Chapter 086
Chapter 86: The Cat in Heat and the Jealousy of the Buddha’s Chosen
Tuan Tuan drifted back from the Third Princess Manor, the whole cat floating like a cloud. It staggered as it walked, swaying left and right on light cat steps as if its paws were stepping on air.
Its bright golden eyes, usually sharp, were misted over and unfocused like a drunk. It bumped through the gate, locked onto Xiao Man in an instant, then called in a soft, sticky voice: “Mrrrow…”
Stumbling forward, it threw itself at Xiao Man’s calf. Its furry head rubbed wildly along her arm, its long tail coiled around her wrist, and its throat rumbled with a pleased purr.
Xiao Man froze at the sudden show of affection, then set down her work, bent over, and ruffled the fluffy head as she asked with a laugh: “What’s with you?”
She added with a mock scold, rubbing its ears: “Out carousing all day, and now you come back to sweet talk me?”
She had no idea that this lively, cocky “cat” had just soaked up a flood of desire strong enough to tempt saints and gods from inside the Princess Manor. Right now, it was high on it.
As Tuan Tuan kept rubbing, its whole body suddenly went stiff and straight. Then it let out a piercing cry: “Mraaaooow!”
A second cry rose, even higher and more winding, full of shameless hooks: “Mraaow, mraaow!” It was louder and more brazen than any alley cat in heat, so loud the whole courtyard buzzed.
Startled, Xiao Man jumped so hard the dustpan flew from her hand as she blurted: “What in the world!”
She sputtered, peering at the cat: “Did you eat something weird? Or did some fiend poison you?”
The uproar drew everyone out. The east wing door creaked open, and Old Chen poked his head out with his beloved pipe between his teeth, frowning as he muttered: “Hey now, it’s already winter. Cats still go into heat in winter?”
By the kitchen, Shi Tou and his mother craned their necks to watch. Shi Tou tried not to laugh, his shoulders shaking as he teased: “Dad, you don’t get it. The cat raised by our Eldest Grandson Young Master isn’t like the common strays outside. This is a gifted one. It even goes into heat later than others.”
He pointed toward the center of the yard with a wicked grin, saying: “Look, look, it’s still rubbing on Xiao Man. Its tail is up. Tsk tsk, what a stance.”
Xiao Man’s face flamed red as she snapped, flustered: “Shi Tou, what nonsense are you talking about!”
Just then, the study door banged open. Lin Qing Xuan strode out, his stunning face dark as spilled ink. One cool glance was enough for his chill eyes to see through Tuan Tuan’s state.
This Black Cat formed from a Heart Demon had gorged on filthy desire somewhere, clouded its mind, and was now acting wild. How reckless.
He spoke in an icy, no-argument tone, nodding to Xiao Man: “Carry it inside.”
Xiao Man answered with an “oh,” bent to scoop up the cat, and reached out. But Tuan Tuan sprang first and threw itself right into her arms. It rubbed its head hard against the soft rise of her chest and purred even more sweetly, tail arched high and flicking with smug delight as it crooned: “Mrrrow…”
The long tail of that last note was syrupy enough to drip.
A vein jumped hard at Lin Qing Xuan’s temple. He had seen enough. With one swift step, he moved like lightning, pinched the loose skin at Tuan Tuan’s nape, and lifted it clean off.
Tuan Tuan flailed in the air with all four legs, furious at being blocked mid-fun. Its pupils flashed with anger and humiliation, as if to say: [How dare you ruin the Young Master’s good time. I ought to claw you.]
Before it could show its claws, Lin Qing Xuan’s long fingers pressed lightly on a point at the back of its neck. A faint pattern of golden Sanskrit flickered under his touch, a Buddhist Order Demon-Sealing Seal.
The wild Tuan Tuan went limp at once. That soaring cry jammed in its throat and fell into a weak whine. Its whole body softened, legs dangling like a torn cloth bag, until Lin Qing Xuan held a silent, harmless cat.
The courtyard grew quiet. Shi Tou’s family stared with dropped jaws. Old Chen’s pipe almost fell from his mouth. All of them thought at once: [Whoa. No wonder he is the Buddha’s Chosen Young Master. He even has a way to handle a cat in heat.] [Amazing!] [Show’s over. Back inside.]
Lin Qing Xuan tossed Tuan Tuan into a bamboo basket by the wall and stared down coldly as he warned: “Rub around again, and I will throw you into the Demon Suppression Tower at Fahua Temple to keep the old Demons company.”
Curled in the basket, Tuan Tuan shot him a bitter glare from its golden eyes, biting back any sound and swearing up a storm in its heart: [Fake prude. Sanctimonious hypocrite.] [You hug Xiao Man in your dreams and rub plenty. You’re better at it than I am.]
Curious, Xiao Man leaned close, blinking: “Lin Qing Xuan, where did you press it just now? How did it calm down so fast? That trick is amazing.”
She looked at the limp cat in the basket, then at him, starry-eyed with questions. Lin Qing Xuan lowered his gaze and answered with smooth calm: “There is a special point on a cat’s nape. Press it, and the cat quiets.”
He lied without blinking.
“Really?” said Xiao Man, doubtful: “Then why didn’t you use it earlier? Every time it made trouble and climbed on the roof, you just…”
She almost said, You only kill it with your cold stare, which does nothing. Before she could finish, Lin Qing Xuan lifted his hand. When she least expected it, the same clean-boned fingers that had held the cat touched the back of her neck with the same strength and at the same spot.
“Ah!” Xiao Man gasped, her voice shaking. A strange tingle shot from her nape through her whole body. She went rigid, unable to move, like someone had tapped her acupoint. Heat surged from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head. Her cheeks reddened fast, even the tips of her ears burned.
Lowering his lashes, Lin Qing Xuan watched her panic. His voice came out low and rough, with a hint of dangerous warmth, as he murmured: “People have one too.”
His fingertips brushed from her nape across her hot cheek. The touch was as soft as a feather, yet it burned.
Xiao Man glared at him, furious and flustered, sparks almost flying from her eyes as she snapped: “You. Undo it now.”
This Buddha’s Chosen, this scoundrel, had gone too far. He was getting bold.
Seeing her puffed-up anger, a tiny smile finally flickered deep in Lin Qing Xuan’s eyes. He traced lightly across her nape again. The numb, frozen feeling vanished at once.
Free, Xiao Man jumped back two quick steps to a safe distance. She clapped a hand over her hot nape, blushing and angry, and jabbed a finger at him, sputtering: “You, you, you…”
No full sentence would come out. Lin Qing Xuan, calm as ever, picked up the bamboo basket with the still-playing-dead Tuan Tuan and turned toward the study. As he passed her, he paused and looked aside to say in a level voice: “Come in. Close the door. I will tell you what is wrong with it.”
His tone was mild, but it left no room to refuse.
Xiao Man burned with mixed anger and embarrassment and wanted to chomp him. But when she saw the limp Tuan Tuan in the basket, her heart softened. She truly wanted to know what had happened to make it act so strange.
After a moment of stomping and puffed cheeks, she followed, sulking. Inside the study, she shut the heavy wooden door with a click, cutting off the outside world.