TBR CH36

Gu Shishu had only gone out and broken… a flower? Stepping into the Immortal Palace with a hint of lingering chill, he immediately noticed that the person who should have been lying beside him was missing.  

He wasn’t too anxious—after all, they had a soul-binding contract now, so the Demon Lord could sense that Fu Tingxue’s aura was normal. What was strange, however, was that the aura was still within this very palace.  

Following the immortal’s presence, the Demon Lord tentatively lifted the semi-transparent curtain draped over the bed. Although the silhouette inside suggested emptiness—  

It was merely empty of people.  

There was, however, a white cat.  

The cat’s long fur was pure white, soft and smooth, making it irresistibly touchable. It was entirely without blemish, so white that it had a faint silvery sheen, carrying an inexplicable aura of immortality.  

Gu Shishu couldn’t help but be startled, but he would never mistake the familiar presence in front of him.  

Kneeling on one knee upon the bed, he reached out hesitantly toward the white cat.  

“Immortal Lord?”  

Seeming to have just awakened, the cat’s round pupils shifted slightly. Its pale-colored eyes were as translucent as glazed glass, yet held a trace of confusion.  

It had clearly heard Gu Shishu’s inquiry and only then realized that something was wrong with its current state.  

But all it did was let out a soft and hurried meow.  

As if the immortal wanted to respond, yet the moment he opened his mouth, he realized he could only communicate in cat language, which was far too humiliating, so he abruptly stopped himself.  

The Demon Lord summoned his spiritual energy, revealing the red string wrapped around his wrist. Following its dusky red hue to its end, he saw that the string was now tied around the white cat’s neck, making the cat’s pristine whiteness stand out even more, exquisitely beautiful.  

There could be no mistake.  

Although he had no idea what had happened, Gu Shishu felt his heart melt. Moving even closer, he watched as the Immortal Lord, unfamiliar with a feline body, attempted to walk forward—only for his two front paws to wobble unsteadily on the bed, looking rather at a loss.  

Cats were naturally round and plump, and if they walked clumsily, they looked just like a ball of snow. Crouched there, the immortal-turned-cat was no exception, resembling a soft, full snow dumpling. His delicate ears twitched slightly, as if in frustration.  

Or perhaps in reproach—his feline eyes stared at the Demon Lord, seemingly blaming him for not taking action.  

This was too adorable.  

Gu Shishu finally couldn’t hold back. He reached out and stroked the white cat’s back. The fluffy fur was as soft as cotton, slightly cool to the touch—the very temperature most familiar to the Immortal Lord. The sensation was unbelievably pleasant.  

His hand slid down the cat’s back, reaching the tail. For a cat, this was an irresistible comfort.  

The white cat’s tail twitched slightly—it, too, was soft and fluffy—swaying as it hooked lightly around Gu Shishu’s hand.  

“Immortal Lord,”  

Gu Shishu hesitated to pull his hand away, a bit helpless yet indulgent.  

“How did you end up like this?”  

The white cat tried to speak again but quickly realized that in this form, any words would simply turn into “meow meow” sounds. The immortal began contemplating, sitting upright despite being a round ball of fluff, carrying a trace of dignity.  

Then, finally, Gu Shishu heard Fu Tingxue’s voice.  

It came directly from his spiritual consciousness, a message only he could perceive. The Immortal Lord had utilized their mental link to send his thoughts, finally coming to his senses and devising this method of communication.  

They really should have thought of this earlier, but the situation had been too sudden, and neither of them had stopped to think properly.  

“I suppose it happened when I went to the Treasure Hall yesterday…”  

Fu Tingxue’s voice remained as cool as icy water, making one feel that the speaker was refined and ethereal, like frost and snow. But Gu Shishu couldn’t take his eyes off the fluffy creature in front of him.  

At some point, the white cat’s tail had slipped away from his hand. The Demon Lord took the opportunity to ruffle its fur again. Fine, silky strands brushed against his palm, as smooth as touching a piece of satin.  

