I Am the Female Lead’s Cat 27

Chapter 27: Warnings

“What do you mean, token of affection? Jingxue, say something! What token of affection?!”

Lü Qingyan’s frantic barking finally forced Bai Jingxue to open her eyes. “The novel mentioned countless dragons who were head over heels for the male lead,” she said, her voice flat. “None of them plucked out their scales. Think about it.”

Lü Qingyan considered this. Her faith in Luo Nianshang was unwavering, so she had initially accepted the “token of affection” explanation. But her faith in Bai Jingxue was even stronger.

She relaxed, settling down beside Bai Jingxue, deliberately pressing against her. Seeing that the cat remained aloof, she searched for a new topic of conversation.

“Jingxue, we’ll be able to cultivate soon,” she said, her tail wagging. “What’s the first thing you want to do when we transform back into humans?”

Bai Jingxue twitched an ear. “Walk on two legs,” she replied, her voice nonchalant.

The air thickened with awkward silence.

Determined to keep the conversation going, Lü Qingyan ignored the cat’s lack of enthusiasm and shared her own aspirations.

“I want to play the guqin for you,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “And I want to explore this world. We’ve seen the Ejian Sect and the Demon Palace, but there are so many other interesting places.”

She drifted off, lost in a fantasy of herself as a wandering cultivator, her white robes billowing in the wind, her sword at her side.

Romantics and realists were probably incompatible. Bai Jingxue found the idea of such a life exhausting. Even if she transformed back into a human, she would rather stay in bed, hiding from the world’s complexities.

But she wouldn’t dampen Lü Qingyan’s enthusiasm. She had already changed so much for this dog.

Love truly was a potent, mind-altering drug. It was terrifying.

Perhaps she should cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness in this life. She would become a cold, heartless cat.

Intrigued by this idea, she decided to visit the library tomorrow and search for books on the subject.

Luo Nianshang, holding the dragon scale, remembered that she had wanted to warn her disciple about the Demon Lord. They had gotten sidetracked by the bandit story, and Luo Nianshang had even contemplated sending someone to clear that road, ensuring its safety.

But her true intention had been forgotten. The dragon scale, however, had jogged her memory.

She stared at her disciple, whose innocent demeanor resembled that of a pure, delicate flower. Then, she thought of the Demon Lord, who had taken advantage of her on multiple occasions. A wave of protectiveness washed over her, as if she were a farmer watching a prized pig about to devour her carefully cultivated vegetables.

“That woman you mentioned,” she said, her voice serious.

She gritted her teeth. She couldn’t bring herself to call the Demon Lord beautiful. “The woman in red,” she amended. “Do you know who she is?”

The Demon Lord blinked, her eyes wide and innocent. “I don’t know, Master.”

“It’s not your fault. That woman is Qiu Yingxi, the current Demon Lord. Do you know anything about her past?”

A flicker of amusement crossed the Demon Lord’s eyes, but she quickly masked it, feigning fear. “I’m sorry, Master,” she whispered. “I don’t know anything about her. But she did save my life.”

Seeing her beloved disciple on the verge of tears, Luo Nianshang’s heart softened. She patted Hong Ying’s head. “I don’t blame you,” she said gently. “But be honest with me. What do you think of her?”

The Demon Lord wiped away a tear, her expression confused. “I think she’s beautiful, Master,” she said. “She has a lovely voice, and she’s so kind. Except for her cooking, she’s perfect.”

Luo Nianshang, seeing the blush creeping across her disciple’s cheeks, felt a surge of alarm.

Lü Qingyan, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but laugh. She nudged Bai Jingxue with her nose. “Hahaha! Jingxue, is she being narcissistic or self-aware?”

Bai Jingxue, having just encountered a crazy dragon in her dream, had no energy for another unhinged individual. She didn’t even bother to open her eyes. “Is that your paw on my back?” she asked dryly.

Lü Qingyan froze, her paw hovering in midair. She quickly retracted it, looking around awkwardly to hide her embarrassment.

But the drama between the Demon Lord and Luo Nianshang wasn’t over yet.

Luo Nianshang struggled to contain her frustration. Kind? Beautiful? Lovely voice? In her eyes, Qiu Yingxi was a shameless flirt!

Despite her long life and vast experience, Luo Nianshang managed to maintain her composure, though her expression was as frigid as a blizzard.

“So you like her?” she asked, her voice flat.

The Demon Lord lowered her head, her shoulders slumping, her eyes darting towards Luo Nianshang, as if seeking approval. She was playing the role of a lovestruck disciple to perfection.

A classic damsel-in-distress scenario, orchestrated by a charming rogue, was bound to leave a lasting impression on an innocent young woman, even if the “hero” in this case was a woman.

Luo Nianshang, in her old-fashioned way, might not have considered this possibility before, but her recent encounters with the Demon Lord had broadened her perspective.

She addressed her disciple with a serious expression. “The Demon Lord is not a good person,” she said. “If you’re interested in women, I can find someone more suitable for you.”

The Demon Lord’s face paled, as if her world had just crumbled. Inwardly, however, she was ecstatic.

