UCS Chapter 51

Gao Shi silently accompanied Granny Jia as she buried the little cat’s body.

 

He escorted Granny Jia to her temporary residence, where many people came to receive her. But looking at her retreating figure, Gao Shi felt that her back was increasingly hunched, like an old tree burdened beyond its strength.

 

Gao Shi hadn’t slept all night and was still wearing the postmodern-style shirt with a hole in it, looking as if he had just returned from begging.

 

He closed the car door, leaned back in his seat, and covered his eyes in fatigue. In his ears, he could still hear Granny Jia’s choked sobs and the cat’s faint “meow.”

 

Having been a team leader for so long, though well aware that all beings suffer, he still couldn’t bear to witness the separation of life and death.

 

After some time, he took out his Nokia phone-almost obsolete by today’s standards but with extremely long battery life-and sent an urgent notification to the Anomaly Management Bureau.

 

[Target 1321, abnormal behavior.

 

Suggested detection direction: Spirit creature.]

 

With spiritual energy reviving, ghosts were changing, and living beings were changing too. Perhaps the spirit creatures from ancient storybooks would gradually appear in the mortal world.

 

There was indeed something strange about Jia Qi. Since it had been confirmed that it wasn’t ghost activity, could it possibly be a spirit creature like Little Flower?

 

Gao Shi took a light breath and unwrapped a lychee-flavored lollipop.

 

…

 

The first thing Gao Shi did after returning home was to take a shower. No matter how tired he was, he couldn’t sleep looking at his dirty clothes. These clothes were so filthy and torn that he could join the Beggar Clan on the spot. Given Gao Shi’s strong presence, he might even be considered for the position of clan leader.

 

While showering, he received a call from Liushui Pavilion asking if he still wanted his reservation today. After a moment’s hesitation, Gao Shi asked them to keep a table.

 

He just didn’t know when Ying Bujie would return.

 

With this thought, he dried his hair and walked out, only to look up and see Ying Bujie sitting properly on the sofa, eating a golden thread roll.

 

Ying Bujie turned his head, and Gao Shi was a bit stunned by his sudden appearance, not reacting immediately as Ying Bujie approached him.

 

Ying Bujie looked very “fresh”-he was wearing his white Taoist robe and showed none of Gao Shi’s morning dishevelment. Apart from his still somewhat pale face, he looked as clean as if he had just come down from a mountain.

 

Gao Shi let out a slight sigh of relief.

 

Before he could say anything, Ying Bujie raised his arm, rummaged in his wide sleeve, and produced a small kitten with one hand.

 

Gao Shi froze in place.

 

This kitten’s markings were identical to Little Flower’s, like a miniature version of her.

 

It was tiny, not even as big as Ying Bujie’s palm, probably just born, its eyes still closed. White with yellow patches, it looked like a fluffy wool felt ornament. Its ears were small, but its belly was round and moved with its breathing. Its tiny tail curled around its body, occasionally twitching slightly.

 

Sensing something, Gao Shi asked softly, “Was this the urgent matter you mentioned?”

 

Ying Bujie nodded.

 

Gao Shi carefully took the kitten. This little cat was clearly different from ordinary kittens-it seemed to have no wariness at all, rolling back and forth in Ying Bujie’s and Gao Shi’s hands without showing any signs of waking.

 

The kitten’s body was warm. In its dream, it seemed to sense that Gao Shi’s body temperature was higher than Ying Bujie’s, and it purred contentedly, falling into an even deeper sleep.

 

By the time Ying Bujie had finished washing up and changed out of his Taoist robe, the kitten still showed no signs of waking, sleeping soundly on Gao Shi’s lap.

 

Seeing Ying Bujie’s gaze shift downward, Gao Shi thought he was looking at the kitten and gently lifted it up to show him.

 

Ying Bujie casually took the kitten, placed it in his palm, and said softly, “This is a yao.”

 

Gao Shi’s expression became solemn. “A yao?”

 

“Birds and beasts, fish and insects, flying birds, grasses and flowers, vines… living things that become spirits are called yao.”

 

“Mountains and rivers, gold and stone, jade and kingfisher, clear wind and flowing clouds… non-living things that become spirits are called guai.”

 

“When people die, their seven po souls disperse, leaving only three hun souls. Those that remain in the world due to obsession are called ghosts.”

