjian became even more self-righteous, raised a pink and white paw, and softly patted Xiao Bumian's hand, as if urging him to continue.

"You're so strange." Xiao Bumian's voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up as he rubbed the white cat's soft head.

He thought he was dreaming last time, but it seems he wasn't.

For some reason, he found himself back in his past memories once again.

Moreover, he seemed to be able to sense the white cat's emotions.

That's strange.

Why is Mingjian inside Tanuki's body?

Xiao Bumian made a thoughtful "hmm" sound, then suddenly reached his hands through the white cat's forelegs and lifted it up to look at him at eye level.

The sudden feeling of being suspended in mid-air left Akemi speechless.

What's wrong with Xiao Bumian now?

Just as Mingjian began to twist his body and try to struggle, Xiao Bumian suddenly spoke. His voice was very soft, but it was like a thunderclap in Mingjian's ears.

"You resemble someone very much."

Mingjian froze instantly, his amber cat eyes wide open.

Why did Xiao Bumian suddenly say that?

Or did he realize something?

Wait a minute! Didn't the system confidently assure us that Xiao Bumian in the memory fragments absolutely had no memories of reality?!

Mingjian's mind immediately went into overdrive.

Feeling a sense of panic in his chest, Xiao Bumian seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting, and laughed out loud with delight, even falling back onto the bed.

He placed the stiff white cat on his slightly trembling chest, clearly feeling the resonance of its laughter in his chest, which made him even more flustered.

Xiao Bumian seemed to find his reaction amusing, laughing as he reached out and casually stroked the fur on Mingjian's back.

After a long while, he stopped laughing, the corners of his lips still curved in that playful smile, and said slowly, as if to himself, or as if to the cat: "Never mind, I guess I was overthinking it. You're just a clueless raccoon."

Mingjian immediately meowed in response.

Yes, yes, it scared him to death.

He's just a cat now!

Mingjian secretly raised his eyelids, carefully observing Xiao Bumian's expression. The young man had a relaxed smile on his face, and although his eyes were deep, they did not have the sharpness or probing that could see through everything.

Yes, he probably really doesn't have any memories of what happened after that. Otherwise, given Xiao Bumian's suspicious and wicked nature, how could he have let him go so easily? He would have definitely dragged him out and tortured him for a confession long ago.

With that thought, Mingjian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Bumian laughed even more heartily.

That's really interesting.

Although he couldn't quite figure out how Mingjian had done it, he was almost 100% certain that the overly lively white cat in his arms was Mingjian.

Hmm, no wonder he brought him pastries and protected him in my dream last time.

This incident was not in his previous memories.

Moreover, the cat doesn't actually like to be close to him.

Animals seem to always be able to keenly sense the non-human blood in his body, and thus fear and avoid him.

Only clear insight.

Xiao Bumian kept this understanding to himself, without revealing it. He simply pulled Mingjian back into his arms and hugged him tightly, then walked barefoot onto the cold floor and casually toward the desk.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

A maid's voice rang out, "Young master, tonight is the night of the full moon, and the master has asked you to make preparations in advance."

Xiao Bumian paused, a habitual smile curving his lips as he responded with a voice devoid of emotion: "Understood."

Mingjian found a comfortable position to lie in Xiao Bumian's arms and lazily wagged its tail.

He paused, taken aback by the maid's words.

A full moon night?

Is tonight really the night of the full moon?

Mingjian suddenly had a not-so-good premonition.

Xiao Bumian seemed oblivious, or perhaps he was already used to it. He pulled out a cat toy adorned with colorful feathers from some corner, sat cross-legged on the cushion in front of the chessboard, lazily resting his chin on one hand, and waved the cat toy in front of Mingjian's eyes with the other.

Mingjian: "..."

What did Xiao Bumian take him for?

He just looks like a cat, but he's not a real cat.

How could I possibly be tempted by such a low-level tactic?

Xiao Bumian shook the cat toy.

Mingjian: Hehe.

Xiao Bumian was extremely patient, a gentle yet focused smile playing on his lips, and he gently shook the cat toy again.

Clearly, he felt contempt: mentally challenged.

Xiao Bumian: "Don't you like it?"

He seemed somewhat disappointed and sighed softly, "Fine, since you don't like it, I'll put it away."

Just as that damned feather was about to disappear from sight, Mingjian almost blurted out, "Meow!"

At the same time, he humiliatingly stretched out his furry claws and reached for the feather that was about to disappear!

This is completely beyond his control!

This is in every cat's nature.

With tears in his eyes, Mingjian struggled angrily to grab the cat toy in Xiao Bumian's hand.

Xiao Bumian chuckled triumphantly, a pleasant vibration emanating from his chest.

Ming felt even more humiliated.

He hates Xiao Bumian!

Amidst their playful antics, before they knew it, a cool, full moon had quietly appeared above the treetops outside the window, its gentle light spilling across the courtyard and casting dappled shadows on the floor through the windowpanes.

Xiao Bumian's smile faded slightly. He put away the cat toy, picked up Mingjian and held her in his arms. He walked to the window, gently opened it, and said softly, "Go play first, I'll come find you later."

Mingjian was taken aback. Before he could understand why the man wanted him to leave, he keenly heard footsteps approaching from afar, growing clearer and clearer, heading towards the room.

The window was gently closed, isolating the inside from the outside.

Mingjian squatted on the cold stone platform outside the window, somewhat bewildered.

Xiao Bumian didn't want him to see? Why?

He hesitated for a moment, but curiosity ultimately prevailed. He nimbly jumped onto the roof, found a secluded corner, and lay down, determined to see who was coming. Once they went inside, he would find a way to sneak in.

Soon, several figures appeared at the courtyard gate and went into the room.

Mingjian held his breath and pricked up his ears.

"Grand Preceptor, rest assured, we have followed the immortal's instructions and fed the demon the medicine." Mingjian heard a male voice say. Compared to the last time Mingjian heard it, this voice was obviously much older. It was Gu Weishen.

He then heard Gu Weishen impatiently ask, "I just wonder when the immortal will arrive to replace my son Guanlan's bones with those of that demon? My son... he won't be able to wait much longer."

Mingjian's heart sank.

Just as he was about to move closer to listen more carefully, another voice, one he could never mistake, clearly entered his ears.

"Lord Gu, please calm down. All the other disciples in your clan have already embarked on the path of immortality and have a bright future. Why rush things? Rest assured, on the fifteenth of next month, the Venerable One will personally descend to the mortal realm to perform the bone-changing technique on Gu Guanlan and that demon."

Mingjian froze on the spot, his mind blank, as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt.

That voice... belonged to his master.

How is that possible?

Why would it be his master?

Mingjian was stunned; a huge sense of shock and absurdity overwhelmed him.

Didn't his master say that he would only live to be three hundred years old?