Xu Yang woke to the sound of rain dripping from the edge of the roof and the quiet crackle of firewood burning in the stove. Warmth seeped through his wet fur from the woven mat beneath him,slowly easing the stiffness in his small body.For a few seconds,he simply lay there with his eyes closed,almost forgetting everything.Then a cold voice suddenly appeared in his mind.[Host condition: Stable.][First life: Active.] Xu Yang's ears twitched,and his eyes opened slowly."...I was hoping you weren't real." [System is active.] "Yeah,I noticed."
Xu Yang stared at the ceiling for a moment before sighing."That's supposed to make me feel better?" [It is a fact.] "You're not very comforting." The System went quiet.Xu Yang let out a small breath and looked around the room.Then the memories came rushing back.And those words that he couldn't forget no matter how hard he tried. Death is mandatory...
Xu Yang slowly looked down at himself.He was still a cat.Black fur covered his small body,and his four legs were tucked beneath him.A thin tail rested against his side.He stared at himself for a long moment.I'm still here..but Why?..He looked toward the window,where pale morning light was slowly coming through the paper screen.Can this just be a dream already?...He closed his eyes tightly and waited."Maybe I'll wake up if I sleep again," he muttered."That's how dreams work,right?" He opened his eyes.Nothing had changed.
The same room was still there.The same small paws were still in front of him.The same tail was lying beside him.Xu Yang stared at his paws and sighed."Still a cat." He looked toward the stove."Still in a strange house." Then he looked back at himself."Still very much not human." His ears drooped.The faint spiritual warmth inside his body pulsed again,quietly reminding him that this wasn't a dream.Xu Yang rested his head on his paws. "Seriously?" [Yes.] His head immediately lifted."I wasn't asking you." [Understood.] "Then stop answering." [Understood.]
Xu Yang stared at the empty air for a few seconds."...You're going to be annoying, aren't you?" [Possibly.] He sighed and lowered his head again."I already don't like you." The System became silent,and Xu Yang was almost grateful for it.Now that the panic had faded,his thoughts were starting to settle.I don't want this...He looked toward the window.I didn't ask to come here.I didn't even get a say in dying once,and now I'm supposed to do it nine times?... His tail twitched against the mat.What kind of system is this?Who designed a game where the player just keeps dying? ...If this is someone's idea of reincarnation,they have terrible humor.
Xu Yang stared at the wooden floor for a while before asking,"So what am I?Just a disposable character?" The System remained silent.Xu Yang looked upward. "You could at least say something." [Host is not disposable.] Xu Yang blinked."Really?" [Correct.] He slowly sat up."Then what am I?" There was a short pause.[Host.] Xu Yang stared at nothing."That's it?" [Yes.] He fell back onto the mat."That was completely useless." The System went silent again.Xu Yang didn't bother arguing this time.
Across the room,Lin Chen was still asleep on the low bed.His chest rose and fell evenly,and one arm rested loosely beside him.Outside,the village was slowly waking. Footsteps passed along the road.A door creaked open.Someone coughed,and a rooster crowed loudly somewhere nearby.Xu Yang listened quietly. He looked toward the window again and wondered how long that would last.How many days do I even have like this?... His mind returned to the nine lives."Nine lives..." he muttered."So what?I just count them like a timer?" He raised one paw and looked at it."One mistake.One death.Then I start again?"...His paw slowly lowered.He looked around the small room and let out a quiet breath."If I was going to die anyway...why send me into a book?" His expression became more serious."What's the point?Just to make me suffer differently each time? That's not reincarnation." His tail flicked once."That's just scheduling death."
Xu Yang looked towards sky. Why it's always me?! I don't even know what the goal is.His tail shifted slightly behind him.Survive?Escape?Become strong?Or just...keep dying until something changes?He didn't like any of the answers forming in his mind. "At least tell me the rules before throwing me into the game." There was a short pause before he added more quietly,"I didn't even get a choice." [Host has been provided with nine lives.] Xu Yang's ears twitched."That's not a rule." [Correct.] "Then give me one." [Rule one: Survive.]
Xu Yang stared ahead."That's basically the same thing." [Rule two: Avoid unnecessary attention.] "Better." [Rule three: Do not reveal your true identity.] Xu Yang's ears slowly lifted."You mean...don't let anyone know I'm a cat demon?" [Correct.] "I wasn't planning to announce it." [Rule four: Do not trust unknown individuals.] Xu Yang paused. "That's actually useful." [Rule five: Do not interfere with events that do not concern the host.] He frowned."What if they do concern me?" [Then the host may choose to interfere.]
