Tell a Thief about Theft! . . .
Conversations with a cat, it seemed, held a particular allure that was distinctly absent in dialogues with a school of fish.
The fish, being what they were, would scatter mid-conversation, compelling him to repeat his musings for no fewer than twenty fish to hear all he had to say. A single lecture would disperse them. It was a futile exercise in piscine pedagogy.
A cat, however, proved an entirely different audience. Imbued with a remarkable sense of decorum, it would sit still, attentive and unblinking, its gaze fixed upon him, its ears perking up in response to his words.
How wonderfully civil!
At present, though, the tranquility was shattered. Yue Changtian seethed.
"Where have my fish gone?" He wrestled with his roiling emotions. "What has transpired?"
Deep in thought, he remained.
Meanwhile, Erhuo emerged from the underbrush with quiet grace, taking its place beside the pond. The small feline's ears twitched intermittently, its eyes reflecting avarice as it observed the piscine residents.
Yue Changtian remained unfazed. [Cats have an innate penchant for fish. None can resist the allure of my spiritual fish. Were it disinclined to indulge, it would be a curiosity indeed!]
[But regardless, it won't partake to excess.]
[Can a cat of that size possibly secure its quarry?]
[The Chaos Fish, among these, are the most sought-after. They are a boon for high-level cultivators. Grown Chaos Fish, adorned with their iridescent purple qi, hold the strength of martial artists. Those beneath the threshold of Dream Origin Stage would find it impossible to assail them. You, my petite feline friend, stand no chance. Can you truly apprehend these prey?]
And thus, Yue Changtian held no qualms about the cat's proclivity for his piscine treasures.
[In excess of a hundred thousand fish!]
[Ranging from the grand to the minuscule, from the golden to the silvery, from the colorful to the plain...]
[Should it be sufficiently capable, let it feast. It will spare me the burdensome task of periodic pond maintenance. Although, given its diminutive size, it can hardly make a dent in my abundance of fish.]
[More will hatch in due time.]
"Speak to me, little one," Yue Changtian queried Erhuo. "Who has filched my fish?"
Erhuo gazed up at him, its eyes reflecting bewilderment, before responding with a soft meow.
"Indeed, it would seem so," Yue Changtian acquiesced. "But who could it be?" He continued his pondering, unfazed. "Many are privy to the existence of these fish. Yet few are aware of the potency inherent in each variety."
Erhuo's ear twitched, and it uttered another inquisitive meow.
"Those who intended to benefit from these fish should possess a certain level of cultivation," Yue Changtian mused, a furrow deepening on his brow.
Erhuo blinked in response, its eyes wide, appearing somewhat puzzled. "Meow..."
"Anyone capable of stealing my fish would need to be at the Dao Origin Stage... or even beyond, perhaps at the sixth level," Yue Changtian reasoned, his voice laced with a tinge of frustration. "Otherwise, those fish are of no use to them. You see, the thief executed it so discreetly, my dear feline. All of the fully grown fish have vanished, particularly the Chaos Fish. Not a single one remains. It boggles my mind who could perpetrate such a stealthy heist..."
Erhuo rubbed its whiskers thoughtfully, emitting a soft, contemplative "meow."
"Only those versed in the art of beast training and possessing the knowledge to control my fish could have executed such a covert theft," Yue Changtian continued, a growing certainty in his tone. "Furthermore, the entrance to this place is barred to outsiders. Thus, the culprit must hail from within our sect. Only members of the sect could infiltrate this space and purloin my fish with such stealth. My assessment is astute, wouldn't you agree?"
Erhuo swished its tail playfully and responded with an adorable, "Meow, meow."
"The audacity of the thief is glaring," Yue Changtian continued, deepening his frown. "Stealing my fish, especially the Chaos Fish, is quite the audacious act. It must be someone with a significant standing within the sect, am I right?"
Erhuo lightly scratched its neck and emphatically meowed.
"In light of this," Yue Changtian declared, his teeth grinding, "I must remain vigilant toward all those under my purview. If anyone desires a taste of my fish, they need only ask, and I would readily share. But pilfering my fish without consent is entirely unacceptable! All the fish are now gone, an excessive appetite at play!"
Erhuo meowed in agreement, fully endorsing the sentiment, "You're right, absolutely right! Brilliant!"
In truth, Erhuo harbored clandestine musings. [I must improve my thieving skills, for I came perilously close to exposing myself. It's imperative to exercise caution and avoid arousing suspicion. Those fish carry the coveted purple qi... it's a must I partake...]
[Hmmm... I've devoured all the purple qi-laden fish from this pond. I ought to change locations... meow! What a clever and beautiful feline I am!]
[This towering imbecile is the sect's master, yet he's divulged everything about his scheme to keep watch over the ponds. What an open book he is! Even with such transparency, I doubt he'll manage to ensnare me...]
[Hmmm... There are other ponds, after all. I vow to limit myself to capturing a single fish from each pond daily!]
[I reckon it won't draw any undue attention...]
[Perhaps these fish grow swiftly... and no one will be the wiser.]
[Such a shrewd cat am I!]
Deep in contemplation, Erhuo sported a sly expression. Its half-closed eyes conveyed an air of leisure and contentment as it continued to appear utterly endearing.
Having devised his plan, Yue Changtian's interest waned. Erhuo, still enthused, playfully swished its tail and gracefully sauntered away. It gingerly tread upon the verdant grass with its pristine, snowy paws, setting off in pursuit of butterflies...
Yue Changtian observed Erhuo's antics with a delighted smile. "How adorable... What a shame you're not a spiritual beast. I might have nurtured you well. At the very least, you could have been my cherished pet..."
Erhuo's ears flicked as it gnashed its metaphorical feline teeth. [You fool, daring to envision me as your simple-minded pet? Not on your life! Wait and watch as I toy with you!]