By the time we returned to Hua Residence, it was already late into the night. The two little maids joyfully greeted our return and hurried to inform Yin Zi of the matter.
Yin Zi rubbed his red and half awake eyes, and irritably said, "What did you guys come running back for? Didn't I say I was going to rest for a few days? Why have you come to disturb my peace and quiet?"
I hurried over and grabbed Yin Zi's collar, "I scolded Xiao Mao and now he's run away from home!"
"Perhaps he's run away from to play somewhere," Yin Zi's dazed eyes finally began to focus, "Running away from home? Xiao Mao?"
I gave my head a nod, and then instructed Jian Nan to clearly explain the entire situation as well as the consequences of my words. As he was listening to our explanation, he quickly grew more and more anxious, eventually ordering all available hands to give the area a search.
The enclosure to the Hellhound remained intact, which meant that Xiao Mao couldn't have possibly returned to take away the mount and leave with it. As our search expanded to Huoyan Mountain, we came upon Luo Sha who was crying and saying how her son had also run away from home with a bunch of little demons. Everyday, they would wreak havoc and cause evil.
Truthfully, I don't really understand Luo Sha's child Hong Hai'er. Even though he's of age to undergo his trials to becoming a full-fledged demon, he hasn't yet refined his heart into that of a matured demon's. I truly do pity Luo Sha wasted efforts and hard work, no matter how hard she tries to persuade, the words she says won't go through. Beating him doesn't work, and scolding him doesn't work, she's already run out of methods.
Seeing that expression of hers, I became even more worried. I rode on my mount, the Hellhound, back to heavens to request for help. After hundreds of years, Haiyang has also been promoted and given a new position. He informed me that although Xiao Mao is Bi Qingshen Jun's child, and that he is intelligent and possesses some strength, he is still only a child. If that brat dares to wander into a powerful demonic beast's territory, then the only end for him may be becoming another monster's meal.
I was ashamed of myself for my words and actions. But I was also afraid.....I had a stomach full of tears, yet they did not fall. I could only go round and round looking for him.
In only a short period of time, we have already overturned the entire Mortal Realm with the help of the people sent from the Heavenly Realm, but we were still unable to find Xiao Mao. There was a possibility that he could be hiding in a place where we've already searched, but no matter how we looked, we were unable to find any traces of him. Searching here and there, I eventually stumbled back to Maoshan Mountain. As a last resort, I began sniffing the area for Xiao Mao's scent, hoping to find some clues. I examined every last detail and finally found several strands of Xiao Mao's black hairs that traced towards the Hidden Dragon Valley.
What would he go there for? He isn't thinking of doing anything stupid right?
I hurriedly rushed over towards that most hateful place. I really did find Xiao Mao, he had been sitting alone tucked away under a set of dragon bones. His ears were folded, his mood was low, and his body was lifeless and still like a rock. The atmosphere was depressing and gloomy.
"Xiao Mao....." I slowly and gently approached him.
Xiao Mao tucked away his head even lower, and continued to remain silent.
"Come back." I said softly.
Xiao Mao only turned away his ears and shook his head.
"Mother.....has said some terrible words today, you don't need to take them into your heart....." I stammered, "Just.....just think of it as me speaking nonsense. Like how I often say....."
"You didn't say anything wrong, Xiao Mao is the one wrong. Xiao Mao is a bad child."
"You're not....."
I leaned down and held Xiao Mao in my arms. His face was furrowed and was full of snot and tears. I've never since his birth seen him with such an expression and cry like that before.
"Don't cry, good child." I tried to wipe his tears, but Xiao Mao had begun to cry even more fiercely, thus I comforted, "Let's return first, this place is not a good place so we shouldn't stay here any longer."
"This place is where Father once died.....?" Xiao Mao suddenly raised his hazy eyes to me and asked.
"En....." I took in a deep breath, my heart was very sad.
"Wasn't he the Heavenly Realm's most powerful general? Why was he defeated by the hands of the demon Yao Yang? How did he die?" Xiao Mao continued asking the questions.
There were no detailed records that were left behind about Bi Qingshen Jun's death in the Heavenly Realm. The Jade Emperor only stated that he had atoned for his sins, and granted a small seal for him. And the fact that Yao Yang used under handed methods and injured many heavenly soldiers in the process, this part was covered up. Many parts of this story such as how Bi Qingshen Jun was ambushed and choose to die together with Yao Yang as a last resort was modified by the heavens to keep their face and pride.