Xu Yang blinked."So I can make my own choices?" [Yes.] For the first time,the answer made him feel a little less trapped."Good." He lowered his head for a moment before asking,"And what happens if I break one of these rules?" There was a brief silence. [The System cannot guarantee the host's survival.] Xu Yang stared at nothing for several seconds."You really know how to make everything sound worse." [It is a fact.] "Yeah.I noticed."
Xu Yang pushed himself up into a sitting position,moving carefully and quietly.His body responded more smoothly than it had the day before.He paused and looked down at his paws. "Was I always this...fast?" [Host's physical condition has improved.] Xu Yang looked up."Because of the nine lives?" [No.] "Then why?" [Unknown.] He stared at the empty room."You really don't know much,do you?" [The System provides survival assistance.] "That's a very convenient excuse." [Noted.]
Xu Yang narrowed his eyes."You sound like you don't care." [The System does not possess feelings.] "Right.I forgot." He padded quietly toward the window and hopped onto the sill.From there,he could see most of the village.Simple houses lined the muddy paths,and thin streams of smoke curled gently from chimneys.People were beginning their morning as if nothing had changed.As if the world were completely normal.They didn't know what Heaven was.They didn't know what demons were capable of.
Xu Yang watched them for a while,his ears twitching at every unfamiliar sound.He needed rules,and now he had them.He just wasn't sure whether following them would actually be enough.Rule one: Survive.Rule two: Do not stand out.Rule three: Do not reveal his identity.Rule four: Do not trust unknown individuals.Rule five: Do not interfere unless necessary.He paused,then added one more rule himself.Rule six: Do not cultivate openly.Especially not cultivate.T
Xu Yang lowered his head and focused on it.The spiritual energy inside him was unstable and fragile,barely enough to qualify him as anything more than a spiritual beast.[Host cultivation level: Low.] Xu Yang's expression tightened."How low?" [Very low.] "Could you be more specific?" [No.] He stared at the window."You're really bad at encouragement." [Noted.] Xu Yang sighed and looked back at the village."Fine.I'll start with surviving." [Survival probability increases when the host follows basic precautions.] He paused."And what happens if I don't?" [Death.] Xu Yang's ears drooped. "Yeah.I figured that one out already."
A sudden movement caught his eye.Lin Chen stirred.Xu Yang immediately jumped down from the window and curled up,forcing his body into the loose,relaxed posture of an ordinary cat.He even let out a small,lazy yawn,stretching one paw clumsily.Lin Chen sat up,rubbing his eyes."Morning already?" he muttered.His gaze fell on Xu Yang,and a faint smile tugged at his lips."You slept well,huh?" Xu Yang flicked his tail once, pretending not to care.
Lin Chen stared at him for another second. "You're awake early." Xu Yang slowly blinked."..." Lin Chen tilted his head."Are you ignoring me?" Xu Yang looked away.Lin Chen laughed."I suppose that's an answer." He stood,stretched,and tied his hair back with a piece of string.He moved around the room,lighting the stove properly and boiling water.Xu Yang watched from the corner of his eye.
He is… ordinary.Which made him dangerous in a different way.Ordinary people survived by blending in...i can't trust anyone...Lin Chen poured water into a basin and splashed his face."I need to head out early today." he said absently,as if Xu Yang could understand him."Old Granny Wei asked me to help repair her fence." Xu Yang's ears twitched.Lin Chen glanced down."You can stay here.Or come along,if you want."
Xu Yang looked toward the door,then back at the food being prepared.He remained where he was.Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Staying, then?" Xu Yang flicked his tail.Lin Chen sat down and ate a simple breakfast.He occasionally glanced at Xu Yang,who was trying very hard not to stare at the bowl in front of him."You want some?" Xu Yang's ears lifted before he could stop them.
Lin Chen noticed immediately and his smile widened."I thought so." He broke off a small piece and placed it on a separate plate. "Here." Xu Yang approached cautiously, sniffed it,and then began eating.Lin Chen watched for a moment."You're cautious even with food." Xu Yang stopped chewing and looked up."..." "Don't worry," Lin Chen said."I won't take it back." Xu Yang lowered his head and continued eating.
Lin Chen finished his meal and stood."I'll be back before sunset." He walked toward the door,then stopped and looked over his shoulder."Try not to destroy the house while I'm gone." Xu Yang stared at him in disbelief. Lin Chen laughed."I'm joking." Xu Yang gave him a flat look.Lin Chen opened the door. "Stay here if you want.I'll leave the door unlocked."