 

“This is a cat yao.”

 

Gao Shi looked down at the plain-looking kitten and asked, “What supernatural powers does it have? Is it like in storybooks, able to live forever and control wind and rain?”

 

Ying Bujie thought for a moment.

 

“Every yao has their own innate talent. After a yao gains consciousness, their lifespan becomes very long, far surpassing humans.”

 

Gao Shi was silent for a moment, then asked hoarsely, “Then are those immortals and supernatural beings in storybooks also real?”

 

Ying Bujie shook his head. He wanted to say something, but in the end only said, “The spiritual energy in this world is insufficient. Ghosts and gods have no consciousness, all things cannot become spirits, and those that had already become spirits have declined and died.”

 

Gao Shi said, “Now spiritual energy is beginning to revive.”

 

Ying Bujie, “Mm. This cat yao is among the first batch to become spirits. It cultivated for a hundred years, its cultivation increasing and decreasing, finally cultivating nine tails. Today, it dispersed a lifetime of cultivation to give Jia Qingfen twenty more years of life, to accompany her for the rest of her life.”

 

“After twenty years, they will re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.”

 

Gao Shi recalled every time Ying Bujie had contact with Little Flower and asked, “It sought you out because of this matter?”

 

Ying Bujie, “Not exactly.”

 

“Cats have nine lives and can naturally see the death energy on people. Jia Qingfen has had a difficult life full of disasters. It saw that Jia Qingfen’s lifespan was coming to an end without a peaceful death, so it used its cultivation to protect her for the rest of her life.”

 

“It merely asked me to guide them into reincarnation after their deaths.”

 

At this moment, many thoughts filled Gao Shi’s mind.

 

For instance, why did Ying Bujie, who supposedly lacked mental clarity and had fragmented memories, know so much?

 

For instance, if Ying Bujie had clearly said reincarnation no longer existed, why could he guide souls into reincarnation?

 

For instance, was Ying Bujie’s memory loss really accidental?

 

For instance, would guiding souls into reincarnation harm Ying Bujie himself?

 

And also… who exactly was Ying Bujie?

 

But in the end, Gao Shi didn’t ask any of these questions.

 

They took the miniature version of Little Flower to find Granny Jia.

 

Granny Jia looked very haggard, but her hunched body seemed to be filled with immense vitality, making her once cloudy eyes become clear.

 

Those clear eyes were red and swollen, with heavy bags and dark circles. Many people seemingly casually passed by her door, casting worried glances at her.

 

Granny Jia clearly remembered this kind young man from whom she had parted less than a day ago. Despite her red-rimmed eyes, she opened the door to welcome them.

 

Gao Shi couldn’t bear to let her trouble herself, so he got straight to the point, presenting Little Flower and asking, “We found a kitten on the road today. Would you be willing to keep it?”

 

A passing neighbor thought, “Oh no,” as everyone knew Granny Jia hated cats the most. These two young men might be driven away.

 

Just as everyone was holding their breath, the kitten finally woke up and opened its eyes for the first time.

 

The first person it saw was Granny Jia.

 

“Meow~”

 

Seeing Granny Jia freeze, Gao Shi patiently asked again, “Would you be willing to raise this kitten?”

 

Granny Jia snapped out of her daze and hurriedly reached out to take it. “Yes! Yes!”

 

The kitten stood unsteadily in her palm, stretching its neck to rub its cheek against hers. “Meow~”

 

Tears burst from Granny Jia’s eyes.

 

“Little Flower, Little Flower…”

 

…

 

As Gao Shi and Ying Bujie walked out of the temporary residence, they could still hear Granny Jia and Little Flower through the poorly soundproofed walls.

 

“Little cat, don’t be picky with food. Eat more. You eat all day but don’t gain any meat. Be careful not to get snatched by wild dogs outside.”

 

“Meow~”

 

“Here, I heard people say you need to make a bed for a kitten to sleep in. You’ll sleep here from now on. Oh my-you’re running onto my bed, getting fur all over it!”

 

“Meow!”

 

“Ah, I knew you can’t believe everything online. Wasted a perfectly good bed. I always said feeding a cat isn’t so complicated. Sleep wherever you want, but you must finish this cat food. It’s so expensive! Let me tell you, I won’t indulge you by specially cooking for you.”