And because this was always the source of the pain in my heart, everyone around me never mentioned much about this topic. I always thought Yin Zi and the others would eventually tell the truth to Xiao Mao, but when I went back to ask, all of them thought others would or had already informed Xiao Mao of the matter.
We all thought Xiao Mao knew about it, however, it turned out he only knew vaguely about the outline of what had happened. And the details of everything, he knew nothing about.
"Why did you suddenly ask about this topic today?" I let out a bitter smile.
"That's because every time I mention about Father, you'll show a very sad expression." Xiao Mao quietly replied, "Therefore I didn't dare ask."
I thought for a long time, not knowing how to begin to talk about the past.
Xiao Mao wiped his tears and continued, "Ever since I could understand things, everyone talked about what a great man Bi Qingshen Jun is and how he's talented at everything from playing the qin to poetry to chess to painting to his world-class literary skills. With such a father, I mustn't lose his face."
"Nonsense," I hastened to refute, "The qin I couldn't understand, however, your father was super bad at painting. It can't even compare with the plum blossoms and works of arts I create with my claws, and plus, he's always lost in chess against Mo'lin. How did people even come up with the phrase talented at everything? Mo'lin had also mentioned that he's very partial when reading texts and plans out his strategies exquisitely, but his writings were never great nor did he invest much time in them."
"Pfttt....." Xiao Mao finally couldn't help but laugh, his mood seemed to improve as well, "They also said that Father was a man with an indomitable spirit and that he was very, very powerful....."
"That part is true though, I've never beaten him once." There was a feeling of warmth as I recalled the past.
Xiao Mao lowered his beautiful green eyes and said softly, "When I was little, I imagined what kind of person he'd be, but I was also afraid. He's never seen Xiao Mao before, so would he like me? If he doesn't want me, and if he steals Mother from me, what should I do? The glance you gave every time you visited that stone waiting for Father deepened my fears. I felt as if I was already abandoned.....that you guys were back together, and didn't want me anymore."
"Then are you the one responsible for breaking the stone?" I asked in surprise.
"En....." Xiao Mao nodded quickly, "I really did think I'd never see Father again as I broke the giant stone, but I also began to regret....."
"Well, it's all in the past now." I consoled, "You're actions were wrong, but that can also be your luck."
Xiao Mao held onto the hems of my sleeves and said, "I'm not willing.....why is Xiang Qing not the father that everyone described? Why is he not one bit powerful? Why is he so dull.....and so foolish.....?"
He no longer continued, but I understood what he meant. I rubbed his head and said, "His soul is in a mortal body, that's why he is no longer as powerful as he once had been."
"Then he will no longer have an immortal body?" Xiao Mao curiously asked.
I shook my head, "He can't, Yin Zi and I once considered ways to restore his former strength, however, Mo'lin said that if you use force to make a mortal body into becoming an immortal body, then he would be breaking the heavenly laws and he would never again be able to return to the Heavenly Realms. In this case, why don't we peacefully wait until the time for his return."
"Father, will he really like me? He won't give me the cold-shoulder and think of me as extra baggage, right?"
"Your father loves you, although I'm not very bright, and I don't know much," I assured Xiao Mao, "At that time, before you were born, he was looking forward to your arrival very much so. He even said I was too clumsy to bring up a child, and how he'd personally educate and bring you into the battlefield."
"But Father, he's no longer the same as he was in the past."
"He is, although he's not as powerful as before, but he's working very hard to make up for that. I know that he loves you, and has always loved you. You must listen to a cat's intuition, whether a person is sincere with his feelings or not, good or bad. What's your feeling?"
Once again, Xiao Mao silently gathered his thoughts. In this silence, I began to recall our memories. How we met, how we got to know each other, how we fell in love, and how we parted ways. My words were genuine and sincere, and Xiao Mao was also very attentive as he listened so we didn't pay much attention to our surroundings.
To our surprise, as a gust of wind passed by, Xiang Qing's figure had arrived at the very top of this Hidden Dragon Valley. His eyes were full of surprise as he stared at Xiao Mao and I. I immediately realized that my ears and my tail were still out, and it was the same for Xiao Mao next to me.