Xu Yang watched him step outside,then suddenly heard the cold voice in his head.[System inactive until necessary.] Xu Yang's ears twitched.He looked toward the door. "What?" [The System will remain inactive unless assistance is required.] Xu Yang frowned."So you're leaving me alone?" [Correct.] "You could at least explain what counts as necessary." [Immediate threat to survival.Significant deviation.Major system-related event.] Xu Yang stared ahead."And if I ask you something?" [The System may respond.] "May?" [Yes.] "That's reassuring."
Xu Yang narrowed his eyes."And you're not going to suddenly disappear when I actually need you?" [The System will respond when necessary.] Xu Yang sighed."Fine.Go inactive." [Understood.] The presence in his mind faded until only silence remained.Xu Yang sat there for a moment."...I already miss the annoying voice." He immediately shook his head."No.I don't." He waited until
Xu Yang climbed onto the table and sniffed around.The smell of food lingered...rice, vegetables,faint traces of meat.He resisted the urge to eat everything."Control," he reminded himself.He jumped down and padded slowly around the room,memorizing it."Good." He paused."Too good." He moved closer to the walls and sniffed carefully.Nothing.He checked beneath the table,behind the stove,and even under the bed.
He finally sat in the middle of the room and looked around."Either Lin Chen is extremely ordinary..." He glanced toward the door."...or I'm missing something." He paused near the stove.Without thinking,Xu Yang focused inward just a little.The warmth responded and thin thread of energy shifted,flowing clumsily through his small body.
Xu Yang froze.He immediately stopped.His fur stood on end.I just entered this world... Don't tell me it's already started?...His ears strained,trying to catch anything unusual beneath the normal village sounds.I haven't even figured out how to walk properly in this body...Can't you give me one peaceful day?Just one?...His claws dug lightly into the floorboards without him noticing.I don't even know what "danger" feels like here yet...
Xu Yang swallowed hard and forced the energy to settle.He slumped down,heart pounding,and pressed himself flat against the floor.The door creaked open again.Xu Yang sprang up and immediately resumed his role,batting at a stray piece of straw with exaggerated enthusiasm.Lin Chen stepped inside,carrying a bundle of firewood."You're lively," he said with a chuckle."Good sign."
Xu Yang flicked his tail innocently.Lin Chen set the wood aside,then paused,studying him more closely."You're really smart," he murmured."You didn't knock anything over." Xu Yang blinked slowly.What does that mean?....Of course I didn't knock anything over.Why would I...I'm not a toddler...His tail gave a subtle,offended flick.Is that… a compliment in this world?"Smart" because I didn't destroy furniture?The standards here are low...
Xu Yang sat a little straighter without realizing it.Still.I am smart.Just because I'm a cat now doesn't reset my brain...Lin Chen crouched,peering at him with curiosity rather than suspicion."Most cats would've tried to steal food by now." Xu Yang yawned.Lin Chen laughed."Alright,alright.I get it.You're proud."
Then Xu Yang followed Lin Chen outside, keeping close but never too close.Villagers noticed him,commented casually,but no one questioned his presence."A stray?""Pretty one.""Looks healthy." Healthy.Xu Yang almost laughed.He watched everything. Where people gathered.Where cultivators occasionally passed through.Where talismans were hung at doors—not for demons,but for bad luck.
At one point,a traveling cultivator stopped near the well.Xu Yang froze instantly.The man wore blue robes with a faded emblem stitched near the shoulder.His aura was stronger than Lin Chen's.Xu Yang lowered his head and forced himself to move lazily, like a bored cat uninterested in anything.The cultivator's gaze swept over the area.
For one terrifying second,it lingered on Xu Yang.Xu Yang held his breath.Then the man frowned slightly,as if confused,and looked away."Strange!" he muttered,then continued on.Xu Yang didn't move for a long time.He didn't see me...Xu Yang realized slowly.
Back in the house,Lin Chen prepared a simple meal and set aside scraps for Xu Yang.He watched the cat eat,thoughtful. "You're not afraid of people," Lin Chen said quietly."But you're careful." Xu Yang paused mid-bite,then continued eating as if he hadn't heard.Lin Chen smiled faintly."Guess that's how you survived." Xu Yang curled up near the stove later,eyes half-closed.Lin Chen lay down,extinguishing the lamp. Darkness filled the room and Xu Yang's tail twitched once in his sleep.