Fu Tingxue’s voice trembled slightly from the motion. After becoming a cat, even the simplest touches sent tingling sensations through his entire body. Just being stroked was enough to make him feel warm and comfortable.  

At least let me finish speaking—  

“The Yao King gifted many artifacts back then. The Sect Leader examined them and found some that were unidentifiable, so he asked me to take a look. I brought a few back to the Immortal Palace, and this is likely the cause.”  

Gifted? More like looted from Wusui at the time.  

Gu Shishu chuckled softly, somewhat amused. “Oh? And where are those things now?”  

Fu Tingxue clearly wanted to go over and point them out, but he was still struggling with feline movement. The white cat made a few attempts at stepping forward, only to clumsily fall into the blankets, his first-ever moment of awkwardness.  

He looked utterly regretful.  

Gu Shishu’s hands started itching again. He had already been touching the cat from time to time, but now he moved even closer. His slender fingers brushed through the soft fur, feeling it spread between them. The white cat’s pupils were beautiful—large and round like apricots, shining with a faint watery glow as they gazed at him.  

Still unaccustomed to this form, yet not resisting.  

It seemed like Fu Tingxue wanted to say something, but he was so flustered that he forgot to send a transmission. All that came out was a single “meow,” which he couldn’t take back.  

At last, the Demon Lord fully embraced the white cat. He gently folded his arms, enclosing the entire feline within them. The cat’s tail flicked slightly, then neatly curled into the crook of his elbow.  

Very light.  

And very soft.  

This was a white cat that smelled of pear blossoms—so stunningly pure, yet carrying the faint fragrance of the very flowers, likely absorbed from last night’s pear blossom wine.  

It was only now that the cat realized it had been completely picked up. Embarrassed, it fluffed up slightly, but Gu Shishu merely laughed and smoothed its fur back down.  

“Immortal Lord,”  

At a time like this, being called “Immortal Lord” was apparently too much for the white cat. He turned his head, rubbing against Gu Shishu’s chest, then buried his face into his robes.  

“Just tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you there. It’ll be much easier this way.”  

His words made too much sense—even the Immortal Lord couldn’t argue against them. And yet, being a whole ball of fluff in Gu Shishu’s arms still felt a little odd. His feline ears twitched lightly as he burrowed into the Demon Lord’s warmth.  

As a cat, he truly did find this quite comfortable.  

So, the white cat hesitated for a moment before finally twisting his head back around and pointing his paw toward a direction.  

Gu Shishu noticed that even the soft pads on his paws were a pale pink—like the freshest peach blossoms.  

Steadying his thoughts, he calmed himself and followed the direction indicated. As expected, there were a few scattered artifacts placed there. Among them, the casing of a certain pendant had already loosened and fallen off.  

There was no doubt—it had to be this pendant’s doing.  

After all, the pendant was shaped like a cat’s paw, round and plump. Traces of an unusual spiritual energy could still be felt within, but upon opening the casing, it was completely empty.  

After briefly sensing it, Gu Shishu had an estimate of its power. Breaking the enchantment by force wouldn’t be difficult for him, but since it was a carefully crafted yao artifact, any lingering effects on the Immortal Lord would be problematic.  

After some thought, he decided it would be best to make a trip to the Yao Clan.

Under the effect of the Tongxin Contract, he and Fu Tingxue naturally knew that the other was not feeling unwell at this moment—just unaccustomed to the situation. Upon hearing the transmitted message earlier, he also understood that although the Immortal Sovereign’s body was restricted, his cultivation and spiritual power could still be used.

However, Fu Tingxue used a sword, and this cat…

He couldn’t possibly let it ride a sword to fly.

After thinking about it for just a moment, Gu Shishu found his heart softening completely.

