Just A Cat! . . .
"Chongxiao, you shouldn't have revealed your real name. I understand your intent to be honest, but it wasn't a wise move. It might lead to trouble for you," Xiao Mufei admonished Cha Eun Xiao as they hurriedly left the scene. "You've now made yourself a target. Exposing your true name may cause complications."
Cha Eun Xiao appeared remorseful as he replied, "I didn't think it through. They are all highly skilled cultivators, while I'm just a junior. I believed I should be forthcoming with them..."
"Highly skilled..." Xiao Mufei sneered. "They don't deserve that title. What a joke!"
"Nonetheless, they are indeed quite powerful compared to your current abilities," Xiao Mufei added, offering some encouragement. "Listen, kid, just work hard. Soon, you'll have those so-called 'superior' figures looking up to you with admiration. You'll become the superior figure they have to respect. Believe me, it won't take long as long as you put in the effort."
A few young men from Cold Moon Palace nodded and smiled, echoing their approval.
Cha Eun Xiao managed a smile as well, though it felt forced. In reality, he was feeling uneasy, but inwardly, he was smirking.
He had intentionally revealed his fake name, and it was no simple ploy. Firstly, he couldn't use the name Cha Eun Xiao anymore, as his previous life's notoriety preceded him. He needed to adopt a different identity until he became powerful enough.
And, those three factions were unlikely to appreciate hearing the name Cha Eun Xiao.
Furthermore, he had too much notoriety as Feng Zhiling in the Land of Han-Yang. It was risky to use that name.
So, he settled on Cha Chongxiao. The choice held multiple layers of significance.
Secondly, Cold Moon Palace had been one of the three factions that pursued him relentlessly in his previous life.
Saint Sunlight Sect, Saint Starlight Sect, and Cold Moon Palace—Sun, star, and moon.
Cha Eun Xiao wouldn't pass up the opportunity to stir up some trouble for his old enemies. Moreover, revealing his name would attract more attention and provide numerous chances for personal growth.
Xiao Mufei's words didn't genuinely move Cha Eun Xiao, so he chose to disregard them.
However, he acknowledged that Xiao Mufei was displaying kindness towards him, albeit driven by his sect's interests.
"Well, you have a good name," Xiao Mufei smiled. "Cha Chongxiao... Excellent. But if a leaf wants to ascend to the clouds, it needs the wind! You require the wind to lift you..."
"Cold Moon Palace is precisely the wind you need," he concluded.
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback. "Thank you, Elder Xiao."
He was surprised by Xiao Mufei's astute interpretation of his chosen name. It seemed that he had read much more into it than Cha Eun Xiao had expected.
"By the way, where is your cat?" Xiao Mufei asked, clearly intrigued by the feline that had captured the fish.
Cha Eun Xiao smiled wryly and presented the cat. "It's a lazy cat..."
Xiao Mufei gazed at the cat, and it returned his scrutiny.
Xiao Mufei appeared somewhat disappointed. He scrutinized the cat for a moment and then sighed, "The law of nature... I assumed your cat must be something exceptional, a rare spiritual creature that managed to capture the fish. Well... it seems to be..."
In the end, it was just an ordinary cat. Xiao Mufei didn't finish his sentence, but the implications were clear.
Cha Eun Xiao smiled ruefully and explained, "Yes, I encountered this little creature when I first arrived. I gave it a small fish, and it's been following me ever since. I can't bring myself to get rid of it, though, and I should appreciate its presence..."
He realized he had made a slip in his words, but Xiao Mufei didn't seem to notice. To Xiao Mufei, it appeared as an ordinary cat, indistinguishable from countless others in the world. No one had the luxury to investigate its origins. While children or girls might find such small animals endearing, for Xiao Mufei, who was older, it held no special charm, regardless of how cute Erhuo might be.
Xiao Mufei returned Erhuo to Cha Eun Xiao and commented, "It must be an unusual creature. There have been no side effects after consuming that fish. Just a typical cat. It did move incredibly fast when it spotted the fish. I must admit, I was taken aback..."
Cha Eun Xiao replied in a hushed tone, "The fish was incredibly swift when it leaped out as well..."
"True," Xiao Mufei remarked, wishing to provide a reasonable explanation for their inability to react. "We were caught off guard. That's why it seemed so rapid..."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thankfully, the cat didn't devour the fish's head. Otherwise, we'd all be fooled. The head is the only valuable part... The rest is of no use..."
"If this little creature had consumed the head, it would have been such a waste..."
Cha Eun Xiao agreed, saying, "You're right."
Erhuo, nestled in Cha Eun Xiao's palm, gazed at Xiao Mufei with an irritated expression. In its heart, it had already begun to curse him, "You foolish old man! What do you know about spiritual creatures?"
"Spiritual creature, spiritual creature... All you know how to do is call me that!"
"I am a strange creature? You are a strange creature!"
"Your family is a family of strange creatures!"
"The fish head is the most valuable part? Valuable my foot!"
"You ignorant fool!"
"Typical cat... Typical my foot, you hideous fool!"
"If every family had a cat like me, the universe would have been destroyed a hundred thousand times over!"
"You old, worthless jerk!"
Erhuo seethed with anger.
"I've hidden myself well, you old coot! Never look down on me!"
In any case, people had ceased to be curious about Cha Eun Xiao's cat, a development that spared him numerous potential complications.
Nevertheless, Erhuo harbored a deep-seated grudge against Xiao Mufei from that point onward.
Erhuo considered the encounter a humiliating experience and vowed to make Xiao Mufei understand the agony it could inflict one day.
With an indignant huff, it rolled its eyes and retreated into Cha Eun Xiao's clothing, refusing to cast another glance at the old man's face.
"Meow!"
...
Xiao Mufei addressed the group, issuing a solemn warning: "Our journey back will not be without risks. Be cautious, everyone."
He gazed at the forest ahead, speaking in a somber tone. "We are three hundred and sixty strong. I want thirty of you to advance ten miles ahead. If you detect anything unusual, sound the warning. Stay alert!"
Thirty individuals promptly departed from the group, disappearing into the dense woods.
Xiao Mufei then instructed, "Number 4, lead thirty others to follow us from behind. Be vigilant for anyone tailing us."
"Understood," a fair-faced man responded. He positioned himself with thirty others behind the main group, maintaining a certain distance between them.