 

“Meow meow~”

 

Gao Shi chuckled softly.

 

Ying Bujie looked toward the small, narrow temporary residence. “It has dispersed all its cultivation. Apart from having gained consciousness, it’s no different from an ordinary cat. It will only have a twenty-year lifespan, can be injured, and can die.”

 

Gao Shi also looked back in the same direction. “I believe Granny Jia won’t let it get hurt or die. They will enter reincarnation together.”

 

***

 

Gao Gusheng had been very troubled lately.

 

Because Jia Qi, for some unknown reason, had not only started frantically trying to conquer him but also wouldn’t spare his friends around him. Every time Jia Qi looked at him, it was as if he wanted to devour him alive.

 

A group of people gathered together, each wearing a mask of suffering.

 

Mo Hua counted and slowly held up six fingers. “I threw away six pieces of clothing this week. Last night, he even took a shower and crawled into my bed. His hair wasn’t dry, and water dripped onto my sheets.”

 

Zhou Jing pushed his glasses. This usually calm academic genius now had slightly trembling fingers. With an expressionless face, he said, “I was almost forced. Fortunately, the tomboy came quickly.”

 

Yun Zhiyi angrily gave him a headbutt. “Get lost! Who are you calling a tomboy! You weakling should reflect on almost getting pushed down!”

 

She took out a small mirror to look at herself, her expression fierce. “Ahhh! I need my beauty sleep! My face is starting to look like I’m eighty years old!”

 

As the only female, Yun Zhiyi was fortunately not harassed, but she had been running around helping the three pitiful men and couldn’t sleep well. Looking at her increasingly haggard face, she developed a tremendous anger toward Jia Qi.

 

The three of them looked toward Gao Gusheng, who had been covering his face the whole time. “What about Xiao Sheng?”

 

Gao Gusheng said gravely, “Three days, twenty times-do you know how I’ve spent these three days?!”

 

Gao Gusheng was frantic, “I see him in class, in the cafeteria, in the supermarket, and even when I go to the bathroom I run into him. With a whole row of empty urinals, he won’t use them, but has to stand next to me, exposing his butt while relieving himself. Isn’t he sick in the head?!”

 

Gao Gusheng exploded in rage, “If he harasses me again, I’ll definitely beat the shift out of him!!!”

 

The three looked sympathetically at Gao Gusheng, whose mental state already seemed abnormal.

 

There was something truly strange about Jia Qi. No matter where they went, he seemed to find them. He had deep “emotional exchanges” with seven or eight men every day, yet still had energy to spare for them, expending enormous energy daily without becoming weary-in fact, he seemed increasingly energetic.

 

His eyes were seductive and upturned, exuding indescribable charm. Just one glance could captivate someone’s soul. His paintings, too, were becoming increasingly “enchanting.” Each painting, even with just a few simple lines, conveyed infinite allure, both bizarre and beautiful.

 

Many male students, despite knowing about his dissolute private life, still rushed toward him like moths to a flame.

 

Sun Jun came back once, took one look at Jia Qi’s painting, and sighed, “I’m not as good as him.” Without lingering, he hurried back to practice. According to Sun Jun, Jia Qi’s paintings had soul.

 

In just these few short days, Jia Qi had sold a painting for 80 million. Two major collectors nearly came to blows over ownership of the painting, with one finally buying it for 80 million. The collector who acquired it not only used all his cash but even sold part of his collection at a low price to raise funds.

 

Even so, the collector who missed out was visibly distraught, as if he had lost the entire world.

 

Jia Qi became famous overnight. Many people began to defend him, saying that artists all have their quirks, and if his boyfriends didn’t mind, others had no right to judge.

 

Some loudly proclaimed that art itself is innocent, saying that while Jia Qi’s character might be flawed, his painting technique was beyond reproach.

 

Some loved him madly, others hated him to death, but everyone said his hands had been kissed by God.

 

Today, Jia Qi was auctioning his second work. Collectors came in droves, their eyes wild with fervor, even more fanatical than Qin Shi’s fans.

 

Gao Gusheng looked at his painting out of curiosity and was dumbfounded.

 

Wasn’t this just a jumble of messy lines?

 

Could it be that he truly had no artistic talent?

 

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