Unfortunately, though the Immortal Sovereign looked quite adorable like this, and even without wielding a sword could still surpass most cultivators, Gu Shishu still wished for the original Immortal Sovereign to return quickly. After all, this transformation was not of his own will and made Fu Tingxue feel rather unaccustomed.

“Let’s go.”

Gu Shishu adjusted his hold on the white cat, raising it slightly. He heard a soft meow, but he had no idea what it was trying to express. The sound was muffled in his robes, making it gentle and carrying a hint of coquettishness.

Before setting off for the Yao Realm, they encountered a small problem.

For example, at the foot of the Xiao Zhu Peak, Gu Shishu halted slightly and looked toward the young girl in green waiting at the mountain’s base.

Shen Rou had evidently been lingering there for a long time. However, the Xiao Zhu forest of Xiao Zhu Peak was protected by an array formation, which only those with sufficient cultivation could break through. Unable to find another way, she had settled on the clumsy method of waiting here.

Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long before a black-robed Demon Lord emerged from the forest at a leisurely pace—an unexpected delight for Shen Rou.

“It’s you,”

Gu Shishu looked at her and noticed that her cultivation had progressed significantly since their last meeting. The sword intent in her eyes had also become more resolute.

Fu Tingxue was evidently not prepared to meet people, shrinking further into his embrace. However, the movement caught Shen Rou’s eyes, and she was both surprised and delighted. Her gaze was instantly filled with fondness for the white cat, though she did not forget her purpose for being here:

“It’s like this…”

She began a little shyly.

“I never got the chance to properly thank the Immortal Sovereign and the Demon Lord for what happened before. I made some pastries using spirit fruits gifted by Nian Nian’s friend. Though they’re nothing special, if you’re willing to accept them, that would make me very happy.”

As she spoke, she opened the box to reveal the pastries. Indeed, they were delicately made, looking delicious at a glance. Each type was prepared in pairs, showing the effort put into them. Even the white cat couldn’t resist turning its head to take a look.

Its crystal-clear eyes reflected a glimmering light under the sun. Not only Shen Rou but even Gu Shishu couldn’t bear to look away.

“We will accept your kind gesture.”

The Demon Lord spoke, breaking Shen Rou out of her trance, enchanted by the white cat.

“And we must thank Miss Shen as well.”

“It’s nothing, really, no trouble at all,”

Shen Rou held back her curiosity and refrained from asking about the cat’s origins. She knew that Gu Shishu and Fu Tingxue were both busy, and simply being able to deliver the gift was satisfying enough—she wouldn’t take up more of their time.

Still, as she watched the Demon Lord’s departing figure, with the faint outline of the snow-white cat nestled against him, she couldn’t help but marvel: 

This cat is simply too beautiful. 

No wonder the Demon Lord was taking such careful care of it.

She wondered when they had adopted such a lovely little white cat. It did resemble the Immortal Sovereign in some ways—perhaps the Immortal Sovereign was the one who usually took care of it, which was why the Demon Lord’s gaze was so gentle.

She didn’t know that, the moment Gu Shishu first saw her, Fu Tingxue’s voice had echoed in his mind, struggling to suppress his embarrassment:

“Don’t… don’t say anything.”

Turning into a cat was not something the Immortal Sovereign wanted others to know.

However, his mindset had shifted slightly. Seeing that Gu Shishu seemed to like it, he thought that staying in this form a little longer probably wouldn’t be a problem.

The white cat’s tail quietly wrapped around Gu Shishu’s arm, its touch as light as cotton.

“Sit tight, Immortal Sovereign.”

Gu Shishu indulged its little movements and pulled the white cat closer to his chest before summoning his flying artifact.

The journey to the Yao Realm was swift.

However, before entering the Yao Palace, Gu Shishu cast a questioning glance at Fu Tingxue. He knew the Immortal Sovereign didn’t want too many people to know about this, and Wusui was different from Shen Rou—he would definitely be able to tell that the white cat was Fu Tingxue.

Receiving a response, Gu Shishu’s gaze softened. He bent down to let the white cat down from his arms, but Fu Tingxue hesitated to leave.

