Free Web Novel“Um, we…”
“Don’t talk while eating.”
“Oh…”
Chen Changsheng said he wouldn’t give Tabby Cat any, but it was actually just a joke. After all, he had plenty of dried fish and couldn’t finish it all, so he gave the extra to Tabby Cat.
Lihua quite liked it, preferring these dry ones over cooked fish.
Tabby Cat licked its lips and asked, “Why aren’t we flying there?”
“It’s just a few steps away, not far.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Innocent Tabby Cat didn’t yet understand what Chen Changsheng’s “few steps” really meant.
And so, they set off from day and walked until night, and from night until day again.
Tabby Cat completely ran out of energy. It just flopped down and stopped moving.
“Lihua can’t walk anymore.”
Chen Changsheng looked at it and said, “You’re a monster too. How can a bit of distance tire you out like this?” fгeewebnovёl.com
“I’m a little monster, not a great demon.”
“Then how have you lived so long?”
“Um…”
Tabby Cat thought for a moment, then shook its head. “Forgot.”
It raised its head to look at Chen Changsheng and said, “Mo Yu says I used to be amazing. Lihua could beat many great demons, but Lihua can’t remember.”
“Maybe Mo Yu was teasing you.”
“No way. Mo Yu never lies to me.”
“That might not be true.”
“I don’t care. Anyway, I was very strong.”
“Mm-hmm, yes, yes…”
The sun set to the west, and green shade spread all along the Imperial Road, swaying slowly in the Huai Xu breeze.
The Green-Robed Gentleman carried Tabby Cat onward. The setting sun shone through the woods to the west, casting his figure across the road.
Step by step they went until the last bit of sunlight faded.
Compared to before, there seemed a bit less sorrow in the gentleman’s eyes. Probably Tabby Cat’s chatter made the journey feel less lonely.
…
It was Huai Xu season, and outside the Autumn Moon Market, people were busy in the fields—planting rice, sowing seeds, building paddies and clearing ditches. This was likely the busiest time of year.
Sweat splashed onto the earth as folks watched each young seedling set down, hoping for a good harvest ahead.
An old farmer by the road looked up and saw a properly dressed young man walking toward him.
As the young man came closer, he said, “I travelled far to get here, yet today’s heat drained the water I brought. Could you tell me where a clean well is to quench my thirst?”
The old farmer glanced over and saw a cat’s head poking out from behind the Green-Robed Gentleman.
Lihua peered at the old man and let out a sound.
“Meow.”
The old man snapped back and said, “That cat won’t run away?”
Chen Changsheng smiled, “It won’t run.”
“Hah, clever cat.”
The old man chuckled and then pointed in a direction. “Go ahead on the small path. There’s a well with water from the mountains. Tastes sweet.”
“Thank you,” Chen Changsheng said gratefully.
“Small matter.”
The old man studied the Green-Robed Gentleman and asked, “Say, have I seen you somewhere?”
Chen Changsheng gave a warm smile. “I lived in Autumn Moon Market once. Maybe we passed each other on the street.”
“Could be. Which part of town did you stay in?”
“I never had a home really, but I did borrow a place for a few days at the Flowing Cloud Temple outside the market.”
“Oh, like that…”
The old farmer didn’t seem to know of the Flowing Cloud Temple, so he changed the subject and pointed again to where the well was.
“Off I go.”
“Meow.”
Chen Changsheng headed for the well, with Tabby Cat following behind him.
The old farmer watched the cat obediently tailing its master and felt surprised.
That cat really was smart.
Usually, wells in the fields were near mountains. Water came down from the hills and was caught to help laborers drink.
This water wasn’t as cool as true well water, but much sweeter.
At the well, Chen Changsheng paused and said to Lihua, “Go on now.”
Tabby Cat blinked at him and asked, “Aren’t you drinking?”
“I’m not thirsty.”
“You still need to drink, even if not thirsty.”
“Since it’s not…” Chen Changsheng stopped short, then added, “I think Lihua is right.”
Tabby Cat snorted twice and proudly said, “Of course!”
With that, it swished its tail and went to the edge of the well to drink.
Chen Changsheng scooped some water in his hands and took a sip.
The sweet taste filled his mouth.
Suddenly, Chen Changsheng, who hadn’t been thirsty, felt a bit parched. He scooped another handful and drank.
He felt strange, and then he thought deeper.
Over the years, he must have missed many little things. These wee moments mattered a lot and were a part of cultivation too.
Like this sip of mountain water—a rare treasure.
Chen Changsheng breathed out and said to Tabby Cat, “Thank you, Lihua.”
“Huh?” Tabby Cat blinked. “Why thank me?”
Chen Changsheng grinned. “Without you, I wouldn’t have tasted such sweet water today.”
Tabby Cat looked puzzled. “But water doesn’t run away. Why couldn’t you drink it?”
Chen Changsheng patted its head. “It’s not the same.”
“Don’t touch Lihua’s head.”
Tabby Cat scooted to the side.
Chen Changsheng pulled his hand back. “I forgot for a moment. Next time, I’ll be more careful.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Lihua nodded and kept drinking.
Chen Changsheng stood by the well. A moment of cool peace seemed to wash away his travel fatigue. This feeling was wonderful and rare. freewebnovel.cσ๓
Almost missed it.
Tabby Cat finished drinking and asked, “Are we moving on?”
Chen Changsheng said, “This is my old place. Let’s rest here today.”
“What’s an ‘old place’? Is it good? Can you grow dried fish there?”
“It won’t grow dried fish. ‘Old place’ means an old home or spot I knew long ago.”
“Oh.”
Tabby Cat lost interest.
Chen Changsheng walked onward, then reached the Great Dao trail again. After a while, he saw a pile of rotten wood.
Chen Changsheng paused to look.
Lihua asked, “Why did you stop?”
Chen Changsheng pointed to the broken wood and said, “This was once a tea shop. When I first left this place, the owner gave me a bowl of tea, mistaking me for a student heading to exams.”
Tabby Cat gazed over and asked confused, “But Lihua doesn’t see a shop here.”
“It’s gone now.”
Chen Changsheng went on, “Years ago, the owner moved on, and no one took care of it. Without life here, it fell apart fast. Weather ate away the wood, and it toppled. So the spot grew shorter each year until it sank into the ground.”
“Buried, you mean?”
“Same thing.”
“All right…”