Seeing her disciple’s reaction, Luo Nianshang panicked. She decided to reveal the truth about the Demon Lord.

She took a deep breath. “She was born with a demonic heart,” she said, her voice low. “She slaughtered an entire village when she was just a child. Human life means nothing to her. And she’s a shameless flirt.”

She hesitated, then added, her voice laced with a hint of shame, “She even… flirted with me.”

The cat and dog, huddled in the corner, shuddered. Lü Qingyan edged closer to Bai Jingxue, her voice filled with indignation. “This is terrible! She’s being framed!”

Bai Jingxue opened her eyes. She could sense the Demon Lord’s growing anger, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t speak.

The village massacre had been a misunderstanding. The Demon Lord had been the victim, not the perpetrator.

The male lead in the original story had learned the truth about the Demon Lord’s past, using it to gain her trust and affection. That was how she had fallen for him.

Sensing the tension escalating, Lü Qingyan whispered, “Do you think they’ll fight? This entire mountaintop could explode!”

Her true concern, however, was the possibility of the Demon Lord revealing her true identity. If that happened, she would be forced to return to the Demon Palace.

She didn’t want to go back! The food there might be a hundred times better than the bland fare served at the Ejian Sect, but there was no Jingxue at the Demon Palace.

She wracked her brain, trying to come up with a solution. “Do you think if I act cute, they’ll stop fighting?” she asked.

Bai Jingxue chuckled. “I don’t know if they’ll stop,” she said, “but you might become a martyr for world peace. They’ll erect statues in your honor, praising your sacrifice.”

She sighed dramatically. “As your ex-girlfriend, I’ll even light an extra incense stick for you.”

Lü Qingyan shook her head vehemently. “No, no, no! Jingxue, think of something!”

Bai Jingxue was reminded of a cartoon she had watched in her past life. Whenever the protagonists encountered a problem, a certain sheep would always bleat, “Pleasant Goat, think of something!”

But she wasn’t Pleasant Goat.

She padded over to a corner of the chamber and curled up into a ball.

Lü Qingyan, confused by her actions, tilted her head. “What are you doing, Jingxue?”

“Making sure I don’t get crushed if this place collapses,” Bai Jingxue replied dryly.

Lü Qingyan’s eyes widened in understanding. She promptly lay down on top of Bai Jingxue, nearly suffocating her.

“What are you doing?” Bai Jingxue sputtered, struggling to breathe.

Lü Qingyan, oblivious to her distress, wagged her tail, her voice cheerful. “If this place really does collapse, I can shield you from the falling debris.”

Bai Jingxue’s anger vanished. She struggled to contain her emotions, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t need you to do that.”

Lü Qingyan ignored her, her voice light and teasing as she tried to lighten the mood. “I’ve been eating well lately,” she said. “You’ll be safe under me.”

She then expanded her body, just to be extra safe.

Bai Jingxue couldn’t describe what she was feeling. She was scared. Truly scared.

The Demon Lord hadn’t expected Luo Nianshang to share the same prejudice as everyone else. But thankfully, she wasn’t in her true form. She was playing the role of an innocent, naive disciple.

This allowed her to express her displeasure without raising suspicion. Only now could she speak her mind without sounding like a villain.

She calmed herself, her gaze meeting Luo Nianshang’s. “Master,” she asked, her voice serious, “did you witness the village massacre yourself?”

Luo Nianshang hadn’t expected to be questioned. She hesitated for a moment. “No,” she admitted. “I was in seclusion when it happened. When I emerged, the village was a wasteland. Only a few children survived.”

“So you didn’t see it with your own eyes.”

Luo Nianshang realized her mistake. Her disciple hadn’t explicitly accused her of anything, but she felt a pang of guilt.

She wasn’t one to cling to pride. She readily acknowledged her error. “You’re right,” she said. “I was wrong to make assumptions. I will investigate further. But even without evidence, you must trust me. The Demon Lord is not a good person.”

“I will heed your words, Master. I will avoid her from now on.”

Luo Nianshang let out a sigh of relief. A smile spread across her face, as warm and radiant as the first rays of sunshine after a long winter.

The Demon Lord was still angry, but seeing that smile, she decided to forgive Luo Nianshang. For now.

She blinked, her expression playful. “You’re beautiful when you smile, Master,” she said. “You should smile more often.”

Luo Nianshang, flustered, averted her gaze, her eyes darting around the chamber. They landed on the cat and dog huddled in the corner, their behavior rather peculiar.

“What are they doing?” she asked, her eyes wide.

The Demon Lord followed her gaze and chuckled. “They’re playing a game,” she said.

Her teasing laughter snapped Bai Jingxue out of her melodramatic fantasy.

She shoved Lü Qingyan aside and fled, her dignity in tatters.

Lü Qingyan, seeing the cat run, chased after her, barking. “Jingxue, wait! Where are you going?”

The Demon Lord watched them go, a mischievous smile curving her lips. “Perhaps it’s time for them to start cultivating,” she suggested.

Luo Nianshang nodded.

The Demon Lord was looking forward to the day when the cat and dog could speak.

It would be incredibly entertaining.