Tentatively, it lifted its paw and placed it on the ground. The solid surface was unfamiliar at first, but once it got used to it, it found it easier to walk on than a soft bed.

However, the white cat’s luminous fur stood out in the environment, exuding an air of elegance and celestial grace.

Gu Shishu was a little uneasy, but considering that Fu Tingxue’s cultivation wasn’t sealed, anything foolish enough to provoke him would only suffer the consequences. Still, he stroked the soft fur on the cat’s back and reminded the Immortal Sovereign:

“I’ll come back for you later.”

The white cat meowed.

Had he already overcome his mental hurdle? The Demon Lord chuckled, feeling his heart soften, knowing it was an agreement.

Releasing his aura as the Great Demon, he startled the Yao King of the palace, who abruptly opened his eyes from his nap.

Not again. What was Gu Shishu here for this time?

About half an hour later, the Demon Lord strolled out of Wusui’s palace. The conclusion was unexpectedly simple. The pendant had been crafted by a cat demon back when the cat clan ruled the Yao Realm. It was one of the tributes offered to the Yao King.

The pendant contained a complex array that could temporarily transform any race into a cat. “Temporarily” meant a duration of one day and one night. 

Although the transformation could be forcibly undone, the abrupt shift, while not harmful, had some psychological side effects—since adapting to another species took considerable effort.

Now that he understood the item’s mechanism, and after the Yao King repaired its broken casing with power, Gu Shishu tucked the pendant into his robes and left the Yao Palace to find Fu Tingxue.

What he hadn’t expected…

Was to find the white cat standing atop the corpse of a great demon.

Upon hearing his approach, the cat lightly leaped to Gu Shishu’s side. Although the demon had most likely been slain by the white cat, not a single trace of battle remained on its fur—it was still a soft, fluffy snowball.

Gu Shishu instinctively scooped it up.

The demon’s gruesome face remained frozen in disbelief—never imagining that it would meet its end at the claws of a small white cat, its soul shredded by a fierce sword intent.

Gu Shishu was equally stunned. 

How had Fu Tingxue adapted so completely in just half an hour? 

Now, his agile movements and graceful leaps were no different from any ordinary cat.

A white cat walked with elegant composure, yet its movements were nimble and confident.

Then, it crashed into Gu Shishu’s embrace.

“Immortal Sovereign…”

He stroked the white cat’s head, utterly charmed.

“Wusui said there’s no issue, but it’s best to wait for the spell to dissipate naturally—by tomorrow morning. Can you wait?”

The pale, glass-like cat eyes stared at him unblinkingly, then a soft voice echoed in Gu Shishu’s heart:

“Yes.”

Then, after a pause: 

“I don’t seem to mind it as much anymore.”

Since Gu Shishu liked it, then for the remaining half a day, he might as well indulge him.

That was the Immortal Sovereign’s thought.

Thus, Gu Shishu lived the life of having a cat—though only for half a day.

That night, the Demon Lord held the white cat in his arms, its fluffy fur impossibly soft. After much deliberation, Fu Tingxue finally gathered the courage to gently lick the Demon Lord’s palm.

A cat’s tongue was warm yet slightly rough, akin to a kiss.

But this was simply too wonderful.

Gu Shishu kissed the white cat’s forehead and softly bid him goodnight.

Goodnight—until dawn.

When Fu Tingxue awoke in Gu Shishu’s arms, they were so close that his breath hitched. 

Then, he realized he was no longer that snowball-like cat—he had returned to his true form, the Immortal Sovereign with frost-like hair.

Gu Shishu, still half-asleep, sensed his movement.

The Demon Lord adjusted their position to hold him more comfortably, then placed a kiss on his forehead.

No longer soft fur, but flowing moonlit hair—yet no matter what form he took, he was the most familiar, the most cherished.

No matter what he became, he would always be loved.

By the one who loved him most.